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7NEWS
24-07-2025
- Science
- 7NEWS
AI-powered, heat-seeking satellites target Aussie fires in Northern Territory
A cluster of bushfires in a remote part of the Northern Territory is helping an international research team monitor natural disasters using satellites and artificial intelligence (AI). The fires, detected at Borroloola on the McArthur River, are among the first to be captured by the Earth Fire Alliance's FireSat Protoflight satellite, with images released this week. But scientists behind the effort say it may take the launch of another three satellites, scheduled for next year, to create bushfire modelling and more accurately predict where and how fires spread. The non-profit alliance, which has partnered with Google Research and Muon Space, aims to deliver bushfire detection and monitoring using satellites and AI software, and provide data to emergency services and scientists in near real time. The group's first satellite launched in March and international relations lead Dr Karen O'Connor said the first four publicly released images captured by infra-red cameras demonstrated its potential. 'We're just starting to get our first glimpses of how this system is going to really provide unparalleled information on fires to support fire agencies and protect communities,' she said. 'Those of us who live in Australia will know all too well the devastating impact of bushfires.' The satellite images include a collection of active fires in the Northern Territory, a minor, roadside fire detected in the US state of Oregon, and bushfires in Ontario, Canada, where the camera was able to distinguish between an active fire and burn scars on the land. Using high-resolution cameras, the satellite could detect fires about the size of a classroom, O'Connor said, and with a full constellation of 50 satellites, it would be able to monitor a fire's progress every 20 minutes. An additional three satellites are planned for launch in the second half of 2026. 'We will be working closely with early adopters, including agencies across five Australian states and territories,' O'Connor said. Agencies participating in the program include the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, the Queensland Fire Department, and the South Australian Country Fire Service. NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Peter McKechnie said firefighters were grateful to be consulted in the development of the system and were almost 'impatient' to use the technology when it could reliably detect, monitor and predict the path of bushfires. 'The whole team is excited about this,' he said. 'This is taking us to a pathway of being able to ingest that information straight into our dispatch systems and dispatch resources based on what is detected.' Being able to monitor the spread of fires would also help to create advanced fire modelling and could help researchers predict a fire's movement and direct firefighting efforts, Google Research climate and energy lead Chris Van Arsdale said. 'This stream of data will allow scientists to build the next generation (of) predictive models,' he said. 'It would be great to live in a world where we don't have a high degree of uncertainty from wildfires.' The Earth Fire Alliance plans to launch more than 50 satellites and reach full operation by 2030.
Perth Now
23-07-2025
- Science
- Perth Now
AI-powered, heat-seeking satellites target Aussie fires
A cluster of bushfires in a remote part of the Northern Territory is helping an international research team monitor natural disasters using satellites and artificial intelligence. The fires, detected at Borroloola on the McArthur River, are among the first to be captured by the Earth Fire Alliance's FireSat Protoflight satellite, with images released this week. But scientists behind the effort say it may take the launch of another three satellites, scheduled for next year, to create bushfire modelling and more accurately predict where and how fires spread. The non-profit alliance, which has partnered with Google Research and Muon Space, aims to deliver bushfire detection and monitoring using satellites and AI software, and provide data to emergency services and scientists in near real time. The group's first satellite launched in March and international relations lead Dr Karen O'Connor said the first four publicly released images captured by infra-red cameras demonstrated its potential. "We're just starting to get our first glimpses of how this system is going to really provide unparalleled information on fires to support fire agencies and protect communities," she said. "Those of us who live in Australia will know all too well the devastating impact of bushfires." The satellite images include a collection of active fires in the Northern Territory, a minor, roadside fire detected in the US state of Oregon, and bushfires in Ontario, Canada, where the camera was able to distinguish between an active fire and burn scars on the land. Using high-resolution cameras, the satellite could detect fires about the size of a classroom, Dr O'Connor said, and with a full constellation of 50 satellites, it would be able to monitor a fire's progress every 20 minutes. An additional three satellites are planned for launch in the second half of 2026. "We will be working closely with early adopters, including agencies across five Australian states and territories," Dr O'Connor said. Agencies participating in the program include the Tasmania Fire Service, the Queensland Fire Department, and the South Australian Country Fire Service. NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Peter McKechnie said firefighters were grateful to be consulted in the development of the system and were almost "impatient" to use the technology when it could reliably detect, monitor and predict the path of bushfires. "The whole team is excited about this," he said. "This is taking us to a pathway of being able to ingest that information straight into our dispatch systems and dispatch resources based on what is detected." Being able to monitor the spread of fires would also help to create advanced fire modelling, Google Research climate and energy lead Chris Van Arsdale said, and could help researchers predict a fire's movement and direct firefighting efforts. "This stream of data will allow scientists to build the next generation (of) predictive models," he said. "It would be great to live in a world where we don't have a high degree of uncertainty from wildfires." The Earth Fire Alliance plans to launch more than 50 satellites and reach full operation by 2030.
