State-of-the-art sensors

IQ FireWatch detects smoke and smoke-like events with a multispectral sensor that includes three to four optical sensor units:

• Monochrome sensor for day surveillance
• Near-infrared sensor for night detection
• RGB sensor for additional spectral information
• Thermal infrared sensor for hot spot detection (optional)

By using multiple sensors, our system combines the advantages of the optical smoke detection, which has been in operation for many years, with the advantages of thermal detection and avoids their disadvantages, depending on the application. Thus, the system can be optimally adapted to all customer requirements.

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Per definition, the human eye as well as any color camera is restricted to the visible spectrum between 400-680 nm. The unique IQ FireWatch sensor can do more than that and is able to cover a much larger spectral range of 400-1100 nm. This means it is perfectly adoptable for all regions, vegetation and operating conditions and even hidden fires may be detected at night.  

Due to the 2 1/2 times larger spectral range, IQ FireWatch easily outperforms human spotters and any other wildfire detection approach.

Incorporating an additional monochrome sensor, IQ FireWatch is also able to capture more incoming light as opposed to conventional color cameras. Every pixel receives three times more light and the resolution of the obtained images is higher, and visibility and contrast are far better. 

Superior detection Range

In perfect weather conditions and with excellent sight, IQ FireWatch has proven to detect smoke plumes at distances of over 50 km (30 miles). However, when conditions are not perfect, visibility can be difficult, for instance when it is misty and cloudy. For reliable performance we recommend calculating with a detection radius of 20 km (12,4 miles). Accordingly, one sensor may be able to surveill at least 125,000 ha, that is when the view is not obstructed. 

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Conventional video technology can’t compete due to their technological limitations: in difficult environmental conditions, sustainable fire spotting is unrealistic at a distance of more than 8 km. With a clear view, generic color cameras can zoom in to cover larger distances, yet the nearby areas would not be covered. Lastly, a full 360° view would be inefficient and take a long time. You can’t beat physics!

Advanced detection and RAW-Data Processing

IQ FireWatch is able to process optical raw data in real time with various self-developed algorithms to ensure optimal performance without any loss of information. The combination of the classic feature-based approach with the innovative Artificial Intelligence approach in smoke detection, results in a decrease of the false alarm rate and an increase in the speed of results.

When capturing information at large distances, it is crucial to be able to decipher all elements, especially in poor weather conditions. Generic color cameras used for smoke and fire detection process compressed pictures and videos, such as JPEG files and H.264/5, resulting in a loss of information and detail. The IQ FireWatch algorithms are based on RAW data processing for ideal performance. 

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  Source: https://knowtechie.com/difference-raw-jpeg-file-format/

Unlike Any Other Method

Have you ever watched an employee of a security company trying to look at 10 or more supervision screens at the same time? This is not efficient at all. Do you think they will deliver reasonable results even for distant targets? When you start looking for a way to detect forest fires, you will find many so-called solutions promising heaven and earth.

It is important to take a closer look at all parameters to understand the limitations of other wildfire detection approaches available on the market. Make an educated and feasible decision!

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20 Years of Research

Due to our close collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), a remarkable product has been created: IQ FireWatch. Our team of highly skilled and experienced German engineers are top experts in their field. More than 20 years of hard work and over 100,000 hours have been contributed to designing and improving the technology.

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Best service

IQ FireWatch is constantly being optimized and expanded and has now been in use for early fire detection for more than 20 years. In developing the system further, we always focus on the long-term availability of the components used, in order to keep maintenance as well as potential extensions of an existing system as simple and resource-saving as possible.

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Thanks to continuous research and development, IQ FireWatch is always one step ahead. On the one hand, in terms of software, which our engineers work on every day to further increase the detection accuracy and speed. After a thorough testing phase of a new software, we offer our customers the option to roll it out on their system. On the other hand, we are also constantly improving the hardware to make our sensor technology even more efficient. Our highly qualified service engineers are constantly working on modernizations on existing systems.

Services and maintenance have a high priority for us, which is why we are available to our customers both on-site and remotely in order to be able to respond to the respective situations as best and as quickly as possible. Our many years of experience enable us to adapt maintenance and service contracts according to our customers' needs.

IQ FireWatch: Various fields of application

IQ FireWatch is a highly functional yet also customizable product. Therefore, it can be used for various fields of application.

More about the multiple fields of application of IQ FireWatch