Austin City Council approves contract for AI service to detect wildfires
Published: Fri, 10/06/23
Austin City Council approves contract for AI service to detect wildfires
Parmer Lane Fire
(Chikage Windler)
CBS Austin
by Tara Brolley
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin City Council voted Thursday to approve a 5-year contract for services that will help identify potential wildfires.
The services will be provided by Pano AI, Inc. According to their website, Pano Rapid Detect is a “connected, intelligent platform for fire professionals the helps them detect threats, confirm fires, and disseminate information to responders.” Their goal is to protect lives, properties and forests.
According to the meeting agenda, the total contract amount will not exceed $3,225,600.
There were several devastating wildfires in Travis County and surrounding counties this summer.
In August, numerous agencies responded to a 50-acre wildfire in Cedar Park that destroyed 24 apartment units and damaged others. Around a week later, Austin and Travis County issued a wildfire disaster declaration.
“We’re as vulnerable as we’ve ever been to the threat of wildfire,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a press conference on Aug. 15. “A disaster declaration helps us to be further prepared in the event of a wildfire and in the event of wildfire damage. It allows us to be able to move quickly to access necessary resources to help in any recovery.”