Student researcher

Rachael Quill
Dr Rachael Quill Research Leader

Rachael completed her CRC PhD at the University of NSW in 2017. She is now a Research Associate at the University of Adelaide. Rachael's PhD study improved the knowledge of wind characteristics over complex terrain, improving bushfire modeling. Through statistical analysis, a characterisation of winds at different points in the landscape was developed for ambient wind conditions. This analysis was extended across complex terrain methods. The application of these statistical analyses was used to evaluate the spectrum of wind prediction models used for bushfire modeling over rugged landscapes. The probabilistic approach will lend itself to scenario-based analysis of bushfire modelling, developed alongside fire managers.. 

Watch Rachael explain her research as part of UNSW's Three Minute Thesis competition.

Year Type Citation
2019 Journal Article Quill, R., Sharples, J. J., Wagenbrenner, N., Sidhu, L. & Forthofer, J. Modelling wind direction distributions using a diagnostic model in the context of probabilistic fire spread prediction. Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering: Thermal and Mass Transport (2019). doi:10.3389/fmech.2019.00005
2017 Journal Article Quill, R. Statistical characterisation of wind fields over complex terrain with applications in bushfire modelling. Research Gate (2017). at <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322212511_Statistical_characterisation_of_wind_fields_over_complex_terrain_with_applications_in_bushfire_modelling>
2017 Thesis Quill, R. Statistical Characterisation Of Wind Fields Over Complex Terrain With Applications In Bushfire Modelling. 274 (2017). at <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachael_Quill/publication/322212511_Statistical_characterisation_of_wind_fields_over_complex_terrain_with_applications_in_bushfire_modelling/links/5a4c20cf458515a6bc6bf931/Statistical-characterisation-of-wind-fields-ov>
2016 Conference Paper Rumsewicz, M. Research proceedings from the 2016 Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and AFAC conference. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC & AFAC annual conference 2016 (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2016).
2016 Conference Paper Quill, R. et al. Wind speed reduction induced by post-fire vegetation regrowth. AFAC16 (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2016).
Rachel Quill Conference Poster 2016
14 Aug 2016
With the emergence of ensemble-based fire modelling, it is necessary to recast wind fields in probabilistic...
Statistical characterisation of wind fields over complex terrain for bushfire modelling
29 Jun 2017
The research conducted throughout this PhD aimed to improve the understanding of wind flow over complex...