LifeTec is a project in the scope of the EU Life Programme, with the participation of IPMA, Universidad de Vigo, Dirección Xeral de Calidade Ambiental e Cambio Climático (Meteogalicia), Amtega (Axencia para a Modernización Tecnolóxica) and Retegal.

In the fight against forest fires, early detection is a critical factor, leading to a reduction in the response time. A fast and efficient intervention means a lower risk for human life, to reduce the burned forest area and a decrease of carbon and greenhouse gases emissions.

Forest fires cause a sudden drop of the air humidity and a high increase of the temperature. These changes on the atmospheric conditions lead to a change of the refractive index of the atmosphere that affects the propagation of electromagnetic waves.

Weather radars transmit electromagnetic pulses and receive the waves backscattered from the elements in the surroundings. Measurements of the variations of the phase of backscattered waves allows to estimate the variations in the refractive index and henceforth the changes in temperature and humidity. The weather radar networks already deployed and operational over most Europe may significantly contribute to the early detection of forest fires due to their capability to measure atmospheric refractivity changes, with high temporal and spatial resolution.

The communication systems based on digital radio TETRA (Trans European Trunked Radio), to be developed in this project, may ensure the communications and coordination between the fire-fighting teams.