Abstract:
Apparatus and a method involving airborne ground-fire data-gathering for overlay mapping and fire-control purposes. From a methodologic point of view, the method includes, from an airborne platform, (a) gathering, for visual presentation and viewing purposes, related optical and thermal fire-perimeter data, (b) gathering critical-alignment evaluation data, such as air temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and speed, which is associated with and relevant to such optical and thermal data, and transmitting all of such data, effectively in a geophysically-linked manner, to a remote site for map-display viewing and evaluation. The method further includes applying to such gathered data selected critical-alignment, severity-scale parameters which are employable generally to rank, from lower to higher, fire severity conditions in terms of prioritizing the deployment of fire-fighting resources, and from, and on the basis of, such applying, effectively map-highlighting, also for viewing and evaluation, selected parts of the gathered data which indicate certain higher-severity fire conditions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to prior-filed, currently copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/456,958, filed Mar. 23, 2003 for “Enhanced, Downlink-Capable, Fire-Data Gathering and Monitoring” by David A. Johnson. The entire contents of that provisional application are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention pertains to ground-fire management, and in particular to an airborne method which results in the digital transmission, to a suitable ground station, of ground fire perimeter data including different isothermal conditions that lie along the length of such a line, accompanied by so-called critical-alignment data which can be used to prioritize and focus the utilization of ground-fire fighting resources. A preferred embodiment of and manner of practicing the present invention are described in conjunction with gathering data from an airborne support platform, such as the frame of an over-flying helicopter, a situation in which the present invention has been found to offer particular utility.  
           [0003]    Prior-issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,842, issued on Nov. 3, 1992, describes what is referred to in that patent as infrared fire-perimeter mapping. This patent describes the background against which the present invention has been created. In that patent, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, a system and a methodology are described wherein an over-flying aircraft, such as a helicopter, acquires both thermal and optical data which is positionally coordinated, and aimed at producing data streams that allow for the overlay printing, if so desired, on a common topographic map, for example, of the observed perimeter line of a ground fire, with that line marked or distinguished in any suitable manner along regions of its length to highlight different isothermal conditions existing along that line.  
           [0004]    The present invention augments the structure and methodology disclosed in that patent in several significant ways. To begin with, the apparatus of the present invention is constructed in such a fashion that a thermal imager and an optical imager carried in an over-flying airborne structure, such as a helicopter, can be angulated to an infinite different number of angles about a gravity line axis, and can also be tilted upwardly and downwardly through an infinite number of angles. This arrangement allows for the easy overhead observation of many regions along a fire line from a substantially common overhead location.  
           [0005]    Another very important feature of the present invention is that the system and methodology of the invention propose the gathering of so-called critical-alignment data which include air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction. GPS data is also integrated with all captured data so that the relative positions between a particular point along a fire line, and the site of the observing overhead structure, are known quite accurately in space relative to one another. Critical-alignment data is that important collection of data which, when combined with fire perimeter isothermal data, can significantly aid in the direction and utilization of best-available fire fighting resources to deal with conditions along a fire line that need priority attention.  
           [0006]    These and other features and advantages which are attained by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description which now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a block/schematic diagram illustrating generally all of the componentry, (airborne and ground-sited) which make up the system of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a very simplified downwardly looking plan view of a portion of a ground fire showing a pair of common-elevation topographic lines which are intersected in various ways by a fragmentarily shown fire line. Also pictured in FIG. 2, in a very simplified manner, is an airborne support platform in the form of an over-flying helicopter which is utilizing what is referred to in FIG. 1 as the aircraft-carried structural portions of the system of the invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 isolates the fire line shown in FIG. 2, with regions along the line marked to indicate representative isothermal stretches along the line.  
