The project FOGO! (FIRE! - Early Forest Fire Detection by Analysis of Backscattered Laser Radiation "LIDAR"), developed within the framework of the Program POSI, Initiative 1.3, was aimed at building a LIDAR instrument specifically designed for forest-fire detection, in which the radiation meets the eye safety conditions, with algorithms based on neural networks and fuzzy logic to issue automatic alarm and rejection of spurious signals.

The project incorporated tasks of modelling and design, field testing, development of algorithms for rapid LIDAR signal inversion and recognition using neural networks as well as construction and testing of a laboratory prototype.

The instrument and software were tested and optimised during field experiments, yielding algorithms that maximise the detection efficiency and minimise the false alarm rate, incorporated into the system control unit.
The results were widely disseminated through publications in scientific and technical journals and participation in national and international conferences and exhibitions.

The LIDAR technology for forest-fire detection is patented by INOV.