Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 200457

Coordinator Grahame Douglas Opens in new window

Description This subject describes the factors affecting bushfire behaviour and the models which are used to predict bushfire behaviour, the principles of fire ecology, and the assessment of bushfire hazards on property and the environment. Topics include the measurement of fuel, rates of spread and flame length equations, fire danger indices and landscape issues, topographical influences on fire behaviour, the importance of fire regimes and fire thresholds on flora and fauna, habitat and fire impacts on environmental services such as soils and water catchments. The role of fire behaviour in determining impacts on structures is also described.

School Eng, Design & Built Env

Discipline Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate program.

Assumed Knowledge

This subject assumes that the student has undertaken undergraduate study in building surveying, planning or related areas or has gained the equivalent building construction knowledge by working in the construction industry in an appropriate capacity for at least four years.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Identify and explain the factors affecting bushfire behaviour;
2. Classify vegetation types and associated fuel structures;
3. Discuss the role of fire weather in developing fire indices;
4. Describe the impacts of bushfire on species and communities of environmental significance and their fire thresholds;
5. Describe the impacts of fire on the environment and environmental services and management strategies to protect these values;
6. Predict the intensity and flame characteristics of a bushfire; and
7. Apply available models to describe bushfire behaviour and its impact on structures.

Subject Content

Factors affecting various aspects of bushfire behaviour;
Initiation of bushfires;
Bushfire spread including spotting behaviour;
Comparative behaviour of bushfires in different vegetation types;
Ecological impacts of bushfires;
Models to describe bushfire behaviour;
Prediction of bushfire behaviour in terms of intensity and spread;
Prediction of bushfire behaviour on property.