1FIREWX Wildfire Detection and Persistence Surveillance: Assessing Capabilities to Address Remote Sensing Gaps

Wildfire is a growing national challenge due to the compounded risk due to accumulating fuels related to forest management practices, evolving environmental impacts from a shifting climate and encroachment of civilization on wildland forests in the expansion of the wildland urban interface. Effective wildfire management requires rapid detection and persistent surveillance. Members of the Chief Technology Officers’ Wildfire Working Group studied gaps observed in wildfire detection and persistence surveillance as part of a larger effort. In this study, we assess ground-, air-, and space-based remote sensing capabilities to perform these missions. Building on an understand of user needs informed by engagement with state and federal wildfire stakeholders, our analysis focuses on a few epochs; a 2024 snapshot, a nearer-term future of 2027 - 2029, and a look-ahead to future capabilities in 2034. In the 2024 baseline segment of work, we assess the application of existing capabilities for detection and surveillance. For the 2029 and 2034 epochs, we look at anticipated capabilities and technology that could fill gaps in surveillance and detection such as new space-based Government and commercial instruments. Our findings highlight current and future capabilities that are nominally planned for deployment at regional or national scale will significantly improve detection and surveillance for wildfire management activities.