An innovative system will predict where a fire has broken out

An innovative system that can predict where a fire is expected to break out on Greek territory in the next 24 hours with a spatial analysis of up to 500 meters was created by researchers at the Beyond Earth Observation and Satellite Monitoring Center of the National Observatory of Athens. The system produces daily detailed forecast maps, utilizing the most modern technologies in the field of satellite imaging, while its pilot forecasts have already been verified with absolute success in the recent fires of Cephalonia and Nea Styria in Evia.

More than 80,000 acres have burned this year from May 1, the day of the start of the fire season, until June 30, while in the last 10 days there have been nine other large fires that have reduced thousands of additional acres of land to ashes. More devastating was the fire in the Geraneia Mountains, where almost 5,200 hectares of forest were lost, but also the fire that burned from 2 to 4 July in the Municipality of Eleios-Pronnon in Cephalonia, where according to initial estimates at least 600 hectares were burned.

In the last period and following the prolonged heat of the previous days,  there is a significant increase of the fire fronts in Greece. It is indicative that from Saturday until Sunday morning, in a period of 24 hours, according to the Fire Service, 187 urban and forest fires broke out on Greek territory.

Unique tool

The Beyond Center of the National Observatory, under the Scientific Director of Research Dr. Haris Contoe, has been developing the FireHUB service system, which is a unique tool in the hands of the State and is freely provided to the Operations Center of the Fire Service. Through this, the fires in Greece are detected in time, their evolution is constantly monitored every five...