FUEGOSAT is the European Space Agency initiative to improve the management of forest fires by means of space remote sensing. The programme is executed through different actions, one of which consists of the development of a semi-operational end-to-end fire recognition service. The Bi-spectral IR Detection (BIRD) satellite, a technological demonstrator designed for the recognition of hot spots, is an excellent precursor for prospective data sources to fill the gap of existing Earth observation satellites and future dedicated satellites that will provide the definitive tool for fire monitoring. Representative regions were selected for a first demonstration in South Europe.After performing the exercise during 2003 summer campaign in Spain, BIRD satellite sensors have proved to be excellent for fire detection and monitoring, and good enough for burnt area data generation, as fire management operators have confirmed. It was possible to generate in time a whole catalogue of products valuable for the decision makers based on BIRD real time transmission data. Special mention has to be done to the hot spot inventory product, able to detect very small fire outbreaks in a reliable way.

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y Servicios Aeroespaciales, liimenez@!insa.org, P" Pintor Rosales 34,28008 Madrid (Spain), Phone: (+34) 91 S48 9060, Fax: (+ 34) 91 548 9061Abstract-Once demonstrated that Remote Sensing technologies are useful in forest fire emergencies, the aim is to provide what users need and when they need it. The inexistence of a fullyoperational EO space segment dedicated to these tasks leads to the development of near-operational systems based on current erkting technology and trying to conceive new ways of improving results. I n this paper, the overall nrrhitecture of such a system is presented, compiling the experience acquired in the several aspects of the problem and presenting an integral and comprehensive solution. The system architecture comprises three well-defined parts: the EO reception facilities, the Service Provider Centre(r), and the Decision Support Systems (DSS).The EO data acquisition faCilitiFS receive date from sensorb whose uscfuloess for forest fire management has been proved through several demonstrations and studies. This is the case of the MODIS sensor onboard TERRA and AQUA satellites, the AVARR in NOAA, the CAVHRR in FENC-YUN, and the recent SEVIR1 sensor onboard MSG. Future space segmcnis would bc incorporated to the system in a progressive manner, leading it into a more operntional stage.The Service Provider Centres are conceived a5 the facilities that ingest EO data from the reception stations along with non-space data, process the information with a set of scientific tools and algorithms (Toolbox), and generate the value-added products directly usable by end-user organizations under an operational sccnario. The resulting Are products are then stored in the centre and disseminated to users according to their needs.A near-oper~tional system far forest fire management has to be tailored trying to meet the exact needs of each type of userb, focusing specially on real-time requirements. Therefore, this system cannot be either a mere product generator to be accessed by the users or P "just product-oriented" supplier.The only sohition to achieve the proposed objectives is ta wrap the generated products around a customized and committed service envelope delivered at the user-end. This is the mission of the Declsion Support Systems (DSS) installed at user premises, which are an essential tool to achieve operational fire information services using satellite data. GLOBAL ARCHITECTUREA comprehensive system for the provision of forest fire risk management services based on satellite capabilities has to integrate the several pieces of the problem. The whole architecture of such a system, depicted later in figure I , takes into account three main aspects:Space Asscis: current EO satellite sensors with their associated performances and futurdplanned space capabilities or new generation of sensors.Grourrd infimlruciur-ex: these include the EO data acquisition and exploitation centres (Service Provider Centres, SPC) and other infrastructures for the provision of auxiliary and/or meteorological data Users and e...