The Protection and rescue service of Municipality of Ulcinj has received a state-of-the-art DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone with auxiliary equipment, acquired under the Fire Free MED – FRED project. Equipped with a thermal camera, loudspeaker, spotlight, and parachute, this advanced tool enables early fire detection, precise risk mapping, rapid response, and real-time damage assessment.
Key features of the drone include:
- Maximum flight time of up to 55 minutes with a single charge (it was procured with four sets of batteries and a charging station);
- High-precision imaging and thermal analysis;
- Payload capacity up to 2.7 kg (for additional sensors)
- IP55 protection rating for reliable operation in various weather conditions;
- Ability to fly over inaccessible terrain with a maximum altitude of 7,000 m;
- Modern transmission system with up to 20 km range and 4K video streaming.
The drone, along with its accompanying software, will monitor the entire area of the Municipality of Ulcinj for fire risk, provide timely alerts to relevant services, and support intervention coordination. This contributes to reducing risks to human lives, preserving nature, and minimising material damage.
In parallel, the FRED software platform is under development, integrating advanced ICT tools for fire prevention, monitoring, and analysis.
The Fire Free MED (FRED) project fosters collaboration among institutions from seven Mediterranean countries enhancing capacities to adapt to climate change and prevent large-scale forest fires. Partners share expertise and resources in joint efforts to mitigate fire risks through innovative technologies.
The drone presentation was attended by Ulcinj Municipality President Genci Nimanbegu and his team, representatives from Montenegro’s Ministry of European Affairs and Ministry of Finance (NC)—Borka Lješković and Kristina Dušaj—as well as stakeholder and media representatives.
The project is implemented by the EU Projects Department of Ulcinj Municipality, with the Protection and rescue service of Ulcinj as the beneficiary/end-user.
