The Integrated Water Information Systems Theme, part of the Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, aims to develop technology for improved coverage, accuracy and currency for Australia’s water resources information systems.
Background
Australia’s ability to deal with increasing water scarcity will be underpinned by accurate and reliable water resources information.
This requires improved coverage, accuracy and currency for Australia’s water resources information systems.
Better water information also helps to provide technological solutions to deliver water savings, and better assessment of the impact of water use at an individual product level in the form of water footprints.
The water information challenge
Australia needs systems that can manage the volume and complexity of data for comprehensive national water accounting, assessment and forecasting.
Traditionally, information on water resources has been available only by those who collect it.
In Australia there is a huge diversity of agencies responsible for management of water resources and their ability to measure and monitor is highly variable in terms of the scale and accuracy of this information.
These systems are unable to manage the volume and complexity of data needed for comprehensive national water accounting, assessment and forecasting.
Key research areas
Research is being conducted through areas covering:
- water data transfer standards
- hydrologic data and model integration
- precipitation and evapotranspiration products
- continental scale digital elevation model for hydrology
- water resources assessment and water use accounting
- short-term water forecasting and prediction
- seasonal and long-term water forecasting and prediction
- hydrological sensor webs
- continuous flow forecasting and inundation mapping of Condamine-Balonne catchment, Queensland, Australia.
Delivering outcomes
Modern national water information infrastructure is seen as essential for Australia’s water reforms.
By building a new generation of water information infrastructure, CSIRO research will help provide timely and accurate national water accounts at greatly reduced cost, providing automated and efficient ways of routinely monitoring, analysing and reporting on Australia’s water resources.
Partnerships
Through the Water Act 2007, the Australian Government has given the Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau) responsibility for compiling and delivering comprehensive water information across the water sector in Australia.
CSIRO is collaborating with the Bureau through a water information research and development alliance.
The strategic investment of A$50 million over five years will provide the core research required to transform the way Australia manages its water resources by delivering value-added water information tools and technology based on a comprehensive and robust nationwide water information system.
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