Melbourne School of Engineering

Water, Environment and Agriculture Program

Melbourne School of Engineering 1 Water, Environment and Agriculture Program

The earth’s natural environment and its food supply, cities and economies are all fundamentally dependent on water. Water innovation is vital to a sustainable future.

Water security consistently rates as one In recent times, Australia has kept pace The Water, Environment and Agriculture of the biggest risks and strategic challenges with growing water demands through Program continues this work with industry confronting humanity. There is a growing strategic investments in capability and to drive innovation in water systems, through imbalance between supply and demand institutions. Strong research institutions, applied research and training. We work with caused by rapid population growth and including the University of Melbourne, farmers, river and catchment managers, industrialisation, over-extraction of water, have underpinned Australia’s advances in and water utilities to develop practical chronic pollution and climate change. water technology and policy including solutions for their water challenges. A Deteriorating water security poses grave transformations in salinity management, sustained, place-based and participatory threats both to the global economy and irrigation supply, flood design, basin program of innovation, linking researchers regional security. planning and river restoration. with farmers and natural resources managers is at the core of our proposition. Our interdisciplinary team of researchers is tackling complex problems in four research Professor Michael Stewardson themes: Agricultural technology, river basins, environmental water and urban water Program Leader Our research program includes the following themes: infrastructure. Water, Environment and Agriculture Program We look forward to learning from you about Agriculture technology Environmental water your industry needs and working together to deliver innovative solutions that result in transformative and practical outcomes for River basins Urban water infrastructure communities, industry and the environment.

2 The University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is uniquely placed to provide holistic approaches to the three pillars of water productivity: water planning, infrastructure and operations (technology), and governance. We have a strong track record of collaborations in research and development, including new technologies to support the improved operation of water infrastructure, the gathering of water intelligence and subsequent decision-making.

Professor Rob Vertessy FTSE Enterprise Professor Water Resources Professor Robert Vertessy FTSE is an Enterprise Professor at the University of Melbourne and an Honorary Professor in the Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University. In 2016, he retired from being Director of Meteorology and CEO of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Prior to his 10-year tenure at the Bureau, Professor Vertessy led a distinguished 20-year research career in the hydrological sciences, specialising in catchment hydrology experimentation and modelling. Professor Vertessy is bringing his industry, strategy and start-up experience to the Water, Environment and Agriculture Program to make sure our innovative research is meeting industry and global standards. The University of Melbourne and Rubicon’s successful 15-year partnership has seen major developments in irrigation water supply technology.

Melbourne School of Engineering 3 Agriculture TECHNOLOGY Boosting agricultural production and reducing environmental footprint

