SYDNEY, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A world-class bushfire tracking system has been developed by personnel of the Australian State of Queensland, and has already helped protect a number of lives, authorities revealed on Monday.
The system, known as SABRE, allows firefighters to predict the path of destructive vegetation fires and is unique in its ability to provide several future possible outcomes for a fire.
"I'm proud to say this fire prediction system was developed by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), and we are the only fire agency in the country using this advanced software," Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said.
"SABRE is used for more complex, larger-scale fires and was successfully implemented to provide information during a recent bushfire in Central Queensland which threatened the safety of eight adults and three children."
Using satellite imagery, and up to date information from the Bureau of Meteorology, SABRE works in conjunction with another program, Phoenix, which predicts how bushfires are likely to develop by looking at characteristics such as the speed of the fire, ember density and flame height.
"The two programs can be used to efficiently and effectively manage resources during the response to, and recovery from bushfires," Crawford said.
"The programs also help determine where fire mitigation activities are best targeted and where resources could be strategically placed ahead of days with an elevated fire danger."
QFES has responded to more than 3,000 vegetation fires around the state since August 15, an average of more than 40 every day.
