Australian Fuel Classification: Overview Jim Gould 1,2 , Miguel Cruz 1 Jen Hollis 1 & Tom Jovanovic 1 1 CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra ACT 2 CSIRO Digital Productive Flagship- Digital Technology & Services for Disaster Management, Canberra, ACT ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES/DIGITAL PRODUCTIVITY FLAGSHIP
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Australian Fuel Classification€¦ · and fire dynamics Probable approach Indirect, gradient model Direct, indirect gradient model Field reconnaissance Mapping/Classification entities
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Australian Fuel Classification: Overview Jim Gould1,2, Miguel Cruz1 Jen Hollis1 & Tom Jovanovic1 1 CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra ACT 2 CSIRO Digital Productive Flagship- Digital Technology & Services for Disaster Management, Canberra, ACT
ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES/DIGITAL PRODUCTIVITY FLAGSHIP
Australian Fuel Classification (AFC): The project
1. Project initiated and coordinated by:
Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC)
Forest Fire Management Group (FFMG)
Attorney General Department- National Emergency Management program (particle funding)
In-kind support from rural and land management agencies
2. Background A National Bushfire Fuel Classification System to provide the
following opportunities: • Avoided duplication of effort in designing, reviewing and
implementation of classifications and fuel data systems;
• Increased authority for systems by drawing on a greater pool of expertise;
• Increased interoperability across borders for response and prevention activities; and
• Increased data quality for national reporting initiatives.
CSIRO: Australian Bushfire Classification: Fire Weather & Risk Workshop
Australian Fuel Classification (AFC): Multi-stage project
1. Stage I (completed 2011) • Reviews- national and international
• Scope and framework
2. Stage II (completed 2012) • Glossary of terms
• Fuel sampling
• Architecture
3. Stage III (work in progress) • Implementation – pilot project ACT Parks and Conservation Service
• End user workshop (October, 2013?) & Science publication
4. Future work (concepts) • Implementation to other agencies (?)
• Web site (?)
• Links with other bushfire DSS (?)
CSIRO: Australian Bushfire Classification: Fire Weather & Risk Workshop
Fuel Classification Current situation
Broad fuel types linked to fire behaviour models: • Strong focus on forest fuels and adoption of OFHG
• Fuel load from fuel accumulation curves- some science based, others expert opinion
No standard for assessment of fuel complex characteristics;
No standard for assessment of fuel hazard;
Invalidated linkages between visual fuel hazard and biomass (Gould et al 2011; Watson et al 2012);
Wealth of fuel inventory studies – not used;
Seasonal and temporal fuel dynamics not being considered
(with exceptions).
Stage I
Behave
Plus
FOFEM
NFDR
United States • National Fire Danger Rating (20 fuel models)
• Fire Behaviour models (11 original models, expanded to 40 fuel models) • Based on laboratory sites and limited field validation
• Inconsistency between NFDR and FB fuel models
• Fuel Characteristic Classification System • 6 fuel layer stratum
• Limited field validation
• Web base/geo-spatial/software applications- e.g. LANDFIRE
Canada (Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System) • Organises fuels into 5 major groupings, with 16
discrete fuel types
• Fuel types are used to describe fire behaviour characteristics that would be expected under various burning conditions
• Fuel types are described qualitatively
New Zealand (NZ Forest Fire Danger Rating System)
• Adopt the Canadian FWI for pine plantations
• Expanded to 17 fuel models and 7 spread models
Fuel Classification International review
Stage I
Fuel are complex in structure and diverse in their physical attributes and biological origin of their components
Comprehensive system of fuel classification requires fuel models that capture this diversity
Primary focus on fire behaviour for fuel classification:
• Fire danger rating
• Fuel hazard and risk
• Rating potential rate of spread or rate of perimeter growth
• Suppression difficulty/resistance to control
Future application
• Fire effects
• Carbon/Smoke/GHG/etc
AUSTRALIAN FUEL CLASSIFICATION Objectives and scope
Stage I
Description for fuel classification Across different scales
FUEL CLASSIFICATION LARGE SCALE MEDIUM SCALE FINE SCALE
Primary application Fire danger Fire risk and hazard Fire behaviour
Possible scales >1000 m 250 – 1000 m 30 – 250 m
Fire uses Plan and allocate resources Locate and prioritize treatment areas
Fire prediction, fire effects,
Simulate fire behaviour
Other possible uses Global carbon budget Biodiversity conservation assessments
Simulate ecosystems and fire dynamics
Probable approach Indirect, gradient model Direct, indirect gradient model
Field reconnaissance
Mapping/Classification entities
Land use type Fuel models Fuel models, field data
Stage I
Fuel Classification framework
Carnahan, J.A., 1977. Vegetation. In: Jeans, D.N. (Ed.), Australia: A Geography. University of Sydney Press, pp. 175–195.
