Support our non-partisan non-profit newsroom 💜 Donate now

Fighting wildfires with Big Data

Molly Wood Jul 11, 2013
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Fighting wildfires with Big Data

Molly Wood Jul 11, 2013
HTML EMBED:
COPY

The severity of wildfires in the United States is likely to triple by the end of the century, according to a new study out of the University of Alberta. That’s a long way off, but there is little question forest fires are a growing issue. The blazes can be extremely difficult to predict and prevent. Over 20 firefighters have already died this year battling wildfires from Arizona to New Jersey.

But there is some good news. Upgrades in technology – like prediction models powered by Big Data – are helping to fight the fires. CNET’s Molly Wood joins Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson to discuss.

 

 

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.