Abstract - Although fire plays an essential role in some ecosystems, it can also have adverse ecological impacts, particularly in a changing climate. Traditional fire management methods such as fuel management, containment and suppression become less effective under increasingly hot and dry conditions, which may become more prevalent with climate change. Early detection and suppression may be the most effective means of limiting fire activity, particularly under anomalously warm and dry conditions. The ANU-Optus Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence is developing and evaluating novel early fire detection technologies in the Australian Capital Territory. Under evaluation are several locally deployed technologies such as ground sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and fixed cameras, as well as satellite detection capabilities. These technologies each have unique strengths and limitations that may influence their efficacy across different landscapes and conditions. Understanding the unique characteristics of each technology will help to guide land managers in utilising these technologies for effective fire management. Here, we present an overview of this early fire detection project with preliminary findings

Biography - Nick (he/him) is a postdoctoral research fellow with the ANU-Optus Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence based in the Fenner School of Environment and Society. Nick is evaluating novel and underutilised early fire detection technologies. He completed his PhD on the effects of past disturbance on native forest carbon storage and fire risk at the University of Wollongong in 2022. Before commencing his PhD, Nick was a research ecologist with the Australian Capital Territory Government and obtained a Bachelor of Science at the Australian National University.