REMOTE SENSING AS A TOOL FOR THE ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL DATA APPLIED TO THE STUDY OF FIRES IN ITALY

Abstract

The relation between the vegetation's phenology and summer wildfires in Italy was studied using remate sensing and GIS techniques, in the course of the year 2008. We identified vegetation cover "that can be burned", using a mask based on the CORINE Land Cover product. The vigour of the vegetation was estimated with MODIS images (MODOlKM) available at the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for May, June, July, August and September of 2008. The greenness index called Photosynthetic Reflectivity Index (PRI) and the modal filter "majority" were employed. The occurrence of fires in Italy from May to September 2008 was studied using data from hotspots provided by the Sensor Meteosat Second Generation (MSG-SEVIRI) on a query system developed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). To analyse the relation between the occurrence of fires and the PRI, a database of hotspots was consulted. Cartography was obtained as a result, for monthly PRI during the study period with maps of PRI changes and occurrence of fires. The PRI and detected fires increased from May to August, indicating a strong seasonality and an increased vulnerability of the vegetation to summer fires. The central areas of Italy were most affected by these summer fires.