Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Infrared Mapping

Rogue Reconnaissance is a company at the forefront of using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Infrared (IR) mapping of wildland fires. Founded by myself and a fellow experienced wildland firefighter, we bring over two decades of hands-on experience in combating wildland fires. Our journey to establish Rogue Reconnaissance was driven by an in-depth understanding of the challenges and dangers involved in wildland firefighting.

Our primary mission is to harness the power of UAS technology to revolutionize how fire managers receive and act on critical information. By providing real-time, accurate IR mapping, we aim to significantly reduce firefighters' exposure to hazardous conditions, ultimately enhancing the safety and effectiveness of firefighting operations. At Rogue Reconnaissance, we are committed to innovation that protects lives and property, ensuring that each technological advancement takes us closer to a safer and more informed approach to managing wildland fires.

We are also proud to introduce the UAS Wildland Fire Cooperative (UASWFC), an initiative that represents collaboration and innovation at its core. The UASWFC is a cooperative consisting of key partners such as the Oregon Department of Forestry, Rogue Reconnaissance, Scappoose Fire, and Grayback Forestry. The cooperative serves as a Geospatial Hub that supports UAS wildland firefighting activities, providing a centralized resource for data sharing and operational coordination.

The UAS Wildland Fire Cooperative offers an accessible platform for quickly obtaining data downloads, viewing geospatial information, live streaming ongoing fire operations, and accessing critical firefighting resources. It also provides tools for UAS pilots to efficiently upload and process collected data, such as stitching thermal orthomosaics, which are then digitized and delivered in formats like GeoPDFs and shapefiles to Incident Management Teams (IMTs) and ground resources.

In addition to facilitating data sharing, the cooperative creates a space for all UAS pilots engaged in firefighting to come together and contribute their data, ensuring that vital information reaches firefighters and decision-makers as soon as possible. Our goal is to enable UAS technology to have an immediate impact on firefighting operations across the state. By fostering collaboration among the State of Oregon and its contractors, the UASWFC is advancing the role of UAS in wildland fire management and paving the way for new standards in safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.

At Rogue Reconnaissance, we understand the importance of timely and precise information in the fight against wildfires. The UAS Wildland Fire Cooperative represents a significant leap toward realizing our mission of supporting safer, data-driven firefighting efforts—empowering crews on the ground and providing leadership with the insights they need to make informed decisions.

Like National Infrared Operations (NIROPS), the UASWFC interprets raw IR data and presents it as Intense / Scattered Heat, Isolated Heat, Heat Perimeter, etc. After the data is collected, it is interpreted in the field and uploaded to an online map via Starlink. Fire managers and ground resources have access 24/7, and data can be collected on demand.

The Cutoff incident near Bonanza, Oregon, was a huge step forward, proving that a quadcopter platform could fly a large incident in one shift. With an interpreted size of 1288 acres, Rogue Reconnaissance could fly 2,000+ acres in one night shift and have the map ready for the team before the morning briefing.