Methods and systems for tracking wildfires using weather radar data

A user device for providing timely and accurate estimates of the location and rate-of spread of a wildfire comprising:

• a processor;
• an input device operably connected to the processor;
• an output device operably connected to the processor;
• a communication device operably connected to the processor;
• and
• a storage device operably connected to the processor, wherein the storage device stores processor executable instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
• receive, via the input device, user defined polygon data estimating a perimeter of a wildfire;
• generate ellipse data fitting the polygon data;
• receive, via the communication device, radar reflectivity data from at least one weather radar;
• determine, based on the radar reflectivity data and the ellipse data, local maxima data and a plurality of fire points;
• generate an updated estimate of the perimeter of the wildfire based on the plurality of fire points;
• displaying the updated estimate of the perimeter of the wildfire on a screen or printing the updated estimate of the perimeter of the wildfire on a printer.

A system for providing timely and accurate estimates of the location and rate-of spread of a wildfire comprising:

• at least one weather radar;
• a user device operably connected to the at least one weather radar;
• and
• a wildfire update website server operably connected to the user device;
• wherein the user device comprises a processor operably connected to an input device, an output device, a communication device and a storage device, and wherein the storage device comprises stores processor executable instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
• receive, via the input device, user defined polygon data estimating a perimeter of a wildfire;
• generate ellipse data fitting the polygon data;
• receive, via the communication device, radar reflectivity data from the at least one weather radar;
• determine, based on the radar reflectivity data and the ellipse data, local maxima data and a plurality of fire points;
• generate an updated estimate of the perimeter of the wildfire based on the plurality of fire points;
• displaying the updated estimate of the perimeter of the wildfire on a screen or printing the updated estimate of the perimeter of the wildfire on a printer.