Constant monitoring of the woods to prevent fires is now the mandatory paradigm to protect the environment and landscape of Montiferru, to avoid reliving the tragedy of 4 years ago.
Today, innovative technologies detect flames at birth and immediately raise the alarm for rescue: they are the Dryad sensors, developed by the German company of the same name, which are able to immediately intercept combustion, not visible to the human eye, and send the data to the artificial intelligence system that promptly alerts the fire services.
About twenty of these sophisticated detectors have been installed in the woods of the mountain village of San Leonardo , which was miraculously saved from the flames of 2021. They were donated by Vodafone Business in collaboration with Extreme E, and with the logistical coordination of the MEDSEA Foundation of Cagliari .
Strategically positioned no more than 100 meters from each other, they cover an area of several hectares of forest. Using IoT (Internet of Things) technology, they are smoke sensors capable of detecting a wide range of environmental changes, from heat to humidity, from steam to temperature. Connected to a Tree Growth Monitor sensor developed by Vodafone Business and installed in the same area, these sensors are able to increase the accuracy of data collection over the area. A sophisticated data collection system that has been tested in real-world conditions to verify the readiness and effectiveness of the detection system.
With this ultra-technological system it is now possible to instantly identify a potential fire at birth and allow the rescue machine to intervene promptly and in a geolocalized way. The tests carried out have demonstrated positive results : after a few minutes, the system sent numerous alerts.
“Technologies such as sensors, IoT and AI and others are becoming increasingly essential to address climate change scenarios that put us in a permanent state of alert,” explains Carlo Poddi , forestry doctor and head of MEDSEA ground reforestation activities. “These tools enable a more effective response and adaptation to the changing conditions that threaten our ecosystems. When working on reforestation projects, it is essential to also intervene on prevention, to reduce reaction times and avoid situations of this magnitude,” adds Poddi.
The regional civil protection is very interested in this technology: it is testing a fire detection system with drones and is exploring the cross-detection of sensors - drones. The former detect the presence of a potential fire, the latter are able to provide more information on the size and characteristics of the fire, even before human intervention, which however remains essential to put out the flames.
