Pimphattra: Use Burn Scar KPI for Wildfire Crisis Management, Not Hotspots

Matichon•Politics•18d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai lawmakers and experts propose shifting from 'Hotspot' to 'Burn Scar' as a key performance indicator for wildfire and PM2.5 crisis management, utilizing AI and satellite data for more accurate, systemic solutions.

•A Thai parliamentary committee discussed strategies to combat wildfires and PM2.5, recommending a shift from 'Hotspot' tracking to using 'Burn Scar' data for crisis management.
•Experts highlighted the limitations of 'Hotspots' and advocated for 'Burn Scars' combined with AI and satellite imagery for more precise, system-wide management.
•Data indicates a significant increase in heat anomalies in early 2026, with over 144,000 hotspots recorded between January and May 5, particularly in the northern region.

Overview

•On May 7, Pimphattra Vichaikul opened a meeting of the special committee to study measures and guidelines for managing and resolving wildfire issues and tracking PM2.5.
•Pimphattra Vichaikul stated that Thailand should stop using 'Hotspot' as the main indicator and switch to using 'Burn Scar' for more precise systemic problem management.
•Over 54% of Thailand's PM2.5 issues originate from open burning, especially in forests, rice paddies, and sugarcane fields.
•From January 1 to May 5, 2026, Thailand recorded a cumulative high of 144,302 hotspots, with the Northern region showing the highest concentration at 89,628.
•In April 2026 alone, hotspots surged to 80,824, a significant increase from 12,502 during the same period last year, indicating a worsening situation.
•Sasiprapha Thaetham from GISTDA presented a 'perfect data trap' warning, noting government's preference for near 100% accurate data before policy implementation.
•The committee will compile proposals and data from all sectors to develop policy measures for the government.
•The committee is scheduled to invite relevant agencies from the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Industry next week to jointly integrate measures and establish concrete solutions.

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Key Quotes

Pimphattra Vichaikul

"Thailand should stop using 'Hotspot' as the main indicator and switch to using 'Burn Scar', or actual burned areas, along with AI and satellite data for more precise systemic problem management."

ไทยควรเลิกใช้ “Hotspot” เป็นตัวชี้วัดหลัก และหันมาใช้ “Burn Scar” หรือร่องรอยพื้นที่เผาไหม้จริง ร่วมกับ AI และข้อมูลดาวเทียม เพื่อบริหารจัดการปัญหาเชิงระบบอย่างแม่นยำมากขึ้น

Sasiprapha Thaetham

"Data from the Suomi NPP satellite, VIIRS system, shows that from January 1 to May 5, 2026, Thailand had a cumulative total of 144,302 hotspots."

ข้อมูลจากดาวเทียม Suomi NPP ระบบ VIIRS พบว่า ตั้งแต่วันที่ 1 มกราคม-5 พฤษภาคม 2026 ประเทศไทยมีจุดความร้อนสะสมสูงถึง 144,302 จุด

Phasawut Sornwishes

"The country is caught in a 'perfect data trap' because the government often demands almost 100% accuracy before adopting it for policy."

ประเทศที่ติด “กับดักข้อมูลสมบูรณ์แบบ” เพราะภาครัฐมักต้องการข้อมูลแม่นยำเกือบ 100% จึงจะนำมาใช้เชิงนโยบาย

Dr. Jane Channarong

"Hotspots should only be used for immediate situation monitoring, not as a main country KPI, due to satellite pass time limitations."

Hotspot ควรใช้เพียงติดตามสถานการณ์เฉพาะหน้า ไม่ควรเป็น KPI หลักของประเทศ เพราะมีข้อจำกัดด้านช่วงเวลาการผ่านของดาวเทียม

Key Entities

Person

Pimphattra Vichaikul(น.ส.พิมพ์ภัทรา วิชัยกุล)

Chairperson of the Special Committee for Studying Measures and Guidelines for Managing and Resolving Wildfire Issues and Tracking PM2.5

Sasiprapha Thaetham(N.S. Sasiprapha Thaetham)

Geo-Informatics expert at GISTDA who presented data on hotspots.

Wasanachai Wongsantivanich(Mr. Wasanachai Wongsantivanich)

Advisor at NARIT who presented on PM2.5 chemical composition and measurement technologies.

Pathompob Suwanakiree(Mr. Pathompob Suwanakiree)

CEO of Thaicom Public Company Limited who proposed a Geospatial Intelligence Solution.

Sorawis Suphawet(Asst. Prof. Lt. Col. Dr. Sorawis Suphawet)

Developer of the 'Follow the Burn' platform, advocating for the use of Burn Scar data.

Jane Channarong(Dr. Jane Channarong)

Engineer and expert in PM2.5 dust management, associated with the 'Breathing Through Dust' page.

Organization

Special Committee for Studying Measures and Guidelines for Managing and Resolving Wildfire Issues and Tracking PM2.5(คณะกรรมาธิการวิสามัญพิจารณาศึกษามาตรการและแนวทางการบริหารจัดการแก้ไขปัญหาไฟป่า และติดตามวิกฤตฝุ่นละอองขนาดเล็ก PM2.5)

Parliamentary committee tasked with addressing wildfires and PM2.5 pollution.

GISTDA(จิสด้า)ℹ️

Office of the Space Technology Development Agency and Geo-Informatics.

NARIT(สถาบันวิจัยดาราศาสตร์แห่งชาติ)ℹ️

National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand.

Thaicom Public Company Limited(บริษัท ไทยคม จำกัด (มหาชน))ℹ️

A satellite and telecommunications company.

Page 'Follow the Burn'(เพจ “ตามรอยเผา”)

A public page focused on tracking and reporting on forest fires.

Page 'Breathing Through Dust'(เพจ “ฝ่าฝุ่น”)

A public page providing information and expertise on PM2.5 dust management.

Suomi NPPℹ️

A satellite platform used to monitor Earth's atmosphere and surface.

VIIRSℹ️

A sensor system aboard the Suomi NPP satellite used for observing Earth's surface.

Sentinel-2ℹ️

A satellite constellation whose imagery is used to identify Burn Scars more accurately than Hotspots.

Policy

Burn Scar

A proposed key performance indicator for wildfire management, representing actual burned areas.

Hotspot

The current primary indicator for tracking wildfires, criticized for its limitations.

Geospatial Intelligence Solution for Wildfire and PM2.5 Management

A proposed integrated system using AI, satellites, and ground sensors for comprehensive wildfire and PM2.5 management.