In an era marked by escalating natural hazards and geopolitical instability, understanding the combustible mass of the built environment has become increasingly critical. A recent study, led by Johannes H. Uhl and a team of researchers, introduces COMBUST, a groundbreaking dataset that quantifies the combustible mass of building materials, building contents, and personal vehicles across the conterminous United States from 1975 to 2020. This fine-grained, 250-meter resolution dataset offers unprecedented insights into fire risk and potential damage assessments, essential for disaster risk management and urban planning.
The study highlights the growing threat posed by wildfires, droughts, and urban expansion, which collectively heighten fire risks to populations and human settlements. While the distribution of biomass fuels in natural landscapes has been well-documented through remote sensing, the combustible mass within urban environments has remained largely unquantified until now. COMBUST fills this gap by integrating a variety of geospatial data sources, including Earth-observation data, real estate records, statistical estimates, and volunteered geographic information. This comprehensive approach ensures a detailed and accurate representation of urban fuels, crucial for assessing fire hazards and planning mitigation strategies.
COMBUST is not just a static dataset; it includes different backcasting scenarios that trace changes in combustible mass over time, from 1975 to 2020. This temporal dimension allows researchers and policymakers to analyze trends and project future risks based on historical data. The accompanying COMBUST PLUS dataset further enhances this resource by providing consistently enumerated gridded data that facilitate combustion exposure modeling of buildings and populations. This dual dataset framework supports a wide range of applications, from ecological and social science research to disaster risk management and urban planning.
The implications of COMBUST extend beyond academic research. For defence and security sectors, understanding the combustible mass of urban environments is vital for evaluating potential hazards related to military operations and urban warfare. The dataset can inform strategic planning, risk assessments, and mitigation efforts, ensuring that military and civilian infrastructures are better prepared for potential fire-related threats. Additionally, COMBUST can aid in developing more resilient urban environments, guiding the design of buildings and infrastructure that minimize fire risks and maximize safety.
The development of COMBUST represents a significant advancement in the field of disaster risk management. By providing detailed, spatially explicit data on urban fuels, it empowers decision-makers to implement targeted interventions and policies that reduce fire risks and enhance community resilience. As natural hazards and geopolitical tensions continue to evolve, tools like COMBUST will be indispensable for safeguarding populations and infrastructure.
In conclusion, COMBUST offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the combustible mass within the built environment, addressing a critical gap in fire risk assessment and urban planning. Its integration of diverse data sources and temporal analysis capabilities make it an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, and defence strategists alike. As we navigate an increasingly hazardous and unpredictable world, COMBUST stands as a beacon of innovation and preparedness, guiding us toward safer and more resilient communities. Read the original research paper here.