Rapid Fire Detection, Characterization and Reporting from VIIRS Data

Abstract

Nightfire is a new fire product created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Nightfire algorithm detects and characterizes sub-pixel heat sources using multispectral data collected globally each night by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The Nightfire algorithm is applied to two types of data streams. The global data stream has a 7–10 h latency that renders the data of low value to the first responder community. The second type of data stream comes from direct readout ground stations, where fire detection data can be available in less than 1 h. The Nightfire algorithm currently detects fires with high accuracy, however there are two areas where research and development (R&D) is needed to improve the value of VIIRS satellite fire detections to the first responder community. This includes refinement of the file format and file content, and improvements in the data delivery mechanisms. It should be possible to develop services that deliver graphics and text results to smartphones and other mobile devices used by the first responder community.