The Kick-off meeting of the project Ofidia 2 – Operational FIre Danger preventIon platform, co-funded for 1.854.000 euro by the Interreg V-A Greece-Italy Programme 2014-2020, will be held on 7-8 May in Lecce.

A fruitful cooperation between scientific research, cutting-edge technologies, policymakers and Italian and Greek public agencies will improve the safety of environment from wildfires danger. Lead Partner of the project is CMCC Foundation; the project partners are Decentralized Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia, Forest Directorate (DAEWM), University of Ioannina, Puglia Region – Civil Protection Section; associated partners: Municipality of Lecce, ARIF (Regional Agency for Irrigation and Forest Activities)

A network of technologies, infrastructures and scientific knowledge is the main feature of the project that aims to develop environmental protection measures in Puglia Region (Italy) and the Epirus Region (Greece) in order to prevent and to fight wildfires in the forests and rural areas.

HD video cameras, wireless sensors networks, and drones are the tools provided to monitor remotely located areas in two Regions, and a new control room will be the headquarter of operational activities.

OFIDIA 2 project capitalizes the results of the previous project Ofidia, already funded during the 2007-2013 Programming Period, by covering a larger area in both regions. The wireless sensors networks is an operational big data infrastructure that makes available information to protect the environment, its biodiversity, and the natural environmental heritage, which are the pivotal resources for the growth of the involved area.

Prof. Patrizia Guida – Education, Europe and International Cooperation, Municipality of Lecce: “We are glad to take part in Ofidia2. The Municipality of Lecce will work to involve the schools in several activities related to the project. We will realize a contest for kids of the middle school. It will be a way to exploit the potential of this scientific project also to enhance the awareness and participation of young generations on topics highly relevant to our community. For these reasons, we will also realize a communication campaign on wildfire prevention”.

Prof. Giovanni Aloisio ­– CMCC Foundation (Project coordinator): “Ofidia2 primarily capitalizes on what was successfully made by the first Ofidia project. It is an evidence of how high-level scientific research can contribute the dialogue with the stakeholders and with the society. This dialogue is pivotal to find solutions to complex topics that are critical for the Regions that are involved in the Programme. Technological infrastructures, such as the Supercomputing Centers, the advanced scientific knowledge, together with the collaboration with policy-makers and stakeholders, and the use of cutting-edge innovation technologies enhance a process which aims at benefiting the whole society”.

Prof. Stergios Anastasiadis – University of Ioannina, Greece: “The Greek partners are grateful for the support from the Interreg Greece-Italy 0214-2020 programme to approve the OFIDIA2 project. Based on the enormous expertise gathered from OFIDIA1 and the very positive feedback from the participating stakeholders, we are optimistic to deliver improved weather forecasts and even more powerful and flexible tools of high value to the regional and national authorities for the effective prevention and fighting of the forest wildfires in the cross-border area.”

Gianfranco  Gadaleta JS Coordinator: “Ofidia 2 belongs to the 41 projects, funded under the first call of Interreg V-A Greece-Italy Programme. The 41 projects have a total funded budget of 53.600.000 euro and involve 191 partners among Regions, Municipalities, Universities, Chamber of Commerce, Research Centre, located in Puglia and in the 3 Greek Regions that participate to the Programme (Region of Epirus, Region of Ionian Islands and Region of Western Greece”