Autonomous Ocean Monitoring Advisory
Advised South Australian government on using autonomous platforms, sensors, and remote sensing to enhance marine monitoring, improving coverage, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of environmental data collection.
Location: South Australia
Client/Sector: Government agencies and policymakers
Challenge:
Marine monitoring programs in South Australia rely heavily on crewed vessels and manual sampling, which can be costly and limit the spatial and temporal coverage of environmental data. Government agencies and policymakers sought advice on emerging technologies that could complement traditional monitoring approaches and improve data collection efficiency.
Aquatic Assessments Role:
Aquatic Assessments provided technical advice to government scientific agencies and local Members of Parliament on the potential application of autonomous sampling platforms and remote sensing technologies in South Australian waters. This included identifying opportunities to integrate uncrewed systems, automated sensors, and satellite-based observations with existing monitoring programs to expand coverage while reducing operational costs.
Outcome:
The advice highlighted practical pathways for incorporating autonomous and remote monitoring technologies into South Australia’s marine observation programs, supporting more cost-effective, scalable, and continuous environmental monitoring.