Mapping wildfire susceptibility area by using ArcGIS: A case study of the 2019-2020 Black Summer Fires in Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Abstract

The 2019-2020 bushfire season, Black Summer, is known as one of the worst seasons on record. Kangaroo Island (KI), located in South Australia, experienced severe devastation during this period. This study aimed to construct a bushfire susceptibility map for KI based on the 2019-20 Black Summer Fires event. Seven variables are selected for analysis: temperature, rainfall, aspect, slope, land use, land cover, and distance to road. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is used to determine the weightings, and ArcGIS software is used to perform raster analysis and produce a bushfire susceptibility map for KI. Results suggest that 39.1% and 58.7% of KI fall into the moderate, high-risk zones. Additionally, the western part of KI is more vulnerable to wildfire, especially in the Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Park. The fire risk map produced provides valuable insights into the vulnerability of KI to bushfires, facilitating informed planning for future fire events.