Predicting soil loss from wind erosion, using an integrated, high resolution, land surface data assimilation-modelling system. Australia is an ancient, dry, continent. Soil losses from wind erosion are practically irreversible. Prevention of wind erosion, especially in agricultural areas, is a major challenge to agricultural communities and land management organisations. For continental and regional scale assessment of wind erosion potential, the high-resolution integrated wind erosion modelling ....Predicting soil loss from wind erosion, using an integrated, high resolution, land surface data assimilation-modelling system. Australia is an ancient, dry, continent. Soil losses from wind erosion are practically irreversible. Prevention of wind erosion, especially in agricultural areas, is a major challenge to agricultural communities and land management organisations. For continental and regional scale assessment of wind erosion potential, the high-resolution integrated wind erosion modelling system developed here is a powerful tool. The system will identify areas prone to soil erosion and provide a solid scientific basis for strategic and practical measures for wind erosion prevention. The proposal allows the CIs to continue to play a leading international role in this National Research Priority area.Read moreRead less
Making the most of remotely sensed data: Bayesian spatio-temporal models for enhanced natural resource management and design. This research will provide methods for cost-efficient spatio-temporal data collection and analysis, with increased capacity for better decision-making about managing Australia’s natural resources. Through the Linkage partners’ networks, these benefits will be disseminated throughout regional bodies, government agencies and research groups across and outside Australia. The ....Making the most of remotely sensed data: Bayesian spatio-temporal models for enhanced natural resource management and design. This research will provide methods for cost-efficient spatio-temporal data collection and analysis, with increased capacity for better decision-making about managing Australia’s natural resources. Through the Linkage partners’ networks, these benefits will be disseminated throughout regional bodies, government agencies and research groups across and outside Australia. The statistical techniques derived in this project will enhance Australia’s capability in the national priority area of mathematical sciences, and will contribute to knowledge in a wide range of disciplines including natural resources, medicine and genetics. Read moreRead less
Construction of utility functions from observations of consumer behaviour with application to resource modelling and water management strategies. The optimisation techniques developed will be on the forefront of applied mathematical sciences and will increase the prestige of the Australian mathematical community. The expected results will also be of value because they can be used to improve the CGE modelling technique. The implementation of the CGE model of one of Victoria's agricultural regions ....Construction of utility functions from observations of consumer behaviour with application to resource modelling and water management strategies. The optimisation techniques developed will be on the forefront of applied mathematical sciences and will increase the prestige of the Australian mathematical community. The expected results will also be of value because they can be used to improve the CGE modelling technique. The implementation of the CGE model of one of Victoria's agricultural regions will be used to improve the accuracy of regional economic models and will contribute to efficient regional resource management. This has the potential to positively affect the economic growth and employment in the region. The expected outcomes of the project are especially important taking into account the need for predicting the socio-economic consequences of the 1994 COAG water reforms. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354668
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Australian City and Regional Network. The Network aims to sponsor, sustain and encourage multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research into problems in and of Australian cities and the reasons for their form and structure. It will develop a national collaborative research training program. The network will develop a communication path between academics, industry and government enabling the development of a more informed exploration of urban development policies. It will also lead to the ident ....Australian City and Regional Network. The Network aims to sponsor, sustain and encourage multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research into problems in and of Australian cities and the reasons for their form and structure. It will develop a national collaborative research training program. The network will develop a communication path between academics, industry and government enabling the development of a more informed exploration of urban development policies. It will also lead to the identification of new economic opportunities for the development of cities and regions.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238492
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$139,000.00
Summary
State of Art Particle Size Analysers. Particulate materials are encountered in many different forms, sizes and environments, and vastly different areas such as biological, environmental, chemical and materials engineering. Particle size and its distribution are fundamental properties of these materials. Existing particle size measuring equipment in Australia is poor as currently available facilities cannot accurately resolve particle sizes in concentrated dispersions, nor can they visualise the ....State of Art Particle Size Analysers. Particulate materials are encountered in many different forms, sizes and environments, and vastly different areas such as biological, environmental, chemical and materials engineering. Particle size and its distribution are fundamental properties of these materials. Existing particle size measuring equipment in Australia is poor as currently available facilities cannot accurately resolve particle sizes in concentrated dispersions, nor can they visualise the in situ structure and size of fragile assemblies of particles (flocs). This proposal seeks funding for a suite of complementary particle size analysers, for use in an extensive number of research areas, to specifically address these critical current deficits.Read moreRead less
Environmental controls over Fe availability and transport in a forested coastal catchment. Iron is one of a number of elements that are mobilised in catchments, have recognised detrimental impacts to marine settings and are known to be nutrients for toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Knowledge of controls over distribution of Fe is important in catchment management and for sustainable forestry. The total catchment approach will result in an understanding of release and transport of Fe, and other heav ....Environmental controls over Fe availability and transport in a forested coastal catchment. Iron is one of a number of elements that are mobilised in catchments, have recognised detrimental impacts to marine settings and are known to be nutrients for toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Knowledge of controls over distribution of Fe is important in catchment management and for sustainable forestry. The total catchment approach will result in an understanding of release and transport of Fe, and other heavy metals. The outcomes of the study will enable useful comparison to coastal plantations elsewhere in Australia, and overseas. Determination of the relationship to rainfall and hydrological processes will enhance these comparisons plus consideration of climatic change.
