GOLIAT project partners
University of Corsica - CNRS, Office National des Forêts, Service d'Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud, Service d'Incendie et de Secours de Haute-Corse, Syndicat Mixte du Parc naturel régional de Corse, Aix-Marseille University and Arobase
 | University of Corsica- CNRS |
Founded in 1765 and reopened in 1981, the University of Corsica Pasquale Paoli is a research and educational structure. It offers more than 100 diplomas from baccalaureate to doctorate level, delivered by eight faculties, institutes and schools to its 4,700 students and relies on strong professional content, adapted to key development challenges of its territory.
The scientific identity of the University of Corsica is based on two laboratories labelled by the CNRS, "Sciences for the Environment" and "Places, Identities, Spaces and Activities". They carry out projects that combine fundamental and applied research with the aim of territorial development and concrete achievements with high added value. The University of Corsica is fully committed to achieving its mission of valorization and transfer of its research activities to society.
The "Fires" project, within the Environmental Sciences laboratory, is focused on vegetation fires studies, the protection of people, property and the environment, and the development of fire-fighting and land-use tools.
The role of the University of Corsica and the CNRS in the GOLIAT project
Researchers from the University of Corsica and the CNRS are leading the scientific aspects of the project in collaboration with researchers from Aix-Marseille University.
The Environmental Sciences laboratory - University of Corsica - CNRS (UMR SPE 6134) scientists have the task of building a database providing information on past fires in Corsica and their management; carrying out studies to increase their knowledge of vegetation fires and to improve models for the prediction of fire behaviour and impact; and developing algorithms for the processing of drone images of vegetation fire hotspots.
Scientists from the "Places, Identities, Spaces and Activities". laboratory (UMR LISA 6240) are also associated with the GOLIAT project, conducting historical and anthropological studies on vegetation fires in Corsica and the knowledge and skills related to the fire fighting in traditional Corsican society.
 | National Forestry Office |
Beyond the duties under the Forestry Regime, the objective of the ONF is to guarantee sustainable and multifunctional management of forests, the Territorial Direction of the ONF of Corsica has a "Defence of Forests Against Fire" unit.
The specialised agents who form this service intervene in fire prevention by establishing protection plans for forest areas, by participating in work meetings within departmental technical groups (SIS, ONF, Fire Fighters, State) to identify and validate fire prevention measures. They are also involved in the implementation of legal vegetation clearing obligations.
In addition, the Corsican ONF is also involved in research activities as a partner within the framework of European programmes (INTERREG).
Finally, considering its competences, the unit also participates in the fight during the " wildfire " period. The involved members of the fire brigade carry out field data collecting during fires, support the Emergency Operations Commander for large fires and are involved in the search for the causes and the restoration of the land after the fire. They are also qualified in controlled burning and tactical fires.
Role of the National Forestry Office in the GOLIAT project
The ONF members involved in the GOLIAT project will participate in the collect of information related to the former fires that took place in Corsica; carry out the supervised burnings necessary for the researchers of the GOLIAT project; take part in the elaboration of the definition of the specifications, in the tests and in the validation of the prototypes of tools; carry out communication and awareness-raising actions with the schoolchildren and the entire audience.
 | Fire and Rescue Service of Southern Corsica |
Large forest fires are one of the few natural disasters in which mankind plans to intervene. Because every good strategist prefers to choose the terrain on which to fight, fire-sensitive natural areas need to be prepared in advance so that the fire-fighting forces can develop effective strategies in complete safety.
Forest fire prevention (DFCI) is a comprehensive approach aimed at preventing fires in natural environments, which relies on dedicated equipment, facilities and structures as well as on the maintenance of forested areas. The SIS2A is fully involved in this inter-departmental approach given the prevalence of the risk of forest fires, which is no longer seasonal.
Its administrative, technical and operational commitment is based on the official national doctrine developed in the 1994 general forest protection strategy guide, which advocates, in particular, the use of heavy aerial firefighting and an air-land combination to fight forest fires. This forward-looking policy is reflected in the coordinated preparation of the services involved in DFCI, the preventive mobilisation of surveillance and dissuasive forces on the ground according to a pattern adapted to the current level of risk.
Large fires can affect the normal functioning of a community or organisation. Within the framework of its competences, the SIS 2A's mission (among others) is to ensure the safety of people, property and the environment.
Although the SIS 2A is responsible for risk prevention and assessment and firefighting, it is essential to remember that:
"Every person contributes, by his or her behaviour, to civil security". (Code de la sécurité intérieure, article L.721-1)
Role of the Fire and Rescue Service of Southern Corsica in the GOLIAT project
The mission of the SIS2A agents is to participate to the gathering of information related to former fires that took place in Corsica, and to assist in the elaboration of technical specifications, as well as in the testing and validation of prototype instruments
 | Fire and Rescue Service of Northern Corsica |
The Northern Corsica Fire and Rescue Service (SIS 2B) is responsible for fire prevention, protection and control in the department of Northern Corsica. Its four main duties are the prevention and assessment of civil protection risks; the preparation of safeguarding and rescue measures and the planning of emergency assistance; the protection of people and environmental assets; and an emergency response to victims of accidents, incidents or major disasters and their evacuation.
