AI and drone technologies advance wildfire detection and response

New technological advancements are being developed to combat the increasing challenge of wildfires through artificial intelligence and real-time data integration.

In Austria, Lagebild.one GmbH—a joint venture between DroneCorps and JOANNEUM RESEARCH—is developing a digital platform designed to unify information from drones, sensors, and maps. Expected to be available by 2027, the platform aims to provide emergency services and disaster management organizations with a real-time situational overview using live and thermal aerial imagery. Future developments may include heavy-lift drones capable of delivering extinguishing agents directly to fire sites.

In Germany, the Munich-based startup Ororatech is utilizing thermal satellite data combined with AI to detect wildfires at their earliest stages. By identifying thermal signatures and heat anomalies before visible damage occurs, the technology focuses on converting space-based data into actionable operational planning to limit environmental damage.