Satellite based Earth observation systems support a range of emergency management activities. These include fire, flood, and severe weather. These observation systems are often called satellite imagery.
Australia and countries across the world use satellite imagery to support fire seasons, through:
- risk assessment in the lead-up to a fire season
- weather forecasting and warnings during a fire
- monitoring the recovery in the aftermath of a fire.
The Australian Space Agency led an Earth observation taskforce to consider further action on bushfire risk management. This was in response to the devastating bushfires in 2019-2020. Partners in the Bushfire Earth Observation Taskforce include:
- CSIRO
- Geoscience Australia
- Bureau of Meteorology.
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements considered this report.