As reported by OSU, researchers at Oklahoma State University (OSU) are addressing the growing wildfire risks linked to electrical infrastructure.
Power lines have been a major contributor to wildfire incidents across the country.
To tackle this issue, Assistant Professor Hamid Nazaripouya of the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology has secured funding from NASA for a project aimed at improving wildfire risk awareness related to electrical faults.
The project integrates electrical fault ignition data with high-resolution Earth observation data to improve situational awareness and assess wildfire risks more accurately.
The three main objectives are understanding electrical fault ignition probability, improving wildfire risk mapping, and conducting field demonstrations to showcase these advancements.
The project aims to develop an operational system to assess wildfire risk in near real-time.
One key innovation involves combining fire ignition tests with advanced electrical infrastructure simulations.
Using a medium-voltage test rig, the team will study how electrical faults lead to fire ignition and create a database to estimate ignition probabilities through machine learning.
Additionally, the research includes refining current fuel models with multispectral data from CubeSats and developing AI-based indices to improve fire danger assessments.
This approach promises to deliver more precise risk evaluations by combining spatial data, vegetation details, and biomass information to understand fire risks better.
The success of the project relies on collaboration with utility companies, forestry services, and fire management agencies.
Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, and insurance company HAI Group are key partners, along with other collaborators like Southern California Edison, USDA Forest Service, and CAL FIRE.
These partnerships will help apply the project’s findings to practical wildfire management strategies.
Dr. Nazaripouya emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, stating: “Our team possesses a wide range of expertise across various fields, including power system fault analysis, fire experimentation, ecology and wildfire modeling, and risk assessment.”
The OSU team anticipates the project will bring several improvements to wildfire risk management.
By integrating ignition probabilities with real-time wildfire data, the project will help first responders act more swiftly and effectively, potentially preventing fires before they escalate.
The researchers also expect advancements in risk assessment tools and better planning for resource allocation in high-risk areas.
Dr. Nazaripouya expressed gratitude for the contributions of his collaborators, thanking colleagues from multiple departments, including fire management, remote sensing, and risk management, who have played pivotal roles in advancing the research.
Researchers at Oklahoma State University, led by Assistant Professor Hamid Nazaripouya, are developing new methods to address wildfire risks associated with electrical infrastructure.
Funded by NASA, the project focuses on understanding how electrical faults cause wildfires, improving fire risk assessments, and implementing real-time risk mapping.
By combining fire ignition experiments with advanced machine learning and remote sensing data, the team aims to enhance situational awareness and resource planning for wildfire management.
The project involves collaboration with utility companies, forestry services, and various fire management agencies to apply these innovations in real-world settings.
