Utilizing Transfer Learning and pre-trained Models for Effective Forest Fire Detection: A Case Study of Uttarakhand

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how transfer learning with pre-trained models enhances forest fire detection accuracy in India, especially in data-scarce regions like Uttarakhand, by reducing the need for extensive labeled datasets.

Contribution

It introduces the application of transfer learning with pre-trained models for forest fire detection in India, addressing regional data limitations and improving detection performance.

Findings

Transfer learning improves detection accuracy over traditional methods.

Pre-trained models like MobileNetV2 are effective for forest fire detection.

Experimental results validate the approach's effectiveness in Uttarakhand.

Abstract

Forest fires pose a significant threat to the environment, human life, and property. Early detection and response are crucial to mitigating the impact of these disasters. However, traditional forest fire detection methods are often hindered by our reliability on manual observation and satellite imagery with low spatial resolution. This paper emphasizes the role of transfer learning in enhancing forest fire detection in India, particularly in overcoming data collection challenges and improving model accuracy across various regions. We compare traditional learning methods with transfer learning, focusing on the unique challenges posed by regional differences in terrain, climate, and vegetation. Transfer learning can be categorized into several types based on the similarity between the source and target tasks, as well as the type of knowledge transferred. One key method is utilizing pre-trained models for efficient transfer learning, which significantly reduces the need for extensive labeled data. We outline the transfer learning process, demonstrating how researchers can adapt pre-trained models like MobileNetV2 for specific tasks such as forest fire detection. Finally, we present experimental results from training and evaluating a deep learning model using the Uttarakhand forest fire dataset, showcasing the effectiveness of transfer learning in this context.