❓ Hon. Samantha Rowe inquires about DFES's contribution to UWA's extreme bushfire behaviour modelling, specifically regarding data provision, funding, and personnel training. The Minister's response outlines DFES's ongoing collaboration, funding efforts, and staff training initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 853Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES —
EXTREME BUSHFIRE BEHAVIOUR MODELLING
853. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the Attorney General
representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the work being done at
the University of Western Australia on the simulation technology for modelling
extreme bushfire behaviour.
What contribution will the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services make this fire season towards —
(a) refining
the predictive tool by the provision of live data on the shifting perimeter
measurements and fireground weather measurements;
(b) provision of funding for the project, and the amount
thereof; and
(c) training DFES personnel in using the tool?
EXTREME BUSHFIRE BEHAVIOUR MODELLING
853. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the Attorney General
representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the work being done at
the University of Western Australia on the simulation technology for modelling
extreme bushfire behaviour.
What contribution will the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services make this fire season towards —
(a) refining
the predictive tool by the provision of live data on the shifting perimeter
measurements and fireground weather measurements;
(b) provision of funding for the project, and the amount
thereof; and
(c) training DFES personnel in using the tool?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for
Emergency Services I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
The Department of Fire and Emergency
Services advises —
(a) The
Department of Fire and Emergency Services has worked with UWA in the
development of the simulator from the initial stages of the Bushfire
Cooperative Research Centre, when the research commenced, through to the operationalisation
of the Australis simulator today. DFES continually monitors the data that is
utilised in the University of Western Australia's Australis simulator,
and works closely with UWA to ensure the best data is made available for the
simulations. For example, the aerial intelligence capability within DFES
facilitates regular information gathering of the fire perimeter, which assists
in determining the fire rate of spread and interrogation of some of the
required inputs into the simulator.
(b) The Department
of Fire and Emergency Services and Landgate, with input from UWA, will soon be
seeking ongoing funding for further enhancement of the Aurora Firewatch
project, which includes the UWA Australis simulator.
(c) The
Department of Fire and Emergency Services has trained in excess of 100 staff to
utilise the Aurora Firewatch tools, which has embedded the UWA Australis
simulator. Refresher training is actively being undertaken during November and
early December.
Emergency Services I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
The Department of Fire and Emergency
Services advises —
(a) The
Department of Fire and Emergency Services has worked with UWA in the
development of the simulator from the initial stages of the Bushfire
Cooperative Research Centre, when the research commenced, through to the operationalisation
of the Australis simulator today. DFES continually monitors the data that is
utilised in the University of Western Australia's Australis simulator,
and works closely with UWA to ensure the best data is made available for the
simulations. For example, the aerial intelligence capability within DFES
facilitates regular information gathering of the fire perimeter, which assists
in determining the fire rate of spread and interrogation of some of the
required inputs into the simulator.
(b) The Department
of Fire and Emergency Services and Landgate, with input from UWA, will soon be
seeking ongoing funding for further enhancement of the Aurora Firewatch
project, which includes the UWA Australis simulator.
(c) The
Department of Fire and Emergency Services has trained in excess of 100 staff to
utilise the Aurora Firewatch tools, which has embedded the UWA Australis
simulator. Refresher training is actively being undertaken during November and
early December.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.