abc.net.au
Australian scientists develop world-first satellite technology to measure eucalypt flammability
As Australian bushfires become more frequent and intense, satellite data has become a critical tool for bushfire planning and response. But with no Earth-observation satellites, the nation depends on foreign-owned satellites for information during emergencies. Scientists at the Australian National University are developing what could be Australia's first national satellite mission for Earth observation, with world-first technology to monitor the flammability of eucalypt forests from space. The OzFuel project has been proven in the lab and now needs investment for a preliminary or "pathfinder" mission to test and prove it works ahead of a more expensive program. Scanning eucalypt forests from space Eucalypt forests are among the most flammable in the world, responsible for devastating wildfires both in Australia and overseas. Predicting where these fires are most likely to start and how they may propagate comes down to the complex biochemistry in the eucalypt leaves. "There is no single variable that determines how flammable a eucalypt is," said Marta Yebra, director of the ANU Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence and leader of the OzFuel project. "One of the properties is moisture content, but there are other chemical components like oil content, cellulose and lignin," Professor Yebra said. "These all make...
