12/03/07
A team of fire monitoring experts from Landgate, (formerly the Department of Land Information), is helping the Indonesian Government reduce the smoke haze caused by the huge forest fires which have plagued South East Asia since the 1990s.
Land Information Minister Michelle Roberts said Landgate's Satellite Remote Sensing Service (SRSS) had a 25-year history of customising satellite-monitoring applications to meet the specific needs of Government agencies across Australia.
"Importantly, Landgate's Firewatch program has been recognised as Australia's leading fire monitoring service, winning multiple awards including the Government Technology Gold Award and WA Premier's Award in 2005," Mrs Roberts said.
"Taking this expertise overseas to assist our near neighbours in monitoring and managing wildfires via satellite has been a logical step."
Today the Minister welcomed the Republic of Indonesia's Consul, Dr Aloysius Madja and a 'hot spot team' from Indonesia, to Landgate's Satellite Remote Sensing Service in Floreat.
The Indonesian team of seven is taking part in a six-week training program with the SRSS technical team.
"This intense training program follows visits by SRSS technical teams to Indonesia to meet Forestry and Environment Ministries, to assess their needs and ascertain sources of local spatial information which will be used to generate fire maps," the Minister said.
"Access to these fire maps will help these agencies to control and restrict the spread of forest fires which have been an annual disaster in the region for many years."
The Landgate technical support and training team will return with the Indonesian hot spot team to assist them in setting up the Fire Hot Spot Monitoring and Management Program in their country.
Mrs Roberts also welcomed two representatives from the Forest Protection Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development who were also taking part in the intensive training program.
"By undertaking an effective role in trying to solve the regional smoke haze problem and the protection of regional forests, Landgate is helping to strengthen Western Australia's relationship with Indonesia and South-East Asia," she said.
Minister's office - 9213 6600
