How much wildfire prevention is too much?
The race to prevent the worst wildfires has been an increasingly high-tech one.
Reported by MIT Technology Review. Good journalism, but verify key claims with the original source they cite.
Key Takeaways
- Major industry investment.
- Companies are proposing AI fire detection systems and drones that can stamp out early blazes .
- And now, one Canadian startup says it’s going after lightning.
What It Means
Context
Companies are proposing AI fire detection systems and drones that can stamp out early blazes . And now, one Canadian startup says it’s going after lightning. Lightning-sparked fires can be a big deal: The Canadian wildfires of 2023 generated nearly 500 million metric tons of carbon emissions, and lightning-started fires burned 93% of the area affected. Skyward Wildfire claims that it can stop wildfires before they even start by preventing lightning strikes. It’s a wild promise, and one that the colleague James Temple dug into for his most recent story . (You should read the whole thing; there’s a ton of fascinating history and quirky science.) As James points out in his story, there’s plenty of uncertainty about just how well this would work and under what conditions. But The author was left with another lingering question: If MIT Technology Review can prevent lightning-sparked fires, should MIT Technology Review? The author can’t help myself, so let’s take just a moment to talk about how this lightning prevention method supposedly works. Basically, lightning is static discharge—virtually the same thing as when you rub your socks on a carpet and then touch a doorknob, as James…
For builders
Companies are proposing AI fire detection systems and drones that can stamp out early blazes .
For Builders
Companies are proposing AI fire detection systems and drones that can stamp out early blazes .