Patent Publication Number: US-2023147316-A1

Title: Forest fire detection systemand method capable of determining whether events are same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-01 5341 7 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 9, 2021, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0068360 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 3, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     (a) Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to a forest fire detection system and method capable of determining whether events are the same. 
     (b) Description of the Related Art 
     Since forest fires occur in forests, the forest fires are difficult to be early detected and cause large-scale damage when the forest fires spread. That is, the earlier the initial detection, the easier it is to extinguish the forest fire and the more likely it is to prevent the spread in advance. To this end, various methods of fire detection are being researched, such as using an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor, using a satellite image analysis, or detecting a fire based on a camera. In addition, research on technology of providing a forest fire notification to users when a fire is detected is also active. 
     The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure, and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a forest fire detection system and method having advantages of determining whether events represented by a plurality of forest fire detection images are the same. 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a forest fire detection system including an artificial intelligence-based forest fire detection module configured to detect a forest fire from a captured image using an artificial intelligence model; a monitoring camera configured to monitor a predetermined area; a direction estimation module configured to estimate a direction of the forest fire on a map, using a plurality of forest fire detection images provided from the artificial intelligence-based forest fire detection module and data of the monitoring camera; and a same event determination module configured to determine whether events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images are the same, based on the estimated direction of the forest fire. 
     In some embodiments, the direction estimation module may output the direction of the forest fire on the map using a horizontal angle and a vertical angle. 
     In some embodiments, the same event determination module may compare the horizontal angle and the vertical angle with respect to the plurality of forest fire detection images and determine whether the events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images are the same. 
     In some embodiments, the forest fire detection system may further include a forest fire notification module that omits a forest fire notification to a user when it is determined that the events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images are the same. 
     In some embodiments, the plurality of forest fire detection images may include an image generation time, an image resolution value, and pixel information where the forest fire is located. 
     In some embodiments, the data of the monitoring camera may include information about a camera field of view (FoV), a camera position including a latitude and a longitude, and a camera pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ). 
     In some embodiments, the direction estimation module may estimate the direction of the forest fire on the map based on the pixel information and the information about the camera FoV and the camera PTZ. 
     In some embodiments, when the data of the monitoring camera is provided at a first time and a second time, and the forest fire detection images are provided between the first time and the second time, the direction estimation module may estimate the direction of the forest fire on the map based on the data at the first time if the data at the first time is the same as the data at the second time, and estimate the direction of the forest fire on the map based on the data at the first time if the data of the first time is different from the data of the second time, and if values of a pan and a FoV of the second time are included in values of a pan and a FoV of the first time. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a forest fire detection method including detecting a forest fire from a captured image using an artificial intelligence model; monitoring a predetermined area, using a monitoring camera; estimating a direction of the forest fire on a map, using a plurality of detected forest fire detection images and data of the monitoring camera; and determining whether events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images are the same, based on the estimated direction of the forest fire. 
     In some embodiments, the estimating of the direction of the forest fire on the map may include outputting the direction of the forest fire on the map using a horizontal angle and a vertical angle. 
     In some embodiments, the determining of whether events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images are the same may include comparing the horizontal angle and the vertical angle with respect to the plurality of forest fire detection images and determining whether the events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images are the same. 
     In some embodiments, the forest fire detection method may further include omitting a forest fire notification to a user when it is determined that the events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images are the same. 
     In some embodiments, the plurality of forest fire detection images may include an image generation time, an image resolution value, and pixel information where the forest fire is located. 
     In some embodiments, the data of the monitoring camera may include information about a camera field of view (FoV), a camera position including a latitude and a longitude, and a camera pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ). 
     In some embodiments, the estimating of the direction of the forest fire on the map may include estimating the direction of the forest fire on the map based on the pixel information and the information about the camera FoV and the camera PTZ. 
     In some embodiments, when the data of the monitoring camera is provided at a first time and a second time, and the forest fire detection images are provided between the first time and the second time, the estimating of the direction of the forest fire on the map may include estimating the direction of the forest fire on the map based on the data at the first time if the data at the first time is the same as the data at the second time, and estimating the direction of the forest fire on the map based on the data at the first time if the data of the first time is different from the data of the second time, and if values of a pan and a FoV of the second time are included in values of a pan and a FoV of the first time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating a forest fire detection system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating a forest fire detection system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a flowchart illustrating a forest fire detection method according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating an operation of a forest fire detection system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating an operation of a forest fire detection system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating forest fire detection images corresponding to a case where it is determined that events are the same according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating forest fire detection images corresponding to a case where it is determined that events are different according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a block diagram illustrating a computing device for implementing a forest fire detection system and method according to embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure will be described in detail such that those skilled in the art may easily carry out the present disclosure with respect to the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In addition, to clearly describe the present disclosure, parts unrelated to the descriptions are omitted, and the same or similar elements are denoted with the same reference numerals throughout the specification. 
     Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. 
