Deep learning models for enhanced forest-fire prediction at Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: Integrating satellite images, weather data and human activities data
Loading...
Date
2024-12-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Forest fires (FFs) are a growing threat to ecosystems and human settlements, particularly in vulnerable regions
such as Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Accurate and timely fire prediction is essential to mitigate these risks and
improve fire management strategies. This study develops and evaluates advanced Deep Learning (DL) models for
FF prediction by integrating spatiotemporal vegetation indices, environmental data, and human activity in-
dicators. Specifically, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), and Convolu-
tional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM) models were employed to analyze Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and
weather data, along with anthropogenic factors such as beekeeping, tourism, agriculture, and deforestation rates.
Leveraging this diverse, high-dimensional dataset, the ConvLSTM model engineered to capture intricate spatial
and temporal relationships delivered superior performance, achieving an AUROC of 0.9785 and Accuracy
98.08%, surpassing the LSTM and CNN models. Integrating human-induced activities with environmental data,
these models provide accurate and actionable predictions for fire management in high-risk areas. This study
demonstrates the potential of ConvLSTM in developing operational tools for early fire detection, streamlining
data-driven decision-making, improving resource allocation, and guiding preventive strategies in fire-prone re-
gions such as Mount Kilimanjaro.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG-2: Zero Hunger
Keywords
Forest fire prediction Deep learning Spatio-temporal analysis Vegetation indices ConvLSTM Mount kilimanjaro