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UNR High Def Cameras Used To Spot Forest Fires

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Seismological Laboratory at University of Nevada, Reno is using high-definition cameras to locate fires.

KOLO-TV reports that program director Graham Kent says the cameras allow the Forest Service to react quickly to the fires they get calls about.

The cameras have time-lapse abilities that make it easy to spot smoke from small fires. This allows for resources to be sent quicker to areas that can burn for thousands of acres before being noticed.

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It costs $15,000 to $30,000 to put a camera in each location. The university is taking donations to put cameras in more sites.

The university is also researching machine vision technology that would allow cameras to spot fires once they start.