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Patents and forest fire control MINISTERIO Oficina Española DE INDUSTRIA, COMERCIO Y TURISMO de Patentes y Marcas
© OEPM and INPI (2022) No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except as permitted by law, without the prior permission of the copyright holder. NIPO (recycled paper): 116-22-004-0 / NIPO (on-line): 116-22-003-5 DL: M-8445-2022
Patents and forest
fire control
MINISTERIO Oficina Española
DE INDUSTRIA, COMERCIO
Y TURISMO de Patentes y Marcas
Paseo de la Castellana, 75 – 28071 Madrid Campo das Cebolas, s/n. 1149-035 Lisboa
Tel. 902 157 530 – 910 780 780 Tel. 218 818 100 – Fax: 218 869 859
información@oepm.es www.oepm.es servico.publico@inpi.pt https://inpi.justica.gov.pt
Portuguese Institute of Industrial Propriety, I.P
Guilherme Távora
Fedra Oliveira
Luísa Silvério
Sofia Antunes
Inês Cristóvão da Silva
Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, O.A.
Patricia López Calvo
MINISTERIO Oficina Española
DE INDUSTRIA, COMERCIO
Y TURISMO de Patentes y Marcas
Fernando Olalquiaga del Prado
Blanca Vila Riudavets
Carmen Toledo de la Torre
Authors and technical-scientific experts
Javier Madrigal Olmo. Instituto Nacional
de Investigación y Tecnología Agrarias y
Alimentaria, Centro Nacional-Consejo Superior
de Investigaciones Científicas (INIA-CSIC)
Rubén Laina Relaño y Yolanda Ambrosio
Torrijos. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería
de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural.
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Alfonso Andrade Otero. Ministerio para la
Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico
Tiago Martins de Oliveira e Arlindo Pinto dos
Santos. Agência para a Gestão Integrada de
Fogos Rurais, I.P.
Carlos Fonseca. Laboratório Colaborativo para
Gestão Integrada da Floresta e do Fogo
Photography
Javier Madrigal. Laboratorio de incendios forestales, Centro de Investigación Forestal (INIA-CSIC)
J. Félix Mateo. COP Cuenca. Consejería de Desarrollo Sostenible JCCM. Plan INFOCAM
INSTITUTIONAL PRESENTATION
Institutional presentation The Portuguese Institute of Industrial Propriety, I.P. (INPI) and the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, O.A. (OEPM) have been collaborating over the past few years in several fields, sharing the vision that Industrial Propriety, by stimulating and protecting the investments in innovation, is a strategic instrument for the scientific and technological development, as well as for a sustainable and integrative development of the economy. The aforementioned cooperation between the two entities has consisted, mainly, on the exchange of experiences and best practices, with the achievement of very positive results in projects with Iberian impact and in the bilateral organization of several events. This fruitful collaboration provided an opportunity to carry out a study, using the technical information provided by patents on the sustainable management of the forest, the fight against desertification, the prevention of the soil degradation and the loss of biodiversity, and it was then decided that the focus of that study would be on the analysis of the evolution of patents related to the control of forest fires. This is a matter of great importance for Portugal and Spain and represents a permanent challenge for both countries and, even on a global scale, it is undeniably a matter of current affairs, as it is closely associated to climate change, which has been identified as one of the biggest environmental, social and economic threats that the planet and mankind are facing. Forest fires are, by themselves, a scourge with the most varied repercussions, corresponding in the Iberian Peninsula to a complex problem that entails high risks for the population as well as for the environment. To minimize this general negative impact, innovation, through the knowledge resulting from scientific research and technologic development, has key potential. The emergence of technologies in the field of prevention, detection and fire extinguishing, as well as protection and post-fire restoration soil equipment, is a key ally to establish effective policies and to operate the firefight and control of wildfires. Industrial Propriety can play a highly relevant role in this context, since it secures the financial outcome of the high investments inherent to the Research and Development (R&D). On the other hand, the patent system, given its own nature, promotes innovation and attracts mores investments thus encouraging the invention of technologies consecutively more advanced in the fight against wildfires. In this study —which usefulness seems to us indisputable— the aim is precisely to present the most promising technologies in the field of firefight and control of wildfires, which have an associated patent document. However, it also offers a broader perspective, revealing the main initiatives and policies related to the fight and control of forest fires, adopted by the Iberian institutions. We sincerely hope that this study helps to ensure that firefighting, a cross-border key-challenge, is approached from a broader perspective and that it benefits the Iberian population as a whole. Ana Bandeira José Antonio Gil Celedonio President of the Directive Director General at Spanish Patent Council at Portuguese Institute and Trademark Office, O.A. of Industrial Propriety, I.P 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Executive summary
The number of patent applications related to forest fires
has progressively increased in the last decade throughout
the world.
In particular, in the past 5 years, patent applications related to forest
fires have increased at an accelerated pace.
Spain is the leading country in the European Union in the filing
of patent applications regarding forest fires. In Portugal, there
are several awareness campaigns put in place such as «Portugal
Chama», which aims to raise people’s awareness to the problem of
severe forest fires.
Most of the patent applications filed regarding forest fires are not
internationalised. Only a small percentage files for protection in
other countries.
Russia, Australia and Spain are not the top patent filing offices
globally; however, they do stand out in the field of forest fires,
ahead of other offices such as Japan or the European Patent Office
(EPO).
More and more inventions are related to the use of artificial
intelligence and the use of drones in fighting and controlling forest
fires. Portugal has several R&D projects in the field of prevention
and detection of rural fires. These projects involve different
technologies that meet the ones mentioned in patent documents
identified in this study, such as aerial technologies, artificial
intelligence and sensors.
The fire extinguishing field is the sector with the highest number
of patent applications filed, ahead of the detection and prevention
field or the protection equipment field.
Post-fire restoration is the least patented sector and therefore
presents many opportunities for innovation.