         [0010]    In both FIGS. 2 and 3, somewhat enlarged black dots (three of them) lie along the fire line to represent particular points along that line wherein, as will be explained below, priority-attention regions have been noted in accordance with practice of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 relates to FIGS. 2 and 3, and illustrates, along with these two other figures, the infinite angular adjustability which is provided in accordance with this invention with respect to two, substantially common line-of-site imagers including a thermal imager and an optical imager. This drawing figure is also employed to picture the different line-of-sight distances which exist between the observing helicopter and the three priority-noted points along the fire line. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    Turning now to the drawings, and referring first of all to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 in its entirety shows generally at  10  an airborne-based ground-fire management system which incorporates and employs a preferred and best-mode embodiment of the present invention. System  10  is also referred to herein as apparatus for temperature and critical-alignment evaluation mapping and remote reporting. Generally speaking, system  10  includes airborne componentry  12 , also labeled generally “Carried In Aircraft”, and a remote ground installation  14  located at an appropriate ground site which is stationed, by selection, somewhere in the vicinity of a ground fire which is being addressed. While there are many manners in which the airborne componentry which operates in accordance with the present invention can be deployed overhead a ground fire, for purposes of illustration herein, this componentry is described as being carried appropriately aboard a helicopter  16  (see FIG. 2) which includes a frame  16   a  (also illustrated in FIG. 2). Frame  16   a  is also referred to herein as an airborne support platform.  
         [0013]    Airborne componentry  12  is represented schematically in FIG. 1 in the form of ten different operatively interconnected labeled blocks. Included in the componentry of airborne structure  12  are an optical video camera, or optical imaging structure  18 , a thermal camera, or thermal imaging structure  20 , and a camera axis position sensor  22 . Cameras  18 ,  20  are effectively locked together for coordinated positional movement as a unit, whereby they essentially share what is referred to herein as a substantially common view axis, or line-of-sight, represented in FIG. 1 by dash-double-dot line  24 . Position sensor  22  is appropriately associated with cameras  18 ,  20  to produce an appropriate data stream which is indicative of the angular position in space of that common view axis. Sensor  22  is also referred to herein as structure for reporting the angle of the mentioned line-of-sight. An appropriate data-communication path, not specifically illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided for supplying this angular position data appropriately to a central data processor in structure  12 , which processor is illustrated by block  26  in FIG. 1. With reference just for a moment to FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 , this angular positioning capability which is provided, in any suitable conventional manner, for cameras  18 ,  20  is reflected by the angles generally indicated at α 1  and α 2  in FIGS. 3 and 4. Angle α 1  indicates the capability of adjusting view axis  24  substantially infinitely and horizontally in 360-degrees around a gravity line which is shown at  28  in FIGS. 2, 3, and  4 . Angle α 2  reflects the capability of the appropriate mounting which is provided for the two cameras for angulation infinitely within a vertical plane which contains gravity line  28 .  
         [0014]    Cameras  18 ,  20 , and position sensor  22 , are entirely conventional individually in construction, and accordingly, details of these individual structures are not provided herein, inasmuch as they form no part of the present invention.  
         [0015]    Also included in airborne componentry  12  is a conventional geophysical position sensor, or sensing structure, (GPS)  30  which furnishes spatial GPS information to cameras  18 ,  20 , and also to data processor  26 .  
         [0016]    Optical and thermal imagery output data from cameras  18 ,  20  is supplied through a conventional special effects unit  32  to data processor  26 . This output data which is supplied from unit  32  to processor  26  may also, at one&#39;s option, be supplied to one or more appropriate on-board thermal and/or optical monitors, and may also be fed appropriately to a suitable image recording device. Unit  32 , as was mentioned, is a conventional unit, and this unit is designed to produce a proper common-time-base visual overlay relationship between the thermal and optical imagery derived from cameras  18 ,  20 . This arrangement enables such imagery to be overlaid effectively on a common viewable print, such as an overlay print on a topographic map of the region from which the imagery is derived.  
         [0017]    Further associated with camera  18 ,  20  for determining the distance along axis  24  between these cameras and any particular central point on the ground at which the cameras are looking, is a conventional laser distance measuring device represented by a block  34  in FIG. 1. Data from this distance measuring device is also appropriately supplied to processor  26 .  
