Smart Irrigation: integrating UAV soil moisture maps & variable rate sprays. This project will develop a state-of-the-art precision irrigation system for optimising water use and crop yield. Specifically, a novel UAV soil moisture mapping system based on passive microwave satellite remote sensing technology at L-band will be developed for near-surface soil moisture mapping at accuracies and spatial scales currently not attainable. These soil moisture maps will then be merged with irrigation wate ....Smart Irrigation: integrating UAV soil moisture maps & variable rate sprays. This project will develop a state-of-the-art precision irrigation system for optimising water use and crop yield. Specifically, a novel UAV soil moisture mapping system based on passive microwave satellite remote sensing technology at L-band will be developed for near-surface soil moisture mapping at accuracies and spatial scales currently not attainable. These soil moisture maps will then be merged with irrigation water delivery models to calibrate for spatial variation in soil properties and/or correct errors in spatial variation of rainfall and evapotranspiration inputs. Ultimately the water balance predictions will be used for implementation of variable rate irrigation control at scales hitherto unattainable.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101153
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Mapping resources, demands and constraints to critical metal supplies. This project aims to assess the mineral resources of five metals needed for renewable energy transitions and map the potential impacts of their mining. It uses novel geochemical proxy models to build highly detailed resource databases and demonstrates a world-first use of cloud-computing power to assess worldwide satellite data of mine areas. Expected outcomes include in-depth knowledge of geological endowments and global-sca ....Mapping resources, demands and constraints to critical metal supplies. This project aims to assess the mineral resources of five metals needed for renewable energy transitions and map the potential impacts of their mining. It uses novel geochemical proxy models to build highly detailed resource databases and demonstrates a world-first use of cloud-computing power to assess worldwide satellite data of mine areas. Expected outcomes include in-depth knowledge of geological endowments and global-scale patterns of mining emerging to meet changing metal demands, plus the discovery of geological and socio-environmental constraints to future supplies. This will enhance government and industry capacities for de-risking metal supply chains, and facilitate more sophisticated land use planning of mining regions.Read moreRead less
Lunar crustal structure from high-res gravity, topography, and seismic data. This project aims to improve our knowledge of the Moon, including its surface processes, interior structure, modification by geological processes and creation and evolution. The Moon preserves the longest and cleanest records of surface geology in the Solar System’s history, unlike the Earth. The lunar crust should exhibit strong heterogeneity in density (both porosity and composition) given its complex history of impac ....Lunar crustal structure from high-res gravity, topography, and seismic data. This project aims to improve our knowledge of the Moon, including its surface processes, interior structure, modification by geological processes and creation and evolution. The Moon preserves the longest and cleanest records of surface geology in the Solar System’s history, unlike the Earth. The lunar crust should exhibit strong heterogeneity in density (both porosity and composition) given its complex history of impact bombardment and volcanism. This project aims to determine radial and lateral heterogeneity in density and porosity within the Moon's crust, by analysing Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory gravity and spacecraft tracking data, Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter topography and in situ Apollo seismological data.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100245
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,500.00
Summary
Achieving millimetre geodesy with space tie satellites. This project aims to implement the completely new concept of observing artificial satellites with radio telescopes, realising a so-called space tie. Understanding Earth’s changing shape requires measurements with a stability of 0.1 mm per year. Today, geodetic earth observations are used to realise reference points with a precision of five to ten times larger. Using the unique Australian ground infrastructure, current observational and oper ....Achieving millimetre geodesy with space tie satellites. This project aims to implement the completely new concept of observing artificial satellites with radio telescopes, realising a so-called space tie. Understanding Earth’s changing shape requires measurements with a stability of 0.1 mm per year. Today, geodetic earth observations are used to realise reference points with a precision of five to ten times larger. Using the unique Australian ground infrastructure, current observational and operational problems shall be overcome. The intended outcome is to improve the coordinate system of the Earth, which is the basis for a better understanding of Earth serving to fulfil scientific as well as societal demands.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100094
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
