“The construction sites of the ecological transition”: INWIT and Legambiente present the results of the monitoring of air and fires in Abruzzo

Legambiente’s national campaign stops with INWIT in Abruzzo, where technology is a precious ally in fire prevention monitoring and air quality monitoring in protected areas.

In Abruzzo, a region symbolizing protected nature and biodiversity, technology plays an increasingly crucial role in protecting the territory.

Thanks to the collaboration between INWIT and Legambiente, innovation is put at the service of the environment with advanced monitoring projects that exploit IoT sensors, intelligent cameras and data analysis. The results of the first year of collaboration were presented today in Pollutri (CH), during the Abruzzo stage of Legambiente’s “The construction sites of the ecological transition” campaign.

Fire prevention: the data speaks clearly

INWIT’s telecommunications towers, equipped from 2023 with smart cameras and artificial intelligence software, have become a strategic network for detecting and preventing forest fires. In the autumn period the sensors launched 15 alerts, of which 9 in the Lecceta di Torino di Sangro Regional Reserve and 6 in the Bosco di Don Venanzio Reserve.

The forest fire monitoring project launched by INWIT in collaboration with Legambiente involves Pescasseroli (AQ), headquarters of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, Pettorano sul Gizio (AQ), in the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Regional Nature Reserve, the Reserve Lecceta Regional Nature Reserve in Torino di Sangro (CH), the Bosco Don Venanzio Regional Nature Reserve in Pollutri (CH) and the Municipality of Civitella Roveto (AQ) to monitor the Longagna area and the Zompo lo Schioppo Regional Nature Reserve.

There are 5 INWIT towers present in these territories on which 5 gateways and 9 smart cameras integrated with artificial intelligence software capable of promptly detecting fires have been installed.

The technology is particularly effective thanks to the cameras’ ability to distinguish smoke from fires from that generated by other activities, such as chimneys, covering an area of ​​up to 80 square km. This project highlights the potential of technology in supporting law enforcement and local institutions in risk prevention and management.

Air quality: the results are positive

From the environmental monitoring conducted between May and October 2024 in six municipalities (Civitella Roveto, Pescasseroli, Pettorano sul Gizio, Picinisco, Vasto and Roccaraso), an overall positive picture of air quality emerges, with PM10 averages lower than the legal limits. However, some locations, such as Civitella Roveto, Vasto and Roccaraso, recorded higher daily concentrations and exceedances during critical periods, highlighting the need for greater attention. In light of these data on air quality in protected areas, it will be important to observe the impacts that pollution has on biodiversity.

“The construction sites of the ecological transition”: a vision of the future

It is Legambiente’s national campaign that brings to the fore stories, construction sites and projects that in Italy are moving in the right direction of the transition, investing in decarbonisation, environmental sustainability and the circular economy. Launched in May 2023, the campaign also uses a website, with an interactive map that brings together the over 100 construction sites mapped so far with insights, photos and videos.

The statements of Zampetti and Suigo

Giorgio Zampetti, General Director of Legambiente, has declared:

“Today technology and innovation is an important ally in environmental and biodiversity protection. A precious and winning combination also at the center of the monitoring started in 2023 by Legambiente and INWIT in Abruzzo to monitor the environment and biodiversity, air quality, and at the same time combat forest fires, often caused by human activities, and which in addition to destroying vast forest areas, damaging wildlife and vegetation, release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. This is why today, at this point, we are also launching a package of proposals asking to invest in forest fire prevention systems and to strengthen the means of intervention to deal with fires; on the air quality front, we ask that a study network be launched involving sector experts to study the impacts of pollution on biodiversity starting from the data collected by INWIT Legambiente monitoring, and that more and more information and awareness campaigns be promoted to make everyone understand that personal behaviors can influence biodiversity“.

Michelangelo Suigo, Director of External Relations, Communication and Sustainability of INWIT, adds:

“A forest weakened by pollution and flames will defend itself less effectively from other extreme climatic events such as heavy rains or floods, compromising the resistance and resilience of the entire territory and of the biodiversity that lives in it. This is why it is important to actively contribute to the prevention of fires and the protection of air quality and biodiversity all year round, not just when the summer emergency arises. Our air quality monitoring and fire prevention projects in national parks and protected areas represent a concrete example of the integration of sustainability into our business and our role as an enabler of innovative services based on artificial intelligence and IoT.  These projects carried out in partnership with Legambiente confirm the value of our towers, digital and shared infrastructures, for the community and the territories and our concrete commitment to protecting the environment and biodiversity“.

Thanks to cutting-edge technologies and collaboration with local authorities, INWIT’s towers demonstrate their value as digital and sustainable infrastructures, contributing to the protection of the territory and biodiversity in a concrete and innovative way.