Google has announced the expansion of its Wildfire Boundary Tracker to 17 new countries, including Kenya.
The AI-powered tool is designed to help communities better prepare for and respond to the increasing threat of wildfires. It provides accurate and up-to-date information on wildfire boundaries directly in Google Search and Maps.
The expansion comes as the world experiences a surge in wildfires, with countries across Europe and Africa particularly affected. By leveraging advanced AI technology, the wildfire tracking model analyses satellite imagery and other data sources to deliver precise and reliable information on the spread of wildfires.
“We are committed to using technology to help people stay safe during natural disasters,” said Yossi Matias, Vice President & Head of Google Research. “By expanding our wildfire boundary tracker, we hope to empower communities with the information they need to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), wildfires will become more frequent, more intense, and more enduring as global temperatures continue to rise in response to human combustion of fossil fuels. And although catastrophic fires in Australia, Europe, and the North American west have commanded the global headlines, 67 percent of the area of this annual global toll, from all causes, has been in Africa.
In Kenya alone, fires have contributed to 0.60 percent of tree cover loss between 2001 and 2023. According to Global Forest Watch, there have been 341 high-confidence fire alerts reported so far in Kenya in 2024.
Google’s wildfire boundary tracker sends informative alerts to people in affected areas, offering essential safety tips and guidance. To cater to diverse populations, the tool supports multiple languages. It is designed to complement existing emergency response efforts, providing an additional layer of protection for at-risk communities.
This expansion includes: Andorra, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Rwanda, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey.
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