A new 3D data model to integrate underground land information in Australia. This project aims to develop a novel 3D digital approach to managing subterranean ownership spaces by referencing these spaces to the physical reality of the underground environment. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of underground land administration using new 3D data modelling techniques. Expected outcomes of this project include a new underground 3D data model to improve management and communi ....A new 3D data model to integrate underground land information in Australia. This project aims to develop a novel 3D digital approach to managing subterranean ownership spaces by referencing these spaces to the physical reality of the underground environment. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of underground land administration using new 3D data modelling techniques. Expected outcomes of this project include a new underground 3D data model to improve management and communication of physical location and ownership extent of Australia’s underground assets. This should provide significant benefits such as protecting underground assets, decreasing the risk of damaging utilities, avoiding unnecessary disruptions and delays when planning, constructing and managing underground infrastructure. Read moreRead less
Towards an Active and Passive L- and P-band soil moisture satellite mission. This project tests alternate configurations for remote sensing of soil moisture using a new state-of-the-art Active/Passive (ie radar/radiometer) P-/L-band (ie microwave) satellite concept through a series of airborne field experiments. Timely soil moisture information is critical to improved water management for food production in the face of climate variability. The challenge is to do this accurately over large areas ....Towards an Active and Passive L- and P-band soil moisture satellite mission. This project tests alternate configurations for remote sensing of soil moisture using a new state-of-the-art Active/Passive (ie radar/radiometer) P-/L-band (ie microwave) satellite concept through a series of airborne field experiments. Timely soil moisture information is critical to improved water management for food production in the face of climate variability. The challenge is to do this accurately over large areas with an appropriate spatio-temporal detail, and for a soil depth that closely approximates the layer which impacts crop/pasture growth and influences management decisions. The longer P-band allows deeper penetration into the soil while the active/passive combination uses the respective resolution and accuracy characteristics.Read moreRead less
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
Walking the city: Digital infrastructure for pedestrian mobility. Pedestrian access, flow and management are critical for urban life. However, compared to other forms of mobility pedestrian mobility is significantly more complex. Currently, various incompatible pedestrian route graphs in both outdoor and indoor environments render any analysis biased and non-transparent. This project aims to solve this problem by developing a universal and necessarily hierarchical pedestrian route graph to suppo ....Walking the city: Digital infrastructure for pedestrian mobility. Pedestrian access, flow and management are critical for urban life. However, compared to other forms of mobility pedestrian mobility is significantly more complex. Currently, various incompatible pedestrian route graphs in both outdoor and indoor environments render any analysis biased and non-transparent. This project aims to solve this problem by developing a universal and necessarily hierarchical pedestrian route graph to support critical applications such as urban walkability (health), space and asset management (guidance, flow management), and public safety (evacuation). In contrast to conventional algorithms, we will take a novel approach based on human cognition to define this universal graph and then integrate topology and geometry.Read moreRead less
Enhancing marine bathymetry using new generation satellite sensors. Highly accurate marine bathymetry are currently lacking in 72% of the global ocean including around Australia, particularly in shallow seas and near-shore coastal zones, contributing to various navigation and marine safety accidents. Ship surveys of the seafloor are time-consuming and expensive. Satellite altimetry data provide an alternative solution. This project will improve Australia’s marine bathymetry by using spatially co ....Enhancing marine bathymetry using new generation satellite sensors. Highly accurate marine bathymetry are currently lacking in 72% of the global ocean including around Australia, particularly in shallow seas and near-shore coastal zones, contributing to various navigation and marine safety accidents. Ship surveys of the seafloor are time-consuming and expensive. Satellite altimetry data provide an alternative solution. This project will improve Australia’s marine bathymetry by using spatially comprehensive and unprecedented data from new radar and laser satellite sensors. We aim to develop techniques for integration of the new data with other independent data sources, producing the most precise marine bathymetry for coastal terrain mapping, marine transport and safety management.Read moreRead less
Tracking formation-flying of nanosatellites using inter-satellite links. This project aims to realise real-time kinematic precise orbit and attitude determination of nano satellites. Formation flying, based on distributed miniaturised satellites such as Cubesats, is envisioned to revolutionise the way the space-science community conducts autonomous missions. The project will develop a purely kinematic concept exploiting the full capabilities of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) carrier- ....Tracking formation-flying of nanosatellites using inter-satellite links. This project aims to realise real-time kinematic precise orbit and attitude determination of nano satellites. Formation flying, based on distributed miniaturised satellites such as Cubesats, is envisioned to revolutionise the way the space-science community conducts autonomous missions. The project will develop a purely kinematic concept exploiting the full capabilities of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) carrier-phase measurements for instantaneous precise orbit and attitude determination of the Cubesats. The project will also pioneer the use of the satellite based augmentation systems (SBAS), supporting the future Australian SBAS program, and the development of integrated algorithms for space-based, Precise Point Positioning with fixed ambiguities supported by SBAS.Read moreRead less