In the future, with Fireball International’s shortwave infrared sensors on board a number of EO Geostationary Satellites, it is hoped that they will not only be able to provide early detection of smaller and more remote bush fires but also provide information on high risk areas for potential fires due to high bush fuel load.Ĭurrently Australia relies heavily on international EO satellites for imaging, whereas Fireball International is looking towards having a hosted payload on a number GEO communication satellites, should the demonstrator satellite prove their capabilities. We will be able to “detect a fire the size of a lorry” said Ball. ![]() The software is designed to analyse and compare pictures using machine learning, sending out alerts when a potential fire is spotted. These ground-based cameras are in high risk locations and in high places, such as mountain tops. Currently, Fireball International uses a mix of on-the-ground cameras and satellite images from a variety of EO satellites to spot potential fires, looking for tell-tale signatures of smoke particles. What makes the company’s plans so unique is that it is bringing together a number of different technologies to provide a comprehensive fire risk picture to the relevant authorities. The startup is focussing on developing in space transportation system to cost effectively place satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), GEO and Cis-Lunar Orbits.Īssociate Professor Tim Ball, Fireball International’s CTO said that the new satellite is “a technology demonstrator, that is going to demonstrate that the same wavelengths that are useful for finding fire can also be used for characterising vegetation and fuel moisture.” The satellite will use a tug from Space Machines to deliver it into its final orbit, having been delivered on the Gilmour Space Eris rocket.Īdelaide-based Space Machines, last year signed up to be the first customer for Gilmour Spaces’ Eris Rocket, expected to be Australia’s first large-payload lifting launch vehicle heading to orbit next year. Based on the Sunshine coast, this month Fireball International announced a deal with Space Machines and Gilmour Space to launch this demonstrator satellite into orbit next year. It is this proof of concept that they hope will lead to the provision of end-to-end fire detection services.įireball International started in 2018 and has gone from an idea to a business with big plans. This satellite is designed to prove Fireball International’s end-to-end fire detection process and will lead to a specialist imaging package being added to a number of future Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites to provide global coverage. ![]() This month Fireball International has announced its plans to expand its capabilities and is developing an Australian built, launched and delivered demonstrator satellite. The bushfire detecting software currently uses the images from a number of Earth Observing (EO) Weather satellites including LandSAT (US), INSAT, Sentinel (ESA) and Himawari-8 (Japan) as well as ground-based cameras to deliver real time fire detection alerts. Fireball International is currently working with a number of US agencies to deliver rapid bushfire notifications utilising software originally designed for measuring the expansion rate of the Universe by looking for explosions in supernovae.
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