This two-stage project aims to develop biophysical models of vegetation structure and height and predict future fire regimes and habitat features.

The first phase of the project will use methodologies tested in Victoria and NSW to forecast future vegetation structure values including fuel hazard, vegetation height by strata and canopy cover. Where possible, these models will be tested and validated against lidar data.

The second phase of the project will use fuel data in the Fire Regime Operations and Simulation Tool (FROST). The tool will predict future fire regimes under management and risks to valued human and environmental assets. Applying the tool to case study sites across NSW will produce estimates of future fire risk across NSW and identify priority areas for management.

(Image: NSW-DCCEEW)