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ABSTRACT:Post-fire environmental footprint is expected at varying scales in space and in time and demands development of multi-scale monitoring approaches. In this paper, a spatially and temporally explicit multi-scale model that reveals the physical and morphological indicators affecting hillslope susceptibility at varying scales, is explained and demonstrated. The qualitative and quantitative suitability classification procedures are adapted to translate the large-scale space-borne data supplied by satellite systems (Landsat OLS8 and Sentinel 2 and 3) to local scale produced by a regional airborne survey performed by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). At the smallest spatial and temporal resolution, a daily airborne imagery collection by UAV is linked to micro-topography model, using statistical and mathematical approaches.

On 24 November 2016, extreme hot and dry weather led to more than 1000 fires in Israel. One of the largest fires (120ha) occurred in the city of Haifa. The fire began on the slopes of the north-eastern part of the wildland–urban interface (WUI) and spread into the city, moving westward owing to strong wind gusts. Although private houses in open lands and villages in Israel have previously been affected by fires, this was the first ‘urban fire’ in Israel. In order to determine the best management strategy for the various types of burned areas, an ‘identity card’ was prepared for each area including main vegetation species and other points of interest. For urban forest areas, rehabilitation was planned according to topographic structure and anticipated soil erosion. In each reclaimed area, terraces were constructed using burned logs or local stones and inhibitors to mitigate soil erosion. After restoration, each urban forest underwent planting and renewal according to its geographic properties and location.