FWOS is a stand-alone, unattended, field-deployable sensor used for remote measurements of fire weather-related data
Intellisense Systems secures Phase II funding to develop FWOS. (Credit: GlobeNewswire/ Intellisense Systems.)
US-based integrated environmental sensing solutions provider Intellisense Systems has secured Phase II financing for the development of the fire weather observation sensor (FWOS).
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided funding for the FWOS, a stand-alone, unattended, field-deployable sensor which is used for remote measurements of fire weather-related data.
The company said that the machines will be installed across the forests and areas which are prone to wildfire outbreak. These devices will transmit data through satellite from anyplace in the world.
The FWOS will be combined with the new sensing capabilities to the Micro Weather Sensor (MWS) platform along with fuel moisture, solar radiation, particulate monitoring, and thermal imaging.
The Western US has experienced a number of wildfires which have replaced millions of residents, burned more than 6 million acres, and destroyed approximately 10,000 structures.
The FWOS helps fire departments to predict the fire weather conditions
Intellisense Systems expects the FWOS to help the fire departments in predicting the fire weather conditions and boost the awareness in remote as well as the densely forested regions.
Intellisense Systems Environmental Monitoring Systems vice president and general manager David Miller said: “New technology that facilitates the detection and management of wildfires is critical. The FWOS falls right in line with our strategic growth plan in applying our MWS system to the fire weather market and aligns with one of our primary goals of providing advanced solutions that ensure the safety and protection of people and property, especially our front-line firefighters.”
In the initial phase, the company has demonstrated the feasibility to add small fuel moisture, particulate, thermal infrared, and solar radiation sensors in the MWS package.
It has also developed a FWOS sensor that is capable of measuring critical fire which are not currently available in a compact, field- deployed, self-powered, autonomous, all-in-one sensor module.