National Post
23-07-2025
- Science
- National Post
Earth Fire Alliance Releases First Wildfire Images from FireSat Protoflight
Article content In partnership with Muon Space and Google Research, the Alliance unveils breakthrough wildfire imagery, signaling a new era of precision, data, and insights for fire response Article content SAN FRANCISCO — Earth Fire Alliance, the global nonprofit coalition committed to delivering transformative data and insights from all wildfires on Earth, in collaboration with Muon Space and Google Research, today released the first wildfire images captured by the FireSat Protoflight satellite. Collectively, these images demonstrate the powerful impact FireSat will have on communities and the firefighters who protect them worldwide. Article content Among the first images is a small fire in Oregon, USA, that was undetected by existing satellites, highlighting the opportunity FireSat presents to deliver insights missed by other space-based systems and to help first responders identify more fires in their early stages, assess their potential impact, and act before the fires escalate into public safety threats. Article content FireSat can detect fires as small as 5×5 meters, making it orders of magnitude more precise than existing satellites. Once fully operational, the FireSat constellation will scan Earth's most fire-prone regions every 20 minutes, enabling unprecedented detection, monitoring, and characterization. Article content The image collection spans diverse fire conditions across North America and Australia: Article content Oregon, USA: A small roadside fire undetected by existing space-based systems was identified by FireSat, showcasing the satellite's superior sensitivity for early-stage fire detection. Nipigon 6 Fire, Ontario, Canada: FireSat's multispectral sensor distinguishes active fire regions from land that has experienced prior fires and unaffected areas. Northern Territory, Australia: FireSat detected multiple active fires and revealed variations in surface temperatures across the landscape. Moran Fire and Chicken Fire, Alaska, USA: This capture of two fires in one image demonstrates FireSat's value for monitoring remote regions where it is challenging to conduct ground-based observation. Article content 'These images represent a turning point in how the world will see and respond to wildfires,' said Brian Collins, Executive Director of Earth Fire Alliance. 'FireSat is the result of extensive collaboration among engineers, researchers, frontline fire agencies, and philanthropies—and it's built to serve fire agencies around the world. Our goal is simple: ensure that every fire, anywhere on Earth, is visible and understood in near real time.' Article content Next-Generation Infrared Sensing Article content FireSat was purpose-built for the global wildfire challenge. Informed by close coordination with hundreds of national, regional, and local fire officials, as well as fire modelers and scientists, the satellite's advanced multispectral infrared sensors, designed and built by Muon Space, meet their real-world needs. FireSat can sense through smoke and clouds to reveal small fires and measure critical metrics such as fire perimeter, progression, and intensity. Article content 'These first images are a powerful demonstration of what we built FireSat to do,' said Jonny Dyer, CEO of Muon Space. 'We're seeing clear, actionable detection of wildfire activity across multiple regions, which will provide an invaluable tool for first responders. While early detection is important, what's equally critical is FireSat's ability to support ongoing fire management by tracking a fire's progression and behavior.' Article content Operating in low Earth orbit, FireSat has a 1,500 km observation swath and a ground sample distance of 50 meters from directly overhead. Its combination of resolution, thermal sensitivity, and broad dynamic range allows it to sense small, smoldering fires while simultaneously monitoring extreme wildfire events. Article content A World-Class Wildfire Dataset Article content Building on the successful Protoflight launched in March, Earth Fire Alliance and Muon Space will deploy the first three operational FireSats in mid-2026, which will deliver twice-daily global observation. The full constellation will comprise 50+ satellites by 2030. Article content Google Research plans to use AI to compare operational FireSat data with historical images of the same location, then take local weather and other factors into account to identify small fires with low false positive rates. AI applications will also reveal insights on fire behavior for predictive modeling. Article content 'Paired with advanced AI, this data will be invaluable for fire authorities and Earth science,' said Chris Van Arsdale, Google Research Climate & Energy Lead and Chair of the Earth Fire Alliance Board of Directors. 