Bushfire information database - scoping study

The 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and the 2020 NSW Independent Bushfire Inquiry both found that Australia does not have a national centralised bushfire information database that can be used to understand trends, including in bushfire intensity and extent, and the extent and efficacy of mitigation activities. This means that policy and decision-makers currently do not have access to all the credible information required for evidence-informed practice. Researchers will identify and determine current data and systems, current knowledge gaps, data needs and availability.

This project is aimed at scoping the knowledge gaps and data needs and availability for this database. The project will examine: 

• existing systems and data held by the various states and territories and the Commonwealth, to determine where current data gaps exist

• current initiatives underway in the various jurisdictions and current discussion led by the Australian Research Data Commons on bushfire data

• any experimental or technological solutions currently in operation such as the North Australian Fire Information system

• international approaches to this issue linking with the European Commission’s European Forest Fire Information System and the Global Wildfire Information System.