Greece Commits €20 Million to Innovative Wildfire Monitoring System

July 5, 2024

Greece’s Ministry of Digital Governance has unveiled a €20 million investment to develop an advanced wildfire monitoring system in partnership with OroraTech, a leader in thermal intelligence, and a consortium of local subcontractors.

This state-of-the-art system will incorporate ground-based infrastructure, processing services, and a constellation of thermal imaging satellites to provide comprehensive wildfire surveillance across Greece.

This project, part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) development contract, is spearheaded by the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and the Hellenic Space Center.

The investment is aimed at tackling the growing threat of wildfires, which have been increasing in both frequency and severity in Greece.

Greek Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, stated, “By leveraging orbital technology, we are significantly enhancing our ability to monitor wildfires that pose risks to human lives, our environment, and our economy.”

OroraTech’s system will improve situational awareness by detecting fires from space.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Munich, OroraTech utilises infrared satellite data to deliver wildfire intelligence to both government and private sector clients.

The company, in collaboration with Greek partners, secured the contract through an open tender by the European Space Agency, supporting Greece’s National Satellites Space Program.

Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA, remarked, “The capabilities developed by OroraTech with our support demonstrate how space technologies can provide immediate, critical benefits on Earth.”

OroraTech will work closely with several Greek academic and industrial partners, including the National Technical University of Athens for data product algorithms, the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens for space sensor development and calibration, Satways Ltd. for product interoperability, and Attisat S.A. for establishing a Greek-based ground station.

Over the coming years, OroraTech plans to make substantial investments in Greece, including setting up an operations hub in Athens for its space sensor fleet and forming a development team focused on advanced infrared sensing technology.

Martin Langer, CEO and CTO of OroraTech, highlighted, “The expertise of our Greek partners in thermal sensing is crucial for delivering the best solutions for Greece. The country will be the first worldwide to implement a national satellite-based wildfire monitoring system.”

As Greece braces for another hot summer, the implementation of this cutting-edge system is particularly timely.

In recent years, wildfires have affected approximately 2 percent of Greece’s land area. The nation’s rugged mountainous regions and numerous islands present unique challenges for wildfire management, underscoring the need for advanced detection technologies.

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