Next-generation ocean current forecasting to improve maritime safety . This project aims to measure upper ocean currents at scales of 10-100 km in Australia's marine estate using pioneering satellite radar technology. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will map currents at 10 times the resolution of present-day satellites and revolutionise our understanding of ocean dynamics. Expected outcomes include validation of SWOT data in Australian waters and merging this data into Bure ....Next-generation ocean current forecasting to improve maritime safety . This project aims to measure upper ocean currents at scales of 10-100 km in Australia's marine estate using pioneering satellite radar technology. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will map currents at 10 times the resolution of present-day satellites and revolutionise our understanding of ocean dynamics. Expected outcomes include validation of SWOT data in Australian waters and merging this data into Bureau of Meteorology ocean models. Downstream benefits include improved ocean forecasts for maritime safety, search-and-rescue, spill modelling, and marine conservation. At the same time, the project will build sovereign capability in emerging remote sensing technology with a legacy beyond the life of the SWOT mission.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Automation of Close-Range Photogrammetry for Defence and National Security Applications. The project, which falls under the National Research Priority of safeguarding Australia, will be of significant national and community benefit. The research outcomes will advance close-range photogrammetry (CRP) technology, especially in the critical areas of defence and national security. It will lower the cost base of CRP and expand its commercial potential in new application domains, thus promoti ....Enhanced Automation of Close-Range Photogrammetry for Defence and National Security Applications. The project, which falls under the National Research Priority of safeguarding Australia, will be of significant national and community benefit. The research outcomes will advance close-range photogrammetry (CRP) technology, especially in the critical areas of defence and national security. It will lower the cost base of CRP and expand its commercial potential in new application domains, thus promoting business activity in the broader Australian spatial information industry. Also, community oriented benefits will be seen through the improved prospects for new public-good applications of CRP, ranging for example from cultural heritage recording through to homeland security and forensic measurement for crime scene analysis.Read moreRead less
Digital Colour Sensing in Vision Metrology. This project will develop the necessary new image processing algorithms, computational models and signalisation strategies to facilitate a significantly higher precision measurement capability for vision metrology (VM) systems incorporating colour digital cameras. VM systems for 3D industrial and engineering measurement currently employ panchromatic digital cameras, because the colour filter arrays used in colour cameras adversely affect image mensurat ....Digital Colour Sensing in Vision Metrology. This project will develop the necessary new image processing algorithms, computational models and signalisation strategies to facilitate a significantly higher precision measurement capability for vision metrology (VM) systems incorporating colour digital cameras. VM systems for 3D industrial and engineering measurement currently employ panchromatic digital cameras, because the colour filter arrays used in colour cameras adversely affect image mensuration accuracy. Yet, off-the-shelf colour cameras are ubiquitous and have advantages of ready availability and cheaper cost. This research will overcome the limitations of colour sensors and enable both a broader range of 3D measurement applications and an enhanced commercial potential for VM.Read moreRead less
Traffic Incidents: Reducing the Impacts. Road congestion due to traffic incidents in major urban areas adversely affects traveller safety and travel reliability, and is a significant cost burden to industry and the community in social, environmental and economic terms. This project will investigate the impact of traffic incidents, with the aim being to produce outcomes that contribute to more efficient traffic management, and specifically to reducing the incident duration. Outcomes will include ....Traffic Incidents: Reducing the Impacts. Road congestion due to traffic incidents in major urban areas adversely affects traveller safety and travel reliability, and is a significant cost burden to industry and the community in social, environmental and economic terms. This project will investigate the impact of traffic incidents, with the aim being to produce outcomes that contribute to more efficient traffic management, and specifically to reducing the incident duration. Outcomes will include the development of decision support tools to aid in policy and operational responses, as well as the development of faster and more comprehensive accident reconstruction based on spatial information technology. Read moreRead less
