Innovative algorithms and methodologies developed in the geocomputational science field have proved to be useful in analysing spatially distributed natural hazards and ongoing phenomena such as wildfires. Moreover, considering the fast-growing availability of high digital geo-referenced data, it is important to promote methods and new tools for their study, especially for large-scale analysis. A new exciting challenge is to convert available datasets into meaningful and valuable information.
This session aims to bring together wildfire scientists, researchers of various geo-environmental disciplines, economists, managers, people responsible for territorial and urban planning, and policymakers. The main goal is to improve the understanding of the wildfire regime and to discuss new strategies to mitigate the disastrous effects of wildfires. We welcome empirical studies, new and innovative technologies, theories, models, and strategies for fire research, seeking especially to identify and characterize the spatial-temporal patterns of wildfires.
Research topics include, but are not limited, to the following:
• development of methodologies based on expert knowledge and data-driven approaches, for the recognition, modelling and prediction of structured patterns in wildfires;
• pre- and post-fire assessment: wildfire incidence mapping and spatial distribution; wildfire severity and damages; wildfire risk management;
• long-term wildfires patterns and trends: relation between wildfires and global changes such as climate and land use/ land cover changes;
• wildfire spread models, ranging from case studies to long-term climatological assessments;
• post-fire vegetation recovery and vegetation phenology.
Wildfires represent a hazardous and harmful phenomenon to people and the environment, especially in populated areas where the primary cause of ignition is related to human activities. This has motivated governments to develop spatio-temporal datasets and to produce risk and prognostic maps. A key tool in this respect is to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of wildfires and to understand their relationships with the surrounding environmental, climatological and socio-economic factors.
In this session, we aim to improve the understanding of the fire regime and to promote new strategies to mitigate the disastrous effects of wildfires. We welcome all the interesting and relevant oral and poster presentations we received, and we are glad to announce you two solicited authors’ work on fire management and on impacts of wildfires.
We hope that our session attracts wildfire scientists, researchers of various geo-environmental disciplines, economists, managers, people responsible for territorial and urban planning, and policymakers. And that together we can contribute with knowledge in a world where regions are burning with epic breadth and intensity.
