A new solar-powered, AI-driven mobile watchtower is helping the NSW Rural Fire Service detect bushfires early. The system uses high-definition cameras that can see up to 70 kilometres away.

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A solar-powered mobile watchtower equipped with artificial intelligence and high-definition cameras has been deployed by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) to enhance early bushfire detection. The system can scan up to 70 kilometres for signs of smoke, operating continuously and sending immediate alerts to authorities for rapid response.

In its first week of operation in the Hawkesbury region, the watchtower detected 50 smoke sightings. The technology is part of a $3.3 million natural hazard detection program, which includes 15 trialled technologies across New South Wales. Firefighters and responders can access real-time footage, improving situational awareness and response effectiveness as the region prepares for increased fire risk.

AI-powered watchtower aids early bushfire detection in NSW

age eye in the sky that will give us a new winning edge on the fire front line. This is an amazing example of AI detection capability that is here on guard 24 hours a day looking for fires in the landscape. The mobile watchtower can be moved anywhere. Solar powered, its high definition cameras can see up to 70 kilometres away. At all times, 24 by 7, the cameras are always scanning using a computer vision model for early signs of smoke. So at any one time, even while we're sleeping, essentially, we're always looking for early stage fires. Just the whiff of smoke and it immediately sends these alerts, early detection, allowing the RFS to see in real time the dangers and the best defence. The cameras are detected for smoke signals out towards the east, can we please get aviation resources and some tankers responded. In its first week deployed by the RFS throughout the Hawkesbury, it picked up 50 smoke sightings. It allows me to see live footage of any fires that are developing and the landscape that's around it. Even the guys on the trucks can log on and actually see the fires they're responding to in real time. So that is a bit of a game changer. So the natural hazard detection system is a $3.3 million program. This is one of the 15 different technologies that we're trialling here in New South Wales. And we're going to need them. Jonathan, it's been really wet. There's a lot of vegetation around. What sort of fire season are we expecting? Yeah, look, as the conditions dry out, the threat of serious fire will absolutely return in the near future. So time to prepare? Time for our residents to prepare for that, yeah. Joining the watchtower, which is now on duty. Ali Donaldson, 10 News.

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AI-powered watchtower aids early bushfire detection in NSW

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