FIREWISE: Proactive wildfire resilience assessment and management
Lead Research Organisation:
Brunel University London
Department Name: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Abstract
Climate change is unequivocally amplifying both the frequency and intensity of wildfires, both in Europe and on a global scale, as
underscored by the recent catastrophic megafires. Despite recent efforts in wildfire risk management, there is still a lack of integrative
approaches and tools. FIREWISE aims to develop a robust framework for analyzing the wildfire risk to ecosystems and critical
infrastructure. Fragility and vulnerability curves for key European assets will be generated, incorporating data from past disasters,
wildfire simulations, and forensic analyses. Additionally, a spatial optimization system for firefighting resources will be designed,
considering factors like property value, population density, and terrain. An evacuation plan will be established using agent-based
modelling, accounting for demographics and fire behavior. These tools will be implemented in two high-risk European areas,
evaluating scenarios considering climate and land changes. The outcomes will inform strategies to enhance resilience and align with
EU guidelines, offering risk indicators at local and regional scales to aid stakeholders in proactive disaster management. Within the
MSCA program, the Fellow will enrich their knowledge by collaborating with experts in advanced geospatial data acquisition
technologies, data analytics, systems modelling, wildfire simulation, and resilience engineering at Brunel University London. The
Fellow will receive supplementary training at Factor Social in Portugal and the EU Joint Research Centre in Italy, align the research
with the European Forest Fire Information System and EU policy. This training will not only enhance the Fellow's skills but also expand
their career opportunities in rapidly evolving fields. The project's outcomes will play a pivotal role in the development of an
innovative framework and a web-based tool for proactive wildfire resilience assessment and management with direct economic and
societal impact.
underscored by the recent catastrophic megafires. Despite recent efforts in wildfire risk management, there is still a lack of integrative
approaches and tools. FIREWISE aims to develop a robust framework for analyzing the wildfire risk to ecosystems and critical
infrastructure. Fragility and vulnerability curves for key European assets will be generated, incorporating data from past disasters,
wildfire simulations, and forensic analyses. Additionally, a spatial optimization system for firefighting resources will be designed,
considering factors like property value, population density, and terrain. An evacuation plan will be established using agent-based
modelling, accounting for demographics and fire behavior. These tools will be implemented in two high-risk European areas,
evaluating scenarios considering climate and land changes. The outcomes will inform strategies to enhance resilience and align with
EU guidelines, offering risk indicators at local and regional scales to aid stakeholders in proactive disaster management. Within the
MSCA program, the Fellow will enrich their knowledge by collaborating with experts in advanced geospatial data acquisition
technologies, data analytics, systems modelling, wildfire simulation, and resilience engineering at Brunel University London. The
Fellow will receive supplementary training at Factor Social in Portugal and the EU Joint Research Centre in Italy, align the research
with the European Forest Fire Information System and EU policy. This training will not only enhance the Fellow's skills but also expand
their career opportunities in rapidly evolving fields. The project's outcomes will play a pivotal role in the development of an
innovative framework and a web-based tool for proactive wildfire resilience assessment and management with direct economic and
societal impact.
