Forecasting live fuel moisture content, the on/off switch for forest fire. Dry forest fuels are a precursor of large bushfires. This research aims to develop, for the first time, a model to reliably forecast the moisture content of live fuels (e.g. the foliage and fine branches of shrubs and trees). This will be achieved by combining (i) satellite-derived estimates of live fuel moisture content, (ii) forecasts of soil moisture, and (iii) plant physiological responses to soil dryness. Forecasts o ....Forecasting live fuel moisture content, the on/off switch for forest fire. Dry forest fuels are a precursor of large bushfires. This research aims to develop, for the first time, a model to reliably forecast the moisture content of live fuels (e.g. the foliage and fine branches of shrubs and trees). This will be achieved by combining (i) satellite-derived estimates of live fuel moisture content, (ii) forecasts of soil moisture, and (iii) plant physiological responses to soil dryness. Forecasts of live fuel moisture content will deliver an early warning system of the risk of bushfires. These forecasts will also facilitate improved planning of prescribed burns: if fuels are too dry there is a risk of burns escaping, conversely, if fuels are too wet there is a risk that burns will fail to meet objectives.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100118
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$159,450.00
Summary
Sensor calibration facility for spectral and thermal remote sensing. This project aims to establish a calibration facility for the radiometric and spectral correction of hyperspectral and thermal sensors for ultrahigh-resolution remote sensing. Sensor calibration and characterisation is critical to the accuracy of hyperspectral and thermal data products, however, there is no central facility in Australia for this purpose. This project will provide significant benefits, such as growing our capaci ....Sensor calibration facility for spectral and thermal remote sensing. This project aims to establish a calibration facility for the radiometric and spectral correction of hyperspectral and thermal sensors for ultrahigh-resolution remote sensing. Sensor calibration and characterisation is critical to the accuracy of hyperspectral and thermal data products, however, there is no central facility in Australia for this purpose. This project will provide significant benefits, such as growing our capacity in ultrahigh-resolution remote sensing for ecosystem science, biosecurity, and disaster response.Read moreRead less
Satellite tracking of health threats from grass pollen exposure. This project aims to discover why pollen exposure has increased since the 1960s. Grass pollens are the main environmental allergen source in Australia and the primary cause of allergic diseases. This project will investigate the ecological causes of changing pollen allergen exposures through integrating 40 years of satellite data, field phenology cameras, and pollen traps that track grass pollen sources, their evolution and impact ....Satellite tracking of health threats from grass pollen exposure. This project aims to discover why pollen exposure has increased since the 1960s. Grass pollens are the main environmental allergen source in Australia and the primary cause of allergic diseases. This project will investigate the ecological causes of changing pollen allergen exposures through integrating 40 years of satellite data, field phenology cameras, and pollen traps that track grass pollen sources, their evolution and impact areas. The outcomes are expected to advance knowledge of environmental drivers and enable more accurate pollen forecasts that alleviate the medical and socioeconomic burden of allergic diseases, estimated to cost 30 billion dollars.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100047
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,000.00
Summary
A multi-frequency microwave radiometer system for environmental research. A multi-frequency microwave radiometer system for environmental research: A new capability for airborne remote sensing of key environmental variables will be established. The unique P-, Ku- and Ka-band passive microwave radiometer system will provide information on soil moisture, surface temperature and vegetation, and allow for a new satellite concept to be demonstrated. By combining with an existing L-band radiometer, da ....A multi-frequency microwave radiometer system for environmental research. A multi-frequency microwave radiometer system for environmental research: A new capability for airborne remote sensing of key environmental variables will be established. The unique P-, Ku- and Ka-band passive microwave radiometer system will provide information on soil moisture, surface temperature and vegetation, and allow for a new satellite concept to be demonstrated. By combining with an existing L-band radiometer, data can be collected simultaneously at P-, L-, Ku- and Ka-bands, with increased spatial resolutions accordingly. The shorter wavelength, but higher spatial resolution data can be used to enhance the spatial resolution of the longer wavelength data, resulting in a capability to derive long wavelength observations from space at unprecedented spatial resolution.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100200
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$385,279.00
Summary
Characterising changes in Australia’s vegetation for biomass monitoring, carbon accounting and fire hazard mapping. To reduce the uncertainties in estimating and predicting vegetation biomass and to aid in the development of climate change strategies, this project will formulate and explore the first detailed long term aboveground vegetation biomass carbon record for Australia using a series of satellite passive microwave instruments. The spatiotemporal variation in biomass carbon over past deca ....Characterising changes in Australia’s vegetation for biomass monitoring, carbon accounting and fire hazard mapping. To reduce the uncertainties in estimating and predicting vegetation biomass and to aid in the development of climate change strategies, this project will formulate and explore the first detailed long term aboveground vegetation biomass carbon record for Australia using a series of satellite passive microwave instruments. The spatiotemporal variation in biomass carbon over past decades will be investigated to better understand how it responds to changing climate and human activities. Such information will allow more accurate estimation of future vegetation dynamics and carbon storage. Moreover, an enhanced bushfire danger index that incorporates aboveground biomass information will be developed to more precisely predict the potential damage.Read moreRead less
