FireTools Cloud is a web-based GIS processing environment developed by the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, a NSW focused research partnership between the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, the University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University, the University of NSW, the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne and the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is designed to replicate and replace the functionality of the FireTools II ArcGIS processing plugin to assist in fire management planning. Users upload a datapack containing the GIS files used to run a standard FireTools II analysis, configure the layers and fields that define the analysis, and submit the analysis for processing. After processing is complete, users can download a results pack containing GIS files with analysis results. Selected results are distributed for use as described below.

Results are true and correct only for the reserves within the NPWS Hunter Central Coast Branch. Fire history outside the reserves is incomplete so results should not be relied upon.

Layers in this data package: Heritage threshold status: Input vegetation classified into LongUnburnt, WithinThreshold, Vulnerable, TooFrequentlyBurnt, Unknown and NoFireRegime (raster and vector). This layer is used to monitor the status of vegetation across the study area with respect to its biodiversity-related impacts of fire.

Number of times burnt: The number of times any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector)

Time Since Last Fire: The number of years since any given point within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history (raster and vector)

Time Since Last Fire SFAZ: The number of years since any given Strategic Fire Advantage Zone (SFAZ) within the study area has been intersected by a burnt area polygon in the fire history. This is then classified into 3 time slices whereby 0-6 years = Recently Treated, 7-10 years = Monitor OFH in the field and >10 years = Priority for Assessment and Treatment. (raster and vector). This layer is used to find candidate burn blocks to assess for addition into a hazard reduction program of works.

Vegcode: A simple display layer showing the input vegetation groups over the study area. This is not a fully attributed vegetation layer – it is designed as a simple visual (raster only).

VegBase: This is a copy of the input veg used, showing just the VEG code, MIN, MAX. Can be used to analyse what is driving results in a given location.

Data is updated up to 4 times per year.