MAPPING BUSHFIRE DATA FOR NEW DATABASE

knowledge gaps, data needs, and availability, to recommend what an ideal national bushfire information database could include.

You can help map bushfire data by providing information about bushfirerelated datasets using this short online form: https://bit.ly/3XbPqrq.

Types of data being sought include:

„ environmental (e.g. vegetation, climate related, topography)

„ social (e.g. travel/daily activity diaries, demographic information, mitigation behaviours, preparedness/risk assessments)

„ economic (e.g. economic impacts of disasters, mitigation costs)

„ emergency (e.g. evacuation/public response behaviour, emergency response logistics)

The vital role of research in emergency management was central to discussions at the Natural Hazards Research Forum.

Fire agencies, land management departments, and researchers are encouraged to share their knowledge of existing bushfire data as part of Natural Hazards Research Australia’s Bushfire Information Database project.

The project, which aims to map all data related to bushfires in Australia, arises from findings by the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and the 2020 NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry, both of which noted the absence of a national centralised bushfire information database for Australia.

A centralised database could be used to understand bushfire trends, including their intensity, extent, and the efficacy of mitigation activities, giving policy and decision-makers access to credible information for evidenceinformed practice.

The project will identify and determine current data and systems,

„ built environment (e.g. building damage, building and planning, utility and infrastructure access, postbushfire surveys, regulations)

„ bushfire (e.g. extent, ignition)

„ anything else contributors think might be relevant to understanding bushfires.

Find out more about this project at www.naturalhazards.com.au/ research/research-projects/bushfireinformation-database-scoping-study.