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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Peter Hannam

Send in the drones: how to transform Australia’s fight against bushfires and floods

The worst bushfires are ignited in remote forests by lighning strikes – but drones could help reduce the risk.
The worst bushfires are ignited in remote forests by lightning strikes – but drones could help reduce the risk. Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP

In the wake of storms of the near future, swarms of drones could replace helicopters and planes, providing emergency crews with more rapid and accurate data on the coming threats of lightning-sparked bushfires or flash floods heading for homes.

Authorities now rely on satellites, which require clear weather during daytime and may only provide resolution down to 10 metres. Alternatively, pilots of aircraft may burn as much as $3,400 worth of fuel an hour and often can’t fly for safety reasons.

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