VFire: Immersive wildfire simulation and visualization

The destruction caused by wildfires has led to the development of various models that try to predict the effects of this phenomenon. However, as the computational complexity of these models increases, their utility for real-time applications diminishes. Fortunately, the burgeoning processing power of the graphics processing unit can not only mitigate these concerns but also allow for high-fidelity visualization. We present VFire, an immersive wildfire simulation and visualization system. Users are placed in a virtual environment generated from real-world data regarding topology and vegetation. There they can simulate wildfires in real-time under various conditions. They can then experiment with various suppression techniques, such as fire breaks and water drops. The simulation is performed on the graphics card, which then provides visualization of the results. The system is intended to train fire chiefs in planning containment efforts and to educate firefighters, policymakers, and the general public about wildfire behavior and the effects of preventative measures.

Graphical AbstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (46 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch HighlightsResearch contributions: ► Large-scale physics-based wildland fire visualization ► GPU-based forest fire simulator with adjustable real-time environmental effects ► Visual tools for fire interactionEngineering contributions: ► Virtual reality immersive display of simulation ► Placement and rendering of numerous high-density objects