Wildfire Prediction, Mitigation
and Management Experiment
Proposal
Prediction, Detection, Rapid
Mitigation to save Lives, Forest, and
Property in the State of Florida
Presented To:
Charles H. Bronson
Commissioner
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Agenda
• Introduction
– Dr. Jim O’Brien, COAPS at Florida State University
• The AEgis Technologies Group Leadership
– Mr. Lance Cooper, VP, the AEgis Technologies Group
• Experiment Goals
– Mr. Paul Thielen, the AEgis Technologies Group
• Detailed Experiment Methodology
– Modeling and Simulation
» Ms. Deborah Heystek, the AEgis Technologies Group
» Dr. Eric Chassignet, COAPS at Florida State University
– Fire Chemistry Sensor
» Dr. Milan Buncick, the AEgis Technologies Group
– ResponderNet Command Management Solution
» Mr. Paul Thielen, the AEgis Technologies Group
» Ms. Rhonda Copley, Praxsoft
• Summary
– Mr. Paul Thielen
• Discussion
– All
AEgis Technologies
About AEgis Technologies
• Provides world-class modeling and simulation
technical services, products, and professional
training.
• Small Business
• Established in 1989
• Headquartered in Huntsville, AL
•160+ Employees
• 2005 Revenue $26.5M
Of our 160+ Employees
• 37% have Master’s Degree or better
• 63% have Engineering or CS degrees
• 35% have Military Service experience
Relevant Facts
• Recognized three times on INC Magazine’s “INC
500” list of the fastest growing privately held
companies in America
• Recognized on the Military Training Technology Top
100 list of companies that have made significant
contributions to the military training industry
• Recognized by the Better Business Bureau
for Marketplace Ethics
• Recognized by the Society of Financial Service
Professionals for Ethics in the Business Community
Experiment Thesis
• AEgis Team brings 3 pillar
integrated approach to Florida
Division of Forestry
• Provides capability to predict,
detect, and react to forest hot
spots
• Allows visibility of personnel /
assets to reduce risk and
enhance responsiveness
Project Team
AEgis Technologies
• MEMS/Micro-system Design & Development
• Modeling and Simulation
• Terrain Modeling/ GIS Application
• System Integration
• Test and Evaluation
• Project Management
Florida State University
• Thought leadership in Climate and Weather
Forecasting
• Climate Prediction
• High Resolution Weather including Chemistry
Transport
• Fire effects on in situ weather
• Experiment Delivery Center
Praxsoft
• RFID Asset Management/Tracking Solution
• In Situ Weather/Chemistry Detection
• Data collection/dissemination
Oak Ridge National Lab
• Mature Sensor Technology
• Mature Electronics
• Partnership for Technological Development
Modeling Data Analysis
• Predictive Forecasting of risk
factors
• Direction of resources in advance
of events
• Optimal resource
employment/planning
• FSU/COAPS
• AEgis Technologies Group
• Praxis
• Division of Forestry
Model Analysis
and Coupling
FARSITE
Multi-Modal Approach to
Sensor Placement Prediction
CO
CO2
C2H2
HCL
CH4
CH3OH
H2O
Chemical Model
Weather Model
Fire Model
Climate Model
Global Atmospheric Model
Modeling and Simulation
Activities
•
•
•
•
•
Teamed with the Florida State University Center for Ocean
Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) to accomplish the
following services:
Identify appropriate Weather and Fire Forecast/Dispersion Models
for inclusion in potential Multi-Modal Prediction System
Conceptualize each selected model and identify input/output data for
Multi-Modal Integration
Execute Models as necessary to validate Model Data and forecast
for Experiment area for Field Trial Events
Create (Deliverable) Microclimate Fire Prediction Conceptual Model
for implementation
Create High Level Design (Deliverable) for Microclimate Fire
Prediction System
Sensing/Monitoring
Approach
• Integrate chemicals to detect
fire initiation
• Evaluate sensor technologies
to develop/combine
approaches
• Prototype sensor for
laboratory experiments
• Develop stand-alone
prototype for generated field
experiment
Fire Detection
Detection
Pathways
Fire Type
Smoke
All Fires
Heat
Above Ground
Radiation
Above Ground
Chemistry
All Fires
Other Factors
•Combustion Type
•Transport Processes
•Fuels
Predominant Smoke Detection Techniques
• Ionization Detection
• Photoelectric Detection
• Cloud chamber Detection
Preferred Smoke Detection Technique
• Cloud Chamber Detection is the most sensitive smoke detection
technique.
