Research Projects
Next generation training libraries to support Australia's coastal ecosystem monitoring systems (Old ID 27883)
Nicholas Murray
03 Jan 2023 - 28 Jun 2024
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is seeking to develop the training data sets necessary to support the development of continuous ocean and coastal ecosystem extent mapping across the Australian continent. The mapping is expected to underpin the ongoing development of the National Ocean Accounts and other environmental-economic accounting activities. This project involves collecting training datasets to support models I have previously developed (Murray et al., 2022), so that these models can be employed by the Commonwealth for improved coastal mapping and monitoring.
Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) (Old ID 30029)
Bronson Philippa
01 Jul 2023 - 30 Nov 2030
FASTA is a national research initiative designed to protect and grow Australia's horticultural exports. Within the overall consortium, JCU is developing smart sensor technologies for a variety of pre- and post-harvest applications. We will develop smart traps for real-time monitoring of insect pests in the field and near-infrared spectroscopy methods to identify the species of insects to contribute to management efforts. We will also develop optical scanning methods to remove infested produce from supply chains. Overall, this work contributes towards a large-scale national effort to improve market access, biosecurity and pest management for Australian horticulture.
BeefVantage: AI-Powered Beef Agriculture Solution Hub (Old ID 31108)
Carrie Wilson
01 Sep 2023 - 29 Nov 2024
The project is to develop a language-based AI-powered tool that will rapidly guide beef producers to relevant solutions to solve their on-farm problems. The BeefVantage interface efficiently connects farmers and their advisors to relevant solutions, swiftly navigating them through on-farm challenges for enhanced productivity and sustainable outcomes. First, by analysing domain-specific data, we aim to create a dataset that is pre-processed. This dataset will be used to fine-tune a Large Language Model, so that farmers and their advisors can enter queries (such as problems or challenges that they are facing), and the system will recommend solutions (such as AgTech products or relevant knowledge) for their consideration. The AI MVP will create value by revealing insights from existing data that have previously been missed, and help facilitate conversations between extension agents and producers, and ultimately provide a platform for beef producers to rapidly find solutions that are relevant to their situation and needs. Additionally, this system will help provide consistency in information provided by different extension officers/bodies, as it can be confusing for farmers when they receive differing advice from different advisors.
Spatial and temporal trends in the health and resilience of Great Barrier Reef inshore seagrass meadows in relation to water quality (Old ID 20687)
Len McKenzie
01 Dec 2012 - 30 Aug 2027
The aim of this research is to monitor the abundance and species composition of seagrass, and identify areas of seagrass that have been significantly impacted by flood plumes in areas important to major dugong populations in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Unravelling the mystery of the Plain of Jars, Laos (Old ID 21895)
Nigel Chang
01 Jan 2015 - 14 Jan 2020
Since their discovery in the 1930s the mysterious collection s of giant stone jars scattered throughout central Laos have remained one of the great prehistoric puzzles of SE Asia. It is thought that the jars represent the mortuary remains of an extensive and powerful Iron Age culture. This project seeks to determine the true nature of these sites which date to a dynamic period of increasing complexity in Se Asia (c.500BCE-500CE). This will be achieved through extensive reconnaissance, precision mapping, archaeological excavation and analysis of associated burial material. Using a suite of cutting-edge archaeological technologies this project will have far-reaching benefits for archaeology, science, Laos and World Heritage.
Design & Development of Receiving Environment Monitoring Program (Old ID 22207)
Shelley Templeman
30 Jun 2015 - 31 Dec 2019
TropWATER will review the existing environmental monitoring data and undertake a detailed environmental survey of the Carpentaria Cold operations with a view to designing a receiving environment monitoring program to be implemented in the 2015/16 wet season.
The Interest In Ongoing Medical Research (Old ID 22835)
Ronny Gunnarsson
01 Jul 2016 - 28 Feb 2018
Most people perceive that they are clever enough to understand research if they just can get the information. This study aims to clarify if the population in Far North Queensland is interested to know about ongoing medical research in the area. An automated information system will also be trialled.
Tropical partnerships to strengthen health systems responses to infectious diseases threats (Old ID 23015)
Emma McBryde
01 Feb 2017 - 30 Apr 2019
The Asia Pacific Region is facing frequent threats from emerging and existing infectious diseases. The capacity to mount a timely effective response is compromised in poorly functioning health systems seen in parts of the region. The resulting vulnerability affects the whole region, including Australia. Strengthening capacity to prepare and respond to these threats is thus a shared responsibility. This proposal aims to tackle the problem through collaboration with institutions, researchers and policy makers across the region, building on long held partnerships.
Regional mapping at the Mt Carlton High-sulphidation Au-Cu-Ag mine (Old ID 23651)
Paul Dirks
01 Sep 2017 - 31 Jan 2018
Past research on Mt Carlton has concentrated on the geological structures exposed in the open pit. The aim of this project is to map the region around the pit areas and develop a geological model that links the deposit to nearby prospects; and work out the extent to which later extensional structures have dismembered and displaced mineralisation. This work is a continuation of the GSQ North Queensland project and work conducted by one PhD student and a post-doctoral fellow who has obtained dates for many of the rock units, but does not have a coherent regional geological model to work with.
HOT NORTH PILOT PROJECTS - RND 4 - Translation of a culturally responsive stroke rehabilitation service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples into a real-world setting in northern Australia: a hybrid effectiveness implementation study (Old ID 25052)
Ruth Barker
01 Jul 2018 - 30 Jun 2020
An evidence-based communication intervention will be implemented in the real world setting at Wuchopperen Health Services (WHS) in Cairns. Eight stroke survivors will participate in 24 sessions across a 12-week period, delivered by a speech pathologist in partnership with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Allied Health Assistant (AHA). Individually tailored activities will be undertaken within a 'yarning' framework, with family involvement, and culturally relevant resources. Change in everyday communication and barriers and enablers to implementation will be assessed. This study will prepare for full-scale implementation of the service model and reduce health disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.