Specht, R.L., 1970. Vegetation. In: Leeper, G.W. (Ed.), The Australian Environment. CSIRO & Melbourne University Press,
Melbourne, VIC, pp. 44–67.
Stage I
Australian Fuel Classification (AFC): Multi-stage project
1. Stage I (completed 2011) • Reviews- national and international
• Scope and frame work
2. Stage II (completed 2012) • Glossary of terms
• Fuel sampling
• Architecture
3. Stage III (work in progress) • Implementation – pilot project ACT Parks and Conservation Service
• End user workshop (October, 2013?) & Science publication
4. Future work (concepts) • Implementation to other agencies (?)
• Web site (?)
• Links with other bushfire DSS (?)
CSIRO: Australian Bushfire Classification: Fire Weather & Risk Workshop
1. Glossary has been assembled to provide and maintain consistency of definition and clarity for fuel terms used in the AFC.
2. Terms identified under three key categories: 1) General fire terms
2) Fuel
3) Sampling and statistics
3. Fuel terminology is constantly evolving
4. WikiFuel - to accommodate updates, amendments and new terms a wiki model is sought (concept)
Australian Fuel Classification Glossary of terms
Stage II
– Factor influencing sampling design
• Information required and its desired precision
• Composition of the fuel/vegetation type and its variability
• Topography and access
• Availability of personnel and level of skill
• Time and money available for the work
– Sampling techniques:
• Easily taught to field crew
• Quickly implemented
• Scalable so that any sampling unit can be measured
• Accurate enough so estimate can be used as inputs
• Repeatable so that estimates can be measured required precision
Fuel assessment Review and applications
Stage II
Suitability of sampling techniques Accuracy and cost
Fuel parameter Sampling method Accuracy Cost
Load Destructive H H
Line transect M-H M
Photo guide M L-M
Fuel dynamic models M L-M
Visual L L
Hazard rating Visual H L
Curing Line transect M-H M
Photo guide L L
Satellite M L-M
Cover Line transect H M
H= High, M= Moderate, L= Low
Stage II
Suitability of sampling techniques Accuracy and cost
Fuel parameter Sampling method Accuracy Cost
Cover Line transect H M
Aerial photos H L-M
Satellite M L-M
LiDAR H L-M
Visual L L
Vegetation mapping Aerial photos H L-M
Satellite M-H L-M
LiDAR H L-M
H= High, M= Moderate, L= Low
Stage II
Application through Australia
Accommodate a wide range of users at different scales, with various levels of detail and quality and quantity of data
Data and methods are scientifically creditable
Capture the fuelbed variability
Flexible with potential expansion
Standardised output
User interface that easily understood
PROPOSED ARCHITECTURE Concepts
Stage II
Application of Specht (1970) structural forms to fuel classification Road map
Photo : NSW Rural Fire Service
Structural forms to fuel classification Forest type
Stage II
Australian Fuel Classification (AFC): Multi-stage project
1. Stage I (completed 2011) • Reviews- national and international
• Scope and frame work
2. Stage II (completed 2012) • Glossary of terms
• Fuel sampling
• Architecture
3. Stage III (work in progress) • Implementation – pilot project ACT Parks and Conservation Service
• End user workshop (October, 2013?) & Science publication
4. Future work (concepts) • Implementation to other agencies (?)
• Web site (?)
• Links with other bushfire DSS (?)
CSIRO: Australian Bushfire Classification: Fire Weather & Risk Workshop
PILOT PROJECT FOR FUEL CLASSIFICATION ACT Parks and Conservation Service