AI-Driven Early Fire Detection Using CubeSats: Enhancing Real-Time Satellite Monitoring for Wildfire Prevention

About this project

Harness artificial intelligence to help combat and control wildfires

If you are keen to launch your career in data analytics and artificial intelligence and excited about developing novel ways of preventing wildfires, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD with global impact within UniSA STEM and the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) Phi-lab, Green Triangle Forest Industry Hub/Green Triangle Fire Alliance, South Australian Country Fire Service and the Victorian Country Fire Authority. 

Early wildfire detection is a critical challenge that this project aims to address through innovative satellite technology. By developing lightweight, AI-powered onboard solutions for CubeSats, this project enhances the real-time monitoring of wildfires. 

We will focus on two missions launched in August 2024: Kanyini, equipped with a lower-resolution hyperspectral sensor, and PhiSat-2, with a higher-resolution multispectral imaging payload. 

The project’s objectives include improving AI models for better detection accuracy, integrating diverse data sources for a comprehensive understanding of fire behaviour, and creating a global training dataset repository of wildfire imagery. 

The outcomes will provide actionable recommendations for CubeSat constellations and deliver immediate benefits to Australian government agencies and firefighting organisations. 

You will become part of UniSA STEM's Data Analytics Group at the Industrial AI Research Centre, benefiting from a collaborative and supportive environment. With over a decade of expertise in data mining and machine learning, the team has successfully supervised several PhD candidates to completion over the past five years. 

The group includes experienced research fellows and PhD students working on related topics, with weekly seminars showcasing advancements across multiple areas of data mining and machine learning, including satellite remote sensing case studies. This collaborative environment fosters the success and professional development of both new research fellows and PhD students.

You will also become a member of SmartSat-CRC’s SCARLET Lab and spend at least one day there per week. The SCARLET Lab, an initiative by SmartSat-CRC, focuses on developing cutting-edge technologies in spacecraft autonomy, onboard AI, and data analytics. 

It serves as a collaborative hub where researchers and industry professionals come together to drive innovation in autonomy, delivering impactful results for both defence and civil sectors, and enabling Australia’s future space missions. 

What you’ll do

In this project-based research degree, you will undertake several significant stages of research. You will enhance existing AI models and onboard processing systems for CubeSats, focusing on segmentation-based detection and integrating advanced deep learning techniques.

You will also help develop solutions that integrate thermal information, visible fire scars, fire smoke aerosols, and additional factors such as fuel and fire risk to achieve a comprehensive onboard wildfire detection system.

We will support you in creating strategies and algorithms for updating and improving AI models as real CubeSat imagery of fire events becomes available, ensuring that the models remain effective over time.

Other activities include refining onboard analytics to provide deeper insights into fire behaviour, such as extent, intensity, and direction. You will also help develop a framework for CubeSat constellations, offering recommendations for using AI for early fire detection.

Our project gives you extensive opportunities to collaborate with academic and industry partners, engaging through workshops, live demonstrations, and conferences.

Your research may involve travel, particularly to ESA’s Phi-lab in Frascati, Italy, for research cooperation and technical knowledge exchange.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based in UniSA STEM and the SmartSat CRC. Developed in collaboration with nearly 100 partners, including 40 space start-ups as well as international collaborators such as the Australian Space Agency and the Department of Defence, SmartSAT CRC is reenergising Australia's satellite communications expertise and capacity, allowing us to make a global impact in the space economy.

As one of the most significant space industry research concentrations in Australia, the SmartSat CRC will create game-changing technologies and develop know-how that will make our industries more competitive and future-proof the jobs of all Australians. Financial Support

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $36,000 per annum (2025 rate) is available to eligible applicants. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $50,291 per annum. A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information for domestic students or international students.
 
Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to applications from both Domestic and International applicants. 

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. 

Additionally applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

• Educational background in Remote Sensing or Machine Learning
• Excellent programming skills

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our Mawson Lakes campus in the north of Adelaide.

Essential Dates

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Sunday 1 December 2024.