ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Precision Restoration Scientist will work with a team of researchers who are focused on increasing success of native perennial vegetation restoration on annual grass invaded sagebrush rangeland. Improved seed and seeding technologies are a means to increase success of seeded native perennial plant species. Increased seeding success would help to mitigate expansion of non-native annual grass species and associated increased fuel continuity and fire frequency across tens of millions of acres of western U.S. rangeland. The Precision Restoration Scientist (PRS) will work with Conservancy staff and external partners (e.g., USDA-Agricultural Research Service) to develop and test seed technologies across environmental gradients in the sagebrush ecosystem. The PRS will use geospatial information to identify and prioritize treatment areas, design and implement experiments to test seeding efficacy and relationships with key environmental variables, and lead development of predictive modeling of seed technology cost-effectiveness across a range of environmental conditions on western rangelands.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE.  All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 8:59 p.m. PST on November 5, 2017.

This position performs a variety of routine and frequently complex tasks involving techniques and practices relating to natural resources management programs, (i.e., timber and silviculture, recreation, wildlife, range, and fire and fuels management). Successful accomplishment of the following assignments supports field projects and program planning activities for the unit:

• Timber: Performs timber marking, cruising and scaling of forest products, planting, site preparation, and timber land improvement projects. Collects, summarizes and prepares requested timber reports and maps which provide information in planting units concerning topography, livestock trespass, invasive species and general conditions of the area.
• Recreation: Assures recreation areas are maintained in accordance with standards and reports on condition of area. Makes group and individual contacts in providing forest recreation information and answering questions about recreation management on the unit. Provides specific information concerning camping or swimming and other area regulations such as fire, safety and sanitation. Notifies visitors of violations and potential violations.
• Wildlife: Makes wildlife and fish habitat surveys and implements coordination measure such as marking key areas. Performs independently, or as leader of a small project crew in construction or completing wildlife habitat improvement projects such as water developments, fish attractors, or clearing and planting site preparation areas for establishment of more desirable food or cover and other similar tasks. Participates in plant control or type conversion by flagging boundaries, operating equipment, carrying our kill studies, or reseeding.
• Range: Makes range analysis to determine utilization and grazing impact, and maps out key use areas. Checks allotments for compliance with permit and management plan and contacts permittee about maintenance and/or construction needs. Performs maintenance on range fences, lays out location for fence construction or cattle-guards and other range structural improvements, and locates areas suitable for the construction of range ponds or works on re-vegetation or plan control projects.
• Vegetation: Participates in noxious plant control, seeding, or similar projects by flagging boundaries, operating equipment, and carrying out kill studies. Identifies plant specimens in the field and collects and prepares specimens. Identifies plants and noxious weeds and determines how they grow. Applies the proper chemicals to control noxious weeds. Uses botanical key to identify plants encountered during field trips or surveys of forest and range areas. Compiles and summarizes the vegetation types obtained from ground surveys including forest health monitoring, biological evaluations, and range surveys. Layout of experimental plots by taking measurements and marking corners and boundaries.
• Fire and Fuels: Executes fuel treatment plans, slash hazard appraisals and hazard reduction plans. Records fuel treatment activity records for required reports and final project completion. Operates motor vehicles and equipment in support of fire suppression activities.

Click here for more information.

The Wildfire Mitigation Awards are the highest national honor one can receive for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation. The program was established in 2014 in response to an overwhelming number of great wildfire mitigation program efforts happening throughout the United States.

This recognition program is jointly sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the USDA Forest Service (USFS).

Click here for more information on nominating an individual or organization.

The Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) has been awarded the privilege of administering the distribution of the Joint Fire Sciences Program (JFSP) TREE grant, which is designed to help students travel to present or otherwise perform outreach at conferences, symposia, and workshops related to wildland fire science and management. These grants of $250 to $1,500 will fund direct travel costs for transportation, lodging, registration fees, and printing or preparation of presentation materials.

All registered graduate students in good academic standing in a field related to wildland fire science, ecology, or management are eligible to apply for grants. Grants are limited and competitively awarded, with special preference for graduate students planning to deliver oral or poster presentations.

