Intellisense Systems is one of three small businesses to receive funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to develop novel technologies that monitor air quality around wildfires.
In recent years, wildfires have grown in size, frequency, and intensity due to climate change. The state of California has seen record-breaking conflagrations in each of the last four years, with 2021’s Dixie Fire becoming the largest non-complex wildfire in state history. Smoke from the Dixie Fire caused unhealthy air quality across the Western United States, including as far east as Colorado, affecting millions of people away from the fire’s vicinity. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking to monitor and mitigate the air pollution caused by wildfires, which can include high levels of deadly contaminants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter.
To achieve this, the EPA is investing in the development of cost-effective, flexible, robust technologies that monitor air quality surrounding wildfires. Historically, this kind of equipment has been bulky, expensive, and difficult to install and operate, limiting the amount of useful information that could guide fire mitigation efforts. Through the EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, the agency is assisting in the development of tools to monitor air quality and provide actionable information during wildland fire events. One of these air quality-monitoring innovations comes from Intellisense Systems, whose ruggedized, all-in-one sensors have already served in one of California’s record-setting wildland fires.
With this SBIR funding from the EPA, the engineers at Intellisense have developed and are currently testing a new remote air quality reporting (RAQR) system. Based on the proven AWARE Flood System, this solution is capable of reporting air quality data through a network of small, robust, low-cost communication nodes. These nodes can report air quality autonomously and harvest power far from any existing infrastructure thanks to its built-in solar power system. They are also built to withstand any environmental hazards, but also small and adaptable enough to be installed by only 1-2 teammates in under 15 minutes.
The RAQR system from Intellisense can communicate through a radio, cellular, or Iridium satellite connection, and it can attach multiple air quality sensors to measure carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulates, as well as temperature, pressure, and humidity. It is also capable of tracking air quality around densely populated areas at a higher geographical resolution than previous air quality-monitoring systems. This capability is critical for detecting air quality issues in close proximity to communities and businesses. It also assists first responders in decision-making and issuing warnings or evacuation notices as needed.
This is the latest environmental monitoring solution from Intellisense Systems to be used to adapt to climate change. In 2017, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection installed multiple Micro Weather Stations on the fire line of the Thomas Fire in Ventura County to gather critical information without putting personnel in harm’s way. Additionally, the AWARE Flood System provided critical water-level data to first responders in Louisiana during Hurricane Ida. Like wildland fires in the Western United States, these tropical cyclones are also increasing in frequency and intensity. Thankfully, tools and solutions from Intellisense Systems are strong enough to endure intense storms and conflagrations while also providing critical environmental data to first responders.