• Small handheld battery operated CCD systems are available for
integration.
Fire Chemical Detection
Fires produce gaseous combustion byproducts which depend on fuel type and combustion
Fuel Type
Gases
All Fires
CO/CO2
Pine
Hydrogen Chloride
Methanol
Formaldehyde
Ethylene
Ethylene Oxide
Cellulose
Grass, brush
Hardwoods
Coniferous
Organic Soil
Methane
Ethylene
Ethane
Formaldehyde
Methane
Ethylene
Ethane
Formaldehyde
Formic Acid
Acetic Acid
Common Compounds
CO/CO2
Methanol
Formaldehyde
Ethylene
Acetic Acid
Formic Acid
Low-power MEMS
vapor sensors
• Chemical transduction:
– Chemo-mechanical
(cantilevers)
– Chemi-capacitive
– Chemi-resistive
• Chemical coating identifies
analyte vapor type – arrays
for multiple vapor typing
• Devices are miniature,
sensitive, fast response,
electrical readout, low power
Seacoast Science
Cyrano Sciences
MEMS array integration
with mixed detection
Cantilever
Plate Capacitor
Interdigitated
C or  R
(capacitive readout)
Coating
Polysilicon beam
Coating
Beam anchor
Bottom plate
Substrate
Ink-Jet
Deposition
Built-in
temperature
control
Fire Chemistry Sensors
• AEgis will produce a system that detects
– Smoke
– CO/CO2
– Methanol, Formaldehyde, Ethylene, Ethane, Acetic acid and
Formic acid Identification and Acquisition of Detection Chemistry
• Validate fire chemistry model for FCS Device
• Conduct Laboratory Examination of fire chemistries and deliver
testable Lab Prototype FCS Device for Lab testing
• Develop Test and Acceptance Plan/Criteria for Production FCS
• Create a field test prototype FCS device for deployment and testing
(Deliverable)
• Conduct Field Trials of FCS Device
Tracking and Response
Management
• Development and fielding of
RF based communication
network
• Provides integrated tracking
and responsive management
system
• Deployment of weather
detection stations for data
acquisition
• Provides command center
operations with graphical
display system to track
personnel and assets
Architecture –ResponderNet
with CFS and Models
Sensors –
meteorological and
chemical fire sensor
Internet
Universal Sensor
Interface
AssetActive USI provides ability
to read active tags, interfaces to
AEgis CFS and transmits data to
other Receivers/Repeaters
Server to ingest real-time
data and perform FSU
modeling algorithms
Receiver/Repeater
Server
AssetActive LR Active tags on
responders with GPS for outdoor
location
AEgis Web-based
GIS Software and
Modeling Output
In-vehicle readers collect data from tags
and send the data back through cell
ResponderNet Command
Management System
19
Distributed
Architecture Concept
UDP(TCP/IP)
State Response Managers
City/County
Response Managers
On-Scene Commander
Authorized Subscribers
RCMS Platform
Deployment Plan
ResponderNet Command Management System (RCMS)
Hardware/Software Delivery Schedule:
• 1 Primary and 1 Backup Server Based RCMS Application and
Database License
• 12 Command and Control Vehicle Suites
– Hardened Laptop with RCMS Application and Database
– ResponderNet Vehicle Tracking Suite
• 100 ResponderNet Vehicle Tracking Suites
– Digital VHF Transceiver
– RF Repeater
– GPS Positioning
• 200 GPS/RFID Enabled ResponderNet Personnel Tracking Tags
– RF/GPS 3D Locator Tags
• 4 Weather Stations
ResponderNet Command
Management System
• Conduct Analysis and Design Activities and develop the Systems
Architectural Design (Deliverable)
• Develop Graphical User Interfaces and RCMS Applications within
accepted Systems Architecture Design Document (SADD)
• Develop Test and Acceptance Criteria for all RCMS components
• Conduct installation services and End User Training for RCMS
Devices and Interfaces
• Conduct Field Trials and Acceptance Testing for RCMS at Division of
Forestry
Summary
• Application of multiple proven modeling architectures in
a collaborative environment will achieve a predictive
posture within fire management processes to enhance
response effectiveness.
• The Fire Chemistry Sensor offers a reliable sound
architecture which has a great deal of flexibility and
benefit beyond Fire Chemistry and with modification will
provide AGLAW a significant advance in Narcotics
Trafficking Interdiction and Methamphetamine Detection.
• The ResponderNet Command Management Solution will
provide great value and improved safety in virtually every
agency within DOACS.
ResponderNet Applies to all
DOACS Roles