As part of the Interreg Euro-MED project FRED, a comprehensive training on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) was successfully held in Sežana, Slovenia, on 21–22 May 2025, following the project’s consortium meeting. The training was led by Mr. Tomislav Krljan from University of Rijeka, faculty of Maritime Studies and delivered in English. It was structured in two parts: a theoretical session on the first day and practical field training on the second.
The training was specifically designed for the project’s pilot partners to strengthen their capacities in using UAS technology for wildfire risk monitoring, prevention, and mitigation. Pilot activities will be implemented across six Mediterranean locations: Mali Lošinj (Croatia), Sežana (Slovenia), Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark (Italy), National Park Una (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ulcinj (Montenegro), and Baixo Alentejo (Portugal).
Key training topics included:
- General knowledge and introduction to UAS, including flight performance
- Refreshment on regulations (EU Regulations 2019/947 & 2019/945)
- Operational procedures and limitations (incl. privacy, data protection, and insurance policies)
- “WhatsUP” – UAS market state of the art
- General knowledge of LiDAR sensors, mission planning, and results interpretation
- General knowledge of thermal imaging sensors and results overview
- Q&A and best practices discussion
- On-site UAS training and flight demonstration (mission planning, execution, and safety procedures)
Special emphasis was placed on the practical component of the training, during which participants had the opportunity to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in real operational conditions.
As most project partners are nearing the completion of their equipment procurement phase, this training provided a valuable opportunity for users to familiarize themselves with the technology and prepare for its deployment in the upcoming pilot activities.
