European satellite technology helps fight forest fires
The European Space Agency (ESA) is promoting an initiative that could help fight forest fires. A new initiative called �real time management of emergency situations via satellite� (REMSAT) uses satellite technologies to coordinate the emergency services� response and reactions to dangerous situations, allowing them to react more quickly and efficiently to forest fires. A carefully coordinated approach using real-time communication systems is crucial to forest-fire situations, and REMSAT can link command centres with those �in the field�, says ESA. But while newly emerging and existing satellite technologies could help to improve such communications, a gap currently exists between these new technologies and their operational use. Now ESA says the gap can be bridged. REMSAT makes maximum use of existing space technologies (telecommunications, positioning and Earth observation systems, for example) as well as hand-held terminals carried by the firemen, who can communicate with the central emergency management control centres using transportable intermediate scale satellite terminals. REMSAT not only improves communication between fire-fighters, but also provides data, video images and geographical location capabilities, says ESA. It also allows additional background information on the fire area, in the form of satellite imagery, aerial photography and meteorological data. 'REMSAT can be adapted to meet the needs of many other types of emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, exceptionally heavy winter conditions and those involving hazardous materials. It can also be made compatible with various satellite systems currently available'.