Fire Resist project tests AI drones for wildfire combat in Portugal

The Fire Resist project, an initiative involving a consortium of eight entities led by Drivetel (a Greengray Group company), is launching a pilot program to combat wildfires using artificial intelligence and drone technology. With an investment of 9.8 million euros, the project will be tested across approximately 6,000 hectares in the Serra do Marão region of Portugal.

The system operates in four stages, beginning with detection via forest surveillance towers and intelligent sensors. These sensors collect data that is analyzed by AI algorithms to distinguish potential fire starts from environmental factors like fog. Once a fire is identified, alerts are sent to civil protection and firefighters.

In response to an alert, autonomous GPS-guided drone swarms can be activated to transport and apply up to 50 kilograms of fire retardant per unit. This technology aims to support intervention during the initial stages of a fire, bridging the gap between detection and the mobilization of traditional firefighting resources.