Doulgas Brown recently completed his PhD with the University of Sydney.

This study commenced with the Bushfire CRC and explored householders’ perceptions of bushfire risk and whether perceptions change when different building materials or design and architectural features are applied. The research investigated if these factors increase or decrease risk perception, or whether other factors, such as proximity to bushland, change the perception of fire risk.

Bushfires, along with floods, tsunami, cyclones, earthquakes, etc, are defined as natural hazards.  When the built environment is placed within areas susceptible to these weather events, human settlement is invariably negatively affected.  Loss of life and damage to property are possible consequences and yet people continue to choose to live in these areas. This research seeks to investigate occupants’ perception of the bushfire risk of their homes and immediate environs.