Belgian wildfire data
collection and analysis system (BELWIDAS)
- funded by
BELSPO
Given the low frequency of wildfires in Belgium, data collection procedures for such events are missing, too slow, involved or of limited scope. Hence, there is no scientific basis to build data-informed risk assessment, prevention and warning systems, or to reveal temporal trends in wildfire statistics in the light of climate change, even though an increase in wildfire frequency and size in temperate regions is projected. In order to increase Belgium’s preparedness in this respect, a reliable system for wildfire registration and analysis, as already in place in most other EU countries, is indispensable.
For that reason, this project has a threefold objective:
- Set up an accurate wildfire database for Belgium
- Obtain a better understanding of wildfire dynamics in Belgium
- Compile up-to-date wildfire risk maps
The starting point is the database of Belgium’s public-safety answering points (PSAPs). From wildfire-related entries, the location of the reported incident is translated into a spatial search region. In the next step, this search region is used to extract a time series of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images spanning a period of at least two weeks centered at the incidence date recorded in the PSAP database. These time series are subsequently fused and fed to a novel, dedicated and validated wildfire detection algorithm, in order to identify true positives and false negatives, and update the wildfire database accordingly. For each entry made in the database, satellite imagery will be used to determine the burnt area, perimeter, affected infrastructure, vegetation type, and additional characteristics of the burnt scar. This information, along with meteorological data, will then be added to the database.
This workflow will first be tested and validated for a series of wildfires that occurred throughout Belgium over the last few years (development phase), after which it will be turned into an operation tool (deployment phase) that will finally be incorporated in the systems of Brandweer België - Sapeurs-Pompiers de Belgique (BB-SPB) in order to arrive at a comprehensive and accurate wildfire database to support wildfire management (operational phase).