How research utilisation enhances severe fire weather forecasting

The following is an AFAC research utilisation case study

In severe weather forecasting, getting the science right is critical to public safety, well-being and prosperity. Any operational failure in producing and delivering forecasts could result in unavoidable injury, loss of life or significant property damage.

Accordingly, the Bureau of Meteorology invests in using new and innovative knowledge, developing capable staff and building robust processes and practices to deliver reliable environmental intelligence to clients including government, industry and the community.

Partnering with the former Bushfire CRC, and now all-hazards focused Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, enables the Bureau to capture and operationalise new and emerging science, according to the Bureau’s Fire Weather Training Program Manager Monica Long.

All of the Bureau’s internal training modules relating to forecasting for fire incidents reference relevant Bushfire CRC research, she says. These training modules will continue to be updated with the research outputs of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, ensuring forecasters are up-to-date.

A recently completed AFAC research utilisation case study outlines how the Bureau used the findings of PhD research by Dr Mika Peace (for the Bushfire CRC) to enhance the capability of operational forecasters through its national learning and development program.

The case study describes the research and explains its transition into the Bureau’s forecasting operations via the national Bureau of Meteorology Training Centre. It also highlights the critical success factors in using and operationalising the research. It can be downloaded from AFAC’s website.

Case studies are a practical tool to share insights and inspire learning opportunities within and across workplaces. According to organisational learning research (for example, McCall  and Lombardo & Eichinger 1996-2002) most work-based learning occurs through ‘on-the-job’ experiences (70 per cent) learning through other people (20 per cent) and in formal courses (10 per cent).

Case studies can be used in all these workplace learning and development contexts. In a workplace context, they can elaborate on critical success factors, provide examples of best practice or reveal insights gathered from failure, as well as trial and error.

There are many styles and formats for case studies, but no hard and fast rules. AFAC has prepared a practical guideline on preparing case studies, which can be downloaded here.