Artificial intelligence has been integrated into the forest fire monitoring system in the Moscow region, with the aim of identifying fire characteristics without relying on human eyes alone. Officials say the technology will help distinguish between actual fires and other sources of heat or steam, enabling faster and more accurate responses. This insight comes from Evgeny Agulov, Deputy Chairman of the Forestry Committee for the Moscow Region, who spoke to the 360 TV channel about the new capability and its potential to reduce the need for manual interpretation.
The Moscow region employs a four-tier forest fire monitoring framework that combines ground patrols, aerial reconnaissance, video surveillance, and space-based monitoring. The system relies on 127 video units installed across mobile operator towers, providing full 100% coverage of forested areas. The new AI component is designed to interpret this data and recognize the nature of each fire event, adding a critical layer of accuracy to existing procedures. This development aligns with broader efforts to enhance situational awareness and accelerate decision-making in dense forest environments.
As an example, a camera might detect something that could be steam emanating from a boiler room rather than smoke from the forest. The AI would help differentiate between such sources, reducing false alarms and helping inspectors and dispatchers focus on genuine fire risks. By analyzing live camera feeds and cross-referencing sensor data, the system can propose the most efficient route for responding units, effectively identifying the shortest and fastest path to reach the incident scene.
Traditionally, dispatchers had to infer the nature of smoke and flames based on visual cues. The new AI support is expected to streamline this process, making the assessment quicker and more reliable so that crews can deploy resources with greater confidence and speed, ultimately improving outcomes in critical moments.
In addition to fire localization, the AI-enhanced setup can visualize the real-time positions of all firefighting assets, including crews and vehicles, allowing responders to quickly determine which resources are involved and where gaps exist. This capability enhances coordination and reduces response times during ongoing incidents, a key factor in effective forest protection strategies.
On a broader note, the Ministry of Digital Development has also announced plans to apply AI technologies to the operation of the State Services portal, drawing on advanced conversational AI models like those associated with ChatGPT. The goal is to provide citizens with reliable, accessible guidance and assistance through public digital services, reflecting a trend toward AI-assisted public administration. This initiative signals a growing emphasis on AI-enabled support across government platforms while maintaining a focus on user-friendly, transparent service delivery.
Officials have underscored a readiness to work under artificial intelligence guidance, emphasizing that AI tools are intended to augment human expertise rather than replace it. The overarching aim is to bolster public safety and service efficiency by leveraging intelligent automation to augment field operations and administrative functions alike.