Satellite maps to monitor fires in Spain

26 July 2023

Telespazio Ibérica is to set up an emergency cartography service for the Cartographic and Geographical Institute of Catalonia (Instituto Cartográfico y Geográfico de Cataluña, ICGC) with a view to fighting fires faster and more effectively using satellite maps.

As part of the contract signed with ICGC, Telespazio Ibérica will, in particular, provide all emergency services in Catalonia with daily detailed maps in near real time, using and combining optical and radar data from the Sentinels of the European Copernicus constellation and from BlackSky satellites. 

Through the Telespazio Ibérica service, the fire fighters, police and civil protection agencies of Catalonia will be able to better monitor fires, adapting containment and rescue operations, and anticipating their evolution.

The ICGC initiative aims to boost the effectiveness of operations so as to deal with the recent increase in forest fires, especially at a time of very high temperatures, such as summer.

Moreover, for Telespazio Ibérica the collaboration with the ICGC confirms its commitment to protect the planet, fight the effects of climate change, promote sustainability and protect biodiversity through the use of innovative space technologies promoted by the entire Telespazio Group.

“This technology, developed internally by Telespazio, is essential because it provides a fundamental tool to enable emergency services to make immediate decisions and fight fires faster and more effectively, reducing damage, saving lives and minimising economic losses.”

Carlos Fernández de la Peña, Managing Director of Telespazio Ibérica.

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