Israeli Startup Detects Forest Fires From Space

A new Israeli startup can detect forest fires and other extreme weather events – using satellites from space.

Terra Space Lab (TSL) uses remote sensing to measure, monitor and detect natural disasters, anywhere in the world, enabling an immediate response that can save lives and resources the company estimates to be billions of dollars.

It focuses on wildfires, and is constantly analyzing data to determine the health of forests, to detect illegal logging, and to monitor greenhouse gases. 

It currently uses information from existing satellites, but is developing tiny AI-powered satellites to detect environmental phenomena, and send real-time alerts directly to customers. The first nanosatellite should launch in late 2024.

Climate change has led to an increase of forest fires and their intensity worldwide. The fire season has become longer, and is more prone to ‘firestorms’ – when heat from a wildfire creates its own wind system, and leads to strange weather effects like fire tornadoes. 

Early detection of wildfires and other natural events is needed to suppress them before they get out of control and devastate the lives and homes of people, biodiversity and their natural habitats, and cause massive economic damage.

TSL is in contact with international forestry and timber companies and is negotiating with a leading insurance company, with the aim of testing and commercializing its capabilities.

It recently received a development grant from the Israel Innovation Authority and the Israel Space Agency, and has now started a crowdfunding process through the Pipelbiz platform. 

TSL was established in 2020, and is located in Tel Aviv.