There is a link between the countries where more patents related
to forest fires are filed and those where more fires occur, reflecting
the fact that patents are a good indicator of the technologic
development generated by social needs.
8
INDEX
1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.1. Forest fires in the Iberian Peninsula. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.2. Spanish-Portuguese collaboration in the control of fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Business incubator: FOIL-CILIFO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1.3. Purpose of the study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
1.4. Using patent information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
1.5. Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2. DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
2.1. Detection and prevention technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.2. Evolution of the industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2.3. Relevant technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Institution in the sector: Forestwise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
R&D Projects on Detection and Prevention of rural fires in Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Prevention and Detection of fires in Portugal – The opinion of the Agency for Integrated
Rural Fire Management (AGIF, I.P.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
3. FIRE EXTINGUISHING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
3.1. Fire extinguishing technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3.2. Sector development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
3.3. Relevant technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
9
Company in the sector: Drone Hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Company in the sector: Nitrofirex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 UNE Standard 23530:2021 on long term Retardants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 4. PROTECTION EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 4.1. Protection equipment technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 4.2. Sector development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 4.3. Relevant technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Company in the sector: Vallfirest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 5. POST-FIRE RESTORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 5.1. Post-fire restoration technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 6. TECHNOLOGY AGAINST FIRES IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 7. CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 ANNEX I. Glossary. Country codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 ANNEX II. Search Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 ANNEX III. List of figures and tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 10
01 INTRODUCTION
Introduction
1.1. Forest fires in the Iberian also publishes a daily evaluation of fire risk,
Peninsula that combines the information of the annual
map of fire risk with the daily weather
Undoubtly rural and forest fires have a forecast.
very significant impact on citizens and
on natural heritage. It is also clear that Figure 1. Fire risk map for 20201
the effects of climate change, such as
heat waves, desertification and other
extreme meteorological phenomena, are
increasingly visible and contribute in a
large extent to the increased risk of forest
fires. Climate change even adds to the
longer risky season and to the prolonged
heat and drought phenomena a bigger and
faster accumulation of the fuel available
to burn, which adds more obstacles to the
management of this scourge.
Therefore, there is a growing and clearly
perceptible trend towards the rise of fire
risk, of longer fire seasons and intense
«mega fires» that rapidly spread and for
which the traditional firefighting methods
can do little. In the European Union, nine
to ten fires are caused by man, either
intentionally or by negligence or accident.
Hence, the raising of public awareness and
the use of educational campaigns about
fire risk are fundamental to prevent such
catastrophes.
In Portugal, the Institute for Nature
Conservation and Forests (ICNF, I.P.) produces
every year, and at the beginning of each year,
maps of fire risk, which indicate the areas that
are most likely to be exposed to forest fires.
These maps not only hold information on the
risk of fire on a scale 1-5, but also indicate
which areas over 500 ha have not burned for
more than 10 years, in hazard classes «High» or
«Very High» (Figure 1).
With the same purpose of monitoring,
prevention and risk analysis, the Portuguese The 21st annual report on forest fires in Europe,
Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.) Middle East and North Africa 2020, produced
1 21º annual report on forest fires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2020, produced by the Cross-border
cooperation - European Commission in the prevention and forest fire extinguishing in the Atlantic axis
(https://www.eixoatlantico.com/images/informes/secretaria_general/informe-incendios-ea_pt.pdf)
12Introduction
by the European Commission, shows that Figure 2. Distribution of burnt areas
Romania was the most affected country, in Portugal in 20202
followed by Portugal, Spain and Italy.
Specifically, in mainland Portugal the
burnt surface in 2020 was 67,170 ha, which N
represented about half the average of the
last decade, which was 138,083 ha. In this
timeframe, 2017 is a year worth noting, as it
was the year in which fires in Portugal had
an impact of unprecedented severity. This
catastrophe triggered several structural,
organising and operative measures, as well
as the development of policy instruments
related to the prevention and fight against
rural fires, which have shown specific
results. From the outset, it was approved
in an extraordinary meeting of the Council LEGEND
of Ministers, the change from the system Burnt area 2020 (>5 ha)
(ICNF 15 October)
that existed since 2006 into an Integrated District
Management System of Rural Fires 0 25 50 km
(SGIFR). The Agency for Integrated Rural
Fire Management (AGIF), a public Institute,
was also created, which is responsible for
the integratedanalysis, planning, evaluation Comparing 2021 figures with the history of
and strategic coordination of the SGIFR, the previous ten years, it is noted that there
including the qualified intervention in were 54% fewer rural fires and 79% fewer
high-risk events. burnt area, comparing the annual average over
the same period. 2021 had, until 15 October,
In 2020, the most affected area in Portugal the lowest number of fires and the second
was the central region, with a total burnt lowest number of burnt area, since 2011. A
area of about 32,000 ha, which represents change in the most affected geographical
around half of the total registered in the regions is also highlighted, compared to 2020.
Portuguese territory (Figure 2). In fact, From the district analysis, stood out with the
the biggest fire of 2020 was yield exactly highest number of fires, and in descending
in this region, with a burnt area of order, Porto (1,297), Braga (688) and Lisbon
about 15,000 ha. Of fires with a specific (667). In either case, the fires were mostly
cause, 38% were caused by intentional of small dimension (less than 1 ha of burnt
acts (arson), while 50% were caused by area). Regarding burnt area, the most affected
accident or negligence. The use of fire district was Faro, with 9,268 ha, about 34%
for grassland renewal continues to have of the total burnt area until 15 October 2021,
a considerable impact on the total area followed by Vila Real, with 4,041 ha (15% total)
burned. and Braga with 2,117 ha (8% total) (Figure 3).
