The island of Rhodes in Greece has initiated a smart fire-prevention system designed to enhance its resilience against wild-fires and support its tourism-heavy economy. The system is part of the “Smart Rhodes Forest” initiative, led by telecommunications operator Nova (United Group) under its corporate responsibility programme. It is fully financed by Nova at a cost of approximately €1 million and focuses on the protected “Valley of the Butterflies” area, classified as Natura 2000.
The system comprises a nine-metre monitoring tower equipped with thermal and electro-optical cameras, environmental sensors measuring parameters such as temperature, humidity and CO₂, and an AI-driven control centre capable of detecting smoke or flame outbreaks within a 15-kilometre radius. The installation was delivered and handed over to the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy in a five-month implementation period.
The move comes in the wake of destructive wild-fires on Rhodes in July 2023 that destroyed more than 15 % of the island’s forest area and forced the largest-ever evacuation in Greece.
While the project currently covers the Valley of the Butterflies, local authorities and Nova executives have indicated plans to extend the system to other high-risk forest and wildland tourism zones around Rhodes.
