Carter Kuiper | ALES Graduate Seminar

Event details: A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree. This is an ALES MSc Final Exam Seminar by Carter Kuiper. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.

Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/92846206825?pwd=4xkrljy04hNwvRbIYEboHvYuRo5SiL.1

MSc with Dr. Jen Beverly

Thesis Topic: Assessing and rating telecommunication infrastructure by social importance and physical vulnerability to wildfire in Alberta, Canada

Abstract:

When wildfires threaten populated areas, communication among responding agencies and the public at large is critical. However, telecommunication vulnerabilities to wildfire have been largely ignored in fire mitigation planning and research. In this study, telecommunications vulnerabilities to wildfire in Alberta, Canada were investigated with the following objectives: (1) determine the extent of cell phone coverage in Alberta in relation to service demand areas (SDAs); (2) identify to what extent telecommunications infrastructure and SDAs are exposed to potential wildfire; (3) identify SDAs with high wildfire exposure and potentially limited cell coverage; and (4) develop and apply an integrated index to rate the most exposed towers by social importance and physical vulnerability. Results revealed highly variable telecommunications coverage across the province, influenced by population densities, roads, and terrain obstructions. A significant number of telecommunications towers intersect high fire exposure (n = 186), most possessing hundreds of potential pathways for fire encroachment. Thousands of kilometres of roadway and hiking trails in the province are highly exposed while also lacking cell phone coverage. The Grande Prairie and Slave Lake Forest Areas emerged as key areas where socially important telecommunications infrastructure had high levels of vulnerability to physical wildfire damage. Potential applications of results to guide proactive mitigation measures such as fuel treatments, response priorities or infrastructure improvements are discussed.