For more information, please visit http://fireecology.org/tree-student-travel-grants

Submit your application online at https://fireecology.wufoo.com/forms/q1bg49mt03m0g0p/

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Plan, implement and administer assigned silvicultural activities to meet or exceed standards set by Roseburg and state regulations
2. Perform the following activities:
   • Plantation establishment
   • Vegetation control
   • Density management
   • Forest inventory
   • Fire suppression
   • Slash disposal and other duties as may be assigned
3. Management of assigned projects within budget objectives
4. Ensuring that contract work is done in full compliance with specifications and supporting staff as needed

For more information click here.

The Watershed Forest Manager directs the strategic planning to mitigate wildfire impacts to priority watersheds on public and private lands in Colorado. The position includes responsibility for integrating forest restoration and watershed protection goals, with the elements of the National Cohesive Strategy, to address forest restoration needs at the watershed scale. This is a cost-share position between the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region and The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. The position will be managed and supervised by The Nature Conservancy and located in the Colorado Field Office in Boulder. Work objectives will be co-developed by the USFS and TNC.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 29, 2017.

The Fire Management Technician (FMT) participates in preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, post-burn monitoring and other tasks. As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, he/she will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials.  In addition, they shall work to build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community where the Conservancy works. This may include participation in fire activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies.

The FMT performs other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire such as, but not limited to, fire planning and monitoring, invasive species control, planting and woody vegetation removal.  This position requires the ability to work in a high stress team environment under close supervision while performing heavy physical work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 20, 2017.

Success stories demonstrate how the products from fire science research or other JFSP-funded activities are being implemented by the fire and/or fuels management community. They are about the application of scientific understanding or use of tools, models, or techniques resulting from individual projects or suites of projects over time. They show successful planning, implementation, outreach, products, or impacts (e.g., behavior changes, opportunities, resource recovery, or enhancement). Success stories describe efforts at the organization, community, or agency level and at different spatial scales. It only takes a few minutes to share!

Click here to share your stories.

Currently accepting applications for 1-2 part-time inventory forester positions. The positions will start as seasonal with the potential to become year-round/full time after an initial period. Current project sites are located in Northern New Mexico and Southwest Colorado. Overnight travel is required; company vehicle, gas expenses, and per diem are provided. The option is given to either use your own vehicle at standard federal rates.

Current project sites require that persons chosen for this position are able to hike long distances in difficult terrain with packs up to 50lbs. Required skills include tree and plant identification, insect identification, knowledge of forestry protocols, and the ability to work independently. Experience working in inclement weather and managing data are also beneficial.

The protocols used are in line with standard federal survey protocol, so preferred candidates will have field experience conducting standard CSE, FIA, CFI, and similar work such as fuels transects, fire modeling, insects and disease, tree issues and similar. Training will be provided to strong candidates who show potential. As a federal and state contractor, we interact extensively with many agencies and the public. Diplomacy is a must.

Click here for more information.

Theme 2. Social and Economic Impacts of Extremes

Earth Lab seeks a Post-Doctoral Research Scholar on Extremes in Coupled Social and Natural Systems, with a focus on social and economic processes. The successful candidate must have content knowledge and data analytics skills relevant to extremes, with emphasis on economic impacts and responses. The extremes focus seeks to build on the suite of Earth Lab efforts, plus research findings in coupled human and environment systems, to pursue knowledge frontiers in dynamic and emergent system behaviors (e.g., understanding of extremes, threshold behaviors, and abrupt changes). This Post-Doctoral Research Scholar will work in the Risk and Decision Making project as well as bridge among other ongoing science themes at the Earth Lab (Wildfire, Drought, Erosion, Arctic Processes, Human Health, and Settlements). This position will focus on the impacts of extreme events on social and environmental systems, valuation of those impacts and of societal responses, including analyzing the value of information in reducing impacts and vulnerability. Moreover, we are interested in how coupled extreme events may further disrupt both ecological and social processes and infrastructure with special attention to the existence of threshold behaviors when the resilience capacity of a social and/or environmental system is exceeded.

