Access
Google Chrome is the preferred browser for using Foresight.
https://foresight.ffm.vic.gov.au
Anyone with a FireWeb username and password will be able to access the application. However, there is some data and functionality in the Foresight application that is only available to certain FireWeb users, such as fire behaviour analysts (FBANs). This enhanced data access and functionality is considered “Advanced Access” only. If they do not have access through their FireWeb user profile, users will need to request to have Advanced Access rights from the Foresight product owners.
What is Foresight?
Foresight is an online fire weather forecast visualisation tool. It displays key forecast fire weather variables and indices across Victoria for the week ahead on an interactive map display. Foresight now has two modes – Foresight Bushfire (visualisation of key bushfire risk conditions) and Foresight Planned Burning (visualising conditions for a planned burn context).
Designed for emergency managers and fuel managers who wanted a zoomable, easy-to-use system that consolidates fire behaviour products on one interface, Foresight assists Victoria’s decision makers to analyse fire risk and evaluate planned burn opportunities to inform strategic, tactical and technical decisions. Foresight contains live data for the week ahead and data sets are updated as they become available.
Background
Foresight was initially developed in response to findings of a cross-agency user needs assessment conducted in 2017. The assessment report recommended improvements to the interpretability, accessibility, interactivity, reliability, consistency, transparency and compatibility of information for hazard prediction. Foresight brings together several datasets used for bushfire readiness into an easy-to-use interface to achieve this goal.
The development of Foresight was led by Predictive Services Victoria on behalf of fire agencies in Victoria. Initially developed with Code for Australia, Foresight was expanded with the assistance of the Technical Solutions Unit (TSU) in DELWP and Stock Software. Foresight Bushfire was successfully trialled in the 2018-19 fire season. A fully supported and operational version of Foresight Bushfire was launched in November 2019 which included some improvements beyond the trial version. Since that time, Foresight has undergone continuous development, allowing for an enhanced version of Foresight Bushfire to be released in September 2022 and the launch of Foresight Planned Burning in October 2022. Foresight is hosted and serviced by TSU with Predictive Services continuing to be the business owner of the product.
Thanks to all the generous staff of FFMVic and CFA who have contributed to the ongoing development of Foresight.
Audience
Foresight is intended to assist a wide range of people working in bushfire management roles across Victoria. Foresight was developed with a user-centred design approach. Three key user groups were considered which encompasses a range of roles across the state (Figure 1).
Figure 1. User groups considered when Foresight was designed.
Disclaimer
Foresight displays forecast data generated from Victorian Government and Bureau of Meteorology data. This material may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria does not guarantee that the application is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for error, loss or damage which may arise from reliance upon it. All persons accessing this information should make appropriate enquiries to assess the currency of the data.
Also note that:
- Foresight includes data that requires training and experience to properly interpret. You should request assistance from a fire behaviour analyst or BOM meteorologist if you are unsure.
- The date and time that the visible indicator layer was last updated is shown in both the box in the top left-hand corner of the map window and at the bottom of the legend.
- Foresight does not replace the need for Incident Weather Forecasts (IWF). IWFs are a tailored meteorological forecast for an incident area that will be based on more information than that which is available within Foresight.
- Foresight displays the most recent available forecast data. Weather observations are only available within Foresight for specific weather station points and not as indicator layers across the state. Data displayed for time steps which are in the past use the last forecast available for that time step and has not been updated or verified based on weather observations.
- Near real-time incident information is best obtained from other spatial sources such as eMap and EM COP.
- Most of the datasets within Foresight were created using coarse (~3km resolution) data inputs. You should exercise caution when interpreting the data within Foresight at a fine scale.
- For more information about Foresight and the data available within it please read the Foresight user guide at http://foresight.help.ffm.vic.gov.au.