Research overview Theme Leader Associate Professor The University of Melbourne has a unique research skillset that combines high-resolution remote sensing of plant and water status, Dongryeol Ryu with control systems for water in agriculture and an understanding of the interplay between water, nutrients and soils. This provides a strong foundation for incorporating engineering technologies with the agronomic aspects of managing plant production Remote sensing of water and vegetation, microwave in agriculture. As part of this, the University drives innovation in drone-based sensing via the Melbourne Unmanned Aircraft Systems remote sensing of soil Integration Platform (MUASIP). moisture, hydrologic data assimilation, Most existing ‘precision agriculture’ programs, especially those led by engineering disciplines, focus on isolated components such as land surface processes modelling hardware, data analysis and decision support, or on-farm management. Our strength comes from the highly cross-disciplinary team from across the university, and research and development targets and visions set in close consultation with agricultural end-user groups. Researchers Professor Andrew Western: Soil water process, catchment hydrology Capabilities »» Sensor information processing for »» Development of hyperspectral remote data-based decision making sensing algorithms to map agricultural Dr Lola Suarez: Plant physiology, remote »» Very-high-resolution mapping of plant plant diseases sensing, spectroscopy vigour, water stress and diseases Impact Dr Ranjith R. Unnithan: Electronic sensors, »» Satellite remote sensing of soil moisture »» Development of remote sensing »» International leadership in satellite remote CMOS image sensors and plant water use algorithm to detect illegal waste disposal, sensing of soil water and vegetation funded by Environment Protection Dr Eileen Perry: Agricultural remote sensing »» Crop and plant-specific multispectral and »» Leading collaborative operation of Authority Victoria (MSE, AgVictoria) thermal infrared sensor development UAV-borne sensing via MUASIP for »» Research underpins Rubicon Water’s Dr Sigfredo Fuentes: Wine science, »» Model and observation integration for research and industry applications Total Channel Control package agricultural sensing (FVAS) optimal real-time prediction of water implemented in irrigation districts around and vegetation »» Pioneering ground soil water sensor Dr Dorin Gupta: Crop stress and diseases, networks used by international microwave Australia, USA and China. It forms an sustainable crop production (FVAS) »» Seasonal forecasting of soil water and important part of the upgrade of the remote sensing community Dr Alexis Pang: Proximal sensing, in-farm crop yield irrigation infrastructure in Victoria. »» Integration of ground monitoring networks agtech for efficiency (FVAS) »» Smart irrigation system development and satellite remote sensing for optimal guided by meteorological and soil Professor Erik Weyer: Modelling and control irrigation scheduling water information from satellites of water resource systems, system identification and signal processing »» Modelling, control and automation of »» Development of UAV-borne thermal water resources systems sensing to monitor plant water stress Professor Michael Cantoni: Automation in horticultural fields of water distribution networks, control and signal processing

4 The University of Melbourne Partnerships and collaborations “I’ve certainly grown a better product, a cleaner product, a better product and we have Australian research institutions Australian government and industry been able to achieve that by fast watering and control watering. I’ve been irrigating CSIRO Agriculture Victoria (Department of Economic close to 40 years, and to actually learn so much in one year made my other 39 years look Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources) Monash University pretty ordinary.” University of Sydney Australian Processing Tomato Research Council Russell Pell University of Tasmania Farmer and participant in irrigation supply modernisation North East Catchment Management Authority RMIT University (NECMA), Victoria International research institutions Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India Authority, Victoria Nanjing University of Information Science Geoscience Australia and Technology, China Bureau of Meteorology National Taiwan University, Taiwan Department of Environment, Land, Water Seoul National University, Korea and Planning, Victoria Sungkyunkwan University, Korea Rubicon Water Tsinghua University, China Environment Protection Authority Victoria Technical University of Vienna, Austria XM2 Aerial Pty Ltd Harvard University, USA Hort-Eye Pty Ltd Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA International government and industry University of Washington, USA United States Department of Agriculture, University of Houston, USA Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) National Aeronautics and Space Administration Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA-JPL), USA Rural Research Institute, Korea A medium-size drone equipped with the hyperspectral sensing system taken by another toy drone Rural Community Corporation, Korea

Melbourne School of Engineering 5 RIVER BASINS Managing water in a changing and variable climate

