PROXYWildfire and Flood Monitoring by Drone
Romania faces an increasing frequency of extreme events. Vegetation fires affected 6,800 ha in 2023, a 35% increase over the last decade's average. Floods in the Siret, Somes, and Mures basins cause hundreds of millions of RON in damages annually. For ISU command centers and local administrations, real-time aerial information is a critical decision-making instrument.
Drones provide what ground teams and satellites cannot: a detailed aerial image, in real time, on demand, without risking personnel in the danger zone. The thermal camera identifies active hotspots and the fire propagation front. The RGB camera maps floodwater extent and identifies affected structures. All transmitted live to the command center.
How It Works
- Emergency activation. ISU, the municipality, or the intervention operator launches a request on ProxyDrone tagged as maximum urgency. The event type (vegetation fire, flood, landslide), approximate location, and affected perimeter are specified.
- Travel to command center. The drone operator reports to the coordination point. They receive the situational briefing: wind direction, areas at risk of expansion, critical infrastructure in danger, restricted zones.
- Reconnaissance and monitoring flight. The drone takes off and transmits live video feed (thermal + visible) to the intervention commander's tablet/monitor. The operator follows the coordinator's directions.
- Reporting and mapping. During the intervention, the drone generates updated maps of the affected area. After the event concludes, the complete orthomosaic is delivered for damage assessment and reconstruction planning.
Wildfire Monitoring
Thermal Map of the Fire Front
The thermal camera (FLIR, radiometric) does not just detect fire — it measures the temperature of each pixel. The intervention commander sees on screen where temperature exceeds 300°C (active front), where it is between 100-300°C (advancing front), and where it remains below 50°C (safe zone). This information determines crew positioning and attack direction.
Detection of Hidden Hotspots
After apparent extinguishment, roots and peat can burn underground for hours or days. The thermal drone identifies these "hot spots" invisible from the ground, preventing reignition. Systematic passes over the extinguished zone at 24 and 48 hours is standard in the completion protocol.
Temperature Detected by Category (°C)
Flood Monitoring
Mapping Floodwater Extent
During an active flood, the situation changes hourly. Satellites provide images at intervals of days. The drone generates an updated map of the flooded surface with each flight (1-2 hour intervals), enabling anticipation of the expansion direction and preventive evacuation of threatened communities.
Identifying Stranded Persons
The thermal camera detects persons isolated on rooftops, land islands, or in stranded vehicles. GPS coordinates are transmitted instantly to rescue boat teams.
Comparison: Drone vs. Manned Aircraft
| Criterion | Monitoring Drone | Manned Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly cost | ~400 RON/hour | 5,000-12,000 RON/hour |
| Mobilization time | 30-60 minutes | 2-6 hours |
| Flying over smoke/fire | Zero risk to personnel | Significant risk |
| Night operation | Yes, with thermal camera | Very limited |
| Live feed | Yes — sub-1-second latency | Requires dedicated equipment |
| Availability in Romania | High — operators in every region | Limited — 2-3 bases in the entire country |
Economic and Operational Analysis
A single hour of helicopter time costs the equivalent of 12-30 hours of drone flight. For a vegetation fire lasting 8-12 hours, continuous helicopter monitoring costs 40,000-144,000 RON. The same monitoring with drones (45-min sessions with recharging breaks) costs 3,200-4,800 RON.
But the main advantage is not financial — it is operational:
- Immediate availability. Romania has fewer than 5 operational civilian helicopters for emergencies. The ProxyDrone network has drone operators in every county.
- Persistence. The drone can be maintained above the zone for hours on end (with battery swaps every 40-50 min).
- Safety. Zero risk to personnel. The drone can fly directly over the fire front, smoke column, or flooded zone.
Use Cases in Romania
Vegetation fires in the Danube Delta
The Danube Delta is extremely vulnerable to reed fires, especially in spring. Ground access is practically nonexistent. The drone is the only rapid and financially accessible monitoring option for local authorities in Tulcea county.
Floods in the Siret basin
Communities in Vrancea, Bacau, and Galati counties are periodically affected by Siret River flash floods. The drone maps floodwater extent, identifies dike breaches, and guides the evacuation of isolated persons — all transmitted live to the prefecture.
Landslides in the hill zone
The Moldavian Plateau and Sub-Carpathians are prone to landslides. The drone assesses the displacement extent from the air, identifies tension cracks and threatened structures, generating an orthomosaic for geotechnical specialists.
Why ProxyDrone
ProxyDrone offers authorities a rapid mobilization solution for aerial monitoring at a fraction of the cost of conventional aviation. The platform handles coordination with the operator, live transmission, and delivery of post-event maps. The rate of 400 RON/hour includes thermal equipment, operator, and data processing.
Authorities can create an institutional account with monthly billing, eliminating the need for individual payments during emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does drone monitoring cost during a fire?
The rate is 400 RON/hour, including thermal equipment, operator, and data processing. For a 10-hour fire, total cost is 4,000 RON — compared to 50,000-120,000 RON for a helicopter.
How quickly can a drone reach the fire location?
Mobilization time is 30-60 minutes from alert. The ProxyDrone network has operators in every county, unlike civilian aviation with only 2-3 bases in the country.
Can the drone fly above smoke and fire?
Yes, with zero risk to personnel. The thermal camera works perfectly through smoke, and the drone can fly directly over the fire front for precise mapping of the affected area.
Can the drone be used for post-event monitoring?
Yes. After extinguishment, the drone detects hidden underground hotspots via thermal imaging. For floods, repeated mapping every 1-2 hours shows water level evolution and guides evacuation.