Real-time CFD in the simulation of aerial firefighting

Aerial firefighting is crucial in the combat of wildfires, as the speed, range, and payload (water, fire-retardant, crew) advantages provided by aircraft enable much easier access to remote areas and faster response to active fires than ground vehicles. However, the challenging mission scopes and flight conditions, including low-altitude operations, smoke-induced low visibility, fire-induced turbulence, and complex terrain, encountered during these operations place the pilot and crew under high workload and at considerable risk of accidents. With the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires seen in recent years due to climate change and other factors, research into safer and more efficient aerial firefighting techniques, strategies, and training is essential. This paper presents a high-fidelity simulation environment, leveraging real-time computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in the loop and capable of evaluating different aerial platforms and firefighting techniques.