An MQTT approach for fire brigades monitoring in prevention and suppression activities: A case study for the Natural Protected Area “Sierra de Guadalupe”, Mexico

Abstract. Forest fires constitute a constant hazard for natural protected areas in Mexico, especially during dry seasons and near urban areas. Unplanned fires can escalate quickly, necessitating prompt human intervention through the dispatch of highly trained fire brigades, the allocation of available transportation resources, and seamless coordination, communication, and asset tracking. Given that forests span extensive areas with complex topography, human resources become a high-value asset for fire management. Ensuring precise control and safety is paramount during emergency responses, where location and communication are critical for effective coordination and management of the limited resources. This paper presents a tracking and monitoring system designed with off-the-shelf technologies, focusing on personnel and based on the Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol for efficient message exchange. The system leverages existing mobile technologies with cellular connectivity, with a custom platform providing location information about fire brigades, individuals, and their current status to fire managers. Gathered data is integrated cartographically through a WEB mapping platform with content suited for fire management, bringing up-to-date fire brigade movements, providing per-unit status, and enhancing situational awareness. The results are compared with traditional two-way radio methodologies.