Hatfield releases R-BAM algorithm to all Canadian wildfire agencies
Click to enlarge.
The Rapid Burned Area Mapping (R-BAM) technology was developed over the last three years by Hatfield Consultants and aims to complement conventional wildfire observation and assessment techniques by providing frequent updates on wildfire burn areas and progression using Sentinel-2 satellite data coupled with machine learning analytics.
Hatfield recently announced the release of the R-BAM algorithm to all provincial and territorial wildfire agencies at no cost. The released algorithm supports wildfire response efforts and includes:
- R-BAM machine learning algorithm for wildfire burned area and perimeter delineation – under a free institutional license. The R-BAM algorithm uses the point location and date of a detected fire (e.g. hotspot detection from MODIS/VIIRS) and automatically downloads and processes multi-spectral Sentinel-2 satellite images. Image processing, machine learning, and geoprocessing are used to provide maps and geospatial data of the burned area, fire perimeter, and active fire. The R-BAM algorithm is written in Python and deployed in a docker container.
Click to enlarge: Rapid-Burned Area Mapping (R-BAM) wildfire response product over the 2018 Shovel Lake fire (R11498)
To help with the assimilation of R-BAM within organizations Hatfield is offering a webinar demonstrating how to use the R-BAM algorithm – scheduled 17 April at 10:00 PST. Interested public agencies are being asked to contact Dr. Andy Dean or Jean-Simon Michaud at r-bam@hatfieldgroup.com
Hatfield supported BC Wildfire Services with its R-BAM algorithm, providing frequent updates on wildfire burn areas and progression during record 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons. The R-BAM algorithm development was supported by the Canadian Space Agency from 2016-2018. An overview of R-BAM products and services is provided on Hatfield’s website. For more information on the R-BAM code release please see this news article.
Hatfield provides environmental and geomatics services with its head office in North Vancouver. R-BAM is an example of innovative environmental assessment and monitoring services that Hatfield provides using open satellite data to produce timely and accurate information to clients in the oil & gas, mining, and forestry sectors.
