In 2021 the RFS took delivery of two new multipurpose Cessna Citation V aircraft equipped with imaging systems, providing the ability to rapidly scan large areas and more accurately identify hot spots and fire edges.
Aerial imagery gives us a bird’s-eye view of the fireground, cutting through smoke and terrain to reveal the fire’s true behaviour. But imagery alone isn’t enough. It needs to be processed, interpreted and delivered to the right people quickly. That’s the problem we set out to solve with the Airborne Intelligence Gathering (AIG) system.
In the past, the process of delivering aerial imagery to incident controllers was largely manual.
It could take 30 minutes to deliver critical imagery and data from an aircraft to a control room. In the context of a fast-moving fire, it’s an eternity as fires can grow, shift direction or threaten new communities in that time.
Working closely with the NSW RFS, Nova Systems developed the AIG system - a cloud-based geospatial platform that automates the process of capturing, analysing and distributing aerial imagery. It receives imagery from the aircraft, processes it and ingests it into the RFS mapping systems for action by decision makers.
With AIG, what used to take half an hour now takes less than two-minutes.
The intelligence provides a clear picture of what the fire is doing, where it is, how intense it is and where it’s travelling to help inform strategies and keep firefighters safe.
Speaking about the AIG solution, RFS Assistant Commissioner, Viki Campbell, explained: “When a fire is running hard 30 minutes can really make the difference between life and death and certainly about being able to successfully control that fire.”
“We are among the best in the world in capturing and providing this information to the crews on the ground, allowing them to make better informed decisions,"
“Just as important as fighting the fire, is telling the community what’s happening.”
“With the knowledge that we have from our aerial intelligence, we can provide accurate and timely information to our communities about the threat, and advice about what actions to take.”
How the AIG System Works:
The AIG platform is designed to handle the entire data pipeline from the moment an image is captured in the air to the moment it appears on a screen.
The Citation V jets used by the RFS fly over the fireground capturing both infrared and standard imagery. Sensors, developed by Overwatch Imaging, can operate at altitudes up to 6,000 meters providing wide-area coverage with high resolution.
As soon as a scan is completed, it’s securely uploaded to a cloud storage system. This eliminates the need for manual file transfers or email-based workflows.
The imagery is automatically converted into a georeferenced format optimised for rapid access. This step includes aligning the image with real-world coordinates, correcting distortions and preparing it for integration with mapping systems.
The processed images are fed directly into the RFS’s emergency management systems. Within minutes, incident controllers, air operations teams and ground crews can view the latest imagery on their screens.
This seamless workflow ensures that everyone involved in the response effort is working from the same up-to-date information. It reduces confusion, improves coordination and enables faster, more informed decision-making.
Another powerful aspect of the AIG system is its ability to incorporate additional data layers that enhance situational awareness. This includes Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) which measures vegetation health and moisture levels, helping assess how flammable an area might be, and Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI) which detects water stress in plants, indicating areas more likely to ignite or burn intensely.
By layering this kind of data on top of the imagery, we can gain a deeper understanding of fire behaviour; identify hotspots, anticipate flare-ups and prioritise areas for suppression efforts.
The platform currently holds about two years of data and is primarily focused on real-time fire mapping. As we collect more data, we can start to use the system to better understand why fires behave the way they do and even predict future outbreaks. There’s even potential to train AI systems to simulate fire scenarios in different terrains and conditions. We’re continuing to work with the RFS to explore ways to enhance the capability to ultimately enable faster and safer decision making.
Collaboration
Developing a system like AIG isn’t something we did in isolation.
Nova Systems has closely collaborated on several significant projects with the RFS including the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) which tackled the largest change to the fire danger rating systems in a generation and shifted the way we predict fire ratings nationally.
Commissioned by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Councils (AFAC), the AFDRS was launched in 2023 and is continually upgraded to improve public safety and reduce the impacts of bushfires. Nova Systems designed and developed the AFDRS technology platform to integrate specialist expertise and data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and State fire agencies with the latest fire behaviour science in a single, truly consolidated and national unified system.
Most recently our software engineers extended the AFDRS platform to include native Apple and Android mobile apps. This allows field teams to continue entering critical information about grass fuel conditions even in areas with no mobile coverage. The data is stored locally and automatically uploaded once mobile connectivity is restored.
Other key software tools and apps we’ve delivered and continue to support for the RFS include:
Smoke Dispersion Modelling System which predicts smoke movement using CSIRO research,
The geospatial components of Guardian, used by members of the public and the NSW RFS to apply for and manage burning permits and total fire ban exemptions,
Fire Weather Viewer, which displays data from the BoM and NSW RFS weather stations alongside forecasts and satellite imagery,
Bush Fire Management Committee (BFMC) Information Portal, a collaboration portal used by members of BFMCs to develop, review and approve risk management activities, and
Development Application Screening Tool (DAST), a tool for local referral authorities (councils) to efficiently assess the bush fire attack level (BAL) of properties that are the subject of development and planning proposals.
Importantly, we work closely with the NSW RFS to understand their operational needs, workflows and decision-making processes. Their input is invaluable in shaping design of these platforms from the way data is visualised to how it integrates with existing tools.
A key learning in these projects is that the ability to share data is as valuable as the ability to share resources and personnel across jurisdictions. As an example, the AFAC solution for the AFDRS successfully unified a broad range of national stakeholders and their spatial data, demonstrating the power of collaboration. This approach can be applied in more areas to help protect lives and property.
At Nova Systems, we have the expertise to bring data together, build robust and functional systems, and deliver solutions that are embraced by users. We have 25 years' experience and a global reach of experts in software and digital solutions; systems integration; aircraft modifications; test & evaluation, certification and systems assurance; advanced training and advisory services, delivering solutions to make our world safe and secure.
Originally published in Asia Pacific Fire Magazine.