2 8th Provisional Report on Rural Fires – 2020 (https://www.icnf.pt/api/file/doc/7218b448c991d725)
13Introduction
Of the total of 7,610 rural fires in 2021, 6,438 Prevention is one of the main actions in the
were investigated (85% of the total number fight against rural fires. Therefore, it is worth
of fires, responsible for 96% of the total burnt mentioning a series of measures which
area). Of these, the research allowed the were carried out with the goal of preventing
attribution of a cause to 4,327 fires (67% of the and minimizing the impact of fires, such as
investigated fires – responsible for 90% of the renovation and development of new water
total burnt area). The most frequent causes reservoirs, the creation of new forest paths
in 2021 were: negligent use of fire (47%) and and awareness-raising campaigns such as
arson – attributable (23%), with relevance to «Portugal Chama»4 (Figure 4). The main goal
the burning of forest or agricultural surplus of the latter is to warn about risky behaviour
(20%), burning of heaps of forestry or and to raise public awareness in order to help
agricultural waste (10%) and burning for cattle and protect the country from serious rural
grazing management (14%). The reignitions fires. The work that is carried out in close
represented 4% of the total of established cooperation with the population, through
causes, a lower figure compared to the average the local authorities, in «Aldeia Segura» and
of the previous ten years (17%).3 «Pessoas Seguras» programs, is also very
important to create structural measures for
Figure 3. Distribution of burnt areas in the protection of people and goods and to
Portugal in 2021 raise awareness about the prevention of risky
behaviour and self-protection measures.
Figure 4. Portugal Chama Campaign5
N
Also, in the context of «Portugal Chama»
National Campaign, the project «Raposa
Chama» was developed. It is a collective and
LEGEND inclusive movement, designed for reaching all
Burnt area 2020 (>5 ha)
(ICNF 15 October) children and young people, aged 5 to 12,
District
0 25 50 km
through school, teachers, family and all
community. With the seal of the Portuguese
Republic and the collaboration of the Ministry
of Education, the aim is to raise awareness and
educate children and young people about fire
3 8th Provisional Report on Rural Fires – 2020 – 2021 (https://www.icnf.pt/api/file/doc/504914cdd1a211bb)
4 Campaign video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4wb-EH4poY
5 Image taken from https://portugalchama.pt/
14Introduction
risk behaviour, believing that in the present Reinforcement Brigades (BRIF) also
they can play a crucial role in raising awareness perform a very important job not only in
among adults, mainly through their family raising public awareness but also in acting
network. in situ, by carrying out actions aimed at fire
prevention and extinguishing in the forest.
In Portugal, The National Plan of Integrated Regarding BRIF (Figure 5), these highly
Management of Rural fires 20-30 (PNGIFR) specialised squads of helicopter transport
also stands out. The Plan introduces an can operate in any part of the country.
innovative governance model of risk, These teams receive constant training and
identifying the strategic goal and the coaching, which allows them to act in the
measures to apply, clarifying the roles and most demanding situations and the most
responsibilities of the different entities complicated fires. The mastery of all fire
cooperating to achieve the goals set. It extinguishing techniques, including backfiring,
intends to achieve a vision of a Portugal that is essential to their performance.
is protected from severe rural fires, defining a
strategy to achieve such goal, to which action Figure 5. Reinforcement Squad against forest
programs will be associated, on national and fires of Tabuyo del Monte, at the extinguishing
regional levels, with the annual setting of of a fire in Lobios (Ourense) on 08-08-20206
necessary goals and indicators, on which the
PNGIFR monitoring will focus.
In Spain, the 2020 figures were also lower than
the average of the last decade. Specifically, the
total number of fires decreased in about 30%
(from 11,684 to 8,068), while the total burnt
area decreased in about 32% (123,944 ha to
84,257 ha). In terms of geographical regions,
the Northwest region was the most affected,
both as regards the number of large fires and
total area burnt, followed by Mediterranean
and interior regions and Canary Islands. In the case of Spain, according to data of
the General Statistics of Forest Fires (EGIF),
As aforementioned, prevention and firefight which is the national database integrating
measures are essential to minimise the forest fire reports from all over the
impact that fires have on people and on country since 1968, the annual average, in
environmental ecosystems. Community approximate figures, of forest affected area
awareness has a key role in the prevention is 100,000 ha, from which, 2/3 are accidents
of fires. During 2020, the travelling exhibition (casualties of less than 1 ha). Likewise, the
«50 years of knowledge and prevention fire scheme in Spain is characterised by the
of forest fires», created to celebrate the following indicators, among others:
50th anniversary General Statistics of
Forest Fires, crossed the Spanish territory. h A high interannual and regional variability
Wildfire Prevention Teams (EPRIF), the related to affected areas and number of
Preventive Work Brigades and the Wildfire causalities (Figures 6, 7 and 8).
6 21st Annual Report on Forest Fires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2020, developed by the European
Commission; Transborder Cooperation on the prevention and suppression of forest fires in the Atlantic axis
(https://www.eixoatlantico.com/images/informes/secretaria_general/informe-incendios-ea_pt.pdf
15Introduction
h A high percentage of fires whose causes h A small number of events is responsible
are associated with human action, where for a very significant part of the total of
more than 50% of fires are intentional, forest area affected. Specifically, less than
while fires due to natural causes account 0.2% of events comprise more than 40%
for less than 5% of the total (Figure 9). of the total forest area affected.
Figure 6. Evolution of the number of events and affected area. Period 1968-2015. Source: The
forest fires in Spain. Decade 2006-20157. Page 6
500,000 30,000
Non-wooded area (ha)
Wooded area (ha)
450,000
Number of events
25,000
400,000
350,000
20,000
300,000
Areas (ha)
250,000 15,000
Nº events
200,000
10,000
150,000
100,000
5,000
50,000
0 0
1984
1986
1974
1983
1985
1994
1976
1979
2004
1982
1978
1987
2000
2001
2010
1996
1999
2006
1990
2009
1973
1989
1998
1969
1975
2008
1980
1988
1968
1972
1993
2014
1977
1995
2003
2005
1992
1997
2002
2007
1970
1971
2015
1981
2012
2011
2013
1991
7 https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/estadisticas/incendios-decenio-2006-2015_tcm30-521617.pdf
16Introduction
Figure 7. Evolution of the affected area by geographical area. Source: The forest fires in Spain.
