Wildfire Mitigation in Small-to-Medium-Scale Industrial Hubs Using Cost-Effective Optimized Wireless Sensor Networks

J.L. Gómez, E. Marcoulaki, A. Cantizano, M. Konstantinidou, R. Caro, M. Castro

Fire Vol. 9, nº. 1, pp. 43

Summary:

Wildfires are increasingly recognized as a climatological hazard, able to threaten industrial and critical infrastructure safety and operations and lead to Natech disasters. Future projections of exacerbated fire regimes increase the likelihood of Natech disasters, therefore increasing expected direct damage costs, clean-up costs, and long-term economic losses due to business interruption and environmental remediation. While large industrial complexes, such as oil, gas, and chemical facilities have sufficient resources for the implementation of effective prevention and mitigation plans, small-to-medium-sized industrial hubs are particularly vulnerable due to their scattered distribution and limited resources for investing in comprehensive fire prevention systems. This study targets the vulnerability of these communities by proposing the deployment of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) as cost-effective Early Wildfire Detection Systems (EWDSs) to safeguard wildland and industrial domains. The proposed approach leverages wildland–industrial interface (WII) geospatial data, simulated wildfire dynamics data, and mathematical optimization to maximize detection efficiency at minimal cost. The WII delimits the boundary where the presence of wildland fires impacts industrial activity, thus representing a proxy for potential Natech disasters. The methodology is tested in Cocentaina, Spain, a municipality characterized by a highly flammable Mediterranean landscape and medium-scale industrial parks. Results reveal the complex trade-offs between detection characteristics and the degree of protection in the combined wildland and WII areas, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions. This methodology is easily replicable for any municipality and industrial installation, or for generic wildland–human interface (WHI) scenarios, provided there is access to wildfire dynamics data and geospatial boundaries delimiting the areas to protect.

Spanish layman's summary:

La interfaz industria-forestal es cada vez más vulnerable a incendios y a eventos Natech que pueden afectar energía, comunicaciones o transporte. Este estudio combina simulaciones y redes de sensores optimizadas para proteger industria y monte, apoyando decisiones locales coste-beneficio.

English layman's summary:

The wildland–industrial interface is increasingly vulnerable to wildfires and Natech events that can disrupt energy, communications, or transport. This study combines simulations and optimized sensor networks to protect industry and forests, supporting local cost–benefit decisions.

Keywords: wildland–industrial interface (WII); Natech; wildfires; vulnerable communities; geospatial information; GIS; simulations; optimization; Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)

JCR-JIF Impact Factor and WoS quartile: 3,200 - Q1 (2025)

DOI reference: https://doi.org/10.3390/fire9010043

Published on paper: January 2026.

Published on-line: January 2026.

Citation:
J.L. Gómez, E. Marcoulaki, A. Cantizano, M. Konstantinidou, R. Caro, M. Castro, "Wildfire Mitigation in Small-to-Medium-Scale Industrial Hubs Using Cost-Effective Optimized Wireless Sensor Networks", Fire, Vol. 9, nº. 1, pp. 43, January 2026. [Online: January 2026] doi: 10.3390/fire9010043