Environmental Observation and Landscape Science

Research Program Leader: Stuart Minchin
Personal Assistant: Nicole Stals

Group Leaders:
Anthony Ringrose-Voase - Soil and Landscape Science
Arnold Dekker - Environmental Earth Observation
Peter Fitch - Environmental Information Systems

CSIRO Land and Water develops and applies new technologies to help identify the causes of complex environmental problems and their solutions. Some of the issues studied are climate change, land degradation and the efficient and sustainable use of water.

An essential part of understanding, monitoring and managing these issues and the problems they cause are new developments in remote sensing, telemetry and model-data fusion.

Our researchers are at the forefront of new developments including simulation modelling, remote sensing, model-data assimilation methods, spatial analysis, automated instrumentation, sensor webs, and web information services. Together, our expertise in these areas is helping to reinvigorate Australia’s ability to manage its land and water resources.

A new way forward

CSIRO’s sensing tools allow comparisons between options ‘virtually’. They also provide a framework for interpreting data or integrating information of different types, potentially saving millions of dollars.

CSIRO leads Australia’s advancement through our research and development of:

• Sensorised Environment and Model-Data Assimilation
• sensor webs
• model-data assimilation (MDA) technologies

We are working to build the technological backbone for the development of an Australian Water Resources Observation Network (WRON). Our technologies, software and innovation are used by the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, eWater CRC and the federal and state agency partners that make up WRON.

Related Links

• Water Resources Observation Network (WRON)
• eWater CRC
• Bureau of Meteorology
• Water for a Healthy Country
• CSIRO Imagery Shows Great Barrier Reef at Risk from Sediment Plumes Podcast (6mins)