Research overview Theme Leader: Professor QJ Wang The Melbourne School of Engineering has research and consulting expertise in hydroclimatology, catchment Hydroclimate forecasting, stochastic hydrology, hydrology, groundwater, irrigation, catchment water quality and analysis of water resource systems including irrigation agricultural and environmental water uses. Researchers We conduct world-leading research on catchment responses to climate and water use change, incorporating Professor Andrew Western: hydrological forecasting with lead times from hours to seasons, along with statistical and computational hydrology Catchment hydrology and Dr Margarita Saft: Catchment and uncertainty and risk analyses. agricultural water use hydrology and hydrologic change Our research provides valuable information and tools for the government, water management agencies and Professor Rob Vertessy: Water Dr Tony Zhao: Hydrological industries. Working with water policy and governance specialists, we support improved policy development, security, water information, forecasting strategic planning, and tactical and operational decision-making, especially for dealing with water scarcity and water policy reform Dr Danlu Guo: Hydroclimate, the extreme events of drought and flooding. Associate Professor Rory water quality and climate change Nathan: Flood and Dr Keirnan Fowler: Catchment environmental hydrology Capabilities »» Modelling, control and automation by the Bureau of Meteorology and hydrology and modelling under of water resources systems numerous state agencies Associate Professor Dongryeol change »» Catchment hydrology and Ryu: Remote sensing and land Professor Tom McMahon: hydrologic processes »» Sensor information processing for »» Research and development that surface processes Engineering and environmental data-based decision making underpins short-term and seasonal »» Groundwater and surface- Dr Meenakshi Arora: Urban hydrology ensemble water forecasting services groundwater interaction Impact hydrology in the Bureau of Meteorology Professor John Langford: River »» Hydroclimatology and change »» Characterisation of surface water Dr Murray Peel: Hydroclimate basin management and reliability »» International leadership in research »» Water availability and water and groundwater responses to and change of city supply and practice of ensemble demand forecasting climate during the Millennium Dr Wenyan Wu: Hydroclimate Professor Hector Malano: hydrological forecasting through Drought for managing climate risk, and water resource optimisation Irrigation and water resources »» Flood and drought risk assessment, the HEPEX research community funded by the Victorian Department monitoring and forecasting Dr Justin Costello: Catchment Professor Erik Weyer: Modelling of Environment, Land, Water and »» Development of a joint course with hydrology and groundwater- and control of water resource »» Catchment water quality Planning China’s leading university, Tsinghua surface interactions systems, system identification »» Water resources systems analysis University, on international river »» Development of HydroSight, Dr Avril Horne: Water policy and signal processing basin management »» Land-atmosphere interaction a powerful new approach to and management Professor Michael Cantoni: »» The Vasey Laboratory with a wide understanding long-term Dr Tim Peterson: Geostatistics, Automation of water distribution range of field equipment groundwater dynamics, adopted hydrogeology, hydrological networks, control and signal resilience processing

6 The University of Melbourne Partnerships and collaborations “Understanding future water demand scenarios is critical to our business planning Australian research institutions Australian government and industry here in Lower Murray Water. We engaged the engineering professors in the Water, CSIRO Bureau of Meteorology Environment and Agriculture Program at Melbourne School of Engineering to develop University of New South Wales Department of Environment, Land, Water that understanding. We were most impressed by their expert investigation and University of Tasmania and Planning, Victoria modelling and their delivery of the project outputs in a highly professional manner.” Rubicon Water James Cook University Andrew Kremor, Executive Manager Melbourne Water Lower Murray Water International research institutions Murray-Darling Basin Authority Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Tsinghua University, China Queensland National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Department of Environment, Water and Research, New Zealand Natural Resources, South Australia National Oceanic and Atmospheric Environment Protection Authority, Victoria Administration, USA City West Water University of Saskatchewan, Canada Yarra Valley Water South East Water Goulburn-Murray Water Lower Murray Water Southern Rural Water Australian Water Partnership

Data collected and image created by Dr Tim Peterson

Melbourne School of Engineering 7 ENVIRONMENTAL WATER Optimising environmental outcomes

