Copernicus Summer Series - Wildfire Management in Greece [Aug/2024]
Benefits of Copernicus imagery to better assess the extent of wildfires in Greece
Earth Observation (EO) data carry a wealth of information that
can contribute to interpreting geophysical phenomenon. Raw data once
transformed into information can support agents solving problems by supplying
actionable intelligence that reduces the uncertainty of a decision.
Sentinel-2, which is part of Europe’s flagship
EO programme Copernicus, is a wide-swath, high-resolution, multi-spectral
imaging mission, consisting of two twin satellites, Sentinel-2A and
Sentinel-2B. The data from these satellites, which are available under an open
and free data policy, are used to support a variety of services and
applications, including land management, agriculture, forestry, disaster
control, humanitarian relief operations, risk mapping, and security concerns.
An analysis by the European
Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC) was conducted to assess
the benefits derived from Sentinel-2 imagery on the Greek island of Crete, used
by regional authorities to assess the extent and impact of wildfires and
efficiently plan related relief efforts.
This is particularly important as since the 1980s, each decade has
been hotter than the last, with the 7 hottest years ever recorded all occurring
since 2015. An inevitable consequence of such dry and hot conditions is the
proliferation of wildfires. In Greece, a country particularly affected by
extreme heat and wildfires, Sentinel data is being used to prepare for such
disasters and help in alleviating their effects.
The report finds that the use of the Sentinel
data results in:
- Economic benefits, as authorities gain a comprehensive view of the most and least affected areas in the aftermath of a wildfire, allowing for an efficient allocation of public money
- Environmental benefits, since the use of the Sentinel data helps the regional authorities to better understand where and to what extent ecosystems have been affected, implying that efforts to rebuild them can be more rapid and better informed
- Societal benefits, considering that citizens of affected areas benefit from efficiently planned disaster relief efforts as the Sentinel data enables a comprehensive assessment of the damages to local infrastructure, allowing for the resources needed to rebuild it to be distributed efficiently.
The full
report can be accessed in the restricted area (please log in before).