In the framework of the Interreg Euro-MED funded Fire Free MED – FRED project, the Protection and rescue service of the Municipality of Ulcinj has been equipped with a DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone, complete with auxiliary equipment and a dedicated workstation.
Located in Montenegro’s southeastern coastal region (255 km², bordering Albania), Ulcinj faces heightened wildfire risks due to its Mediterranean subtropical climate, dry conditions, dense vegetation, and remote areas like the Old Olive Grove complex—home to 86,000 century-old olive trees, some up to 2,000 years old. This acquisition supports three core UAS use cases by project completion.
Key Use Cases:
1. Preventive Monitoring of Remote Areas
Surveillance in Ulcinj’s Old Olive Grove detects unauthorised burning of branches and vegetation post-pruning/maintenance—a common practice that escalates rapidly into wildfires. Proactive monitoring protects this invaluable heritage of ancient olive trees, cultural assets, agricultural tools and equipment, and surrounding communities.
2. Enhanced Aerial Support for Active Wildfire Response
Real-time fire mapping, hotspot detection via thermal imaging, and evacuation route guidance boost ground team efficiency and safety, especially in hard-to-reach terrain.
3. Post-Fire Damage Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of damage to land, property, and infrastructure informs recovery planning, resource allocation, and mitigation strategies.
The service’s firefighters integrate these with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering mission planning, pre-flight checks, live data streaming, and post-mission analysis via the FRED platform. A dedicated UAS team (leader, pilot, observer, data analyst) ensures compliance and effectiveness.
Featured Media: Photos from Use Case 1 demonstrate drone surveillance in the Old Olive Grove, highlighting arson detection amid dense, dry vegetation.
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