In a Nutshell
- The Greek Ministry of Digital Governance announced a €20M investment in four thermal satellites and a wildfire system.
- The deal is sealed with the German thermal intelligence provider OroraTech.
- The project will be executed together with Greek subcontractors. The development contract will be implemented by the European Space Agency and led by the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and the Hellenic Space Center.
Get the Details
OroraTech, founded in 2018, is a company, which utilizes infrared satellite data to deliver wildfire intelligence to both government and private sector clients.
OroraTech will develop a comprehensive wildfire management system. This will include ground-based systems and processing services, along with a constellation of thermal imaging satellites specifically designed to monitor the entire country for wildfires.
OroraTech will connect its data services directly to Greek emergency services. Partnering with the National Technical University of Athens, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Satways Ltd., and Attisat S.A., OroraTech will develop algorithms, advance space sensor technology, ensure product interoperability, and build a ground station in Greece.
CEO and CTO Martin Langer of OroraTech explained that Greece will be the first country worldwide to have a National satellite-based wildfire system in place.
Over the next few years, OroraTech plans to make substantial investments in Greece by establishing an operations hub in Athens, as well as assembling a development team focused on advanced infrared sensing technology.
Why It Matters
Forest fires are a determining factor in environmental transformation for a wide variety of global ecosystems.
A significant rise in burnt areas was recorded during the summer of 2023, predominantly impacting the Mediterranean region, as reported by EFFIS. In terms of total burnt surface area, 2023 ranked as the fourth worst year since 2000.
In this analysis, The Recursive explores why the adoption of wildfire prevention technologies is still slow and how to tackle the issue.
In Their Own Words
“By investing specifically into orbital technology, we are making a real difference in monitoring wildfires that threaten human lives, our ecosystems, and our economy,” claims Greek Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou.
“The capability OroraTech developed through the agency’s funding is a powerful example of space technologies providing immediate and critical benefits here on Earth,” comments the Director of Earth Observation Programmes at the European Space Agency, Simonetta Cheli.
