Software:

Photon

PHOTON is a testing framework software for robust comparisons of multiple versions of PHOENIX Rapidfire or newly derived datasets.

Then name PHOTON originates from PHOenix Test demON. PHOTON relies on using of Phoenix fire simulator as a model and is not an independent software, it. The main purpose of PHOTON is to compare multiple PHOENIX projects that can be derived from either  different PHOENIX versions or different PHOENIX input datasets. Photon was developed for Windows OS only.

PHOTON allows a user to run two different types of scenarios. 

 The first scenario is called “Study Case Fires”.  As the name suggests, a database of known fire events exists which can be used for assessing model performance.  These fires have not been used extensively in the development of PHOENIX and are considered independent.  Each case study fire is run across the comparisons and compared to the known fire extent. The software then analyses the differences in area and spatial overlap between the original fire and multiple PHOENIX projects – with differing versions of PHOENIX or input data. 

The second scenario is called “Synthetic Fires”. In this approach, we are looking at variation in predicted fire behaviour across a range of environmental and weather conditions.  A grid of ignition points is created across a defined study area. The user can determine the spacing of the ignitions.  For each ignition point, 18 weather streams are used to simulate fires.  These weather streams cover the full range of the Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI).  Data are analysed according to the fuel which the fire burns – grass, forest, or mixed. We then compare the extent and overlap of the fires between multiple PHOENIX projects – with differing versions of PHOENIX or input data

Projects that have applied our software

Restoration of eucalypt forest in Wilsons Promontory National Park- Implications for forest values and site and landscape flammability

Wilsons Promontory provides an example of how repeated short interval fires can prevent the regeneration of a Eucalyptus canopy in a range of ecological vegetation classes. The ‘destocking’ of forests can dramatically alter the composition, ...

Firebrand ignition of building materials

Firebrands are small, often smoldering embers which break off of vegetative or structural materials during wildland fires and can loft up to several kilometers ahead of the main fire front, igniting new spot fires. They have been found to be ...

Understanding the origin and development of extreme and mega bushfires

Extreme and megafires result in significant damage to property and infrastructure and are associated with large suppression costs. These events form when separate fires merge. Their increase occurrence in recent seasons highlights the ...

Our other software

FROST family

FROST family

FROST- a Fire Regimes and Operations Simulation Tool – is a risk-based fire regime simulator for assessing the impacts of fire and land management on human and environmental values across landscapes.
The Landscape Decision Support System (DSS)

The Landscape Decision Support System (DSS)

The DSS will assist land managers and communities to explore potential changes in multiple landscape values associated with fire regimes, changing climate, and alternative management practices.

Calling for PhD Candidates…

X