Life In A Fire-Prone Environment: Translating Science Into Practice A SPATIAL DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR MAPPING BUSHFIRE HAZARD POTENTIAL USING REMOTELY SENSED DATA

This paper describes a proposed method for mapping potential bushfi re hazard. Subject to endorsement by the Queensland Department of Emergency Services, it is proposed to utilise this methodology to fulfi l the Gold Coast City Council’s responsibility under the Queensland Integrated Planning Act 1997, in relation to mapping potential bushfi re hazard pursuant to the State Planning Policy 1/03 Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Flood, Bushfi re and Landslide (SPP 1/03). The method utilises high-density, small footprint LIDAR and high-resolution multispectral IKONOS data in combination with Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) GIS datasets to produce an accumulated fi ne fuel model and an elevated fuel model. Fuel parameters generated using these (cartographic) models are combined with slope and aspect data generated using standard algorithms and customised data scaling techniques applied to a detailed digital elevation model (DEM) interpolated from LIDAR data. Data analysis and aggregation is achieved in a spatial decision support system using multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) and weighted linear combination (WLC) to produce a high resolution, continuous scale hazard surface. Bushfi re hazard factors and constraints are scaled and weighted to conform to recommendations outlined in the SPP 1/03 appendix 3. The spatial decision support system described here produces a highly detailed cartographic product that is suitable for identifying properties and assets at risk from bushfi re, and provides a valuable tool for bushfi re managers and town planners