Few things grab the headlines like wildland fire.  For the past 10 years, RedCastle Resources (RCR) has been supporting the wildland fire community with innovative ways of creating geospatial information for both tactical and strategic wildland fire applications.  RCR technical staff have led projects dealing with most aspects of fire information requirements, including fuels loading, fire risk assessment, burned area mapping, burn severity mapping, fire detection, incident information support, and more.  The following projects are a sample of the recent and ongoing RCR projects for wildland fire applications.

 

 

MODIS Active Fire Maps. NASA’s MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a space-based sensor onboard the Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra and Aqua satellites.  RCR personnel are responsible for the operation, support, and development of the US Forest Service’s MODIS Active Fire Mapping program.  Click here for more information…

 

 

 

 

BAER Support. Immediately after a wildland fire is contained, land management agencies assess the risk that the burned landscape poses to surrounding communities using a process called Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER).  BAER teams require maps of burn severity as one of the first inputs into their assessment.  RCR technical staff have been contributing to the science and post-fire operational analysis of burned areas for nearly 10-years.  Click here for more information…

 

 

 

National Infrared Operations. Infrared (IR) sensors have been aiding wildland firefighters for nearly 40 years. Originally only used for initial detection, IR sensors are now used to detect, monitor, and direct fire suppression and mop-up operations. Recent technological developments have resulted in a proliferation of IR scanners at fire camps across North America. They range from small handheld units to airborne units that can cover millions of acres per hour with real-time output. Click here for more information…