Student Sam Hillman awarded IAWF scholarship

A panel of international fire science experts have awarded Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Associate Student Sam Hillman from RMIT University with their prestigious scholarship. 

The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) awarded Sam $3,000 USD toward his PhD with the Remote Sensing Centre at RMIT University.  

Having always had a passion for the outdoors, Sam graduated with a Bachelor of Environments from the University of Melbourne and a Masters of Geospatial Science from RMIT University before taking up a graduate position with Forest Fire Management Victoria. 

In conjunction with summer forest firefighting roles, Sam’s work at FFMVic focuses on managing the collection of fuel hazard information across the state. Seeing a growing need to invest in new technologies for efficient collected of fuel hazard data, Sam returned to study to further study while continuing his role with FFMVic part-time. 

Sam’s PhD project explores the use of innovative methods for estimating below canopy forest structure for fuel hazard assessments. More specifically, the research investigates the utility of image based and LiDAR point clouds derived from terrestrial and airborne sources to describe the cover, height and structure of below canopy vegetation. 

Sam enjoys working with fire scientists and practitioners across Australia to improve the utility of this research. He is currently based in North America collaborating with research partners at the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Montana and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver to test these technologies outside of Australia forest systems. Sam is passionate about connecting innovative research to operations and believes that transitioning to a 3D paradigm will allow the accurate quantification and characterisation of fuel leading to improved operational and ecological decision making.  

Also awarded the IAWF scholarship this year is Megan Rennie, who is completing a Master of Science in  Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno.  

Sam is the second CRC student to be awarded the scholarship, with CRC PhD student Dr Billy Haworth receiving it in 2015.