Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) –“Grid Sentinel”, went live in November. Created by engineer professors at NMSU, the new artificial intelligence system is designed to detect wildfires within seconds of ignition. The system uses cameras mounted on transmission towers to monitor for signs of smoke or flames. The cameras are monitored around the clock by artificial intelligence and can rotate, pan, tilt and zoom to assess potential threats in real time. While the system has not yet identified an active wildfire, it has detected smoke from backyard barbecues and house chimneys, demonstrating its sensitivity and early warning capabilities. Three systems are currently installed in the Las Cruces area, with three more planned.
