OroraTech GmbH - Experts & Thought Leaders

  A forest fire broke out in Saxon, Switzerland, on July 25, 2022. It took several weeks to extinguish the fire. In addition to the vehicles and equipment of the firefighters assisting on site, Rosenbauer was also represented at the operation with digital solutions. After the announcement of the cooperation between Rosenbauer and the technology company - OroraTech, the Wildfire Service (WFS) is now being deployed in the peak season for German forest fires. The Wildfire Service (WFS) State Fire Service Director, Dr. Dirk Schneider was given access to the Wildfire Service (WFS) at short notice State Fire Service Director, Dr. Dirk Schneider was given access to the Wildfire Service (WFS) at short notice and without much red tape. This rapid help was arranged by a colleague from the Saxony-Anhalt Ministry of the Interior, who was following the major incident in Saxony. In addition to the preventive monitoring of areas at risk of forest fires, the system can also be used to predict the development of the situation, in terms of risk. On the basis of this information – if properly read and used – the tactical area can be effectively pre-planned. State Fire Service Director, Dr. Dirk Schneider thanked for the support. Rosenbauer and OroraTech partnership The cooperation between Rosenbauer and OroraTech is now to be expanded. The information from the in-house fleet management system - Connected Fleet and the operations management system - Connected Command are to be integrated into the Wildfire Service. For those who are interested in the Wildfire Service or would like to try out the expansion in cooperation with Rosenbauer in the coming months, please do not hesitate to contact the company.

  At the very least, Rosenbauer is convinced that the use of satellite data will facilitate the handling and management of forest fires in the long term. For this reason, as the largest fire-fighting vehicle and solution provider with 150 years of experience, it decided to start strategic cooperation with a young technology company from Munich called OroraTech. The two parties are quite different from each other in terms of age, size, as well as specialization. So what benefits does it hope to gain from this cooperation? Wildfires challenges and detection As has been shown in recent years, the issue of wildfires presents itself as a challenge that is far too complex and multi-layered for one discipline alone to master. To tackle the issue of wildfires sustainably and effectively, it is not enough to just fight the fire. Similarly, the rapid detection of the seat of the fire is an enormously important step in avoiding major disasters, but it is not sufficient on its own. wildfire management The path from forest fire risk to damage evaluation and analysis must be the focus of efforts to avoid future disasters When it comes to wildfires and wildfire management, several factors play a role, some of which do not even exist in classic urban firefighting situations: preventive monitoring of flammable materials, strategic reforestation of fire-resistant forests, risk forecasts, off-road firefighting equipment, training programs for alternative firefighting methods, and damage analysis. In other words, the entire path from forest fire risk to damage evaluation and analysis must be the focus of efforts to avoid future disasters of enormous proportions for both people and nature.  Data and information management  Data and information management play a central role here. For this reason, OroraTech has set itself the goal of generating much of this information worldwide from space. The company already receives data from publicly accessible satellites with infrared cameras, which they process into usable information about seats of fire on the earth’s surface. However, since this flow of information currently still gets interrupted for up to 6 hours due to the sparse satellite coverage, OroraTech is sending additional mini-satellites into space that it has built itself. These should significantly reduce the response time in the next few years. digital support  Rosenbauer accompany the emergency crews from the time of the alarm to the post-operational briefing Rosenbauer, in turn, has been offering digital support in fleet management and incident command management for years, in addition to its diverse range of wildland fire fighting equipment. They accompany the emergency crews from the time of the alarm to the post-operational briefing and therefore give the operational leader an overview of what is happening. Reduced response times, safer lives The cooperation between the two companies is now intended to bring together precisely these two strands of information so that comprehensive digital forest fire support can be offered that combines the respective core competencies of the two companies. Not only is the response time to forest and bush fires shortened, but the lives of the emergency crews are also made safer due to the clear processing of information. Therefore, the companies are looking forward to their cooperation and are pleased to combine agility with experience in the best possible way.

Rosenbauer, a fire-service vehicles and firefighting equipment manufacturer, and OroraTech, a digital wildfire intelligence service, have entered a strategic partnership to combat the emerging problem of wildfires using satellite systems. According to the UN, the number of wildfires is estimated to rise by 50% by 2100, and wildfires will become more intense and more frequent, ravaging communities and ecosystems in their path. Digitalizing firefighting, the partnership between Rosenbauer and OroraTech will provide actionable insights to emergency organizations and forces on the ground. Faster and accurate response  Rosenbauer CSO Andreas Zeller, “Based on our long-time expertise of firefighting on the ground, the combination of our incident command system Connected Command and the satellite data provided by OroraTech enables faster response times and allows us to save the health and lives of firefighters.” With OroraTech, Rosenbauer the result is an uninterrupted information flow of life-saving insights OroraTech CEO Thomas Grübler, “Partnering with Rosenbauer, we will unlock satellite and other sensor data for emergency services around the world in a seamless manner, helping them for faster and more accurate response.” With the satellite data generated and analyzed by OroraTech, Rosenbauer will further process and integrate this information to provide all the relevant data for those fighting and managing wildfires. The result is an uninterrupted information flow of life-saving insights reaching from fire detection to emergency response. wildfire monitoring and fighting system OroraTech provides up-to-date wildfire information derived from public satellites with thermal imaging cameras. However, at intervals that are rarely sufficient to prevent disasters, depending on the region: delayed by up to 6 hours. Together with OroraTech, Rosenbauer plans to expand this system into a wildfire monitoring and fighting system that works with intervals of up to 30 minutes. To this end, the Munich-based startup will launch up to 100 satellites the size of a shoebox, each equipped with a high-resolution thermal imaging camera and artificial intelligence, into space over the next few years. The prototype has already been orbiting since January 2022.

