Garth Lidbetter
UX & Systems Designer
Location
Sawtell
NSW, Australia
Connect
© 2002-2025 Garth Lidbetter
Garth Lidbetter
UX & Systems Designer
Location
Sawtell
NSW, Australia
Connect
© 2002-2025 Garth Lidbetter
NSW Rural Fire Service
Bushfire Risk Modelling Platform
2024
BA, Systems, UX, Product design
A platform for long-term bushfire risk modelling.
This project delivered a system enabling NSW RFS fire behaviour analysts, planners, and committees to create bushfire risk scenarios themselves.
By forecasting high-risk areas and understanding risk factors, the tool supports both statewide scenario planning and localised fire planning. I contributed by uncovering organisational processes and designing the application, giving planners more control and independence.
The result is a practical solution that strengthens planning and mitigation efforts for real-world bushfire risks.
A platform for long-term bushfire risk modelling.
This project delivered a system enabling NSW RFS fire behaviour analysts, planners, and committees to create bushfire risk scenarios themselves.
By forecasting high-risk areas and understanding risk factors, the tool supports both statewide scenario planning and localised fire planning. I contributed by uncovering organisational processes and designing the application, giving planners more control and independence.
The result is a practical solution that strengthens planning and mitigation efforts for real-world bushfire risks.
A platform for long-term bushfire risk modelling.
This project delivered a system enabling NSW RFS fire behaviour analysts, planners, and committees to create bushfire risk scenarios themselves.
By forecasting high-risk areas and understanding risk factors, the tool supports both statewide scenario planning and localised fire planning. I contributed by uncovering organisational processes and designing the application, giving planners more control and independence.
The result is a practical solution that strengthens planning and mitigation efforts for real-world bushfire risks.
Role & team
Role: User Experience designer
Team: UI designer, Content designer, Product manager, Project lead, Program account manager, BE team (4), FE team (2), DevOps (2)
Client: Product owner, Stakeholders, SME's
Role: User Experience designer
Team: UI designer, Content designer, Product manager, Project lead, Program account manager, BE team (4), FE team (2), DevOps (2)
Client: Product owner, Stakeholders, SME's
Role: User Experience designer
Team: UI designer, Content designer, Product manager, Project lead, Program account manager, BE team (4), FE team (2), DevOps (2)
Client: Product owner, Stakeholders, SME's
Tasks
Stakeholder & user interviews
User working group facilitation
User journey mapping
Technical data flow mapping and schemas
Design & engineering alignment
User testing of design prototypes
User testing of live application
Stakeholder & user interviews
User working group facilitation
User journey mapping
Technical data flow mapping and schemas
Design & engineering alignment
User testing of design prototypes
User testing of live application
Stakeholder & user interviews
User working group facilitation
User journey mapping
Technical data flow mapping and schemas
Design & engineering alignment
User testing of design prototypes
User testing of live application
Deliverables
Information Architecture
Prototypes of features
Fortnightly showcase presentations
Web-based application to be used in head office and regional centres
Information Architecture
Prototypes of features
Fortnightly showcase presentations
Web-based application to be used in head office and regional centres
Information Architecture
Prototypes of features
Fortnightly showcase presentations
Web-based application to be used in head office and regional centres
136+
hours in consultations with NSW RFS & NPWS
276
user workflows designed
98%
reduction of processing time
500+
users, now empowered with direct access to bushfire risk data
Background & Brief
The NSW RFS coordinates 56 Bushfire Management Committees across the state, involving representatives from RFS, NPWS, Forestry Corp, Fire & Rescue, local councils, and transport authorities. These committees make decisions using bushfire risk models. Until 2024, predictive models were produced externally by the University of Melbourne—a process that took weeks or months.
Our brief was to bring this capability in-house, enabling committees to generate bushfire scenario modelling themselves, with results delivered in hours instead of weeks.