Click here for more information.

The Twelfth Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology, sponsored by the American Meteorological Society and organized by the AMS Committee on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, will be held 15-18 May 2018 at the Boise Centre, downtown Boise, Idaho. (https://boisecentre.com/) It will be concurrent with the 33rd Conference on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, and the 4th Conference on Atmospheric Biogeosciences.

The theme of the symposium will be research, new techniques and technologies and/or changes in the areas of but not limited to: (1) utilization of weather and climate information in relation to wildland fire; (2) operational forecasting (short- to long-term) of fire weather; (3) model studies and development, including theoretical models, coupled fire-atmosphere models and mesoscale models; (4) use and assessment of meteorological information in fire management planning; (5) decision support tool development; (6) smoke modeling, management and mitigation; (7) improvements to fire danger and fire behavior systems that utilize meteorology; and (8) field studies of fire-atmosphere interactions.

For more information, click HERE.

You are encouraged to gather your information and nominate some very deserving individuals for these prestigious awards! The recipient does not need to be an IAWF member to receive an award. Awards will be presented at one of our upcoming IAWF Conferences in 2018. Four awards are available:

1. IAWF Ember Award for Excellence in Wildland Fire Science
2. IAWF Excellence in Wildland Fire Management
3. IAWF Early Career Award for Fire Science
4. IAWF Early Career Awards for Fire Operations

The International Association of Wildland Fire in partnership with the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) and the Western, Southeast and Northeast Regions of the Cohesive Strategy, invites you to submit a proposal for a workshop session or presentation at the 2nd Annual National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop to be held March 26-29, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. Submit your Proposal by November 20, 2017.

Click here for more information.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is looking for your input to help guide the development of Everyone Goes Home – Wildfire. This national collaborative effort will be focused on creating a safety culture and increasing understanding of related health and safety practices among all firefighters who respond to wildland fires, including federal, state, county, local, and volunteer personnel. Resources developed within EGH – Wildfire will be no- and low-cost to firefighters, accessible to and scalable for use by individuals and all sizes of organizations.

Your input matters. Please share your thoughts and ideas by completing the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PTLHT2C

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The U.S. Forest Service-TNC Interagency Burn Crew Manager serves as a part of a seasonal crew of four. The crew will focus on fire-related activities, including prescribed fire implementation, in and around the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests.  When not committed to the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, the crew will work with The Nature Conservancy and other partner agencies in South Carolina.  The Crew Manager is responsible for leading the crew during non-fire activities including fire line preparation, staging, transportation, and equipment maintenance.  The work schedule is weather dependent and may be highly irregular at times.  Routine management activities such as fencing, boundary posting, removal of invasive species, forest management, ecological monitoring and other related stewardship activities may be performed during periods when the weather is unsuitable to conduct burns.  The Conservancy provides the crew members with vehicles and lodging.  Lodging includes hotels, rustic lodges and often camping.

The Crew Manager supervises three seasonal U.S. Forest Service-TNC/SC Interagency Burn Crew Technicians.  They are the crew’s liaison with the U.S. Forest Service and TNC fire management staff in the state.  They are supervised by The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina State Fire Manager. They may also take leadership positions on burns as assigned by the burn boss.

The U.S. Forest Service-TNC Interagency Burn Crew Supervisor may assist on wildland fire operations with federal, state, or private partners, or travel to other areas of the state to assist other TNC programs or partners on prescribed or wildland fires.

As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, they will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials.  In addition, they shall work to build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community where the Conservancy works.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 20, 2017.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The U.S. Forest Service-TNC Interagency Burn Crew consists of three Crew Technicians and one Crew Supervisor. The crew will focus on fire-related activities, including prescribed fire implementation, in and around the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests.  When not committed to the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, the crew will work with The Nature Conservancy and other partner agencies in South Carolina.  The work schedule is weather dependent and may be highly irregular at times.  Routine management activities such as fencing, boundary posting, removal of invasive species, forest management, ecological monitoring and other related stewardship activities may be performed during periods when the weather is unsuitable to conduct burns.

