bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clusters analysis applied to drought and forest fires in mainland Portugal (NUT III regions) from 1980 to 2019
Authors: Cardoso Edna , Novo Ilda , Moreira Nuno , Silva Pedro , Silva Álvaro , Pires Vanda
Published: October 2022

In order to better understand Extreme Fire Event conditions at the regional level in Portugal, a preliminary analysis on drought conditions and forest fires considering NUT III administrative organization was performed and is presented in this work. This analysis will support a more comprehensive study on the relation between weather-climate conditions (drought, heat, wind) and forest fires (occurrences and burned areas). To classify the drought, two drought indices were considered â€“ PDSI (Palmer Drought Severity Index) and SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index), the last one for 3- and 6 months time scales. The computation was based on weather station observations for the period 1981 - 2019 in mainland Portugal, with aggregation in 23 NUT III on a monthly basis. To analyse the forest fires distribution per NUT III a monthly dataset of fire occurrences and burned areas during the period was used. The exploratory analysis was carried out in the STATISTICA software, using two clustering methods (K-Means and tree clustering). Since the results of those methods are subjective, before applying them, in the case of drought, the ideal number of clusters was calculated, making a sensibility analysis using the R tool NbClust. The results from clustering are presented through maps in which the groups of NUT III regions with the same behaviour are identified.
Combining sentinel observations with plume backtrackings to improve wildfire detection
Authors: Baró Rocío , Mulder Marie D. , Arnold Delia , Natali Stefano , Figuera Ramiro Marco , Hirtl Marcus
Published: October 2022

During the last decades, there has been an increase in wildfires around the globe. Climate change with higher temperatures and lower humidity, due to changing precipitation patterns, is the main factor raising the fire risk. Using earth observations is an important method to detect wildfires. Especially in areas far from populated regions, satellites support the identification of wildfires and allow issuing warnings in case of a developing event. In wildfire detection methods using satellite data, the occurrence of false alarms is unavoidable. The main goal of this work is to improve the detection of wildfires by using state-of-the-art earth observation data, specifically data from Sentinel missions, together with modelling approaches in a combined new methodology. Most of the current methods to detect wildfires by earth observations mainly use a single satellite-based data source to retrieve surface information. The benefit to existing methods is that surface- and atmospheric observations from Sentinels-3 and -5P will be combined, with the aim to reduce the number of false alarms. Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-5P can be used as independent data sources, the former is able to detect thermal anomalies in the surface, and the latter is capable of detecting direct fire emissions such as CO and HCHO in the atmosphere. The combined use with the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART will allow the backtracking of fire emissions plus the aerosol mid height from Sentinel-5P to better identify wildfires sources. For this purpose, so called â€˜source-receptor sensitivitiesâ€™ are calculated, that provide information on the times and areas potentially contributing to the observed plume. Finally, identified wildfires can be validated using Sentinel-2 images. The innovation of our approach is to combine sentinel observations with atmospheric smoke plume simulations, by applying a dispersion model in backward mode to backtrack the possible source region of the smoke plume.
Delivering a New Australian Fire Danger Rating System – Building on decades of research to deliver public safety outcomes
Authors: Heemstra Simon , Matthews Stuart , Dunstan Fiona , Jay Hiru , Louis Simon
Published: October 2022

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) was launched on 1 September 2022, bringing a generational change to the way that Australia calculates and communicates fire danger. Its focus is improved public safety and reduced impacts of bushfires though: â€¢ Improving the science behind fire danger predictions. â€¢ Improving the way that fire danger is communicated. â€¢ Providing government and industry with better decision-making tools. â€¢ Reducing future costs associated with bushfire impacts. The previous fire danger rating system was introduced in the 1960â€™s by Australiaâ€™s first full-time bushfire researcher, Alan McArthur, based on extensive experimental fires. While useful, the system included only two fire behaviour models (dry sclerophyll forest and grassland), was not easily updateable and fires were being experienced that increasingly exceeded its design parameters. In July 2014, Senior Officers and Ministers agreed that the development of a new system was a national priority. The new system was developed by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service in collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology, all Australian states and territories and the Commonwealth government. Program management and system implementation were coordinated by AFAC (Australiaâ€™s National Council for Fire and Emergency Services). The new AFDRS uses contemporary fire behaviour science, makes better use of available data and uses software infrastructure that can be continuously improved. The AFDRS starts with eight fire behaviour models representing a representative range of Australian vegetation types, it captures current fuel information, uses satellite data, integrates weather from the Bureau of Meteorology and calculates fire danger down to a 1.5km by 1.5-kilometer grid. These calculations are linked to tools that assist fire operational decision-making via a Fire Behaviour Index that is calibrated to operational implications for fire management. A separate arm of the project developed a public-facing Fire Danger Rating framework, guided by one of Australiaâ€™s largest social research projects. The research found that, while fire danger signage was well recognised, few acted on fire danger ratings to plan their activities. Focus groups and subsequent surveys found that the community preferred a simplified public-facing system where each fire danger rating had a distinct call to action. The implementation of the new system required an enormous effort from all levels of government across all States and Territories as well as the Commonwealth. It required updates to legislation, policy, procedures, web pages and other IT infrastructure, as well as replacement of physical signage. However, as a result, Australia has a significantly new way of calculating and communicating fire danger, that is continuously improvable and which will bring benefits for decades to come.
Extreme fire spread events and their drivers in the western US
Authors: Stevens-Rumann Camille S , Coop Jonathan , Parks Sean , Ritter Scott , Hoffman Chad
Published: October 2022

