Mapping the Nation: Creating the World We Want to See

122 Penha sees this problem not only with fires, but also with floods. Without people in rural areas to keep an eye on things, the pace of climate change overwhelms land managers. Experiencing the Worst and Helping Others Deal with It Regions with a Mediterranean climate are among the first threatened by growing wildfires. Portugal collaborates closely with other European countries, especially Spain, France, Italy, and Greece, as each has suffered major fires. But the threat is spreading. “In 2022, Italy deployed aerial assets to Germany and Romania because they are starting to suffer from climate In forests, prescribed burns reduce fuel loads. The mapping system identifies areas that should be burned and, in real time, supports firefighters in keeping each burn under control. Penha was a firefighter in the Lisbon Fire Brigade for 20 years before coordinating a national response. With his new job, he has gained a national awareness of what’s needed—beyond the use of high-tech maps. “We have a huge problem in that the people who care for the forest are getting too old,” Penha said. “Younger people want a different life. Even if the government has the money, if there’s nobody there, nobody will take care of the forest.” Accurate information is mandatory for the safety of firefighting crews on the ground. The QuickCapture app has large buttons and intuitive workflows to make data capture easy.

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