Lesson Plan: Innovative Wildfire Tracking Technology

Balloons will surf wind currents to track wildfires

Urban Sky will deploy high-altitude balloons over Colorado this year to prove out an inexpensive way to spot wildfires taking hold.  By  Sarah Scolesarchive page.  July 19, 2024

Summary of Article

Urban Sky, a company specializing in high-altitude balloons, is set to deploy a new wildfire tracking system in Colorado this August. These balloons, equipped with heat sensors, will be launched from pickup trucks to detect and monitor wildfires from above. The technology aims to provide a cost-effective and timely alternative to satellites and aircraft, which have limitations in resolution and operational costs.

The balloons can hover for about 18 hours, using wind currents to maintain position. They fly near the top of the troposphere and the bottom of the stratosphere, adjusting altitude to navigate. The onboard sensors send real-time data about hot spots to ground teams via satellite communication networks.

Urban Sky’s system, called HotSpot, will be tested for an unspecified customer interested in integrating this data with existing wildfire risk assessments. The company has also received a grant from NASA’s FireSense program to further develop the technology, aiming for longer flights and more robust communication systems.

This innovative approach combines the broad coverage of satellites with the detail of aircraft monitoring, potentially offering a new tool for wildfire management and understanding the impacts of climate change on fire behavior.

Introduction

• Begin with a brief discussion on wildfires and their impact on ecosystems and communities.
• Ask students about current methods they know for tracking wildfires.
• Read and discuss the article summary.

Main Activity

Presentation on Urban Sky’s Balloon Technology

• Explain how Urban Sky’s balloons work to track wildfires.
• Discuss the advantages of this technology over satellites and aircraft.
• Describe the deployment process and how the balloons navigate using wind currents.

Group Discussion

• Divide the class into small groups.
• Have each group discuss the potential benefits and challenges of using this technology.
• Share findings with the class.

Comparison Activity

• Create a table comparing balloon technology with satellites and aircraft for wildfire tracking.
• Discuss the pros and cons of each method.

Application and Reflection

• Discuss the broader implications of improved wildfire tracking on community safety and forest management.
• List countries in the world where wildfires are a significant threat (e.g., USA, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Greece).

Conclusion

• Summarize the key points about the balloon technology and its potential impact on wildfire management.
• Emphasize the importance of innovative solutions in addressing climate change-related challenges.

Extension Activities

1. Research Project: Have students research other innovative technologies being developed for wildfire management and present their findings.
2. Mock Proposal: Students create a mock proposal for implementing the balloon technology in a specific region, considering local wildfire risks and management strategies.
3. Design Challenge: Challenge students to design their own wildfire tracking device using principles from the lesson.

Assessment

• Participation: Monitor and assess student participation in group discussions and activities.
• Comparison Activity: Evaluate the quality of contributions to the comparison table and discussion.
• Understanding: Assess students’ understanding of the technology and its potential applications through class discussions and extension activity presentations.

Links

1. Balloons Will Surf Wind Currents to Track Wildfires:
   • Urban Sky deploys high-altitude balloons equipped with sensors to measure heat on the ground and pinpoint new wildfire outbreaks from above.
   • These balloons can also help understand conditions on the ground before fires start.
   • The goal is to manage wildfires more effectively by gathering data both before and after they occur.
   • Read more¹.
2. Urban Sky Wins NASA Award for Balloon-Borne Fire Sensors:
   • Urban Sky received a contract from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office to develop a system using stratospheric balloons for wildfire detection and monitoring.
   • The award is worth approximately $2.6 million.
   • Learn more².
3. Urban Sky’s Stratospheric Balloons Revolutionize Wildfire Management:
   • Urban Sky’s Microballoons float nearly 18 km (60,000 feet) above active wildfires, capturing thermal infrared data.
   • During a recent flight, the system collected 320,000 acres of land area in just over 2 hours.
   • HotSpot, equipped with a lightweight thermal infrared camera, provides real-time information on wildfire location and movement.
   • This technology offers over 100 times higher resolution than existing satellite data products.
   • Read about the flight demonstration³.