Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
Take this course for free on edx.org.
edx.org/course/remote-sensing-of-wildfires-course-v1alaskaxrsw13t2020
Learn how satellite imagery and the science of remote sensing allows us to detect wildfires, help manage their spread, and guide ecological restoration.
Wildfires are a natural part of our ecosystem. They serve an essential role in the process of recycling soil nutrients and renewing healthy forests. In Alaska, around one million acres (4000 square kilometers) burns every year, and record years have seen as much as six million acres burned. Most of these fires are allowed to spread naturally.
However, when wildfires occur near population centers, they can be a serious threat to the safety and well-being of people. The recent disastrous fire seasons in Alaska, California and Australia are examples of how communities that live near forests, in what is known as the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), are increasingly at risk due to hotter and drier summer weather caused by climate change.
In the fight to protect these communities, remote sensing technology has become essential. Wildfire analysts use satellite imagery and powerful computer programs to predict fire risk, detect fires early, and monitor their spread. After a wildfire is extinguished, remote sensing is used to analyse the impact of a fire and guide sustainable restoration efforts.
Participants in this course will learn about remote sensing of wildfires from professors at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in one of the world’s most active wildfire zones. They will learn about the behavior of wildfires, and get hands-on experience with some of the tools and resources used by professionals to create geospatial maps that support firefighters on the ground.
Upon completion, students will know how to:
Access web resources that provide near real-time updates on active wildfires
Navigate databases of remote sensing imagery and data
Analyse geospatial data to detect fire hot spots, map burn areas, and assess severity
Process image and GIS data in open source tools like QGIS and Google Earth Engine
Photo credit: US Fish & Wildlife Service
What You'll Learn:
What climate conditions lead to wildfires in Alaska.
How wildfires are managed in Alaska.
How fire impacts people, environment, ecosystem and wildlife.
How remote sensing science works.
How remote sensing is used to detect wildfires, monitor their spread, and assess fire impacts.
How remote sensing supports fire management decisions.
How to find remote sensing data and geospatial products on wildfires.
Take this course for free on edx.org.
edx.org/course/remote-sensing-of-wildfires-course-v1alaskaxrsw13t2020
Learn how satellite imagery and the science of remote sensing allows us to detect wildfires, help manage their spread, and guide ecological restoration.
Wildfires are a natural part of our ecosystem. They serve an essential role in the process of recycling soil nutrients and renewing healthy forests. In Alaska, around one million acres (4000 square kilometers) burns every year, and record years have seen as much as six million acres burned. Most of these fires are allowed to spread naturally.
However, when wildfires occur near population centers, they can be a serious threat to the safety and well-being of people. The recent disastrous fire seasons in Alaska, California and Australia are examples of how communities that live near forests, in what is known as the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), are increasingly at risk due to hotter and drier summer weather caused by climate change.
In the fight to protect these communities, remote sensing technology has become essential. Wildfire analysts use satellite imagery and powerful computer programs to predict fire risk, detect fires early, and monitor their spread. After a wildfire is extinguished, remote sensing is used to analyse the impact of a fire and guide sustainable restoration efforts.
Participants in this course will learn about remote sensing of wildfires from professors at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in one of the world’s most active wildfire zones. They will learn about the behavior of wildfires, and get hands-on experience with some of the tools and resources used by professionals to create geospatial maps that support firefighters on the ground.
Upon completion, students will know how to:
Access web resources that provide near real-time updates on active wildfires
Navigate databases of remote sensing imagery and data
Analyse geospatial data to detect fire hot spots, map burn areas, and assess severity
Process image and GIS data in open source tools like QGIS and Google Earth Engine
Photo credit: US Fish & Wildlife Service
What You'll Learn:
What climate conditions lead to wildfires in Alaska.
How wildfires are managed in Alaska.
How fire impacts people, environment, ecosystem and wildlife.
How remote sensing science works.
How remote sensing is used to detect wildfires, monitor their spread, and assess fire impacts.
How remote sensing supports fire management decisions.
How to find remote sensing data and geospatial products on wildfires.
