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CMU Unveils AI-Powered UAV for High-Resolution Mapping to Combat Wildfires, Floods, and PM 2.5 in Northern Thailand

27 March 2026
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
The College of Arts, Media and Technology, Chiang Mai University, has developed an AI-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to address key environmental challenges and natural disasters in Northern Thailand, including floods, wildfires, and PM 2.5 pollution. The technology has already demonstrated effectiveness in real-world applications. Through extensive research and development, it generates accurate datasets to support decision-making by relevant agencies, while contributing to more systematic and efficient natural resource and disaster management in the future.
The principal investigator, Assistant Professor Dr. Phudinan Singkhamfu from the Software Engineering Division at CAMT, together with Associate Professor Dr. Phasit Charoenkwan, Head of the Modern Management and Information Technology Division, and other team members, presented research titled “Development of High-Resolution Map and Elevation Data from Aerial Photography Using UAV” at the Thailand Clean Air & Water Security Forum 2026 Episode 1: Chiang Mai–Lamphun, organized by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
The project aims to develop topographical maps and elevation data using photogrammetry combined with UAVs equipped with high-resolution GPS systems to analyze and simulate flood scenarios in Chiang Mai. The resulting data can be applied to identify high-risk areas, simulate flow paths, and support flood prevention and infrastructure planning. It also serves as a foundational dataset for Smart City development and future water resource management. The team conducted a demonstration flight to generate a high-resolution map with a deviation of less than 10 centimeters, highlighting the platform’s strong potential for accurate and effective water management applications.
Moreover, Chiang Mai University has developed another AI-powered UAV to monitor and detect wildfires, serving as a key tool in systematically addressing wildfire and PM 2.5 issues in the region. This UAV conducts surveillance flights over high-risk areas and captures images used to train AI models to accurately identify fire incidents. This enables precise detection of fire and haze origins, along with real-time notifications of incident locations through a GPS-based system. With an operational range of over 60 kilometers, the UAV is capable of flying at lower altitudes to collect detailed data. It can generate high-resolution wildfire maps using real imagery, allowing officers to access critical information quickly and efficiently.
The strength of this technology lies in its practical application, with a total cost of less than one million baht per system, significantly lower than comparable industrial solutions, thereby ensuring accessibility for government agencies, local authorities, and community users. In terms of data processing, the system captures images via the UAV, which are then sequenced and stitched together to create a comprehensive composite image. AI technology is subsequently applied to automatically detect hotspots and identify incident locations. The data can be compiled on a daily or hourly basis to support the operations of national park officials, community firefighters, and relevant agencies. Furthermore, the platform encourages community participation, allowing individuals to use their personal drones to collect data according to prescribed standards and upload it to the system, contributing to a comprehensive and up-to-date wildfire mapping database.
Looking ahead, this AI-powered UAV technology developed by Chiang Mai University has strong potential to evolve into an integrated environmental and disaster data platform. Such a platform would encompass water management, wildfire monitoring, and air quality tracking, effectively supporting both public and community sector operations. This initiative highlights the university’s active role in driving innovation to address societal challenges and contribute to national development.


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