         [0018]    Illustrated by a block  36  in FIG. 1, within componentry collection  12  is conventional structure which is armed with appropriate sensors for detecting important “atmospheric” data which is relevant to the issue mentioned earlier referred to as critical alignment. Block  36  is also referred to herein both as atmospheric-condition sensing structure, and as critical-alignment data gathering structure. Thus, block  36  represents appropriate sensors for detecting current air temperature, current relative humidity, and current wind direction and speed. Each of these categories of data is appropriately supplied to previously mentioned data processor  26 , and it is this data which enables practice of the present invention to link so-called critical-alignment data with regions along the perimeter of a ground fire which may require special prioritized attention, depending upon the severity of fire conditions which may be indicated. As will be mentioned shortly herein, an appropriate set of rules and/or conditions (criteria) are utilized with respect to all of the data gathered by practice of the present invention in order to determine and mark areas along a fire perimeter which require such special attention.  
         [0019]    In one data-communication form or another, which may be entirely conventional in nature, all of the data mentioned so far which is supplied to data processor  26  is handled within this data processor as digital data. Processed digital output data from processor  26  is supplied to an appropriate transmission coding structure represented by a block  38 , and thence sent via a downlink transmitter  40  to componentry which is located at previously mentioned remote ground installation  14  shown in FIG. 1. Data downlink transmission is represented in FIG. 1 by the jagged arrow line shown at  42 .  
         [0020]    Considering the componentry which makes up the collection thereof shown at  14  in FIG. 1, at the mentioned remote ground installation, included here are a downlink receiver  43 , a digital processor/analyzer  44 , a video monitor  45 , and an overlay plotter/printer  46 . Receiver  43  receives transmissions from transmitter  40 , and supplies these to processor/analyzer  44  which decodes this information to produce appropriate data output streams for supply each to monitor  45  and to plotter/printer  46 . Typically, the apparatus thus shown generally at  14  in FIG. 1 is located at a ground site where fire-management command control is centered with respect to a particular ground fire.  
         [0021]    Describing a bit more here about the make-up and operation of processor/analyzer  44 , and referring to FIG. 5 in the drawings, this device is illustrated in FIG. 5 as including two collections of componentry placed in upper and lower dashed-outline blocks. In the upper block, there are shown two sub-blocks  44   a,    44   b  which, respectively, decode and make available fire-line isothermal data, and critical alignment data, contained in downlink transmission  42 . As will be seen, the fire-line isothermal data is derived ultimately from camera  20 , and is handled by sub-block  44   a  to report regions of isothermal character distributed along the length of a ground-fire perimeter line. Sub-block  44   b  focuses attention on the elements of the previously mentioned critical-alignment data which are downlink-transmitted, including current information relative to air temperature, relative humidity, and wind direction and speed in the vicinity of helicopter  16  which contains cameras  18 ,  20 . Considering what takes place in the lower dashed-outline block in FIG. 5, outputs from these two first mentioned sub-blocks are fed to a sub-block  44   c  which is labeled “Analysis, and Apply Flagging” in FIG. 5. It is within this sub-block  44   c  that rules and criteria for associating critical-alignment data with fire-line isothermal data are applied, as such rules and criteria are supplied by a sub-block  44   d  labeled “Severity/Priority”. These rules and criteria are matters completely of user selection and choice. They are the rules and criteria which determine whether and where particular regions along a ground fire line are to be treated as critical conditions in relation to current isothermal conditions and critical-alignment data, thus to justify focusing special attention in terms of the application of fire-fighting resources. One can think of this determination as one which sets priorities for fire-management attention in accordance with perceived severity of fire risk conditions at such regions along a fire line.  
