Geostationary Satellite Heat Source Detection Using Planck's Law Curve Fitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Low-orbit satellite data has low time resolution, leading to delayed forest fire detection, while geostationary satellite data has low spatial resolution, making it difficult to identify small-scale fires.

Innovation Solution

A heat source detection device that calculates the proportion of wavelength distributions based on temperature for flaming and smoldering states using observation data from a geostationary satellite, storing these values in time series and determining the presence of a fire by analyzing changes exceeding threshold values, with curve fitting using the non-linear least squares method to enhance detection accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If observation data from a low-orbit satellite is used, then spatial resolution is improved, but time resolution deteriorates leading to delayed fire detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial resolutionVSAvoiddetection delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data from multiple low-orbit satellite observations to achieve both high spatial resolution and improved time resolution. By combining observations from different satellites or multiple passes, the system overcomes the inherent time delay of individual low-orbit satellites while maintaining high spatial detail for accurate fire detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary processing and analysis of satellite observation data to identify potential fire indicators before final detection. This includes pre-processing steps such as radiometric calibration, geometric correction, and initial anomaly detection that prepare the data for faster and more accurate fire identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If observation data from a geostationary satellite is used, then time resolution is improved, but spatial resolution deteriorates making it difficult to identify small-scale fires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection speedVSAvoidspatial resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines high-frequency temporal data from geostationary satellites with high-spatial-resolution data from low-orbit satellites. This multi-source data fusion allows the system to maintain the rapid update capability of geostationary satellites while enhancing spatial detail through low-orbit satellite imagery, enabling detection of small-scale fires that would otherwise be invisible

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality enhancement techniques by focusing computational resources on regions with detected thermal anomalies. When potential fires are identified in geostationary satellite data, the system locally enhances spatial resolution by integrating corresponding low-orbit satellite observations only for those specific regions, rather than processing entire satellite footprints at high resolution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If traditional fire detection algorithms are used, then device complexity is reduced, but detection accuracy deteriorates for small-scale fires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealgorithm simplicityVSAvoidfire detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs advanced parameter analysis by examining multiple spectral bands and temporal parameters simultaneously. Instead of relying on simple threshold-based detection, the system analyzes changes in thermal infrared brightness temperature, visible band reflectance, and temporal evolution patterns across multiple observations, enabling accurate detection of small-scale fires that subtlety differ from background conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables early detection of small-scale fires by improving the time resolution of data analysis and extracting higher-resolution information from geostationary satellite data, allowing for timely identification of fire occurrences.

Implementation Method 1

a detection unit that divides the observation data into a first wavelength distribution corresponding to a first heat source temperature and a second wavelength distribution corresponding to a second heat source temperature different from the first heat source temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

calculates the proportion of wavelength distributions based on temperature for flaming and smoldering states using observation data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlanck's law:

Data Source

PatentEP3757956B1Heat source detection device
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 IHI CORP
  • EP3757956B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3757956B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3757956B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A heat source detection device (3) is a heat source detection device that detects a heat source on the earth using observation data of a radiometer (10) provided in a geostationary satellite (1) and includes: a calculation unit (321) that calculates a heat source proportion value indicating a proportion of a wavelength distribution due to the heat source included in the observation data to the observation data by curve fitting using Planck's law; and a determination unit (323) that determines presence or absence of the heat source according to the heat source proportion value calculated by the calculation unit.