The Western United States often faces severe wildfire seasons. Each year, wildfires destroy homes, displace communities and envelop millions in hazardous smoke. In response, University of Washington engineering researchers are creating innovative solutions to better predict, manage and mitigate the often devastating impacts of wildfires.
Karen Leung of the UW’s Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics is leading a team that is developing drones that can map fires in real-time, offering crucial guidance and information for wildland firefighters. Separately, a team from the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering are looking at the effects of post-fire sediment transport, specifically about how it can trigger flooding. That research team is utilizing advanced drone-based LIDAR and modeling software to help improve flooding hazard prediction.
These efforts are part of a larger initiative conducted by UW’s RAPID Center, which aims to equip researchers with tools and support to help collect and analyze disaster data.