         [0022]    Turning attention now more specifically to FIGS. 2-4, inclusive, FIG. 2 represents a downwardly looking plan view, taken essentially along gravity line  28 , illustrating helicopter  16  in a position overhead an existing ground fire which has a perimeter line partially shown by dashed line  48  in FIGS. 2 and 3. A north-pointing arrow is shown at  49 . As can be seen particularly in FIG. 2, this fire line “snakes its way” along the topography of the immediate underlying ground, across representational topographic lines which are shown by two, fragmentary, irregular, solid lines  50 ,  52  in FIG. 2. For the purpose of the present explanation, it will be assumed that to the right generally of fire line  48  the subject ground fire has already burned available fuel, and that unburned fuel resides effectively to the left, and somewhat above this line, as such is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Another assumption with respect to the manner in which FIG. 2 is drawn is that topographic line  50  represents an elevation above sea level which is somewhat lower than that represented by topographic line  52 .  
         [0023]    With the system and methodology of the present invention at work in helicopter  16 , the helicopter is appropriately flown and positioned over a region of the ground fire, such as is pictured generally in FIG. 2. From this point in space, and because of the multi-angular articulation capability which is afforded the positioning of view axis  24  with respect to cameras  18 ,  20 , it is entirely possible for these cameras to be aimed in such a fashion that they can comprehensively view a relatively long stretch of the underlying fire line without requiring the helicopter to reposition itself significantly. Especially aiding in this is the articulation mentioned for the mounting of the cameras, whereby fire-line conditions, with respect to isothermal regions along that line, can be viewed with significant accuracy without the helicopter having to be in a position wherein the cameras must look directly or straight down at the fire line.  
         [0024]    For purposes of illustration herein, three particular view lines, or positions, for common view axis  24  are shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and  4  by lines  24   a,    24   b,    24   c.  In FIGS.  2  and  3  these three lines are represented by dash-double-dot lines. In FIG. 4 they are represented by solid lines.  
         [0025]    From the position of helicopter  16  shown in FIG. 2, these three lines,  24   a,    24   b,    24   c  effectively direct central attention to three points, or regions,  48   a,    48   b,    48   c,  respectively, distributed at spaced locations along line  48 , and very specifically at different elevations above sea level as determined by the topography of the underlying ground. As can be seen in FIG. 4, lines  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,  in terms of their lengths which measure the distances between helicopter  16  and ground points  48   a,    48   b,    48   c,  respectively, are different, with the distance represented by lines  24   b  being the shortest distance, that represented by line  24   a  being the intermediate-length distance, and that represented by line  24   c  being the longest distance. In FIG. 4, lines  24   a,    24   b,    24   c  are presented in a common vertical plane, and the points of view taken, respectively, for these lines are indicated generally by the A, B and C arrows presented in FIG. 2. Further with respect to FIG. 4, the different ground-fire points  48   a,    48   b,    48   c  are shown to reside at different elevations E a , E b , E c  above sea level, with sea level being represented by a dash-triple-dot line E sl .  
         [0026]    In FIG. 3 which isolates fire line  48  for consideration, four different stretches, or lengths,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60  are generally illustrated distributed along this line. These four lengths, or regions, along line  48  are marked representationally in FIG. 3 to illustrate a condition where each of these lengths possesses, generally speaking, a different isothermal condition. In the presentation which is made available after data processing performed in accordance with practice of the present invention, both aboard an overhead aircraft and at a ground site, these regions of fire line  48  will appropriately be marked with different line characters, colors, etc., in order to indicate the presences of different isothermal conditions. The specific manner of marking such lengths of a fire line to indicate different isothermal conditions is completely a matter of user choice in terms of the granularity of information and the manner of visual presentation. Previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,842 describes this situation in detail.  
         [0027]    Additionally contributed by the structure and operation of the present invention, in addition to the implementation of fire-line isothermal marking as just described, is additional fire line flagging to indicate regions, or locations, along the line which, in accordance with application of critical-alignment data, require special notice and attention. “Flagging” is a term which is employed herein to refer to a very useful manner in which such high priority regions may be presented visually to a user, such as a ground fire resource commander located, for example, at the remote ground site illustrated generally at  14  in FIG. 1.  
