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:
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.
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.
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
12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop
IOANNIS Z.GITAS
ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI
12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG WorkshopWelcome 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.
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
Garick Gutman
NASA
David Roy
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Luigi Boschetti
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
Olivier Arino
ESA
Emilio Chuvieco
UNIVERSITY OF ALCALA
Vincent Ambrosia
NASA
Ioannis Z. Gitas
ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI
Rosa Lasaponara
CNR – IMAA
Antonello Provenzale
CNR – IGG
Rosa Lasaponara
CNR-IMAA
Ambrocia Vincent
NASA-AMES, USA
Gitas Ioannis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Afflitto Nicola
CNR-IMAA
Angelo Aromando
CNR-IMAA
Cardettini Gianfranco
CNR-IMAA
Santarsiere Margherita
CNR-IMAA
Stephen Plummer
ESA
Susanne Mecklenburg
ESA
Carmen Fattore
Registration
Early registration with reduced fees is mandatory for authors of oral and poster contributions
(September 6, 2019)
Otherwise their contributions will be removed from the programme. The fee includes a copy of the abstract book, coffee breaks, light launches, Icebreaker Reception, and Workshop Dinner.
Registration Fees
Full workshop
- EARLY (before 15.09.2019)
- EARSeL members
- Non-EARSeL members
- Young Scientist (u. 32 years) EARSeL members
- Young Scientist (u. 32 years) Non-EARSeL members
- EARLY (before 15.09.2019)
- 360 €
- 470 €
- 200 €
- 250 €
- STANDARD (after 15.09.2019)
- 430 €
- 560 €
- 240 €
- 300 €
- ACCOMPANYING PERSONS
- 150 €
- 150 €
- 150 €
- 150 €
Registration Fees
Day Ticket
- EARLY (before 15.09.2019)
- EARSeL members
- Non-EARSeL members
- Young Scientist (u. 32 years) EARSeL members
- Young Scientist (u. 32 years) Non-EARSeL members
- EARLY (before 15.09.2019)
- 200 €
- 250 €
- 110 €
- 140 €
- STANDARD (after 15.09.2019)
- 230 €
- 300 €
- 130 €
- 160 €
- ACCOMPANYING PERSONS
- 150 €
- 150 €
- 150 €
- 150 €
12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop
Registration
Early registration with reduced fees is mandatory for authors of oral and poster contributions
Otherwise their contributions will be removed from the programme.
The fee includes a copy of the abstract book, coffee breaks, light launches, Icebreaker Reception and Workshop Dinner
Registration Fees
Full workshop
- EARLY (before 15.09.2019)
- EARSeL members
- Non-EARSeL members
- Young Scientist (under 32 years) EARSeL members
- Young Scientist (under 32 years) Non-EARSeL members
- EARLY (before 15.09.2019)
- 360 €
- 470 €
- 200 €
- 250 €
- STANDARD (after 15.09.2019)
- 430 €
- 560 €
- 240 €
- 300 €
- ACCOMPANYING PERSONS
- 150 €
- 150 €
- 150 €
- 150 €
Registration Fees
Day Ticket
- EARLY (before 15.09.2019)
- EARSeL members
- Non-EARSeL members
- Young Scientist (under 32 years) EARSeL members
- Young Scientist (under 32 years) Non-EARSeL members
- EARLY (before 15.09.2019)
- 200 €
- 250 €
- 110 €
- 140 €
- STANDARD (after 15.09.2019)
- 230 €
- 300 €
- 130 €
- 160 €
- ACCOMPANYING PERSONS
- 150 €
- 150 €
- 150 €
- 150 €
Remote sensing for forest fire
The abstract submission
Early registration with reduced fees is mandatory for authors of oral and poster contributions (September 6,2019).
Participants interested in presenting their recent work, either through an oral or a poster presentation, must submit an abstract.
The abstract should be written in English, 500-800 words including one figure and the authors should choose at least one topic from the list of topics the symposium is addressing.
The submission should be made through the email address: earsel_fire_conf@imaa.cnr.it completing the submission form that requires the text of the abstract in plain text, as well as in an editable file format.
Please use this template for the abstract format.
Remote sensing for forest fire
The abstract submission
Early registration with reduced fees is mandatory for authors of oral and poster contributions (September 6,2019).