Decade 2006-20158. Page 18
Northwest Interior communities
120,000 50.000
Wooded area (ha) 45.000
Wooded area (ha)
100,000 40.000
Forest area (ha) Forest area (ha)
35.000
80,000 30.000
60,000 25.000
20.000
40,000 15.000
20,000 10.000
5.000
0 0
20062007200820092010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20062007200820092010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Canary Islands Mediterranean
40,000
Wooded area (ha) 90,000
35,000 80,000
Forest area (ha)
30,000 70,000 Wooded area (ha)
60,000 Forest area (ha)
25,000
20,000 50,000
40,000
15,000
30,000
10,000 20,000
5,000 10,000
0 0
20062007200820092010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20062007200820092010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Figure 8. Monthly distribution of the total number of events throughout all decade, 2006-2015.
Source: The forest fires in Spain8. Decade 2006-2015. Page 51
Northwest Interior communities
14,000 6,000
Fire outbreak Fire Fire outbreak Fire
12,000 5,000
10,000 4,000
8,000
3,000
6,000
2,000
4,000
2,000 1,000
0 0
y h il y t r
ar uary arc Apr Ma June July gus be obe be
r r r ar
y y rch pril y e ly st er r er r
nu r m be ar
nu bru Ma A Ma Jun Ju ugu mb tobe mb mbe
Ja Feb
M Au pte Oct vem cem Ja
Fe
A pte Oc ve
o ece
Se No De Se N D
Canary Islands Mediterranean
250 4,000
Fire outbreak Fire
Fire outbreak Fire 3,500
200
3,000
150 2,500
2,000
100 1,500
1,000
50
500
0 0
y h il y t r r r r
y h il y t r r
ar uary arc Apr Ma June July gus be obe be
r
be
r ar uary arc Apr Ma June July gus be obe be be
nu r m nu r M m
Au pte Oct vem cem
Ja Feb
M Au pte Oct vem cem Ja Feb e o e
Se No De S N D
8 https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/estadisticas/incendios-decenio-2006-2015_tcm30-521617.pdf
17Introduction
Figure 9. Forest fires by group of causes, 2006-2015. Source: The forest fires
in Spain. Decade 2006-20159. Page 56
4.92%
Lightning
2.20% 28.07%
Replica Negligence and accidents
12.11%
Unknown
52.70%
5
Deliberate
D
Furthermore, an increase of the risk indices (CCAA) resources, which are responsible for
and of the intensity and dangerousness fire prevention and firefighting tasks, as well as
for society of forest fires is foreseen in the the General Administration of the State (AGE)
upcoming decades, as a consequence of the resources, which supports the former with a
Global Change (climate change and change national coverage system.
in the uses of territory), thus becoming more
and more complex, dangerous and difficult Also, in the past years, the AGE as well as the
to manage causalities, although the statistical CCAA have made a commitment to improve
trends reflected in the General Statistics of management of forest fires through the
Forest Fires indicate, at present, a reduction of contracting of IT development, communication
the number of fires and of the affected forest platforms and technological resources, such
area. as fire spread simulators, risk index calculation
programs, big data analytics systems, day and
As a consequence of the aforementioned, night forest fire monitoring platforms, etc.
and responding to the legal mandate
reflected in forest fires and in civil protection An example is the ARBARIA project, which
legislation, Spain has developed, since the started to be implemented in 2020. This
1970s, a national system for prevention project consists of a computer system for
and extinguishing of forest fires. It is forest fires analysis and forecasting, using
professionalised, standardised and with a high artificial intelligence techniques associated
number of personal and material resources, to machine learning and deep learning.
including the Autonomous Communities ARBARIA uses historical data from forest fires
9 https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/estadisticas/incendios-decenio-2006-2015_tcm30-521617.pdf
18Introduction
that occurred in Spain in the last decades, as 1.2. Spanish-Portuguese
well as weather data and socioeconomical collaboration in the control of fires
elements. Through two algorithmic models,
ARBARIA allows to explain and predict the The forest ecosystems and the fires that
weekly occurrence of fires regionally, as well threatens them are the same reality on both sides
as to identify causal socioeconomical patterns, of the Spanish-Portuguese border. Fires that start
providing very valuable information for fire at one country and cross the border causing
extinguishing and prevention actions. severe damage in the neighbouring country
are not rare. For example, the cross-border
From the outset this project shows the area between Galicia and the north of Portugal
importance of technological development in represents one of the geographical areas with
fire control. As it is well known, the innovation the largest forest fire concentration of the Iberia
and the Research and Development (R&D) are Peninsula (see Figure 10), which prompts the
inseparable partners of Industrial Propriety, authorities of both countries to underline the
and play a key role in the ability to adapt importance of reinforcing the cross-border
quickly and effectively to the challenges operations in the fight against forest fires.
humanity systematically faces.
Therefore, the collaboration between Portugal
Given the high level of uncertainty in the short, and Spain in the fight and prevention of forest
medium and long term that the Global Change fires is of great importance. For example,
casts, the Forest Fires Fight Commission in 2020, the same as preceding years, the
approved, in 2019, the Strategic guidelines for Protocol of Technical Cooperation and Mutual
the management of forest fires in Spain. These Assistance regarding Civil Protection and
guidelines set out general, specific goals and the Additional Protocol on mutual help in
priority courses of action that should inform border areas between Portugal and Spain
the activities of all public administrations with were activated on several occasions, both
competence in this area. In particular, the need in Portuguese and Spanish territory, with
for improvement of the technology used in firefighting resources made available.
the prevention and extinguishing of forest
fires, identifying, among others, the systems Figure 10. Location of extinguished fires by
of «fleet tracking, remote detection through the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and
satellite or aero transported elements as well Demographic Right in 202010
as spectral image processing, simulation of
fire behaviour, risk indices associated with
forest, phenological and atmospheric variables,
creation of fuel models, vulnerability, danger
or habitability indices associated to the
urban-forest interface, large historical series
of data analysis (Big Data), improvement of
the technical requirements for the use of fire
in both fire extinguishing and fire prevention»,
among others. These institutional demands
assume a motivation for innovation in the field
of forest fires.
