App for forest fires

KOLKATA: An Android app developed by a Kolkata NGO could have prevented the devastating fire that now engulfs the forests of Uttarakhand. Once fed with inputs, the app can not only predict forest fires but also identifies the location, magnitude of the fire and the possible damage that it might cause. In case, the app detects a major threat, it issues a real-time alarm to alert those who have it installed in their mobile phones.


Titled F3P, the app is used in a limited way at the Buxa reserve forest in north Bengal. F3P works like any other mobile app. Once downloaded, the user has to feed eight groups of information into the app including wind speed, slope, nature of vegetation, fuel load, temperature and relative humidity. Based on the feedback, the app automatically computes the possibility of a forest fire in the region. It uses a mathematical model which starts working immediately as the mobile is switched on,” said De.


The prediction is made on a scale of 1 to 8. In case, the app detects a big fire, it issues a sound alert. Once a fire is raging, the app keeps sounding real time alerts along with the exact location of the disaster. SMS alerts go out to all those who have the app installed. F3P is linked to a NASA satellite that can detect the smallest of fires.