Victoria State Government to use Newtracs trail data in new bushfire response time model
Newtracs announced a trail data sharing partnership with Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP). Real-world travel data from Newtracs users will help improve bushfire response planning.
Today Newtracs announced a trail data sharing partnership with the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning Victoria (DELWP). Insights on the conditions of remote forest fire access trails, generated by real-world travel data collected by Newtracs users, will be used by DELWP in the development of new tools to assist bushfire fighting operations.
Partnership Details
Newtracs currently tracks conditions on over 11,000 Australian 4WD trails, including difficulty grades, completion times, travel speeds, and traffic information. This data is generated entirely from real driving data collected through the Newtracs mobile app.
According to Chris Medlin, Risk Analyst with DELWP's Forest and Fire Planning team: "The Newtracs data will assist us in building a response time model that will allow us to estimate how long it will take to get to a fire in any given part of the landscape."
How It Works
The model helps estimate bushfire size upon responder arrival when combined with fire spread simulations, enabling better resource allocation decisions. The accurate response model identifies remote areas requiring extended access times, supporting emergency preparedness teams in pre-positioning resources strategically.
Community Impact
Newtracs CEO James Nuccio emphasised the community-driven aspect of the partnership. With over 40,000 Australian users contributing real travel data, the platform has the potential to help reduce bushland destruction and lives lost to bushfires.
"Every trip our users take generates valuable data about trail conditions and accessibility. Knowing that this data can now contribute to protecting lives and our bushland is incredibly meaningful for our entire community," said Nuccio.
The partnership represents a significant milestone for Newtracs, demonstrating the real-world impact that community-collected driving data can have beyond recreational use.