“SDG&E is pleased to contribute to the region’s fire safety and preparedness and storm response by providing this additional camera, which is part of a larger build-out of cameras and other environmental sensors that can help monitor in real-time the potential impacts of weather and fires on our electrical system and local communities,” said Lena Fotland, area resource manager for SDG&E’s construction & operations group.
This latest installation supplements a system of eight San Diego County-funded cameras already on Mount Woodson by capturing a view of the area which currently is blocked by other towers. The HPWREN team mounted the SDG&E-funded camera on a different tower allowing it an unobstructed view to the east.
Example color day view from the camera. This image shows the plume of a small fire below Mount Woodson on June 30.
Example monochrome night view from the camera, with stars and even the Milky Way visible.
The new camera is able to record regular as well as near-infrared images.
The infrared capability will help in spotting fires at night when
the fire itself is not easily visible through its plume. Having
no mechanical parts makes this type of camera ideal for remote
deployment. Experience has shown that movable camera parts have a
tendency to break, often due to the extreme weather conditions at
remote-location deployments on mountain tops. This can be costly and
difficult to fix.
