12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop

Organized by

12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop

Organized by

The event is built on the previous workshops held in Alcalá de Henares (1995), Luso (1998), Paris (2001), Ghent (2003), Zaragoza (2005), Thessaloniki (2007), Matera (2009), Stresa (2011) Coombe Abbey (2013), Limassol (2015), and Chania (2017).

Special Issue

Remote Sensing of Forest Fire: Data, Science and Operational Applications

Remote sensing technologies have long been considered as a key tool for fire data, science, modelling, management, and monitoring. The most recent developments in computer technology, data processing, artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning approaches, and geospatial data mining techniques, enable advanced dynamic modelling, tools, data integration, and assimilation schemes, and are expected to significantly support and improve fire science and operational applications. Recently, the availability of new sensors from satellite, aerial, drone, and ground, along with the free access to large archives of data, has opened new perspectives for both fire science and applications.
We invite you to submit articles on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

Earth observation (optical, SAR, UAV, and LiDAR) as a tool for data science and operational applications

Advanced geospatial data mining techniques

Integration of satellite, aerial/drone, and in situ observation in the Copernicus Era

Fire disturbance monitoring at multiple spatio-temporal scales

Deep learning approaches for fire science and applications

Advances in remote sensing of forest fire fuel mapping

Data integration for fire and post fire geo-hazards risk mitigation and management

Earth big data for monitoring and mapping fire and post-fire induced risk

Fusion and integration of data and information from multiple sources

Integration of RS with climate and meteorological data and forecasting

New tools and methods for fire monitoring and mitigation strategies

For more information about this Special Issue, please see:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/special_issues/fire_rs

For information on manuscript preparation and related matters, please see the instructions for authors:

http://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/instructions

12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop

Invited speakers

Emilio Chuvieco

Professor of Geography and director of the Environmental Ethics chair at the University of Alcalá, SPAIN.

The lecture will cover the recent developments in the use of RS data for burned are mapping, including both the generation and validation of the products, as well as their use for climate and atmospheric models. Special emphasis will be given to global products, produced from new sensors, including coarse (MODIS, OLCI, SLSTR) a medium spatial resolution (OLI, MSI, SAR).

Antonello Provenzale

Director of the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, CNR, ITALY

In this talk we review the state and trends of wildfires in the Mediterranean area, focusing on the summer burned area. Using an empirical, data-driven model built on the available data from EFFIS and national inventories, we discuss possible future scenarios and show how the model can be used to improve seasonal wildfire forecast. Finally, we discuss the comparison between fire-related remote sensing products and the ground data provided by EFFIS.

Jesus S. Miguel

Senior researcher at the European Commission Joint Research Centre

Although the term wildfires hints on a potential natural cause of the fire, far from human nature, our data show that most of the fires occurring worldwide have a human cause. Over 400 million ha are burnt every year and the number and effect of wildfires is still on the raise, despite the human efforts of fighting their effects by increasing firefighting fleets and means. Climate change is already influencing fire regimes and has recently led to a series of unprecedented wildfires in many regions of the world.

Vincent G. Ambrosia

Senior Research Scientist / Adjunct Faculty Member at California State University

Vince Ambrosia is a Senior Research Scientist / Adjunct Faculty Member at California State University – Monterey Bay, and the NASA Applied Science Associate Program Manager for Wildfire at NASA HQ, responsible for management of a portfolio of projects related to Earth Observations in support of wildland fire management.

WORKSHOP TOPICS

Remote sensing of fire: Data, science and operational applications

Earth Observation technologies have been long considered as a key tool for fire data science, modelling, management, and monitoring. Earth Observation is of unparalleled importance for monitoring the effects of climate change, degradation, fire occurrence, dynamic modelling of fuel structure and fuel moisture models, fire disturbance monitoring at various spatio-temporal scales.

Recently, the availability of new sensors from satellite, aerial, drone, and ground along with the free access to large archives of satellite has opened new perspective in both fire science and applications. Moreover, the most recent developments in computer technology and data processing techniques enable advanced Modelling tools and data assimilation schemes, expected to significantly support fire science and operational applications.

Kalamos fires

CREDIT | http://www.esa.int

Canadian fires

CREDIT | http://www.esa.int

Forest_Fires_SIG_Workshop_Fort_McMurray_wildfires

The workshop will bring together experts in remote sensing, forest managers, researchers, local governments and global organizations to address the key strategic issues of fire data science, modelling, management, and monitoring.

The thematic sessions will include presentations and poster on the use of historical archives and data delivered by the most recent satellite missions, employing big data and time-series for:

Dynamic modelling fire occurrence, fuel structure and fuel moisture models
Application of image processing techniques and machine learning to support fire management
Integration of satellite, airborne, and field sensor for wildfire management
Fire detection and monitoring on multiple scales
Fire behaviour and fire impacts
Burned area, severity estimation and ecological impacts,
Fuel consumption and fuel load estimation

Laboratory and field studies of fire and post-fire residues
Fire emissions estimation and air quality monitoring
wildfire impacts and post-fire treatments.
Exploitation of Big Earth Data and satellite time-series for fire disturbance monitoring
Studies on the impact of climate change on forest fires occurrence and severity;
Contribution of Sentinel missions on forest fire research;
Improved methods of modelling post-fire vegetation trends;
Modelling and Monitoring post fire vegetation recovery

WORKSHOP TOPICS

Remote sensing of fire: Data, science and operational applications

Earth Observation technologies have been long considered as a key tool for fire data science, modelling, management, and monitoring. Earth Observation is of unparalleled importance for monitoring the effects of climate change, degradation, fire occurrence, dynamic modelling of fuel structure and fuel moisture models, fire disturbance monitoring at various spatio-temporal scales.

