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
Skin friction control using engineering and biological surface coatings. The development of techniques to reduce skin friction in water conveying assets will increase renewable energy production from existing hydro-electric plant and improve the energy efficiency of water conveying utilities. There is also potential for application to marine biofouling problems and reducing fuel usage by shipping. Passive (non-chemical) and biological control methods to reduce fouling and friction will be sought ....Skin friction control using engineering and biological surface coatings. The development of techniques to reduce skin friction in water conveying assets will increase renewable energy production from existing hydro-electric plant and improve the energy efficiency of water conveying utilities. There is also potential for application to marine biofouling problems and reducing fuel usage by shipping. Passive (non-chemical) and biological control methods to reduce fouling and friction will be sought to minimise environmental impact and maintain potable water quality. This multidisciplinary project combining engineering, photogrammetry and biological sciences will provide valuable training for the project team members and develop a pool of skilled personnel available to Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Improvement of water conveying efficiency in hydroelectric power generation systems by optimising pipe friction losses. The growth of bacterial and algal slimes on the surface of water conveying system significantly reduces the net electricity generation from Tasmania's hydroelectric system.
The aim of this project is to develop an optimal maintenance strategy to control this growth which will balance maintenance downtime against the potential increase in electricity production. The growth resp ....Improvement of water conveying efficiency in hydroelectric power generation systems by optimising pipe friction losses. The growth of bacterial and algal slimes on the surface of water conveying system significantly reduces the net electricity generation from Tasmania's hydroelectric system.
The aim of this project is to develop an optimal maintenance strategy to control this growth which will balance maintenance downtime against the potential increase in electricity production. The growth response to cleaning techniques and surface coatings will be investigated.
The potential for increased power production from this renewable energy source will have considerable economic benefit for Tasmania.Read moreRead less
Determining generic indicators of stress in eucalypt leaves for application to the remote sensing of canopy condition and productivity modelling. Biotic and abiotic stresses induce generic alterations of leaf chemistry (e.g. chlorophyll, anthocyanins). We will explore the behaviour of eucalypt leaf reflectance to changes in leaf cellular chemistry and structure arising from exposure to a range of stressful factors. We will relate leaf reflectance to physiological processes using a research radia ....Determining generic indicators of stress in eucalypt leaves for application to the remote sensing of canopy condition and productivity modelling. Biotic and abiotic stresses induce generic alterations of leaf chemistry (e.g. chlorophyll, anthocyanins). We will explore the behaviour of eucalypt leaf reflectance to changes in leaf cellular chemistry and structure arising from exposure to a range of stressful factors. We will relate leaf reflectance to physiological processes using a research radiation interception model. We will report on a) the potential integration of data related to stress, into process-based models for eucalypt plantation growth and b) the exploitation of generic reflectance indicators of stress in the remote acquisition of high resolution multispectral imagery with potential to spatially quantify plantation eucalypt health.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
Unlocking the Grid: the future of the electricity distribution network. This project applies to the National Research Priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia. A critical challenge for the development of power systems will be to transform them from their current dependence on conventional centralised generation to a situation where more diversified, more volatile and less controllable generation sources contribute a significant percentage of the energy. Coupled with this is a change ....Unlocking the Grid: the future of the electricity distribution network. This project applies to the National Research Priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia. A critical challenge for the development of power systems will be to transform them from their current dependence on conventional centralised generation to a situation where more diversified, more volatile and less controllable generation sources contribute a significant percentage of the energy. Coupled with this is a change in demand patterns due to both demographic and socio-economic variables as well as climate change. Careful analysis is required in the design of the future grid architecture to ensure the security of supply.Read moreRead less
Skycontrol 2: Long-range positioning of aircraft using multibase GPS and INS. This extends our ARC linkage project (LP0347509) by one year, where we developed and tested a long-range airborne GPS (global positioning system) using a network of ground-based receivers. While the original objectives have been met, and exceeded in some instances, we have now identified the real need to use complementary positional information from INS (inertial navigation systems). As well as reducing the cost of ai ....Skycontrol 2: Long-range positioning of aircraft using multibase GPS and INS. This extends our ARC linkage project (LP0347509) by one year, where we developed and tested a long-range airborne GPS (global positioning system) using a network of ground-based receivers. While the original objectives have been met, and exceeded in some instances, we have now identified the real need to use complementary positional information from INS (inertial navigation systems). As well as reducing the cost of airborne mapping surveys in Australia, our SkyControl2 system will have the added benefit of increased accuracy and reliability.Read moreRead less
A system for long-range positioning of airborne mapping sensors using a multi-receiver, Internet-compatible GPS network. This project will research, develop and test a GPS-network-based system, SkyControl, for the accurate coordination of airborne mapping sensors. A ground network of GPS receivers will be established and the aircraft positioned at long ranges (100 km) using a network solution, as opposed to the single-baseline solutions used at present. The GPS data from the ground network wil ....A system for long-range positioning of airborne mapping sensors using a multi-receiver, Internet-compatible GPS network. This project will research, develop and test a GPS-network-based system, SkyControl, for the accurate coordination of airborne mapping sensors. A ground network of GPS receivers will be established and the aircraft positioned at long ranges (100 km) using a network solution, as opposed to the single-baseline solutions used at present. The GPS data from the ground network will be transferred to a central location via the Internet and stored in an intelligent database so as to allow efficient data management and processing. This approach will ultimately reduce the cost and increase the reliability of airborne surveys in Australia and overseas.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
Spatial and temporal monitoring of soil erosion risk with satellite imagery. This project is directed towards Sustainable farm practices, one of the national priorities in the Caring for Our Country program. The satellite image-based monitoring system will provide new information about the changing distribution of erosion risk in seasonal cropping systems, and identify areas where agricultural practices significantly influence this risk. The research will allow landholders, regional, state and n ....Spatial and temporal monitoring of soil erosion risk with satellite imagery. This project is directed towards Sustainable farm practices, one of the national priorities in the Caring for Our Country program. The satellite image-based monitoring system will provide new information about the changing distribution of erosion risk in seasonal cropping systems, and identify areas where agricultural practices significantly influence this risk. The research will allow landholders, regional, state and national authorities to better target effort towards sustainable land management, and improve monitoring and reporting of land condition across broad agricultural regions. Dynamic monitoring of erosion risk will also track landscape conditions and farmer responses to changing climate.Read moreRead less