Natural Hazards Detection System

The Challenge

The NSW Government is committed to advancing innovative technologies to enhance natural hazard detection, aligning with Recommendation 5 of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry (2020) and Recommendation 2 of the NSW Flood Inquiry (2022). Both inquiries highlight the importance of using new detection technologies to mitigate the impact of natural hazards by delivering timely warnings.

The Solution

The NHDS Program is a $3.3 million, multi-phased competitive grant program aimed at testing innovative detection technologies. The goal is to improve early identification and warning systems for flash flooding and bushfires, providing residents with more time to evacuate and enabling emergency services to prioritise areas of highest risk.

The NHDS Program allows companies to demonstrate that their technology is both fit for purpose and offers value for money, while also enabling emergency management agencies to evaluate their suitability to address nine fire and flood related challenges. The challenges were developed by NSW Government agencies with NSSN’s assistance.

Importantly, NHDS also advances the development of a common data platform and open API for the submission and sharing of environmental sensing measurements.

The NHDS Program is administered by the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) within the Premier’s Department, in collaboration with the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA).

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