Search Results (228)

This systematic literature review aims to review studies on post-wildfire landslides. A thorough search of Web of Science, Scopus, and other online library sources identified 1580 research publications from 2003 to 2024. Following PRISMA protocols, 75 publications met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed a growing interest in research trends over the past two decades, with most publications being from 2021 to 2024. This study is divided into categories: (1) systematic review methods, (2) geographical distributions and research trends, and (3) the exploitation of post-wildfire landslides in terms of susceptibility mapping, monitoring, mitigation, modeling, and stability studies. The review revealed that post-wildfire landslides are primarily found in terrains that have experienced wildfires or bushfires and immediately occur after rainfall or a rainstorm—primarily within 1–5 years—which can lead to multiple forms of destruction, including the loss of life and infrastructure. Advanced technologies, including high-resolution remote sensing and machine learning models, have been used to map and monitor post-wildfire landslides, providing some mitigation strategies to prevent landslide risks in areas affected by wildfires. The review highlights the future research prospects for post-wildfire landslides. The outcome of this review is expected to enhance our understanding of the existing information. Full article

Background: Inhalation of bushfire smoke is a risk to the health of firefighters, particularly across Australia where bushfires are becoming more frequent and intense. This study aimed to use real-time monitoring devices to assess the particle and chemical exposures of Western Australian firefighters during prescribed burns and bushfires. Methods: Participants included volunteer bushfire firefighters and forestry firefighters. Real-time gas and particulate monitors were used across nine unique fire events to evaluate the occupational exposures of firefighters. Findings: Firefighters (n = 40) were exposed to high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), particularly PM10, with concentrations varying widely between individuals and events. Exposures to carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were observed at elevated levels. No significant elevation in internal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was observed. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and the need for health monitoring programmes for firefighters. Prescribed burns appear reflective of exposures at bushfires and could serve as valuable experimental settings for refining firefighting strategies and protective practises. Full article

The growing intensity and frequency of bushfires across the globe pose serious threats to building safety when it comes to the vulnerability of glass windows. During bushfires, extreme heat can cause significant damage to these windows, creating openings that allow embers, radiant heat, and flames to enter buildings. This study investigated the effectiveness of various construction materials, including thin steel sheets, glass fibre blankets, aluminium foil layers, and intumescent layers on glass fibre blankets, as bushfire-resistant shutters for protecting windows in bushfire-prone areas. The shutters were tested under two scenarios of radiant heat exposure: rapid and prolonged exposures of 11 and 47 min, respectively. Heat transfer models of the tested shutters were developed and validated using fire test results, and then comparisons of the performance of materials were made through parametric studies for bushfire radiant heat exposure. The results show that a 0.4 mm glass fibre blanket with aluminium foil performed best, with very low glass temperatures and ambient heat fluxes due to the reflective properties of the foil. Similarly, a thin steel sheet (1.2 mm) also effectively maintained low glass temperatures and ambient heat fluxes. Additionally, graphite-based intumescent coating on a glass fibre blanket reduced the ambient heat flux. These results highlight the importance of bushfire-resistant shutters and provide valuable insights for improving their design and performance. Full article

In bushfire-prone regions, solid walls and porous fences are commonly employed as mitigation measures against windblown embers (firebrands). This computational study evaluates and compares the performance of a 2 m high solid wall and a 2 m porous fence (38% porosity) in protecting structures from firebrand showers. Using a numerical model subjected to free-stream velocities of up to 50 m/s, flow patterns and firebrand trajectories were analyzed. The findings indicate that impermeable walls offer superior protection for immediately adjacent structures by deflecting the incident flow upwards, creating a “jump board” effect. However, the deflected flow subsequently reattaches to the ground at a downstream distance, rendering structures further downwind vulnerable to ember attack. The porous fence also exhibits a similar, albeit less pronounced, upward deflection. The simulations reveal minimal flow descent downstream of the fence at lower free-stream velocities, suggesting extended downwind protection. In the immediate downstream vicinity of the porous fence, penetration by small firebrands is possible; however, prior studies have shown that the likelihood of ignition from these embers is minimal and decreases rapidly within a short downstream distance of several metres. Full article

Vegetation characteristics significantly influence the impact of wildfires on individual building structures, and these effects can be systematically analyzed using heat transfer modelling software. Close-range light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data obtained from uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) capture detailed vegetation morphology; however, the integration of dense vegetation and merged canopies into three-dimensional (3D) models for fire modelling software poses significant challenges. This study proposes a method for integrating the UAS–LiDAR-derived geometric features of vegetation components—such as bark, wooden core, and foliage—into heat transfer models. The data were collected from the natural woodland surrounding an elevated building in Samford, Queensland, Australia. Aboveground biomass (AGB) was estimated for 21 trees utilizing three 3D tree reconstruction tools, with validation against biomass allometric equations (BAEs) derived from field measurements. The most accurate reconstruction tool produced a tree mesh utilized for modelling vegetation geometry. A proof of concept was established with Eucalyptus siderophloia, incorporating vegetation data into heat transfer models. This non-destructive framework leverages available technologies to create reliable 3D tree reconstructions of complex vegetation in wildland–urban interfaces (WUIs). It facilitates realistic wildfire risk assessments by providing accurate heat flux estimations, which are critical for evaluating building safety during fire events, while addressing the limitations associated with direct measurements. Full article

