Sensor density

Plan for variable sensor density based on the level of human activity in or near Sites.

Sensor density per hectare is based on:

• Human activity level in specific areas of the forest

• Presence of WUIs (Wildland Urban Interfaces) in the site

By determining these factors, you can approximate the density values per hectare (Metric) or acre (Imperial).

Using this approach of variable density (low and high sensor density), you can reduce the overall cost of deploying the Silvanet System in the Site while maintaining good wildfire detection.

Human activity level

Locations with high human activity require dense deployment of sensors. These include Sites that have hiking paths, campsites, roads, railroad tracks, wooden bridges, poles and power line towers, residential housing and other types of buildings. Low human activity areas include deep within forested areas, hillsides or hard to access locations.

The following table shows the recommended sensor density values.

Human Activity	Density type	Distance between sensors	Density value
High	Dense deployment in high-risk areas.	80 m to 100 m	0.7/ha
Low	Sparse deployment in remote locations.	400 m to 500 m	0.1/ha

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

A Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) is defined as areas of a forest where wildland and urban areas intersect. It is the line, area or zone where structures and other human development meet or interspersed with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.

Wildland Urban Interface

WUI as defined by the United States Fire Administration as the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development.

A broader term is Wildland Industrial Interface (See Canada Wildfire) where industrial infrastructure such as roads, power lines and railways intermingles with wildland fuels.