Early detection of smoldering fires through innovative methods

Waste management is one of the fastest growing business with global market size of over USD 1 trillion as recorded in 2019 [1].

The most serious environmental concern associated with waste recycling business is waste fires, which is propelling along with the growth of recycling business.

Waste fires result in property damage, instigation of secondary fires (i.e. structural-, waste- and wild-fires due to release of waste borne firebrands), emission to air and water streams with long-term health effects, and have serious socio-economic, environmental, and occupational health and safety consequences.

In view of increase in frequency and intensity of waste fires incidents in recent past, Swedish EPA, MSB and several other authorities have highlighted [2,6,23-27] the need for increased knowledge about fire risks in connection with waste storage and how these risks can be reduced.

In view that with today’s technology (IR cameras, satellite data, gas sensors and laser-based sensors), it is impossible to detect deep seated fires, the project is focused on:to develop new and advanced methods for early detection of waste fires through innovation.This project is a first ever attempt to comprehensively address these aspects and has a strong potential to transform the safety standards and working environment of the whole waste recycling chain and will harness benefits for waste management sector and beyond both at national and international level.