The TERRITORY – Strengthening disaster response capacities through drone technology project, funded by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme, has completed a detailed analysis of the environmental risks relevant to the project and its partners, producing the related report.
The areas involved are the Port of Taranto (Italy), the Port of Bar (Montenegro), the Municipality of Shkodra (Albania), and the Municipality of Pescolanciano (Italy).
These areas represent different but complementary contexts, characterized by specific vulnerabilities, and offer a suitable environment for testing innovative technologies for risk monitoring, prevention, and emergency management.
Port of Taranto (Italy)
As a strategic national infrastructure for maritime and industrial traffic, the Port of Taranto is highly exposed to technological risks, fires, and environmental events. The analysis highlights the need for advanced systems for the early detection of anomalies.
The TERRITORY project will develop systems and services, also integrating AI applications, to make surveillance of critical areas more efficient and to enable rapid assessment of environmental emergency scenarios.
Port of Bar (Montenegro)
The Port of Bar, the main logistics hub of Montenegro, has historically been affected by industrial and forest fires, often with significant impacts on port operations and surrounding areas.
The project aims to strengthen prevention and response capacity through the use of drones equipped with thermal cameras and advanced analysis systems, contributing to enhanced port security and the protection of strategic infrastructure.
Municipality of Shkodra (Albania)
The city of Shkodra is one of the areas most exposed to flooding in the South Adriatic, due to its specific hydrographic configuration and the recurrence of extreme weather events. It also includes large forested areas subject to fire risk.
The TERRITORY project will work to improve real-time monitoring and the ability of local authorities to analyze the evolution of events, promoting more effective emergency management and greater preparedness of exposed communities.
Municipality of Pescolanciano (Italy)
Pescolanciano represents a typically rural and mountainous context, exposed to hydrogeological instability, forest fires, and extreme weather conditions. The presence of the UNESCO Collemeluccio–Montedimezzo Reserve gives the area significant environmental value.
Pilot activities will test the use of multispectral drones and advanced sensors for vegetation monitoring, forest area surveillance, and the production of information useful for spatial planning.
The launch of operational use cases represents a central step in the TERRITORY project’s strategy.
Through the adoption of innovative technologies and structured collaboration between local authorities, research bodies, and public institutions in the three participating countries, the project aims to strengthen territorial resilience and improve response capacities to natural risks.
The activities planned in the four pilot areas will form the basis for developing shared and replicable methodologies, in line with programme objectives and European strategies on climate adaptation, risk management, and technological innovation, leading to the creation of the TERRITORY drone platform.
Next updates
In the coming months, further insights will be provided on the development of the pilot activities, progress in UAS/AI technology integration, and the results of the first capacity-building initiatives aimed at operators and public administrations in the cooperation area.