In order to carry out these missions, the SIS 2B has 20 rescue centres, spread geographically throughout Northern Corsica. With a team of 1,300 firefighters, the SIS 2B protects a population group varying from 161,000 in winter to around 400,000 in summer.
The Northern Corsica Fire Department has extensive expertise in forest fire fighting, rescue and transport. It is supported by an operations platform, which manages 17,000 operations per year, more than 1,000 of which are due to forest fires.
The Northern Corsica fire and rescue service has developed specific expertise in real-life modelling tests and visualisation tactics.
Role of the Fire and Rescue Service of Northern Corsica in the GOLIAT project
The SIS2B agents will also participate in the gathering of information related to former fires that have taken place in Corsica and participate in the elaboration of the specifications, the tests and the validation of the prototype tools. They also have the task of carrying out prescribed fires necessary for the GOLIAT project scientists.
 | Mixed Syndicate of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica |
For more than 40 years, through its strong and committed policy, the Regional Nature Park of Corsica has contributed to the protection of the island's heritage, appearing as one of the pioneers of sustainable development in Corsica.
Created in 1972 by a decree, the PnrC is one of the first French regional nature parks.
Their mission is to protect and valorise the natural, cultural and human heritage of the territory by implementing an innovative policy of planning and economic, social and cultural development.
The actions of a Regional Nature Park are decided by its management authority, the "syndicat mixte", which brings together all the local authorities and partners who have adopted its charter. In the case of the PNRC, 178 municipalities, 12 communities of municipalities, the Corsican Collectivity and other associated actors contribute to the application of its policy.
The actions of a Regional Nature Park are carried out in line with its own charter. The charter sets out the overall objectives and guidelines for the long-term protection, promotion and development of the Park, as well as the measures that will enable it to implement them. The Park's policy is based on the following objectives: the protection and management of the environment and heritage, the revitalisation of rural areas through sustainable tourism, the valorisation of natural resources and the development of the rural economy, and the raising of environmental awareness and the reception of the public. Since its creation, the mixed syndicate has developed its strategy for environmental education along two main lines: activities in schools and information for the general public. Its territory is intended to be a privileged place for the preservation and transmission of the identity, knowledge and values that have been shaped throughout its history, and thus help young corsicans discover their natural and cultural heritage.
Role of the Mixed Syndicate of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica in the GOLIAT project
The coordinators of the Environmental Education Unit of the Mixed Syndicate of the Corsican Regional Nature Park have an awareness-raising mission: they will develop awareness-raising materials (exhibition, film, educational kit) and communication materials and carry out actions with schools and the general public.
 | Aix-Marseille University |
“A University with international ambitions anchored in its territory”
The University of Aix-Marseille (AMU) is a generalist university essentially located on five major campuses in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, to which must be added a few secondary campuses located in Arles, Aubagne, Avignon, Digne les Bains, Gap, La Ciotat and Salon de Provence, where more than 8,000 people work. It welcomes more than 80,000 students (including more than 10,000 international students) who are divided into 6 training and research sectors: Arts-Literature-Languages and Humanities; Law and Political Science; Economics and Management; Health; Science and Technology; Multidisciplinary Sector.
With nearly 4,400 professors and researchers, 3,300 doctoral students, 111 research units, 9 federative structures, 12 doctoral schools and more than 7,000 scientific publications per year, Aix Marseille University is one of the 18 research-intensive universities in France (1 IDEX, 131st in the Shanghai ranking in 2019).
Since 2019 AMU has been the leader of an alliance (CIVIS), financed by the European Commission, bringing together 8 European universities in Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Sweden, bringing together 400,000 students and 55,000 staff.
Role of Aix-Marseille University in the GOLIAT project
Researchers from Aix-Marseille University will participate in experimental burns and collaborate on studies with scientists from the University of Corsica, in order to increase their knowledge of vegetation fires and improve models for predicting fire behaviour and impact.
 | Arobase |
Established in 1996, Arobase.fr is a digital creation agency specialized in the development of multimedia content. It assists its corporate clients and other professionals in the realization of personalized solutions.
Originally a computer engineering service company, it has progressively extended its expertise to communication and especially towards Internet media and mobile platforms: mobile applications and tablets.
Its interventions are organised around three main areas:
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Engineering and project management assistance for projects using new communication technologies (NTIC);
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Management of multimedia projects in the framework of European programmes;
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The creation of interactive tools on various media (online and offline). Arobase.fr pays particular attention to the field of innovation and has an internal Research & Development laboratory. The GOLIAT project will therefore benefit from the experience acquired in the context of its R&D work.
Role of Arobase in the GOLIAT project
This business partner will participate in the elaboration of the specifications and in the technical and operational development of the visualization tool of information related to old fires, the geolocalization tool of fire hotspots by drone, and the simulation tool of the behaviour and impact of a vegetation fire.