EmberThreat adheres strictly to the 3-30-100 Defensible Space Zoning principles, which are the cornerstone of its risk assessment framework. The system divides the perimeter of the home into a 0-5 foot Absolute Fire Zone (requiring complete removal of combustibles), a 5-30 foot Fuel Control Zone (vegetation density needs to be less than 40%), and a 30-100 foot Buffer Transition Zone (requiring an intermittent vegetation layout). This zoning standard stems from CAL FIRE's 10-year tracking study that found that homes with compliant zoning survived major fires such as Camp Fire 17 times better.
The tool accurately calculates risk metrics for each zone through AI image segmentation technology: the U-Net model is used to analyze vegetation cover, stereoscopic vision is used to measure vegetation to building spacing, and material recognition algorithms are used to determine the type of surface paving. In action recommendations, the system gives differentiated options for each zoning district, such as absolute fire zones that require 12-inch wide stone barrier strips, and fuel control zones that recommend quarterly pruning of shrubs to a height of 18 inches or less.
This answer comes from the articleEmberThreat: Using AI to assess and reduce wildfire riskThe
