Applications of Geospatial Technology in Wildfire Studies

Abstract

Geospatial technology (GT) plays a pivotal role in natural resource appraisal, disaster and risk monitoring, assessment, and effective management. It encompasses a spectrum of techniques, such as remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), spatial analytics, global positioning system (GPS), 3D modeling, cloud-based computing platforms (e.g., Google Earth Engine), and scanning systems. The applications of these techniques are extensively used in wildfire studies, which cover various dimensions ranging from burnt area assessment to modeling future risk scenarios. However, the present literature lacks comprehensive studies explaining these techniques with their advantages, disadvantages, and potential applications within the realm of wildfire studies. Thus, this study offers a comprehensive overview of these techniques through a literature review and analysis of secondary data sources. Furthermore, it explores recent advancements and expansions in GT related to wildfire studies. The study findings would benefit researchers and policymakers in choosing an appropriate technique to study wildfires and their aftermath. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.