Screen shot of Dr Peter Caccetta from video.

Dr Peter Caccetta is Team Leader of the Mapping and Monitoring Team.

Monitoring team receives CSIRO’s top award in 2004

A team of CSIRO mathematics and environmental scientists have combined to develop an award-winning suite of environmental mapping tools.

  • 4 December 2007 | Updated 14 October 2011

The Mapping and Monitoring Team at CSIRO were awarded the Chairman's Medal in 2004 after developing technologies over a twenty-year period to help address key environmental issues such as salinity and soil degradation.

Using satellite images, digital elevation models and ground data, the team has developed technologies to transform large archives of data into information useful for environmental work.

They are being used by farmers, environmentalists and government.

Their research efforts have put remote sensing 'on the map' as a key technology for addressing a range of national environmental issues.

Using the mapping technology to estimate areas likely to be affected by salinity helps identify where priority should be given for rehabilitation and preventative measures. 

Salinity work

'Prior to this research the historical extent of salinity just simply wasn't known', said Dr Peter Caccetta, the team's leader.

'This work has allowed farmers and regional managers to understand the extent and scale of the problem and aids in their plans from remedial actions.'

The outcomes of the team's work are being used in national environmental reporting systems and for policy development for vegetation and land management.

The team works in close collaboration with the Australian Greenhouse Office to implement the National Land Cover Changes Program.

Information about forest size, clearing and regrowth also forms part of the international assessment of Australian's carbon budget.

Staff involved

Team Leader:

“Prior to this research the historical extent of salinity just simply wasn't known.”

Dr Peter Caccetta, Team Leader

  • Dr Peter Caccetta, CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics & Statistics (CMIS)

Team members:

  • Dr Norm Campbell, CMIS
  • Dr Joanne Chia, CMIS
  • Miss Suzanne Furby, CMIS
  • Dr Harri Kiiveri, CMIS
  • Dr Donald McFarlane, CSIRO Land and Water
  • Dr Gary Richards, Australian Greenhouse Office
  • Mr Jeremy Wallace, CMIS
  • Dr Xiaoliang Wu, CMIS.

About the Chairman’s Medal

First awarded in 1991, the Chairman's Medal honours both the expertise and contribution our scientists make to our nation and the international community.

It celebrates their commitment and dedication to the service of science and the public good.

Find out more about CSIRO Awards.