Tasmania's Mike Ross on IoT Wildfire Solutions

Indicium Dynamics founder Mike Ross joins the show from Tasmania to discuss how his company is pioneering the "Digital Forest" concept, using a massive LoRaWAN network and IoT sensors to monitor everything from eagles' nests to wildfire conditions. Discover how his platform integrates data from satellites, cameras, and ground sensors to help agencies make smarter decisions about prescribed burns and rapid response, and hear his thoughts on the future of autonomous suppression drones.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The "Digital Forest": How IoT sensors are bringing connectivity to remote wilderness areas where cell phones don't work.

• Data Integration: Why the real power lies in combining data streams from multiple sources (cameras, satellites, sensors) into one actionable platform.

• Prescribed Burn Planning: Using hyper-local data on soil moisture, fuel moisture, and weather to predict the perfect burn window days in advance.

• Lightning as a Trigger: How monitoring lightning strikes in real-time allows for faster smoke detection and response.

• The XPRIZE Challenge: Mike's collaboration with other innovators to develop autonomous wildfire detection and suppression solutions.

• Navigating Regulations: The challenges of deploying new tech in protected areas and the need for faster regulatory approval.

• The Human Element: Why AI can suggest the best course of action, but the final decision still rests with the incident commander.