SEAF IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SEAF is being tested in Western Australia
SEAF pilots in WA are funded by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. They are supported by BHP and Rio Tinto and the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, through the Australian Research Data Commons.
- A central SEAF hub for WA is operated by WABSI and WAMSI
- Two SEAF regional spokes, or pilots, will demonstrate how we can unlock value from shared data and analytics for two priority development zones:
o Cockburn Sound
o Pilbara
SEAF IN COCKBURN SOUND
Western Australia’s Cockburn Sound supports vital industrial complexes, trade networks, water and wastewater utilities. The marine systems are highly valued by the community for recreation and tourism and have cultural significance for Traditional Owners. Industrial operations and ecosystem resilience are at risk from climate change, economic and social change.
Initially, the Cockburn Sound spoke will deliver hydrodynamic and sediment transport models and maps, integrated marine ecosystem biogeochemistry and ecological models and maps and information towards the Cockburn Sound DPSIR reporting model. These will enable more informed decision making for industry, government and regulators.
Over time, the Cockburn Sound spoke will progress towards delivering regional assessments from shared data and analytics, as well as science and analytic products that are regionally specific, producing:
• Single point of reference for industry operation and growth
• Industrial area groundwater model
• Terrestrial emissions models and maps
• Dynamic information towards the Cockburn Sound DPSIR reporting model
SEAF IN THE PILBARA
The Pilbara, in Western Australia, has extensive Native Title, cultural and economic significance, contributing to 78% of State and 32% of national export revenue. It has a complex array of mines, processing plants, ports, and linear infrastructure with interdependency and cumulative impact on the landscape and threatened species. Creating, assessing and approving environmental approvals for further development are challenging due to the region’s environmental impacts and significant cultural heritage value.
Initially, the Pilbara regional spoke will deliver integrated groundwater datasets in a sub region, to develop proof -of-concept catchment scale groundwater models. This will enable an improved catchment scale understanding of groundwater movement, more accurate model outcomes, and an improved understanding of cumulative effects on groundwater as a result of multiple developments within a catchment.
Over time, this regional spoke will progress towards delivering regional assessments from shared data and analytics, as well as science and analytic products that are regionally specific, to produce:
• Regional map of flora, vegetation, fauna habitat and fauna distribution
• Regional flora species habitat suitability model
• Regional fauna Habitat connectivity map/model
• Population viability model
• Integrated catchment scale groundwater modelling
Want to engage with the SEAF project?
Contact us:
Professor Owen Nevin, CEO, WABSI owen.nevin@wabsi.org.au
Dr Luke Twomey, CEO, WAMSI luke.twomey@wamsi.org.au