Climate impacts on grass phenology, diversity and pollen exposure. This project investigates how climate change is altering the phenology, plant diversity, and airborne pollen exposure in Australia's highly productive dry grasslands. The project is expected to answer key questions on shifting grasslands and grass pollen relationships with grass phenology and diversity by merging satellite analysis of phenology with seasonal airborne pollen measures of grass concentrations and diversity. Expect ....Climate impacts on grass phenology, diversity and pollen exposure. This project investigates how climate change is altering the phenology, plant diversity, and airborne pollen exposure in Australia's highly productive dry grasslands. The project is expected to answer key questions on shifting grasslands and grass pollen relationships with grass phenology and diversity by merging satellite analysis of phenology with seasonal airborne pollen measures of grass concentrations and diversity. Expected outcomes of this project will be better management options to safeguard allergy sufferers and improved ecological and pollen forecasts under climate change and extreme events. This project should provide important public health benefits and disease mitigation strategies to Australia's urban and remote areas.
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New laser-based approaches for remote sensing of water properties. New approaches for remote sensing of water properties such as temperature and salinity will be developed. Outcomes such as rapid vertical profiling of water temperature and salinity will contribute to environmental issues such as climate change and waterway health, while the ability to measure tissue temperature will contribute to human health.
P-band soil moisture sensing from space. This project aims to develop radiative transfer models to demonstrate that a P-band radiometer capability can remotely sense the top ~15cm layer of soil moisture, through a series of tower and airborne field experiments. Timely soil moisture information on this near-surface layer is critical to improved water management for food production in the face of extreme climate variability. Current satellite technologies are limited to the top ~5cm layer of soil ....P-band soil moisture sensing from space. This project aims to develop radiative transfer models to demonstrate that a P-band radiometer capability can remotely sense the top ~15cm layer of soil moisture, through a series of tower and airborne field experiments. Timely soil moisture information on this near-surface layer is critical to improved water management for food production in the face of extreme climate variability. Current satellite technologies are limited to the top ~5cm layer of soil using an L-band radiometer. This project is expected to give farmers the soil moisture data they need to optimise their available water resources to maximise food productionRead moreRead less
Advancing Antarctic science with a new high altitude platform capability. This project aims to address critical knowledge gaps in Antarctic science by engaging Australian scientists with the Australian aerospace industry to advance world-first high altitude scientific observations from a long-range stratospheric glider. The higher sensor resolution and adaptive mission planning of the glider at 20km altitude offers dramatic benefits over existing satellite platforms. The project will develop the ....Advancing Antarctic science with a new high altitude platform capability. This project aims to address critical knowledge gaps in Antarctic science by engaging Australian scientists with the Australian aerospace industry to advance world-first high altitude scientific observations from a long-range stratospheric glider. The higher sensor resolution and adaptive mission planning of the glider at 20km altitude offers dramatic benefits over existing satellite platforms. The project will develop the sensor payload of the glider, targeting research into Antarctic sea ice, atmospheric processes and seal populations. The project will build Australia’s research and innovation capacity through support for new collaboration between Australia's Antarctic scientists, geospatial specialists and remote-sensing platform developers.Read moreRead less
Beyond fire frequency: understanding fire season for ecosystem management. This project aims to investigate how the season of fire, arguably one of the biggest changes brought about by fire management, can impact ecosystems and the persistence of threatened species. The project expects to generate new yet fundamental knowledge of how the timing of fire has shifted, using a multidisciplinary team with expertise in remote sensing and fire ecology, and experimentally assess fire season effects on s ....Beyond fire frequency: understanding fire season for ecosystem management. This project aims to investigate how the season of fire, arguably one of the biggest changes brought about by fire management, can impact ecosystems and the persistence of threatened species. The project expects to generate new yet fundamental knowledge of how the timing of fire has shifted, using a multidisciplinary team with expertise in remote sensing and fire ecology, and experimentally assess fire season effects on soil properties and plant persistence. The project aims to enhance capacity of conservation agencies across Australia to effectively implement fires while maintaining biodiversity values. This should provide significant benefits for informed management of the large numbers of threatened species under their protection.Read moreRead less