satellite

The Future of AgTech with Graciela Metternicht

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

It is important for the future of sustainability and the planet that we keep pushing the limits of Earth Observation technologies in support of landscape productivity. Continuing the conversation with Professor Graciela Metternicht, we discuss the potential of AgTech in supporting both farming and environmental sustainability. “The potential [of AgTech] is mind blowing, there are…

The Power of Communication

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

In Conversation with Graciela Metternicht Professor Graciela Metternicht has just taken up a new role as Dean of Science at Western Sydney University, and is currently running several research teams, has students to supervise, and until recently managed the Communications and Enabling Environment activities of the COALA project. As busy as she is, you might…

In Conversation with Tim McClelland

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

Windarra Farm is a six and a half thousand hectare property, home to Tim McClelland and his family. The property is bright with vast green fields, the bustle of working dogs, and at the right time of the year, poddy lambs. Tim is a fourth-generation farmer, his family has been responsible for Windarra Farm since…

flooding-Australian-farm-infrastructure

Australian farms hit by catastrophic floods

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

Economic loss Australian farms are worth more money than ever before. The value of Australian agriculture in 2021-22 is expected to be $81 billion, says the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). But this good news may not be applicable for all farmers. Farmers in the northern part of New South…

Earth-Observation-COALA-project

Earth Observation Road Map Part 2

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

Our blog last week focused on the Australian Space Agency’s roadmap for Earth Observation (EO). We first discussed how Earth observation helps Australia’s economy (even in fields you wouldn’t expect). Then we talked about the priority areas that were identified by the Space Agency. This week we are summarising the five key areas that the…

The Australian Earth Observation from Space Roadmap

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

What are the goals of the Australian Earth Observation from Space roadmap and how it can benefit from international collaborations like the COALA project? Late last year, the Australian Space Agency released its Earth Observation from Space roadmap for 2021-2030. This roadmap highlights that many sectors of the Australian economy and society, ranging from agriculture,…

NOAA-geostationary-satellites-Tonga-COALA-project

Satellite imagery records the volcanic eruption in Tonga

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

Being in the right place at the right time matters, the saying goes.  And, while the satellites orbiting Earth are hundreds – or sometimes thousands – of kilometres above us, they were positioned perfectly to capture the recent volcanic eruption in Tonga of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai. The different satellites capturing this eruption…

The COALA H2020 project: A WOMEESA seminar

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

COALA H2020 has shown us many challenges of implementation under COVID and multi-sectoral, international collaborations. WOMEESA is a network of women working in Earth and Environmental Sciences in academia, industry and government.  WOMEESA works to promote Earth and Environmental Science research and activities through social networks and the media. COALA H2020 uses Earth Observation technologies…

space-technologies-coala-project

Five ways that space technologies help farmers

  • UNSW
  • Blog
  • No Comments

Space technologies are being increasingly utilised in on-farm processes. But how do they really help the field of agriculture? “The farmer of the future will have space technology fully integrated into their everyday production systems and decision making,” said Jennifer Medway, Agrifutures Senior Manager of Rural Futures. “For instance, dashboards will enable farmers to remotely…

From big tape to big data: the Digital Farming Age

  • Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
  • Blog
  • No Comments

Going from big tape to big data with satellites helped us enter the ‘Digital Farming Age’. And now the COALA project benefits from this heritage. The beginning of satellite images of Earth’s land surface The systematic acquisition of satellite images of land surface started in 1972 with the U.S. Landsat program. With this data-stream, it…