As another fire season kicks off, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is employing a new tool to combat the threat—artificial intelligence (AI). This innovation is not a new fleet of helicopters or an influx of volunteers but a state-of-the-art technological recruit. At the ACT Emergency Services Agency headquarters, fire tower operator Andrew Beer monitors the vast capital region via a network of remote video cameras scattered among the hills and valleys.
Beer describes the impact of AI technology with phrases like “major benefit,” “really, really helpful,” and “a great backup.” He notes, “Once upon a time, we had people in fire towers on high fire danger days. AI works 24-7, so it’s always there, it’s never asleep, and it’s the first port of call to identify fire incidents.”
AI’s Role in Fire Detection and Safety
Rohan Scott, the chief officer of the ACT Rural Fire Service (RFS), shares Beer’s enthusiasm. “The introduction of AI is seeing significant improvements in the way we detect fire and how we use that AI technology for intelligence gathering and real-time monitoring of a situation,” he says. The ACT RFS began experimenting with AI assistance just before the devastating summer of 2019-2020, following an incident with a fire tower operator. The decision was made to explore new technologies to enhance capabilities and ensure safety for staff in remote environments.
Scott adds, “The AI is getting smarter and smarter as we use it. It determines whether a fire is dust or fertiliser spreading, or if it’s steam coming off a storm. As it’s being used, it’s getting a lot more accurate for us and our ability to make decisions in a timely manner.”
“AI is actually then giving us that reassurance and confirmation of our decisions and our commitment to those resources out on the fire ground.” — Rohan Scott
AI in Public Services: Beyond Fire Safety
Bettina Konti, interim director general of Digital Canberra, explains that AI’s application extends beyond fire safety. “AI is here. It will continue to grow and evolve, despite us and without us,” she says. Konti emphasizes the importance of understanding AI and learning to work with it to mitigate any adverse consequences. AI is already integrated into various sectors, including road monitoring, healthcare, and education.
Konti stresses the necessity of human oversight in AI applications. “We can’t just implement an AI-enabled solution and let it rip. We need to ensure ongoing monitoring, which is creating new job types and roles,” she notes.
AI’s Transformative Potential in Healthcare
AI’s potential in healthcare is “potentially out-of-this-world transformative,” according to Konti. She highlights its ability to reduce administrative burdens and assist in disease detection. Purnima Bhat, a gastroenterologist in Canberra, confirms AI’s established role in healthcare, particularly in administration and training. “AI has just revolutionised patient care in many ways, and it’s improving day by day,” Dr. Bhat states.
AI-assisted detection equipment enhances competence in medical procedures, such as colonoscopies. “For early-career endoscopists, it’s raising the floor for the average patient,” Dr. Bhat explains. However, she acknowledges that experienced specialists remain superior to current AI capabilities.
“The next-gen AI is going to be able to say, ‘That’s this kind of polyp. This carries with it an x-per cent risk of turning into something nasty.'” — Dr. Purnima Bhat
AI’s Impact on Education
AI is also making waves in the ACT school system. While students have used AI for assessments unofficially, the education system is now incorporating approved AI tools for teachers and students. “The student-facing platform in ACT government is Google, and we’re considering how to implement AI assistant Gemini for students,” Konti says.
Amaroo School principal Ed Cuthbertson views AI as a “game-changer” for teachers. It allows for tailored lessons to suit diverse student needs, such as those from English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) backgrounds. “AI helps speed up the administrative component, freeing up time for the important to be preferenced over the urgent,” Cuthbertson summarizes.
“It can do a lot of the doing, but it can’t replace thinking. And that’s where your job as a teacher is around, how do you stimulate? How do you allow kids to make that connection?” — Ed Cuthbertson
The integration of AI across various sectors in the ACT signifies a significant shift towards technology-enhanced services. As AI continues to evolve, its role in public safety, healthcare, and education is expected to expand, offering new opportunities and challenges for the region.
