From invention to impact: the game-changing technology spotting fires in minutes

In January, black clouds rolled over regional Victoria, turning midday into dusk as fires tore through more than 400,000 hectares, destroying hundreds of homes in a matter of days.

In the face of severe and unpredictable catastrophic bushfires, Australian researchers at Lot Fourteen have developed accurate and early detection technology, which is garnering significant interest from wildfire-fighting agencies.

AI algorithms

Researchers from the Lot Fourteen based SmartSat CRC have developed SmokeScout – an AI-software algorithm forging a new frontier in tracking fires from space.

“The SmokeScout algorithm is very good at distinguishing smoke from clouds and other objects in a scene,” SmartSat CRC Research Program Manager Dr Andrew Barton said.

“Even a small fire just a few metres wide will produce a substantial smoke plume, so that is a good signal to look for when tracking bushfires.

“By observing from a satellite in low earth orbit, SmokeScout covers a much wider area than is possible from the ground, or even from aircraft.”

Academic partnership

SmokeScout, a partnership between Adelaide University and Swinburne University of Technology, analyses images from the satellite’s hyperspectral camera – which collects light in multiple wavelengths, not just the red, green and blue human eyes detect.

The algorithm has been trained using fire imagery taken by South Australia-owned satellite Kanyini, developed by SmartSat CRC and Lot Fourteen companies Inovor Technologies and Myriota, as well as bushfire images from Loft Orbital’s YAM-6 micro-satellite.

Simulations have shown SmokeScout could increase detection times by as much as 50 per cent when compared to typical workflows that rely on downloading imagery for ground-based analysis.

SmokeScout

To further validate the technology, SmokeScout has this year been deployed on its first space mission aboard YAM-6, which will acquire images over potential fire locations, with results expected imminently.

The YAM-6 project, which Dr Barton says is one of the first of its type using real-time fire imagery, is a critical step toward proving advanced algorithms can successfully and effectively process data on-orbit, enabling low-latency alerts necessary for bushfire response to be automatically generated in space.

“Having the algorithm running in space onboard the same satellite that images the fires is important, as most Earth Observation imagery takes hours or even days to become accessible for interpretation on the ground,” he said.

Detecting fires within minutes of ignition

“We are interested in deploying SmokeScout on a constellation of satellites. If it is deployed on a constellation with a sufficiently large number of satellites, it could detect fires within just a few minutes of their ignition.”

Dr Barton said the results from the on-orbit demonstration will be “critical” to demonstrating SmokeScout’s potential to support emergency services and bushfire management sectors.

“We are now looking to secure additional funding to continue developing the SmokeScout system to an operational scale, running continuously on a constellation of satellites,” he said.

“Once this is achieved, we will be in a strong position to expand the product to users more broadly.”

As a project funded by the Australian Government through the SmartSat CRC, the SmokeScout demonstration highlights the collaboration between international space infrastructure providers and sovereign research initiatives.

A render of Kanyini - Australia's first state satellite

SmartSat CRC’s legacy

Since launching in 2019, SmartSat CRC has been leading Australian research efforts in Earth Observation and environmental monitoring.

The CRC’s most notable and widely acclaimed project was the Kanyini mission. As Australia’s first state government funded satellite, Kanyini was not only a triumph of collaboration and innovation at Lot Fourteen but generated a series of significant research projects.

Building state-based capabilities

Other standout projects include CHORUS, a hybrid optical/RF system developed for secure, high-bandwidth military satellite communications and an advanced ‘Beagle’ waveform designed for emergency search and rescue communications.

The success of the waveform project has enabled the growth of its lead partner, SA-based startup company Safety from Space, as well as enabling fellow SA company Fleet Space Technologies to win its first Defence contract of $6.5 million.

A new entity

In June, SmartSat activities transitioned to the Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII), which will build on the SmartSat CRC principles by developing space capabilities and unlocking commercial innovation through space-for-earth applications.

SmartSat CRC CEO and Managing Director Professor Andy Koronios said the CRC had driven a “step change” in Australia’s space R&D.

“As the largest space industry and research investment in Australia’s history, our presence in South Australia has helped this state become a national anchor point for translating space research into real-world capability,” he said.

Professor Andy Koronios, CEO & Managing Director of the SmartSat CRC. Picture Matt Turner.

“SmartSat CRC has also played a significant role in nurturing the next generation of space talent and creating pathways that turn ambitious ideas into tangible impact for industry and the nation, helping to grow a pipeline of engineers and scientists with deep technical and commercial awareness.

“Through our PhD internships, undergraduate student projects and the establishment of our multi-partner space autonomy centre, the Scarlet Laboratory, we are providing opportunities to young researchers to work on real problems, not just theoretical ones….meaning many graduates will choose to stay in South Australia, contributing to a growing, globally competitive workforce.

“The conclusion of SmartSat CRC is not as much an endpoint as a handover.

“This is the point at which we can take the principles that made SmartSat so successful and feed them into the ASII; an enduring, independent entity focused on translating space research into practical solutions at scale.

“Most importantly, the transition to ASII will ensure the capability built over the past decade will remain here in South Australia where it can continue to drive economic growth and global engagement for the state.”