An interactive tool designed to allow Greater Hobart residents to assess the fire risk of their properties has been expanded to include more local government areas.

The 2024 Bushfire Impact Index, developed by technology firm Geoneon, uses satellite and climate data to take into account the density and type of surrounding vegetation near properties and assess bushfire risk.

Its development was supported by funding from the National Emergency Management Agency.

The first report, produced last year, included data from residents in the Hobart, Kingborough and Glenorchy council areas.

This year it was expanded to include Clarence, Sorrell and Brighton, with 4,225 buildings identified as having at least a moderately high risk of exposure to bushfires.

Use Geoneon Map to find your address:

Geoneon chief executive Roxanne Bandini-Maeder said the inclusion of more areas was a result of community feedback.

“Last year we saw 50,000 views in just 48 hours,” she said.

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Ms. Bandini-Maeder said other building types were included on the list this year.

“Last year we really focused on residential,” she said.

“This year we decided to also add commercial and industrial buildings to have better visibility.

“So the number of buildings has changed, the expansion has changed, and … we put in climate data and improved our AI model so that it also represents vegetation, which is much more accurate.”

However, she acknowledged that all factors affecting fires, including ember attack, access routes or building materials, had not been considered.

“We don’t make specific recommendations, but the index really serves as an additional tool for decision-making.”

So what does the mapping show?

Using artificial intelligence and satellite imagery, Geoneon assessed more than 94,000 buildings in Tasmania’s 132 southern suburbs, classifying them according to their bushfire susceptibility.

The report said 4.5 percent of all buildings assessed were classified in higher impact categories, which range from “moderately high” to “extremely high.”

This was due to factors such as proximity to bushland, vegetation density and long-term rainfall patterns.

Kingborough was again identified as the municipality with the most buildings in the higher risk categories, with 1,727 buildings meeting this threshold.

It is followed by Hobart with 1,205, then Clarence with 751.

Sandford in Clarence has the highest number of bushfire-prone buildings at suburban level, followed by Mount Nelson and Fern Tree in Hobart.

Ms Bandini-Maeder said the knowledge could be used to support long-term planning.

“It doesn’t replace any other views, but it does complement having even more information because the more people know… and local councils know, they can actually do something about it.”

She said this will continue over time as the data provides insight into how mitigation efforts may work as year-to-year results are compared.

A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency said guidelines for the third round of the Disaster Preparedness Fund are expected to be published in the coming months.

They said they encouraged Geoneon to “contact the lead agency in their state to discuss their suitability.”

Local council sees benefits

Karen Abey, from the City of Hobart, said the mapping tool was “invaluable” to both the council and the wider community.

She said feedback had been strong since last year’s index was published, with residents telling the council it had prompted them to do some vegetation clearance.

“Some people like to participate in public meetings, others prefer to take a more personal approach to understanding the risks facing their property.

Ms Bandini-Maeder said Geoneon’s goal was to create an updated map every year.

However, she said the company would need more funding to do so, and the team is actively seeking support from different levels of government.

Tasmania Fire Service urges people to ‘know your risk’

Tasmania Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Jeremy Smith said while a “normal bushfire risk” was forecast for the spring, “continued drier and warmer conditions will increase the risk of bushfires into the summer.”

“That’s why we need the community to be prepared and now is the time to act,” Mr Smith said.

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