10 21st Annual Report on Forest Fires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2020, developed by the European
Commission; Transborder Cooperation on the prevention and suppression of forest fires in the Atlantic axis (https://www.
eixoatlantico.com/images/informes/secretaria_general/informe-incendios-ea_pt.pdf
19Introduction
The Common Strategy of Cross-border example of how a Spanish-Portuguese
development also includes several measures association can work. It is a project that
aimed at fire-fighting and prevention of fires, intends, through the expected results of its
such as: activities, to become a permanent centre
for development and promotion of training,
h Reinforce the coordination of border awareness, research and cooperation in the
resources linked to civil protection; sign fight against forest fires. Its main goals are:
agreements between Civil Protection
National Authorities to continue on h To reinforce and promote cooperation,
developing the ARIEM project related to the working procedures and training between
Civil Protection and Emergencies; adapt the the Devices of Prevention and Extinguishing
action protocols between the firefighting of Forest Fires in the cooperation field
and emergency teams on both sides of of the Euroregion Alentejo – Algarve –
the border; facilitate the coordination of Andalucia).
fire management, with the creation of the
Iberian Center for the Investigation and h To promote the creation of sustainable and
Fighting of Forest Fires (CILIFO). quality employment in the area of influence
of the project; reduce the economic cost
h Continue the cooperation on forest fires of fires by promoting the forest economy
in the framework of existing protocols linked to the landscape.
(Évora Protocol) and through the already
established national and regional channels. h To improve the responsiveness to forest
fires of entities and authorities involved
The Iberian Center for the Investigation and in the fight against them in the three
Fighting of Forest Fires (CILIFO) is a good participant regions.
20Business incubator:
FOIL-CILIFO
21The Firefighting Open Innovation Lab-CILIFO (FOIL-CILIFO)11 is the first worldwide business and technology accelerator/incubator focused on the prevention and extinguishing of forest fires, adaptation and mitigation of climate change, created in the framework of the Iberian Center for the Investigation and Fighting of Forest Fires (CILIFO)12 project, financed by the European Union FEDER fund in 75% through the Cross-border Cooperation Programme Interreg VA Spain-Portugal 2014-2020 (POCTEP). The CILIFO project has a 24.6-million-euro budget. The incubator FOIL/CILIFO is managed by the Fundación Finnova as one of the beneficiary entities of the project13. The FOIL/CILIFO, besides representing an efficient work space, offers services in multiple fields. The accelerator not only offers the possibility to test innovative technologies with pilot tests, supporting the implementation of new ideas in the framework of euro-projects, but also allows consultancy and mentoring through experts, enabling the search of international partners and providing legal advice. The FOIL/CILIFO currently has 30 accelerated entities at a European level and three at an intercontinental level (México, Chile and Brazil). These initiatives are presented in «Innovative solutions catalogue». Since the 16 June 2021, the FOIL-CILIFO takes part in the EIT Climate KIC Open Accelerator - The ClimAccelerator, the accelerator of climate change accelerators, which enables that entities accelerated and mentored by FOIL-CILIFO, through Finnova, can have an international networking space with entities that are working on adaptation and mitigation of climate change, and other environmental issues. EIT Climate KIC is a European community of knowledge and innovation, supported and powered by the European Commission, to work on the transition to a carbon-neutral economy. In this context FOIL-CILIFO and EIT Climate KIC Open Accelerator are boosting several initiatives and project proposals where the prevention and extinguishing of forest fires is a priority issue. Furthermore, FOIL-CILIFO has been selected as the representative of Spain in the European Business Promotion Awards (EEPA) in category 4: «Support for the internationalisation of companies» and on the 16 November 2021 it was proclaimed the winner in this category at European level by the European Commission, in association with the Committee of Regions. 11 https://innovation.cilifo.eu/startups 12 https://cilifo.eu/ 13 https://finnova.eu/ 22
Introduction
1.3. Purpose of the study The report also includes explicit references
to other subjects related to the control of
Intended for both public and private fires in the Iberian Peninsula, such as research
organisations related to the prevention, control projects, public-private partnership initiatives,
and fight against forest fires, as well as the innovative companies or the recently published
management and post fire restoration of UNE standard on long-term retardants, pioneer
the affected ecosystems, this study aims to in Europe.
analyse the evolution of patent applications
filed in this technological field that have been
published worldwide between 2010-2021. 1.4. Using patent information
The report was elaborated by patent Patents are industrial propriety titles that grant
examiners from the Portuguese Institute of its owner the right to prevent unauthorized
Industrial Propriety, I.P. (INPI) and from the third parties to use their invention, whenever
Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office O.A. this invention is new, inventive and industrially
(OEPM), with the scientific-technical advice applicable. Nevertheless, in order for an
from experts in the Academic sector as well inventor to obtain such right, in addition to
as relevant national bodies with competence following a certain administrative procedure
in the fight and control of fires in Spain and and paying annual maintenance fees for up to
Portugal. 20 years, he must disclose the invention in the
corresponding patent application.
Four relevant technological fields were
identified, each of which is the subject of a Therefore, patent documents constitute a
separate section in this report: source of technological information with
extraordinary value, since they are a means
h Detection and prevention of fires. of dissemination in which an enormous
number of inventions are recorded every year.
h Fire extinguishing. Considering only the five most important
patent offices in the world (European,
h Protection equipment. American, Chinese, Japanese and Korean), the
number of applications filed in 2020 rose to
h Post-fire restoration. 2.8 million.14
Each section includes a detailed analysis of the Patent databases, many of them free of
most innovative patent applications published charge, enable the access to the global
between 2019-2021, as well as statistic analysis patent collection estimated in more than 130
on the development of the sector in the past million documents. The statistical analysis
10 years, reflected by patent applications of all this information provides indicators on
published worldwide. Furthermore, a list of technological innovation in a specific field,
patents considered to be the most relevant shows where the obtained research results are
has been included, meaning those related to protected or who the main actors are, hence
inventions which protection has been extended enabling to ascertain the competitors and
to more than one country (2010-2021), and those with whom one should alliances. On the
are therefore expected to have a greater other hand, a detailed analysis of published
commercial and technological impact. patent applications enables to discover
14 https://www.fiveipoffices.org/statistics/statisticsreports/2020edition. IP5 Statistics Report 2020 Edition.
