Interactive simulation of bushfires in heterogeneous fuels

  • Authors:

  • David G. Green;Andrew Tridgell;A.Malcolm Gill

  • Affiliations:

  • Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University GPO Box 475, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia;Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University GPO Box 475, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia;CSIRO Division of Plant Industry GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

  • Venue:
  • Mathematical and Computer Modelling: An International Journal
  • Year:
  • 1990

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Abstract

The program IGNITE, developed by the authors, is a landscape fire modelling system that deals with fires in heterogeneous fuels. Landscapes are represented as cellular automata (grids of pixels) and fire spread is modelled as an epidemic process. An integrated geographic information system permits the importing and editing of maps from compatible sources, such as satellite imagery. Maps, models and other information are organized as scenarios; historical fires can be recorded and replayed. Modules are being developed for application to fire prevention, fire suppression, land-use management, and to training and education. An illustration of using the system to deal with heterogeneous fuel is its application to the problem of percolation in patchy fuel.