The project is motivated by the challenging problem of preventing and fighting wildfires in the forests and rural areas of Epirus and Apulia. OFIDIA2 primarily capitalizes on the OFIDIA project of the “2007-2013” programme, yet it covers substantially larger areas in terms of patrolling and monitoring in both regions. The maintenance of the natural environment is crucial due to the competitive advantages that it offers to the above regions in terms of biodiversity, tourist attraction, sustainable development and protection from natural catastrophes. OFIDIA2 proposes a pragmatic approach to improve the operational capacity of the stakeholders to detect and fight forest wildfires. It performs “real time” monitoring through sensor data; provides weather forecasts in the two regions; it develops a fire-behavior projection model; it aims at creating a new wildfires control center building in Apulia. The network will offer real-time environmental monitoring to predict the risks of fire development and the necessary adoption of control strategies. With the help of HD video cameras, wireless sensors networks and drones, the stakeholders will effectively patrol high-danger and remotely located areas.
Water, Food and Land Use, Future Earth, Global Policy, Jobs & Growth.