The NSW RFS coordinates 56 Bushfire Management Committees across the state, involving representatives from RFS, NPWS, Forestry Corp, Fire & Rescue, local councils, and transport authorities. These committees make decisions using bushfire risk models. Until 2024, predictive models were produced externally by the University of Melbourne—a process that took weeks or months.
Our brief was to bring this capability in-house, enabling committees to generate bushfire scenario modelling themselves, with results delivered in hours instead of weeks.
The NSW RFS coordinates 56 Bushfire Management Committees across the state, involving representatives from RFS, NPWS, Forestry Corp, Fire & Rescue, local councils, and transport authorities. These committees make decisions using bushfire risk models. Until 2024, predictive models were produced externally by the University of Melbourne—a process that took weeks or months.
Our brief was to bring this capability in-house, enabling committees to generate bushfire scenario modelling themselves, with results delivered in hours instead of weeks.
Challenges
Rebuilding the foundation
The modelling methodology itself had to be reconstructed. The platform couldn’t just host a tool — it needed to embed a completely new way of working.Data at overwhelming scale
Each model run required 100+ input files and 1,000+ configuration values. A single project might duplicate this up to 20 times. With 50 live projects in play, the platform had to handle staggering data volumes without collapsing under its own weight.Version chaos
Analysts rarely stop at one run. They review, tweak, and rerun — over and over. Every version had to retain its full input data and configuration history. The challenge was to make this accessible without turning the interface into a confusing maze.Freedom to experiment
Fire behaviour analysts needed room to explore a wide range of conditions. The system had to balance scientific rigour with creative flexibility, without compromising reliability.
Rebuilding the foundation
The modelling methodology itself had to be reconstructed. The platform couldn’t just host a tool — it needed to embed a completely new way of working.Data at overwhelming scale
Each model run required 100+ input files and 1,000+ configuration values. A single project might duplicate this up to 20 times. With 50 live projects in play, the platform had to handle staggering data volumes without collapsing under its own weight.Version chaos
Analysts rarely stop at one run. They review, tweak, and rerun — over and over. Every version had to retain its full input data and configuration history. The challenge was to make this accessible without turning the interface into a confusing maze.Freedom to experiment
Fire behaviour analysts needed room to explore a wide range of conditions. The system had to balance scientific rigour with creative flexibility, without compromising reliability.
Rebuilding the foundation
The modelling methodology itself had to be reconstructed. The platform couldn’t just host a tool — it needed to embed a completely new way of working.Data at overwhelming scale
Each model run required 100+ input files and 1,000+ configuration values. A single project might duplicate this up to 20 times. With 50 live projects in play, the platform had to handle staggering data volumes without collapsing under its own weight.Version chaos
Analysts rarely stop at one run. They review, tweak, and rerun — over and over. Every version had to retain its full input data and configuration history. The challenge was to make this accessible without turning the interface into a confusing maze.Freedom to experiment
Fire behaviour analysts needed room to explore a wide range of conditions. The system had to balance scientific rigour with creative flexibility, without compromising reliability.
