By decision of the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Mr. Nikos Papathanasis, the project: “Identification of illegal construction with modern technological means” is included in the Recovery and Resilience Fund.

The contribution of this project is decisive for the implementation of the reform – the responsibility of the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Thodoros Skylakakis – which concerns the system of monitoring the built environment, the identification and demolition of arbitrary constructions.

In particular, the goal is to create an integrated system, which by using new technologies, in combination with high-resolution aerial photography, will increase the ability of the state services to detect in a documented way and control cases of arbitrary construction.

The project budget amounts to 123,988,840 euros, of which 23,997,840 euros will be financed by the National part of the Public Investment Program.

Among other things, the initiative includes the following actions:

  • Supply of satellite images for the entire Territory and production of reference digital orthophoto map for 100,000 sq. kilometers.
  • Production of a digital orthophoto map with an accuracy of up to 20 million from aerial photography with a manned aircraft, as a priority in areas with increased problems of arbitrary construction.
  • Creation of a digital terrain and surface model and digitization of approximately 2,020,000 buildings.
  • Calculation of coverage and total built surface of each building and creation of a 3D register of buildings.
  • Using machine learning and custom AI algorithms.
  • Creation of a Coordination Office and provision of support services to monitor unauthorized construction during the project implementation period, as well as for a period of 8 years by experienced engineers.
  • Installation and operation of UAV stations in critical areas that will be indicated, for the purpose of frequent periodic phototaking, etc.

The Ministry responsible for the project is the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the implementing body is the Technical Chamber of Greece.

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Thodoros Skylakakis, emphasized: “With the inclusion of the project “Identification of illegal construction with modern technological means” in the Recovery and Resilience Fund, another decisive step is taken for the implementation of the important reform that we planned at the Ministry of Environment and Energy, in relation to the monitoring system of the built environment. Utilizing the new technologies (drones, satellite images, aerial photographs, etc.), a central service of the Ministry will identify the arbitrary constructions. In the context of the reform, which was reflected in a State law last spring, the prioritization of demolitions is foreseen, for the first time. We give absolute priority to the demolition of new arbitrary buildings, in order to zero out the creation of new arbitrary ones and thus put an end to practices of decades, which have been undermining the exercise of urban planning policy over time. At the same time, a significant number of older arbitrary buildings will be selected every year for demolition according to urban planning, spatial planning and environmental criteria.

The Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Mr. Nikos Papathanasis, underlined: “Within the wider urban planning and spatial planning reform of the government, we are proceeding to deal with arbitrary construction, using every available euro both from the resources of the Recovery Fund and from the Program of Public Investments, but also every modern means provided by technology. We continue to implement all our commitments, we continue to deal decisively with chronic diseases with the sole aim of legality and the benefit of the many.”

The President of the Technical Chamber of Greece, Mr. Giorgos Stasinos, said: “The fight against arbitrary construction, legality in constructions, correct urban planning are always a priority of the TEE. We prove it in practice with this project. In a short time, no one will be able to build arbitrarily in the country without being detected by the State.”