Recently, the availability of new sensors from satellite, aerial, drone, and ground along with the free access to large archives of satellite has opened new perspective in both fire science and applications. Moreover, the most recent developments in computer technology and data processing techniques enable advanced Modelling tools and data assimilation schemes, expected to significantly support fire science and operational applications.

Kalamos fires

CREDIT | http://www.esa.int

Canadian fires

CREDIT | http://www.esa.int

The workshop will bring together experts in remote sensing, forest managers, researchers, local governments and global organizations to address the key strategic issues of fire data science, modelling, management, and monitoring.

The thematic sessions will include presentations and poster on the use of historical archives and data delivered by the most recent satellite missions, employing big data and time-series for:

Dynamic modelling fire occurrence, fuel structure and fuel moisture models
Application of image processing techniques and machine learning to support fire management
Integration of satellite, airborne, and field sensor for wildfire management
Fire detection and monitoring on multiple scales
Fire behaviour and fire impacts
Burned area, severity estimation and ecological impacts,
Fuel consumption and fuel load estimation

Laboratory and field studies of fire and post-fire residues
Fire emissions estimation and air quality monitoring
wildfire impacts and post-fire treatments.
Exploitation of Big Earth Data and satellite time-series for fire disturbance monitoring
Studies on the impact of climate change on forest fires occurrence and severity;
Contribution of Sentinel missions on forest fire research;
Improved methods of modelling post-fire vegetation trends;
Modelling and Monitoring post fire vegetation recovery

Rosa Lasaponara

CNR-IMAA

IOANNIS Z.GITAS

ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI

Welcome Letter

Speaking on behalf of the organising committee, it is my honour and pleasure to welcome all of you to this international assembly.

The organisation of this event started almost two years ago when Prof. Gitas invited me to organise the next workshop of the EARSeL Special Interest Group on Forest Fires. After a great deal of effort by all members of the organizing committee and the kind contribution by distinguished experts an intensive program, with a large number of excellent lectures and papers has been developed.
The aim of the 12th international workshop is to focus on recent developments related to ‘Remote Sensing of Forest Fires’ related to:

the availability of new sensors,
the free access to large archives of data and satellite imagery, and
recent developments in computer technology and data processing techniques

that have opened new perspectives in both fire science and applications.

This idea clearly links with international programmes of a similar scope, such as the COPERNICUS and the Global Observation of Forest Cover/Land Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) who, together with the Joint Research Center of the European Union and NASA support this event.

Dear guests, allow me to express my sincere appreciation and acknowledgement to all members of the organizing committee and the sponsors (national and international) who made this conference a reality. Once more, on behalf of the local organizing committee I wish you an enjoyable and interesting stay in Rome.

Thank you very much.

12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop

Scientific Committee

Ambrosia Vincent

NASA-AMES, USA

Anaya Jesus Adolfo

University of Medellin, Colombia

Arino Oliver

ESA, EU

Bartalev Sergey

Space Research Institute, Russia

Boschetti Luigi

University of Idaho, USA

Chuvieco Emilio

University of Alcala, Spain

Frost Phillip

CSIR Meraka, South Africa

Gitas Ioannis

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Hadjimitsis Diofantos

Technical Polytechnic University of Cyprus, Cyprus

Jappiot Marielle

IRSTEA, France

Katagis Thomas

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Lasaponara Rosa

IMAA-CNR, Italy

Lynham Tim

Natural Resources Canada, Canada

Mitri George

University of Balamand, Lebanon

Pereira Jose Miguel

University of Lisbon, Portugal

Riano David

CSIC – Instituto de Economía Geografía y Demografía, Spain

Juan de la Riva

University of Zaragoza, Spain

Roy David

University of S. Dakota, USA

San Miguel-Ayanz Jesus

JRC, EU

Stavrakoudis Dimitrios

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Stroppiana Daniela

IREA-CNR, Italy

Tanase Mihai

University of Melbourne, Australia

Tansey Kevin

University of Leicester, UK

Veraverbeke Sander

Vrije University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Yebra Marta

Australian National University, Australia

Stephen Plummer

ESA

Susanne Mecklenburg

ESA

Olivier Arino

ESA

Michael Rast

ESA

Andrea Vajda

FMI

Massimiliano Pasqui

CNR-IBIMET

Carlo Calfapietra

CNR-IBAF

Antonio Loporto

CNR-IRSA

Antonello Provenzale

CNR-IGG

Vassiliki Varela

NCSRD

Mirek Trnka

GCRI

Peter Van Velthoven

KNMI

George Petropulos

ESA

Francesco Sarti

ESA

Mattia Crespi

La Sapienza

Nikos Koutsias

University of Patras

Eufemia Tarantino

Politecnico di Bari

Luciana Ghermandi

Conicet

Cerdan Olivier

BRGM

Vandromme Rosalie

BRGM

Michael Rast

ESA

12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop

CHAIRS

Garick Gutman

NASA

David Roy

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Luigi Boschetti

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

Olivier Arino

ESA