Groundwater-dependent vegetation (GDV) is threatened globally by groundwater abstraction. Water resource managers require maps showing its distribution and habitat preferences to make informed decisions on its protection. This study, conducted in the southeast Pilbara region of Western Australia, presents a novel approach based on metrics summarising seasonal phenology (phenometrics) derived from Sentinel-2 imagery. We also determined the preferential habitat using ecological niche modelling based on land systems and topographic derivatives. The phenometrics and preferential habitat models were combined using a framework that allows for the expression of different levels of uncertainty. The large integral (LI) phenometric was capable of discriminating GDV and reduced the search space to 111 ha (<1%), requiring follow-up monitoring. Suitable habitat could be explained by a combination of land systems and negative topographic positions (e.g., valleys). This designated 13% of the study area as requiring protection against the threat of intense bushfires, invasive species, land clearing and other disturbances. High uncertainty represents locations where GDV appears to be absent but the habitat is suitable and requires further field assessment. Uncertainty was lowest at locations where the habitat is highly unsuitable (87%) and requires infrequent revisitation. Our results provide timely geospatial intelligence illustrating what needs to be monitored, protected and revisited by water resource managers. Full article

The 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfire in Australia is a good example of the frequent and severe bushfires (wildfires) observed around the world in recent years. Fire-enhanced winds and fire–wind interactions during those bushfire events have caused increased wind velocities in the vicinity of a bushfire front. This can lead to a premature failure of the building envelope, making it vulnerable to ember attack and direct flame contact. In Australia, crest-fixed cold-formed steel (CFS) claddings are commonly used for buildings in bushfire-prone areas because of their non-combustibility. Therefore, this study investigated the pull-through failure behaviour of corrugated CFS claddings under wind uplift/suction loading at elevated temperatures, simulating fire-enhanced winds during a bushfire by means of experimental and numerical studies. Experimental results showed a negligible influence of the thermal expansion of the cladding system on the pull-through failure behaviour, while a significant decrease in pull-through capacity was observed with increasing temperatures. Suitable finite element models were developed, validated and used in a detailed numerical parametric study. Based on the findings from these studies, a design equation was proposed for the pull-through capacity of the crest-fixed corrugated claddings at elevated temperatures. Full article

This paper reports on research undertaken for the Building Resilience for Bushfire-Affected Communities in Noosa Shire project, funded by the Australian Government. Being evacuated from a home in the path of a bushfire can be traumatic. Therefore, it is important for evacuees to have safe places to stay, both physically and psychologically. Using a qualitative approach, we aimed to (a) understand the experiences of people who were displaced from their homes and sheltered at evacuation centres during the Noosa Shire bushfires and (b) understand what support is needed during disasters, such as bushfires, to help create positive experiences for future evacuees. Twelve participants displaced by bushfires in Noosa, Australia, in 2019 recalled their experiences in semi-structured interviews (conducted in 2022–2023). Inductive thematic analysis using NVivo 13 identified three themes that can inform government and public disaster preparation and response: planning, support, and communication. Findings from this study centred around building community resilience and offer valuable insights for organising disaster evacuation processes and evacuation centres on a broader scale. For individuals, it involves planning optimal evacuation routes, gathering necessary personal items, feeling safe and calm in evacuation centres, and receiving regular and accurate communication from authorities during disaster events. Full article

Robust high spatiotemporal resolution daily PM_2.5 exposure estimates are limited in Australia. Estimates of daily PM_2.5 and the PM_2.5 component from extreme pollution events (e.g., bushfires and dust storms) are needed for epidemiological studies and health burden assessments attributable to these events. We sought to: (1) estimate daily PM_2.5 at a 5 km × 5 km spatial resolution across the Australian continent between 1 January 2001 and 30 June 2020 using a Random Forest (RF) algorithm, and (2) implement a seasonal-trend decomposition using loess (STL) methodology combined with selected statistical flags to identify extreme events and estimate the extreme pollution PM_2.5 component. We developed an RF model that achieved an out-of-bag R-squared of 71.5% and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 4.5 µg/m³. We predicted daily PM_2.5 across Australia, adequately capturing spatial and temporal variations. We showed how the STL method in combination with statistical flags can identify and quantify PM_2.5 attributable to extreme pollution events in different locations across the country. Full article

