NASA ACERO Program

EcoAero had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Spencer Monheim, Second Shift Capabilities Lead at NASA Aeronautics in the NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California. Monheim holds an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from UC Santa Cruz and began his career at NASA as an intern, later transitioning to a contractor role before becoming a full-time employee at NASA ACERO. The NASA's Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) is a program within the Ames Research Center that develops and implements NASA technologies to combat wildfires and coordinate with firefighting teams.

Wildland fires are increasing in frequency and severity, particularly in California, where fire seasons are lengthening. Peak fire seasons now begin in July, compared to August in previous years. Fires have also grown larger and more extreme in behavior: since 1984, the proportion of burned land suffering "severe damage" has increased from 5% to 23%. Current aerial firefighting operations are limited to daytime hours and clear visibility conditions, typically 4 to 6 hours per day. Existing technologies, such as air tankers for aerial suppression, are constrained by these limitations. Many of the technologies currently used by first responders are legacy systems developed some time ago and are not considered modern.

NASA is collaborating with partners in both government and the private sector to improve wildland fire management. Various wildfire responses include fire suppression, delivering equipment to ground crews, and providing communication relays in areas with limited connectivity. NASA is also developing potential responses such as increased use of drones for prescribed burns (which can help prevent larger fires) to eliminate dead brush. However, using drones for fire suppression presents challenges, such as achieving precise and effective drops while efficiently reloading water or retardant. NASA proposes using drones for these tasks as a safer alternative to piloted helicopters or ground crews, especially in low visibility conditions. Additionally, NASA plans to incorporate artificial intelligence to assist with fire detection, leveraging its effectiveness and potentially lower error rates compared to human observers.