Australia develops technology to assess eucalyptus forest flammability — ABC News Australia
In Australia, scientists at the Australian National University are developing OzFuel satellite technology designed to determine the flammability of eucalyptus forests from space. The project could become Australia’s first national Earth observation mission, ABC News Australia reports.
Researchers are studying eucalyptus leaf properties that affect fire behaviour, including moisture, oil, cellulose and lignin content. The team analysed thousands of leaf samples to identify infrared spectrum regions that make it possible to remotely detect these characteristics.
Infrared telescope for a small satellite
At the Mount Stromlo research centre in Canberra, specialists adapted equipment that astronomers use to observe distant planets. The team led by Rob Sharp, director of the ANU Centre for Advanced Instrumentation Technology, created a powerful infrared telescope compact enough to be installed on a small satellite.
The concept has already been tested in a laboratory, but the next stage is expected to be a test, or pathfinder, mission into space. According to Anna Moore, director of the ANU Institute for Space, it could be ready for launch within 18 months and would cost about $15 million. The project is currently on hold.
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Dependence on foreign data
Australia does not have its own Earth observation satellites and relies on data from foreign-owned satellites during emergencies. This dependence was raised by the royal commission established after the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires.
In March 2022, the Australian government announced a $1.16 million plan to create four satellites as part of the National Space Mission for Earth Observation, but the programme was cancelled a year later amid budget cuts. At the same time, the government is investing $448.7 million over 11 years to access data from the US Landsat Next satellite mission.
OzFuel head Marta Yebra believes that technologies that help plan fire prevention measures, rather than merely respond to fires, could reduce future damage.
