Kelowna company uses AI to map evacuation routes ahead of wildfire season

When wildfires force residents from their homes, knowing an evacuation route exists may not be enough.

A Kelowna, B.C., technology company is working to help emergency officials better understand the condition of back roads that could become critical escape routes during a disaster.

But what happens if the road meant to get people to safety is riddled with potholes, loose rock and washouts, or isn’t suitable for the vehicle they’re driving?

That’s the question Kelowna entrepreneur Ryan Gallagher has been trying to answer since the 2023 wildfire season.

That experience led Gallagher to create Back Road Intel, a system that uses sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor backroads and evacuation routes.

On a recent drive along Chute Lake Road, one of several backroad connections in the Central Okanagan, Gallagher pointed out just how quickly conditions can change.

“I was here a week ago, but it wasn’t this bad.” said Gallagher

A little further up the road, conditions became noticeably rougher.

The technology collects information about road surfaces, hazards and road degradation. That data is then analyzed by AI and provided to emergency officials, helping them better understand which routes may be viable during an emergency. The thought is that officials will use this data to conduct where the public should go.

But Gallagher says the issue isn’t simply whether a road is open.

A route that can handle a four-wheel-drive truck may not be suitable for a family sedan carrying children, pets and emergency supplies.

“Take a look here. Imagine a mom and her kids trying to navigate this,” Gallagher said. “This is really why I want to figure this out.”

The goal is to help emergency planners understand not only which roads are available, but which vehicles can safely use them.

“When it comes to evacuations, the last thing you want is a flat tire or a broken axle,” Gallagher explains. “If you can’t clear these bumps, you will probably have a problem, and that’s a huge problem because you can block everyone behind you.”

The company has already begun working with communities across B.C., including regional districts, municipalities and First Nations. The hope is that better information will help emergency officials make better decisions before the next disaster strikes.

For Gallagher, that’s what the technology is really about: making sure people aren’t forced to drive into the unknown when they’re trying to get out of danger.

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