The Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisboa) was present in another edition of the European Researchers Night.

Promoting initiatives that protect the environment, this year’s theme was “Science for climate”. Within the scope, our researchers shared the project “Firefront” with an enthusiastic audience, targeting adults and kids.

This project partners six portuguese entities: Instituto de Sistemas e Robótica de Lisboa, Força Aérea Portuguesa, UAVision company, Aeroclube de Torres Vedras, Instituto de Telecomunicações and the Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aeronáutica Industrial.

According to Alexandre Bernardino, ISR-Lisboa researcher and principal investigator, “Firefront uses intelligent surveillance systems to optimize the information available to the firefighters, providing real time information about the location and a prediction of the fire front progression to support the firefighters in the decision making”.

It provides valuable and complementary information since it shows the fire perimeter even in reduced visibility conditions caused by the smoke.

Our researchers were at the Museu de História Natural e Ciência, last September 24th, interacting with the public throughvarious activities. With small videos or photos and a quiz for the younger, “it was a really fun way to spend Friday night” says Catarina Barata, one of the researchers involved. “I was supposed to be here from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. It’s already 8 p.m. and I didn’t even notice!” complements Ricardo Ribeiro laughing.

The European Researchers’ Night is a Europe-wide public event, which displays the diversity of science and its impact on citizens’ daily lives in fun, inspiring ways. It aims to bring research and researchers closer to the public, promote excellent research projects across Europe, increase the interest of young people in science and research careers and display the impact of researchers’ work on people’s daily lives.