McHughs Forest Park. Photo: Google Maps
Smart sensors will be set up in a Selwyn District Council forest in the hope of being able to alert people living nearby quickly in the case of a fire.
The sensor technology will be installed in McHughs Forest Park in Darfield as part of a trial.
Mayor Sam Broughton said the forest is close to homes, so could be a danger if it ever caught fire.
The technology detects fires in real-time using a combination of thermal imaging, a 360-degree camera and air quality technology.
Three of the self-powered sensors will be set up in the 43ha reserve in February and March.
Broughton said the technology could have other uses.
"We might be able to count wildlife and understand predators in the forest. There should be other uses too around instantaneous readings of river levels, if we were to put them near rivers, to allow early detection when rivers rise."
Detecting pollen levels is another potential use, and monitoring weather conditions.
Broughton said the trial, in conjunction with telco Spark and engineers Attentis, will last at least six months. The first sensor will be installed from Monday.
