Burgas is a coastal city that faces growing exposure to extreme rainfall, flash floods, and seasonal forest fires. The municipality already operates a flood-monitoring system and is in the process of developing a complementary fire-monitoring network, which includes strategically placed smoke detectors in high-risk zones. However, as detection capacity expands, a critical gap persists in the “last mile” of communication. Citizens still lack fast, reliable, and inclusive access to information on current conditions, potential risks, and appropriate responses in different situations. Without continuous and preventive communication, monitoring data cannot help residents prepare in advance or reduce their vulnerability. The problem is especially acute in remote and peri-urban neighborhoods with limited connectivity, where residents are least likely to receive timely updates through web platforms or mobile applications. The challenge, therefore, extends beyond technical detection to ensuring that risk signals are translated into clear, accessible, and multilingual information disseminated through multiple channels—such as SMS or cell broadcast, public displays, and municipal kiosks—so that all citizens, whether online or offline, are reached. This issue is common to many medium-sized European cities, positioning Burgas as an ideal pilot site to demonstrate a scalable model for transforming monitoring data into effective tools for public awareness and preparedness.
