Presence on the ground
For one week (August 19 to August 25, 2025), a VOST Portugal – Association of Digital Volunteers in Emergency Situations was present at Front V Command Post of the Piódão Fire, installed on São Vicente da Beira. Initially, the team was activated to support the Sector Charlie. With the subsequent change of ANEPC Front V Command Post for the same location, VOST Portugal started to ensure support to all four sectors on this front.
Technology in Decision Support
VOST's contribution focused on the provision of information from open sources, analysis of meteograms, analysis of the evolution of the situation in the area of interest of the fire based on a New Energy Detection Algorithm which is under development in the production of fire propagation simulations based on the Harmonie model, using the VERA platform and the development of a bot for Discord to support VOST Portugal's social media team.
Energy Detection Algorithm (FRP)
This system is a prototype that uses FCI data from the satellite EUMETSAT MeTeoSat Third Generation fire monitoring. The website, the EUMETSAT server data collection and the fire identification algorithm were developed in collaboration between Ronan Paugam (CERTEC-UPC) and Akli Benali (ISA), with the support of a NERO COST Action STSM grant. VOST Portugal is hosting this innovative solution, with the patronage of PT-Server which, once again, did not hesitate to support us with totally free infrastructure.
The algorithm analyzes images collected from each 10 minutes on the Meteosat Third Generation satellite, and calculates the Radiative Fire Power (FRP).
In the Piódão fire, the algorithm proved to be a very reliable and useful tool for field operations, having detected reactivations that had not yet been identified by the operatives.
Operational results
The practical implementation of this system has proven to be key to:
- Detect new fire outbreaks before they are visible on the ground;
- Identify reactivations in areas already under intervention;
- Reinforcing the situational awareness sectoral commands;
- Support strategic decisions in the fight against fire.
Fire Propagation Simulation (VERA)
The VERA system allows simulations to be carried out, using various propagation models, taking into account current weather conditions, terrain orography and critical infrastructure – where present and up-to-date – of the territory. The simulations made on the VERA platform helped decision-makers in defining strategies and predicting the evolution of the fire.
FireWatch
VOST Portugal has developed the FireWatch platform that allows you to create a historical catalogue of photos shared in open sources, with precise geolocation, for fires in Portugal. This platform, in the case of the Piódão fire, served for decision-makers to have more information about the evolution of the fire in various points of the territory.
PyroCast
Based on the protocol in force between ANEPC and VOST Portugal – Association of Digital Volunteers in Emergency Situations, this decision support platform was developed by VOST PT on the basis of the code developed by Marcelo Catalão (FEPC) and the models of the Instituto Superior de Agronomia e UTAD supervised by Akli Benali. This project was supervised by Alexandre Penha, Deputy National Operations of ANEPC.
The platforma produces daily maps for the next 7 days with the following indicators:
- Potential Energy of a Fire
- Intensity of the Line of Fire
- Propagation Speed
This decision support platform was developed to assist in the analysis and monitoring of forest fire risks, providing advanced data analysis and visualization tools to support Civil Protection operational decisions.
FireStatus
To support VOST Portugal’s social media team, a bot for Discord – a platform where VOST Portugal has its operational centre since its inception – was developed. This bot provides varied information about the fires in Portugal, facilitating the dissemination of official information on VOSTPT social networks.
Technology at the service of communities
VOST Portugal's mission is clear: combine state-of-the-art technology with a strength of digital volunteering, creating innovative solutions that support civil protection and other entities involved, and increase the resilience of communities.
The fire of Piódão demonstrated, once again, the importance of put collaborative intelligence at the service of those fighting on the ground.
Thanks
To all the VOSTies who committed to this activation, 24/7 since the beginning of this fire, collecting images from social networks, bridging the gap with Waze teams and giving support to those who were on the ground: You are extraordinary!
We thank Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commanders David Lobato and Rui Conchinha, and their tireless teams, for the way they welcomed us and integrated us into the command post; 2nd Sub-regional Commander for Emergency and Civil Protection José Neves for sharing his extensive experience on the ground; to Commander Tiago Neto of the Castelo Branco Volunteer Firefighters all the support provided; the Municipal Civil Protection Services of Castelo Branco (Amândio Nunes, Rui Palrinhas, Gonçalo Missa) for all care.
To the staff of the Milá restaurant, in São Vicente da Beira, for the cookie cake a great well-haja.
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