Wildfire activity in recent years not only have large total area burned but also large, single-day fire spread events that pose challenges to ecological systems and human communities. Our objective was to better understand the relationships between extreme single-day fire spread events, annual area burned, and fire-season climate, and predict changes under future warming. We employ a satellite-derived dataset of daily fire spread events in the western USA and gridded climate data over this region to assess relationships between extreme single-day fire spread events, annual area burned, and fire-season maximum temperature, climate moisture deficit, and vapor pressure deficit over a time period of 2002-2020. We then develop models to predict fire activity under a 2Â°C warming scenario. Extreme single-day fire spread events >1100 ha (the top 16%) accounted for 70% of the cumulative area burned over the period of analysis. Annual area burned was correlated with number and mean size of spread events, and those largest of these large fire spread events. In 2020, wildfires burned over 4 million ha in the US and we identified 441 extreme events in 2020 alone that together burned 2.2 million ha across our study area. In contrast, the average extreme events between 2002 and 2019 was 168 per year that burned 0.5 million ha. Fire season climate variables correlate strongly with the annual number of extreme events and area burned. Our models predict that the annual number of extreme fire spread events more than doubles under a 2Â°C warming scenario, with an attendant doubling in area burned. Exceptional fire seasons like 2020 will likely be more common, and wildfire activity under future extremes will likely exceed anything witnessed yet. Safeguarding human communities and supporting resilient ecosystems may require new lines of scientific inquiry, novel land management approaches, and accelerated climate mitigation efforts.
Initial Assessment of Fire Response Time Between Different Category of Fire Station
Authors: Jusoh Wan Nursheila Wan , Tharima Ahmad Faiz , Ghani Wahyunah , Abdullah Nur Kamarulzaman Malik , Lukman Hafizah Mohammad , Visvasathan Sunthaar , Shamsudin Mohd Hafizi , Zuhudi Nurul Zuhairah Mahmud , Nur Nurhayati Mohd
Published: October 2022

Response time is one of the important indicators in fire operations. It is crucial to have a continuous assessment of response time to monitor the performance level of the firefighter. This paper conducted the initial assessment of fire response time on selected fire stations from categories A, B, C and D throughout Malaysia from 2018 until 2020. A 10 minutes standard response time was used as a benchmark to evaluate the fire stations performance. Most of the fire stations show positive development in terms of average response time within the three years. The implementation of movement control order in 2020 has significantly reduced traffic congestion hence improving the average response time. Category C and D fire stations show a high average distance travelled and response time due to the local topographic. Constant development in these semi-rural areas might require a new risk profiling to minimise the fire risk. The new addition of fire stations in these areas will cater for the demand from the community.
Large Fires in Portugal and Synoptic Circulation Patterns: Meteorological parameters and fire danger indices associated to Critical Weather Types
Authors: Novo Ilda , Ferreira João , Silva Pedro , Ponte Jorge , Moreira Nuno , Ramos Ricardo , Rio João , Cardoso Edna
Published: October 2022

Large fires in Portugal, with a daily burned area equal to or greater than 3000 ha, occur with specific circulation patterns, being the most frequent the east and northeast directional weather type, but also hybrid cyclonic weather type is a relevant one. The severity of the meteorological conditions, expressed by the magnitude of the meteorological parameters anomaly and fire danger indexes, associated with these patterns, could be a important tool that allow for earlier forecast of fire weather conditions, being a useful support for decision making. However, there are some regional differences that we intend to analyze at NUT III or set of NUT III level, contributing to a forecast with greater detail and oriented to support the fight and prevention of forest fires in Portugal.
Tree geometrical attributes measurement using UAV-born laser scanning
Authors: Chehreh Babak , Viegas Carlos , Moutinho Alexandra
Published: October 2022

Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forest management as one of the categories of forestry, is essential to exploit forestâ€™s full economic and environmental value while ensuring the safety and resilience of the territory against natural or anthropogenic threats such as wildfires. UAV-based remote sensing is a powerful tool for forestry related tasks and measurements. Various studies and experiments have been conducted by different teams all around the world; proving the effectiveness and efficiency of this remote sensing platform and the machine learning techniques used for the analysis of the acquired data. In this study a multirotor UAV equipped with a LiDAR sensor payload is used to produce high density point cloud of a forested area in northern Portugal. The acquired data is then used to produce point cloud-driven digital models for various forestry tasks including individual tree detection, calculation of diameter at breast height, total height and tree crown diameter. The calculated results are then validated by comparing them to the field data. The proposed methodology has potential applications for the detailed mapping of forest and wildland urban interface environments using autonomous, time and cost-effective means, towards proper forest land management for profitability and wildfire risk assessment.
A spatially explicit model of litter accumulation in fire maintained longleaf pine forest ecosystems of the Southeastern USA
Authors: Sánchez-López Nuria , Hudak Andrew T. , Boschetti Luigi , Silva Carlos A. , Bright Benjamin C. , Loudermilk E Louise
Published: October 2022

The continuity and depth of the surface fuel layer (i.e., litter and duff) are major drivers of fire spread and fuel consumption. Nevertheless, its spatial explicit quantification over relatively large areas remains unresolved: local fuel heterogeneity introduces large uncertainties in estimates derived from field-based models and sparse data samples. Besides that, the sensitivity of remote sensors to surface litter loads is limited, particularly under canopy cover. In fire-maintained pine forests of the Southeastern US, surface fuel accumulation and its distribution over the forest floor are mainly driven by vegetation productivity, decomposition, and time since fire (TSF). Traditional ecological and stand-level models provide a means to equilibrate between opposing rates of deposition and decomposition as a function of TSF at the landscape level but donâ€™t account for spatial heterogeneity. We developed a top-down, object-based approach for wall-to-wall estimation of surface litter loads using TSF records, the ecological-based Olson model, and tree crown objects derived from airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. The approach involves, first, the spatially explicit estimation of litter production through a tree crown production model, driven by tree crown attributes extracted from the ALS point clouds, and informed by tree inventory data and allometric equations, including vegetation leaf turnover rates. Second, litter accumulation is estimated using the fire-driven Olson equation, which models accumulation progressively with time until decomposition balances deposition and a steady state of accumulation is reached. The methodology is demonstrated at several fire-maintained longleaf pine forest locations in southeastern USA, where tree inventory data, surface litter loads, prescribed fire records, and ALS data are available for testing and validation of the methodology. Comparison between preliminary modeled estimates and observed litter loads shows a relatively good agreement (RMSE=0.21 [kg m-2]; BIAS 0.07 [kg m-2]). This suggests that the proposed approach to indirectly map patterns of litter production and litter accumulation can provide a realistic means to map the continuity of the litter layer, thus overcoming the limitation of traditional ecological landscape models to account for spatial heterogeneity. This high-resolution map of litter loads will be further valuable as input to physics-based fire behavior and spread models and to improve the spatially explicit characterization of the duff layer.
Emergency Alerting Technologies Relevant to Forest Fires
Authors: Bell Frank W.
Published: October 2022

California wild and forest fires in 2017 resulted in over 100 fatalities. While WEA alerts were transmitted to mobiles in selected areas, the power and network outages limited their delivery. WEA is similar to the SMS Broadcast system used elsewhere. It does not require subscription, and can be geotargeted, usually by map polygon. There are already available and in development other alerting technologies. The Emergency Alert System on radio and TV in the U.S. has been in use for many years. It is a broadcast break-in system the overrides program content. This was used in one location for the wildfires, but not elsewhere as geotargeting is not possible with this system. It is and analog broadcast technology architecture. AM and FM Broadcast in the U.S. now has HD Radio that is mixed analog and digital. A limited data message can be carried and used for selective delivery of messages. DAB, DAB+ and DRM also can carry a message payload, which can be used for a selective delivery mechanism when the receiver has location position. This may be in a vehicle radio/navigation system. The current digital television system in the U.S. and some other countries is now being replaced by ATSC 3.0. This provided a superior modulation format, Layered Division Multiplexing (LDM) for delivery of program content and alerts to suitable mobiles. An IC for UHF reception and prototype mobiles have been developed. No external antenna is required. Bothe of these new technologies are tested as delivering alerts independently of the mobile network. Within the limitations of radio and TV propagation, such capabilities would provide technology redundancy. The television signal propagation may be limited in rural areas, but ATSC 3.0 is capable of having on frequency repeaters to make a single frequency network for improved coverage of program content and alerting. Multilingual alerts based on the CAP Event Terms list with Message Formats are being provided for.
Influence of Fuel Structure on Gorse Fire Behaviour
Authors: Valencia Andres , Melnik Katharine , Sanders Nick , Hoy Adam Sew , Yan Mozhi , Katurji Marwan , Zhang Jiawei , Schumacher Benjamin , Hartley Robin , Aguilar-Arguello Samuel , Pearce Grant , Finney Mark , Clifford Veronica , Strand Tara
Published: October 2022

