The SWIFTForest Automated Fire Monitoring system is designed to detect fire activity early and track its impact over time with minimal manual input. It begins with continuous monitoring using NASA’s thermal infrared sensors, which are capable of identifying abnormal heat signatures across large forest areas. These thermal anomalies often indicate active fires or emerging fire events before they are visible through standard imagery.
When a potential fire event is detected, the system automatically triggers an alert notification so relevant teams can respond quickly. This early warning is critical for risk management, safety planning, and operational awareness, especially in remote or difficult-to-access plantation areas.
Following detection, SWIFTForest schedules the collection of high-resolution 3 metre, 8-band Planet satellite imagery for seven consecutive days per fire event. This time-based imagery allows the platform to track fire spread, observe changes in burn intensity, and capture the progression of damage as conditions evolve.
Once the imagery is collected, it is used to perform detailed post-fire damage assessments and burn scar analyses. These analyses help quantify the affected area, support recovery and replanting decisions, and provide clear spatial evidence for reporting, insurance claims, and compliance requirements. The result is a structured, traceable view of fire events from detection through to post-event assessment.