Forest fire monitoring system, with visible spectrum cameras, in Torres del Paine National Park; Chilean Patagonia

The problem of the early detection of forest fires in isolated areas is studied, as is the case of Torres del Paine National Park, as an area of very high tourist interest, an economic engine of the Magallanes region, and currently a world reserve of The Biosphere according to UNESCO. No communication connectivity, and presents important logistical challenges to deploy and install equipment, with a very harsh climate, typical of Patagonia. For the network design, a four-step procedure was considered, ranging from the initial selection of monitoring points, simulation of connectivity, traffic and field visits. Regarding software and hardware, 25-fold visible-spectrum IP-PTZ cameras and ad-hoc software developed for this purpose were selected. Regarding energy, clearance factors were considered according to the difficulties of access for deployment and maintenance, ensuring an uninterrupted operation. The main results are a high capacity data traffic system, which has had four seasons of continuous use, which has enabled the five cameras to be tele-operated, monitoring an area of approximately 80% of the areas of interest, and which has been an essential tool for the early detection and management of forest fires in Torres del Paine National Park.