{"id":8079,"date":"2020-07-15T16:58:35","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T16:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.utopiafiber.com\/?p=8079"},"modified":"2024-08-20T22:45:04","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T22:45:04","slug":"utopia-fiber-announces-beta-test-of-edwin-project-a-wildfire-early-detection-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.utopiafiber.dev\/es\/utopia-fiber-announces-beta-test-of-edwin-project-a-wildfire-early-detection-system\/","title":{"rendered":"UTOPIA FIBER ANNOUNCES BETA TEST OF \u2018EDWIN PROJECT\u2019 \u2013 A WILDFIRE EARLY DETECTION SYSTEM"},"content":{"rendered":"

A.I.-Enabled Thermal Imaging Cameras Will Alert First Responders to First Signs of Wildfires, Saving Time, Property, and Lives<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
First EDWIN Project Cameras Unveiled in Layton, Murray, and Woodland Hills, UT <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Each Minute of Response Time Reduced Saves $44,000-$215,000 in Economic Loss including $3,000 in Firefighting Costs<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

(Layton, UTAH July 15, 2020)\n\u2013 A hot-and-dry 2020 means above-normal fire conditions throughout Utah and the\nwest, and as wildfire season begins, firefighters have a new early-detection\ntool at their fingertips called \u201cEDWIN.\u201d EDWIN, which stands for Early\nDetection Wildfire Imaging Network was created by the Smart Cities team at\nUTOPIA Fiber (in conjunction with a Brigham Young University Capstone Project),\nand uses thermal imaging cameras to detect and report hotspots to area fire\ndepartments, saving critical time for first responders. EDWIN\u2019s beta test was launched\nsimultaneously in Layton, Murray, and Woodland Hills, UT and leverages UTOPIA\u2019s\nultra-fast fiber network to instantly transmit video and other data to\nauthorities when just a small hot spot is detected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe EDWIN Project thermal\nimaging cameras are so advanced, they can detect a hot spot down to a pixel,\u201d explains\nRoger Timmerman, Executive Director, UTOPIA Fiber. \u201cOnce the cameras detect\ntemperatures exceeding 300 degrees Fahrenheit, data is instantly transmitted\nthrough UTOPIA\u2019s fiber lines to the fire department which can review and\nrespond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For decades, Salt Lake Valley\nfire crews have depended largely on residents dialing 9-1-1 when they spotted\nsmoke. In many instances, these calls come in too late to prevent the rapid\nspread of fire, especially during dry and windy conditions. The EDWIN Project\nis programmed to automatically alert crews to developing hotspots well before\nsmoke is visible, significantly cutting down response times and potential fire damage.\nTo quantify, each minute of response time that is reduced by \u201cEDWIN\u201d is\nestimated to prevent between $44,000 – $215,000 in economic loss (including\n$3,029 in firefighting costs), depending on topography and population density. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a close brush with a\nmassive blaze that nearly wiped out the community in 2018, the City of Woodland\nHills eagerly jumped aboard as the first beta test site for the EDWIN Project. Layton\nCity followed suit shortly thereafter due to similar fire concerns. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen\nfirsthand how devastating wildfires can be,\u201d said Alex Jensen, Layton\u2019s City\nManager. \u201cNow, with earlier detection, we can prevent a small problem from\nbecoming a large one. Having a headstart will save lives and property. Layton\nCity is proud to be part of the EDWIN Project\u2019s beta test for the nation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the U.S. Forest\nService, the cost of fighting wildfires has ballooned to $284 per acre in\nrecent years, which adds pressure to municipal budgets. \u201cWe anticipate that\nEDWIN will be an important tool in keeping the community safe and reducing the\nrapidly-escalating cost of battling wildfires. We\u2019re looking forward to learning\nmore during the beta test and seeing how EDWIN cuts wildfire response time,\u201d\nsaid Chief Ward. \u201cEDWIN could make fighting wildfires safer for our team and\nsafer for our community members.\u201d The chief also reminded residents that they\nshould continue to call 9-1-1 if they observe signs of a fire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timmerman said that UTOPIA\nFiber\u2019s Smart Cities team will track response times, and compare that data to\nrecords from previous years to quantify reductions in significant wildfire\nevents. \u201cNone of this would be possible without fiber connectivity,\u201d said\nTimmerman. \u201cThere\u2019s an enormous amount of data that has to move seamlessly and\ninstantly. The EDWIN Project shows that fiber connectivity can power technology\nto address community needs. If all goes well, EDWIN will be a game-changer\u2014and literally\na life saver\u2014for the residents and businesses of Utah and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communities interested in\njoining The EDWIN Project\u2019s beta test, or learning more, can visit UTOPIAfiber.com\/EDWIN.\n<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Statistics:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
  1. In the last\ndecade, the United States averaged over 64,000 wildfires per year, burning an\naverage of 6.8 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center\n(NIFC)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n