Preventive, Predictive and Prescriptive Approach through Drone Technology: The Role of Digital Twins and Geospatial Intelligence in Wildfires and Floods

The integration of drone technology, digital twins, artificial intelligence, and advanced simulations is revolutionising the predictive and prescriptive management of natural disasters. This keynote will explore how aerial drones are transforming wildfire and flood prevention through high-resolution geospatial data, risk modelling, and automated decision-support systems.

For wildfires, drone-based remote sensing enables the creation of detailed forest cartography, including AI-driven algorithms for extracting tree count, height, and vegetation continuity—key parameters for assessing fire spread potential. Additionally, risk categorization of wildland-urban interfaces (WUI) and fire propagation simulations provide crucial insights into managing strategic areas.

In flood risk management, drones are instrumental in detecting river obstacles, categorising their hazard levels, and generating actionable flood risk reports. These reports empower decision-makers to implement targeted preventive actions, such as debris removal and riverbed management, reducing the impact of future floods.

Through real-world case studies and technological breakthroughs, this keynote will highlight how drones, digital twins and geospatial intelligence are reshaping disaster prevention—moving from reactive approaches to proactive, data-driven strategies that safeguard ecosystems and communities.