Broader Impacts

a group of people watch as a drone carry optical sensors is launched in a forest
Lu Hu, SMART FIRES Co-PI and Smoke Lead of the Fire and Smoke Sciences research team, demonstrates a drone equipped with smart optical sensors at the University of Montana’s Lubrecht Experimental Forest during the annual SMART FIRES meeting in 2024.

SMART FIRES works to improve wildfire and smoke mitigation by grounding prescribed fire practices in real‑world data and predictive models. The project brings together researchers across environmental science, remote sensing, optics, artificial intelligence, and social science from institutions across the Montana University System, including Tribal Colleges.

Through internships, collaborative research, seed funding, and external partnerships, SMART FIRES builds a skilled workforce prepared to lead interdisciplinary projects and to communicate clearly about the benefits and risks of prescribed fire. By connecting research, workforce development, and Montana’s growing optics and remote sensing industries, SMART FIRES strengthens the state’s research capacity, supports economic development, and helps move scientific discoveries into the hands of land managers and decision‑makers.

Components of broader impacts include:

  • Education and Workforce Development (Lead: Taylor) 
  • Emerging Areas and Seed Funding (Lead: Walker) 
  • Broadening Participation (Lead: Thomas) 
  • Partnerships and Collaborations (Leads: Metcalf, Shaw)
  • Communication and Dissemination (Lead: Taylor)