NRMA FireBlanket, an early bushfire detection, and monitoring network.
THE PRODUCT
It is a prototype wireless sensor network that smells bushfire, and tracks and predicts where the fire could go. The sensor nodes are placed around at-risk communities, acting as a 24/7 early-warning system for bushfires.
THE BRIEF
NRMA's stated purpose is 'Make your world a safer place'. So to start, we looked at what makes Australia unsafe. The team zeroed in on bushfires and went deep to understand the gaps. The team worked with CSIRO Data61 and NSW Rural Fire Service to find out how FireBlanket could help in detecting fires earlier.
TEAM
CSIRO Data 61 and NSW RFS with the CMO from IAG, NRMA Insurance as the key stakeholders. Skills included IP deal-structuring, product design with industrial designers, and deep technical testing using GPS, sensor networks, data, algorithms, AI with various skills and teams working together.
CHALLENGES
Launched 4 iterations of the Prototype with CSIRO scientists and NSW Rural Fire Service technical advisors
For the 2nd prototype we engaged remote sensor experts Scout Aerial Surveying to allow a combination of on the ground and aerial sensors
RESULTS
Good Design Australia - Impact Winner - NRMA FireBlanket - 2018
Australia by Design - Innovation Winner - NRMA FireBlanket - 2017
Australian Financial Review - Best Product Innovation - NRMA FireBlanket - 2017
Australian Financial Review - Gold for Best Overall Innovation in Australia - NRMA FireBlanket - 2017
The software and hardware smarts that is the essence of a smart sensor detection network.
Our 4th prototype ready to go out on a Pilot test
Getting ready to test our FireBlanket network with NSW RFS
