Understanding fire management technology in an operational context

The Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence set out with the ambitious aim of developing and evaluating new technologies for early fire detection, including satellites, drones, cameras and sensor networks, after the 2019/2020 fire season. Nick has played a central role providing bushfire expertise for each technology development project, as well as understanding where and when these technologies can make a difference. The Centre has also developed advanced capabilities for fuel moisture monitoring, which can help identify ignition risk in advance. In this seminar, Nick will outline the challenges around early fire detection and discuss how fuel moisture monitoring as well as satellite, drone, tower cameras and sensor networks can improve early detection performance.

About the Speaker

Nick joined the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence at the Australian National University as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in 2021. Nick’s research primarily focuses on understanding the early phases of fire development as well as the benefits and limitations of technology in bushfire management, particularly early fire detection technologies. Nick completed a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours on fuel characteristics in woodlands before working as a research ecologist for the ACT Government. In this position he led several research projects and developed familiarity with the operational constraints around fire and land management. He then completed a PhD at the University of Wollongong under the supervision of Prof Ross Bradtsock, exploring the influence of logging and fire on fuel structure and microclimatic conditions, and how this affects the stability of carbon stocks.