# A Semantic Framework for Decision Making in Forest Fire Emergencies
## 5 Semantic Reasoning for Decision Support
### Decision Support for Prescribed Burning Process  
Prescribed burns are an invaluable tool in numerous countries to effectively manage the risk of fires, protect assets, safeguard lives, and restore landscapes [44]. A crucial challenge is determining how to organize the burns to maximize societal advantages. Safe and effective prescribed burns take expertise and careful planning. For this reason, fire authorities practice wildfire prevention based on values at risk, taking into account the differences in value and importance of communities, landscapes, houses, infrastructure, and natural resources [45]. Fire managers require decision support to organize the various stages of the burning season (management planning, the statistical, technical, and economic annual balance sheet of the burning season, etc. ), as well as to carry out any given burning operation (burning feasibility, traps diagnostic, fire behavior, fire effects, etc.) [46]. In addition, knowledge of the meteorological conditions before, during, and after the operation is beneficial in order for managers to be able to design a prescribed burning properly. The aim of the ONTO-SAFE framework, in the case of the prescribed burning process, is to enhance the knowledge of the conditions in order to conduct the prescribed burning via the visualization of this information and to assist fire managers in their decisions. The proper measurements before and during the application of the prescribed burns are crucial and should be correct in order to allow burning while not enabling fire to spread out of control [47]. Controlled fires are commonly operated as a method for vegetation management. They are used to achieve several essential objectives, including vegetation clearance, enhancement of pasture forage value, mitigation of wildfire hazards, and promotion of biodiversity conservation [48; 49]. In our study, end users from the Catalonia region conducted experiments regarding the prescribed burning plans in the Canary Islands and Extremadura areas. Through their investigations and tests, they produced a range of weather conditions that must be met in order to carry out the burning process. It is important to note that the weather thresholds obtained from these experiments are not based on statistical analysis; instead, they serve as illustrative examples and are not meant to be universal or generalizable rules. The appropriateness of these thresholds can vary significantly depending on the specific burn objectives, such as the type and amount of vegetation targeted for burning, and the desired fire intensity. Additionally, site characteristics, including topography, local meteorology, and vegetation type and condition, also play a crucial role in determining the most suitable weather conditions for prescribed burning. As a result, the weather thresholds identified in this study may not be directly applicable to all geographical areas. Seasonality is another important consideration in prescribing controlled burns. For instance, in Mediterranean regions, summer is generally considered an off-season for burning due to high temperatures and wind speeds, which makes it less conducive to controlled burns. In contrast, winter may offer more favorable conditions, as long as there is sufficient wind speed and relatively low relative humidity for the fire to spread effectively; although similarities in weather thresholds may exist across other Mediterranean countries, it is crucial to acknowledge that each country will adjust its prescribed burning plans according to its unique environmental and climatic conditions. Table 2 presents the thresholds in temperature, humidity, and wind speed for the prescribed burning process in the Catalonia region, which is our study area. It is worth mentioning that all of the below variables must be measured in a way that the prescribed burning can only be conducted as long as they fit within the range established. Thus, the burning can be conducted as long as the variables fall within the full range.