Student researcher

Heather Simpson Research Leader

This project will provide empirical measures and modelling of resources that are used for suppression of campaign fires. Research will commence with an examination of historical data by evaluating recent campaign fires in Australia. Operational data will be used to generate models of current suppression resourcing and tactics. These models will be used to evaluate various resource scenarios in simulation studies. For a given set of fire weather, fuel and topographical conditions, the research questions are:

  • What is the appropriate level of resources required for successful containment of campaign fires in Australia?
  • Should suppression resources be engaged in offensive or defensive strategies?
  • What offensive strategies should suppression resources use?
  • What should be expected for a containment timeframe?
  • Is there a sufficient level of resources to hold a fire to a specific threshold of fire size?
Cost Effective Suppression on Campaign Fires
18 Aug 2015
This project seeks to determine what type and level of suppression resources are required for successful...
Heather Simpson Conference Poster 2016
14 Aug 2016
This project strives to determine what effect suppression operations have on large fires.
Owen Price Conference Poster 2016
14 Aug 2016
To describe the actual and potential costs and benefits of bushfire preparedness and response operations...
Productivity of firefighting resources on large bushfires
29 Jun 2017
This project will seek to answer the following questions:What are the productivity rates of different types...
Deconstructing Suppression Efforts on Large Bushfires
19 Sep 2018
Large bushfires (over 500ha) account for a disproportionate amount of both hectares burned and suppression...
27 Aug 2019
Aim Large-fire suppression is poorly understood even though large bushfires (over 500ha) account for a...