23Introduction
the most innovative technology and spot relevant to conduct a study from which
technological trends. significative conclusions may be obtained
and, consequently, as noted above, it was
The information contained in patents provides decided to include in the report all the
knowledge of great utility for decision retrieved documents that meet the search
making in innovative companies, research requirements.
public entities, other parties related to the
commercialisation and transfer of technology, Between 2010 and 2021, 3,137 patent or utility
as well as organisations responsible for model documents have been published in
innovative public policies. the world, directly related to forest fires. In
general terms (Figure 11), it is noted that the
For the analysis of the obtained data, every number of published documents has been
patent and utility model retrieved have progressively increasing throughout the
been considered, without limiting it to those decade. In 2015, 61.26% more documents were
forming part of International Patent Families, published than in 2010, and from that year
given that the documents published in the onwards the number rises at an accelerated
PCT system (Patent Cooperation Treaty), pace: in 2021, 357.66% more documents were
in the European Patent Office (EPO) or published than in 2011.
in more than one national office15, i.e.,
those that fall under the definition of the In 2020, a year marked by the COVID-19
International Patent Families, are only 378. pandemic, 58.30% more documents were
This amount of publications does not seem retrieved than in 2019.
Figure 11. Total patent documents on forest fires 2010-2021
505 508
333
319
275
228
205
189
179
159
111 118
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
15 Dernis et al., 2001; Harhoff et al., 2003; Van Pottelsberghe and van Zeebroeck, 2008; Frietsch and Schmoch, 2010;
Martinez, 2011; Squicciarini et al., 2013; Dechezleprêtre et al., 2017).
24Introduction
Figure 12. Publishing Offices 2010-2021
GR 8
PT 8
DE 9
FR 11
GB 13
CA 18
JP 20
EP 44
ES 44
AU 47
US 87
WO 91
RU 99
KR 203
CN 2,392
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500
76.25% of documents (patents and utility Specifically, in the field of forest fires, the
models) were published by the Chinese Patent consulted databases16 reveal that 97.41%
Office (China National Intellectual Property of retrieved Chinese applications refer to
Administration, CNIPA), which corresponds innovations protected only in China.
to a total of 2,392 documents. South Korea
published 6.47%, Russia 3.16% and USA 2.77%. The country where the first application of a
PCT international publications were 2.90%. The patent’s invention was filed is, frequently, the
total number of shared documents by these home country of that invention. Thus, the
offices can be seen in Figure 12. data about the countries where the patent
or utility model application was filed, from
Over the past few years, the Chinese which ulterior applications claim priority,
government has been implementing different offers information on the geographical origin
types of measures aimed at supporting the of the invention. In the field of forest fires,
country’s innovation. That can explain the it is possible to observe that China is the
high number of patent applications filed to country where most inventions have been
CNIPA, related to several types of technology. filed between 2010-2021. Thus, it is of interest
However, the great majority of these patent to study the data related to the country that
applications are «domestic applications», claims priority excluding the documents
that is, national requests which are not published in China, due to the reason
subsequently internationally extended. mentioned in the previous paragraphs.
16 GPI (Global Patent Index).
25Introduction
Figure 13. Countries and Offices that claim priority of patent documents. China excluded
1,.19%
1.46% PT
NL
1.6% 6.1% 28.51%
GR Others KR
2.25%
%
FR
R
2.39%
EE
2.39%
JP
3.18%
%
DE
3.18%
GB
4.38% 116.58%
EP US
U
6.23%
AU
6.76%
ES 113.79%
RU
R
Figure 13 shows that the countries with the The three applicants that have filed the highest
highest number of inventions (after China) are number of published patent or utility model
South Korea (28.51%), USA (16.58%), Russia applications have their headquarters in China
(13.79%), Spain (6.76%) and Australia (6.23%). as shown in Table 1.
As to Portugal, the obtained number is 1.19%.
Table 1. Applicants with the highest number of patent applications
Applicant Publications
STATE GRID CORP CHINA 77
NANJING FOREST POLICE COLLEGE 47
UNIV NORTHEAST FORESTRY 45
26Introduction
Table 2. Applicants with the highest number of patent documents. China excluded
Applicant Publications
TYCO FIRE PRODUCTS LP (US) 17
FRS GROUP LLC (US) 14
NAT INST FOREST SCIENCE (KR) 10
JABE BEHEER B V (NL) 10
FEDERAL NOE G BJUDZHETNOE OBRAZOVATEL NOE UCHREZHDENIE VYSSHEGO
9
PROFESSIONAL NOGO OBRAZOVANIJA MO GU (RU)
ARVILLE TEXTILES LTD (GB) 8
WILKENING DAVID W (US) 7
STS DEFENCE LTD (GB) 7
SMART PACKAGING SOLUTIONS SPS (FR) 7
SCHNARR MICHAEL S (US) 7
NIKOLAJEVA IRINA (RU) 7
MCLELLAN JOSEPH (US) 7
HULBERT DENNIS (US) 7
Excluding China, eight companies and one h Classification of the information retrieved
individual are among the top nine applicants. in four technological fields: detection and
After the 10th, the proportion of individual prevention, extinguishing, protection and
applicants rises (Table 2). post-fire restoration equipment.
