Introducing a Network of Emerging Commercial Technologies to Combat Wildfires on DoD Installations

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the fiscal, environmental, and health impacts of wildfires aboard Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton and the potential benefits of incorporating Project Vesta, a system of emerging commercial-off-the-shelf technologies, into Camp Pendleton’s firefighting capabilities. The main objective of this report is to determine the cost of acquiring Project Vesta and the benefit of fielding it aboard Camp Pendleton and other DOD installations at risk from wildfires. First, we determine the growing threat of wildfires to MCB Camp Pendleton and their fiscal, environmental, and health impacts. Second, we analyze current firefighting detection and suppression methods to determine shortfalls and potential costs derived from insufficient responses. Finally, we identify Project Vesta integration opportunities and conduct a sensitivity analysis of the cost-benefit to better combat wildfires aboard MCB Camp Pendleton. This study determines how investing in Project Vesta will allow fire departments to detect fires sooner and suppress fires faster, leading to reduced costs by protecting people, resources, and training environments. Based on this research, we recommend that DOD facilities that are regularly impacted by wildfires acquire the Vesta system and integrate it into their fire departments.