Complex interactions between fuel structure and fire highly affects the fire spread efficiency and localized behaviour. Heterogeneous arrangement of the fuel coupled with variability in fuel characteristics can strengthen or hinder heat transfer efficiency, preheating of unburned fuel and consecutive ignition. In this study, we leverage recently developed non-intrusive unmanned aerial vehicle-based (UAV) methods to spatially resolved field-scale fire behaviour properties and compare them with the Canopy Height Model (CHM) derived from pre-burn lidar measurements. Rate of spread and flaming residence time are calculated and mapped from high-resolution overhead visible footages acquired during a four-hectare prescribed gorse fire. The proposed method allows for quantification of the influence of fuel structure spatial variation on fire behaviour properties by capturing localized fire front and burning time variations associated with negative (â€œgapsâ€) and positive (â€œbumpsâ€) changes in canopy height. These findings are supported by results obtained from a novel fire flow visualization method based upon image velocimetry, described here for the first time. Complex fire flow is synthetised via 2D time-averaged motion streamlines and compared with CHM fuel structure. Results suggest that localized fire behaviour changes may be related to flow channelling effects induced by the presence of gaps, enhancing fire flow contact and overall heat transfer efficiency.
Local population safety challenges and property self-protection issues during the mega-fire of 2021 in Νorth Euboea, Greece
Authors: Eftychidis George , Varela Vassiliki
Published: October 2022

The fire in North Euboea in August 2021 was burning continuously for two weeks and destroyed an area greater than fifty thousand hectares, being Greece's biggest ever from a single fire. The response planning of the Greek Civil Protection and the public fire management mechanism urged for preventive evacuation even in cases the fire front was tens of kilometers away from the villages requested to be evacuated. This was dictated by the loss of hundred two people in the fire of Mati three years ago (2018). The locals criticize that the government's decision left firefighters without permission to fight the flames when lives weren't explicitly in danger. The ad-hoc reaction of the local rural population who self-organized themselves and substituted the absence of the public fire services saved several houses and properties that would be condemned to be burned due to the diehard evacuation planning. Analysis of the information gathered from local authorities and citizens who participated in these ad-hoc response teams proves the potential of involving the local population as first responders in case of large wildfires and fire emergencies in the wildland-urban interface and rural areas.
Low-cost solution for forest fire detection using surveillance camera
Authors: Restás Ágoston , Virovácz Valentin , Rácz Sándor , Bodnár László
Published: October 2022

Nowadays climate change is one of the biggest challenges in the entire world. The average temperature on Earth is constantly increasing, and the distribution of seasonal precipitation is extreme. These factors together result in large fires and the new challenges require new solutions. The paper discusses the possibilities of developing the detection of outdoor fires with a camera. One of the objectives of the research is to prove the existence of a detection system by examining the detection conditions of outdoor fires and supporting them with practical examples. The research was determined to keep the costs of the examined developments below the value of properties they saved, so authors consider it a realistic aim to apply them in practice. Another objective was to demonstrate the time gain of the detection of remote sensing. In each case, the comparative analyzes of the authors show that citizen reports, i.e. the current, traditional solution, allow for a later alert than it would have been possible by using remote sensing. In the paper, wildfires were analyzed that were randomly recorded by video cameras. Authors have collected data on the specific fire from various official databases of the Hungarian Disaster Management. Taking into account the speed of fire propagation, it was determined that the burned area and perimeter of the fire are much smaller than the early detection when the firefighters arrive to the site. It shortens the length of the frontline to be extinguished. This predisposes to a lower force requirement for elimination and also significantly reduces the use of intervening forces along with the need for the used extinguishing agent. Overall, the intervention can be made more effective.
Slope effect on Junction Fire with Two Non-symmetric Fire Fronts.
Authors: Ribeiro Carlos , Viegas Domingos Xavier , Raposo Jorge , Reis Luís , Sharples Jason
Published: October 2022

