Our projects

Following are some current research projects funded by national and international research programs and industry-based organisations.

Water in a changing climate

Between a hot place and hypoxia quantifying fish kill risk in inland rivers

This research project focuses on the challenges faced by native fish populations in Australian ephemeral rivers where thermal extremes and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) have led to regular fish-kill events. There is a lack of clear understanding about why some species are more tolerant than others, and how decision-makers can anticipate fish-kill risks. The goal is to develop a next-generation fish habitat model that stakeholders can use to assess fish-kill risks and plan restorations.

Funding provided by Australian Research Council.

Project dates: Commenced late 2023, due for completion in 2026.
Cockburn Sound integrated ecosystem modelling platform

The WASMI Westport project is focused on understanding and managing the ecosystem of Cockburn Sound. One of the key components of the project is ecosystem modelling. An integrated ecosystem model is developed to predict changes in water quality and habitats under different future scenarios. In parallel, a productivity pathway is established by developing a water quality response model specifically for Cockburn Sound. The goal of the project is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem dynamics and inform effective management strategies.

Funding provided by the Department of Transport (Western Australia).

Project dates: Commenced early 2024, due for completion in 2025.
Healthy Coorong healthy basin improving coastal water quality

The project aimed to predict salinity levels and understand the significant changes the Coorong system, at the end of the Murray-Darling Basin, has undergone due to prolonged drought periods. This drought has led to a degradation of the seagrass community, and our research sought to identify the causes preventing its recovery. We developed models to predict salinity levels and understand the requirements of the Rupert communities. These models are being utilised by local governments to inform their decision-making processes and guide their efforts to restore the ecosystem.

Funding provided by SA Department of Environment and Water.

Project dates: Commenced early 2024, due for completion in 2025.
Water Smart Dams

This project aims to develop knowledge and water planning tools for farmers who need their dams to work in all years and be able to make water investment decisions with confidence. The project involves 12 core demonstration sites, building farm-based water planning tools, workshops, field days and industry training. The project investigates solutions including renovating existing dams, building new dams, and implementing evaporation suppression and runoff technologies.

This project is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF) and the Western Australian state government’s Agriculture Climate Resilience Fund (ACRF), supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Project dates: Commenced mid 2021, due for completion in 2025.

WaterSmart Dams project page
Why is redevelopment hot Measuring cumulative heat in Australian cities

This project aims to understand the impact of urban redevelopment on heat exposure within Australian cities. Using multitemporal high resolution maps of Australian cities provided by Nearmap AI data, cases of urban (re)development will be detected and the warming signal assoicated with these changes in the built environment will be identified.

Funding provided by Australian Research Council.

Project dates: Commenced early 2023, due for completion in 2026.
Ripple Effect

The Ripple Effect is a national, grower-led project designed to improve water security, biodiversity, and climate resilience for Australian farmers.
The project will guide growers towards multifunction water infrastructure that enhances and provides future biodiversity and carbon market opportunities while enhancing water security and quality.

Led by GGA, the project consortium includes the University of Western Australia, the Australian National University, the University of Adelaide, the University of Southern Queensland, and Blue Carbon Lab (RMIT).

Funding provided by a grant from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust Climate-Smart Agriculture program.

Project dates: Commenced early 2025, due for completion in 2028.

Ripple Effect project page

Resilient landscapes

Nitrates in potable groundwater supply

Groundwater supplied to a number of regional and remote WA communities has naturally elevated nitrate concentrations. This project is investigating nitrate exposure through potable water sourced from groundwater in remote Aboriginal communities and potential impacts on health during pregnancy.

Funding provided by Channel 7 Telethon Trust.

Project dates: Commenced early 2022, due for completion in 2024.
Recharge in a changing climate project

The Recharge in a Changing Climate (RiCC) project is establishing seven monitoring sites on the Swan Coastal Plain to focus on understanding biogeophysical processes affecting the fluxes of water that recharge our aquifers. The project is providing multiseasonal recharge estimates that characterise heterogeneity at plot and larger scales using hydrogephysics and remote sensing.

Funding provided by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Project dates: Commenced late 2023, due for completion in 2026.

Recharge in a Changing Climate page
Shades of urban greening Understanding the social design and environmental impacts of plant foliage colour in hot cities

Lush green leaves associated with notions of coolness may not be appropriate for water-limited cities. This research investigates: 1) how the foliage colour and texture of arid-adapted plants influence public perceptions of coolness, and; 2) how air temperature and soil moisture are related to plant colour and texture. The research team will synthesise current knowledge and conduct pilot studies in Perth, Tucson, Arizona.

