An SMS alert system, developed as part of Eskom and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research`s (CSIR) Advanced Fire Information System, will help to prevent fires from damaging power lines.
"Two satellites circle the globe and look for potential fires in SA," explains Johan Eksteen, technology research programme manager at Meraka Institute, a research institute that forms part of the CSIR.
"The satellites take high resolution photos of areas in the country and the pictures are sent to a central satellite centre," Eksteen says. "Sophisticated algorithms determine if there is a possibility of fire in a specific area."
Once the potential for fire is established, a scan is done to see if it is going to occur within one of the specified high danger areas where there are power lines present, Eksteen explains.
"If occurring near power lines, the personnel responsible for those power lines are sent an SMS from the server," Eksteen continues.
This kind of remote sensing, coupled with cellphone technology for instant alert messaging, is the first application of its kind in the world, according to the CSIR press statement.
"Eskom has worked with US-based Maryland University to develop the SMS and cellphone technology to make this possible," explains Hein Vosloo, servitude specialist in the transmission division at Eskom.
Satellite generated fire maps can be viewed online and will be televised tonight at 5.30pm on SABC channels as part of the weather forecasts.
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