WATERSHED, SOIL, AND AIR PROJECT PROPOSAL USDA Forest Service, Technology & Development Program 09-20
Project Name or Title:	Personal Data Recorder to Collect Prescribed Fire Information for Download into Fire Activity Databases
Submitted by (your name):	Cindy Huber
Unit name and address:	George Washington and Jefferson NFs, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke, VA 24019
Telephone:	540-265-5156
IBM or Internet Address:	chuber@fs.fed.us
Date:	March 6, 2008
OVERALL OBJECTIVES/PROBLEM STATEMENT (Describe the problem, how the work is currently being done, and why improvement is needed.)
Specific fire activity information is needed when conducting post-burn evaluations of smoke incidents. Often smoke dispersion modeling is required, in which case a fair amount of data is needed. We generally go to paper records to assemble this data. If fire managers could record fire activity and weather information on a personal data recorder, the information could be easily downloaded into a database accessible by those evaluating the smoke incident. Also, some states are in the process of developing fire activity databases and it would be great to have a PDR for fire managers/burn bosses to upload information easily to these databases.
PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT WORK (Describe your concept of the end product, i.e., a new equipment design, a video production, a guide, etc.)
Develop some electronic device (Personal Data Recorder) that can be taken to the fire for data entry, and the process to download the information into fire activity databases that states are developing.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS (Describe how this project will improve safety, reduce cost, save time, increase efficiency, provide improved resource management, or increase customer satisfaction.) Improve access to fire activity information in the event a post-burn evaluation of a smoke incident is necessary.