AI camera to boost bushfire detection at Mount Crawford

A new high-tech fire detection system will be installed to help protect the landscape and communities of the southern Barossa and northern Adelaide Hills.

ForestrySA has signed an agreement with bushfire detection and intelligence provider Pano AI to install a new AI-powered fire detection camera on a fire tower within the Mount Crawford Forest estate.

This camera captures ultra-high definition panoramic imagery and feeds it into a system that combines AI, satellite technology and human verification to identify potential smoke and fire activity.

The platform provides real-time alerts and intelligence on fire location, behaviour and proximity to people, assets and firefighting resources, supporting more informed decision-making by emergency services and land managers.

The high-tech early bushfire detection camera will be installed next month and will be operational ahead of the coming fire danger season, capable of detecting unplanned fires earlier and providing critical intelligence to support faster and more effective responses.

It follows the successful implementation of eight AI-powered bushfire detection cameras across the Limestone Coast forestry region, funded by the Malinauskas Government and managed by the Green Triangle Fire Alliance.

This camera network detected nearly 90 unplanned fires early over the past three fire danger seasons, delivering valuable intel to fire responders and demonstrating its value as an early bushfire detection system.

This installation will provide an opportunity to assess how the technology performs in a more complex peri-urban landscape where plantations, native vegetation, farms, businesses infrastructure and residential communities are closely interconnected.

It also reflects the South Australian forestry sector’s ongoing commitment to invest in fire prevention, detection and response measures, protecting the productive forests that are building the homes of tomorrow, as well as the regional and peri-urban homes of today.

Through this trial, ForestrySA will work with the Malinauskas Government to gain a better understanding of how AI-strengthened bushfire detection technology can support bushfire preparedness, early intervention and emergency responses in one of South Australia’s most significant peri-urban landscapes.

Visit the country fire service for more information on fire warnings, incidents and advice on how to plan and prepare.

Please visit smart camera footage of unplanned fires detected in the Limestone Coast between 2023 and 2026, and images of the cameras and fire towers in that region.