Application of Drones in Forest Fire Protection - Basic Strategies for the Republic of Serbia

Abstract

In the last two decades, there have been more forest fires than ever due to climate change. These fires affect different continents and countries around the world, including the Republic of Serbia. As forest fires have an extremely negative impact on people and the environment, different strategies are being developed to fight forest fires that include the use of modern technologies, based on information technology and artificial intelligence. One of the contemporary technologies that stand out as an important tool for fighting forest fires are unmanned aerial vehicles, which are commonly called drones. Their use is diverse and many ways of implementation can be applied in the Republic of Serbia.
By applying the SWOT and TOWS matrix, four key strategies are defined, which include the production of drones, improving the technological capabilities of existing units and the situational awareness system, as well as raising public awareness of the danger of forest fires. Key elements in the further development of strategies can also be defined: prevention and monitoring of fires, building awareness among citizens about the dangers of forest fires and the benefits of using drones, as well as recognizing the technological and human capacities for the development of drones for actual firefighting.