Firefighters are our best defence against bushfires in Australia and help the country battle the 50,000 fires it suffers each year. They are extremely difficult to stop but speed and information are firefighters’ best weapon in managing their destruction. And that’s exactly what NRMA Fireblanket was built to do: detect early and communicate instantly.

In our research into bushfires, we discovered that sight was the most common method of detecting fires. This is fine when fires are large and near, but many bushfires start off small, slow and at night. The truth is you can smell smoke before you see a fire, especially at night.

NRMA Fireblanket was developed as an always-on bushfire monitoring and detection network. It uses calibrated dust particle sensor nodes (that talk to one another) to smell, pinpoint, track but also predict where bushfires will spread. Providing faster identification for quicker response.

NRMA Fireblanket; a network of sensor ‘nodes’ that analyse the air for bushfire smoke and monitors live weather data. Placed on existing infrastructure, they form a blanket over at-risk communities. It’s a powerful combination of hardware and software working in harmony.

When smoke is detected, a fan kicks-in to ensure consistent airflow and an accurate reading. The nodes then communicate with one another over the network to triangulate the source of the smoke. Authorities are alerted, whilst the modeling software – called SPARK – tracks and then predicts the course of the fire.

On the outside, the nodes are injection moulded polycarbonate which delivers heat-resistance plus it will self-extinguish, rather than accelerate the fire. Whilst stainless-steel woven mesh on the inside protects the sensors and circuitry. At the heart dust particle (PM2.5/10) and CO/CO2 sensors that are calibrated to distinguish a bushfire from a BBQ (bushfires consist of unique compounds due to the flora). Overall it’s designed for easy access and maintenance

Previously, the SPARK software relied on historical data to predict fire spread – but Fireblanket offers a real-time view, providing firefighters the critical information when it’s needed most.

Community:

Over the last 12 months, NRMA Fireblanket has passed two milestones:

- March 2017, The Australian Government's Scientific agency, CSIRO validated the prototype.

- September 2017, Infield trials with the Rural Fire Service demonstrated Fireblanket could detect ?bushfires faster than current methods.

Currently, NRMA Fireblanket is undergoing evaluation by councils and property developers with the aim to be protecting at-risk communities.

Brand:

NRMA Fireblanket was introduced to over 2 million NRMA Customers in January 2017.

Since announcement, over 9.3 million Australians have engaged with NRMA Fireblanket.

Since revealing, Fireblanket has successfully changed NRMA Insurance brand perception. NRMA experienced a 61% lift in brand awareness that NRMA is innovating to help protect communities.

NRMA Fireblanket, helped NRMA insurance shift from a remedy based business into a preventive one.

Every year, bushfires endanger 1-in-10 Australians.

We have developed an always-on technology that utilises both hardware and software to detect bushfires. It’s a wireless sensor network that covers large expanses of Australian bushland. It can pinpoint, track and predict where bushfires spread.

Built for NRMA Insurance, it’s not only going to help in the bushfire battle – it’s also had an impact on how Aussies see Australia’s biggest insurer.

It’s a proven innovation that’s on track to equip fire authorities with timely information to manage bushfires more effectively. Whilst providing much-needed peace of mind to at risk communities.

January 2016 - Fireblanket Development begins

April 2016 - Sensor calibration tested at CSIRO’s Pyrotron, bushfire simulation oven

June 2016 - Tested in field.

January 2017 - Fireblanket communicated/revealed to the public.

March 2017 - CSIRO’s Data61 validated the prototype and began working alongside us on the next iteration.

September 2017 - Final Design undergoes infield trials with the Rural Fire Service demonstrating Fireblanket could detect bushfires faster than current methods.

The infield trial proved it could identify ?fire, map smoke density and provide insight for prediction. ?An always-on system means bushfire intelligence can help those that can manage the bushfire best.

Aussie bushland is harsh and beautiful. It’s also where a lot of Australians choose to call home. That comes with risks, the largest being bushfires. Whilst they can't be stopped they can be managed if detected early.

Currently, fire spotters and other line-of-sight methods monitor bushland. Which is restrictive and gets even harder after dark.

NRMA Insurance has always helped communities rebuild after bushfires. But they wanted to do more. We wanted to show NRMA’s more helpful, caring side so we looked to technology to help us shift NRMA’s role from rebuilding communities after bushfires, to building community resilience to bushfires.

Influence came from smoke detectors. An affordable way to warn of fire at home. But what if we could make one for the bush? Topography, weather conditions, and flora create both a challenge and an opportunity. So we explored the possibilities of IoT, wireless network technologies, and sensors.