SMesh: Radio sensor networks to support fire management

Prescribed fires and other controlled burns are critical mitigation tools that reduce wildfire risk, restore ecosystems, and protect communities. However, onsite variability in weather and air quality often limits their use. Current monitoring approaches face significant barriers: regulatory-grade sensors cost tens of thousands of dollars and lack portability, while consumer sensors fail under field conditions due to limited battery life, inability to transmit real-time data, and poor durability in remote terrain.

SMesh will design decision-making tools using portable, low-cost sensor networks to provide real-time monitoring and near-term forecasts of smoke and weather. Through its Long-Range Radio–based architecture, SMesh provides fire managers with detailed local data, from pre-burn weather checks to post-burn smoldering monitoring. In addition to hyperlocal sensor forecasts for burn planning, SMesh provides live monitoring that supports dynamic decision-making, enabling practitioners to adjust operations based on actual conditions. Together, these capabilities support the scaling of prescribed burns to protect communities and minimize catastrophic wildfires.