Wildfire early alert system

The following year witnessed the release of 1.8 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, further exacerbating climate change.

The economic impact is equally alarming. The cost of restoring a single hectare of burned forest is estimated at $30,000 and can take up to 20 years to regain its productivity. For forestry and insurance companies, the financial burden is substantial, with global insurable damages from wildfires estimated at $20 billion annually.

Current systems for detecting and managing wildfires often suffer from delays and inaccuracies, significantly hampering effective response and mitigation efforts. These limitations highlight the urgent need for innovative solutions that can enhance the speed and precision of wildfire detection and management, thereby reducing the scale of destruction and aiding in quicker recovery of affected areas.

Our solution can be found on https://app.satellitesonfire.com. 

We combine 6 satellites with ground-based cameras in towers of detection and our proprietary AI to detect wildfires faster, provide fire monitoring and make predictions of the behavior of the fire. 

We give three main products, two of them give the possibility to visualize fires. The third one enables our users to receive alerts from the fires and lightnings (main natural cause of wildfires) detected in their areas. We send them notifications through SMS, Email and WhatsApp, and we allow them to make analysis. This way, they can reduce their losses by tackling their fires early, and be aware of the fires in their surroundings to prepare in time. For this product, we have a B2B SaaS Model. 

The NASA FIRMS system is the most widely used system in Latin America currently. We complement their satellites, which take images four times a day, by using two others that provide us with information every 10 minutes. This way, we cover the temporal gaps from NASA's system, enabling quicker alerts and providing continuous fire monitoring.

Talking about the cameras, we are not in charge of the installation: we connect to cameras that our customers already have, or we have Partners that install them. This way, we remain software based, have low costs and are super scalable.

Our solution serves both public and private organizations that manage extensive territories. On the public side, this includes civil defense units, national parks, firefighting departments, and forest brigades. For the private sector, our users are companies involved in carbon credit trading, agricultural, forestry, and livestock firms, and we are also engaging with forest insurance companies.

These stakeholders are currently underserved by existing wildfire detection and management systems, which often suffer from delays and lack of precision. Our innovative solution directly addresses these challenges by providing a more accurate, faster, and comprehensive alert system. This system enhances the ability of these organizations to monitor their territories and respond swiftly to potential wildfire threats.

Our approach includes offering two free products aimed at raising awareness about wildfire issues, followed by annual subscriptions to our advanced alert system. This system monitors specified zones and delivers real-time alerts to all connected devices via WhatsApp as soon as a fire is detected, enabling timely and effective responses. Additionally, our technology detects lightning strikes, a leading natural cause of wildfires.

How do we provide these alerts? We integrate data from six satellites that offer imagery updates every 10 minutes, surpassing the speed of systems currently used across Latin America, including those by NASA. This satellite data, combined with cameras on detection towers located within our clients' territories, allows us to process information in seconds using artificial intelligence. This setup ensures the earliest possible alerts.

The founding team have known each other since 2017. All of us had tech projects before that got featured in the main media of Latin América and reached over 20 thousand users. We started Satellites on Fire after witnessing family friends lose their homes to wildfires in Argentina, which bonded us to the problem, and got us to speak with hundreds of people who work on a daily basis with wildfires to get to know the problem deeply. 

Franco (CEO) got shortlisted as one of the best 40 innovators globally, Joaquín (COO) was the winner of a Harvard Competition in 2023 and Ulises (CTO) was #1 Argentinian programmer in the International Olympiads of Informatics.

Also, we have a Tech Leader that worked as CTO for 5 years, an SDR that founded the biggest climate community in Latin America (Jóvenes por el Clima has 180k followers and more than 120 volunteers) and an AI expert who served as Machine Learning consultant for Oxford and researcher for NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). Lastly, we have strategic investors that help us in several areas of the business: Ruben Altman (founder of a ClimaTech VC), Paul Norton (former CFO of Helvetia -insurance with 7.5MM customers-), Carlos Becco (40 years in the Agro industry Lead an Agro unicorn), Air Capital, Techstars and Draper Cygnus (investor of Satellogic, Lemon and Auth0).

Since our inception, we have made significant strides in our development and market reach. To date, we have successfully attracted 19,000 users across more than 11 countries, monitoring over 200 million hectares—an area ten times the size of Uruguay. We have also secured a nationwide implementation contract with the National Council of Firefighters in Argentina, highlighting our system's relevance and effectiveness.

