Finmeccanica Spa

Alenia Spazio S.p.a.

Sistel Sistemi Elettronici S.p.a.

Ramo Aziendale Alenia

Giulio Brogi

Luca Pietranera

Francesco Frau

A forest surveillance and monitoring system for the early detection and reporting of forest fires in a forest area under surveillance. The system comprises a number of remote detectors placed within the forest area and telemetrically linked to a central processing system. Each remote detector comprises an infrared sensor and video camera mounted on a remotely controllable moving platform. The remote detector also contains a weather sensor for collecting critical weather data at the remote site. Located at each remote site is a remote processor which controls all data collection, the remote processor being in communication with the central site via a remote communication subsystem and central communication system which are linked via radio. The central control site receives weather data and alarm information as well as video images from the remote detector site via the communication system. The central site contains video monitoring equipment for visual inspection of the area under surveillance as well as a central processor for overall system control. The central processor receives data from the multiple remote detectors and is capable of displaying alarms on digitized topographic maps of the forest under surveillance, as well as producing a forecast of the anticipated growth pattern of the fire front based upon the received data and information stored in a historical data base. Hard copy output of topographic maps showing the fire sites and fire growth path are available from the central processor for use by fire fighting personnel.

Forest surveillance and monitoring system for the early detection and

Infrared sensor suitable for fire fighting applications

Infrared proximity fuze, obtained by joining two infrared IR proximity sensors, preferably of the open field type, which have different fields of view (F.O.V.) so that the target sources presence signal is given by the simultaneous presence of an alarm signal coming from the greater field of view sensor and a time gate generated by an alarm signal coming from the lessor F.O.V. sensor. Given the carrier-to-target movement characteristics and the aperture of the two fields of view it is possible to electronically generate a time gate which rejects false targets (fires, flares, etc.) placed at considerable distances from the line of sight. The system is intrinsically protected against the effects of solar radiation combined with the nutation and precession movements of the carrier because it requires simultaneous signal presence within both fields of view. The open field fuze signal processor checks for the simultaneous presence of a positive IR signal and of a negative rate of change of the IR signal, both characteristic of an emitter coming out of the sensor F.O.V.

Infrared proximity fuze with double field of view for moving carrier

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Rome, Italy

Giulio Brogi