Computer Vision developed by LMT and RTU has been used to track wildfire

 To track the wildfires in Latvia Riga Technical University and Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT – Latvian Mobile phone) solution of Computer Vision was tested. To prevent the possibility of reoccurring wildfires territory of previously affected by forest fires was inspected by using a particular drone equipped with video sensors, including infrared cameras.

Images and sounds obtained by Computer Vision and Computer Hearing can be analysed automatically during drone flight as the solution was equipped with additional data processing capacity as well as with mobile internet. Therefore, ensuring the possibility to identify different objects. Sensors could recognise animals, humans as well as locate the source of particular sounds.

“With our brand-new technology and 5G development, LMT can expand beyond the traditional phone and mobile internet services. We are thrilled to be a part of developing new technology which would help to save time and recourses as well as would be trusted assistant in various situation significant for the society – civil defence, ecology and maintenance of infrastructure” says LMT Innovation Project manager Armands Meirāns.

Meanwhile Deputy Head of the Forest and Environment protection Unit of State Forestry Inspection points out that this is an exciting experiment as State Forestry Inspection has no thermo-cameras available “Drone with additional ability to use infrared cameras allows to view the territory damaged by wildfires and will allow spotting smouldering sites if such are left. This technology is important for us as it would allow us to spot wildfires before reaching devastating proportions.”

One of the authors of this technology and RTU Researcher Rūdolfs Rumba explains that “This highly compact and mobile solution which is built for medium size drones. The solution can be used for defence purposes to search for people in open and afforested sites as well as for civil use such as search and rescue and identify potential risks. This solution allows identifying a different object during the drone flight and by using mobile internet to transfer already analysed message to the command point located on land. By gathering and analysing large quantities of data using the mobile platform is safer and more reliable than send sensor data to the data centre located far from the affected area".

Computer Vision and Computer Hearing solution developed by LMT and RTU is a product prototype which has also been used by military training. In continues development of this solution, it will be possible to reduce its size and weight so drones of smaller size could also use this solution. Also, this solution can also be used by static cameras.

LMT is actively involved with partners and universities of various areas to develop and implement innovative smart products and solutions. With such projects as Connected Cars, Drones, Computer Vision solutions, Smart Cities and even Space Exploration we are strengthening the position of Latvia as an innovation centre and expanding LMT opportunities in export markets.