It should be noted that the applicant’s country h Analysis of the information in patent
of origin does not always correspond to the documents to spot the relevant
country where the patent application has been technologies of each field.
filed.
h Statistical analysis
1.5. Methodology The patent classification systems used were
the International Patent Classification (IPC) and
The following steps were followed in the the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC).
preparation of the report: Both specific and less specific classifications of
forest fires have been taken into consideration.
h Definition of a search strategy with key These have been combined with key words to
words and patent classification codes limit the search results obtained on the subject
concerning technologies related to forest of the report.17
fires.
The search has been concluded in full-text
h Search on worldwide-specialized patent databases and patent documents that were
databases, to which INPI and OEPM have not specifically aimed at forest fires have been
access. discarded.
17 For more information on methodology, see Annex II.
27Introduction The statistics have been performed with Furthermore, a list of patents relating to the Global Patent Index (GPI) tool of the inventions whose protection was extended to European Patent Office (EPO). These more than one country between 2010-2021 has statistics cover a larger period (2010-2021) been included. than the analysis of patent documents (2019-2021) and reflect the number of Both for the establishment of the technological inventions assigned to each technological fields to be analysed, as to the tracking of field, regardless of the fact that some of relevant patents, scientific and technical advice these inventions are also classified in other has been provided by national experts on the fields. control of forest fires in the Iberian Peninsula. 28
02
DETECTION AND PREVENTION
OF FIRESDetection and prevention of fires
2.1. Detection and prevention Application EP2741264A1 (BOEING CO
technologies [US]) regards the «Forest sensor deployment
and monitoring system», wherein soil sensor
Detection and prevention technologies units are deployed in a forest from aerial
concern the identification of a fire outbreak or vehicles and the collected information is
determining the risk of a fire event. transmitted to a remote location for analysis.
The application PT110537A (UNIV DE TRAS
The interest in developing early warning OS MONTES E ALTO DOURO [PT]), with the
systems and, therefore, investigate and title «System for remote detection of risk
develop equipment and software to alert about situations», that comprises monitoring points
these extraordinary events, should be taken distributed by sensor units that transmit
into consideration in risk management. data to an unmanned aerial vehicle, also
efficiently illustrates the relevance of these
Seven technologies for the detection technologies.
and prevention of fires are highlighted.
These technologies are, in most cases, Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning
interconnected, and the cases where only one
of them shows up alone in a patent document There are several applications where data
are rare. Since there is not a complete analysis and processing in fire detection is
partitioning of technologies, it was decided processed, with artificial intelligence and
to select the most determining technology machine learning technologies standing
in each of the applications. Nevertheless, out.
a subsection was created comprising
applications where several technological Many technologies use artificial intelligence
fields stand out, referred to as combined and machine learning to detect fire events
technologies. through data analysis. For example, patent
DETECTION AND PREVENTION
Monitoring Stationary platforms
IA and Machine Learning Aerial technologies
Risk analysis Retardant products
Sensors and Cameras Combined technologies
Monitoring application WO2019048604A1 (FCM
DIENSTLEISTUNGS AG [CH]) concerns an
Monitoring is the field that stands out the «Automatic early detection of smoke, soot and
most in fire detection and prevention, and fire with increased detection reliability using
there is a high incidence of this innovation, machine learning» wherein an analysis is made
specially detection. Technologies concern the from a smoke coloured-optimised pixel region
supervision of a certain region with risk of by a detection algorithm that uses a machine
forest fire. learning calculation model.
30Detection and prevention of fires
Still in this field, «An emergency response also disclosed, concerning «An emergency
system and method» is disclosed in response system and method», that consists
application WO2021174291A1 (STEPHEN of several sensors which, when sensing
CHRISTOPHER COLIN [AU] et al.), that several emergency variables, communicate
comprises sensors which sense emergency that information, through a communication
variables that communicate with a server channel, to a server, which analyses those
which analyses and determines how to variables, estimates the risk and determines
respond to an emergency situation. A sensor the best way to respond to the emergency
is also disclosed which, through artificial situation, by resorting, specially, to the use
intelligence or machine learning, predicts the of drones.
probability of ignition after a lightning.
On the other hand, patent application
As to patent application US2021260421A1 US2021142537A1 (GEN ELECTRIC [US]),
(RAYA GIDEON [IL]), with the title «Fire with the title «Multi source geographic
control and prevention», it uses sensors that information system (GIS) web based data
detect certain parameters of animal activity visualization and interaction for vegetation
and an analysis is made by a computerized management», consists of a system and
module in order to identify fire escape method that receives the data from images
behaviours, wherein that identification can about the vegetation of a certain region and
be made by artificial intelligence. assigns scores to the fire risk of that region.
Risk analysis Sensors and cameras
Data analysis and processing is often used Technologies relating to sensors have as
for purposes of performing a risk analysis, main goal the fire detection at an early
estimating the likelihood of a forest fire stage.
event.
Patent application WO2019244094A1
Application WO2021091021A1 (ALCHERA (LADEIRA JOAO [PT]) with the title
INC [KR]) describes a «Fire detection «Wildfire detection system and method
system», capable of detecting in a quick using array of CO2 sensors and artificial
and precise way the beginning of a fire in a intelligence», describes a sensorial unit
certain region, using images and light flows for retransmitting the data, a server and
captured by analysis modules that estimate a software with an algorithm projected
the likelihood or the presence of fire, by for processing the incoming data and
resorting to a classification system. Patent trigger the fire detection alarms at an early
application US2014027131A1 (BOEING CO stage. The application AU2021105697A4
[US]), titled «Wildfire arrest and prevention (ACADEMY OF WATER RESOURCES
system», claims an apparatus, operation CONSERVATION FOREST OF QILIAN
controller and method, that enables the MOUNTAINS GANSU PROVINCE [CN]),
control of unmanned aerial vehicles for with the epigraph «A Monitoring Device for
detection, prevention and suppression Forest Ecological Environment» discloses a
of fires in a designated area, through broader monitoring with high accuracy of
information gathering and analysis, fire the air in forests, with an automatic video
risk estimation and its extinction using and rapid positioning. Patent application
the use of retardants. Patent application WO2021038407A1 (UNIV KING ABDULLAH
WO2021174291A1 (STEPHEN CHRISTOPHER SCI & TECH [SA]), refers to a «Versatile
COLIN [AU] et al.), mentioned previously, is optical fibre sensor and method for
31Detection and prevention of fires
detecting red palm weevil, farm fires, and collapsible web or frame structure, placed
soil moisture» and consists of an integrated above the ground by a combination of
system which includes an optical fibre to lifting balloons and positioning machines
be applied on trees and an acoustic sensor for managing the elevation, the shape and
connected to the optical fibre, configured the geolocation of the sunshade device.