     In addition, the terms “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation, and may be implemented by hardware components or software components, and combinations thereof. In addition, a prediction method capable of correcting a renewable energy error using a battery according to the embodiments described below may be implemented as a program or software, and the program or software may be stored in a computer-readable medium. 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating a forest fire detection system according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a forest fire detection system  1  according to an embodiment may include an artificial intelligence-based forest fire detection module  10 , a monitoring camera  20 , a direction estimation module  30 , a same event determination module  32 , and a forest fire notification module  34 . 
     The artificial intelligence-based forest fire detection module  10  may detect a forest fire from a captured image using an artificial intelligence model. Specifically, the artificial intelligence-based forest fire detection module  10  may receive captured images from a plurality of cameras installed for fire monitoring, analyze the captured images through then artificial intelligence model, and determine whether a fire actually has occurred from anomalies such as a smoke generation in the captured images. In some embodiments, the artificial intelligence-based forest fire detection module  10  may detect the forest fire using a deep learning technique. 
     The monitoring camera  20  may monitor a predetermined area where the forest fire is likely to occur. The monitoring camera  20  may capture the predetermined area where the forest fire is likely to occur at a predetermined time interval and provide a captured image such as a color image, a near-infrared image, etc. 
     The direction estimation module  30  may estimate a direction of the forest fire on a map, using a plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  provided from the artificial intelligence-based forest fire detection module  10  and data MDATA of the monitoring camera  20 . Specifically, the direction estimation module  30  may output the direction of the forest fire on the map, using a horizontal angle HA and a vertical angle VA. Here, the horizontal angle HA and the vertical angle VA may indicate in which direction the forest fire on the plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  has actually occurred from the monitoring camera  20  on an actual map. 
     The plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  may include an image generation time, an image resolution value, and pixel information where the forest fire is located. Here, the pixel information where the forest fire is located may include pixel information about a bounding box displayed to surround smoke or flame that is predicted to be the forest fire. The bounding box may be generated by the above-described artificial intelligence model. 
     The data MDATA of the monitoring camera  20  may include information about a camera field of view (FoV), a camera position including latitude and longitude, and a camera pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ). 
     The direction estimation module  30  may estimate the direction of the forest fire on the map, using the pixel information where the forest fire is located, and the information about the camera FoV and the camera PTZ. 
     The same event determination module  32  may determine whether events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  are the same, based on the direction of the forest fire estimated by the direction estimation module  30 . Specifically, the same event determination module  32  may compare the horizontal angle HA and the vertical angle VA of the plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  with each other and determine whether the events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  are the same. 
     When it is determined that the events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  are the same, the forest fire notification module  34  may omit a forest fire notification to a user based on a determination result RSLT. That is, the forest fire notification module  34  may provide the forest fire notification to the user only when it is determined that the events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  are different, and may omit the forest fire notification to the user when it is determined that the events represented by the plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  are the same. Accordingly, unnecessary redundant notifications may be reduced and the accuracy of forest fire notification may be increased, by determining whether events represented by a plurality of forest fire detection images are the same. 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating a forest fire detection system according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , in the forest fire detection system according to an embodiment, the data MDATA of a monitoring camera may be stored in a camera metadata database (DB)  22 . In addition, the direction estimation module  30  may read the data MDATA of the monitoring camera stored in the camera metadata DB  22  at a predetermined time period. 
       FIG.  3    is a flowchart illustrating a forest fire detection method according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the forest fire detection method according to an embodiment may obtain forest fire detection images based on artificial intelligence in step S 301 , and obtain monitoring camera data in step S 303 . In addition, the method may estimate a direction of a forest fire based on the forest fire detection images and the camera data in step S 305 , and determine whether events are the same, using a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of each of the forest fire detection images in step S 307 . 
     As a result of determination, when it is determined that the events represented by the respective forest fire detection images are not the same (S 309 , N), a forest fire notification may be provided to a user in step S 311 , and when it is determined that the events represented by the respective forest fire detection images are the same (S 309 , Y), the forest fire notification to the user may be omitted. 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating an operation of a forest fire detection system according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , in the forest fire detection system according to an embodiment, the same event determination module  32  may use a spherical coordinate system to compare the horizontal angle HA and the vertical angle VA of each of the plurality of forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2 . Specifically, when the horizontal angle HA and the vertical angle VA are expressed as x and y, respectively, the horizontal angle HA and the vertical angle VA of the forest fire detection image IMG 1  may be x 0  and y 0 , respectively, and the horizontal angle HA and the vertical angle VA of the forest fire detection image IMG 2  may be x 1  and y 1 , respectively. At this time, a horizontal angle difference Δx of the forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  may be |x 1 −x 0 |, and a vertical angle difference Δy may be |y 1 −y 0 |. 
     The same event determination module  32  may determine whether images detected from the forest fire detection images IMG 1  and IMG 2  are the same according to whether values of the horizontal angle difference Δx and the vertical angle difference Δy are within a predetermined range or are 0.  FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating an operation of a forest fire detection system according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , when data MDATA 1  and MDATA 2  of the monitoring camera are provided at a first time t 0  and a second time t 2 , respectively, and a forest fire detection image IMG 3  is provided at a third time t 1  between the first time t 0  and the second time t 2 , the direction estimation module  30  may estimate a direction of a forest fire on a map with respect to data at the first time t 0  when the data at the first time t 0  is the same as data at the second time t 2 . Unlike this, when the data at the first time t 0  is different from the data at the second time t 2 , and when values of a pan and a FoV at the second time t 2  are included in values of a pan and a FoV at the first time t 0 , the direction estimation module  30  may determine this as a zoom-in situation, and estimate the direction of the forest fire on the map with respect to the data at the first time t 0 . 
