PG&E Testing Artificial Intelligence Which Could Expand Wildfire Detection Capabilities to Growing Network of High-Definition Cameras
November 18 2021 - 12:29PM
Business Wire
138 new HD cameras installed in 2021 and 487
cameras are now in operation: 46 with AI test software
Eyes in the sky across most of High Fire-Threat
Districts in Northern and Central California improve situational
awareness and intelligence
During extremely dry, hot, and windy weather, being able to
differentiate wildfire smoke from fog and other false indicators is
invaluable to analysts in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s
(PG&E) Wildfire Safety Operations Center and fire agencies.
That’s why PG&E is testing artificial intelligence (AI) and
machine-learning capabilities in the growing network of
high-definition cameras across Northern and Central California to
see how it can enhance fire-watch and response capabilities.
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the full release here:
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HD smoke-spotting cameras on top of Mount
Tamalpais are included in PG&E’s artificial intelligence pilot
program. (Photo: Business Wire)
This year, PG&E, in collaboration with ALERTWildfire, has
installed 138 new HD cameras across High Fire-Threat Districts, in
accordance with its 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Of those 138
cameras, 46 of them are included in the new AI testing program in
partnership with Alchera and ALERTWildfire. A similar pilot was
conducted with Pano through participation in EPRI’s 2021
Incubatenergy Labs Challenge. PG&E began installing HD cameras
in 2018, as part of its Community Wildfire Safety Program. As of
October 31, 487 cameras are now in operation.
“Even with the two significant rainstorms in October and
November, we are still in a historic drought and California, along
with other western states, continue to experience an increase in
wildfire risk and a longer wildfire season. We are using every new
tool and technology at our disposal to improve situational
awareness and intelligence to help mitigate and prevent wildfires,
including this new AI capability,” said Sumeet Singh, PG&E
Chief Risk Officer. “Every bit of data and intelligence that comes
to us could potentially save a life.”
The pilot program is already demonstrating the AI’s potential to
reduce fire size expansion. On August 4, 2021, PG&E’s Howell
Mountain 1 camera located in Placer County and equipped with
Alchera’s AI software, spotted smoke one minute before the actual
fire dispatch and several minutes sooner than the manual movement
of the camera. That smoke ended up becoming the River Fire. This is
one example of many noted during both pilots confirming the value
of early fire detection technology.
The expert staff in the company’s Wildfire Safety Operations
Center (WSOC), outside agencies and first responders use the
fire-watch cameras to monitor, detect, assess for threats, and
respond to wildfires. The AI test programs include PG&E
determining a way to get the new data to the right people quickly
and effectively. The quicker the data is received, the more rapidly
first responders and PG&E can confirm fires and move the right
resources to the right place.
“The software analyzes the video feed and if it thinks it sees
smoke, we receive an alert via email and text, telling us it just
detected smoke. Our analysts then pinpoint where the smoke is
coming from and determine if it’s a car fire, dumpster fire, or
even a vegetation fire. Based on the location, we can assess for
threat to the public or PG&E facilities,” said Eric Sutphin,
Supervisor at PG&E’s WSOC who’s in charge of the camera
installations. “The AI filters out a significant number of false
positives, for example, ruling out dust, fog or haze.”
Sutphin explained that the recent installation of the AI test
software with its machine-learning capabilities means the WSOC team
is getting smarter over time with more experience and more data
gathered.
“We know the cameras are doing well at spotting wisps of smoke
from long distances. We plan to assess our initial implementation,
continue to gather the data, and develop a plan for using this
leading-edge technology on a more expanded basis,” he said.
The cameras provide 360-degree views with pan, tilt and zoom
capabilities and can be viewed by anyone through the ALERTWildfire
Network at www.alertwildfire.org. By the end of 2022, the company
plans to have approximately 600 cameras installed, providing an
ability to see in real-time more than 90% of the high fire-risk
areas it serves.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric
utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square
miles in Northern and Central California. For more information,
visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.
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