Australia-NZ space research to boost land management

The New Zealand Space Agency and SmartSat CRC have announced the second round of jointly funded space research projects under the Australia-New Zealand Collaborative Space Program.

The collaboration between SmartSat CRC and the New Zealand Space Agency focuses on advancing Earth Observation technologies aimed at improving environmental and agricultural management across both nations.

Four new projects have been selected to commence this month, with a focus on crop and agricultural monitoring, biomass mapping, and supporting indigenous communities. These initiatives are expected to enhance sustainability and inform effective land management practices in both Australia and New Zealand.

Professor Andy Koronios, Chief Executive Officer of SmartSat CRC, highlighted the significance of this joint effort: "We are excited to extend our collaboration with the New Zealand Space Agency and the wider MBIE team by funding these important research projects. By investing in space technologies for farm management, land monitoring and the integration of indigenous knowledge, we are improving our understanding of how to more reliably and sustainably look after our unique countries," he stated.

"We hope these new projects encourage enduring partnerships between Australian and New Zealand researchers, establish platforms for larger-scale future research initiatives, help develop talent and joint expertise, support R&D initiatives, and enhance business development. We also hope to build scientific capacity in alignment with both industry and end user needs to address major environmental, economic, and social challenges for both nations," Koronios continued.

Among the newly funded projects is the "Indigenous Pathways to Advance Fuel Moisture Earth Observation Technologies for Improved Fire Planning Management Strategies." This project involves collaboration between the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, Australian National University, and Scion, the New Zealand Forest Research Institute.

It aims to integrate traditional Aboriginal and Indigenous Māori knowledge with scientific methods to manage fire-prone landscapes, using satellite data to develop a near real-time flammability monitoring system.

Another project titled "Enhancing Fractional Cover Models Using Hyperspectral Data for Improved Pastoral Condition Assessment in Australia and New Zealand" is undertaken by FrontierSI and Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. It seeks to adapt fractional cover data products for New Zealand's conditions to promote sustainable land use and protect soil and water resources.

The "Satellite sensing into agricultural practices: Phase A" project, backed by the University of Newcastle, FrontierSI, and the University of Canterbury, will integrate soil moisture measurements using Global Navigational Satellite Systems from multiple platforms. This effort aims to support agricultural practices through better decision-making.

Finally, the "SilverEye — Satellite Imaging for Land Vegetation, Environmental Recovery in Ecosystems and Yield Enhancement" project, conducted by CSIRO and the University of Auckland, focuses on developing satellite capabilities to improve agricultural monitoring across the southern hemisphere.

This second tranche follows the inaugural projects announced in July 2024, which explored topics such as monitoring methane emissions and enhancing optical communication nodes.