STRP

Clemson

Digital Twin-Driven UAV Ignition: Revolutionizing Prescribed Fire Planning for Safer, Smarter Wildfire Prevention

Lead: Fatemeh Afghah

Keywords: Wildfire, prescribed fire, AI, Digital twin

Amount: $100000

Intellectual Property Status: None

Award Date: 03/03/2025

End Date: 03/31/2027

ABSTRACT

This proposal addresses the limitations of current prescribed burn practices, which often fall short of their intended protective outcomes and can even harm forest ecosystems due to poor planning and reliance on outdated methods. It introduces a novel solution that combines UAV-based aerial ignition with a digital twin of the forest environment. This virtual platform allows fire managers to simulate and optimize ignition strategies under varying conditions, reducing the need for risky and costly real-world trial-and-error.