Aspen Fire Protection District pilots new fire detection tool

The Aspen Fire Protection District is piloting new technology that will keep an eye -- er, AI, rather -- on wildfires this summer using artificial intelligence technology and strategically placed cameras, the district announced Saturday. The system uses specialized cameras at specific vantage points to monitor the skyline, coupled with artificial intelligence and intuitive software technology from wildfire tech company Pano AI to detect, locate and communicate wildfire threats almost instantly, according to a news release. "Pano's platform uses mountaintop cameras, artificial intelligence, and intuitive software to automatically detect the first wisps of smoke and put real-time fire images in the hands of first responders and emergency personnel, all with the goal of detecting flare-ups earlier and enabling a faster response before they become large infernos," the release states. Cameras stationed on Pitkin County communications towers will continuously rotate to capture 360-degree views of the area; Pano AI software will process that imagery in real time to detect smoke and alert dispatchers or appropriate agencies. When multiple cameras capture the same smoke wisps, the software can use triangulation to pinpoint the location, "helping response crews coordinate a faster, more targeted response," according to the release.