Maximizing the detection and mapping of minimal area burn scars with a multi-payload multi-method automated approach: Application to summer fire seasons in Italy

Two multitemporal techniques based on the consecutive analysis of multispectral data ranging from high-temporal to high-spatial resolution, were implemented into a remote-sensing system dedicated to the quantitative monitoring of wildfires in the Mediterranean Region, operating at low-to-nil supervision levels. The system covers the whole fire remote sensing chain, from accurate hot-spot detection and location to high resolution mapping of burn scars. It operates on strong multi-payload basis, as the first part of the processing chain acts on data acquired by the multispectral geostationary payload SEVIRI, whereas the second was designed to operate switching between data acquired by LEO high resolution payloads TM, ETM+, ASTER, HRVIR and LISS 3, as a function of availability and content.