
New ANU-Optus partnership to
build national defence system against catastrophic
bushfires
Optus and The Australian National
University (ANU) have joined forces to develop a
revolutionary national system that aims to detect
bushfires early and put them out within minutes.
ANU-Optus Bushfire Research Centre
of Excellence will undertake advanced research and
develop hi-tech solutions to predict, identify and
extinguish blazes before they become deadly.
The ambitious program will run
until 2024. In the short-term, experts from Optus and
ANU will work together to develop an autonomous
ground-based and aerial fire detection system.
By 2022, the program proposes
launching a constellation of satellites, managed by ANU,
to complement the fire detection system. The program
will look to be augmented by a geostationary satellite
to help spot and track fires as well as deploy
extinguishing technologies.
The program will investigate how to
use existing and new technologies including infra-red
cameras, drones, robotics and satellites. It will also
harness expertise and research in space, communications,
computer vision, sensing systems, defence, data
analytics and bushfire science.
Bushfires are expected to cost the
nation at least $30 billion over the next three decades.
Recent modelling from ANU shows investment in
early bushfire detection could save Australia $8.2
billion over the next 30 years.
ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian
Schmidt said: “When it comes to fires, every second
counts and there is no point detecting fires quickly if
they cannot be extinguished quickly. As we saw this
season, these fires can cause massive destruction to our
environment, homes and infrastructure and they cost
lives.
“That’s why we are building an
integrated defence system to protect Australia from
catastrophic fires. This will detect and attack fires
before they grow. We hope to develop a system that can
locate a fire within the first few minutes of ignition
and extinguish it soon afterwards. ANU is designing and
looking to build highly innovative water gliders with
autopilots that will extinguish fires within minutes of
them igniting.
“I want to thank Optus for their
vision, support and for joining us in this vital mission
that will only become more essential as fires become
more frequent, larger and deadly.”
Chris Mitchell, Optus Enterprise
Managing Director, said Optus Enterprises’ participation
was a natural fit.
“Partnerships like this combine
strengths and resources, including Optus’ leading
network and satellite capabilities with ANU’s academic
leadership. This is what it’s going to take to make a
difference to building our nation’s resilience and
capabilities for these catastrophic events.
“We apply innovation to solve
issues and improve outcomes, and for communities in
areas prone to bushfire, there is no bigger challenge
than battling out-of-control fires.
“Our infra-red sensor pilot will be
the first of many technologies which tested for early
detection, which is absolutely critical to containing
disasters before they destroy lives, homes, wildlife and
the environment.”
The early stages of the program
will see a pilot of infra-red sensor cameras launched in
the ACT.
The trial, in partnership with the
ACT Rural Fire Service (RFS), will place long-range,
infra-red camera systems on towers in bushfire-prone
areas in ACT, allowing the ACT RFS to visually monitor
and identify bushfires before they become out of
control.
ACT Rural Fire Service Acting Chief
Officer Rohan Scott said the pilot technology trialled
with ANU and Optus, with support from Minderoo
Foundation, is vital and potentially lifesaving work.
“If we are able to improve the
speed and accuracy of fire detection it ultimately means
we can improve our response and better protect
communities and landscapes,” Acting Chief Officer Scott
said.
The Optus and ANU collaboration is
the starting point for a major national network of
partners working together to tackle this critical issue.
The network will include the ACT RFS and the ACT Parks
and Conservation Service, with other organisations able
to join.
The ANU-Optus partnership includes
the appointment of a joint Chair for Bushfire Research
and Innovation, along with a Research and Innovation
fund. This collaboration provides an opportunity for ANU
students to learn from real-world experiences, and
benefit from employment opportunities, research
fellowships and PhD fellowships.
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