'FireSat's first wildfire images are precisely what we envisioned when we began this research and partnership.' Article content The Power of a Global Coalition Article content Projections show that the FireSat constellation will deliver significant public safety, economic, and environmental benefits. In the United States alone, even a one-hour FireSat revisit rate could annually save more than $1 billion in fire damage costs, protect 3,500 homes and properties, reduce burned land by 1.3 million acres, and prevent 21.9 million tons of carbon emissions. Article content In June, Earth Fire Alliance announced the first cohort of participants in its Early Adopter Program, which offers an opportunity for fire agencies and fire scientists to help refine data products, define data delivery mechanisms, and harness the potential for FireSat data when initial operational capability is reached in 2026. Article content Earth Fire Alliance is grateful to founding partners Google, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Muon Space, and others that have contributed scientific expertise, leadership, and philanthropic support to make the FireSat program possible. The inaugural FireSat images represent a milestone in leveraging public-private-philanthropic partnerships to advance global wildfire detection, response, and understanding. Article content To access all four images in high-resolution, please visit: About Earth Fire Alliance Earth Fire Alliance is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2024 on the belief that high-fidelity data, accessible on a global scale, will transform humanity's collective approach and relationship to fire. The Alliance shares a vision of expanding wildfire focus and funding from reactive suppression to proactive stewardship that includes better informed real-time decisions on the ground, data-driven resilience initiatives, and improved understanding about the positive and negative role of fire on the landscape. Committed to delivering transformative real-time data from all wildfires on Earth through user-driven technology and radical collaboration, Earth Fire Alliance champions the FireSat constellation. For more information, visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
JSS AHER partners with Google on AI-driven healthcare
Mysuru: In a milestone for medical innovation in India , JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, has emerged as a key partner in a artificial intelligence (AI) research initiative led by Google Research . The findings of this collaboration were featured in two papers published in Nature, a scientific journal, the JSS AHER said on Friday. The research focused on the development and evaluation of the Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE) - an advanced AI system created by Google Research to enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve interactions between physicians and patients. The studies benchmarked AMIE's performance against that of trained primary care physicians using text-based consultations with standardised ones across healthcare settings in Canada, the UK and India. Dr B Suresh, pro-chancellor of JSS AHER, said, "We are proud to be at the forefront of transformative advancements in digital health and artificial intelligence. In keeping with this momentum, we've also updated our pharmacy curriculum to integrate AI, equipping graduates to lead the future of medicine." Dr H Basavanagowdappa, vice-chancellor, said, "At JSS AHER, we are cultivating an innovation-first ecosystem, especially in the fields of AI and digital health. This global collaboration not only elevates our academic profile but also empowers our students and faculty to directly engage with real-world healthcare challenges. Our goal is to shape solutions for tomorrow's healthcare."
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
JSS AHER partners with Google on AI-driven healthcare
Mysuru: In a milestone for medical innovation in India, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, has emerged as a key partner in a artificial intelligence (AI) research initiative led by Google Research. The findings of this collaboration were featured in two papers published in Nature, a scientific journal, the JSS AHER said on Friday. The research focused on the development and evaluation of the Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE) — an advanced AI system created by Google Research to enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve interactions between physicians and patients. The studies benchmarked AMIE's performance against that of trained primary care physicians using text-based consultations with standardised ones across healthcare settings in Canada, the UK and India. Dr B Suresh, pro-chancellor of JSS AHER, said, "We are proud to be at the forefront of transformative advancements in digital health and artificial intelligence. In keeping with this momentum, we've also updated our pharmacy curriculum to integrate AI, equipping graduates to lead the future of medicine." Dr H Basavanagowdappa, vice-chancellor, said, "At JSS AHER, we are cultivating an innovation-first ecosystem, especially in the fields of AI and digital health. This global collaboration not only elevates our academic profile but also empowers our students and faculty to directly engage with real-world healthcare challenges. Our goal is to shape solutions for tomorrow's healthcare."
