Predictive services research spotlighted

Improving the ability to understand, predict, forecast and monitor natural hazards was the focus of the final Research Advisory Forum for 2019.

Roughly 40 researchers, end-users and emergency management personnel attended the Predictive Service’s RAF, hosted by the New South Wales Rural Fire Services on 17 October.

Similar to the other RAFs held this year – each looking at a specific theme from the CRC’s research program – the predictive services RAF featured both research presentations and breakout groups, with discussion centred around utilisation of the research findings.

Key topics included the capabilities of bushfire prediction and forecasting, and how these capabilities are fundamental to improving resilience through better planning, preparedness, risk management and response.

The research team from the Tools supporting fire management in northern Australia project presented on their new fire-mapping program – the Savanna Monitoring and Evaluation Reporting Framework (SMERF). SMERF provides web-based, savanna-wide fire mapping to assist northern land managers with fire planning across large areas of land. Read more on the research behind SMERF and watch a video of Dr Andrew Edwards from Charles Darwin University explain the new software here.

A/Prof Jason Sharples presented on his research project Fire coalescence and mass spotfire dynamics. The project is currently working with end-users to develop a new tool that will help identify regions prone to mass spotting during a bushfire.

Lead end-user from the Improving flood forecast skill using remote sensing data Norman Mueller from Geoscience Australia and Digital Earth Australia (DEA) presented on the usage of Landsat imagery and how the DEA is converting this satellite imagery into decision-ready data that can be used for monitoring amounts of water in regional reservoirs.

The Australian Flammability Monitoring System was also in focus, with Dr Marta Yebra from the Mapping bushfire hazard and impacts project discussing the new features of the system, future improvements and the ways it is being currently utilised by land managers. 

Dr Yebra was also presented with the CRC’s Outstanding Achievement in Research Utilisation award that she won at AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ in August; along with lead end-user Dr Adam Leavesley from ACT Parks and Conservation. Dr Yebra and Dr Leavesley received the award for their work on the Australian Flammability Monitoring System.

The Predictive Services RAF marked the last of the forums for 2019. The format for the forums has evolved many times since the CRC began in 2013 to reflect the current needs of the research. The latest change allowed for a greater focus on the utilisation of research according to themes, rather than the current focus on individual projects. 

All presentation slides from the RAF are available on the RAF page.