Our technological advancements are evident in our products. We have developed and tested a highly effective artificial intelligence super-resolution algorithm, which has demonstrated the capability to detect 50% more wildfires than the previously used GOES satellite algorithm provided by NOAA. This breakthrough not only enhances our product's efficiency but also significantly impacts our sales, fundraising efforts, competitive edge, and the biodiversity we aim to protect.

Furthermore, we have made progress in on-ground fire detection systems, employing cameras and artificial intelligence. Our systems have proven capable of detecting 75% of fires within the first three minutes and 90% within five minutes, underscoring our technology's rapid response capabilities.

Additionally, we have been recognized globally, having been selected as one of the 12 startups to join the prestigious Techstars Tel Aviv accelerator. We also successfully closed a funding round, raising USD 500,000 from international venture capitals such as Draper Cygnus and Mercy Corps, as well as investors with expertise in insurance, agriculture, finance, and climate sectors. These achievements collectively demonstrate our commitment to innovation and the practical impact of our solutions in wildfire detection and management.

We are applying to Solve because we aim to expand our wildfire protection technology across more countries in Latin America, particularly in regions like the Amazon where wildfires pose a critical challenge yet lack effective early warning solutions. Through Solve, we hope to gain insights and network connections that will enable us to enter these new markets and help safeguard more vulnerable areas.

Our commitment to technological development is steadfast, with plans to invest in enhancing and optimizing fire prediction algorithms and expanding our satellite imaging capabilities to detect fires more swiftly. This aligns with Solve’s focus on advancing technological solutions that can address global challenges.

Moreover, we are keen on establishing strategic collaborations with governmental bodies, forestry sector companies, and other key stakeholders in wildfire management. Joining the Solve community presents an invaluable opportunity to improve our approach by exchanging knowledge with top professionals in forest fire management and successful internationalization strategies.

Our motivation for joining this community of experts lies in the desire to enhance our approach by learning from professionals renowned for their work in managing forest fires and in developing successful internationalization strategies. By collaborating with this community, we believe we can identify areas for improvement and gain new perspectives to develop more effective strategies to execute our project on a global scale.

We are excited about the opportunity to make meaningful connections within this community, which will ultimately contribute to the success and impact of Satellites on Fire globally.

Our solution is uniquely innovative due to its novel approach in the burgeoning satellite industry, which is experiencing significant growth. We uniquely combine satellite detection, which enables extensive fire monitoring over large territories, with camera technology that provides rapid, localized fire detection. This hybrid model leverages the strengths of both technologies to offer a comprehensive fire management system.

What sets us apart is our software-based strategy that integrates these technologies into a unified platform. This approach not only places us at the forefront of the industry but also allows us to continuously update and refine our models with the latest data. Additionally, our deep understanding of the challenges associated with wildfires enables us to educate our customers on holistic fire management strategies, from prevention to extinguishment, thereby minimizing their potential losses.

Moreover, our team includes experts who have served as Machine Learning consultants for Oxford and researchers for NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). This expertise fuels our ongoing development of algorithms that can quadruple the resolution of satellite images, enhancing our detection capabilities significantly.

This innovative integration of technologies and expertise not only positions us as leaders in the field but also has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts across the industry. By setting new standards in wildfire detection and management, we encourage other players in the space to elevate their solutions, thereby transforming the market landscape and promoting greater resilience against wildfires globally.

Our solution to wildfire detection and management is designed to impact the problem through a structured theory of change. At the core, our activities involve deploying advanced satellite imagery combined with ground-based camera systems and sophisticated algorithms to detect wildfires rapidly and accurately. Here’s how we link our activities to outputs and expected long-term outcomes:

Activities:

1. Continuous monitoring of high-risk areas using a combination of satellite imagery and real-time camera surveillance.
2. Application of machine learning algorithms to enhance image resolution and fire detection capabilities.
3. Integration of our systems with customer devices to deliver instant alerts through platforms like WhatsApp.

Immediate Outputs:

• Increased detection rates of wildfires, particularly in their early stages.
• Reduction in response times due to instant alerts provided to local fire departments and forestry management teams.
• Enhanced ability to monitor and analyze data on fire patterns and risk areas.