Research Leader Research overview Dr Angus Webb Theme Leader Dr Angus Webb Australia leads the world in environmental water management; other nations are looking to Australian providers for insights into their own emerging flow programs. Flow-ecology modelling, monitoring and evaluation, The University of Melbourne is at the forefront of this work with research and industry projects across the spectrum of environmental evidence based practice, water management issues. network ecology The University has experience in the policy, practice and science of environmental water, as we work with the leading environmental Researchers water management agencies to provide tools for planning water delivery and to evaluate environmental outcomes. Our focus is on Professor Michael Stewardson: continual improvement of environmental water decisions by strengthening the quality of available information to support Ecohydraulics, environmental hydrology and evidence-based decisions. water resources Dr Marco Ghisalberti: Fluid dynamics, ecohydraulics Capabilities »» Developing hyporheic processes in flowing water environments Professor Andrew Western: Hydrology »» Monitoring, evaluating and developing : Water policy, optimisation, adaptive management strategies to »» Facilitating research through the Sexton Dr Avril Horne water resource modelling optimise environmental water outcomes Ecohydraulics Laboratory facilities Dr Simranjit Kaur: Optimization »» Developing ecohydraulics – the physical Impact effects of water on ecological responses Dr Danlu Guo: Statistical modelling »» Leadership of basin-scale hydrology »» Modelling ecological responses to Associate Professor Ian Rutherfurd: Fluvial and Goulburn River programs in the changing flow regimes geomorphology, water management Commonwealth Environmental Water (Geography) »» Optimising decision-making in Office Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Dr James Grove: Fluvial geomorphology, environmental water management Project (2014-2019) remote sensing (Geography) »» Modelling physical habitats in flowing »» Development of the seasonal Professor Barbara Downes: Stream ecology water environments environmental water decision system (Geography) »» Evaluating fluid dynamics of near-shore (SEWDS) for active management of Associate Professor Vincent Pettigrove: marine environments environmental water entitlements Stream ecology, ecotoxicology (CAPIM) »» Using literature to improve evidence-based Dr Kallie Townsend: Stream ecology, environmental management ecotoxicology (CAPIM) Dr John Morrongiello: Fish ecology (Biosciences)

* CAPIM: Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and 8 The University of Melbourne Management Partnerships and collaborations

Australian research institutions Australian government and industry CSIRO Commonwealth Environmental Water Office University of Canberra Victorian Environmental Water Holder University of Western Australia Department of Environment, Land, Water Monash University and Planning, Victoria Charles Sturt University Melbourne Water Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre Murray-Darling Basin Authority Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Research Authority Goulburn-Murray Water International research institutions Lower Murray Water Center for Ecology and Hydrology, UK Sydney Water Institut national de recherché en sciences et technologies pour l’environnement et l’agriculture (IRSTEA), France Environment Protection Agency, USA Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, USA United States Geological Survey, USA An estuary in WA with image created by the Geoscience Australia. The Nature Conservancy, worldwide

“Continuously improving the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental water delivery is a requirement of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The Lower Goulburn River Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Project, led by the Water, Environment and Agriculture Program at the University of Melbourne, is providing not only the data and understanding, but also the effective science-management partnerships, necessary to adaptively improve water delivery in the Goulburn River year on year. We have been impressed with their level of professionalism, scientific expertise and commitment to improving outcomes from environmental water in the region.” Paul Marsh, Director, Aquatic Ecosystems & Science, COMMONWEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL WATER OFFICE

Melbourne School of Engineering 9 urban WATER INFRASTRUCTURE Effective, efficient infrastructure