         [0028]    Thus, one will see in FIG. 3 three flags shown at  62   a,    64   a,    66   a  represented by differently shaded rectangles. These rectangles illustrate the use of visual markers that may be presented in an overlay print, and/or on a video monitor, specifically associated with fire-line regions, or points,  48   a,    48   b,    48   c,  respectively, where critical alignment conditions have indicated that special attention needs to be directed. Flags, such as those shown at  62   a,    64   a,    66   a,  may have suitably chosen different appearances which are shapes, colors, etc., to relate their meanings to different levels of concern or severity which may be associated with those several fire-line regions. Such flags may be presented immediately upon the system of the present invention detecting their respective presences in accordance with the rules and criteria applied regarding critical-alignment data (as mentioned earlier), or, they may be called up and presented to a viewer in any appropriate fashion when called for. The flags may be associated, as an illustration, with detailed text further describing conditions at the marked locations, and such text materials are shown generally at  62   b,    64   b,    66   b  in FIG. 3.  
         [0029]    An illustration of critical-alignment information/conditions which might result in priority flagging along fire line  48 , say in the vicinity of point, or region  48   a , is as follows:  
         [0030]    (a) Fire-line isothermal temperature—470° F.  
         [0031]    (b) Air temperature—90° F.  
         [0032]    (c) Relative humidity—17%  
         [0033]    (d) Wind speed—10-knots  
         [0034]    (e) Wind direction—North, into new fuel  
         [0035]    From the above description of the invention, the steps involved in practice of the invention are seen to include:  
         [0036]    1. Gathering thermal and optical fire-line data along a substantially common line-of-sight which can be adjusted infinitely to occupy different angles in space.  
         [0037]    2. Noting the angular disposition in space of such a line-of-sight.  
         [0038]    3. Gathering critical-alignment atmospheric data, including air temperature relative humidity, and wind speed and direction.  
         [0039]    4. Noting the distance from the observation site to an observed location along a fire-line perimeter.  
         [0040]    5. Associated with all of the above data relevant GPS information.  
         [0041]    6. Transmitting all such data from the observation location to a remote ground site for interpretation, and mapping for viewing.  
         [0042]    7. Applying critical-alignment severity and priority parameters.  
         [0043]    The system and method of the invention thus propose and offer a unique opportunity to provide detailed and highly relevant command and control information with respect to the management and directing of ground fire fighting resources. From an overhead support platform, typically in the form of an aircraft such as a helicopter, ground fire perimeter line isothermal conditions are readily detected over a wide range of a fire without requiring the overhead observation platform necessarily to be required to be directly over particular regions of a fire line. This is made so by virtue of the multi-angular articulation capability which is afforded optical and thermal imaging cameras that are supported on the frame of the aircraft. Important atmospheric data which is associated with important decision-making criteria involved with the concept of critical alignment are collected simultaneously with thermal and optical data relating to a fire line, and the data, all in digital form, is processed and downlink-transmitted to a control site for observation and decision making. This critical-alignment data adds a very important dimension to the visually presentable information respecting the condition of a ground fire perimeter line, and specifically enables the immediate flagging for attention, in a prioritized manner, of conditions along the fire line which need to be addressed with special, and often urgent and immediate attention.  
         [0044]    Angle of line-of-site data, laser distance data, and GPS data, all linked to optical and thermal imagery, and critical-alignment atmosphere data, provide a powerful package of immediately and visually available information to those in charge of fighting ground fires.  
         [0045]    The system and methodology of the invention are easily implemented with a variety of conventional sub-components that are assembled and operated in a unique fashion in accordance with practice of the invention. The system and method of the invention can be implemented in a wide variety of ways, and can easily be implemented and invoked in an after-fit manner with respect to currently available conventional ground fire-fighting equipment and modalities.  
         [0046]    Accordingly, while a preferred and best mode embodiment of, and manner of practicing, the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.