Johnson’s Lab, a team of graduate students led by Jesse Johnson, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Montana, took first place in the Virtual Wildfire Modeling & Immersive Training Prize Challenge. The competition was hosted by Central Florida TECH GROVE, an innovation hub that connects the Department of Defense (DoD) with industry and academia to rapidly develop and deploy new technologies. The team earned a $70K award for their innovative project.
Building on tools previously developed with Forest Service support, the winning project translates 3D fuel and fire simulation outputs into immersive video game-style experiences. These simulations capture the dynamic interplay between ignition patterns, wind conditions, and terrain—elements often missing from traditional training materials.
The resulting visualizations support both screen-based and VR formats, enabling scalable use in classrooms, public meetings, and individual training. This technology not only enhances firefighter preparedness but also helps prescribed fire managers communicate more effectively with the public. By making landscape-scale tradeoffs more intuitive, these tools can reduce resistance to prescribed fire and foster broader understanding of fire management strategies.