Center of Excellence

Center of Excellence
for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting

At the Center of Excellence we are focused on bringing the technology of the future to the fireground of today.

Center of Excellence
for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting

At the Center of Excellence we are focused on bringing the technology of the future to the fireground of today.

Contact the CoE

About the Center of Excellence

The Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting (CoE) was created in Senate Bill 14-164. During the legislative session, proponents of the CoE explained that there was currently no mechanism for determining the efficacy of aerial firefighting and the need existed for an innovative, science- and data-focused research entity. For this reason, the CoE was held up as an integral part of ensuring the successful implementation of Colorado's own aerial firefighting fleet. In the years since its inception, the CoE has become the go-to research and development team for projects across the public safety service spectrum.

Mission

The Center of Excellence drives technological advancements to improve firefighting practices and influence innovation across the public safety community.

Vision

The Center of Excellence will overcome Colorado’s natural and manmade obstacles to consistently defy expectations and deliver unparalleled services to the public safety community and the people of Colorado.

Happenings at the CoE

Report on 2019 Night Operations Trials

The CoE has released a report on 2019 Night Helicopter Operations Trials . This document reports on Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) night helicopter operations training and trials conducted during 2019. The goal is to share what we have learned and discuss what additional research is needed to advance the program. Background Night aerial firefighting using helicopters with buckets has never before been attempted in Colorado. DFPC conducted night flying trials in 2019 to...

Rapidly Deployable Data Network Report

In the summer of 2019 the CoE purchased off-the-shelf radio and video equipment from Ubiquiti Networks, and fabricated a rapidly deployable data network to extend Internet connectivity into remote areas and enable video surveillance of wildland fires and other emergencies. CoE staff tested a radio network composed of three nodes, two of them solar powered, over the course of several days and received positive results. Following the test deployment the CoE took the data network to Lake City for...

Comments Regarding the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Operational Requirements and Capability Analysis

The Colorado Center of Excellence’s Comments Regarding the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Operational Requirements and Capability Analysis: Report of Findings Background On May 31, 2019, the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a report detailing the findings of an Integrated Project Team tasked with investigating new and emerging technology that could be applied to wildland fire incident response. In particular, the...

CDPS Flight Qualification Test

The CoE has adopted a flight qualification test based on work done by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). CDPS unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pilots must demonstrate flight proficiency by completing the flight qualification test once per year. The test includes a number of maneuvers that demonstrate the ability of the pilot to control the aircraft in specific moves and position the aircraft to observe test targets. In each test position, a test target is visible within...

Team Awareness Kit (TAK)

Many fires and public safety incidents in Colorado and other western states occur far from cities and permanently populated areas. Voice communication is typically available to firefighters in these backcountry areas through land mobile radios or satellite phones. However, Internet connectivity is frequently unavailable to firefighters in the backcountry or during large disasters that disrupt communications infrastructure in populated areas. The CoE is working to provide map-based situational...