Longer-term Outcomes:

• Decreased area and severity of wildfires through early detection and rapid response.
• Reduction in economic losses associated with fire damage due to preventative actions and quicker suppression.
• Improved biodiversity and ecosystem resilience by preventing large-scale devastations.

Evidence to Support Links:

• Third-party research indicates that early detection and rapid response can reduce the spread and intensity of wildfires. Studies from organizations such as NASA and various environmental agencies support the efficacy of satellite and aerial imagery in improving fire management outcomes.
• Our internal data shows that with the implementation of our technology, the detection of wildfires has improved by 50% compared to traditional methods used by local authorities.
• Feedback from our current users, including fire departments and forestry services, has consistently highlighted reductions in response times and better resource management during firefighting efforts.

By following this theory of change, our solution not only addresses the immediate challenges posed by wildfires but also contributes to a broader ecological and economic stability for the communities we serve. This structured approach ensures that our activities directly lead to tangible improvements in wildfire management, aligning with our goal to significantly mitigate the impacts of wildfires globally.

Our overarching impact goal is to extinguish every wildfire in the world in a timely manner, thereby saving biodiversity, lands, and lives. This ambitious goal addresses the critical issue of forest wildfires which not only destroy natural habitats and endanger wildlife but also pose severe risks to human communities and contribute significantly to carbon emissions.

Specific Impact Goals and Measurement Metrics:

Hectares Protected and Saved:

Protected: We track the total number of hectares under surveillance by our system. Currently, Satellites on Fire protects 190 million hectares, with an expansion target of 450 million hectares by 2028.

Saved: We estimate the hectares saved from burning by our early detection systems. For instance, in 2024, we aim to save approximately 4.784 million hectares out of 7.973 million at risk. These figures are projected to improve annually, reaching up to 17.665 million hectares saved out of 20.782 million at risk by 2028.

Accuracy and Efficiency of Fire Detection:

We continuously enhance the precision of our fire detection algorithms, which currently can detect fires as small as 20 meters by 20 meters. This capability is essential for early intervention.

We aim to improve the detection timing and accuracy, which, according to our projections, will increase the hectares saved by 20% from 2025 onward, thanks to advanced algorithms developed.

Carbon Emission Reduction:

By efficiently controlling wildfires, we significantly reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.

Community Engagement and Support:

We evaluate the effectiveness of our solutions through direct feedback from communities and operational data. For example, our work with the Muisca community in Colombia has shown how real-time wildfire data can empower local efforts in protecting territories.

Partnerships and Collaborations:

We are actively pursuing partnerships with governmental bodies, forestry companies, and environmental organizations to widen our impact and refine our solutions based on diverse operational landscapes and feedback.

Tracking and Reporting:

We systematically collect data on the number of fires detected and controlled, hectares protected and saved, and feedback from user communities.

We also track improvements in our technological capabilities, such as detection speed and accuracy.

Regular reports are generated to evaluate our progress against these metrics, allowing us to adjust our strategies and operations effectively.

By rigorously measuring these metrics, we ensure that our solution not only addresses the immediate impacts of wildfires but also contributes to long-term environmental sustainability and community resilience. These efforts are aligned with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Climate Action (SDG 13) and Life on Land (SDG 15), which further guides our impact measurement strategies.

The core technology behind our solution at Satellites on Fire combines advanced satellite imagery analysis with cloud computing infrastructure to provide real-time wildfire detection and monitoring. Our technology leverages multispectral satellite data, which allows us to detect temperature variations on the Earth's surface indicative of wildfires. This is achieved through the use of Thermal Infrared and Near Infrared bands, which are crucial for identifying and tracking active fires.

To process and analyze this satellite data efficiently, we utilize a robust cloud infrastructure provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). This setup includes the use of AWS Lambda for running our image processing logic, DynamoDB for data storage, Cognito for user authentication, AppSync for managing our GraphQL API, and S3 for file storage. This architecture supports the real-time functionality of our system, enabling quick and effective wildfire alerts.

Additionally, we are enhancing our capabilities with a Camera Wildfire Detection System that uses artificial intelligence to analyze RGB images for fire detection. This system is currently in beta testing and promises to further our mission by integrating ground-level camera feeds with our satellite data.

Our front-end application is a Progressive Web Application, accessible via web and on mobile devices through the Google Play Store. It is built using modern technologies such as React JS, Redux, and Material UI, with mapping provided by Maxbox GL and Leaflet.

