January, 2019
URL path renamed
The risk of wildfires can be reduced through the application of prescribed burning practices. However the effectiveness of these practices is constrained to very narrow periods of time in which some climate and environmental conditions are optimal. The knowledge of these conditions by forest and fire managers is critical to decide when to apply prescribed burning.
The innovation FireAd is an ITC-desk solution able to regularly advice to forest and fire managers on windows of opportunity for forest management practices aiming at reducing the risk of wildfires. The tool generates maps of wildfire (or ignition) risk probability based on the retrieval and analysis of meteorological and drought indices (i.e. SPI), landscape metrics, and vegetation loads. The innovation helps forest and fire managers who want to keep the forest protected to select the best period for forestry practices.
ProSystem prototype demonstration in operational environment.
Prototype near or at planned operational system. Represents a major step up from TRL 6 by requiring demonstration of an actual system prototype in an operational environment.
Prototype near or at planned operational system. Represents a major step up from TRL 6 by requiring demonstration of an actual system prototype in an operational environment.
The component related with the links between drought intensity and burned area were already tested within the project DROUGHT R&SPI; the links between fire spreading, land-cover and meteorological conditions were also tested and guidelines for prescribed fire are published for Eucalyptus and Pine plantations; only the combination of the various outputs for different time scales needs testing.
How does it work?
Forest management requires planning on a monthly/weekly basis. Wildfire management requires information at daily basis. We develop an approach supported by analysis of links between burned area, drought indices and fuel moisture to optimize the period of forest operations and reduce fire risk when in drought conditions. On regional/local scale, this information will be complemented with data on wind, air moisture and temperature to identify the best conditions for fire management actions, such as prescribed burning or backfire. Modelling will be done with few and publically available information, at different time scales and drought intensities allowing integration in Apps or platforms for drought monitoring or decision support in forest and fire management.
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