The Roof Is on Fire?

Rate this content
Bookmark

The devastating wildfires that ravaged Europe in 2023, burning an area the size of London, highlight the urgent need for improved fire detection and reporting systems at scale. 

In this talk, we will explore how JavaScript and widely available electronics can be combined to create a low-cost, cheap and effective wireless fire detection system. We will deploy this system in a wild forest in Greece and utilize AI models to predict where the next blaze could be sparked.

This talk has been presented at JSNation US 2024, check out the latest edition of this JavaScript Conference.

FAQ

The device is designed to monitor areas and alert authorities if a fire starts. It aims to provide an immediate response to wildfires by alerting and deploying aerial or ground units to avoid disasters.

The ESP32 is chosen because it's a low-cost, low-power controller with Bluetooth low energy and Wi-Fi capabilities, making it suitable for large-scale deployment in remote areas.

The device uses sensors such as a flame sensor and a gas sensor to detect infrared changes and various gases, which can indicate the presence of a fire.

Code for the microcontroller can be written in C, C++, Python, or JavaScript. The DeviceScript framework, a TypeScript-first framework, is used for development.

AI is used for failure forecasting to predict device failures and for environmental monitoring by analyzing sensor data to predict changes in humidity and temperature.

The device network can be expanded using a mesh network topology, allowing devices to communicate as a cluster and cover larger areas by spreading out.

The device is solar-powered and runs on batteries, allowing for deployment in remote areas without relying on external power sources.

The device can be extended with LoRa modules for long-range communication, and additional sensors or modules for various environmental monitoring and emergency communication needs.

Currently, predicting wildfires before they happen is challenging due to multiple unpredictable factors, but research is ongoing to develop models that may achieve this in the future.

JavaScript is event-driven, making it suitable for IoT applications which are often event-based. It also allows for code reuse across different devices and platforms.

Theodore Vorillas
Theodore Vorillas
18 min
21 Nov, 2024

Comments

Sign in or register to post your comment.
Video Summary and Transcription
Hi there. I'm Teodor, a web developer building Proxima, an open source analytics platform. In June 2021, a wildfire burned down a huge area near my house in Athens. I had an idea to build a low-cost, open, and accessible device to monitor and alert authorities of fire outbreaks. JavaScript is event-driven and perfect for IoT applications. DeviceScript is a versatile framework for writing code targeting IoT development boards. We can expand device functionality by adding sensors for temperature, humidity, gas, and flames. We can establish a mesh network using Painless Mess for wider coverage. LoRa can be used for off-grid emergency setups. AI and ML techniques can be applied for failure forecasting and running inference on the device. The VALS BME 688 gas sensor can improve detection accuracy. USC team is working on a model to predict high wildfire danger areas. Innovation thrives at the intersection of ideas and technology.
Available in Español: ¿El Techo Está en Llamas?
Video transcription and chapters available for users with access.

Check out more articles and videos

We constantly think of articles and videos that might spark Git people interest / skill us up or help building a stellar career

A Framework for Managing Technical Debt
TechLead Conference 2023TechLead Conference 2023
35 min
A Framework for Managing Technical Debt
Top Content
Today's Talk discusses the importance of managing technical debt through refactoring practices, prioritization, and planning. Successful refactoring requires establishing guidelines, maintaining an inventory, and implementing a process. Celebrating success and ensuring resilience are key to building a strong refactoring culture. Visibility, support, and transparent communication are crucial for addressing technical debt effectively. The team's responsibilities, operating style, and availability should be transparent to product managers.
Debugging JS
React Summit 2023React Summit 2023
24 min
Debugging JS
Top Content
Watch video: Debugging JS
Debugging JavaScript is a crucial skill that is often overlooked in the industry. It is important to understand the problem, reproduce the issue, and identify the root cause. Having a variety of debugging tools and techniques, such as console methods and graphical debuggers, is beneficial. Replay is a time-traveling debugger for JavaScript that allows users to record and inspect bugs. It works with Redux, plain React, and even minified code with the help of source maps.
Building a Voice-Enabled AI Assistant With Javascript
JSNation 2023JSNation 2023
21 min
Building a Voice-Enabled AI Assistant With Javascript
Top Content
This Talk discusses building a voice-activated AI assistant using web APIs and JavaScript. It covers using the Web Speech API for speech recognition and the speech synthesis API for text to speech. The speaker demonstrates how to communicate with the Open AI API and handle the response. The Talk also explores enabling speech recognition and addressing the user. The speaker concludes by mentioning the possibility of creating a product out of the project and using Tauri for native desktop-like experiences.
A Practical Guide for Migrating to Server Components
React Advanced 2023React Advanced 2023
28 min
A Practical Guide for Migrating to Server Components
Top Content
Watch video: A Practical Guide for Migrating to Server Components
React query version five is live and we'll be discussing the migration process to server components using Next.js and React Query. The process involves planning, preparing, and setting up server components, migrating pages, adding layouts, and moving components to the server. We'll also explore the benefits of server components such as reducing JavaScript shipping, enabling powerful caching, and leveraging the features of the app router. Additionally, we'll cover topics like handling authentication, rendering in server components, and the impact on server load and costs.
Power Fixing React Performance Woes
React Advanced 2023React Advanced 2023
22 min
Power Fixing React Performance Woes
Top Content
Watch video: Power Fixing React Performance Woes
This Talk discusses various strategies to improve React performance, including lazy loading iframes, analyzing and optimizing bundles, fixing barrel exports and tree shaking, removing dead code, and caching expensive computations. The speaker shares their experience in identifying and addressing performance issues in a real-world application. They also highlight the importance of regularly auditing webpack and bundle analyzers, using tools like Knip to find unused code, and contributing improvements to open source libraries.
Monolith to Micro-Frontends
React Advanced 2022React Advanced 2022
22 min
Monolith to Micro-Frontends
Top Content
Microfrontends are considered as a solution to the problems of exponential growth, code duplication, and unclear ownership in older applications. Transitioning from a monolith to microfrontends involves decoupling the system and exploring options like a modular monolith. Microfrontends enable independent deployments and runtime composition, but there is a discussion about the alternative of keeping an integrated application composed at runtime. Choosing a composition model and a router are crucial decisions in the technical plan. The Strangler pattern and the reverse Strangler pattern are used to gradually replace parts of the monolith with the new application.