Research overview Theme Leader Dr Anthony Stickland Our unique combination of skills in separations science and engineering, integrated urban water infrastructure modelling and control, and water quality modelling, gives us comprehensive, world-leading capabilities in urban water and infrastructure management. In Solid-liquid separation, processing, we are able to combine fundamental knowledge of particles, membranes and biological digestion with unique rheological suspension rheology and solid-liquid separation characterisation and modelling tools to influence water purification and wastewater treatment systems. We have strong capability in modelling and optimising centralised-decentralised water systems and their impact on energy use, Theme Leader greenhouse gas (GHG) production, existing infrastructure and cost for various climate change and population scenarios. A comprehensive Dr Meenakshi Arora team of researchers is focused on contaminant transport and the fate of contaminants in rivers and subsurface water systems, as well as Urban water cycle modelling, remediation of contaminated land and groundwater. contaminant fate and transport Our group also has broad expertise in the use of polymeric membranes for water treatment applications. We have small-scale testing platforms for all relevant membrane processes used in water and wastewater treatment. Our focus is on the experimental characterisation Researchers of membrane processes and the development of mathematical models to describe them. Professor Peter Scales: Solid-liquid separation of particulate suspensions, Capabilities »» Impact of bacterial growth on water drinking quality water at the Australian water and wastewater processing, direct infrastructure. »» Solid-liquid separation of particulate Antarctic Division’s Davis Station potable recycle suspensions Impact »» Demonstrating that contaminated sites in Professor Sandra Kentish: Carbon capture »» Chemical removal from contaminated Antarctica can be effectively and and storage, membrane and alternative salt »» Co-leadership of CSIRO’s Water for a Healthy water supplies economically remediated in situ using a low removal technology Country Flagship program to understand cost bioremediation technology with low »» Water and wastewater sludge handling Dr Kathryn Mumford: Separation processes the impact of fouling upon water treatment risk of adverse environmental impacts »» Modelling centralised-decentralised processes and provide direction to plant and contaminated soil remediation systems and their interactions operators to ensure maximum productivity »» Optimisation of Melbourne Water’s sludge Professor Tim Fletcher: Surface hydrology, handling to dramatically reduce the costs storm water management (Ecosystem and »» Demand forecasting, water-energy- »» Patenting a novel chlorine-resistant of drying pans for sludge evaporation Forest Sciences) greenhouse gas nexus membrane, allowing desalination processes »» Contaminant, transport and remediation to operate without biological contamination »» Optimised performance of hybrid Professor Vincent Pettigrove: Aquatic centralised-decentralised water systems ecology and pollution management »» Stream water quality modelling »» Development of an electrodialysis process and understanding the water-energy nexus (BioSciences) »» Microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, for the dairy industry to clean up acid whey for Yarra Valley Water reverse osmosis streams Professor Spas Kolev: membrane »» Design and commissioning of a low-cost development, environmental monitoring and »» Forward osmosis, membrane distillation, »» Development of an advanced water drinking water treatment plant in the rural phytoremediation (Chemistry) electrodialysis, electrophoresis treatment plant capable of producing community of Rajasthan, India Professor Hector Malano: Systems Modelling, Sustainable Water Resources Management 10 The University of Melbourne Partnerships and collaborations Australian research institutions University of California, Irvine, USA CSIRO University of Texas at Austin, USA Water Research Australia Australian government and industry University of Western Australia Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Monash University Victorian Environmental Water Holder Charles Sturt University Department of Environment, Land, Water University of Queensland and Planning, Victoria RMIT University Australian Antarctic Division Victoria University Melbourne Water Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre Yarra Valley Water Arthur Rylah Institute City West Water Australia-China Joint Research Centre on River Basin Management South-East Water Australia-China Joint Research Centre on Barwon Water Healthy Soils for Sustainable Food Production Western Water & Environmental Quality Goulburn-Murray Water Lower Murray Water International research institutions SA Water International Water Association Sydney Water Auckland University, New Zealand Seqwater Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Water Corporation Indian Institutes of Technology, India Water Secure Meiji University, Japan AECOM Engineering The Australia-Indonesia Centre, Indonesia Rio Tinto Tsinghua University, China Visy Cambridge University, UK MBD Energy Cranfield University, UK Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany International Industry TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany United Utilities, UK Institut national de la recherche scientifique Yorkshire Water, UK University of Melbourne staff working in the field in Australian base in Antarctica to improve drinking water quality and remediate contaminations sites. (INRS), Canada Aqseptence Group, Italy Melbourne School of Engineering 11 The University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is one of the largest and most productive research organisations in Australia. With research expenditure second only to CSIRO, the University of Melbourne carries out fundamental and applied research. It has the largest cohort of research students in Australia. Based in Parkville for more than 150 years, the university has attracted a concentration of research excellence.

