ComSoc Technology News (CTN) is a free, online monthly publication that publishes interesting, timely, and newsworthy articles that span a wide range of topics related to the communications technology industry. Our mission is to be an informational resource that brings diverse perspective and thought leadership, while providing a platform for lively discussion amongst our readers.

CTN is run by a team of volunteer editorial board members who are technical experts in diverse fields. All articles are reviewed and edited by a technical editor. The editor-in-chief performs the final review prior to publication. 

October 2022 Issue

Taking to the Air to Help on the Ground: How UAVs Can Help Fight Wildfires

Climate change is fueling the frequency and intensity of wildfires, turning these natural phenomena into disasters of devastating proportions. In California, to name one specific region prone to wildfires, 2020 and 2021 saw the highest and second-highest numbers of acres burned in its historical record. This is therefore a problem of growing severity, and we engineers are in a position to be part of the solution. Indeed, the IEEE’s own motto is a constant reminder that our mission is to “advance technology for humanity,” and here is an opportunity for technology to come to the rescue on a matter of enormous importance. This month’s issue of CTN, authored by Prof. Hamid Jafarkhani from the University of California at Irvine, addresses the role that UAVs can play in the fight against wildfires, and how this role can be greatly enhanced by wireless communication and signal processing. It is an excellent review, and a call to arms for more research and development in this arena. Enjoy it.

Angel Lozano, CTN Editor

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