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Finding data on the Dataset Catalogue

Bushfire-related Datasets

The 2019–20 bushfires in New South Wales have been one of the most extreme and widespread fires the state has experienced. Though the season is over, we will not have a comprehensive understanding of the full impact of the 2019–20 fires until we can see how the landscape and animals respond. 

The work of the scientists at the Department of Planning and Environment was significant during the fires, providing rapid and accurate information to support the vital efforts of emergency response agencies like NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and conservation organisations working to help our wildlife.

This page acts as a compendium of the datasets, maps and analyses produced by the Department's Science, Economics and Insights Division to support decision-makers in response to the fire recovery and conservation efforts.

This immediate and responsive work was in addition to the ongoing work of the Department's Science, Economics and Insights Division to understand fire extent and severity, monitor and assess air and water quality, research, threatened animals and plants, profile soil types and quality, model erosion risks, and map numerous aspects of native vegetation and biodiversity. 

For further information on understanding the effects of the 2019–20 fires please see the Department's Environment Energy and Science website.

SEED Dataset Dataset Description
NSW Bush Fire Prone Land The NSW Bush Fire Prone Land dataset is a map prepared in accordance with the Guide for Bush Fire Prone Land Mapping (BFPL Mapping Guide) and certified by the Commissioner of NSW RFS under purposes of Section 10.3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 No 203.

Fire Extent and Severity Mapping (FESM)

The FESM severity classes include: unburnt, low severity (burnt understory, unburnt canopy), moderate severity (partial canopy scorch), high severity (complete canopy scorch, partial canopy consumption), extreme (full canopy consumption).
SLATS - Woody Vegetation Loss Areas of woody vegetation change based on the analysis of multi-date SPOT5 imagery
Vegetation Classification NSW vegetation community typology including Plant Community Types, NSW Vegetation Formations and Classes, NSW Vegetation Integrity (Benchmarks) 
Koala Habitat information Best available state-wide spatial data on koala habitat, likelihood, koala preferred trees and koala sightings for NSW
Foliage Project Cover 2008 Percent Foliage Projective Cover for woody areas - 2008
Foliage Project Cover 2011 Percent Foliage Projective Cover for woody areas - 2011
Landsat Foliage Projection cover Landsat foliage projective cover (FPC) time series summary products (25m) 1988-2008
Woody extent 2008 Extent of woody vegetation at 2008 
Woody extent 2011 Extent of woody vegetation at 2011
Flora Survey Plots Landsat foliage projective cover (FPC) time series summary products (25m) 1988-2008
Landsat Seasonal Fractional cover Proportions of green, non-green and bare cover 
Soils Erosion risk Modelled hillslope erosion at 100m resolution
Plant Community Type Mapping Classify and map vegetation by communities, floristic or structural typologies
Native Vegetation Regulatory Map  Excluded Land on the Native Vegetation Regulation Map 
Biodiversity Values Map

Identifies land with high biodiversity value that is particularly sensitive to impacts from development and clearing

Vulnerable lands >18 degrees Slopes greater than or equal to 18 degrees derived from the 1 second Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

Soil

NSW soil profile and soil map information to guide environmental assessments and conservation decisions 
NSW Priority Species and Communities for Bushfire Impact Assessment and Conservation Action

NSW have undertaken assessments to understand the impacts of the 2019-20 bushfire on plants, animals and communities. These findings inform New South Wales’ prioritisation of species and ecological communities for field assessments of the impacts and threats to natural post-fire recovery, and for targeted conservation action over the medium term.

The current list of priority plants is available. Three other interim lists that indicate priority species for animals, threatened ecological communities and plant community types, will be available soon.

Datasets used for the prioritisation analysis will be coming soon.

Google Earth Engine Burnt Area Map (GEEBAM) Models the impact of the 2019-20 fires, categorising areas into 4 classes from little change, unburnt, partially and fully affected (burnt) canopy.