| Firehawk is a
computer aided forest risk management system that is
controlled by a human operator. The Firehawk system consists
of the following elements
(see also Fig.1):
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Cameras with zoom lenses
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Pan tilt head, which allows
for the movement of cameras |
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Masts (typically the camera
assembly and transmission equipment is mounted on masts of
either 30 to 72 meters in height depending on the surrounding
topography) |
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Microwave transmitters and
receivers (used for the transmission of video from remote
sites to the central control base) |
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Radio telemetry links (the
actual movement of cameras, i.e. pan, tilt and zoom, are
controlled via these links, from the central base)
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Firehawk processor and
software |
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Monitors (to display
individual camera visuals at the control base) |
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Click Here to View Diagram |
| Firehawks capabilities are
as follows: |
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Multi-tower capabilities. Up to eight (8)
remote camera installations can be connected to a single
Firehawk processor. A base station can have many processors. |
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Cameras scan a full 360 degrees in less
than four minutes. |
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Detection of smoke, fire and glow 24 hours
a day. |
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Manual manipulation of any camera in the
system without affecting any other camera in the system. |
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Multiple alarm reporting capabilities.
Alarms are reported by the system without affecting any camera
scanning its designated area. |
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Geographical information on any camera and
sector position by a simple one touch button operation. This
provides valuable information to forestry personal, such as
fire location and best access details. |
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User friendly software, using the latest
software platforms and operating systems. |
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Multiple time zones setup capabilities.
(day night and twilight). |
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Unwanted image alarms are filtered out. |
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The system can be used for Management check
ups and controlling fire fighting operations. |
| General |
| Firehawk has been
designed to be installed in remote areas where cameras can
cover a radius of 6 to 8 km from the point of installation.
Although the capability of cameras is far beyond the 6 to 8 km
radius, weather conditions do not always allow detection of
fires beyond this safe margin. |
| Real time video
images can be transmitted up to 30 km. without repeating being
required. These video images are fed to a central command base
where they are processed and filter out unwanted image alarms
and reporting only those required. |
| During the past
nine years the system has been installed and tested in various
forestry areas throughout South Africa. The first installation
was in the Richmond area of KwaZulu-Natal. This area was
chosen for various reasons. Topographically it is very
mountainous, extreme temperature changes occur, hot summers
and very cold winters with snow on high ground often
occurring. This ensured that the system was tested developed
to not only work under severe weather conditions, but also be
accurate enough to guide foresters to the source of a fire in
the shortest possible time once detected. |
| Presently Firehawk
is installed in two regions of South Africa, and is
continuously being expanded. Forestry companies (Mondi, Sappi,
NCT, SQF and Masonite), Private growers and Government
Agencies have committed themselves to the Firehawk system. |
| In Northern KwaZulu-Natal during the 2000 fire season a total of 153 fires were
detected. Of these 87 fires were detected at night. Results at
the end of the season showed a burnt area rate of less than
one hectare per fire (0.7 ha per fire), whereas during the
1998 fire season, before the Firehawk system was installed the
burnt area rate was 5.68 ha per fire. This proved that by
having the capability to detect fires more rapidly, ground
crews and aerial support are able to get to the source of
fires much faster, thereby limiting damage drastically. |
