GTD leads GAIA, an Edge AI project to transform wildfire management

GTD Defense & Security Solutions is leading GAIA, a technology project backed by CDTI Innovación that combines Edge AI, autonomous sensors and digital twins to support every phase of wildfire management, from prevention and early detection to firefighting operations and post-fire land recovery.

According to GTD D&SS president Ángel Ramírez, the project responds to a growing operational challenge: wildfires are becoming faster and harder to contain, and emergency teams need better, real-time information to respond effectively. GAIA's core innovation is bringing AI processing directly to the field through Edge AI, running algorithms on board drone fleets and autonomous ground vehicles rather than relying on remote data centers. This allows real-time thermal imaging and 3D terrain mapping through LiDAR and conventional cameras, even without internet connectivity.

The project also includes wearable technology and exoskeletons designed to monitor firefighters' vital signs and reduce physical strain, alongside an advanced Command and Control system that unifies data from sensors, drones and field teams into a single operational picture. As Ramírez explains, giving all teams access to the same real-time information allows emergency directors to prioritize critical areas and react faster to sudden changes in wind or fire behavior.

GAIA brings together a consortium of six companies and four research institutions, including Tekniker, CATEC, and the universities of Cantabria and Rey Juan Carlos. Ramírez highlights CDTI Innovación's role as key to enabling a project of this scale, and points to an international roadmap ahead, with GTD D&SS aiming to consolidate a catalog of exportable products and expand its presence in European Defence Fund initiatives.

Read the full interview on: Ángel Ramírez, presidente de GTD Defense & Security Solutions: “el CDTI Innovación nos ayuda a llevar la inteligencia artificial sobre el terreno para luchar contra los incendios forestales” | CDTI

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