Sponsors

Marta Yebra, Director of the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, Professor at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, College of Science and School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Australia

 

Short Biography: Marta Yebra is Professor at the Fenner School of Environment and Society and the School of Engineering at The Australian National University, and Director of the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence. Her research focuses on the use of Earth observation and modelling to improve understanding and prediction of vegetation fuel conditions and wildfire risk. She has led the development of several global and national fuel moisture monitoring systems and works closely with fire management agencies to translate research into operational tools. At the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, she leads a multidisciplinary effort to develop technologies and knowledge that support a more proactive approach to living with fire. The Centre brings together satellite observations, field measurements, modelling, artificial intelligence and partnerships with fire agencies and Indigenous knowledge holders to improve the anticipation, early detection and management of wildfires in a changing climate.

Short Summary: Understanding the condition of vegetation fuels is central to anticipating wildfire behaviour and supporting effective fire management. In recent years, advances in remote sensing and modelling have significantly improved our ability to monitor fuel moisture and other key fuel properties across landscapes. This keynote will present recent progress in estimating vegetation fuel moisture and related fuel characteristics using Earth observation data, machine learning and process-based approaches. These developments are enabling new capabilities for monitoring fuel flammability, anticipating periods of elevated fire risk, and informing fire management decisions. Beyond their direct application to fire behaviour and risk assessment, improved information on fuel conditions can also guide the development and deployment of other fire-management technologies, including ignition detection systems, fire spread simulations and decision-support tools. The presentation will discuss how integrating satellite observations, modelling and emerging sensing technologies can contribute to a more proactive approach to living with fire in the age of megafires.