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
Airborne spatial tracking to save endangered species. Airborne spatial tracking to save endangered species. This project aims to develop an automated and distributed spatial tracking approach using low cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to locate and study endangered wildlife. Understanding animal behaviour and habits with granular spatial data is essential to develop effective monitoring and conservation strategies. Spatial tracking of radio collared wildlife using radio telemetry is a critic ....Airborne spatial tracking to save endangered species. Airborne spatial tracking to save endangered species. This project aims to develop an automated and distributed spatial tracking approach using low cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to locate and study endangered wildlife. Understanding animal behaviour and habits with granular spatial data is essential to develop effective monitoring and conservation strategies. Spatial tracking of radio collared wildlife using radio telemetry is a critical but costly tool for acquiring this data. This project anticipates that airborne spatial tracking using intelligent spatial tracking algorithms on board low cost UAV teams will allow more precise understanding of wildlife for evidence-based conservation and management in a changing global climate.Read moreRead less
Improved tools for comprehensive monitoring of water-clarity and light availability in coral reef ecosystems. The Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage Area, home to over 1 million species and provides Australia with $6 billion in annual revenue. The capacity to monitor Australia’s natural resources and changes in condition are integral components of a sustainably and adaptively managed resource. By providing key synoptic tools to comprehensively monitor water quality and ecosystem status, the ....Improved tools for comprehensive monitoring of water-clarity and light availability in coral reef ecosystems. The Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage Area, home to over 1 million species and provides Australia with $6 billion in annual revenue. The capacity to monitor Australia’s natural resources and changes in condition are integral components of a sustainably and adaptively managed resource. By providing key synoptic tools to comprehensively monitor water quality and ecosystem status, the project will contribute directly to an Environmentally Sustainable Australia and improve national capacity for responding to climate change and variability in coral reef environments. It will enable Australian remote sensing scientists to contribute knowledge and tools to the international community for application to coral reef and coastal waters globally. 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
PLAGA: Pastoral Lease Assessment using Geospatial Analysis. This project improves the capacity of Natural Resource Management (NRM) and land administration agencies to record, monitor and communicate changes in land condition across the large spatial scales characteristic of rangelands. Pastoralists also benefit through improved capacity to promote, defend, understand and if necessary change their management activities on the basis of scientific data. By further developing and operationalising t ....PLAGA: Pastoral Lease Assessment using Geospatial Analysis. This project improves the capacity of Natural Resource Management (NRM) and land administration agencies to record, monitor and communicate changes in land condition across the large spatial scales characteristic of rangelands. Pastoralists also benefit through improved capacity to promote, defend, understand and if necessary change their management activities on the basis of scientific data. By further developing and operationalising this new approach to rangeland monitoring in a project integrating human extension expertise, specifically prepared monitoring products, and the associated software, the project will confirm the benefits that satellite technology can provide to land administrators and the grazing industry in monitoring and sustainably managing rangelands.Read moreRead less
Photogrammetric Reconstruction for Underwater Virtual Heritage Experiences. This project aims to enable significant underwater cultural heritage sites such as shipwrecks to be recreated in immersive underwater virtual heritage experiences. Photogrammetric 3D reconstruction techniques will be used to generate complex digital 3D models of shipwreck sites from hundreds of thousands of underwater images. This will allow vivid experiences to be created which explain the stories of these wrecks. The p ....Photogrammetric Reconstruction for Underwater Virtual Heritage Experiences. This project aims to enable significant underwater cultural heritage sites such as shipwrecks to be recreated in immersive underwater virtual heritage experiences. Photogrammetric 3D reconstruction techniques will be used to generate complex digital 3D models of shipwreck sites from hundreds of thousands of underwater images. This will allow vivid experiences to be created which explain the stories of these wrecks. The project will conduct audience engagement studies to recommend the most appropriate methods to implement underwater virtual heritage experiences for Australian audiences. The sites which will be used as test datasets are some of the most significant Australian shipwreck sites, including HMAS Sydney (II) and HMAS AE1.Read moreRead less
Collaborative planning support tools for optimising farming systems (CPSTOF). What you know about what you can grow is becoming a key issue in farm management. Better guidance on alternative land cropping systems that can be grown to optimise farm productivity is needed. Micro-level land classes maps have been identified hby AgWA, farmers and regional development and community groups as an urgent need to enable them to design resilient and diversified farming systems. To this end, we propose ....Collaborative planning support tools for optimising farming systems (CPSTOF). What you know about what you can grow is becoming a key issue in farm management. Better guidance on alternative land cropping systems that can be grown to optimise farm productivity is needed. Micro-level land classes maps have been identified hby AgWA, farmers and regional development and community groups as an urgent need to enable them to design resilient and diversified farming systems. To this end, we propose integrating high resolution digital multispectral images, GIS and multi-criteria decision analysis techniques to help farmers use input appropriate to the productive capacity of their paddocks and to elaborate sound farm planning based on the potential of the land for specific land uses.Read moreRead less
Remote sensing techniques to infer fine-scale ocean surface currents. This project aims to develop new technology for measuring ocean surface currents at unprecedented fine resolution using aerial imagery and theory that describes how surface waves are refracted by currents. The project will generate new knowledge on ocean surface current processes and variability across a range of scales, and critically, improve our understanding of surface current uncertainty through application of advanced st ....Remote sensing techniques to infer fine-scale ocean surface currents. This project aims to develop new technology for measuring ocean surface currents at unprecedented fine resolution using aerial imagery and theory that describes how surface waves are refracted by currents. The project will generate new knowledge on ocean surface current processes and variability across a range of scales, and critically, improve our understanding of surface current uncertainty through application of advanced statistical analysis techniques. The outcomes of this project will deliver Australian capability to leverage the enhanced spatial and temporal resolution of next generation Earth observations to directly benefit search and rescue, offshore industry operations, defence, and pollution response in Australian waters.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