Hi-tech binoculars to spot fires

Hi-tech binoculars to spot fires

15 December 2011

published by www.adelaidenow.com.au


Australia — THE Country Fire Service will have a new weapon in the fight against bushfires this summer.

BAE Systems have donated a $65,000 pair of high-tech binoculars, capable of pin-pointing the location of a fire.

As with normal binoculars, CFS spotters home in on a blaze. But now, with the push of a button, the binoculars detect the fire and send the GPS co-ordinates or street address to a tablet PC to be relayed to ground crews.

The system, developed for military use, has been adapted by BAE Systems to provide the mapping technology to the CFS.

With a range of 25km the laser binoculars can scan across the Adelaide plain and surrounding hills to pin-point fires.

CFS Chief Officer Greg Nettleton said the system will be a welcome addition to fire detecting capabilities this summer. “This will not replace any existing methods of fire detection or responses but will be a welcomed addition to existing CFS resources,” he said.

The director of BAE Systems Land and Integrated Systems at Mawson Lakes, Kim Scott, said it was great that the company could support the CFS to help protect lives and properties.

“The system will increase the speed and quality of information provided by the tower to responding brigades,” he said.
 


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