The Digital Atlas of Australia, a new initiative by the Australian Government (2023) allows users to easily look at historical bush fire statistics (bush fires and prescribed burns) from 1899-2023 in all states and territories (excl NT).
The data that makes the Digital Atlas of Australia Historical Bushfire Statistics Dashboard is a collaboration between:
- Geoscience Australia
- Australian Climate Service
- CSIRO (NBIC)
- Emergency Management Spatial Information Network (EMSINA)
The dashboard is a simple way to understand the total number of:
- Fires nationally
- Fires per state
- Total hectares burnt
- The largest burnt area
- The average burnt area size per state
The Digital Atlas of Australia enables us to learn and engage in challenges that arise at a local, regional, and national level. Nationally consistent bushfire boundaries data enables land managers to be able to make informed management decisions, and could help predict fire paths in the future.
If you would like to learn more about how the data is used, head to the Digital Atlas of Australia’s website: Understanding and using bushfire data | Digital Atlas of Australia
You can also view this data on a map using the National Bushfire History Viewer: National bushfire history viewer | Digital Atlas of Australia
References
Image Credit: Digital Atlas of Australia National Bushfire History Viewer – Image of the occurrence of fires between financial years 2022-2023.
This article was written by Rosie Dowsett a volunteer supporting the Nature Conservation Council of NSW’s Bushfire Program.
