Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) together with UPT LLG CIMTROP (Center For International Cooperation In Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatland) and Liverpool John Moores University are utilising “drone” technology to mitigate fires in peatlands.
“We are currently conducting ongoing research on the use of ‘thermal drones’ to mitigate peatland fires and today we are launching a ‘drone center‘ for mitigation and monitoring of peat fires in Central Kalimantan,” said Deputy Director I of BNF Yunsiska Ermiasi at Palangka Raya, last Friday (29/01/21).
Siska said the use of “drone” technology for mitigation and monitoring of fires in peatlands would be more effective because of the wide coverage that covers both the surface and the underground.
She made this statement during a workshop on the use of drone technology and the application of a “drone center” in efforts to mitigate and monitor peat fires in Central Kalimantan.
Head of UPT LLG CIMTROP Darmae ​​Nasir when opening the event, said the use and development of technology in monitoring the potential and incidence of peatland fires is very necessary.
Photo by Yohanes Prahara | BNF
“By utilizing this technology, we can produce data directly in the field that we can analyze academically. For example, fire potential data, fire data, and post-fire field data,” he said.
From the data generated, he continued, various interested parties can formulate more effective policies related to mitigation and monitoring of peatland fires.
BNF Drone and GIS Coordinator Restu Aminullah explained that technological developments, including drones, are very helpful in mitigating and monitoring peatland fires.
He said the use of drones can produce field data, rather than needing on-ground data collection or using satellite imagery.
“Using drones we can get real-time data, a wider range of field images, and more details on the area of ​​land that has the potential to burn or has a fire, and also arrive at the coordinates,” he said.
He gave an example that if a land fire is identified through drone imagery, it produces complete data, and the fire team will easily find the nearest fire point and water source to extinguishing it.
“Then after the incident, we can also analyze the data on the area of ​​land burned more quickly so that the policy for restoring the land can be decided immediately,” he added during a presentation.
The event itself was held online and offline and was attended by a number of parties including members of society, community organizations from the government, media, and members of the TNI and Polri.
Photo by Yohanes Prahara | BNF
