STSM–Valentina Bacciu (🇮🇹) to Portugal (🇵🇹)

Valentina Bacciu (CNR, Italy) completed an STSM in Portugal to study real-time wildfire suppression decisions. Her work strengthens cross-border collaboration and contributes new fire progression data to the NERO fire database.

📍 Information

Host Institutions: University of Lisbon & National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC)
Dates: 19–28 July 2024
Home Institution: National Research Council of Italy (CNR)

🧭 Overview

From July 19 to July 28, 2024, Valentina Bacciu of the National Research Council of Italy conducted a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) hosted by the University of Lisbon and ANEPC, within the framework of the NERO COST Action. The mission aimed to deepen her understanding of operational decision-making in real-time wildfire suppression and to explore how fire analysis tools and workflows can be transferred across institutional and national contexts.

📋 Key Activities & Insights

  • Integrated into the NAD-AIR wildfire decision support cell.
  • Studied real-time decision workflows for suppression operations.
  • Interpreted fire danger indices and weather data from IPMA.
  • Conducted case study analysis of the Alcabideche-Cascais wildfire.
  • Reconstructed fire progression and linked it to suppression strategy.
  • Identified best practices and transferable operational components.
  • Built a comprehensive report connecting research and real-time practice.

💭 Relevance & Reflections

This STSM offered a unique opportunity to bridge Valentina’s research expertise with operational realities. It strengthened collaboration between CNR, ANEPC, and the University of Lisbon, and laid the groundwork for applying Portugal-tested methodologies to the Italian context. The experience will support the development of a cross-border evidence base on extreme fire behavior and inform future analysis in the NERO fire database. Valentina will present her insights in a dedicated NERO webinar in October 2024.

📄 Read the Full Report

📥 Download Valentina’s STSM report here.

COST

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.

Visit COST at www.cost.eu

Action Details

Action Chair: Dr. Theodore M. Giannaros
Action Vice Chair: Dr. Akli Benali
Start Date: 17 October 2024
End date: 16 October 2027
Download Action MoU