FLIRE

FLIRE is a demonstration project aiming to the development of an integrated Decision Support System (DSS) for both flash floods and forest fires risk assessment and management. The DSS tool will be designed by using state of art tools, technologies and methods and taking into account prevention, adaptation and interaction issues. The final model will be online available to key stakeholders and relevant authorities (local and national) for the combined, effective and efficient floods and fires risk management.

FLIRE’s area of implementation is the peri-urban environment of the Eastern Attica region, more specifically the Rafina river basin (Greece), a typical Mediterranean area extends over approx. 130 km2 with rapid and uncontrolled urbanization. This pilot area is quite prone both to flash floods and forest fires resulting in its gradual ecological degradation, with significant consequences for the almost 5 million inhabitants of Athens.

Main objectives of the DSS development are:

– minimize of the impact of floods and forest fires on human lives, ecosystems and properties

– improve Floods’ prevention level

– improve the Flash flood mitigation

– improve the Forest fires’ prevention level and forests’ protection

– raise awareness on both hazards of flash floods & forest fires and their combined effects in both environmental and socio-economic aspects of Eastern Attica and Athens city.

A report on the current environmental status of the study area, including information on locations vulnerable to floods and forest fires;

Flood and forest fire hazard and risk maps for the study area;

Forest fire and flood risk-management tools that will operate under near real-time conditions and will inform local authorities, stakeholders and the general public of the risk of imminent fires and floods;

A planning tool for flood risk assessment and management in peri-urban environments;

An integrated Decision Support System for combined flood and forest-fire risk management.