Citation

Martin D, Chen T, Nichols D, Bessell R, Kidnie S, Alexander J. Int. J. Wildland Fire 2015; 24(3): 329-339.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, International Association of Wildland Fire, Fire Research Institute, Publisher CSIRO Publishing)

DOI

10.1071/WF14029

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In Australia, the Grassland Fire Danger Index is determined by several inputs including an essential component, the degree of grassland curing, defined as the proportion of senescent material. In the state of Victoria (south-eastern Australia), techniques used for curing assessment have included the use of ground-based observations and the use of satellite imagery. Both techniques alone have inherent limitations. An improved technique has been developed for estimating the degree of curing that entails the use of satellite observations adjusted by observations from the ground. First, a satellite model was developed, named MapVictoria, based on historical satellite and ground-based observations. Second, with use of the new (MapVictoria) satellite model, an integrated model was developed, named the Victorian Improved Satellite Curing Algorithm, combining near-real-time satellite data with weekly observations of curing from the ground. This integrated model was deployed in operations supporting accurate fire danger calculations for grasslands in Victoria in 2013.

Language: en