Chiang mai: Chiang Mai University, in collaboration with its network partners, is piloting "FireMan Tracker" to enhance the safety of volunteer wildfire fighters in the Omkoi area.
According to Thai News Agency, Chiang Mai University, through its University Service Center (UNISERV) and the Climate Change Data Center (CCDC), is driving social innovation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Charoen Pokphand Foundation for Rural Development and local organizations in Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province. This collaboration aims to implement the pilot project 'FireMan Tracker,' a communication technology designed to enhance the capabilities and safety of volunteer wildfire fighters. University administrators, representatives from the foundation, and local government officials signed the MOU on March 25, 2026, at the Omkoi District Office. This partnership reflects Chiang Mai University's role in applying knowledge, technology, and innovation to concretely address local problems, particularly in the context of Omkoi District, which features high mountains and extensive forest areas. These areas face limitations in communication during wildfire fighting missions due to poor mobile phone coverage, posing a significant safety risk to field personnel.
The 'FireMan Tracker' project was developed to address this need by utilizing LoRa Mesh technology as the infrastructure for communication in areas with poor signal reception. This combines LoRa (Long Range) technology, which allows for long-distance data transmission with low power consumption, with a mesh network where individual devices can transmit and receive signals in a chain without relying on the main network. This creates a highly flexible decentralized network that can automatically adjust communication paths (self-healing) and remain operational even in areas without phone or internet signals.
Under this system, field personnel will use "FireMan Tracker" devices to track their locations in real-time. Data is transmitted via a LoRa Mesh network to the control center and displayed on a cloud-based dashboard or mobile application. This allows commanders to gain a comprehensive overview of the situation and manage missions effectively. Furthermore, the system can link hotspot data from satellites to support accurate real-time planning and decision-making. Initially, Chiang Mai University designed and installed the network in pilot areas, placing base stations and repeaters in optimal locations considering the terrain to ensure coverage and minimize limitations from natural obstacles.
This marks another significant step for Chiang Mai University in integrating knowledge with its network partners to develop innovations that sustainably address societal and environmental needs. It reflects the "University for Society" approach, focusing on applying appropriate technology to solve real-world problems in local areas, while simultaneously improving the quality of life and safety of communities in the long term. This includes contributing to the development of communication infrastructure in remote areas, and serves as a model for using technology to create systemic change, with the potential for further expansion to other vulnerable areas across the country.