Greece’s €20 million satellite investment for wildfire monitoring

Greece’s Ministry of Digital Governance has announced a €20 million investment in a new wildfire monitoring system in collaboration with OroraTech, a thermal intelligence provider, and a consortium of Greek subcontractors.

The system will include ground systems, processing services, and a constellation of thermal imaging satellites to monitor the entire country for wildfires.

This initiative is part of the European Space Agency’s development contract, led by the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and the Hellenic Space Center.

The investment aims to address the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Greece.

Greek Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou stated: “By investing specifically into orbital technology, we are making a real difference in monitoring wildfires that threaten human lives, our ecosystems, and our economy.”

OroraTech’s system is expected to enhance situational awareness by scanning for fires from orbit.

OroraTech’s role and partnerships

OroraTech, founded in 2018 and based in Munich, uses infrared data from satellites to provide wildfire intelligence to government and private industry customers.

The company, along with its Greek partners, secured the contract through an open tender by the European Space Agency to support the Greek National Satellites Space Program.

Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at the European Space Agency, commented: “The capability OroraTech developed through the agency’s funding is a powerful example of space technologies providing immediate and critical benefits here on Earth.”

OroraTech will work closely with several Greek universities and industry 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 building a Greek-based ground station.

Future prospects and local impact

The project will see OroraTech making significant investments in Greece over the coming years, including opening an operations hub in Athens for its space sensor fleet and a development team dedicated to advanced infrared sensing technology.

CEO and CTO of OroraTech, Martin Langer, noted: “The world-class know-how of our Greek partners for thermal sensing is instrumental in providing the best solution for this country.

“Greece will be the first country worldwide to have a national satellite-based wildfire system in place.”

As Greece prepares for another hot summer, the implementation of this system is timely.

In recent years, wildfires have affected around 2 percent of Greece’s total land area.

The country’s rough mountainous terrain and numerous islands make fighting wildfires particularly challenging, necessitating more advanced detection technologies.

Implementation and challenges

The data services provided by OroraTech will be directly connected to Greek emergency services, leveraging the expertise of Greek universities and industries.

This integration is crucial for monitoring fires in remote and mountainous areas where communication is limited.

The advanced detection technologies are expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of wildfire management in Greece.

The collaboration between OroraTech and Greek institutions highlights the importance of combining local expertise with advanced technological solutions.

The success of this project could serve as a model for other countries facing similar wildfire challenges.