Wildfires and their imminent threats are nothing new to B.C. but what is is Canada’s first-ever cutting-edge wildfire detection system – Vancouver-based SenseNet.
In August 2022, Predator Ridge, an award-winning master-planned golf resort community in Vernon, became a test site in a two-year pilot project with SenseNet – in collaboration with the City of Vernon, Vernon Fire Rescue Services, the Government of Canada, and other stakeholders – to create a protective fire detection perimeter around the city.
"Investing in SenseNet technology is a testament to our commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents,” says Brad Pelletier, Senior VP of Predator Ridge. “We are setting a new standard in residential safety by proactively addressing the growing threat of wildfires in our region."
Pelletier went on to say that this investment in SenseNet technology is in concert with its resident-driven Community Safety Committee and its existing infrastructure of safety measures, truly making Predator Ridge one of the safest places to live in Canada.
Hailed for its groundbreaking technology, SenseNet will install a network of more than 100 sensors, five gateways and five cameras providing a comprehensive network of safety around the entire perimeter of Predator Ridge’s 1,360-acre community.
Based out of Vancouver, SenseNet is a technology that offers rapid wildfire detection capabilities, safeguarding critical infrastructure and properties in high-risk areas.
According to SenseNet CEO Hamed Noori, its system is a proven solution unique in the world in terms of detection speed and accuracy and can detect fires even in their smouldering phases when there is no flame or smoke signature.
"Our technology is a tool; the real champions are the forward-thinking leaders and fire departments who utilize these tools to enhance their capabilities in this new era of increasingly severe wildfires,” says Noori.
Predator Ridge was established more than three decades ago and is home to a thriving year-round community with more than 1,000 residences. It is one of Canada's top world-class golf resort communities offering homeowners and resort guests the best of the Okanagan lifestyle - fine dining, a state-of-the-art fitness centre (with 25m lap pool), over 35 kilometres of biking and hiking trails, based camp for the Okanagan Rail Trail, the only two outdoor yoga platforms in the Okanagan, a Market offering general groceries, fresh produce, local delicacies, Okanagan wines and beer, Pallino's casual Italian themed restaurant, and the Range Lounge & Grill. For more information, visit www.predatorridge.com. For more information about SenseNet, visit www.sensenet.ca.
Key benefits of implementing SenseNet technology at Predator Ridge include: (Courtesy of Predator Ridge)
- Early Wildfire Detection: SensorNodes detect the earliest signs of wildfires using gas sensing and thermal imaging, providing crucial time for response.
- 24/7 Monitoring: The system will be monitored and managed through Vernon Fire Rescue Services and Emergency Management, offering real-time fire information and enhancing early fire detection for quick incident response.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Wildfire Detection Cameras provide a 360-degree view with AI-driven smoke detection, ensuring comprehensive protection.
- Data-Driven Response: The Wildfire Detection & Management Platform integrates AI with data from sensors, cameras, satellites, and weather inputs for rapid detection and predictive analysis of wildfire behaviour.
- Community-Wide Safety: Implementing SenseNet across Predator Ridge ensures a blanket of safety, protecting the entire community from the threat of wildfires.