Best research university Highest ranking in Australia with: university in Australia »» Most highly cited researchers Ranked number one in Australia in (HiCis) – 17 prestigious competitive rankings: »» Most PhDs completed – 739 in 2016 New Fisherman’s Bend engineering campus »» Times Higher Education World The University of Melbourne is building a new, seven-hectare campus at Fishermans Bend »» Largest research expenditure University (33rd globally) as part of its almost $1 billion commitment to create a world-class engineering school for »» 4500 research publications a year »» Academic Rankings of World the 21st century. Universities from Shanghai Jiao »» Most competitive funding awarded The new campus – just five kilometres from the city and within the old General Motors Holden Tong University (40th globally) – combined Australian Research site – is set to open in the early 2020s and will be the centrepiece of Australia’s leading precinct Council (ARC) and National Health »» QS World University Rankings for advanced manufacturing, design, engineering and technology excellence. and Medical Research Council (42nd globally). The new campus will allow the University to build large-scale research platform facilities that (NHMRC) the Parkville campus cannot accommodate. This will include wind and water tunnels, smart grid technologies, autonomous vehicle testing and pre-fabricated housing manufacturing. Initially, the new campus will enable 1,000 engineering and IT students and academics to collaborate with world-leading local and international companies across industrial sectors as diverse as transport, energy, food, mining, infrastructure and water.

12 The University of Melbourne Message from the Dean of The Melbourne School of Engineering

The Melbourne School of Engineering (MSE) is undertaking a bold 10-year strategy to transform the future of engineering and IT at the University of Melbourne: ‘MSE 2025’.

The university is making major investments in Engagement is the key to our success. We MSE for new staff, infrastructure and facilities, are connecting our learning and research including a second campus at Fisherman’s with industry, government and communities Bend, with new space for our facilities. Our to increase the impact and relevance of staff and students will grow in number and engineering and IT. diversity. The Water, Environment and Agriculture Our research is reshaping around new Program teams are multi-disciplinary, drawing innovation platforms that include water, on theory and expertise from non-engineering agricultural technology and the environment. fields. This improves the functionality and Water plays a fundamental role in human rigour of our research and solutions. health, food security, energy security, national Our research provides scientific excellence security and economic growth. Our research in world-class facilities and is supported by is focused on highly innovative solutions, collaborations with international partners implemented with maximum impact, to engaged in leading research. We welcome create a sustainable water future for your interest and look forward to Redmond Barry Distinguished Australia, and worldwide. collaborations in the future. Professor Iven Mareels FTSE FIEEE FIEAust Dean

Melbourne School of Engineering 13 Australian systems research at its best: research excellence for real uses

At the University of Melbourne, we use our research excellence to find solutions to your challenges. We listen to our research partners and understand your issues. We find the best minds and infrastructure to form a team that can develop and implement solutions. This team may be multidisciplinary and may include researchers from other universities with important skills. It’s about finding the right team to answer your immediate and long-term needs.

Understand the technological challenge Investigate possible solutions Test and validate

Work with end-user Collaborate with multidisciplinary researchers Test and validate using our infrastructure

14 The University of Melbourne How to engage us

Consulting and technology strategy Research projects Professional training and student »» Research, systems engineering and technology »» Contracted but collaborative – we work side-by-side projects and placements development with your engineers and scientists to develop »» Short courses delivered in partnership with industry solutions to your challenges »» Survey and assess emerging technologies »» Courses customised to your business needs »» We can provide either individuals but ideally teams »» Sharing of research facilities of researchers to solve your multidisciplinary »» International audiences needs are catered for »» Technology evaluation technology challenges »» Graduate student interns – working on your »» Societal, legal and technology implications problems of government policy »» PhD student interns in your company »» Postdoctoral researcher placement in your organisation for 1-3 years

Melbourne School of Engineering 15 Research for industry and government The University of Melbourne aims to partner with industry and government to solve today’s challenges and develop new technologies for tomorrow.

For information on how to engage our researchers, form teams with us and other universities, and access high-quality students, please contact: Program Leader Professor Michael Stewardson P +61 3 8344 7750 E [email protected] Visit our website: industry.eng.unimelb.edu.au/water

For information on courses for water industry professionals, please contact: Program Coordinator Claudine Evans P+61 3 9035 6419 E [email protected]

16 The University of Melbourne