The merging of two linear forest fire fronts that intersect at a small angle creates an accelerating fire in a relatively short time. In the majority of cases during the interaction, the fire fronts are non-symmetric. In PedrogÃ£o Grande on the 17th June 2017, two-fire front merged and the propagation of the fire was influenced by the interaction of these two non-symmetric fire fronts. This forest fire motivates us to study the Junction Fire with two non-symmetrical fire fronts. The analysis of the interaction of point A and the angle between the bisector of the fire lines and the maximum ROS (ï§) is of particular relevance. It is found that with these preliminary laboratory tests, the non-ROS of point A for small rotation angles (ï¤) depends on the slope angle (ï¡) and the initial angle between fire fronts. For the highest slope angles, the non-ROS is the highest influence by the convection process, and the angle ï§ where the maximum ROS occurred, increases when ï¤ increases. However, for the lowest slope angles, the radiation process is dominant and influences the non-ROS. For these cases, the angle ï§ï€ is near to the bisector of the fire lines.
Two-dimensional model of heat transfer in a pine trunk under the influence of a forest fire environment
Authors: Conceição Eusébio , Gomes João , Lúcio Maria Manuela , Viegas Domingos Xavier , Viegas Maria Teresa
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a study on two-dimensional model of heat transfers in a pine tree trunk under the influence of a forest fire environment. In this study, a thermal response model of the tree trunk was developed, starting from a geometric model of complex topology of the trunk obtained using mesh generation. The thermal response model of the tree trunk is founded on energy and mass equations. In energy equations, heat exchanges are considered by conduction inside the tree trunk, by convection between the outside surface of the tree trunk and the surrounding environment and by radiation between the outside surface of the tree trunk and the surrounding area including the fire front. The heat exchanges by radiation between the tree trunk and the fire front are calculated using view factors obtained taking into account the geometric model of the tree trunk. In the numerical simulation, the forest fire environment is represented by a fire front, 10 m wide and 1 m high, which moves, with an inclination of 45Âº, at a constant speed. The numerical results of the temperature distribution tree trunk were obtained for a wind speed of 5 m/s and an average flame temperature of 500ÂºC. These results allow us to locate the tissues of the tree trunk that will reach lethal conditions.
Eye in the Sky - Using High-Altitude Balloons for Decision Support in Wildfire Operations
Authors: Moutinho Alexandra , Sousa Maria João , Almeida Miguel , Bergano Miguel , Henriques Diogo , Silva Dário , Barbosa Domingos , Nero Luis , Navarro António
Published: October 2022

The large fires that have occurred in recent years around the World have shown that the management of these events becomes much more difficult when the extension of the burnt area or the location of the fire fronts, among other fundamental information for those managing operations in theatre, is not known. In addition, the large involvement of firefighting resources often challenges the operability of the communications system, sometimes making it dysfunctional or with limited operability. This was a reality seen in several large fires, from which we highlight the Fire of PedrÃ³gÃ£o Grande that occurred in Portugal in June 2017. Aware of the need to improve operational technology for fire monitoring, the Eye in the Sky Project has been developed. Our approach within this project is to design and develop an easy to deploy kit that can be launched from anywhere and fulfil these needs, providing quality real-time aerial imagery of the wildfires and guaranteeing emergency communications. The proposed solution consists of a high-altitude balloon that will carry a flying wing unmanned aerial vehicle with two different high-value types of payloads that meet these two specific functions of imagery collection in the visible and infrared ranges and communications repeater. The authors like to refer to the Eye in the Sky solution as a satellite dedicated to a specific fire. Naturally, the development of such solution raises several challenges, particularly in terms of the operational functioning of this solution, the optimised use of the balloon/glider pair with the associated payload, the capture, automatic detection of the fire images and their georeferencing, and the communications system between the payload, the ground station and the users in the command centre. The several challenges that have arisen in the development of this solution, as well as the current developments, are hereby exposed.
Fast and accurate forest fire front reconstruction: A pathway to evaluate fire severity in extreme wildfires
Authors: González Irene , Cortés Ana , Espinosa Antonio , Carrillo Carles , Margalef Tomàs
Published: October 2022

The increased number of extreme wildfires due to climate change generates new challenges in wildfire modelling and prevention actions. One important aspect is to provide current forest fire spread simulation tools with the capability of being faster and more accurate preserving their forecast abilities. In this paper, we propose an alternative forest fire front reconstruction algorithm that could easily be incorporated in the well-known FARSITE fire spread simulator without affecting its functionality. The fire front reconstruction core part in FARSITE represents up to 60% of its total execution time. The proposal alternative algorithm is based on the α-shape algorithm but including some adaptation considering the particular case of forest fire. Meanwhile, the current FARSITE fire front reconstruction algorithm has a complexity of Oleft(n^4
ight), the adapted α-shape algorithm has a complexity of Oleft(nlog{left(n
ight)}
ight). This new approach has the benefit of being parallelizable using a divide and conquer strategy what will allow to significalty reduce the FARSITE™ execution time without modifying its forecat results.
A Platform for Large Scale Application of Remote Sensed Data to Wildland Fire Management
Authors: Bunt Fredrick , Johnson Jesse V. , Hogland John
Published: October 2022

