Heatwave: Using drones to monitor and protect Athens’ hills and parks

Since early morning, Athens Mayor Harris Doukas, together with the city police and specially trained drone operators, has been mapping and inspecting Mount Lycabettus and the surrounding area, on the one hand recording the temperature and on the other hand being prepared for situations that may occur due to the heat in case intervention is needed.

‘We are on high alert’

“We are on high alert, the temperatures are very high and we are using drone systems with thermal cameras. We can and do see temperature differences, so if we see big temperature differences, it means there is a danger of smoke and fire, which is why we have to intervene immediately. City police are constantly patrolling on Lycabettus and other hills due to the increased risk of fire,” Athens Mayor Haris Doukas told MEGA.

“It is extremely important that citizens are also extremely careful. We have opened air-conditioned spaces in seven neighborhoods. (…) The hottest places in Athens are the roofs of buildings, where there are irons, where there are streets, where there is no shade, these are the places you should avoid”.

Notably, the drones used are capable of sending audio messages to warn citizens of extreme temperatures or fire risks.

Tourist buses in Piazza Nero

Traffic is also a vital and everlasting issue, especially on hot days when the capital’s streets are constantly occupied by thousands of cars.

The mayor said the new tourist bus parking lot at Neru Square is expected to partially solve this problem, easing congestion in the Acropolis and the historic center.

“It’s very important, we have an overall plan and we are also taking steps to repair the area because buses are a waste, it’s logical, there is too much tourism, 7.5 million tourists this year, the tour buses are everywhere, don’t do that, but they can park everywhere because it creates traffic chaos”.

“That’s why they stop at ‘taekwondo’ and go up and down Xinglu to let the world go. The sport will ease traffic chaos, especially in the summer,” added Haris Doukas.