The three U.S. Forest Service-TNC Interagency Burn Crew Technicians are supervised by the U.S. Forest Service-TNC Interagency Burn Crew Manager who travels with the crew.  The crew works closely with U.S. Forest Service and TNC staff. The Conservancy provides vehicles and lodging.  Lodging includes hotels, rustic lodges and often camping.

The U.S. Forest Service-TNC Interagency Burn Crew Technicians may assist on wildland fire operations with federal, state, or private partners, or travel to other areas of the state to assist other TNC programs or partners on prescribed or wildland fires.

As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, they will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials.  In addition, they shall work to build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community where the Conservancy works.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 20, 2017.

Session Dates:

January 7, 2018 to January 26, 2018
February 4, 2018 to February 23, 2018
March 11, 2018 to March 30, 2018
April 15, 2018 to May 4, 2018
June 3, 2018 to June 22, 2018

The National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (PFTC), located in Tallahassee, Florida, is an entity designed to give individuals an opportunity to increase their prescribed fire practitioner skills. The 20-day sessions are designed to help facilitate the completion of prescribed fire task books. The Center provides opportunities to participate in prescribed burns involving the lands of land management agencies in Florida and several surrounding states. A variety of applicable prescribed fire objectives and situations will be encountered in a field environment. Applications from disciplines other than fire management are strongly encouraged. While our primary mission is the training of individuals with task books related to RX quals the Center encourages all levels and disciplines of applicants who are interested in furthering their knowledge of prescribed fire.

Click here for more information.

The Alaska Fire Research Needs List is a prioritized list of fire research topics that has been produced by the Fire Research Development and Application Committee (FRDAC) since 2003. The current list was updated in August 2017. Its purpose is to identify and prioritize data needs of fire and land managers, promote awareness of these needs, and encourage researchers to develop projects that address them. This list is developed with input from member organizations of the Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (AWFCG).

The FRDAC encourages researchers to consider projects that address topics on the research needs list. AWFCG will selectively send letters of support for research proposals based on how well they meet the established criteria.

Please contact the FRDAC chairperson if you are interested in pursuing research topics on the list. The committee can provide valuable information regarding details about management needs, potential contacts, funding opportunities, and current efforts pertaining to the topic.

Responsibilities:

• Researching and/or writing in-depth material on environmental topics that are complex, highly technical and strategic in nature.
• Utilizing expert knowledge of air quality laws, regulations, and standards (i.e., Federal Clean Air Act of 1970 and Section 112 (Title III) to provide oversight and advisory service to an installation on its air quality program
• Ensuring facilities acquisition procedures and overall system requirements are aligned with environmental protection standards.
• Solving a wide variety of technical issues for an installation's air quality program.

For more information click here.

The Ecosystem Restoration Scientist coordinates with external scientific partners, TNC staff, and stewardship volunteers to design and implement a high-impact research program that supports/enhances on-site management and restoration efforts while further developing Nachusa’s status as the premier site for tallgrass prairie restoration research.  The ERS will oversee scientific surveys of endangered, threatened and unique plant and animal species at Nachusa Grasslands, collect and manage long-term monitoring data, and will be responsible for tracking and evaluating the results of multiyear research projects.  S/he will report findings throughout the relevant science community by publishing in peer-reviewed journals, attending conferences, workshops, etc. While essential functions of the ERS are focused on science, s/he will also assist with prescribed fire, bison management, events, and engage with volunteer stewards, donors, neighbors, and the general public.

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 20, 2017.

UPDATE

The intent of this notice is to provide an update to investigators who are interested in potential research opportunities from JFSP.
 
Investigators should be aware that the final decision regarding FY18 topic selection has been delayed and will not be made until fall 2017.  One or more topics that have been described in the July 2017 Notice of Intent (NOI) may be dropped or included in the final notice, and the specific focus of individual topics may be altered. Investigators should recognize this uncertainty and not invest substantial time or resources working on proposals until the FONs and their associated topics are formally posted.
 
