Fighting Fires With Data

Australia may be facing yet another tough fire season, but spatial information is increasingly providing some of the most important answers to this devastating problem.

That's already the case with the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), which uses the full spectrum of aerial observation tools to provide real time, tactical responses to bushfires.

Being bushfire ready may also be getting another boost from above as experts from the UNSW School of Surveying and Spatial Information Systems (SSIS) evaluate whether satellite-based radar can help to measure forest fuel risk.

It's a sign of just how dependent many of our emergency services have become to a whole range of remote sensing and geo-information tools these days.

THE BUSHFIRE IMPERATIVE

Certainly for Gareth Carter, the NSW RFS's Manager GIS (Geographic Information Systems), access to the broadest range of information is now crucial to fighting fires effectively.

"We're plotting the fire from the air using planes and helicopters equipped with a whole range of technology," Gareth, who oversees a team of 15 people, said.

"This includes forward looking infrared cameras and line scanners that transmit data via microwave or satellite in a matter of minutes."

"We're able to see what people on the ground can't and overcomes problems like weather or smoke to judge the direction and intensity of fires, even in the most remote places," Gareth added.

Gareth's team, which has to work around the clock in locations right across NSW, is then able to analyse the reams of data to provide one map for the Incident Management Team so that it can make final decisions on where and how to fight a bushfire.

The group also provides regular updates on the RFS web site, with much of the public information also leaning heavily on the presentation of remotely sensed data.

OPENING NEW FRONTS

According to Gareth, Australia is probably one of the most advanced countries when it comes to using geo-information systems for fire preparedness, strategic response and predictive analysis.

There's also a national and unified approach to data, software and risk planning approaches across the country, with fire service GIS managers meeting regularly to share experiences and knowledge.

"This is a field that's in constant flux," said Gareth, who did a Masters in GIS after completing a degree in Science. "We're always trying to widen our search for imagery, and are actively involved in research and development."

Some of the areas that Gareth's team is currently looking at are the modelling of smoke plumes, fire severity and predictive computer analysis.

While the work of the GIS team may generate more headlines during fires-and there can any where between 40 and a 100 on any day during summer-they also work throughout the year to assess fire risk.

"The RFS is almost completely spatially oriented and it's an approach that's now very integrated into the whole service," Gareth said. "Most people are very comfortable with the technology and data we produce these days."

But they may also be about to receive some extra help from radar sensor carrying satellites.

A new project with both the UNSW School of Surveying and Spatial Information Systems (SSIS) and the Cooperative Research Centre on Spatial Information (CRCSI) is exploring how radar images can be harnessed to monitor bio-fuel build up-grass, leaf litter and wood-to avoid potential disasters.

"Getting a consistent, reliable vegetation map across the state is a big issue," Gareth said. "But once again there's potential for remote data to help us deliver on that real need."

Infrared image of the bush fires over Victoria 24/02/09