THE IMPORTANCE OF USING WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS FOR FOREST FIRE SENSING AND DETECTION IN TURKEY

Wireless sensor networks appearing as consequences of the developments in wireless communication, micro-electro-mechanic systems technology and electronics have many promising application areas for the future. Forest fire application is just one of them. Forest fires are the disasters, which, cause loss of life, property, and destruction of thousands of hectares of forest land in the west and the south coastal zones of Turkey during the summer months every year. Technological requirements for Information and Communication Technology projects to be applied successfully are defined as having connectivity, low cost, power efficient and having appropriate user interfaces, in the literature. Studies that indicate that the applications of wireless sensor networks are appropriate solutions for developing countries are also available. In this study, forest fire application example using wireless sensor networks is investigated for Turkey by considering the same technological requirements that should be satisfied in wildfire areas (since regions frequently being exposed to forest fires and developing regions have similar characteristics). Also, the advantages and challenges in practice by the usage of wireless sensor networks in forest fires are pointed out