School Of Computing, Engineering And MathematicsBushfire BehaviourWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 200457.4
Discipline: AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND RELATED STUDIES NEC
Student Contribution Band: 2
Level: 7
Credit Points: 10
Assumed Knowledge
This unit assumes that the student has undertaken undergraduate coursework in building surveying, planning or related areas or has gained the equivalent building construction knowledge by working in the construction industry in an appropriate capacity for at least four years.
Unit Enrolment Restrictions
Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate course.
About this Unit
This unit describes the factors affecting bushfire behaviour and the models which are used to predict bushfire behaviour, the principles of fire ecology, and the assessment of bushfire hazards on property and the environment. Topics include the measurement of fuel, rates of spread and flame length equations, fire danger indices and landscape issues, topographical influences on fire behaviour, the importance of fire regimes and fire thresholds on flora and fauna, habitat and fire impacts on environmental services such as soils and water catchments. The role of fire behaviour in determining impacts on structures is also described.