The Remote Sensing Method of Forest Fire Danger Rating Categorization

The article presents the use of satellite images in the determination of forest fire danger rating categories. The assessment was carried out based on images from the LANDSAT TM, IKONOS and NOAA satellites, with the finding that the LANDSAT TM images are the most useful. A new solution proposed is to make forest fire danger rating categories refer to forest ranger sub-districts, what gives the forest service greater control over forest fire prevention activities. Forest fire danger assessment was done taking into account remote sensing indices such as the NDVI, TNDVI, and IHT, as well by the analysis of the spatial distribution and the number of fires in the previous six years. In accordance with the Polish State Forest Classification System, three classes were specified: 1 – high fire danger, 2 – moderate fire danger, 3 – low fire danger.