Published works

The increasing risk of wildfire resulting from climate change has demanded an increase in information to support mitigation, response and recovery activities by fire management agencies. Subsequently, there is a need for an ongoing review of currently available and on-the-horizon information and technology.

Fire has important national significance as Australia faces ongoing environmental issues including loss of biodiversity, increasing urbanisation into bushland environments and increasing risks of wildfire. Fire regimes are an integral part of the ecosystem processes of Australian forests and a prominent disturbance factor. It affects successional rates of ecosystems, species diversity, can increase habitat fragmentation and alter landscape functioning. At the same time, fire is an important tool in management for ecosystem health and is frequently used for fuel hazard reduction.

Remote sensing data can assist fire management at three stages relative to fire occurrence including (i) Before the fire (fuel hazard measures, time since last burn) to assist fire prevention or minimisation activities, (ii) During the fire (near real-time detection and location of active fire areas and (iii) After the fire (mapping and assessment of burned areas). This report focuses on the use of sensing technology for generating a 3D representation of a feature or landscape. It examines the potential of emerging technology for measuring the structure and amount of vegetation within the landscape pre and post fire. Initial assessment of the sensing technology for mapping these environments is made based on the stage of maturity, sampling area, estimate accuracy and the expertise required to operate.