Responding to a fire within the first 15 minutes is critical, and a Greek startup called PROBOTEK is helping firefighters act fast. PROBOTEK has been protecting the Syngrou Forest in Kifissia for the past three years and is now expanding its services to Greek islands and other countries.
How PROBOTEK Protects Forests
PROBOTEK uses advanced technology, including:
- Sensors placed on trees to detect smoke and high temperatures.
- Drones that fly to the fire’s location to confirm the threat and send live updates.
- 5G, IoT, and AI to monitor the area and guide fire trucks and ambulances.
- Evacuation alerts sent directly to residents’ phones.
Partnerships for Forest Safety
The company works with Nova’s 5G network, the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, and the University of Athens. Their AI-powered platform processes data to detect fires and provides real-time updates to the authorities.
Inspired by a Tragic Event
PROBOTEK’s mission began after the deadly fire in Mati, Greece, in 2018, which claimed over 100 lives. “We had to find a way to prevent this,” said co-founder Panagiotis Apostolopoulos during a presentation at the Huawei Connect Paris 2024 event.
Expanding to New Areas
Since its success in Syngrou Forest, PROBOTEK has expanded to the islands of Skiathos and Kos, with Cyprus showing interest too. Their system, called “Pyro Sense,” is part of Huawei’s global TECH4ALL initiative, supporting innovative projects worldwide.
Global Attention
Authorities and companies in the US and the Balkans are interested in adopting PROBOTEK’s technology. The startup aims to improve its AI system to predict fire risks days in advance and expand its disaster response solutions to floods and earthquakes.
Source: ekathimerini
