Q&A: From wildfire to recovery with aerial photography
Apr 2020
Read how Nearmap helps emergency response and wildfire recovery in Australia in this Q&A with M’Shenda Turner, Head of Survey Operations.
Apr 2020
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When the smoke has cleared enough to fly, M’Shenda Turner studies the resulting images.
As Head of ANZ Survey Operations for Nearmap, the post-catastrophe or ‘grey sky’ captures are part of the job. Years as a volunteer firefighter have, however, given her a poignant perspective, shared in this interview with Nicole Manktelow.
How would you describe your role here in Survey Operations?
I work out where and when we capture our aerial imagery to make sure we are up-to-date, and I look at the images themselves to make sure we’re capturing quality. It’s always dependant on visibility, weather conditions, and flight approvals — and everything changes constantly. There’s a lot we can’t control. It’s a bit like a game of chess.
Has fire-fighting changed the way you look at the landscape?
I was surprised at how heartbreaking this season has been for me because I have seen so much bushfire over the years. But it’s thorough devastation this time, and through areas I know as well. It’s such a strong visual impact because it’s bare, it’s barren. There are some areas where there is just absolutely nothing left.
How many fires have you fought?
I’ve always been quite active. The biggest ones I’ve been part of were in 2013, up until now of course, but I’ve always been part of the hazard reduction burning and any of the fires in any season, so I don’t have a figure.
How long have you been fighting fires?
I’ve been a firefighter for just over 11 years now with the Rural Fire Service in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. It was always something that I wanted to do. I was living in Cremorne and that’s where they set me up when I first called to sign-up.
I thought Rural Fire Service (RFS) was mostly for rural people, so I’m surprised that you joined whilst living so close to the city…
Both my parents are country folk who moved into the city. I grew up with holidays on cousins’ farms and the like, so I had that rural exposure. We were always out in the bush.
What prompted you to actually make the call and sign-up for the RFS?
At the time I worked at Macquarie Bank and it was during the GFC [global financial crisis] and it was extraordinary. It was very hard work and we went out every night. I decided I needed something else to do — just for one night a week even. Life couldn’t be all work and the drinks afterwards. I joined for RFS and never looked back.
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Do you take time off work to do it, or is it like being in the army reserve?
I’ve taken some leave this season. At the beginning I was working from home which allowed me to be on call and as the season really ramped up I was getting called in during some stage of the day, sometimes 3pm or even 5pm.
Is it frightening to be out fighting fires at night?
It is actually spectacular. I don’t find it as frightening because you can actually see more clearly and it’s not as hot.
What kind of people do you meet?
That’s one of the addictive things about the RFS - it’s literally from all walks of life. Some people who are retired or no longer work, office workers, tradies, emergency services… It’s a fascinating part of it. There’s camaraderie, a sense of shared purpose, experience and community. Volunteering in itself is surprisingly fulfilling. It’s adventure as well - when sitting in the office, my biggest adventure is Earl Grey tea or peppermint!
Do you think your role at Nearmap would have the same meaning if you weren’t a ‘firey’?
I don’t think I would be able to do what I have done for the last four months, which is following the damage, figuring out where we might want to capture.
You’ve been very dedicated about post-bushfire captures.
I have been through areas like that, that have been wiped out, I know how devastating it actually is. That’s one of the most helpless feelings you will ever experience. It’s that sense of “we’re too late”. It’s also when you see any animals that did survive they are burned or injured or you see residents coming back to face it — see the fields — see their farms destroyed.
Is it emotional?
Seeing it all through the imagery we have taken, it hit home with every single survey that we’ve done. I’ve probably taken it a lot more personally. I’ve pushed for extra square kilometres to capture, because I know how useful it will be for charities, for recovery. I’ve seen it before. This imagery will be very useful, and a very good way for Nearmap to contribute to the effort.
What good, if any, might come out of this season?
If nothing else, it has started conversations amongst a much broader base of people in regards to climate care.
What are the images you will remember most?
It’s a mixture. Anyone who has ever driven through the main street of Mogo will know, looking at the aftermath is emotional. It’s just gone. There’s Port Macquarie, where all the koalas were — you’re not human if that doesn’t upset you. And Mallacoota. One of the latest captures we did in Mallacoota was after all that rain that went through Victoria, so there are some very small patches of some green coming back on the ground.
I imagine it’s very vivid, that green against black?
Oh yeah, that’s the first time I’ve seen color in about four months with all the things I have been looking at. I got a happy tear out of that actually.
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