We are a home for Earth science data and computing professionals. Our sessions bring together the community for hands-on, interdisciplinary deep dives as we explore "Innovation to Impact" this year. Learn more about ESIP: esipfed.org
As climate change drives increasingly destructive wildfire behavior, actionable, real-time intelligence is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. This session will showcase WindTL, an AI-powered wildfire modeling platform developed by SkyTL, designed to transform Earth observation data into operational insights for emergency responders, insurers, utilities, and land managers.
The session will explore how WindTL blends physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), machine learning, and real-time sensor fusion to predict wildfire behavior and ember spread — responsible for up to 90% of structure losses during wildfires. We'll share how WindTL operationalizes research-grade fire modeling and delivers user-friendly risk maps and simulations in minutes, even in low-connectivity environments.
We’ll also demonstrate how we’ve scaled WindTL using Google Cloud technologies, including Vertex AI and Kubernetes, to deliver national-scale impact. Real-world examples will include how WindTL accurately predicted ember crossing during the Thompson Fire, enabling faster resource deployment and protection of high-value homes.
The session will conclude with a live demo of the WindTL platform, a discussion on model transparency and community trust, and a call for cross-sector collaboration to accelerate innovation in wildfire resilience.
Value to Session Participants: Participants will gain practical insight into how cutting-edge AI, machine learning, and geospatial data integration are being used in the field today to support wildfire prediction, planning, and response. Through real-world examples, live demonstrations, and collaborative discussion, attendees will see how operational tools like WindTL turn research into action, bridging the gap between innovation and impact.
For scientists and researchers, the session offers an opportunity to explore how their datasets, models, and tools can be integrated into operational platforms. For emergency managers and risk professionals, it provides a look at how actionable intelligence can be deployed in real time to guide decisions. For technologists, it opens up pathways to scale similar models across other climate and disaster domains.
Recommended Ways to Prepare for this Session: Some discussion topics: What barriers still exist in translating wildfire science into real-time operational use? How can AI models be responsibly integrated into emergency decision-making workflows? Where are there opportunities for collaboration in wildfire data collection, validation, or deployment? What tools or datasets should be prioritized for integration into platforms like WindTL?
