Project Problem Domain

The bushfires which devastated Australia during the 2019/20 season caused 33 deaths, burnt more than 15 million hectares of land, destroyed thousands of homes, killed more than 1 billion animals, emitted approximately 430 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and is estimated to have cost more than 100 billion dollars. With the number of similar disasters increasing globally, the application of advanced technologies could reduce the impact of future occurrences or in some cases play a preventative role.

As the capabilities of drones and artificial intelligence improves, these technologies could aid in the prevention of bushfires. This research project will seek to answer the question as to whether this is achievable and to what extent.

Background

This will be a personal project as I have a keen interest in the environmental impacts of natural disasters and the capabilities of technology to reduce associated risks. My background is in the technology services sector, specifically network operations and security, where I use data analytics to make informed decisions.

Project Aim

The objective of this research project is to understand how drones and AI technology is currently being used in the treatment of bushfires. The project also intends to describe the issues associated with the application of these technologies in bushfire scenarios.

Deliverables

The Final Report will detail the results and findings of the project and offer a conclusion regarding the application of drones and AI in the prevention of bushfires. The lessons learnt throughout the project will also be presented.

Resources

The following resources will be used while undertaking this project:

• CSU Library
• Journals
• Google Scholar
• Online articles
• Government research departments