The Ionian arc of Apulia is now protected by an advanced early fire detection system, operating 24/7 thanks to FLIR’s high-sensitivity thermal cameras, and is a synergy of innovation and environmental protection, designed to prevent disasters before they take hold.
The Ionian arc of Apulia is a region rich in history, stunning coastal landscapes, and ancient cultural traditions that reflect the harmony between nature and civilization. However, it is also particularly vulnerable to wildfires, especially during the summer season when high temperatures, dry vegetation, and increased tourist density heighten the risk. Preventing and managing fire hazards is therefore a top priority to safeguard the environment, biodiversity, and the safety of both local communities and the many visitors who choose this beautiful area for their holidays.
To mitigate fire risks, the Apulia Region has implemented an Automatic Fire Outbreak Detection and Alert System. This system uses state-of-the-art, highly reliable technologies to detect fire outbreaks both preventively (detecting early warning signs) and during emergency situations, operating 24 hours a day and in all environmental conditions.
Following a successful initial deployment that helped monitor the natural environment of the Alta Murgia National Park, the early fire detection system has been expanded to protect the most valuable areas of the Ionian arc of Apulia. It uses the same core technologies, particularly FLIR’s high-sensitivity thermal cameras.
At the heart of the early fire detection system are FLIR PT-Series dual-sensor thermal cameras. These combine a thermal sensor and a visible light sensor on a high-speed, high-precision pan/tilt platform capable of continuously scanning the area for even the slightest signs of abnormal and potentially dangerous heat.
The cameras are mounted on elevated monitoring stations, each covering a detection radius of over 12 km and offering 360° surveillance. This ensures continuous protection in all conditions—from total darkness to full sunlight.
As Pierpaolo Piracci, Regional Sales Manager for Italy, Greece, Southern and Southeastern Europe at FLIR (FLIR Security), explains, “Rapid response is crucial to protecting the land from fire risk. We must detect even the smallest outbreak before flames or smoke appear. Our thermal cameras, built with the world’s most advanced sensors—developed and exclusively produced by FLIR—offer the highest thermal sensitivity currently achievable. This allows the system to detect minimal and potentially dangerous thermal signals with unmatched speed. The images captured are processed in real time by a sophisticated video analysis system, developed by a specialized third-party company, which plays a key role in the system’s overall effectiveness. In these applications, even a few minutes can mean the difference between averting a disaster and triggering a catastrophic fire.”
The early fire detection system in the Ionian arc of Apulia consists of six monitoring stations equipped with Teledyne FLIR thermal cameras, covering approximately 2,000 km² of forested land.
These stations are connected via a dedicated fiber optic and microwave radio network to a central hub that automatically collects and analyzes the thermal camera images in real time. This hub communicates any fire alerts to the Civil Protection Operations Center of the Apulia Region.
The communication network and real-time image processing system were developed by CAE, which acted as the system integrator for the entire project.
“We had already worked successfully with FLIR on the previous fire detection project in the Alta Murgia National Park,” says Luca Papandrea, Operations General Manager at CAE. “Over the years, FLIR’s thermal cameras have performed flawlessly, proving their reliability. So, for the new project protecting the Ionian arc, we chose FLIR cameras again. Their innovative technical features even allowed us to submit an enhanced proposal compared to the original tender specifications.”
The integration of infrared thermal sensors and visible-spectrum electro-optical sensors with a robust pan/tilt mechanism is a key strength of the PT-Series thermal cameras. These systems reflect decades of FLIR’s experience in developing optimized and highly reliable solutions for protecting critical areas across various sectors.
In addition to the thermal cameras, the fire detection system includes other security technologies from FLIR to protect the monitoring stations from unauthorized access, ensuring comprehensive safety.
“Our ability to offer products, complete solutions, and technical consulting across the entire spectrum of critical infrastructure protection is one of Teledyne FLIR’s strengths,” Piracci emphasizes. “Our portfolio includes market-leading products, integrated into a holistic system that spans perimeter security to risk factor detection—such as early fire detection.
The automatic early fire detection system in the Ionian arc of Apulia has proven to be reliable, minimizing false alarms and demonstrating high efficiency during interventions. The exceptional thermal sensitivity of FLIR’s PT-Series cameras enables timely detection of even the smallest outbreaks in any environmental condition. Meanwhile, the image processing software can predict the direction of fire spread, helping guide field response teams.
By combining advanced technology with specialized design and implementation expertise in protection and prevention, the system ensures peace of mind for a region of great cultural, economic, and environmental value.
Product Spotlight
FLIR PT Series AI SR Thermal Camera
The FLIR PT Series AI SR is the latest next-generation multisensor PTZ thermal camera in the PT-Series family, designed by FLIR to meet the most advanced requirements in surveillance and fire prevention systems. It features a high-sensitivity uncooled thermal sensor (< 25 mK NETD, 640 × 512 resolution) paired with a 4K optical camera offering up to 25× optical zoom. This unit delivers sharp, detailed images even in the most extreme conditions—total darkness, intense light, smoke, or haze.
With simplified integration into existing video surveillance systems (ONVIF, VMS), full 360° pan/tilt/zoom functionality, resistance to harsh environments (IP66, de-icing), and continuous tracking via the FLIR Nexus® sensor, this thermal camera is the ideal solution for monitoring large areas and detecting hotspots or fire outbreaks before they escalate.