Workshops on related topic

Build Modern Applications Using GraphQL and Javascript
Node Congress 2024Node Congress 2024
152 min
Build Modern Applications Using GraphQL and Javascript
Featured Workshop
Emanuel Scirlet
Miguel Henriques
2 authors
Come and learn how you can supercharge your modern and secure applications using GraphQL and Javascript. In this workshop we will build a GraphQL API and we will demonstrate the benefits of the query language for APIs and what use cases that are fit for it. Basic Javascript knowledge required.
Building a Shopify App with React & Node
React Summit Remote Edition 2021React Summit Remote Edition 2021
87 min
Building a Shopify App with React & Node
Top Content
WorkshopFree
Jennifer Gray
Hanna Chen
2 authors
Shopify merchants have a diverse set of needs, and developers have a unique opportunity to meet those needs building apps. Building an app can be tough work but Shopify has created a set of tools and resources to help you build out a seamless app experience as quickly as possible. Get hands on experience building an embedded Shopify app using the Shopify App CLI, Polaris and Shopify App Bridge.We’ll show you how to create an app that accesses information from a development store and can run in your local environment.
Build a chat room with Appwrite and React
JSNation 2022JSNation 2022
41 min
Build a chat room with Appwrite and React
WorkshopFree
Wess Cope
Wess Cope
API's/Backends are difficult and we need websockets. You will be using VS Code as your editor, Parcel.js, Chakra-ui, React, React Icons, and Appwrite. By the end of this workshop, you will have the knowledge to build a real-time app using Appwrite and zero API development. Follow along and you'll have an awesome chat app to show off!
Hard GraphQL Problems at Shopify
GraphQL Galaxy 2021GraphQL Galaxy 2021
164 min
Hard GraphQL Problems at Shopify
WorkshopFree
Rebecca Friedman
Jonathan Baker
Alex Ackerman
Théo Ben Hassen
 Greg MacWilliam
5 authors
At Shopify scale, we solve some pretty hard problems. In this workshop, five different speakers will outline some of the challenges we’ve faced, and how we’ve overcome them.

Table of contents:
1 - The infamous "N+1" problem: Jonathan Baker - Let's talk about what it is, why it is a problem, and how Shopify handles it at scale across several GraphQL APIs.
2 - Contextualizing GraphQL APIs: Alex Ackerman - How and why we decided to use directives. I’ll share what directives are, which directives are available out of the box, and how to create custom directives.
3 - Faster GraphQL queries for mobile clients: Theo Ben Hassen - As your mobile app grows, so will your GraphQL queries. In this talk, I will go over diverse strategies to make your queries faster and more effective.
4 - Building tomorrow’s product today: Greg MacWilliam - How Shopify adopts future features in today’s code.
5 - Managing large APIs effectively: Rebecca Friedman - We have thousands of developers at Shopify. Let’s take a look at how we’re ensuring the quality and consistency of our GraphQL APIs with so many contributors.
0 To Auth In An Hour For Your JavaScript App
JSNation 2023JSNation 2023
57 min
0 To Auth In An Hour For Your JavaScript App
WorkshopFree
Asaf Shen
Asaf Shen
Passwordless authentication may seem complex, but it is simple to add it to any app using the right tool.
We will enhance a full-stack JS application (Node.js backend + Vanilla JS frontend) to authenticate users with One Time Passwords (email) and OAuth, including:
- User authentication – Managing user interactions, returning session / refresh JWTs- Session management and validation – Storing the session securely for subsequent client requests, validating / refreshing sessions
At the end of the workshop, we will also touch on another approach to code authentication using frontend Descope Flows (drag-and-drop workflows), while keeping only session validation in the backend. With this, we will also show how easy it is to enable biometrics and other passwordless authentication methods.