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VLIR KU Leuven & EPN Ongoing

EcoHydroShield: Autonomous Climate-Adaptive System for Wildfire Prevention in Protected Ecological Areas

Promotor Flamenco: Goedemé Toon
Promotor Contraparte: Almachi Juan Carlos

Context and Justification

Forest fires threaten biodiversity, ecosystems, and communities, worsened by climate change and poor land management. In Ecuador, over 5,000 fires in 2024 caused severe damage, underscoring the need for mitigation.

Main Research Goal

Integrate drones, AI, and autonomous water dispersion (EcoHydroShield) to reduce fire risk in protected areas like Pifo, Chilibulo, and El Quinche. Aligned with SDGs 13 and 15, the project applies climate-adaptive technologies to create a replicable model for climate resilience and ecosystem sustainability, providing validated data for policymakers and fostering local empowerment.