Land & Water Australia. 2010. Current NPSI Research Projects. [Online] (Updated May 26th, 2010)
Available at: http://lwa.gov.au/node/3753 [Accessed Wednesday 13th of March 2013 01:05:08 AM ].

Current NPSI Research Projects

2008 NPSI/ IAL Travel Fellow - Matthew Shanahan

Matthew Shanahan is a young, enthusiastic and committed irrigation industry professional currently working with RM Consulting Group (RMCG) in the fields of recycled water and sustainable irrigation management.

A new ecological synthesis to improve the effectiveness of resource management and conservation research and its uptake

The overarching objective of this project is to increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation strategies for best practice natural resource management through the completion of a unique, innovative and powerful set of ecological syntheses based on five world-class, large-scale, landscape “natural experiments” established over the last 1 - 21 years.

A rapid genetic approach for assessing sediment biodiversity and functioning

The goal of this project is to develop a generic technique to concurrently assess the structural and functional status of ecosystems using genetic measures of the organisms within them. The proof of concept approach entails the development of a DNA microarray chip (ecosystem array) that encapsulates the genetic information for a broad range of biota (invertebrates, algae and microorganisms) and functional genes diagnostic for major estuarine biogeochemical processes.
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A spatial dynamic framework to integrate regional water use efficiency and energy consumption nexus

The modern agricultural practices have led to a dramatic increase in the input of fossil energy, raising concerns over sustainable use of energy resources. Much research into increasing water use efficiency (WUE) and conjunctive management of surface and groundwater focuses on the conversion of gravity-fed irrigation systems to pressurised systems and net recharge management. Irrigation is a primary consumer of energy on farms, and these management options may alter energy (more)…

A standardised metric to value environmental services

Achieving Coordinated Landscape-scale Outcomes with Auction Mechanisms

This project will apply recent advances in auction theory together with CSIRO’s experience of conservation tenders around Australia to develop principles for auction design that are capable of delivering efficient, coordinated outcomes across landscapes

Adaptive learning through five strands of root-zone knowledge

This project will demonstrate how the collection of five independent strands of irrigation data via a novel sensor and logging platform will link irrigator experience with measured data, link atmospheric scheduling with soil based monitoring, and link water management with solute management.

Adaptive management of environmental flows in the regulated Macquarie River

This project is being completed by Professor Richard Kingsford of the University of New South Wales.

Advanced airborne technologies for mapping and monitoring native Australian vegetation

Airborne sensors can be used by natural resource managers and researchers to collect visible (vegetation cover) and invisible (such as canopy condition or water use) data.

Agriculture land retirement as an environmental policy

Agri-environmental programs are expensive and there is pressure to achieve efficiency in the public spending used to retire land from agricultural production. The risk of regulators not knowing the cost of compliance to land holders (and hence the compensation), or whether compliance occurs, means schemes may be too expensive and ineffectual.