The project develops technologies to model and simulate fire front behavior across different types of vegetation, initially focusing on the forest block in northern Espírito Santo, which includes the Vale Nature Reserve (RNV), the Sooretama Biological Reserve (ReBio), and their immediate surroundings within the Atlantic Forest biome. This area holds exceptional ecological and scientific importance, hosting over 5,000 species and representing approximately 11% of the remaining Atlantic Forest in the state.
The aim is to understand and predict, through computational methods, the spread of fire from ignition points by simulating its movement across vegetation over time. To achieve this, input data such as climate, topography, and vegetation cover are used. The approach is both prognostic (simulating future fire spread scenarios) and diagnostic (modeling ongoing fire events), providing real-time information on the direction and intensity of fire progression.
From a scientific and technological perspective, the project is part of an expanding field of research that integrates mathematical modeling, artificial intelligence, and geospatial systems to support forest fire management. The literature highlights a range of technologies applied to the stages of prevention, detection, response, and post-fire recovery. However, modeling the spread of fire fronts – especially for real-time decision support – remains a technical and scientific challenge. Existing models employ approaches ranging from statistical methods to simulations based on physics and artificial intelligence, yet there is a gap in the use of integrated solutions that combine real-time environmental data with spatial prediction algorithms.
This project is a continuation of previous initiatives that have resulted in a computer model at the prototype stage, already tested in the field with the support of a mobile weather station, acquired to provide accurate, real-time atmospheric data. The new proposal expands the scope of the research, as the model has evolved into a pilot system and now involves other protected areas under Vale’s responsibility, including conservation units in Pará, Minas Gerais, and additional areas covered by the Forestry Target, totaling more than 900,000 hectares.