Bushfire Risk & Prevention

Establishment of forest vegetation and soil water monitoring sites across Western Australia, for the purpose of calibration and validation of satellite data products relating to live and dead fuel load moisture content.  These sites will have LoraWan connectivity with data stored and shared with academic, industry and community stakeholders.  First site funded by the Space Science Technology Centre will be running for summer Q4 2024.  The application of the scientific products is conducted in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions.  The site monitoring sensors are provided by ICT International who also provide ongoing support for the site.

• • DBCA collaborators: Dr Ben Miller, Dr Gavan McGrath, Dr Tim Bleby, Dr Katinka Ruthrof,  Dr Jen Hollis
  • ICT International collaborators: Beng Umali

Advancing the state and sovereign capacity for bushfire severity planning, risk mitigation, and response through the development of a Western Australian bushfire-focused mission and science satellite payload, Pyromantis.

Pyromantis (named for a ‘seer of fire’ and the five eyed animal) is a prototype multispectral payload carrying 5 cameras with wavelengths specifically chosen for capturing information related to vegetation and soil water content and fuel load dryness.  One of the primary objectives is to test the applicability of the data captured for bushfire risk mitigation through a partnership with end user, the Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conversation and Attractions (DBCA), the Government body responsible for prescribed burns and fire management, fire science and behaviour research, and fire severity modelling.

• Curtin Contacts: Prof. Phil Bland, Dr Robert Howie, Dr Eriita Jones, Dale Giancomo, Athena Galbraith