Australia has been experiencing increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, from devastating bushfires to catastrophic floods. The challenge has not only been responding in the moment, but doing so with speed, precision, and coordination to protect communities and critical infrastructure.
This webinar explored how Australian emergency services have been harnessing high-resolution imagery and AI-powered insights to transform disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Drawing on case studies including the Brisbane floods and East Coast bushfires, the session demonstrated how location intelligence supports faster decisions, stronger interagency coordination, and more effective recovery planning.
Attendees gained insights into how state and emergency agencies have:
Leveraged near real-time aerial imagery to maintain situational awareness during critical events.
Applied AI-driven damage assessment to prioritise resources, accelerate recovery, and support funding applications.
Built a shared “common operating picture” to strengthen coordination across emergency, policing, health, and recovery authorities.
Utilised geospatial intelligence to inform long-term resilience and climate adaptation strategies.
With the cost and complexity of disasters continuing to rise, the session provided senior leaders with actionable approaches to strengthen readiness, modernise operations, and enhance the resilience of Australia’s communities.
Meet your facilitators
M’Shenda Turner
Senior Director, ANZ Survey Ops, Nearmap
Mark Grenfell
Spatial Services Manager, Brisbane City Council
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