This study evaluates bushfire smoke as a workplace hazard for firefighters by characterising its chemical composition and potential health risks in Western Australia. Portable Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry was used to measure airborne chemical concentrations at prescribed burns across five regions, including peat (acid sulphate) fire events. Samples were collected during both flaming and smouldering phases, as well as in perceived “clear” air resting zones. Results indicated that carbon monoxide (CO) was the dominant gas, reaching concentrations of 205 ppm at the fire front, followed by nitrogen monoxide (26 ppm) and methane (19 ppm). Peat fires produced distinct profiles, with ammonia (21.5 ppm) and sulphur dioxide (9.5 ppm) concentrations higher than those observed in typical bushfires. Smouldering phases emitted higher chemical concentrations than flaming phases 75% of the time. Even clear air zones contained measurable chemicals, with CO levels averaging 18 ppm, suggesting that firefighters are not free from exposure during rest periods. These findings highlight the need for fit-for-purpose respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and improved rest protocols to minimise exposure. The study underscores the importance of comprehensive health monitoring programs for firefighters to mitigate long-term health risks. Full article

Serious concerns exist that the increasing frequency of fires may delay the recovery of ozone given increasing temperatures due to climate change. Australian bushfires from September 2019 to February 2020 were catastrophic. A random forest spatial-temporal (RF sp) analysis using satellite data to detect an association between Australian bushfires and stratosphere ozone on the local depletion of ozone in the vicinity of fires in three regions of Australia (Pacific Ocean, Victoria, NSW) has shown a significant reduction in ozone attributable to aerosols from fires. By intervention analysis, increases in aerosols in all three regions were shown to have a significant and ongoing impact 1–5 days later on reducing ozone (p < 0.0001). Intervention analysis also gave similar periods of aerosol exceedance to those found by Hidden Markov models (HMMs). HMMs established a significant and quantifiable decline in ozone due to bushfire-induced aerosols, with significant lags of 10–25 days between times of aerosol exceedance and subsequent ozone level decline in all three regions. Full article

The sustainable management of protected areas has increasingly become difficult due to the lack of updated information on land use and land cover transformations caused by anthropogenic pressures. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of the Dinderesso and Peni classified forests in Burkina Faso from 1986 to 2022. First, a data driven method was adopted to investigate these forests degradation dynamics. Hence, relevant Landsat images data were collected, segmented, and analyzed using QGIS SCP plugin Random Forest algorithm. Ninety percent of the overall adjusted classification accuracies were obtained. The analysis also showed significant degradation and deforestation with high wooded vegetation classes such as clear forest and wooded savannah (i.e., tree savannah) converging to lower vegetation classes like shrub savannah and agroforestry parks. A second investigation carried out through surveys and field trips revealed key anthropogenic drivers including agricultural expansion, demographic pressure, bad management, wood cutting abuse, overexploitation, overgrazing, charcoal production, and bushfires. These findings highlight the critical need for better management to improve these protected areas. Full article

Evidence has previously shown that outer tunics (turnout coats) worn by firefighters at structural fires are contaminated with harmful chemicals which subsequently off-gas from the material. However, there is limited research on whether this phenomenon extends to wildland firefighter uniforms. This pilot study aimed to explore if the tunics of volunteer bushfire and forestry firefighters in Western Australia off-gas any contaminants after exposure to prescribed burns or bushfires, and whether there is a need to explore this further. Nine tunics were collected from firefighters following nine bushfire and prescribed burn events, with a set of unused tunics serving as a control. Chemical analysis was performed on these tunics to assess levels of acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, and sulphur dioxide contamination. The assessment involved measuring chemical off-gassing over a 12 h period using infrared spectrometry. Tunics worn by firefighters appear to adsorb acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, and sulphur dioxide from bushfire smoke and these contaminants are emitted from firefighting tunics following contamination at elevated concentrations. Further investigation of this research with a larger study sample will be beneficial to understand this phenomenon better and to determine the full extent and range of chemical contaminants absorbed by all firefighter clothing. Full article

In most Sub-Saharan African countries, such as Togo, forest ecosystems provide ecosystem services to the local population. These ecosystem services are of vital importance to the local populations, who depend on the benefits derived from their use to meet their socio-economic needs. The permanent dependence of these populations on ecosystem services is a major factor accelerating the degradation of natural resources, which are already under pressure from climatic factors. The present study assesses the provisioning of ecosystem services provided by the relics forest in the southeast region of the Mono Biosphere Reserve in Togo. Individual interviews and group discussions were carried out with 420 households in fourteen villages around the reserve to identify the current uses of woody species. The results show that 100% of the respondents cited plant species, such as Mitragyna inermis, Lonchocarpus sericeus, and Diospyros mespiliformis, as used for wood. Species, such as Mimusops andogensis and Triplohiton scleroxylon, were cited as exclusively used for wood by 94% and 86%, respectively. Other species, such as Vitex doniana and Dialium guineense, in addition to their use for wood (93% and 70%), were cited, respectively, by 97% and 98% of respondents as used for fruit, and by 82% and 90% for their leaves. The heavy daily use of these species compromises their sustainability. An analysis of Sorensen’s similarity index, according to gender, age, ethnic group, and sector of activity, revealed a variation in this index ranging from 0.6 to 1, reflecting households’ knowledge of the use of these seven species. The local populations are already feeling the effects of the low availability of these commonly used species. According to them, the depletion of these resources is caused mainly by agricultural clearing, illegal logging, and bushfires. Full article