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Project title

COPilot AI (Common Operational Picture & AI) - for managing Wildfires

Primary Funding Agency

Science Foundation Ireland

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Lead Organisation

Maynooth University

Lead Applicant

Not listed

Project Abstract

�Wildfires have swept across Europe over recent years resulting in loss of human-life, forcing thousands to evacuate, and causing damage to homes, infrastructure, livestock, and local environment. Response to wildfire-events in Ireland involves multiple government departments, agencies and external organisations including; the Air Corps and Firefighters, on the frontline. The current challenge revolves around how we can better manage our response to wild-fire events here in Ireland, to reduce the threat to human-life as well as the economic and environmental cost. The highly-experienced CoPilot-AI interdisciplinary research team plan to carry-out a focused 12-month project employing the latest AI technologies (Drones, Robotics, Sensors, Machine Learning) and construct a Common Operational Picture (COP) digital platform, capable of smart multi-thematic sensor data-capture, highly-automated data-fusion, deep-learning & analysis, enabling more effective information-sharing and effective decision-making. Key disruptive-technology areas will include novel in-field drone robotic-sensing platforms, dynamic terrain and scene-analysis and multi-criteria risk-modelling. Air Corps will benefit from upskilling and actively participating in the development of the CoPilot-AI platform. There are benefits for collaborating SMEs in developing new products/services and wider impacts for society in terms of development of more efficient and balanced response, not only for wildfires but also for other national emergency events.

Grant Approved

�1,276,059.40

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

2. Ireland's Future Climate, its Impacts, and Adaptation Options

Start Date

01/03/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/08/2025