Introducing FireTech Connect: Innovating Bushfire Resilience in Noosa

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After almost burning down in the Black Summer Bushfires, the Hub created FireTech Connect to help accelerate adoption of technologies that could build bushfire resilience in Noosa and other regional communities.

The program involves running technology trials in a Noosa Council’s unique Living Lab - comprising robotics range, drone zone, next-gen command centre, and sensor network. Council’s preventative burning program provides a regular schedule of events where (controlled) bushfires can be used for trialling new solutions in real world conditions.

The program has been funded by Australia’s National Emergency Management Agency and has benefitted from close collaboration with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the RFS.

Trials have included early detection using AI-enabled camera systems, the use of drones for aerial intelligence during a bushfire, autonomous systems to support first responders, and bushfire behaviour prediction using environmental sensing.

Many thanks to our collaboration partners on the program thus far: Telstra, Rheinmetall, McDermott Aviation , Pano AI, RAYTRACER, Ninox Robotics, AmberTech, Ripper Corporation Pty Ltd , Fliight Technologies, Beyond Flight , Elite Helicopters Pty Ltd, AFAC, Meshed IoT, ICT International, Simtable, Queensland State Emergency Service,The Australian National University, Suncorp Group, National Aerial Firefighting Centre

Special thanks to Mike Wassing, Mark Ryan, Adam Green, Joe Buffone PSM GAICD, Brendan Moon AM and Murray Watt for their support of the program.

To learn more about the Firetech Connect trial program, please contact Program Director, Leigh Kelson