Wildland Fire Behaviour Simulations Employing an Integrated Weather-Topographical-Fuel Datasets and Satellite Remote Sensing

Abstract

Several countries have developed fire spread and simulation models with little attention being paid to the evaluation of existing fire simulation tools. In this study, NASA’s LANDFIRE database at 30-metre pixel resolution derived from Landsat 5 and 7 imagery was utilised over the Woodacre and Glen Ellen regions near San Francisco, California to compare fire simulation models over two Californian landscapes representing different terrain and vegetation regimes. This paper includes a brief discussion of the models, their assumptions and limitations, how to assemble data to build landscape input datasets and also outlines interpretation of outputs/results. The outputs of these models are beyond two-dimensional static maps/images, and in turn provide the fire managers and field staff with three-dimensional interactive and immersive visualisation of the spatial variation of the terrain and wind/fire speed/direction and the fire growth areas across the wildfire perimeter. The assessment of FARSITE, FlamMap and WindWizard simulations revealed that these technologies offer appropriate capabilities to predict the fire growth process and assess resources at risk which holds promise for real-time simulation of wind-driven wildland fires. Australia needs to initiate and develop a national bushfire spread forecast system to guide Authorities and communities readiness for fire suppression actions and rescue operations.