AI Alert: Sunshine Coast Council’s Innovative Bushfire Defense

exci is in the news again! We are now protecting the Sunshine Coast with our early bushfire detection system!

In the wake of the devastating Black Summer that swept through the east coast of Australia, the Sunshine Coast Council is taking proactive steps to safeguard its community from the ever-present threat of bushfires. The council is turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for assistance, and their weapon of choice is the innovative technology provided by the Australian Made and Owned Sunshine Coast company exci. The cutting-edge AI technology analyses imagery of cameras and satellites for the presence of smoke and heat to detect fires in their early stages, providing crucial alerts to emergency services. 

Learning from the Black Summer

The decision to adopt exci’s bushfire detection system comes in the aftermath of the catastrophic bushfires that engulfed the region, with the Peregian fires in September 2019 serving as a grim precursor to what became known as the Black Summer. This devastating period highlighted the urgent need for advanced technology to combat bushfires effectively.

AI Steps In

Mayor Mark Jamieson, acknowledging the evolving threat posed by climate change and the El Niño weather pattern, has directed the council’s attention towards harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence. In previous summers, the focus was on storm and flood risks, but the Bureau of Meteorology’s prediction for this summer underscores the looming danger of heatwaves and severe bushfires.

The collaboration between the Sunshine Coast Council, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), HQ Plantations, Powerlink, exci, and Landwatch Australia has resulted in the implementation of the early bushfire detection system. Mayor Mark Jamieson, who also serves as the Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG), emphasised that the council’s primary concern is the safety of its communities, and exci’s advanced system will play a pivotal role in enabling rapid responses to bushfire threats. He made the announcement during the launch of Get Ready Queensland Week, which aims to encourage residents to understand their risks, prepare emergency plans, and assemble essential emergency kits.

Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) Chair and Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson, is shown how the bushfire detection system works by exci’s Account and Product Manager.

Rapid Response: A Critical Advantage

Mayor Jamieson emphasized the critical role that rapid response plays in mitigating bushfire incidents, highlighting that timely action can mean the difference between a minor, easily contained fire and a major blaze resulting in extensive destruction.

exci’s Managing Director, Christopher Tylor, sheds light on the technology’s capabilities. The exci system leverages powerful machine-learning algorithms to automatically detect bushfires within minutes by analysing satellite and ground-based camera data for the presence of smoke and heat.  When a fire is detected, immediate reports are sent to relevant users, including first responders and asset owners. This swift response can make all the difference, potentially containing minor incidents before they escalate into major bushfires, minimizing the risk of extensive destruction. Derived from the Latin word for “alarm,” exci has already proven its technology in wildfire-ravaged California, establishing itself as a world-leading tool in the battle against bushfires.

Local Expertise Collaboration

Further strengthening the initiative, exci will collaborate with Landwatch Australia, a family-owned business located in Palmwoods. Landwatch Australia is renowned for delivering remote, camera surveillance solutions to Australian farmers and rural communities. Their expertise in crafting terrain-specific camera systems aligns seamlessly with exci’s wildfire detection technology. Together, they will be installing cameras at new sites located at Gerrards Lookout at Maleny, Dulong Lookout, and Mount Coolum, extending the reach and effectiveness of the early bushfire detection system. Their shared commitment to enhancing the safety of Australian communities drives this collaborative effort.

exci & Land Watch in collaboration keeping an eye on the Sunshine Coast Community