IQ FireWatch ranked best forest fire early detection system in international comparison

During the 2022 wildfire season, IQ FireWatch, along with five other international vendors, participated in an international comparison of terrestrial optical wildfire early detection systems, the Alberta Wildfire Challenge, in Canada. The challenge was scientifically monitored on-site.

Various detection characteristics of the systems were tested during repetitive artificial test smoke events, generated by a fog machine, at distances up to 40km. In addition, real forest fires occurring during the wildfire season, as well as other smoke-like phenomena, were added as test factors. Excluded from the detection, however, were known pre-defined smoke sources, including those from locally located industrial plants. The alarm messages of the system evaluated and sent by an operator were evaluated for the final report.

In the area that is essential for the real operation of IQ FireWatch, the detection of real forest fires, we were able to clearly outperform the other system providers with almost twice as many successful detections. IQ FireWatch was also able to develop its full potential in the area of detection accuracy, and was even more accurate than the forestry employees familiar with the local area who perform their duties as "Lookout Observers" on the fire watch towers.

We are very proud of the results of this international comparison and will incorporate the experience gained in this direct comparison into the future development of IQ FireWatch.