Spatial modelling and machine learning are powerful techniques that can be used to identify patterns within data and build complex relationships between response and predictor variables. While powerful, many of these techniques are computationally intensive and are not designed to fully leverage high performance computing resources, especially when used within a geospatial context. To fully leverage system resources, while facilitating various spatial, machine-learning, and statistical modelling workflows, we developed a Python-based processing library called raster_tools. The raster_tools library automates delayed reading and parallel processing through Dask and integrates seamlessly into popular spatial, machine learning, and visualisation libraries such as geopandas, rasterio, xarray, scikit-learn, xgboost, pygeos, shapely, matplotlib, plotly, folium, and many more. Combined, these open-source libraries provide users with free and powerful analytical capabilities that can be used at scale and that can dynamically display textual, tabular, spatial and graphical in a real-time fashion. In this paper, we will provide a brief overview of the raster_tools library and demonstrate how the described open-source stack can be used to perform GIS analyses using Jupyter-Lab in both a web and desktop environment.
The California Fire Dynamics Experiment (CalFiDE): Developing Validation Data Sets for Coupled Fire-Atmosphere Simulations
Authors: Valero Mario M. , Makowiecki Amanda , Brewer Alan , Clements Craig B. , Lareau Neil P. , Kochanski Adam K. , Strobach Edward
Published: October 2022

The California Fire Dynamics Experiment (CalFiDE) is a 6-week study of wildfire behavior and its response to spatially and temporally evolving wind fields in California, USA. It is the result of a partnership between the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center (WIRC) at San Jose State University (SJSU) and University of Nevada, Reno. A Twin Otter aircraft will be instrumented and flown over landscape-scale wildfires in California between August 14 and September 30, 2022. Onboard instrumentation includes (i) a scanning Doppler lidar system capable of measuring vertical profiles of 3D wind speed and turbulence, (ii) a multispectral infrared imaging system designed to remotely sense fire behavior, (iii) NightFox fire radiative power sensors (iv) AIMMS probe to measure flight-level winds, temperature, and water vapor content, and (v) Chemistry instruments to sample flight level NOX , NOY, O3, CO and GHG. Airborne measurements will be complemented with ground-based mobile scanning radars and lidars, which will be positioned around the fire to characterize the spatial structure and internal dynamics of the smoke plume. This combination of sensors will provide a unique opportunity to characterize landscape-scale wildfire behavior, fire weather and fire atmospheric chemistry in a synchronized manner. We expect that the datasets resulting from this experiment will have a broad applicability in fundamental fire dynamics studies, fire model validation exercises and the calibration of spaceborne remote sensing fire observations.
Using cellular automata to assess the role played by wind direction in two large fire episodes in Portugal
Authors: Mota Bárbara , Freire Joana G. , Oliveira Mariana , Nunes Sílvia A. , Dilão Rui , DaCamara Carlos C.
Published: October 2022

Portugal is recurrently affected by severe wildfires, the fire season of 2017 representing the most tragic year with half a million of hectares burned and 115 deaths. The events that took place on October 15, 2017 deserve special attention, not only because the area burned on that day represents more than 50% of that burned during the entire year, but also because it resulted from the combination of very strong winds steered by the passage of hurricane Ophelia, very dry vegetation because of a prolonged drought affecting the country, very low atmospheric relative humidity and a record number of ignitions. Meteorological fire danger is usually rated using the Fire Weather Index (FWI) that is part of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System. However, wind direction is not taken into account when defining FWI, and therefore it is worth investigating how this factor may affect the evolution of a given fire keeping all the remaining factor unaltered. The role played by wind direction is assessed using a cellular automata (CA) model to simulate two wind-driven wildfires that took place at Pataias-Burinhosa and Quiais on October 15, 2017. The CA model is first calibrated using winds derived from a regional weather forecasting model and sensitivity studies are then performed by systematically rotating the forecasted winds keeping all the other parameters constant. Results indicate a a progressive decrease in probability of burning from a 45Âº to a 90Âº counterclockwise rotation. These results suggest improving FWI by defining an FWI vector definition of an FWI vector, whose direction is that of the wind and magnitude is that of FWI. This vector should then be compared against the prevailing orientation of the vegetated area, and the closer the alignment between the two directions, the greater the meteorological fire danger.
Fires at Wildland-urban interface in an observation plot in Hungary
Authors: Bodnár László , Debreceni Péter , Restás Ágoston
Published: October 2022

