Full Project Title: Mapping the built environment’s susceptibility to wildfires

The wildfire crisis is not a wildland management issue confined to specific areas. It is dire, widespread, and fueled by urban and rural development. Homes are highly flammable, directly linking fire hazards with social vulnerability. Paradoxically, while proactive measures are encouraged, our understanding of the factors influencing the vulnerability of our homes and neighborhoods to wildfires remains limited. This gap has been recognized by Congress,  government agencies, emergency managers, the private sector, and homeowners, all of whom have a pressing need for high-resolution, actionable information. We propose harnessing big data and artificial intelligence to assess the vulnerability of the built environment to wildfires in Colorado. We will focus on two tasks: (1) identifying the materials, structural features, and spatial arrangements that contribute to wildfire susceptibility; and (2) developing per-structure vulnerability to wildfire in Colorado in a user-ready decision support tool.
 

Team members: Virginia Iglesias, Lise St. Denis, Nate Hofford,  Samisksha Gopinath, Sweta Rai, Joanna Wang, Aashish Mukund, Alison Post, Ian Christie, Bridger Huhn (ASCEND Engine), Cibele Amaral, Jennifer Balch