b'Fighting fires with AIDuring the summer of 2019/2020 Australia experiencedThe new technology will collate data from multiple sources, its most catastrophic bushfire season on record. Sustainedincluding satellite imagery and historical weather and fire drought and unprecedented weather combined to createdata, processing it instantly to detect emerging fires earlier, erratic fire behaviour43 lives were lost, 19 millionpredict fire behaviour and help emergency services respond hectares were burnt and 3,000 homes were destroyed. Onmore effectively. Artificial intelligence will synthesise large the front line was the NSW Rural Fire Servicethe worldsquantities of data, create visual representations of risks largest volunteer firefighting force. posed by bushfires and predict the potential impact of different elements in real time. The platform, to be piloted When the last embers were extinguished it was time forin the 2022/2023 fire season, can also review social media the nation to review its natural disaster arrangements,to monitor threat levels. When used in conjunction with and Allens supported the NSW Rural Fire Service duringhuman insights the platform will help commanders make the Natural Disaster Arrangements Royal Commission andbetter decisions about the deployment of fire crews and other inquiries that followed. evacuation priorities. It will also enable them to see the likely impact of their decisions amid a range of changing variables. Allens is now helping the NSW Rural Fire Service with the procurement of an artificial intelligence platform, knownThe Advanced Bushfire Intelligence Technology project as Advanced Bushfire Intelligence Technology, to increasetakes the fight to the fire, using the force of technology to the data available to firefighters and generate insights fromhelp combat one of natures most powerful forces. We are that data. After 100 years of fighting fires for the people,proud to assist, says partner Phil OSullivan. flora and fauna of New South Wales, the Fire Service will now have an additional tool to assist it to battle the blaze. NSW Rural Fire Service in action.244'