An interagency-private industry working group is forming. Individual and group conversations are leading to good actions that should bring about new aerial tech tools for the 2009 fire season. Current members are Robert Roth-USFS, Steven Banks-BLM, Sean Triplett-USFS GIS, Mark Zaller-Air Attack Pilot.

Moving-map topos with GIS fire data overlays:
Sean has received DeLorme and is evaluating how GIS info can be easily saved as a native file for transfer to aerial firefighters. In the mean time his interagency GIS organizations are standardizing on posting ESRI and Google Earth files. Robert pointed out Google Earth now has topo overlays, so I’m evaluating if this is usable in the cockpit. We are all hoping to come up with a streamlined process for getting GIS fire data into the cockpit for this season.

Cockpit data real-time to the ground:
Multiple types of data and ways of transferring it real-time to the ground are being discussed. Although many, first to discuss is possibly very easy and relatively low cost. Data files of hand drawn fire perimeters can be transmitted over Iridium satellite serial port packets (part of the AFF and Satellite phone system).

Many ATGSs already hand draw fire perimeters on Delorme and Maptech topos. This is often printed out on the ground and handed off (physically). These data files that make up the perimeters can be emailed from the air to anyone on the ground within 5-10 minutes usnig a special email package. I’m also working on new software that could transfer more automatically, faster and even from plane to plane. The holy grail here will be drawing a precise drop line and zapping it between planes to an incoming tanker.

Transmitting aerial images and/or video is another hot topic that several of us are pursing in different ways…more later

Please contact me or others directly if you have something to contribute, or just want to be part of the solution.