LID-Er Prevents Forest Fire

The earlier the smoke in a forest will be detected, the easier it would be for firemen to stop the fire from spreading. The problem of forest fires have always been one of the most difficult and dangerous problems. Russian scientists from MULTITECH Ltd. have developed an equipment, which can help solving the problem.

Right now the equipment is not of much use, because autumn rains have already quenched forest and turf fires. However, if the scientists put their invention to industrial production by the next summer, it will really improve the situation. Laser beam can easily detect a fire and then, if needed, alarm the operator at the central control. A single LID-Er, as it was named, can observe a square up to 100 thousand hectares.

A strong laser beam periodically controls atmosphere conditions. Smoke is opaque for laser light, so the beam reflects back. A special telescopic system “catches” the signal, amplifies it and sends to computer. If after several minutes (on the second pass) the smoke is detected once more at the same point, computer will compare intensities of first and second signals, taking more measures if needed and carrying out the process dynamics. If the smoke density gradually increases, the computer will send an alarm signal to the operator’’s desk. Then it’’s up to the operator to decides, whether to send a firemen brigade to the dangerous place.

The question is that of eye safety of such system, because the beam energy is very high. High-energy lasers are used even for cutting thick steel sheets, so it will be an accident if such beam somehow strikes an eye. To prevent such cases, the beam wavelength was selected from “eye safe” range, so that it doesn’’t hurt sensitive organs.

Will the LID-Er see campfire smoke? “It should”, assures one of the developers, Andrey Alekseev. ” The question is the distance and smoke density. We’’ve been working on these questions using our experimental model”.