Colombia partners with OroraTech to launch national wildfire detection programme
Iain Hoey
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The satellite partnership changing how Colombia tackles wildfires
Colombia has become the first country in Latin America to introduce a national wildfire detection programme using satellite technology.
The initiative follows a new partnership between the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and OroraTech, supported by local representative GeoSpatial.
According to OroraTech, the pilot programme deploys the company’s Wildfire Solution (WFS) platform, which combines thermal satellite imagery with artificial intelligence to detect and track wildfires in near real time.
The system will deliver continuous monitoring across Colombia to help protect ecosystems, shorten emergency response times and reduce risks to affected communities.
Ana Milena Prada, Deputy Director for Risk Knowledge at UNGRD, said: “With this partnership, Colombia strengthens its risk knowledge capabilities through investment in a modern wildfire detection and monitoring infrastructure that will help protect our population, environment and biodiversity.
“It also enhances the work of institutions by enabling early threat identification and more timely response, even in the most remote areas of the country.”
Training and implementation across Colombia
More than 700 members of the National Disaster Risk Management System have been trained to use the WFS platform.
OroraTech’s Customer Success team led in-person training in Bogotá in May 2025, delivering practical sessions based on real case studies tailored to local wildfire conditions.
UNGRD has also conducted over 15 virtual and in-person sessions nationwide to support regional adoption and improve operational understanding of the platform.
Protecting biodiversity and building capacity
Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, with nearly half its land located in the Amazon rainforest.
The national WFS platform will centralise wildfire intelligence, delivering alerts and data to emergency services, park rangers and government agencies.
Martin Langer, CEO and CTO of OroraTech, said: “We are protecting the Amazon rainforest for the future in ways that weren’t possible before deploying our technology.
“We are supporting and partnering with UNGRD to roll out our capabilities nationwide, marking a milestone in wildfire management for Latin America.”
The WFS platform integrates data from more than 30 public and private satellites.
It delivers low-latency alerts and maps emerging fires to create a real-time common operating picture for emergency coordination.
This enables faster prioritisation of threats, fewer false alarms and improved response planning across affected areas.
Reinforcing national disaster management systems
By introducing this programme, Colombia has strengthened its National Disaster Risk Management System with new tools for prevention and early detection.
The collaboration positions the country as a regional leader in space-based environmental protection and wildfire mitigation.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
This development holds practical value for wildfire management agencies, emergency response coordinators and disaster risk managers.
The adoption of a satellite-based early detection system introduces a model for integrating real-time thermal data and AI analytics into operational decision-making.
For professionals involved in wildfire control and environmental risk management, Colombia’s programme demonstrates how space technology can be scaled to national-level systems.
It also provides a case study in capacity building, showing how local authorities and emergency responders can be trained to use complex digital tools effectively.
Fire and safety professionals monitoring regional cooperation or seeking to apply similar detection technologies elsewhere may find Colombia’s partnership with OroraTech a relevant example of international technology transfer in disaster risk reduction.