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Mulchén Pioneers in Chile with Unmanned Aircraft for Wildfire Prevention

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• The Burean commune has a high incidence of wildfires, which is why the technological equipment will conduct patrols with thermal and night-vision cameras.

One of the biggest concerns ahead of the summer season is wildfires, whose devastating consequences were felt during the summer of 2023 in the Biobío province.

High temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds create an explosive mix that can trigger disasters spreading rapidly, leaving a trail of destruction—even with fatal victims.

That is why public institutions in charge of emergency prevention in the area are already preparing to avoid such incidents.

This is the case in Mulchén, the commune with the largest area of forest plantations in the region, where 20.7% of its land is covered by pine and eucalyptus trees. As a result, it is one of the areas with the most wildfires in the Biobío province.

Due to this, the Mulchén municipality purchased three unmanned aerial vehicles to strengthen preventive monitoring in the area. "The idea is to provide aerial surveillance services within our territory, specifically in areas that, based on Fire Department experience, are characterized by a high probability of wildfire occurrence," stated the local municipal corporation.

With an investment of 120 million pesos contributed by the Biobío Regional Government, the devices feature a flight autonomy of 55 minutes, are water- and dust-resistant, have a maximum flight altitude of 7,000 meters, and can operate in temperatures ranging from -20 to 50°C.

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT FEATURES

The representative of the company in charge of the equipment, César González, explained that the devices "are the latest evolution in technology for this industrial series, truly advancing with their H30T camera, and they are the only public entity in Chile to have them."

He detailed that "the camera has five modules: one thermal camera that detects temperatures up to 1,400 degrees, a thermal sensor for locating people in darkness and low-light conditions, and a signal transmission range of up to 20 kilometers."

Additionally, the devices feature "a 400x zoom, allowing clear visibility of a car's license plate from over two kilometers away, thus improving communal security. They also have tracking beacons, additional accessories like speakers to issue orders and instructions to the public, and LED spotlights for search and rescue operations."

MUNICIPALITY

Ignacio Pino, the municipal professional in charge of the aircraft, explained that the original idea was designed based on the commune's high wildfire statistics. "The initial plan for three aircraft is to monitor interface zones, which are areas with a high incidence of wildfires that could impact the population."

He emphasized that "this technology allows us to be pioneers in Chile, where, thanks to the camera's quality, we can conduct rescue operations, public security surveillance for license plate detection, combat drug trafficking in the commune's perimeters, among other functions."
Mayor Jorge Rivas clarified that one of the three units was handed over to the Mulchén Fire Department and could even be shared with police forces.

He also announced that 18 municipal personnel will be trained to operate the devices, all of whom will obtain the necessary licenses.

Source: digital print edition ofLa Tribuna