REAL TIME DATA PROTECTS COMMUNITIES FROM BUSH FIRES
HAMISH DOWNS, ISAAC SAUNDERS, NICOLE ROBINS, PAUL NOBLE, PAUL RUNCIMAN, SEAMUS FEERY, THOMAS GERDEI, TIM WALKENHORST, WAYNE ROSS
Catastrophic bushfires can have a devastating impact on communities – affecting families, homes, livestock and livelihoods. The Environmental Monitoring team in Victoria applied innovative thinking and design to develop a fuel-moisture monitoring solution that will potentially benefit millions of people in regional communities.
Fuel moisture strongly affects fire ignition and fire behaviour and is a key factor in planning when and where to do planned burns to reduce fire threat and make the environment safe for our communities.
Our client, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), required a monitoring solution to improve fire risk management in Victoria. The solution needed to measure and relay real-time information regarding localised meteorological conditions and, importantly, the moisture content of forest fire fuel loads, such as surface litter and tree bark.
Stepping up to the challenge, the Environmental Monitoring team developed, designed and installed an Automated Fuel Moisture Monitoring Network (AFMMN) across the State of Victoria – the first large-scale example of its kind in the state.
The innovative solution cleverly integrates off-the-shelf technology to produce a cost-effective monitoring station that is easy to install in remote locations. The team brought a ‘can do’ attitude to an industry-first, delivering the project without incident, to the benefit of our client, the environment and our community.
As a result, more informed decisions can now be made about when and where to carry out controlled burns that will help to reduce bushfire risk to millions of Victorians.
