Project aims for accurate 'premonition' of fire

The so-called PREMONITION project has been launched at Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University and is being carried out by experts in behavioural risk analysis, intelligent simulations and in the study of social processes.

According to Sheffield University, computer modelling techniques such as large scale agent-based modelling will enable fire fighters to draw together different strands of information, including geographical, demographical and behavioural data to build up a picture of an area and predict where fires and other emergencies might occur.

The PREMONITION simulation will reportedly enable fire fighters identify where the most vulnerable areas are, considering factors such times of the year or the day when risks are thought to be greatest.

Some of this information is already available to fire services through online sources, or from local authority records, but due to the vast amount of data it is difficult for humans to make sense of this information and combine it in real-time to support decision-making.