Torus,
the future of wildfire prevention.
Timeline:
10 weeks
Role:
UX/UI Designer
Year:
SCAD Winter 2025
Fires don’t wait.
Neither should we.
Fires don’t wait.
Neither should we.
Fires don’t wait.
Neither should we.
Torus is an AI-powered wildfire detection system installed directly on power lines that immediately notifies emergency responders, residents, and utility companies to fires or sparking lines to prevent disasters.
Torus is an AI-powered wildfire detection system installed directly on power lines that immediately notifies emergency responders, residents, and utility companies to fires or sparking lines to prevent disasters.
The cost of waiting.
The cost of waiting.
30min
of delay can double a wildfire's burn area.
30min
of delay can double a wildfire's burn area.
4,552
structures destroyed by wildfires in 2024.
nfic.gov
4,552
structures destroyed by wildfires in 2024.
nfic.gov
Wildfires can move up to 14 mph, so a 30-minute delay can double the burn area. Today, most fires are found by satellites or 911 calls, which are too slow and too unreliable.
Wildfires can move up to 14 mph, so a 30-minute delay can double the burn area. Today, most fires are found by satellites or 911 calls, which are too slow and too unreliable.
Torus nodes spot fires in seconds.
Torus nodes spot fires in seconds.
Torus nodes spot fires in seconds.
Torus uses thermal imaging to sense abnormal heat and fire signatures within seconds. It transmits data instantly to firefighters and residents for rapid action, and provides live updates of the fire’s spread.
Torus uses thermal imaging to sense abnormal heat and fire signatures within seconds. It transmits data instantly to firefighters and residents for rapid action, and provides live updates of the fire’s spread.
A new frontier for power line safety.
A new frontier for power line safety.
A new frontier for power line safety.
We first imagined homeowners buying their own nodes. But they were expensive and had to be mounted high up to see in every direction.
Then we learned how many wildfires start from sparking power lines. Putting nodes on these lines would give them height, cover lots of land, but most importantly, would help to stop fires from sparking lines as soon as they start. With Torus, utility companies see fire hazards and node maintenance alerts on one map, so they can fix problems before a node goes offline.
We first imagined homeowners buying their own nodes. But they were expensive and had to be mounted high up to see in every direction.
Then we learned how many wildfires start from sparking power lines. Putting nodes on these lines would give them height, cover lots of land, but most importantly, would help to stop fires from sparking lines as soon as they start. With Torus, utility companies see fire hazards and node maintenance alerts on one map, so they can fix problems before a node goes offline.
Informing emergency response workflows.
Informing emergency response workflows.
Informing emergency response workflows.
We first planned to send alerts straight to firefighters, but interviews showed this would push decisions onto crews that dispatch is meant to make. Firefighters only need three things: where the fire is, who’s at risk, and the fastest route. They have 1–2 minutes before they’re on the road. So Torus alerts dispatch, and dispatch passes fire fighters only what they need.
This means our designs for fire-fighters have to relay information about the fire as straight to the point and accurately as possible.
We first planned to send alerts straight to firefighters, but interviews showed this would push decisions onto crews that dispatch is meant to make. Firefighters only need three things: where the fire is, who’s at risk, and the fastest route. They have 1–2 minutes before they’re on the road. So Torus alerts dispatch, and dispatch passes fire fighters only what they need.
This means our designs for fire-fighters have to relay information about the fire as straight to the point and accurately as possible.
Keeping residents safe.
Keeping residents safe.
Keeping residents safe.
Residents rely on local news and social media for fire updates, which are often late or conflicting. Torus tells them how close a fire is, how big it is, and where it’s likely to spread, along with what to do next. Clear guidance means less panic and less traffic on evacuation routes.
Residents rely on local news and social media for fire updates, which are often late or conflicting. Torus tells them how close a fire is, how big it is, and where it’s likely to spread, along with what to do next. Clear guidance means less panic and less traffic on evacuation routes.
🔥 Team
🔥 Team
🔥 Team
Steven Vasil
Product Lead, Branding
Nikki Hahn
Physical Design, Packaging
Andrea Da Silva
Emergency UI/UX Lead
Kara Rivenbark
Resident App UI/UX Lead
Steven Vasil
Steven Vasil
Product Lead, Branding
Product Lead, Branding
Nikki Hahn
Nikki Hahn
Physical Design, Packaging
Physical Design, Packaging
Andrea Da Silva
Andrea Da Silva
Emergency UI/UX Lead
Emergency UI/UX Lead
Kara Rivenbark
Kara Rivenbark
Resident App UI/UX Lead
Resident App UI/UX Lead
The cost of waiting.
30min
of delay can double a wildfire's burn area.
30min
of delay can double a wildfire's burn area.
4,552
structures destroyed by wildfires in 2024.
nfic.gov
4,552
structures destroyed by wildfires in 2024.
nfic.gov
Wildfires can move up to 14 mph, so a 30-minute delay can double the burn area. Today, most fires are found by satellites or 911 calls, which are too slow and too unreliable.
Torus,
the future of wildfire prevention.
Timeline:
10 weeks
Role:
UX/UI Designer
Year:
SCAD Winter 2025