H2020 GEO-SAFE Project: Geospatial-based environment for optimization systems addressing fire emergencies
- Type Project
- Status Filled
- Execution 2016 -2020
- Assigned Budget 1.080.000,00 €
- Scope Europeo
- Main source of financing H2020
- Project website Proyecto GEO-SAFE
Description
The GEO SAFE project aims to create a network that allows both regions to exchange knowledge, ideas, and experiences, thereby advancing knowledge about forest fires and developing innovative methods for effective fire management. More specifically, the GEO SAFE project will focus on developing tools that will enable the establishment of an integrated decision-support system that optimizes resources.
Description of activities
1. Knowledge Creation: Several mathematical and computational models have been developed, including: 1) a model for controlled or prescribed burning that takes into account environmental aspects to reduce fire risk; 2) models for fire spread using data collected from historical fires; 3) a theoretical model for the firefighter problem in initial attack, multiple ignitions, and resource allocation; 4) a model for resource allocation related to asset protection; 5) an urban-scale agent-based evacuation model that includes the interaction of pedestrians, vehicles, and wildfire spread; 6) a model for resource allocation in supported evacuation; 7) a deep learning model to assess fire ignition risk. In addition, data on historical wildfires were collected and analyzed to develop case studies for model and scenario testing for fuel management, firebreak placement, and resource allocation for initial attack and the protection of life and property. Data was collected on the human response to wildfires and how this affects evacuation decisions. 2. Knowledge Sharing: Knowledge sharing was facilitated through the successful delivery of: 222 secondments by European partners involving 17 European and 3 Australian organizations; 33 deliverables; 10 workshops; and 1 conference. 3. Dissemination and Communication: A total of 107 journal/conference articles or technical reports, 35 open lectures, and 16 conference/workshop presentations were delivered. The estimated number of people reached is: 9,735 in the scientific community; 340 in industry; 6,100 members of the general public; 750 in civil society; 635 policymakers; and 633,606 through social media. 4. Skills Development: 107 researchers and 49 practitioners from 17 organizations gained knowledge on wildfire issues. Twenty-one doctoral students were associated with GEO-SAFE, 17 of whom completed secondments. Of these, six completed their doctorates, two submitted their dissertations, and nine continued their doctoral studies. All researchers gained invaluable experience and knowledge through close interaction with end-users, which facilitated a focused direction for their research, thereby enhancing its impact. End-users also developed an understanding of the capabilities of advanced modeling tools and collaborated on their development.
Contextual description
The EU and Australia are prone to destructive wildfires that affect thousands of square kilometers each year, causing significant human, economic, and ecological losses. Furthermore, the annual fire season in both regions is worsening, as are the associated human and economic costs. Collaboration between European and Australian researchers and firefighters allows them to acquire new knowledge and develop informatics tools to facilitate wildfire management. Understanding wildfires allows society to better address the risks posed and, therefore, protect lives, infrastructure, and the environment. It is critical that European fire managers have the opportunity to develop their wildfire skills through knowledge exchange with Australian firefighting organizations and researchers from different disciplines. The development of informatics and training tools to facilitate wildfire management will ultimately result in reduced losses and better use of resources. GEO-SAFE has three main objectives: the creation of knowledge on wildfires; the exchange of knowledge between European and Australian academics and firefighters; and the development of the skills of researchers specialized in the development of firefighting tools. Specific objectives include: 1. Knowledge creation: 1. Develop tools (e.g., dynamic hazard mapping, fire spread, fire suppression, evacuation, etc.) to support decision-making and enable optimal mitigation, response, and resource deployment during wildfires. 2. Understand how people behave when faced with a wildfire and how this affects evacuation decisions. 3. Understand end-user requirements and provide a means of testing models and methodologies. 4. Understand relevant management processes and develop training tools to facilitate the implementation of proposed management solutions. 2. Technical knowledge exchange: Create a research and development network through secondments and workshops between universities, laboratories, and firefighting organizations in Australia and Europe. 3. Skills development: Train doctoral students and postdoctoral scientists, and train professional staff located in firefighting organizations. While the frequency and size of wildfires worldwide are increasing, increasing the threat to human life, property, and the environment, much can be achieved through risk reduction and mitigation. GEO-SAFE has demonstrated, through advances in hazard mapping, decision-making models for prevention and mitigation, and evacuation planning tools, that society is not defenseless against the devastating power of wildfires. With these tools and methods, decisive action can be taken to reduce the consequences of wildfires long before they break out. However, greater financial and intellectual investment is essential to realize these promising prospects.
Objectives
In the EU and Australia, thousands of square kilometers of forests and other lands burn due to wildfires every year. These fires cause significant economic and ecological losses and often human casualties. Both the EU and Australian governments recognize the crucial need to improve wildfire management and containment. Scientists from different fields, both in the EU and Australia, have already developed methods and models to improve the management and decision-making process during wildfire preparedness and response. This project, called the Geospatially Based Environment for Optimization Systems Addressing Fire Emergencies (GEO SAFE), aims to create a network that will allow the two regions to exchange knowledge, ideas, and experiences, thereby driving progress in knowledge about wildfires and the related development of innovative methods for efficiently addressing them. More specifically, the GEO SAFE project will focus on developing tools that enable the establishment of an integrated decision-support system, optimizing resources during the response phase. This will include: Developing a dynamic risk map of a region with respect to the possibility of a wildfire. This task will include data collection (satellite and remote sensing), risk analysis, and the development of a tool that allows for fire extent forecasting and, in particular, predicting fire and risk evolution during the response phase. Designing and testing a resource allocation tool for the response phase using dynamic risk mapping. One of the problems to be considered will be the allocation of resources to secure key locations (schools, hospitals, etc.) given time constraints. Problems will be identified through connections with end-users, and proposed solutions will be tested on simulated data. Developing analyses of relevant management processes, as well as training tools to facilitate the implementation of such a solution.
Results
Neural network models were developed that demonstrated improved predictive accuracy and cartographic quality for predicting daily wildfire probability maps. A good understanding of human behavior in response to wildfires and fire evacuation was gained. A large-scale pedestrian evacuation model was integrated with wildfire traffic and spread models. Efficient algorithms were designed to solve general problems such as fuel management, evacuation, firebreak location, and fire suppression. These developments have surpassed the state of the art, enabling decision-makers and practitioners to better plan prescribed burns, identify firebreak locations, allocate resources for the initial attack, and protect lives and property. A significant long-term impact of GEO-SAFE has been the establishment of close contact between wildfire researchers from diverse disciplines and the end users of the research: firefighters and incident commanders from Australia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The collaboration between these researchers and end-users will continue beyond the duration of the project. The knowledge and data generated by GEO-SAFE (107 publications) will also have an impact on the rapidly developing field of wildfire research. The most important and lasting impact of the GEO-SAFE project is the number of young scientists it has trained: 21 PhD students. These publications, their wide dissemination, and the new generation of scientists that GEO-SAFE has trained will open up new lines of research and help improve the safety of people, property, and the environment in the future. Economic: The advances in modeling technology achieved by GEO-SAFE will contribute to financial savings for public firefighting organizations in Europe and elsewhere, and to reducing losses caused by wildfires. Professional and professional services: Contributions are made to improve management processes, firefighter training programs, and wildfire control training. This is achieved through knowledge exchange between firefighters and researchers. Social: The scientific knowledge acquired and the modeling tools developed, once fully exploited through intellectual property in future projects, will ultimately protect human lives, infrastructure, livestock, the environment, and other natural resources.
Coordinators
- UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH
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