The current Amazon rainforest wildfires have as soon as once more dropped at the forefront one of many biggest environmental disasters, an issue that may solely turn out to be extra acute with world warming. Hence, states are allotting appreciable sources and know-how to struggle wildfires, whereas additionally implementing preventive measures comparable to cleansing up forests. Despite all these efforts, nevertheless, wildfires stay a extreme downside 12 months after 12 months. The University of Stanford has now developed one other know-how initiative to enhance the measure of success. Currently, fireplace retardants are used to forestall the propagation of fires. The downside is that they often include poisonous compounds and lose their effectivity over time, usually in lower than an hour. Instead, the researchers have developed a gel-like innocent substance that may be sprayed over giant extensions of forest with a excessive threat of wildfires. This new know-how can preserve its effectivity for a number of months, technically with out affecting crops and animals within the space as it’s biodegradable.
The retardant gel to forestall wildfires they’ve created is a cellulose-based liquid appropriate with present spraying equipment and has already confirmed its price within the assessments carried out in California, an space susceptible to wildfires. There, the researchers have been capable of set up that, even following heavy rains, the gel retains its fire-retardant properties. This video exhibits the substance at work and its potential within the prevention of fires. Nevertheless, earlier than reaching the market, additional assessments will should be carried out to evaluate any environmental impression. If accepted, it might turn out to be a robust ally in opposition to wildfires, used over giant forest areas, or to create non permanent firewalls earlier than the new season arrives.
Big knowledge, a digital firefighter
Fires are additionally a menace in city environments, each in areas near forests in addition to inside giant cities, the place firefighters want to supply a quick response. That is the state of affairs in Los Angeles (USA), the place the fireplace division is testing a brand new software program created by WiFire Lab, a laboratory from the San Diego Supercomputer Center. The know-how venture, known as FireMap, analyzes huge quantities of knowledge from completely different sources, together with topography, sort of supplies within the space and climate situations.
Now, each time a fireplace is recorded within the metropolis, the software program carries out an preliminary evaluation that enables predicting the pace and trajectory of the flames. This could be executed in a matter of minutes, when a standard evaluation would want a number of hours that, evidently, could be a lot too lengthy to design an intervention. Thus, following the devastating fires that erupted throughout the state all through the previous summer time, the LA firefighters are resorting to all of the instruments that know-how can afford them.
Source: Gizmodo, New York Times