Satellite imaging helps managing forest fires

7th March 2017

Enaie Azambuja

0 0

An EU team assessed various European satellite imaging systems for use in managing forest fires. All packages met consumer needs, but the project identified five especially applicable tools, while also helping develop future satellite systems. Uncontrollable fires affect forests of the Mediterranean region, causing soil erosion plus economic impacts. Global warming exacerbates the area's natural proneness to fire, hence the problems will only worsen in future.

The EU-funded PREFER (Space-based information support for prevention and recovery of forest fires emergency in the Mediterranean areas) project helped provide forest-fire management support in the form of remote sensing data products.

The imaging systems were based on various satellites and sensors available to European researchers. In some cases PREFER continued development of systems originally created by other EU projects. The team also worked on user requirements, development of new space-borne sensors by 2020, and exploitation plans.

Researchers tested and demonstrated 13 Earth Observation packages in pre-operational environments at five locations. According to user-feedback, the range of products adequately met the information needs of the forest-fire management community.

The list of packages favoured forest fire prevention and preparedness over recovery/restoration. Most post-fire spatial themes were unfamiliar to project stakeholders involved in the demonstration phase.

Post-demonstration feedback revealed a list of the five most successful products. The demonstrations also revealed that the multi-product processing chain is mature, and robust enough for rapid computation. Project staff also considered ways of improving the products.

The group developed strong ties with its stakeholder base. Yet researchers concluded that the project's products would only be viable with further testing and validation. Such support was to be provided by the Copernicus Programme.

The PREFER project's remote sensing products supported fire management and prevention in Mediterranean regions. Such tools will help the region avoid, or at least mitigate, destructive fires under changing climatic conditions.