|
|
|
Hazard Mitigation
|
Integrating Remote Sensing and GIS for Fire Hazard Categorization & Resource Allocation.
A case study of Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.
Results
A methodology to categorize fire hazards was developed integrating remotely sensed raster data with cartographic vector data GIS and a spatial database to store and analyze fire hazards in the city of Bathurst, NSW, Australia was developed on a consistent and continuous coordinate system. Datasets that are available with all the councils within New South Wales were used selectively to devise the methodology so that it could be applied to other parts of the New South Wales State. The 250 x 250 metre grid was found to be the most appropriate 'areal unit' for the purpose of 'Hazard Categorization' and allocation of dynamic resources.
Acknowledgments
The study is a part of an ongoing joint project between the New South Wales Fire Brigades and the University of New South Wales supported by a scholarship from the New South Wales Fire Brigades and the author is particularly grateful to Trevor Neal, Dr Bruno Parolin and Professor Barry Garner for their advise.
References
- Corporate Strategy
Group, "Hazard Categorization Project", The New
South Wales Fire Brigades.1996.
- K.Hewitt, "Regions of
risk: a geographical introduction to disasters
Longman, Harlow, U.K. 1997.
- P.T. Blakie,T.Cannon,
I.Davis, B.Wisner "At risk:natural
hazards,people`s vulnerability and disasters.
London:Routledge 1994.
- S.Rayner, "Cultural
theory and risk analysis". In: S.Krimsky, and
D.Golding, Editors, "Social Theories of risk"
Praeger, Westport,CT. 1992.
- W.Gordon,J.Mooney,D Pratts "The People and the Hazard: the spatial context of major accident
hazard management in Britain", Vol 20 pp119-235, 2000
Table 1. (Source: NSWFB project) Hazard Categories
| General Hazard Type | Specific Hazard Category | Map Colour Code | Brief description of
hazard |
| Special Hazard | Category 1 | Red | A site that poses extreme hazards for
people, property or environment, eg some
hospitals and aged hostels, major lpg depots,
chemical plants, oil refinery,
etc. |
| Intermediate | Category 2Category 3 | OrangeYellow | May include some high hazard
residential-but basically high hazard
industrial/commercial occupancies with a high
level of structural density within the Unit
Survey Square.May include some high hazard
residential-but basically high hazard
industrial/commercial occupanc`s with low to
moderate level of structural
activity. |
| Low or base level hazard | Category 4Category 5 | Dark greenLight green | A fully developed area of residential and
low hazard industrial/commercial occupancies.A
partially developed area of residential and low
hazard industrial/commercial
occupancies |
Fig. 2 Work Process
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
