Google wildfire detection is available in the US, Mexico, Canada and parts of Australia

At an AI-focused press event in New York today, Google announced it will bring its AI-powered wildfire detection system to the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Australia. It’s one of several “AI for Good” efforts the company detailed this morning, including Google’s efforts to expand flood forecasting to more regions around the world.

The previously announced system uses machine learning models trained on satellite data to track fires in real time and predict how they will spread. The feature will initially focus on helping first responders determine how best to bring the fire under control.

“Our machine learning models, trained on satellite imagery, allow us to identify and track wildfires in real time and predict their spread, allowing us to assist firefighters and other first responders,” said Katherine Chou, senior director at Google Research, at the Stage.

Around this time last year, Google announced that it would be adding the technology as a layer on Google Maps. The company noted at the time:

[W]We are now merging all Wildfire information from Google and publishing it globally with a new layer on Google Maps. The Wildfire layer lets you get up-to-date details on multiple fires at once, allowing you to make quick, informed decisions in the event of an emergency. Just tap a fire to view available links to local government resources such as: B. Emergency websites, phone numbers for help and information, and evacuation details. When available, you can also see important details about the fire, such as: B. its containment, how many hectares have been burned and when all this information was last reported.

The feature complements a similar ML-based flood forecasting feature announced back in 2018. The former is now expanding to a further 18 countries with the global launch of the new FloodHub, Google’s platform that displays flood forecasts and shows when and where flooding may occur. The countries are: Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Angola, South Sudan, Namibia, Liberia and South Africa.

Google also noted, as previously covered in a Wired article, that it uses machine learning models to identify damaged buildings after natural disasters like hurricanes. By analyzing the same satellite imagery as wildfire detection tools, the models provide responders with information about the hardest-hit areas in the first phase of response efforts, Google says.

Google first applied the technology in partnership with nonprofit GiveDirectly to identify and route donations to low-income households impacted by Hurricane Ian. More recently, the company has applied the models to support government relief efforts during the recent floods in Pakistan, Chou says.

“We hope to continue to enable organizations to provide assistance to those in need more quickly,” she added.