Introducing GIS-based simulation tools to support rapid response in wildland fire fighting

Abstract

Once a forest fire is detected, decision makers have to evaluate the situation in order to mobilize all the required resources in the most efficient way. This work presents how a GIS-based simulation tool provides valuable information to the decision makers, so they can trigger rapid and efficient instructions to the individual brigades and fire fighters. The capabilities of the tool allow running independent simulations under hypothetical situations and what-if scenarios, so decision makers can analyze the impact of different actions on a virtual scenario. © 2012 WIT Press.