Investigators should not contact the JFSP Office or Governing Board members seeking further information on these topics. No further information will be released until the FONs are formally posted.
 
Those formal FON postings will be available on https://www.firescience.gov and investigators can subscribe to JFSP's weekly Friday Flash eNews where announcements will be made later this fall.

_________________________________________________

Original announcement:

The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) will be requesting proposals through one or more formal Funding Opportunity Notice (FON) announcements beginning approximately early September 2017 and remaining open through November 16, 2017.

(Check the JFSP's Funding Announcements web page later for the funding announcement.)

This is an early alert to investigators interested in the topics listed below so you can begin considering responsive ideas with potential partners and collaborators.

Please recognize that final decisions regarding topic selection will not be made until September, 2017, and that final topic selection may differ from that posted below.

FON 1- Primary

• Ecological effects of fuel treatments and wildfire management at landscape scales
• Fuel treatment longevity
• Relationships between prescribed fire and wildfire regimes
• Effectiveness of fuel breaks and fuel break systems
• Sources and distribution of ignitions and their relation to wildfire impacts
• Socio-political factors that influence the costs associated with wildfire

FON 2 - Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) Award

In partnership with the Association for Fire Ecology, the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) will likely continue the Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) program for current master and doctoral students in the field of wildland fire and related physical, biological, and social sciences. The purpose of these awards is to enhance student exposure to the management and policy relevance of their research. As a result, these awards will enable graduate students to conduct research that will supplement and enhance the quality, scope, or applicability of their thesis or dissertation to develop information and products useful to managers and decision-makers.

Proposals must describe new, unfunded work that extends ongoing or planned research that is the subject of a thesis or dissertation that has been approved by the graduate student’s advisory committee. Proposals must be directly related to the mission and goals of JFSP to be considered, and they must address management- or policy-related questions related to one or more of the following general topic areas: fuels management and fire behavior, emissions and air quality, fire effects and post-fire recovery, relative impacts of prescribed fire versus wildfire, or human dimensions of fire.

FON 3 - Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE)

The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP), in partnership with the Department of Defense, Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), has completed planning for the Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE; Phase 1). It is anticipated that the JFSP September 2017 FON will include an open solicitation for proposals to participate in Phase 2—data collection, data archival, and initial model evaluation—of FASMEE. In brief, this experiment is being designed as a large-scale, interagency effort to (1) identify the critical measurements necessary to improve operational wildland fire and smoke prediction systems, (2) collect observations through coordinated field campaigns, and (3) use these measures and observations to advance science and modeling capabilities and utility to end users. FASMEE is aimed at modeling systems in operational use today as well as the next generation of modeling systems expected to become operationally useful in the next five to 10 years.

The FASMEE field campaigns are anticipated to be conducted as large operational prescribed fires targeting (1) heavier fuel loads and high-intensity fires, (2) large fires capable of producing significant atmospheric plume dynamics and a substantial downwind smoke plume, and (3) where possible (particularly in the West), free-running fire. Candidate sites include the Fishlake National Forest in Utah, North Kaibab Ranger District in Arizona, Fort Stewart in Georgia, and Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Research burns are planned for ignition no earlier than late summer 2019 and no later than early spring 2022. Depending on total funding availability, four or more burns are planned.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) has openings for 5 Staff Scientists to pursue independent, internationally recognized research programs in the tropics. Previous tropical experience is not required. We are especially interested in hiring scientists in animal behavior, terrestrial microbial ecology, forest biology and marine science. We will consider exceptional candidates in any of our research areas. Positions are for full-time research and include internal research funds.

Click here for more information.

