BP Bunge Bioenergia consolidates adoption of satellite fire monitoring system

After a period of rigorous efficiency tests, BP Bunge Bioenergia is consolidating the adoption of a fire monitoring system in sugarcane fields using images captured by satellite.

The platform, developed by the company GMG Ambiental, allows teams to be alerted about possible fires in and around sugarcane fields. Through the use of artificial intelligence, the system is capable of autonomously identifying fire spots, issuing visual and audible alerts in monitoring rooms and connecting warnings to firefighting brigades. The tool also includes sending alerts via WhatsApp, indicating the coordinates of the fire source.

"BP Bunge never uses fire in its activities in the sugarcane fields. All harvesting at its 11 units is 100% mechanized. But we live with the risk of fires in the sugarcane fields, especially in times of drought, like the current one. Therefore, in addition to having structures and personnel prepared to identify fire outbreaks, the company has invested significantly to reduce fire risks", says Nadia Gama, director of HSSM (Health, Safety and Environment) at BP Bunge.

The platform adopted by BP Bunge uses 13 satellites that monitor planting areas and their surroundings, providing functionalities that speed up response to incidents and generating complete reports for preventive planning.

"Firefighting requires that fires be identified as quickly as possible, so that firefighting teams, supported by water trucks, can travel as quickly as possible to the locations where fires occur. Therefore, having a tool that uses images captured by satellites and which have agile warning systems, as is the case with the GMG platform, is a differentiator that has contributed significantly to the success of our company's firefighting actions", adds Nadia Gama.

In addition to the satellite image capture platform, the Fire Prevention and Fighting Program invests in the acquisition and maintenance of equipment; formation, training and management of teams with hundreds of brigade members; procedures for cleaning machines and access paths to areas; firebreak maintenance; promotion of internal and external prevention campaigns, including in partnership with sector associations in each state of operation; and management of support systems.