The mycelium

Apart from preventive measures early detection of fires is the only way to minimize the damages and casualties. Most of the times when someone notice about the fire it is too late because the fire has spread. Early detection of hot spots and the initiation of appropriate measures can prevent or at least minimize damage and casualties.

The project is proposing the wireless sensor network-based forest fire detection system that has the potential to achieve the high detection resolution with capability to have alert management and to deliver early warning alarms. Like the mushrooms interconnect their roots with other plants forming a communication network mycelium via which information such as warning signals of pathogen and aphid attacks are transmitted between plants. The wireless system uses ground warm sensors and thermal imaging cameras disseminated by the forest and translated the signal to the watchtower. The cameras setting on the trees high points to view and fixate the critical temperature increase to transmit the information to the watchtower.

The warm sensors sets into the ground on the distance of 800 m from each other. Detectors reveals the temperature of the ground and send the data to watchtower wirelessly. This especially important in case of peat fires which is common event in Leningrad Region. Such kind of fires is hardly detected using outer observe.

The image of the watchtower is representing idea of a contrast of the fire and water. There is a tank of water upon a garage. The rainwater is drained into the tank.