Participants interested in presenting their recent work, either through an oral or a poster presentation, must submit an abstract.
The abstract should be written in English, 500-800 words including one figure and the authors should choose at least one topic from the list of topics the symposium is addressing.
The submission should be made through the email address: earsel_fire_conf@imaa.cnr.it completing the submission form that requires the text of the abstract in plain text, as well as in an editable file format.
Please use this template for the abstract format.
Training | 12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop
IV ESA EARSEL CNR SCHOOL
Organized by
On the occasion of the conference 12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop a training will be held on the application of active and passive remote sensing techniques for fire research. The training course will take place from 30 September to 1 October. It will focus on the use of active and passive Earth Observation (EO) Technologies for fire monitoring.
EO has 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.
The training is intended for early career researchers, students, phD students and young professionals from European institutions and Canada with background in Remote Sensing and working in topics related to wildfire. Applicants from other countries are welcome to apply subject to availability of spaces. The official language of the training course is English.
No participation fees will be charged for the training. Participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation costs.
Costs
The training is free of charge for all participants.
Coffee breaks will be provided by ESA-CNR- EARSeL organization.
Participants are expected to cover all other expenses related to their
participation (travel cost, accommodation, lunches etc.)
Venue
Training Room 9007 (Building 9), ESA ESRIN, Largo Galileo Galilei, 1, 00044 Frascati RM, Italy
How to get to ESRIN: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/
Registration
To register for the course, please send an email with a curriculum and covering letter to rosa.lasaponara@cnr.it and Amalia.Castro.Gomez@esa.int or you can complete the appropriate form.
The event will be held prior to the workshop “Advances in Remote Sensing for Forest fire”, and registration for the workshop is not a prerequisite to attend the training.
Registration deadline
6 Septemberth 2019
Notification of acceptance
12 Septemberth 2019
Note
EARSeL / CNR / ESA have the right to receive and analyse the CV’s of the candidates in order to make the selection. Thus, the candidates must authorise thes entities in writing and signing the letter of consent into your CV:
“I …name & surname… hereby agree with processing of my personal data by the EARSeL / CNR / ESA experts for the purposes of selection of participants for the IV ESA EARSEL CNR SCHOOL taking place in Rome from 30/09 to 01/10 2019″.
Timetables | Activities |
---|---|
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration |
09:00 – 09:15 | Opening Ceremony Speaker: ESA – EARSeL – CNR |
10:00 – 11:00 | An Overview of remote sensing for Forest fire Speaker: Rosa Lasaponara CNR-IMAA and Emilio Chuvieco Alcala University |
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break |
11:30 – 12:00 | Theory: Algorithm for automated burned area mapping with High resolution data Speaker: Dimitris Stavrakoudis |
12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch Break |
13:00 – 14:45 | Exercise (to be confirmed): Burned area mapping with S2 (SNAP) Speaker: RUS |
14:45 – 15:15 | Theory (to be confirmed): Reminders of SAR basics. Discussion on challenges of S1 for Fire applications Speaker: ESA / CNR/EARSeL |
15:15 – 15:30 | Coffee Break |
15:30 – 16:30 | Theory: Soil Organic Matter for S1 and S2 Speaker: Rosa Lasaponara / Maria Danese |
16:30 – 17:00 | Exercise (to be confirmed): Soil moisture before a fire (CCI toolbox and SMOS datasets) Speaker: ESA |
17:00 – 17:30 | Discussion |
17:30 – 19:00 | Ice breaker |
Timetables | Activities |
---|---|
09:00 – 10:00 | Theory: Fire emissions: Sentinel- based monitoring Speaker: Maria Danese / Antonio Pepe/ Dimitris Stavrakoudis |
10:00 – 11:00 | Exercise: Active fire mapping with S3 ( SNAP) Speaker: RUS |
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffe Break |
11:30 – 12:30 | Exercise (to be confirmed): Aerosol monitoring with Sentinel-5P Speaker: RUS |
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break |
13:30 – 15:00 | Theory and practical exercise: Satellite Time Series Analysis Speaker: Maria Danese / Antonio Pepe/ Dimitris Stavrakoudis |
15:00 – 15:30 | Coffee Break |
15:30 – 16:15 | Exercise (to be confirmed): EOBrowser Wildfire case study (S2 and S5-P) Speaker: ESA |
16:15 – 16:30 | Discussion |
17:30 – 18:00 | Closing & Feedback |
Remote sensing for forest fire
IV ESA EARSEL CNR SCHOOL
On the occasion of the conference 12th EARSeL Forest Fires SIG Workshop a training will be held on the application of active and passive remote sensing techniques for fire research. The training course will take place from 30 September to 1 October. It will focus on the use of active and passive Earth Observation (EO) Technologies for fire monitoring.