Fires are increasing in frequency, size and intensity partly due to climate change and land management practices, yet there is limited knowledge of the impacts of smoke emissions —both short term and long term. EPA is using its expertise in air quality research to fill the gaps in scientific information and to develop tools to prevent and reduce the impact of wildfires and controlled or prescribed burns. The wildland fire research has three main goals:

• Provide new science to understand the impacts of smoke on health, and how this knowledge can instruct smoke management practices and intervention strategies to reduce health impacts. 
• Provide essential novel data on smoke emissions to construct the national emission inventory used to understand air quality across the country.
• Improve understanding of how smoke from fires affects air quality and climate change.

To visit the web page, click HERE.

A postdoctoral scholar position is available in the Goldstein Research Group at UC Berkeley focused on development of the new Comprehensive Thermal Desorption Aerosol Gas Chromatograph (cTAG) instrument through a DOE SBIR Grant, and its application to measure emissions from biomass burning during the NOAA sponsored FIREX field campaigns. Responsibilities will include working as part of the development and application team for cTAG, development of data analysis tools for chromatographically separated high resolution time of flight mass spectrometer data, collection and analysis of field measurements, collaborating with the cTAG and FIREX science teams, preparation of reports to funding agencies and manuscripts for peer reviewed publication.

Click here for more information.

You are invited to participate in the continuing evaluation of the Joint Fire Science Program’s Fire Science Exchange Network. This web-based survey focuses on the communication and application of fire science research results and resources. Sponsors are specifically interested in knowing about your opinions and experiences with the Fire Science Exchange in your region. This evaluation project is based at the University of Nevada, Reno and includes all of the Fire Science Exchanges across the United States. Your responses to the questions will be used to help the JFSP Fire Science Exchange Network address your fire science information needs and ultimately enhance fire science delivery.

The survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. JFSP realizes that some of you may have completed a version of this survey in the past. Continued participation of prior respondents and participation from new respondents is essential in helping the JFSP Fire Science Exchanges progress toward their goals. Your participation in this study is voluntary, and all of your responses will remain completely confidential. Please click on the following link or copy and paste the link into your web browser:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JFSP2017Evaluation

If you have any questions or problems accessing the survey, please contact Evaluation Coordinator Bret Davis at bretd@unr.edu telephone (775) 784-6637. During the next four weeks, you will receive two follow-up emails regarding your invitation to participate in this survey.

Thank you for your time and involvement in helping the JFSP to learn more about how to improve fire science delivery and communication in your region.

Bill Evans, Ph.D., Professor of and Human Development and Education, University of Nevada, Reno (wevans@unr.edu)

Loretta Singletary, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Department of Economics; Interdisciplinary Outreach Liaison, Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada, Reno (singletaryl@unr.edu)

Bret Davis, Ph.D., Research and Evaluation Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Nevada, Reno (bretd@unr.edu)

Chris Copp, MA, Doctoral Student, Interdisciplinary Social Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno (christopherjcopp@gmail.com)

Challenge Summary:

Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies are interested in new ways to monitor air quality during fire events to better protect public health. Air quality managers and public health officials have limited access to accurate information on ground-level air pollution levels in the vicinity of wildland fires, making it difficult to provide appropriate strategies to minimize smoke exposure. Most air pollution monitoring equipment is large, not easily transportable, and complex to operate. Today, emerging technologies – including miniaturized direct-reading sensors, compact/powerful microprocessors, and wireless data communications – offer the opportunity to develop new systems to quickly gather and communicate air pollution data.

Wild fires are increasingly common events that produce significant air pollution, posing health risks to first responders, residents in nearby areas, and downwind communities. Also, wild fires are increasing in frequency and intensity, and the fire season is growing longer.  Prescribed fires, which are used to manage ecosystems or reduce risk of wild fires, are typically managed to minimize downwind impacts on populated areas; however, people in close proximity may still be exposed to smoke.  The description “wildland fires” refers to both wild and prescribed fires.

This challenge seeks a field-ready prototype system capable of measuring constituents of smoke, including particulates, carbon monoxide, ozone, and carbon dioxide, over the wide range of levels expected during wildland fires. The prototype system should be accurate, light-weight, easy to operate, and capable of wireless data transmission, so that first responders and nearby communities have access to timely information about local air quality conditions during wildland fire events.

For more information, click HERE.