Tech Expert Shiona McCallum Surveys Wildfire‑Tracking Tools in Scotland’s Cairngorms

Shiona McCallum travelled to the Cairngorms National Park this week to evaluate a new suite of technology designed to map and monitor damage from wildfires. The visit, reported by BBC Technology, marks one of the first field assessments of the system in a European mountain landscape.

The pilot equipment combines high‑resolution satellite imagery, drone‑borne sensors and ground‑based thermal cameras to produce near‑real‑time assessments of burned areas. By overlaying these data layers on existing topographic maps, responders can pinpoint hotspots, estimate burn severity and plan rehabilitation efforts more efficiently than with traditional aerial surveys.

Cairngorms officials have welcomed the trial, noting that the park, which spans over 1,700 square kilometres, has seen an uptick in wildfire incidents over the past decade due to hotter, drier summers. While large fires remain rare in the region, the potential for rapid spread across peatlands and conifer plantations has heightened the need for precise monitoring tools.

McCallum’s assessment focused on the system’s ability to integrate data from multiple sources within a single dashboard, allowing park rangers to receive alerts on mobile devices. Early tests suggest the platform can reduce the time between fire detection and response by up to 30 percent, a margin that could be critical in protecting both wildlife habitats and local communities.

Looking ahead, the technology developers plan to expand the trial to additional Scottish sites and to refine algorithms for distinguishing between fire‑related heat signatures and other sources such as industrial activity. If successful, the approach could serve as a model for other protected areas across Europe that are grappling with the growing threat of climate‑driven wildfires.