Proposing a Hybrid Index that Combines between Meteorological and Topographic Parameters to Predict Forest Fires

Abstract:

All over the world, statistics show that forest fires rate has increased in the recent decades despite the numerous studies and various indices developed to predict high risk of fire occurrence. In this paper, a new proposal for a fire detection index is presented that combines between meteorological and topographic parameters. The parameters of slope, aspect and elevation are introduced and their impact on fire behavior (ignition, spread & intensity) is described. The method of calculation of the new index is based on simple logic gates. A comparison is then held between the proposed index and seven commonly used existing indices. The accuracy percentages are calculated which reveals the distinction of the new combination over the present models, taking the Lebanese data into study. In order to verify the efficiency of our proposed hybrid index, several informative experiments are shown.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 713-715)
• Pages: 621-627
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.713-715.621
• Online since: January 2015
• Authors: Ali Karouni, Bassam Daya, Pierre Chauvet
• Keywords: Aspect, Elevation, Hybrid Fire Index, Slope, Topography

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