The Wildland- urban interface (WUI) is an area, where houses meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation. The identification of these areas is not yet present in all countries. Although scientific research on this topic is still incomplete in Hungary, there are already initiatives and some results to identify WUI areas and analyse their risks. Authors examine the risk of WUI fires from two directions. On the one hand, wildland is a flammable fuel, so wildfires pose a direct threat to the built environment. The reason for this threat is that the residential buildings are located along the forest, which, as a combustible material, provides an opportunity for the spread of fire. This allows the fire to spread from the wildland vegetation to the populated area, endangering human life and property. Authors examine the characteristics of WUI fires in Hungary through analysis of observation plots. In the paper, authors present the direct and indirect interface WUI and analyse the risk of WUI fires by using GIS spatial analyses. Authors also analyse the combustible fuel, the number of fires, and the integrating housing density in the observation plot. Finally, they are preparing a legislative proposal to prevent WUI fires.
Implementation of "Safe Villages" settlements with surrounding areas of high hazard to wildfire: Outlook from the Algarve Region
Authors: Gonçalves Ana , Oliveira Sandra , Zêzere José Luís
Published: October 2022

Wildfires in Portugal are increasingly putting the population and existing assets at risk. In the aftermath of the fires of 2017, there was a renovated concern to increase the protection of settlements and the self-protection abilities of the population; as such, several initiatives were developed with the aim of increasing the resilience and safety of communities. This study analyzes the implementation of the 'Safe Villages and Safe People' program, created by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, in the municipalities of the Algarve region, taking into account its spatial distribution and the relationship with hazard levels in the immediate surroundings of settlements (100 m). It also aims to analyze whether this program can be combined with other ongoing initiatives associated with fuel management and landscape transformation in the area surrounding the settlements. For this, a database was created with the location of the Safe Villages already implemented in the Algarve region, with the geographic coordinates defined by a point that intersects the village. This point was then spatially joined with the polygon of the matching built-up area, retrieved from the cartography of Built-up Areas of Portugal, to obtain the boundaries of the villages and delimit the 100 m buffer around. Then, the total hazardous area (of high and very high wildfire hazard) in the 100 m buffer around each Safe Village was retrieved. Finally, the hazardous area around the Safe Villages was analysed in relation to the total hazardous area around all the settlements of the region, to assess the adequacy of â€œSafe Villagesâ€ location with regard to hazard levels for the whole region. Results show that 135 Safe Villages are implemented in 9 municipalities of Algarve. Around 6.6% of the 100 m area surrounding all the settlements in the region presents high and very high hazard. The municipalities of Monchique and Aljezur have the largest hazardous area in the surrounding 100m of all their settlements (61.96% and 20.86%, respectively). When analyzing the implementation of Safe Villages program, the ones implemented in the municipality of Alcoutim cover a greater percentage of surrounding hazardous area (58.08%) in relation to the total. The efficiency of this program and, therefore, the protection of local communities, can be improved by selecting the villages with higher hazardous area around and by combining its implementation with different programs that focus on fuel management that promotes hazard reduction, such as the 'Condominium of Villages', created by the Directorate General of the Territory.
Tropical disturbances in the southeastern North Atlantic. State of the art and future prospects
Authors: Dorta Antequera Pedro , Domínguez Hernández Alba , Díaz Pacheco Jaime , López Díez Abel , Martín Raya Nerea
Published: October 2022

This study analyzes tropical disturbances in a region usually not affected by these events, the southeastern North Atlantic. This is an extensive area between Macaronesia and the coasts of northwest Africa and the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. In the context of climate change, a statistical analysis has been conducted of the main database of the National Hurricane Center for the Atlantic basin, as well as a bibliographical compilation, in order to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of these phenomena. The starting hypothesis is to verify the existence of an increase in the risk of these situations in the region of study, through research that characterizes and charts these phenomena. The results indicate that, although with long periods of recurrence, some events with notable impacts had occurred before the first systematic records were kept. In addition, over the last fifty years, a much more reliable period from a scientific perspective, there has been an increase in their number, especially in recent decades. Furthermore, an approximate estimate is made of the population likely to be affected by tropical disturbances, which estimates that more than twenty million people are at risk.
Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism
Authors: Secretariat Commonwealth
Published: October 2022

This document is intended to support departments and officers of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT) to effectively engage and capacity-build non-profit organisations (NPOs) for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) activity.The Framework provides practical advice and guidance on how to engage NPOs, assess and develop the capacity of prospective delivery agencies, co-design interventions and manage risk. All statistics quoted in this document are available in the public domain.While principles from this Framework are applicable to all NPOs, due to the nature of the challenges in Trinidad and Tobago, this document is primarily focused on engaging, working with and supporting Muslim NPOs to prevent and counter violent extremism.
Preventing Terrorist Use of the Internet: The Role for Commonwealth Governments
Authors: Secretariat Commonwealth
Published: October 2022

