Applications of Computational Statistics to Wildfire Science and Management

A special issue of Fire (ISSN 2571-6255).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 684

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Interests: computational statistics; modeling and simulation with applications to wildfire science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fire safety is of paramount importance, as it concerns life, property, and the environment. Computational statistics has emerged as a powerful tool in various fields, including wildfire science. Its applications range from understanding the fundamental processes of fire ignition and spread to developing fire prevention and suppression strategies.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in computational statistics and its applications in fire science. We cordially invite researchers from academia and industry to share their latest research findings, including various aspects of fire safety. Through the application of simulation, modeling, and data-driven methods, a deeper understanding of fire behavior, fire dynamics, and the effectiveness of fire safety measures can be achieved, thereby driving innovation in the field of fire safety.

We welcome original research articles and reviews that address the following themes:

  • Fire dynamics and simulation: this includes the development and application of computational models to predict the behavior of fires, such as ignition, growth, spread, fire-spotting, and suppression.
  • Fire risk assessment and management: this theme covers the use of statistical methods and models to assess fire risks and fuel treatment strategies, as well as prescribed and cultural burning.
  • Fire detection and alarm systems: this area includes the design and evaluation of fire detection and alarm systems based on data-driven approaches and machine learning techniques.
  • Fire protection engineering: this theme focuses on the application of computational statistics in the design and optimization of fire protection systems, such as sprinklers, smoke detectors, and fire doors.
  • Smoke transport and the health effects of smoke: this theme includes smoke monitoring techniques, as well as the epidemiological consequences of increased particulate matter in communities. 

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. W. John Braun
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fire is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fire safety
  • fire simulation
  • fire risk assessment
  • fire management
  • statistical applications

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 3160 KiB  
Article
A Dynamic Spatiotemporal Understanding of Changes in Social Vulnerability to Wildfires at Local Scale
by Tianjie Zhang, Donglei Wang and Yang Lu
Fire 2024, 7(7), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7070251 - 15 Jul 2024
Viewed by 470
Abstract
Research on wildfires and social vulnerability has gained significant importance due to the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires around the world. This study investigates the dynamic changes in social vulnerability to wildfires over a decade in Idaho, USA, utilizing GIS-based tools and [...] Read more.
Research on wildfires and social vulnerability has gained significant importance due to the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires around the world. This study investigates the dynamic changes in social vulnerability to wildfires over a decade in Idaho, USA, utilizing GIS-based tools and a quasi-experimental design. We assess the evolving nature of social vulnerability at a local scale, emphasizing both spatial and temporal dynamics. Initially, we identified social vulnerability trends in relation to varying levels of wildfire risk. The research then employs propensity score matching to contrast areas affected by wildfires in 2012 with similar non-affected regions, thereby quantifying the short-term shifts in social vulnerability post-wildfires. The results indicate that regions with a high wildfire risk may display elevated vulnerability, characterized by an increase in unemployment rates and a reduction in high-income households. These findings tentatively demonstrate the compounded effect of wildfires on already vulnerable populations, highlighting the critical need for targeted interventions. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of integrating dynamic social vulnerability assessments into wildfire management and planning, aiming to enhance community resilience and equitable resource distribution in the face of escalating wildfire threats. Full article
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