Since 2012, Geoscience Australia (GA) has been providing spatial support and advice to the National Situation Room (NSR) (formally the Crisis Coordination Centre (CCC)) within Emergency Management Australia (EMA) as part of GA’s collaboration with the Attorney-General’s Department. A key information requirement identified by EMA was the need to quickly understand what is in an event area. To address this requirement Geoscience Australia designed the Exposure Report which greatly simplifies the interpretation of exposure information for timely emergency response and recovery decision-making. The Exposure Report is generated by extracting the relevant attributes from the Geoscience Australia National Exposure information System (NEXIS) such as demographics, building, business, agriculture, institutions and infrastructure in an event footprint, geographical boundary or potentially threatened area. This automated process quickly presents the required information in a clear and easily accessible report detailing estimates of what exists in the event area. By improving the timeliness and accuracy of information used by the NSR, Geoscience Australia is enhancing the government’s ability to respond to disaster and activate appropriate financial assistance for recovery.

Geoscience Australia (GA), in partnership with the Bushfire & Natural Hazard CRC, has made available the Australian Exposure Information Platform (AEIP), for users to access nationally consistent exposure information.