This research dossier presents Tech Against Terrorism’s research on terrorist use of the internet across Sub-Saharan Africa, using three case studies on different regional terrorist actors: Ansar al-Sunna, Boko Haram, and al-Shabaab. While these three terrorist groups all adhere to violent Islamist ideologies, their strategic and operational objectives differ, and there are distinctions in the nature and extent of how they operate online.
These case studies highlight that terrorist actors in Sub-Saharan Africa exploit the internet in a variety of ways depending on several factors, including affiliation with other terrorist groups, operational capacity, and prevalence of local internet access.
Understanding terrorist use of the internet in Sub-Saharan Africa must be contextualised within general trends of internet use and access in the region. Internet access across the African continent varies between regions, however overall, there have been significant increases to public internet access in recent years.
Respect in the Commonwealth: A toolkit for building relationships, generating new ideas and increasing respect
Authors: Secretariat Commonwealth
Published: October 2022

This 'project in a box' on building resilience and inter-community dialogue encompasses detailed instructions, illustrations, and inspiration.

The toolkit focuses on how to deliver workshops on inter- and intra-community relationship building, and aims to improve global citizenship literacy, awareness of tools and learning of skills to build socially cohesive and tolerant communities that are resilient to violent extremism.

This toolkit is for anyone who feels motivated to improve relationships and respect in the community, the workplace and even among friends and family. You can use it to improve respect generally or to tackle a specific issue, such as hate speech or inter-ethnic conflict. Depending on your level of experience of bringing people together, and the kinds of issues you are working with, you will find a range of different tools to apply. Whether you are experienced in facilitating change or are just starting out, this toolkit has been designed and tested for you.
Regional Youth Digital Skill Strategies: South Asia, Phase 1
Authors: Secretariat Commonwealth
Published: October 2022

Building a clear and concise data-driven and evidence-based policy-enabling paradigm is the key to effective economic growth and workforce development for any country. While businesses in South Asia are fast in adopting new technologies, there is a risk that talent to support its implementation won’t keep pace.

The technology sector will see a high level of labour-skills shortages if action is not taken in all parts of the world, including South Asia.

As all companies essentially become tech companies – facilitated by advances in 5G, the IoT and other Industry 4.0 technologies – it’s essential that businesses and public bodies team up to advance tech skill sets within their markets.
Bioetický imperativ Fritze Jahra (1895–1953)
Authors: Polák Jan
Published: October 2022

Německý myslitel, pedagog a luteránský pastor Fritz Jahr (1895–1953), významný tím, že už ve 20. letech 20. století začal jako první používat pojem „bioetika“, byl dlouhou dobu zapomenut. Tato studie chce čtenářům přiblížit Jahrův život, nastínit jeho pojetí bioetiky, vysvětlit, v čem spočíval jeho bioetický imperativ, načrtnout okolnosti Jahrova znovuobjevení v roce 1997 a krátce představit „integrativní bioetiku“, která se ve snaze „poevropštit“ bioetiku k Jahrovu odkazu hlásí. Na pojmech „pluriperspektivita, multi-, inter-, transdisciplinarita“ a „integrativita“ se snaží postavit bázi pro nový globální bioetický koncept, v jehož středu je úcta k životu a snaha uchovat jeho diverzitu i dalším generacím.
Solmsiella biseriata (Austin) Steere (Bryophyta: Erpodiaceae) – an addition to Bryoflora of Central India
Authors: Singh Devendra , Barman R. D , Saha Titir
Published: October 2022

Solmsiella biseriata (Austin) Steere is recorded for the first time in Central India earlier known from Eastern and Western Ghats of India.
Close-range leader–follower flight control technology for near-circular low-orbit satellites
Authors: Yang Yuan , Li Hengnian , Yang Yikang , Hou Chongyuan , Zhu Kaijian
Published: October 2022

Based on the characteristics of near-circular orbits and close-range leader–follower flights, the relative dynamics equations of the eccentricity/inclination (
e/i
) vector method are introduced herein. Additionally, the constraint terms in the design of the leader–follower flight formation are found to satisfy the conditions of the line-of-sight angle and inter-satellite distance. The control box algorithm is proposed under the flying task’s constraints, such as the line-of-sight angle and distance between the satellites according to the
e/i
vector and Gauss perturbation equations. The algorithm comprehensively takes into account the relationship between the relative motion variations in the satellite formation in near-circular orbits as well as their relationship with the velocity increment applied to the satellites. The example simulated in this study not only illustrates the existence of a coupling relationship between the flight-following distance and flight-following line-of-sight angle but also verifies the influence of the relative eccentricity of the two satellites on the leader–follower flight stability. The simulation results show that when the control box algorithm was used to maintain the leader–follower flight, this method was simple, intuitive, and may be feasibly introduced as a flight-following control strategy.