NASA Tests Drone-Based Tech for Wildfire Forecasting in Missoula: Alta X Quadcopter Deployed with Wind Sensors

NASA researchers and partners conducted tests in Missoula, Montana, in August 2024, using drone-based technology for localized wildfire forecasting, known as micrometeorology. The project, part of NASA's FireSense initiative, aims to provide precise meteorological data to predict fire behavior using NASA's Alta X quadcopter equipped with wind sensors. Wildfires are increasing globally, with wind being a major factor in their unpredictable growth. The FireSense project seeks to address wildland fire management challenges by integrating NASA science and technology into operational agencies. Jacquelyn Shuman, FireSense project scientist, emphasized the importance of ensuring the new technology is easily adoptable by agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and the National Weather Service. The Alta X drone was chosen because the U.S. Forest Service already uses it, facilitating sensor integration. The drone's payload includes a radiosonde, measuring wind direction and speed, humidity, temperature, and pressure, and an anemometer, measuring wind speed and direction. These sensors provide data familiar to meteorologists, enhancing the platform's applicability. Robert McSwain, FireSense uncrewed aerial system (UAS) lead, noted the adaptation of existing sensor technology for aerial use. Traditionally, weather balloons gather global forecasting data, but drones offer more recurrent, pinpointed forecasts for rapidly changing wildfire environments. Jennifer Fowler, FireSense's project manager, clarified that drones are intended to supplement, not replace, weather balloons, providing more frequent, localized data for wildfires. Drones offer control, repeat testing, and sustainability by allowing measurements over precise locations and reducing financial and environmental impact. The Missoula campaign involved eight data-collection flights, with student teams launching weather balloons for comparison. Data was transformed into a usable format by teams from MITRE, NVIDIA, and Esri, creating visualizations of flight paths, temperatures, and wind data for incident commanders. The NASA Alta X and its sensor payload will be tested in Alabama and Florida in spring 2025, incorporating improvements from the Montana campaign. This continues nearly a decade of research and development, expanding UAS flight capabilities across NASA.