There have been recent substantial advances in monitoring and modelling fuel moisture content across large spatial scales. However, until recently these products are typically at too coarse a resolution for prescribed burns.

Under the NSW OCSE’s Natural Hazards Detection System Program, several companies are developing low-cost fuel moisture sensors. If effective, these sensors could be deployed on burn blocks and reduce the dependency on manual fuel moisture measurements in the lead up to prescribed burns. It is anticipated this project will provide guidance on the accuracy of these new sensors, which will help inform their suitability for use.