The contract between the Austin City Council and a San Francisco-based technology company has been approved. The agreement entails utilizing AI technology to monitor wildfires in Travis County and parts of Hays, Bastrop, Williamson, and Burnet counties. Austin Energy, the city's electric utility, will collaborate with Pano AI to install a minimum of 10 cameras. These cameras will continuously scan the Austin Energy service area for any signs of smoke related to potential wildfires, as stated in an Austin Energy news release. Once a fire is detected, the Pano AI monitoring center will confirm the detection and the camera will determine the fire's exact location. Pano AI will then notify the 911 call center to alert the nearest fire department, as outlined in the news release. Following the City Council's approval of the contract on Thursday, the next steps in implementing the AI technology will commence this month.

This includes finalizing the locations for the stations, according to Chris Vetromile, the wildfire program manager at Austin Energy. The installation of the first stations is expected to take place in November and December, with the system becoming operational in 2024. Vetromile emphasized the importance of this initiative in ensuring community safety and the reliability of the electric system. The news release states that as climate change intensifies extreme temperatures, the program's ability to respond swiftly to wildfires will be crucial in safeguarding the community and maintaining uninterrupted electrical service. Vetromile shared that Pano AI's technology is already being used by seven power and water utilities, 11 fire agencies, 17 local governments, and four private landowners across the country. The contract was prompted by the disaster declaration made by Watson in August regarding wildfires. Council Member Alison Alter underscored the urgency of wildfire response, stating, "With wildfires, every minute matters. " She expressed confidence that this investment would enable the deployment of life-saving resources as quickly as possible during such emergencies.