The FUEGO system concept

FUEGO is a satellite system intended to provide the firefighting forces in the world with early fire warning and fire monitoring capabilities. It is b eing conceived with the users, by fostering continuous user direction of th e development process. This system concept is presented. We present the user requirements that hav e evolved from user consultation and have been confirmed in the First FUEGO Users Conference in Madrid. The sensor arrangement is discussed including the sort of algorithm envisaged and the necessary supporting spectral bands and sensitivity. Technological aspects are reviewed. The operational conce pt is briefly described. The architecture is shown to be flexible and adapt ed to user expectations. From the operational concept the satellite and ground segment requirements and design are presented, to show the feasibility in technical and programm atic terms. The main system issues are analysed for criticality and basic c onclusions are derived. A summary of cost benefit analysis is presented. A satellite system is therefore proposed as an operational mission to suppo rt the forest firefighting activity. (C) 2001 International Astronautical F ederation. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.