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Impacts of climate change on coastal floodplain wetland biogeochemistry and surface water quality. The most vulnerable Australian landscapes to global warming driven sea-level rise are our low-lying coastal floodplains. Seawater inundation dramatically affects soil chemistry and water quality. Over 74,000 km2 of the low-lying coastal floodplains of Australia contain acid sulfate soils. For these soils, seawater inundation has the potential to greatly enhance the release of acidity, with a high c ....Impacts of climate change on coastal floodplain wetland biogeochemistry and surface water quality. The most vulnerable Australian landscapes to global warming driven sea-level rise are our low-lying coastal floodplains. Seawater inundation dramatically affects soil chemistry and water quality. Over 74,000 km2 of the low-lying coastal floodplains of Australia contain acid sulfate soils. For these soils, seawater inundation has the potential to greatly enhance the release of acidity, with a high capacity to severely degrade wetlands, estuaries and farmland. This project will directly contribute to our national capacity to assess and manage impacts from climate change, providing greater protection of our coastal floodplains resources.Read moreRead less
Sustainable farming in Australia: Market instruments for improved land management. Sustainable farming has become a national priority. As climate change and global economic pressures increase the problems facing rural areas, Australian governments have attempted to combine more sustainable land management with a competitive agricultural sector. Several policy instruments using market incentives have been proposed to manage the competing demands of farm viability and environmental sustainability. ....Sustainable farming in Australia: Market instruments for improved land management. Sustainable farming has become a national priority. As climate change and global economic pressures increase the problems facing rural areas, Australian governments have attempted to combine more sustainable land management with a competitive agricultural sector. Several policy instruments using market incentives have been proposed to manage the competing demands of farm viability and environmental sustainability. This project will examine the responses of beef, dairy and grain farmers to these initiatives and their potential for addressing pressing environmental issues. The research will make a vital contribution to the design of policies for the future of farming, resilient rural communities and an environmentally sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Sustainable Urban Water Governance: Institutional Development and Organisational Change. The research will provide governance and policy advice for advancing integrated urban water management across multiple organisations and sectors in Australian cities. The benefits of the proposed research include: a) prioritisation of current institutional impediments; b) scoping of key institutional reform initiatives; c) improved institutional capacity to lead and innovate; and d) advancement of the nation ....Sustainable Urban Water Governance: Institutional Development and Organisational Change. The research will provide governance and policy advice for advancing integrated urban water management across multiple organisations and sectors in Australian cities. The benefits of the proposed research include: a) prioritisation of current institutional impediments; b) scoping of key institutional reform initiatives; c) improved institutional capacity to lead and innovate; and d) advancement of the national priority goal of facilitating sustainable water management practices. This will also address the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage inquiry report Sustainable Cities (2005) advocating the need for research programs directed towards facilitating major institutional and policy changes.
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The impact of water logging on mitochondrial metabolism in leaves and roots of Grey poplar. Water logging and flooding are seasonal occurrences in a variety of environments. These events cause various damage to environments, including damage to plants. The damage to plants has traditionally been associated with annuals, such as various crop species. However larger plants, i.e. trees, are also very susceptible to water-logging and flooding. As it can take from several years to decades for tress t ....The impact of water logging on mitochondrial metabolism in leaves and roots of Grey poplar. Water logging and flooding are seasonal occurrences in a variety of environments. These events cause various damage to environments, including damage to plants. The damage to plants has traditionally been associated with annuals, such as various crop species. However larger plants, i.e. trees, are also very susceptible to water-logging and flooding. As it can take from several years to decades for tress to be established it is important to understand how trees can withstand water-logging and flooding. As tree plantation are uses for commercial and environmental purposes this knowledge will be useful to a broad spectrum of users in the community.Read moreRead less