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MIdS CMU Welcomes Regional Army Commander for Drone Development Discussion on Wildfire & PM2.5 Solutions

9 April 2026
Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary School
MIdS CMU Welcomes Regional Army Commander for Drone Development Discussion on Wildfire & PM2.5 Solutions

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, Associate Professor Dr. Apichat Sophadang, Dean of Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary School, Chiang Mai University, welcomed Chaidaen Kritsanasuwan, Deputy Commander of the 3rd Army Area, along with his delegation, and Paisan Juatong from Engineering Institute of Thailand under H.M. The King’s Patronage (Northern Chapter 1).

The meeting brought together representatives from Chiang Mai University, as well as public and private sector organizations, to discuss innovative approaches to advancing UAV (drone) technology for tackling wildfires and PM2.5 air pollution in Northern Thailand, and to explore future academic collaboration.
Held at Meeting Room 1-101, MIdS CMU

Key Discussion Highlights

Smart Drone System for Forest Protection (DWPMS)
Proposed by Associate Professor Dr. Apichat Sophadang, focusing on a 24/7 autonomous drone system for wildfire surveillance and suppression in Northern forests.

Integrated 8-3-1 Management Model
Presented by Professor (Practice) Dr. Setth Samphattakul, Director of the University Academic Service Center (UNISERV CMU), and faculty member in the Integrated Science Program, and expert in climate change management:
8 months preparation
3 months response
1 month recovery

Supported by advanced technologies such as:
DustBoy (outdoor air quality monitoring)
DustGirl (indoor air quality monitoring)
Fireman Tracking (LoRa Mesh)
High-frequency satellite data
Green Finance & Blockchain systems

Advanced UAV Technology for Disaster Management
Presented by Akom Suwannakantha (Vice Chairman, Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce) and Jetanakorn Pengsiri from JFOX AIRCRAFT Co., Ltd., highlighting next-generation drone innovations for wildfire and disaster response.

Drone Adaptation for Firefighting Missions
By Sirapong Luechai from Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Chiang Rai:

Modifying agricultural drones for wildfire missions
Installing fire-extinguishing payload systems
Patrol drones and counter-drone technologies (net and gel-based interception)

Community Readiness & Technology Matching
Prof. Dr.Peerapong Jitsangiam emphasized that technology alone is not enough—successful implementation depends on community readiness.
Multidisciplinary Research Institute, CMU, will collaborate with the military to assess local readiness and match appropriate technological solutions for each area.

This initial discussion marks a significant step toward integrating technology, policy, and community engagement to address Northern Thailand’s wildfire and PM2.5 crisis sustainably.
Conferences/University Activities Highlights

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