@article {bnh-3094, title = {Mapping bushfire hazard and impacts: Annual project report 2015-2016}, number = {227}, year = {2016}, month = {09/2016}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

This annual report is an output from the Bushfire and National Hazards CRC, Project {\textquoteleft}Mapping Bushfire Hazard and Impacts{\textquoteright}. It summarizes the project objectives, introduces the team members as well as documents the project progress and outcomes during the financial year 2015/2016.

The project team has made considerable progress this financial year and has generated a number of nationwide products. More specifically this financial year we have:

1)\ \ \  developed and tested the {\textquotedblleft}Bushfire Information System{\textquotedblright} with potential for operational prediction of live fuel moisture content and fire occurrence in Australia;

2)\ \ \  analyzed the suitability of near-surface soil moisture data to improve the McArthur forest fire danger index;

3)\ \ \  tested a forest carbon uptake estimation model constrained with remote sensing data at 25 m to 5 km resolution and evaluated against field data; and

4)\ \ \  Developed a predictive model for estimating forest surface fuel load with LiDAR data.

We have also completed some activities initialized during the previous financial year including:

1)\ \ \  the development and testing of a new software tool to automatically derive detailed vegetation structure information from ground-based LiDAR; and

2)\ \ \  testing an on-ground network of curing/FMC sensors.

We have maintained an effective and engaging relationship with project end users. The most intensive interactions have been with ACT Parks and Conservation, with whom the team collaborates closely, including in an operational setting. However, now that we have generated a number of nationwide products, more end users are identifying how they can practically engage in the research. This has led to a large number of follow-up projects that have been requested and will be addressed as much as possible over the next years, contingent on future project funding.

Additionally we:

1)\ \ \  published 1 journal manuscript with another 6 currently in review and one invited book chapter in preparation, 10 conference abstracts, one conference paper and 3 milestone reports;

2)\ \ \  hosted three international exchange visits and were approached by more than 15 domestic and international applicants for a PhD scholarship or postdoc position in bushfire research; and

3)\ \ \  in consultation with the end users, identified a subset of key outputs that have the highest utilisation potential, and that will be the focus of our work program in the future.

}, issn = {227}, author = {Marta Yebra and Albert van Dijk and Geoffrey J. Cary} }