As cities become denser and more complex, resilience against fire hazards is increasingly vital to sustainable urban development. With fire risks evolving rapidly in the urban environment, innovative technologies are needed to support safer and more resilient communities.
At The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Prof. Asif Sohail Usmani, Chair Professor in Building Sciences and Fire Safety Engineering of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), has developed SureFire, an intelligent forecasting tool designed for fire safety and public emergency management in urban infrastructure and the built environment.
By harnessing smart city technologies, including data-generating networks, real-time monitoring, and physics- and AI-based predictive analytics, SureFire integrates native sensing capabilities in buildings with distributed sensors to track fire progression in real time. During severe incidents, it can also forecast critical events through AI-assisted simulations, helping emergency responders make timely and informed decisions.
Beyond supporting emergency response, SureFire also shows promise for the development of next-generation firefighting robots, paving the way for fully automated and casualty-free firefighting in the future.
Through innovations like SureFire, BEEE and PolyU remain committed to advancing urban safety, strengthening resilience, and contributing to a more sustainable future.
