New Technology to Shield Orenburg Nature Reserve From Thunderstorms
Smart sensors are to be installed in Buzuluksky Bor National Park to help track approaching storms and prevent wildfires.
A smart storm tracking and triangulation system will be installed in Buzuluksky Bor (Buzuluk Pine Forest) National Park in Russia’s Orenburg region, the park’s press service said. Staff will be able to monitor approaching thunderstorm cells, alert emergency services, and locate initial fire outbreaks.
Following an expert audit, park officials will draw up a comprehensive plan and determine where the sensors will be placed. Using a grant from the Fond zashchitnikov prirody (Nature Defenders Fund), the park will also purchase a drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera to detect lightning-induced fires at an early stage, as well as blazes sparked by railway embers. The unmanned aircraft will help quickly identify the source of incidents.
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In 2025, the park installed a smart wildfire detection system that monitors 100,000 hectares in real time. Fire watchtowers are equipped with AI-enabled cameras that detect smoke, with data transmitted instantly to operators. The new technologies are designed to protect the forest and allow authorities to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible.
