Flames that rage uncontrollably in forests and threaten residential areas, people who therefore have to leave their homes: such images are known from recordings from southern Europe or US states such as California.
In the long term, we will probably also experience such scenarios in Central Europe, says Mortimer Müller from the Institute for Silviculture at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Boku) in Vienna: “It will never be as bad as in southern Europe, but forest fires will also affect settlement areas and the infrastructure endanger.” The reason for this is the climate crisis, which is bringing with it more periods of heat and drought.
In order to be able to fight forest fires better, Müller has developed a system called “Confirm” with colleagues from the Boku and from the Technical University of Vienna, with which professionals can better assess the dangers.
topography and tree species
This uses data from the earth observation program of the European Space Agency (ESA). Their satellites record data such as soil temperature and moisture, which are evaluated by systems such as the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Confirm goes even further: “Although the meteorology is the main component, we also use data on the topography, for example whether it is a south-facing slope because fires break out there more often, and what the slope is,” explains Müller. Information on the local vegetation is also included, such as which tree species grow in a specific area.
The system on the waldbrand.at platform should help experts from fire brigades, authorities and forest administrations to better assess which areas need to be kept in mind because there is a risk of fire there at the respective time. This should make it easier for fire departments to plan their operations, for example, says Müller. A prototype has been in use for some time, and an updated version should be available shortly.
Confirm is not intended for detecting forest fires, says Müller. “In Austria, it is mostly small-scale ground fires that do not get beyond the treetops and are therefore not detected by satellites,” explains the scientist. “With us, the best detection is the population: Most fires are reported by witnesses.”
The main causes of forest fires in Austria are lightning strikes and people, with the latter likely to be responsible for around 85 percent of cases, says Müller: “Examples of this are flying sparks from railways, campfires that have gone out of control or discarded cigarettes.”
Source: Nachrichten
