The use of remote sensing in mapping and monitoring vegetational change associated with bushfire events in Eastern Australia

Abstract

The value of Landsat data for spatial analysis in land cover studies is well known. Potentially as valuable is its use in forecasting and monitoring temporal land cover changes such as those associated with floods, drought and bushfires. Fire is both an important component in the ecology of many natural environments and a potential hazard to human life and property. This paper examines ways Landsat data have been used to map and monitor bushfire occurrences in the Blue Mountains region of Eastern Australia. While Landsat has limited application to monitoring short‐term fire occurrences, it has proved extremely useful in mapping extended fire events in inaccessible and inhospitable regions. Analysis of the change in the spectral reflectance values of multitemporal image sets provide an indication of vegetation regrowth. Linked with suitable ground‐truth information this data can be used to monitor and map the sequence of post‐fire vegetation regeneration. Integration of field information on the standing crop of leaf bio‐mass present and on the amount of ground litter cover with Landsat data provides a method of generating fuel maps useful in the determination of potential fire risk areas. Interpretation of the various patterns of fire geometry derived from Landsat imagery and the burn history associated with the particular fire event, together with data on slope, aspect and weather conditions, provide a realistic basis for the development of fire forecasting procedures and the specification of suitable fire control measures.