The Hobart Smoke Cam is part of the Biomass Smoke Project, a study being undertaken by researchers at the University of Tasmania and the Menzies Research Institute, which aims to examine the effects of smoke from biomass burning (bushfires, prescribed burns) on human health. 

Vegetation fires produce particulate matter (PM), which scatters light in the atmosphere and reduces visibility.  Sophisticated instruments are available to measure PM concentration in the atmosphere, but these are costly and often do not provide information to the public in real-time. 

The aim of the Hobart Smoke Cam is to use an inexpensive digital camera to photograph distant landmarks (Collins Bonnet and Collins Cap) several times a day, in order to correlate visibility with more accurate measurements taken by dedicated particulate monitors, with the hope of establishing a simple guide to the relationship between visibility and dangerous particulate concentrations.

Grant Williamson
Research Associate
School of Plant Science
University of Tasmania

(click here to view larger image)

- View Comparison Picture -
- View Archive -