With heat waves and droughts becoming more frequent, wildfires are multiplying worldwide.
In Spain, Portugal, and the south of France, hundreds of firefighters are battling the flames while systems like NASA’s FIRMS and the European Union’s EFFIS provide free satellite data on active hotspots. However, these records often arrive late or with low resolution, making early detection of nascent fires difficult.
Ororatech’s Proposal
The German startup Ororatech, founded in Munich in 2018, developed an innovative model based on:
Proprietary satellites with thermal infrared sensors.
Technological miniaturization: cameras that fit in satellites the size of a shoebox.
Artificial intelligence to analyze data from its own and other agencies (NASA, ESA).
Real-time service for clients in 25 countries.
In 2022, it launched its first satellites, capable of detecting fires even at night or through smoke. Currently, Ororatech operates more thermal imaging satellites than any other country or company and plans to achieve 96 daily scans by 2028, analyzing every point on the planet every 15 minutes.
Advantages over Traditional Systems
Continuous coverage: avoids the “afternoon void” when more fires tend to start.
Speed: delivers data in minutes, compared to delays of up to a day with conventional systems.
Precise resolution: specifically designed to detect small fire hotspots.
Usability: converts technical data into clear information for firefighters, forestry companies, and insurers.
This system allows detecting wildfires in minutes.
Clients and Applications
Ororatech works with:
Government agencies and fire departments.
Forestry companies and plantation operators in South America.
Energy and infrastructure providers.
Insurance companies and environmental NGOs.
In Greece, in cooperation with the ESA, it developed a system with four satellites, a ground station, and the Wildfire Solution platform, which provides real-time data for the entire territory.
Beyond Fires
Ororatech’s technology opens new business areas:
Agriculture: measuring water evaporation in fields.
Urban planning: identifying heat islands in cities.
Environment: detecting oil spills at sea.
Defense: locating ships even without an active locator.
Ororatech demonstrates how the combination of miniaturized satellites and artificial intelligence can revolutionize wildfire management and open new applications in key sectors.
Its ability to provide fast and accurate data makes this startup a global leader in environmental technology applied to the climate crisis.