Important information about Hydra testing
Because Hydra's algorithm is based on real-time data, such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and humidity,its results are subject to change; same coordinates may yield different results at different times.
When testing Hydra, please note that larger areas of land will take longer to process, even up to 3 or 4 minutes.
Keep in mind that as long as you see the loading indicator, the process is still ongoing, and Hydra will notify you if it encounters an issue.
About
Map
Hydra is an innovative app designed to tackle the challenges wildfires pose. These natural disasters threaten both ecosystems and human communities, and in 2024 alone, the United States experienced 64,897 wildfires, scorching approximately 8.9 million acres, resulting in $275 billion of economic losses, the destruction of 16,200 structures, and untold human tragedy. While controlled burns mitigate risks and promote ecological health effectively, reducing the likelihood of a catastrophic wildfire by 68%, identifying the optimal locations for these controlled burns remains a complex task. Inspired by research like that of Coffield et al. (2022), which highlights the potential of machine learning to enhance wildfire prediction, our app integrates several environmental variables such as type and density of vegetation, soil moisture, wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity, topography with historical data into an intuitive platform that provides data-driven recommendations about the optimal location for a controlled burn within a given region. Not only does Hydra identify the optimal location for a controlled fire, but it also predicts its FRP (Fire Radiative Power) as a measure of intensity through an ML XGB Boost prediction model, allowing firefighters and forestry officials to understand whether a location is suitable for a controlled burn or if such a fire would be too intense to effectively manage. Furthermore, Hydra is a one-of-a-kind tool, unparalleled in the world of wildfire management. Hydra ultimately achieved a ~90.3% accuracy in identifying the optimal location for a controlled fire and serves as an extremely beneficial product.
Controlled Fire
Controlled fires are fires that are intentionally ignited for forest management, agricultural, or other purposes. They are both a tool and a weapon for forest management.