Austria to predict wildfires by tracking runners

The Austrian government will soon implement artificial intelligence (AI) to predict where wildfires are going to happen by using tracking data from runners and cyclists.

The more people in the woods, the bigger the wildfire risk, says Kevin Mallinger from SBA Research which developed the new wildfire prediction tool for the Ministry of Agriculture.

"Many people nowadays are using tracking apps when they are running or cycling and we gathered this data that we found on the web and basically trained the AI on it," Mallinger explained to CGTN. "It's calculating the fire risk based on the movement."

People enjoying the outdoors pose a risk to public safety. Around 95 percent of Europe's wildfires are ignited by humans. Typical scenarios are camping, cigarette smoking or defective infrastructure such as broken power lines.

In Europe, last year saw one of the most severe wildfire seasons this century, with more than half a million hectares scorched.

"This is very often related to climate change," says Harald Vacik, a silviculture professor at Vienna's BOKU university. "There's a clear trend that the increasing temperatures and also an increasing number of drought days leads to an increasing number of ignitions."

In Austria, the rough Alpine terrain makes wildfire prediction more difficult. Hacik is calling on the population to help gather more data.

"We also have an app called 'spot fire' which can be used by every citizen helping us collect data about where wildfires occur and in which conditions," he added.

Within weeks, AI expert Kevin Mallinger will submit Austria's newest wildfire tool to the government which is spending $10 million on fire prevention through its 'forest fund'.

The ministry of agriculture "can now create potentially early warning systems in this area - sensors that are monitoring for ignitions of fires," said Mallinger.

In future, people enjoying the outdoors will continue to pose a wildfire risk. But - as long as they use smartphones - the government might be better prepared.

Cover image: Erik Isakson/Tetra Images|/Getty Creative/CFP

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