EO has 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.
The training is primarily intended to provide a practical introduction to the processing of Sentinel satellite data with particular reference to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data for Remote sensing of forest fires. Ideally participants would have some background in remote sensing and data analysis, but the course assumes no prior knowledge of SAR. The training will take place in English.
Costs
The training is free of charge for all participants.
Coffee breaks will be provided by ESA-CNR- EARSeL organization.
Participants are expected to cover all other expenses related to their
participation (travel cost, accommodation, lunches etc.)
Venue
Training Room 9007 (Building 9), ESA ESRIN, Largo Galileo Galilei, 1, 00044 Frascati RM, Italy
How to get to ESRIN: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/
Registration
To register for the course, please send an email with a curriculum and covering letter to rosa.lasaponara@cnr.it and Amalia.Castro.Gomez@esa.int or you can complete the appropriate form.
The event will be held prior to the workshop “Advances in Remote Sensing for Forest fire”, and registration for the workshop is not a prerequisite to attend the training.
Registration deadline
6 Septemberth 2019
Notification of acceptance
12 Septemberth 2019
Note
EARSeL / CNR / ESA have the right to receive and analyse the CV’s of the candidates in order to make the selection. Thus, the candidates must authorise thes entities in writing and signing the letter of consent into your CV:
“I …name & surname… hereby agree with processing of my personal data by the EARSeL / CNR / ESA experts for the purposes of selection of participants for the IV ESA EARSEL CNR SCHOOL taking place in Rome from 30/09 to 01/10 2019″.
Timetables | Activities |
---|---|
09:00 – 10:00 | Theory: Fire emissions: Sentinel- based monitoring Speaker: Maria Danese / Antonio Pepe/ Dimitris Stavrakoudis |
10:00 – 11:00 | Exercise: Active fire mapping with S3 ( SNAP) Speaker: RUS |
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffe Break |
11:30 – 12:30 | Exercise (to be confirmed): Aerosol monitoring with Sentinel-5P Speaker: RUS |
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break |
13:30 – 15:00 | Theory and practical exercise: Satellite Time Series Analysis Speaker: Maria Danese / Antonio Pepe/ Dimitris Stavrakoudis |
15:00 – 15:30 | Coffee Break |
15:30 – 16:15 | Exercise (to be confirmed): EOBrowser Wildfire case study (S2 and S5-P) Speaker: ESA |
16:15 – 16:30 | Discussion |
17:30 – 18:00 | Closing & Feedback |
Accomodations
As regards the Hotel, we would suggest some hotels very close to the meeting location
Segui un collegamento aggiunto manuale
Ateneo Garden Palace
4*
Via dei Salentini 1/3
http://www.ateneorome.com
+39 (0)6 444 00 42
Segui un collegamento aggiunto manuale
Hotel Royal Court
4*
Via dei Salentini 1/3
http://www.ateneorome.com
+39 (0)6 444 00 42
Segui un collegamento aggiunto manuale
Hotel Laurentia
3*
Largo degli Osci, 65
http://www.hotellaurentia.com
+39 (0)6 4450218
Segui un collegamento aggiunto manuale
Hotel Des Artistes
3*
Via Villafranca 20
http://www.hoteldesartistes.com
+39 (0)6 445 43 65
Segui un collegamento aggiunto manuale
Best Western Globus
3*
Viale Ippocrate, 119
http://www.globushotel.com/
+39 (0)6 445 70 01
Meal preferences
Please let us know if you are some meal preferences
Dr Rosa Lasaponara (CNR-IMAA)
LPI SERV_FORFIRE PROJECT
Istituto di metodologie per l’analisi ambientale (IMAA)
Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche (CNR)
C.da S. Loja, Zona industriale
85050 Tito Scalo (PZ)