There is a need for a consolidated understanding of the quality, purpose and availability of bushfire datasets in Australia in the form of a national bushfire database – but how do we achieve this?
In the July Hazardous Webinar: Establishing guidelines and a pathway to a national bushfire database, attendees heard from researchers and end-users from the Bushfire information database - scoping study project about how the team produced guidelines and a pathway a consolidated national bushfire database.
Speakers:
- A/Prof Nader Naderpajouh (The University of Sydney)
- Dr Raphaele Blanchi (CSIRO)
- David Field (NSW Rural Fire Service)
Showcasing findings from the Bushfire information database - scoping project, A/Prof Nader Naderpajouh and Dr Raphaele Blanchi described how researchers scoped the knowledge gaps and data needs and availability for such a database, building an understanding of the bushfire data landscape in Australia and providing guidance to assist with the development of a national plan to improve data collection.
This project included a sector needs analysis to inform a comprehensive gap analysis, a comparison of current datasets and systems with international practice and development of recommendations to inform the development of a National Bushfire Information Database and a plan for achieving this.
A/Prof Naderpajouh's presentation focused on the organisational side of the research, while Dr Blanchi focused on the technical side and an international comparison of high-level bushfire data.
David Field from the NSW Rural Fire Service discussed how the findings of the project are and could be applied in practice, providing industry context.