In summary, by integrating high-resolution satellite imagery, AI-driven algorithms, and a scalable cloud infrastructure, our solution not only detects wildfires more rapidly and accurately but also provides essential real-time data to communities and emergency response teams, enhancing their ability to respond to and manage wildfire emergencies effectively.

Full-time: 3

Part-time: 4

Contractors: 4

We have known each other since 2017. We attended high school together, where we quickly bonded over our common interests. In 2020 we started Satellites On Fire as a curricular project, since we witnessed family friends losing their homes due to wildfires in Argentina. All of us started with a similar technical background but quickly discovered that we had complementary skills that could empower different aspects of the business.

We have adopted an inclusive approach in our recruitment and talent development processes. While we acknowledge the challenges of balancing gender representation in technical fields, we strive to create a workplace that attracts, retains, and develops female talent in engineering.

Furthermore, we understand that inclusion extends beyond recruitment. We are continually working to cultivate an organizational culture that values and respects diversity in all its forms, fostering an environment where all team members feel valued, heard, and capable of contributing to our collective success. We have implemented policies on gender equality and equal opportunities and strictly oppose forced labor and child labor. Documentation of these policies will be provided to demonstrate our commitment.

Satellites on Fire - Politics

Our business model as a Freemium B2B SaaS operation targets organizations responsible for managing and protecting large territories from wildfires. We provide essential value through two primary avenues: awareness and actionable alert systems. Initially, we offer two free products to educate and raise awareness about wildfire threats. Subsequently, we transition clients to a subscription-based model where they receive comprehensive monitoring and alert services.

Organizations subscribe to our alert system, paying annually: $0.40 per hectare for satellite monitoring and $6,500 per camera for camera monitoring annually. This model is particularly tailored to fit the needs of diverse organizations, including indigenous communities and firefighting units, who may have significant monitoring needs but limited budgets. We offer these stakeholders heavily discounted rates to ensure they can afford and access our life-saving technology.

The value proposition is clear: subscribers have their territories monitored and receive real-time alerts on all their devices via WhatsApp. This immediacy allows for swift and effective responses to wildfires, potentially saving vast areas of land, lives, and biodiversity. We leverage a combination of six satellites that provide rapid, ten-minute interval imaging, surpassing traditional systems like NASA's. Additionally, we utilize cameras on detection towers within client territories, processing all data with artificial intelligence to provide the earliest possible alerts.

Furthermore, our system is designed to connect to existing cameras within client territories or install new ones where necessary. These cameras can be automatically rotated to detect fires and send images directly through WhatsApp, enhancing the functionality and responsiveness of our monitoring service.

By using our technology, we not only provide a critical service that helps protect ecosystems and communities but also do so in a way that is financially accessible and technologically advanced, ensuring that our solutions are both impactful and sustainable.

Our financial sustainability strategy leverages a diversified revenue model, including subscription services, strategic partnerships, and market expansion efforts. Our service is operational across over 11 countries, protecting more than 200 million hectares and serving 19,000 users. This extensive reach has been enhanced by effective word-of-mouth, which helps attract new clients.

We use a Freemium model where users start with a 30-day free trial, which transitions them into paid subscriptions, allowing potential clients to see the value of our service firsthand. Additionally, we maintain partnerships with 22 resellers and referrals that help amplify our market presence across five additional countries. Our marketing strategies, including targeted LinkedIn campaigns, email marketing, and cold calls, are designed to engage potential customers directly. Participating in significant industry events also increases our visibility and establishes valuable connections.

Evidence of our success includes the expansion of our user base to 19,000, which demonstrates our effective market penetration and the utility of our services. Our active engagement in industry events and successful conversions from trial to paid subscriptions underscore the demand for our services and the effectiveness of our marketing strategies.

Looking ahead, we aim to tap into the vast forestry sector, where companies spend significantly on fire protection, presenting a potential revenue stream of up to $60 billion. Our future plans involve expanding from Latin America to North America and evolving our product from fire detection to comprehensive fire protection solutions. This strategy not only aims to capture a larger market share but also positions our services as essential for forestry companies, potentially saving them substantial costs in fire damage and land recovery. This approach, combined with our current operations, positions us well for continued growth and financial sustainability.