FireBench: A High-fidelity Ensemble Simulation Framework for Exploring Wildfire Behavior and Data-driven Modeling

TL;DR

This paper introduces FireBench, a high-fidelity ensemble simulation framework for wildfire behavior analysis, leveraging advanced computational tools to improve accuracy, efficiency, and support data-driven modeling and risk assessment.

Contribution

The study presents a novel ensemble simulation framework integrating large-eddy simulation and optimization tools, enabling large-scale, high-fidelity wildfire modeling on tensor-processing units.

Findings

Simulations with 1.35 billion mesh points show good agreement with experimental data.

Identified a critical Froude number distinguishing fire regimes.

Strong coupling observed between fire spread parameters.

Abstract

Background. Wildfire research uses ensemble methods to analyze fire behaviors and assess uncertainties. Nonetheless, current research methods are either confined to simple models or complex simulations with limits. Modern computing tools could allow for efficient, high-fidelity ensemble simulations. Aims. This study proposes a high-fidelity ensemble wildfire simulation framework for studying wildfire behavior, ML tasks, fire-risk assessment, and uncertainty analysis. Methods. In this research, we present a simulation framework that integrates the Swirl-Fire large-eddy simulation tool for wildfire predictions with the Vizier optimization platform for automated run-time management of ensemble simulations and large-scale batch processing. All simulations are executed on tensor-processing units to enhance computational efficiency. Key results. A dataset of 117 simulations is created, each with 1.35 billion mesh points. The simulations are compared to existing experimental data and show good agreement in terms of fire rate of spread. Computations are done for fire acceleration, mean rate of spread, and fireline intensity. Conclusions. Strong coupling between these 2 parameters are observed for the fire spread and intermittency. A critical Froude number that delineates fires from plume-driven to convection-driven is identified and confirmed with literature observations. Implications. The ensemble simulation framework is efficient in facilitating parametric wildfire studies.