Water and nutrient stress detection in broad acre crops using remote sensing. The national benefit of the remote sensing of water and nutrient levels in crops comes from improved agricultural practice; leading to cost savings, reduced water usage and reduced pollution. This benefit will arise since irrigation and fertiliser application can be exactly tailored to the measured needs of broad-acre crops. In Australia, water is a scarce resource. Reducing consumption by irrigators will have signi ....Water and nutrient stress detection in broad acre crops using remote sensing. The national benefit of the remote sensing of water and nutrient levels in crops comes from improved agricultural practice; leading to cost savings, reduced water usage and reduced pollution. This benefit will arise since irrigation and fertiliser application can be exactly tailored to the measured needs of broad-acre crops. In Australia, water is a scarce resource. Reducing consumption by irrigators will have significant downstream benefits. By remote measurement of nutrient variation within paddocks, fertiliser applications can be optimised. Minimum excess fertiliser will then be present and this will minimise runoff and potential downstream water pollution.Read moreRead less
Geospatial Information Processing for Quickbird Satellite Imagery. Of the new generation of commercial high-resolution earth observation satellites, the Quickbird system with its 70cm resolution has greatest potential for metric applications. The capabilities of Quickbird imagery for digital mapping, GIS and geopositioning are, however, yet to be fully established and the models, procedures and computational systems required for higher-accuracy applications require further research. The aim of t ....Geospatial Information Processing for Quickbird Satellite Imagery. Of the new generation of commercial high-resolution earth observation satellites, the Quickbird system with its 70cm resolution has greatest potential for metric applications. The capabilities of Quickbird imagery for digital mapping, GIS and geopositioning are, however, yet to be fully established and the models, procedures and computational systems required for higher-accuracy applications require further research. The aim of this project, which is a collaboration with SKM, is to develop the tools necessary to validate Quickbird imagery as a source for geospatial information collection, to develop the associated data processing systems to proof-of-concept stage and to experimentally verify these systems.Read moreRead less
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
Catchment water balance and CO2 fluxes: a comparison between productive land uses. The aim of the project is to improve the understanding of different land use implications on water resource and land productivity. The project aims to use a paired-catchment study that compares the carbon and water balances in two catchments in the high rainfall zone in south western Victoria. One catchment is used prevalently for grazing, while the other is predominantly planted with blue gums. The main objective ....Catchment water balance and CO2 fluxes: a comparison between productive land uses. The aim of the project is to improve the understanding of different land use implications on water resource and land productivity. The project aims to use a paired-catchment study that compares the carbon and water balances in two catchments in the high rainfall zone in south western Victoria. One catchment is used prevalently for grazing, while the other is predominantly planted with blue gums. The main objectives of this project are: to quantify the effect of different agricultural land uses on the catchment water balance; to estimate the trade-off between carbon sequestration and water resources related to tree plantations and pastures; and to develop models at different spatial scales of catchment water balance for land-use management.Read moreRead less
Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis of Native Vegetation Condition. Reversing the decline in the quality and extent of Australia's native vegetation is imperative. Site-based assessments of vegetation condition have many merits but are not practical for monitoring at regional, catchment or State levels. This research proposes an integrated approach to native vegetation assessment combining the synoptic overview of satellite based earth observation with the rigor of plot-based assessments. The ou ....Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis of Native Vegetation Condition. Reversing the decline in the quality and extent of Australia's native vegetation is imperative. Site-based assessments of vegetation condition have many merits but are not practical for monitoring at regional, catchment or State levels. This research proposes an integrated approach to native vegetation assessment combining the synoptic overview of satellite based earth observation with the rigor of plot-based assessments. The outcomes will be an operationally feasible and quantitatively-based method for mapping vegetation condition in the context of biodiversity conservation, at a resolution that can inform decisions for managing native vegetation remnants, and at a scale that can inform regional decision-making.Read moreRead less
Automation of species recognition and size measurement of fish from underwater stereo-video imagery. The project aims to develop algorithms to automate the processing of stereo-video images recorded to count and measure the size of fish. This will improve husbandry and monitoring for finfish aquaculture at reduced costs, create technology export for industry partners, and develop cost effective, non-destructive finfish sampling tools for marine agencies.