Funding provided by UWA Research Collaboration Award.

Project dates: Commenced early 2023, due for completion in 2024.

Catchment to coasts

ICoAST integrated coastal analyses and sensing technology mapping marine and coastal habitat

Coastal environments and ecosystems in Western Australia are facing a time of unprecedented pressures from a combination of population growth and climate change. The ICoAST project is developing and applying a suite of tools and methods to improve monitoring and understanding of ecological and physical processes in Western Australia.

This provides an overview of the Spatial Habitat & Remote Sensing research theme of The Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (IOMRC) ICoAST collaborative project.

ICoAST project page
Pilbara intertidal mapping project

This project will assess and map a regional scale cyanobacterial mat extent. In the Exmouth Gulf and Pilbara coast, salt flats occur on the landward edge of intertidal zone, often bordered seaward by fringing mangroves and landward by dunes. Salt flats cover 1026 square kilometres in the Exmouth Gulf, an area over six times greater than mangroves here. Globally, these environments are understudied, yet are of increasing interest due to the salt minerals they contain.

Funding is provided by The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI).

Project dates: Commenced late 2022, due for completion in 2025.
Unravelling how aquatic coastal networks regulate nitrogen removal

The aim of this project is to determine the nitrogen removal pathways of the coastal zone using a number of innovative field and modelling approaches. Little is known about how the complex coastal landscape controls trade-offs that maximise nitrogen removal but minimise nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas) emissions. The outcomes of this study will significantly advance our understanding of the coastal zone in regional and global nitrogen budgets. This will provide significant benefits such as a new science-based quantitative framework to facilitate best practice management to reduce terrestrial nitrogen loads and associated downstream impacts such as eutrophication and reduce nitrous oxide emissions and associated global warming.

Funding provided by Australian Research Council.

Project dates: Commenced late 2021, due for completion in 2024.

Data-driven discovery and spatial analytics

Detecting flooding in Fiji's croplands

Developing machine learning tools to convert satellite images into land cover and flood maps with Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture. Annual land cover maps for Fiji have been generated since 2019 and are openly available from the Pacific Data Hub. Other open access products include flood maps for recent tropical cyclone events and large scale training datasets for machine learning land cover and flood classification tasks.

Funding provided by a Climate Change AI Innovation Grant.

Project dates: Commenced early 2022, due for completion in 2023.
Mapping Pacific agricultural landscapes

An open-source farm mapping system was built with Tonga's Ministry of Agriculture which has been used to map tens of thousands of farms across multiple years as part of Tonga's agricultural monitoring efforts. The system has also been used to generate data to guide disaster response after the Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption.

Funding provided by ACIAR.

Project dates: Commenced early 2022, due for completion in 2023.
TERN WA Project

The project's three monitoring sites (Gingin, Boyagin and Great Western Woodlands) cover a biodiverse ecological and climate gradient. New equipment at these sites will enable improved characterisation of water cycle processes across these landscapes focusing on linking ecosystem stress to drivers such as temperature and water stress.

Funding is provided by NCRIS Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and WA State Government co-investment from WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science & Innovation (JTSI).

Project dates: Commenced late 2023, due for completion in 2028.

TERN project page
The Australian CZO network OzCZO project

This project consists of multiple Critical Zone Observatories (CZOs) across the Australian continent that are designed for advanced studies of biogeochemical processes and elemental/isotope cycles within near-surface reservoirs, including vegetation, soils, vadose zone and groundwater. Partnering with national research infrastructure projects TERN and AuScope, OzCZO fills crucial gaps in environmental monitoring, particularly regarding soil dynamics, root zones, and integrated processes within the critical zone.

Funding is part of the Australian Research Council’s Large Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme (ARC LIEF)— provided by the Australian Government.

Project dates: Commenced early 2021, due for completion in 2025.

The Australian CZO network (OzCZO) project page

Research Teaching Nexus

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The University of Western Australia

Centre for Water and Spatial Science

Research

Our projects

Water in a changing climate

Resilient landscapes

Catchment to coasts

Data-driven discovery and spatial analytics

Research Teaching Nexus

The University of Western Australia

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Research

Our projects

Water in a changing climate

Resilient landscapes

Catchment to coasts

Data-driven discovery and spatial analytics

Research Teaching Nexus