Spanish satellite telecommunications operator Hispasat is leading an innovative project that will improve satellite communications used to help put out forest fires, especially in times of drought.

The IGNIS (Integral Communications System to fight forest fires, in English) project has finished work on the development of a solution that combines satellite communications with the use of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The ultimate goal of the project is to increase the level of safety for those involved in fighting forest fires.

Through the use of Hispasat’s satellite communications, the system transmits localisation data and video obtained from the UAV to command centres in real time. This is made possible by a network of satellite communications and signals which provide more precise information about the evolution and movement of the fire, thus reducing unnecessary risks for firefighters and other emergency response personnel.

The company explains that in this way, and thanks to work carried out on this project, fighting forest fires will be more efficient and safer in the future. Those helping to fight fires will now have more reliable realtime data about the behaviour of the fire.

This effort originated from the conclusions drawn by an R&D project in which Hispasat also participated called ‘Prometeo’, which analysed parameters and processes for satellite data tele detection. It also investigated new technologies and telecommunication architectures for nocturnal firefighting.