Vision for the project
To improve estimates of both live and dead fuel moisture and contribute to more precise fire risk assessments and better-informed decision-making processes.
Research
Funded by the Australia-Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme and collaborating with the Dresden University of Technology, this research adapts a physics-based model of dead fuel moisture to Central European forest species.
Observed weather data and field site observations are used for calibration of the model with site-specific fuel characteristics, and modelled dead fuel moisture levels are validated against other dead fuel moisture measurements (e.g. fuel stick or satellite data) and fire danger indices.
Future research will involve the estimation and evaluation of fuel stick moisture under various ecosystems across Australia and Europe.