University of Hawaiʻi Joins $25.6M AI Project to Monitor Disasters

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has announced its participation in a significant project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) aimed at enhancing disaster monitoring through artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative, named Sage Grande, has secured $25.6 million to deploy advanced sensor systems across the United States. This project seeks to improve real-time surveillance of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and volcanic eruptions.

To achieve its objectives, Sage Grande will install 300 smart sensors nationwide. These sensors will analyze environmental data at the source, eliminating delays associated with transmitting data to centralized servers. As a result, communities, scientists, and policymakers will receive faster alerts regarding critical changes in environmental conditions, such as smoke from wildfires or unusual volcanic activity.

The project not only enhances disaster preparedness but also offers valuable hands-on experience for students at the University of Hawaiʻi. Professor Jason Leigh, director of the Laboratory for Advanced Visualization and Applications in the Department of Information and Computer Sciences, emphasized the dual benefit of the initiative. He stated, “By joining Sage Grande, UH is not only advancing disaster preparedness and environmental science, but also giving our students hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI.”

Plans are in place to deploy two to three sensors throughout the Hawaiian Islands by 2024, with specific locations still to be determined. The team at UH Mānoa includes researchers such as Chris Shuler, Han Tseng, Anke Kügler, and Tom Giambelluca, all of whom will contribute their expertise to the project.

Previous initiatives have equipped UH Mānoa with relevant experience. In Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, students have utilized a current-generation Sage sensor to analyze real-time data from the Kīlauea volcano. This prior research has demonstrated AI’s capability to address fundamental queries, such as detecting ongoing eruptions.

Additionally, a similar sensor has been installed in Lahaina, where it connects to the internet via satellite. This system is programmed to monitor air quality and fire risks in an area severely affected by the 2023 wildfires. Funded by a separate NSF grant, the Lahaina project collects climate and pollution data that will aid recovery efforts and inform future planning.

Local students are actively involved in the project, receiving practical training in environmental science and AI technologies. By participating in these efforts, they gain firsthand experience that prepares them for future careers in related fields.

Leigh noted the significant shift in monitoring capabilities offered by these AI-powered sensors, saying, “Previously, we have to transmit that data to a faraway point, analyze it and figure out, oh, is there a fire? Now the AI on the sensor itself can say there’s a fire and tell people immediately.” He further highlighted the potential for widespread deployment of smoke sensors throughout Hawaiʻi, enhancing community safety and environmental awareness.

This collaboration between the University of Hawaiʻi and the NSF marks a pivotal step toward utilizing AI for environmental monitoring. As the project progresses, it aims to set a precedent for future innovations in disaster preparedness and response, benefitting both local communities and scientific research efforts nationwide.