to process three optical signals, one to A sunshade management system controls
determine the presence of red palm weevil, the said device, collapsing in the evening,
the second to determine the temperature or on rainy or cloudy days, or when severe
of the location and the third to determine weather-related events are detected
the humidity, thus allowing to identify the (thunderstorms, earthquakes, etc.).
presence of a fire.
Also worth mentioning the application
Camera image technologies are essentially WO2021091473A1 (HUGNORA INVEST &
connected to detection and monitoring of TJAENSTEPRODUKTION [SE]), with the title
smoke and flames in forests. «System and method for limiting spread
of wildfire», that defines a fire limiting
Patent application WO2018226128A1 area, positioning a plurality of droplet
(GORYACHENKOV DMITRY generating units along the fire limiting area
ANATOLYEVICH [RU]), with the title and connecting the units to a liquid source,
«Video camera for the early detection of a forming a mist which is applied along the fire
wildfire» comprises a housing with a rotating limiting boundary.
mechanism, an image capturing sensor
and a lens, which in turn are connected to Aerial Technologies
a data transmission unit and to a remote
monitoring console, capable of identifying Aerial technologies are present in the
smoke and/or flames from wildfires. As spectrum of fire detection and prevention
to patent application WO2020089541A1 through information gathering and
(UNIV DE CORSE P PAOLI [FR] et al.), it transmission.
refers to a «Device for characterizing a fire
and associated method for determining Patent application KR20210072954 (KOREA
radiant fluxes», that comprises at least one ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY [KR]), named
stereovision system, comprising a first and «Disposable IoT System for distribution
second image capturing unit and at least of Disposable IoT Terminal using drone»
one processing unit configured to determine sets a disposable IoT (Internet of Things)
at least one geometrical feature of the fire at device, equipped with one or more sensors,
an early stage. at the lower end of a drone which is used
to predict the spread of forest fires and
Stationary Platforms monitoring reignitions.
Stationary platforms are associated with A «Fire-fighting prevention and response
structures or barriers that have as main goal system and method for using such a
to hold and/or to stop the spread of forest system» is described in patent application
fires. WO2020064923A1 (AIRBUS DEFENCE
& SPACE SAS [FR]), in which drones that
The application titled «Canopy For Climate communicate with a central station have
And Solar Mitigation», US2021332604A1 a fire detection unit comprising a thermal
(AINTABI JASON [US] ), discloses a camera and a fire response unit comprising
reflective sunshade connected to a a container with gas. The drones also have
32Detection and prevention of fires
monitoring modules for a certain path and a composition for preventing wildfires»,
control module to trigger the response unit where the aqueous composition consists
and communicate with the central station. of a fire retardant and fibrillar cellulose.
Document US2021283439A1 Combined Technologies
(RAPIDDEPLOY INC [US]) concerning the
«Dispatching UAVs for Wildfire Surveillance», This subchapter addresses retrieved patent
discloses an «interface» of unmanned applications that encompass, in synergy,
aerial vehicles, wherein at least one of several technologies, described previously,
said UAV has wildfire detection means. related to the detection and prevention of
The UAV interface transmits an instruction forest fires.
so that an UAV moves to the location
of the potential wildfire, and receives Patent application US2019176987A1
data captured by, at least, one sensor. (BEECHAM JAMES E [US]), with the
The system is capable of processing the title «System and method for fire
received data and sending a wildfire alert. suppression via artificial intelligence»
describes a computer enabled with
Retardant Products artificial intelligence connected to several
stationary and mobile sensors, that collect
Technologies related to fire retardants data and communicate it to the system,
have as main goal to slow down or to stop which indicates possible fires and takes
the spread of flames. Patent applications action for the extinguishing of those fires
that were found about fire retardants by resorting, namely, to drones. Patent
describe, mostly, retardants that are used application WO2021010912A1 (TAYSI
separately or that are part of the chemical OLCAY [TR]), whose title is «Early fire
composition of the coating of buildings detection system and a detector suitable
and structures which are intended to thereof», enables early detection of
protect from possible fires. fires in different environments, through
one or more detectors thrown from the
Regarding isolated retardants, it is aerial vehicles, which are configured to
worth mentioning patent application analyse collected data about humidity,
US2021154502A1 (M FIRE HOLDINGS temperature, smoke, carbon/carbon
LLC [US]), which refers to a «Method of dioxide and wind direction, and that obtain
and system network for managing the energy from a solar panel. Finally, patent
application of fire and smoke inhibiting application US2021232818A1 (AIDASH INC
compositions on ground surfaces before [US]), with the title «System and method
the incidence of wild-fires, and also of intelligent vegetation management»
thereafter, upon smoldering ambers and claims a system that enables image
ashes to reduce smoke and suppress fire data collection with aerial technologies,
re-ignition», namely, a wireless mobile determining the fire risk on a given area,
information network, that manages the by resorting to a convolutional neural
application of a slurry composed of fire network.
retardants and cellulose or wood fibre,
mixed with water and other additives.
2.2. Evolution of the industry
Patent application WO2020109654A1
(XPYRO OY [FI]) is also worth noting, Over the study period, 1,737 patent or
which discloses a «Method and aqueous utility model documents were published
33You can also read
