<p> Australian scientists are developing the country's first satellite designed to predict where bushfires are likely to start, following months of devastating fires.</p>.<p>The Australian National University said Wednesday a team is creating a "shoebox-sized" satellite that will measure forest ground cover and moisture levels using infrared detectors.</p>.<p>It is hoped the data will help determine where bushfires are likely to start and where they may be difficult to contain.</p>.<p>The technology would be "specifically tuned to detect changes in Australian plants and trees such as eucalypts, which are highly flammable", the university said in a statement.</p>.<p>It plans to partner with the private sector to launch the new satellite into low-Earth orbit and, according to remote-sensing expert Marta Yebra, the data would be shared with firefighters.</p>.<p>"This infrared technology and data, which is not currently available, will help to target-controlled burns that can reduce the frequency and severity of bushfires, as well as their long-term impacts on Australia's people, economy, and environment," she said.</p>.<p>It is expected to take five years before scientists will be able to use the satellite.</p>.<p>Over summer, bushfire-prone Australia experienced one of its worst fire seasons on record.</p>.<p>More than 30 people died, thousands of homes were destroyed, over 10 million hectares were burned and at least a billion animals perished.</p>.<p>Researchers say global warming is lengthening the country's summers and making them increasingly dangerous, with shorter winters making it more difficult to carry out bushfire prevention work.</p>
<p> Australian scientists are developing the country's first satellite designed to predict where bushfires are likely to start, following months of devastating fires.</p>.<p>The Australian National University said Wednesday a team is creating a "shoebox-sized" satellite that will measure forest ground cover and moisture levels using infrared detectors.</p>.<p>It is hoped the data will help determine where bushfires are likely to start and where they may be difficult to contain.</p>.<p>The technology would be "specifically tuned to detect changes in Australian plants and trees such as eucalypts, which are highly flammable", the university said in a statement.</p>.<p>It plans to partner with the private sector to launch the new satellite into low-Earth orbit and, according to remote-sensing expert Marta Yebra, the data would be shared with firefighters.</p>.<p>"This infrared technology and data, which is not currently available, will help to target-controlled burns that can reduce the frequency and severity of bushfires, as well as their long-term impacts on Australia's people, economy, and environment," she said.</p>.<p>It is expected to take five years before scientists will be able to use the satellite.</p>.<p>Over summer, bushfire-prone Australia experienced one of its worst fire seasons on record.</p>.<p>More than 30 people died, thousands of homes were destroyed, over 10 million hectares were burned and at least a billion animals perished.</p>.<p>Researchers say global warming is lengthening the country's summers and making them increasingly dangerous, with shorter winters making it more difficult to carry out bushfire prevention work.</p>