Solution
This platform provides NSW Rural Fire Service and National Parks & Wildlife with bushfire modelling of:
Fire behaviour (size, strength and power of modelled fires)
Impact analysis (quantified cost of impacts to built and environmental assets)
Highlights of the solution:
Platform capabilities
18 RBAC user roles (across both NSW RFS and NPWS agencies)
8 types of bushfire risk modelling projects (each with unique methodology, business rules and outputs)
Data Library to hold and manage data
Configurability of bushfire risk models:
100+ input files
1,000+ configuration values
50,000+ ignition points (for statewide runs)
800+ weather streams
Processing and outputs (per single 'Fire Behaviour run'):
2 million Phoenix simulations
200+ geospatial output layers generated
This platform provides NSW Rural Fire Service and National Parks & Wildlife with bushfire modelling of:
Fire behaviour (size, strength and power of modelled fires)
Impact analysis (quantified cost of impacts to built and environmental assets)
Highlights of the solution:
Platform capabilities
18 RBAC user roles (across both NSW RFS and NPWS agencies)
8 types of bushfire risk modelling projects (each with unique methodology, business rules and outputs)
Data Library to hold and manage data
Configurability of bushfire risk models:
100+ input files
1,000+ configuration values
50,000+ ignition points (for statewide runs)
800+ weather streams
Processing and outputs (per single 'Fire Behaviour run'):
2 million Phoenix simulations
200+ geospatial output layers generated
This platform provides NSW Rural Fire Service and National Parks & Wildlife with bushfire modelling of:
Fire behaviour (size, strength and power of modelled fires)
Impact analysis (quantified cost of impacts to built and environmental assets)
Highlights of the solution:
Platform capabilities
18 RBAC user roles (across both NSW RFS and NPWS agencies)
8 types of bushfire risk modelling projects (each with unique methodology, business rules and outputs)
Data Library to hold and manage data
Configurability of bushfire risk models:
100+ input files
1,000+ configuration values
50,000+ ignition points (for statewide runs)
800+ weather streams
Processing and outputs (per single 'Fire Behaviour run'):
2 million Phoenix simulations
200+ geospatial output layers generated
136+
hours in consultations with NSW RFS & NPWS
276
user workflows designed
98%
reduction of processing time
500+
users, now empowered with direct access to bushfire risk data
Conclusions
The Bushfire Risk Modelling Platform is used by NSW RFS and NPWS to understand the long-term risks of bushfire. Providing the ability to now conduct processing:
Internally – providing total control at each step
Within hours – for rapid review times and faster end-to-end project timelines
The Bushfire Risk Modelling Platform is used by NSW RFS and NPWS to understand the long-term risks of bushfire. Providing the ability to now conduct processing:
Internally – providing total control at each step
Within hours – for rapid review times and faster end-to-end project timelines
The Bushfire Risk Modelling Platform is used by NSW RFS and NPWS to understand the long-term risks of bushfire. Providing the ability to now conduct processing:
Internally – providing total control at each step
Within hours – for rapid review times and faster end-to-end project timelines
Feedback
Lisa Chiu
Geospatial Expert & Product Owner (NSW Rural Fire Service)
"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Garth. This was a highly complex and often challenging project. Garth provided clear, upfront communication; and, strong knowledge and expertise as he guided us through the process."
"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Garth. This was a highly complex and often challenging project. Garth provided clear, upfront communication; and, strong knowledge and expertise as he guided us through the process."
"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Garth. This was a highly complex and often challenging project. Garth provided clear, upfront communication; and, strong knowledge and expertise as he guided us through the process."
Isaac Scott
Lead Front End Engineer
"Garth's ability to juggle projects, seek and distill the value from the client, and produce clear and tangible outputs for the rest of your teams never ceases to amaze. Always cutting through the complexity and it's been great seeing you operate as such a phenomenal leader."
"Garth's ability to juggle projects, seek and distill the value from the client, and produce clear and tangible outputs for the rest of your teams never ceases to amaze. Always cutting through the complexity and it's been great seeing you operate as such a phenomenal leader."
"Garth's ability to juggle projects, seek and distill the value from the client, and produce clear and tangible outputs for the rest of your teams never ceases to amaze. Always cutting through the complexity and it's been great seeing you operate as such a phenomenal leader."
Benji Stratford
Senior UI Designer
"Garth has a remarkable ability to simplify the intricate, and his handovers throughout the design process were always clear, concise, and thorough. His communication—whether through design documentation or working files—was consistently clear, and he played a pivotal role in the overall project's success."
"Garth has a remarkable ability to simplify the intricate, and his handovers throughout the design process were always clear, concise, and thorough. His communication—whether through design documentation or working files—was consistently clear, and he played a pivotal role in the overall project's success."
"Garth has a remarkable ability to simplify the intricate, and his handovers throughout the design process were always clear, concise, and thorough. His communication—whether through design documentation or working files—was consistently clear, and he played a pivotal role in the overall project's success."