     Here, the third time t 1  may be obtained through a generation time of the forest fire detection image IMG 3  included in EXchangable Image File format (Exif) information of the forest fire detection image IMG 3 , and the first time t 0 , the second time t 2 , and a fourth time t 3  may be update times of the camera data MDATA 1 , MDATA 2 , and MDATA 3 . 
     An update period of the camera data MDATA 1 , MDATA 2 , and MDATA 3  may be different from an update period of the forest fire detection image IMG 3 . For example, the update period of the camera data MDATA 1 , MDATA 2 , and MDATA 3  may be 9 to 16 seconds, and the update period of the forest fire detection image IMG 3  may be 10 seconds. Due to this, a direction estimation error may occur. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent occurrence of such an error. 
     That is, when the camera data MDATA 1  at the first time t 0  is the same as the camera data MDATA 2  at the second time t 2 , the direction estimation module  30  may estimate the direction with respect to the values of the pan, zoom, and FoV at the first time t 0 . 
     When the camera data MDATA 1  at the first time t 0  is different from the camera data MDATA 2  at the second time t 2 , if the values of the pan and the FoV at the second time t 2  are included in the values of the pan and FoV at the first time t 0 , the direction estimation module  30  may determine this as the zoom-in situation, and estimate the direction with respect to the camera data MDATA 1  at the first time t 0 . 
     When the camera data MDATA 1  at the first time t 0  is different from the camera data MDATA 2  at the second time t 2  but if the values of the pan and the FoV at the second time t 2  are not included in the values of the pan and FoV at the first time t 0 , the direction estimation module  30  may recursively perform the method on the camera data MDATA 2  at the second time t 2  and the camera data MDATA 3  at the fourth time t 3 . That is, when the camera data MDATA 2  at the second time t 2  is the same as the camera data MDATA 3  at the fourth time t 3 , the direction estimation module  30  may estimate the direction with respect to the values of the pan, zoom, and FoV at the second time t 2 , when the camera data MDATA 1  at the second time t 2  is different from the camera data MDATA 2  at the fourth time t 3 , if values of the pan and the FoV at the fourth time t 3  are included in the values of the pan and FoV at the second time t 2 , the direction estimation module  30  may determine this as the zoom-in situation, and estimate the direction with respect to the camera data MDATA 2  at the second time t 2 . 
     According to the present embodiment, even when the update period of the camera data MDATA 1 , MDATA 2 , and MDATA 3  is different from the update period of the forest fire detection image IMG 3 , it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a direction tracking error. 
       FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating forest fire detection images corresponding to a case where it is determined that events are the same according to an embodiment. That is, in the diagram of  FIG.  6   , values of the horizontal angle difference Δx and the vertical angle difference Δy may be within a predetermined range or correspond to zero. In this case, redundant forest fire notifications to a user may be omitted. 
       FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating forest fire detection images corresponding to a case where it is determined that events are different according to an embodiment. That is, in the diagram of  FIG.  7   , values of the horizontal angle difference Δx and the vertical angle difference Δy may be equal to or greater than a predetermined range. In this case, a forest fire notification may be provided to a user. 
       FIG.  8    is a block diagram illustrating a computing device for implementing a forest fire detection system and method according to embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , the forest fire detection system and method according to embodiments may be implemented using a computing device  50 . 
     The computing device  50  may include at least one of a processor  510 , a memory  530 , a user interface input device  540 , a user interface output device  550 , and a storage device  560  which perform communication via a bus  520 . The computing device  50  may also include a network interface  570  electrically connected to a network  40 , for example, a wireless network. The network interface  570  may transmit or receive signals with other entities over the network  40 . 
     The processor  510  may be implemented in various types such as an application processor (AP), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), etc., and may be any semiconductor device that executes a command stored in the memory  530  or the storage device  560 . The processor  510  may be configured to implement the functions and methods described with respect to  FIGS.  1  to  7   . 
     The memory  530  and the storage device  560  may include various types of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, the memory  530  may include a read-only memory (ROM)  531  and a random access memory (RAM)  532 . The memory  530  may be located inside or outside the processor  510 , and the memory  530  may be connected to the processor  510  through various already known means. 
     In addition, at least part of the forest fire detection system and method according to the embodiments may be implemented as a program or software executed in the computing device  50 , and the program or software may be stored in a computer-readable medium. 
     In addition, at least part of the forest fire detection system and method according to the embodiments may be implemented as hardware capable of being electrically connected to the computing device  50 . 
     According to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above, unnecessary redundant notifications may be reduced and the accuracy of forest fire notification may be increased, by determining whether events represented by a plurality of forest fire detection images are the same. 
     Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvement forms of those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims are also within the scope of the present disclosure.