To be a smart city, modern urban areas leverage technology to improve operations and services, in effect deploying a network of sensors and devices to collect data on city operations such as traffic flow, energy use, and waste management. Analyzing the data points enables cities to identify areas for improvement and additional solutions to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. But what are the opportunities for the fire service in today’s smart cities? Smart cities enable the creation of a more dynamic and data-driven approach to fire response. Technology enables quicker fire detection, faster routing of first responders through traffic management, and proactive fire prevention strategies, among other advantages. Analyzing Risks and Planning Prevention The fire service plays a crucial role in keeping citizens safe in smart cities, and with the integration of technologies, their capabilities are expanding. For example, smart cities utilize sensor networks and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to constantly monitor buildings for temperature fluctuations or other signs of potential fire hazards. This allows fire departments to identify risks early and take preventative measures. Real-time traffic data can be used to optimize ways for fire trucks, ensuring they reach the set faster Smart technologies can improve response times by automatically alerting fire services the moment a fire breaks out. Additionally, real-time traffic data can be used to optimize routes for fire trucks, ensuring they reach the scene quicker. Firefighters in smart cities can benefit from wearable technology and sensor data to gain better awareness of the fire environment. This can include data on temperature, air quality, and even the location of fellow firefighters, all of which improve decision-making and firefighter safety. Addressing Obstacles of Traffic Congestion Traffic congestion is a major obstacle for emergency vehicles. Smart cities use sensors and data analytics to monitor traffic flow in real time. This data can be used to dynamically adjust traffic lights, prioritizing emergency vehicles, and clearing a path to the fire. Fire stations can be equipped with software that analyzes real-time traffic data and chooses the fastest route to the fire scene. This can take into account accidents, road closures, and even weather conditions to optimize the route for emergency vehicles. Lessons Learned from Historical Data Smart city data assigns fire units to analyze historical fire incidents and recall high-risk areas Smart city data empowers fire departments to analyze historical fire incidents and identify high-risk areas. This helps them deploy resources strategically and plan fire prevention efforts more effectively. Smart city data can be used to identify areas with a higher risk of fire based on factors like building age, occupancy, and historical fire incidents. This allows fire services to pre-position resources in high-risk areas or implement preventative measures in those locations, potentially leading to fewer fires overall and faster response times when they do occur. Predicting fires in a smart city is not about pinpointing the exact time and location. Rather, it is about using data and machine learning to identify areas with a high risk of fires. A key aspect of smart city fire prediction involves collecting data from various sources. This includes historical fire incident records, building codes and inspection reports, weather data, and even sensor data from cameras and Internet of Things (IoT) devices in buildings. Closer attention or preventative measures The collected data is fed into machine learning algorithms that can identify patterns and relationships between various factors that contribute to fire risk. Based on the analysis, algorithms can assign a fire risk score to different buildings or even city blocks. This allows fire services to create fire risk maps, highlighting areas that require closer attention or preventative measures. Based on the analysis, algorithms can assign a fire risk score to different buildings or even city blocks Knowing high-risk areas allows fire departments to take proactive steps. This could involve increased fire inspections in those areas, educating residents on fire safety, or even pre-positioning fire trucks or resources closer to high-risk zones during periods of high fire danger. In essence, fire services in smart cities are transforming from reactive forces to proactive guardians, leveraging technology to prevent fires, respond faster, and protect both citizens and firefighters. Smarter Systems for Earlier Detection Traditional smoke detectors are helpful in fire prevention and response, but smarter systems with Internet-of-things (IoT) sensors can detect fires earlier and with more precision. These sensors identify both smoke and factors like temperature and air quality changes, thus providing valuable details to firefighters. Additionally, these systems can automatically notify fire services the moment a fire breaks out, eliminating any delay in reporting. Here are some examples of the impact of technology on the fire service. Dryad Networks, a Berlin-based company, builds large-scale sensor networks using the Internet of Things (IoT) specifically designed for forests. Their sensors can be attached to trees and detect gases like carbon monoxide in the early stages of a fire, giving firefighters a crucial head start. Pano is a company that analyzes data from emergency calls to pinpoint the exact location of a fire Another company, OroraTech, leverages satellite technology to meticulously map large areas, identifying zones susceptible to wildfires. This information helps forest managers and firefighters focus their preventative efforts on high-risk zones. Providing a unique approach to fire detection, Pano is a company that analyzes data from emergency calls to pinpoint the exact location of a fire and sends firefighters a text message with a video feed. This helps distinguish real emergencies from false alarms and allows for a faster response. Rain, based in Alameda, Calif., is developing firefighting drones that can be automatically dispatched upon detecting a fire. These drones can reach remote areas quickly and potentially suppress the fire before it spreads, offering a faster response in hard-to-reach locations. Smart Cities: Technologies Continue to Advance It's important to remember that fire prediction is still a developing field, and new technology models are not perfect. However, by leveraging data and machine learning, smart cities can significantly improve their ability to identify areas with a higher likelihood of fires, allowing them to take preventative actions and ultimately improve public safety.