Community safety and engagement

Detection cameras on trial

Bushfire detection cameras were trialled in Australia last summer in the Otway Ranges, on Victoria’s south-west coast and near Tumut in New South Wales.

The cameras were placed in strategic positions around the Otway Ranges and on a fire tower in Tumut and are being evaluated by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre on their performance in detecting fire starts.

This was a research trial but the data was also made available to local fire incident control centres and the central operations of the state’s fire services.

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Special recognition for Black Saturday Research

Professor John Handmer has been awarded the Bushfire CRC Special Recognition Award for 2010 for his timely research work in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires.

The award was presented to Professor Handmer at the recent AFAC and Bushfire CRC conference in Darwin by Gary Morgan, CEO of the Bushfire CRC.

Professor Handmer is a Principal Scientific Adviser at the Bushfire CRC and the Program Leader of the Safe Prevention, Preparation and Suppression program since 2003. He is also the Director of Centre for Risk and Community Safety at RMIT University.

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Recognition for Black Saturday research

Professor John Handmer has been awarded the Bushfire CRC Special Recognition Award for 2010 for his timely research work in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires.

The award was presented to Professor Handmer at the recent AFAC and Bushfire CRC conference in Darwin by Gary Morgan, CEO of the Bushfire CRC.

Read more about Recognition for Black Saturday research

Community Bushfire Safety book - launch

New collection on community safety research

Australia is at the forefront of research on community bushfire safety and resilience according to a new book. Community Bushfire Safety brings together in one comprehensive volume the results of the most important community safety research being undertaken within the Australian Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre.

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Effective communication - communities and bushfire

Thu, 29/07/2010 - 10:32 — David Bruce

This project examined the role, scope and limits of Australian bushfire and community safety communication in preparing householders for bushfire.

Professor Peter Fairbrother led the research team, which was based at RMIT University, and comprised Dr Bernard Mees, Dr Meagan Tyler, Dr Richard Phillips, Dr Yoko Akama, Dr Susan Chaplinand Dr Keith Toh.

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Social Constructs of Fuels in the interface 2

Thu, 29/07/2010 - 10:32 — David Bruce

This pilot research project applied the innovative process of ‘place mapping’. This new approach for the fire and land management industry allows agencies to better understand how communities in rural/urban areas perceive native vegetation in the context of their landscape. It can help agencies to understand why communities might oppose prescribed burning and may not undertake fire mitigation measures.

The research team of Associate Professor Ruth Beilin and Dr Karen Reid developed a multi-layered, place-mapping exercise to interpret everyday landscapes.