Commissioned research
The concentration of research expertise in the CRCSI, through it partners, encouraged many organisations to engage the CRCSI to undertake research that in many instances could not otherwise be done.
Contract research opportunities were conducted through participants including the 43pl companies. Over $5 million of research work was conducted this way. None of it was sourced in competition to the market.
Examples include the following
- Guidelines on Digital Terrain Data for Emergency Response Management Planning The aim of the project was to develop standardised guidelines for the GIS component of flood studies. Digital flood intelligence is available in many forms and is increasingly being sourced from remotely sensed data. To ensure the accurate capture, visualisation and interpretation of these data, robust and repeatable methods that can be applied State-wide are required. Client: NSW Land and Property Management Authority.
- Technical Due Diligence The project reviewed technical competency of a potential investment in a spatial company. Client: Venture Capital Company
- Development of a metadata entry tool - Access to up-to-date metadata is important in delivering high quality spatial information services to vast areas of Australia. However, current metadata models/standards are complex and very difficult to handle. This project recommended which metadata entry tools to adapt so that existing spatial information metadata could be migrated to a new metadata system based on the Australia and New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) Metadata Profile; and then reported on the adaptation of the selected entry tool to meet immediate short-term needs. Client: Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.
- Remote Sensing of Forest Cover This provided a review of satellite remote sensing for forest cover change monitoring in South-east Asia and the Pacific. Client: Department of Environment and Water Resources.
- Applications in visualisation software This project provided software extensions and enhancements to visualisation software. Client: Victorian Department of Primary Industries
- Radar Interferometry Technologies This project generated contours and determined accuracy limits for DEM generation from radar imagery. It also developed a classification tool and methodology for land types. Partners: University of New South Wales, Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation, Department of Defence and Fugro Spatial Solutions Pty Ltd.
- Urban Digital Elevation Models Highly accurate three-dimensional models of these coastal areas give better understanding of the impacts of future sea-level rise and storm surges. These digital elevation models (DEM) allow the necessary computer modelling to assess inundation risks to our population and built infrastructure, and identify ways in which the risks can be reduced. Partners: Department of Climate Change, Northern Territory Department of Planning and Infrastructure, Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, Western Australia Department of Water, Landgate and NSW Land and Property Management Authority, Logan City Council, AAM Group, SKM, NGIS, GraceGIS, Geomatic Technologies, Fugro Spatial Solutions, Aerometrex and Akuna Consulting.
- Measurement of vertical movements to provide geo-referenced ground surface settlement information using radar imagery Clients include mining companies in Australia and Ghana, and Australian State and Federal land and agricultural agencies.
- Shallow water bathymetry In Australia The inter-tidal zone is mostly unmapped. Topographic maps typically stop at the high tide mark and hydrographic charts stop at the low tide mark. However the inter-tidal is an area of significant environmental interest. In some places it is also a significant area of land. The project analysed data acquired by the Laser Airborne Depth Sounder to assess its potential and suitability for mapping near-shore water depth along the Victorian coastline. Client: Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.
- Scoping a national system for reporting land-use change The lack of standardised approaches to monitoring land-use change causes difficulties for land managers. Without a sense of the extent of landuse change, as well as knowledge of its specific nature, it is difficult to form effective policies to address the change; to estimate the eventual impacts of an ongoing change; and to identify the most appropriate responses to maintain a healthy environment, prosperous local and regional economies, and viable human population centres. This project scoped a national system for reporting landuse change. Client: Land and Water Australia
- Review of woody vegetation extent mapping An independent review of woody vegetation extent mapping using imagery for selected sites in NSW was completed. A variety of products, including vegetation indices, canopy identification and biomass assessment and fuel load indices were produced for the assessment of fuel loads. A number of data capture methods were assessed and correlated. The project was undertaken to gain an understanding of the existing and planned coverage of terrain elevation data for the Australian coastal zone that is potentially fit-for-purpose in coastal vulnerability assessment. Client: NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change.
