NEWSLETTER OF THE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE FOR CATCHMENT HYDROLOGY CATCHWORD N0 129 JULY 2004 A NOTE FROM THE EWATER CRC – ENTERPRISE, ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION THE DIRECTOR Improved management of water to support a vibrant • support industry partners and researchers to jointly economy and a quality environment is front and center apply eWater products in real-world management Rodger Grayson on the national stage. The National Water Initiative is situations; and taking shape and States are developing detailed plans • build broad customer and public trust in eWater for smarter water use such as Victoria’s “Our water our goods and services through professional marketing future” released recently. Against this background, new and strong corporate citizenship. criteria for CRC bids were announced late last year that place a strong emphasis on economic and commercial Central to the eWater CRC is a portfolio of “products” - benefits, moving away from “public good” as a primary practical tools for use by land and water managers and justification for CRCs. The eWater CRC has been those in water dependent industries. These are designed developed to meet these challenges. It is both to increase operational efficiency for water and Inside... evolutionary and revolutionary. Evolutionary in the way catchment authorities, river and groundwater managers, Program Roundup it builds on the solid foundations of two highly successful and allow governments, corporations and private companies to deliver water quantity, quality and • Updates on research CRCs and revolutionary by addressing, with a strong projects 3-14 commercial focus, the complete water cycle environmental outcomes at reduced costs. These management across urban and rural catchments. “products” are the logical extension of our catchment • Communication and modelling toolkit and other knowledge outputs, but are Adoption Program 15 As Rob Vertessy mentioned in the March 2004 issue of much more ambitious and far reaching in scope. The Catchword, the eWater CRC bid is being developed by Postgraduates and their general needs of these products were identified by Projects the Interim Partners Committee, chaired by Don industry partners earlier in the year and have been Greg Summerell 16 Blackmore, with Gary Jones as interim CEO. Gary has developed through workshops with researchers into CRC Profile worked tirelessly over the last few months to bring “product plans”. There are five initial core products Graham Hawke 17 together an unprecedented partner alliance of private proposed, built around the broad notion of “toolkits”, sector water retailers, public sector water & environment Where are they now? including not only software, but also integrated data Muthu Muthukumaran 19 managers, urban & catchment management authorities, bases, guidelines etc: and major R&D providers across eastern & southern Australia. The Stage 2 Business Case was submitted on A. River operations and management 2 July, one of thirty-three that were invited to submit B. Urban water systems Stage 2 cases following initial submissions in March this C. Water and pollutant accounting year. Final announcements of successful bids are expected in late November or December this year. D. River restoration and environmental infrastructure The eWater CRC’s mission is to: E. Integrated monitoring and assessment systems • produce a high value, market-focussed product Nine research programs have been developed to deliver portfolio that is founded on world’s best practice in the core models and knowledge outputs to assemble the collaborative environmental, engineering and socio- products, analyse emerging areas of risk for successful economic water research; use of these products in the future, and develop the intellectual capital and innovation needed to respond to • establish public and private sector partnerships that new opportunities. The new challenges for the eWater strengthen the placement of eWater goods and CRC mean new research partners, bringing their skills in services in target national and international markets; risk, uncertainty, multi-criteria optimisation, socio- • seek new partnerships with small to medium sized economic analysis and groundwater/surface water enterprises that lead to product innovation and interactions. These skills add to the formidable capacity commercial success; across the existing CRCs. • establish an external revenue stream to fund the long- The nine research programs are: term development and after-sales service of eWater 1. Systems integration and prediction products; 2. Software development and product design JULY 2004 CATCHWORD NEWSLETTER OF THE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE FOR CATCHMENT HYDROLOGY CRC PUBLICATIONS 3. Risk, uncertainty and optimisation This is a model that has been road-tested in our CRC, LIST 4. Urban design and processes where an “integration blueprint” guides the structure 5. Socio-economic evaluation and compatibility of all programs and projects. The same approach to integration will be adopted by the An updated list of CRC publication is 6. Biological response to physical and chemical drivers eWater CRC. included with this issue of and management Catchword. Additional printed copies 7. Monitoring systems and technologies Figure 1 shows the broad structure of the eWater CRC. are available from the Centre Office. 8. Impact of climate variability and extreme events Commercialisation and adoption of eWater products For a complete list of all available 9. Hydrological and ecological connectivity are the key outputs. The product portfolio is developed CRC publications please visit by industry-led teams including key researchers. An Programs 1 and 2 will provide over-arching guidance www.catchment.crc.org.au/ “integration blueprint” approach is used to direct the for integration and development across the research and catchword appropriate research to underpin the products. product portfolios. The product development team leaders will also play a key role in research planning The eWater CRC is an exciting prospect and should be and integration (see Figure 1). Program 1 focuses on ideally placed to play a major role in supporting the the conceptual aspects of integration while Program 2 Australia-wide push for smart use and management of will ensure integration and compatibility of the our finite water resources. We will face strong modelling technology. Programs 3 to 7 focus on competition for Commonwealth funding with fewer than providing the knowledge components and outputs fifty percent of the Stage 2 submissions expected to be required for product development and the underpinning funded. Still I believe our Stage 2 Business Case is science for Programs 1 and 2. Programs 3 and 7 are extremely strong and involves an outstanding group of “cross-cutting” in that there will be components of all committed industry and research partners. It is built on Programs related to risk, uncertainty, optimisation and a foundation of two CRCs with enviable track records in CRC CENTRE OFFICE socio-economic evaluation. Programs 8 and 9 are delivering practical outcomes for industry. CONTACT DETAILS foundation research programs which will elucidate and Congratulations to Gary Jones, his team, and the Interim quantify emerging risks for the successful application Partners Committee for the huge effort over the last and utility of products. They will also maintain and Visit at: couple of months. Thanks also to our Program Leaders, Room 156, First Floor, Building 60 build our underlying intellectual capital, and interact David Perry and John Molloy for their input to the Department of Civil Engineering with and inform all other programs. product plans and Business Case. We have the Monash University, Clayton As with our current CRC, the research programs and capacity to deliver major economic and environmental benefits to Australia at a time when water issues are Send mail to: projects will be developed to directly underpin product CRC for Catchment Hydrology development. It is expected that researchers will work high on the national agenda. Let us hope that the Department of Civil Engineering across several programs, encouraging the Commonwealth agree! Building 60 multidisciplinary approaches and integrative thinking Monash University, Victoria, 3800 Rodger Grayson that will be vital to meeting industry needs. We have Tel: (03) 9905 1969 developed a detailed planning matrix linking product tel: 03 9905 2704 Email: [email protected] fax: 03 9905 5033 component requirements to research program outputs. email: [email protected] web: www.catchment.crc.org.au Integration Product Blueprint Portfolio Product A Program 4 Product B Program 7 Program3 Programs 1&2 Industry-led Programs Program 5 product Product C 8 and 9 Integration and development product design teams Program 6 Product D eWater Toolkit Product E Commercialisation & Adoption Research Programs Figure 1 [ 2 ] NEWSLETTER OF THE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE FOR CATCHMENT HYDROLOGY CATCHWORD JULY 2004 when to update. Behind the scenes a whole lot of things PROGRAM 1 Program Leader NEW SOFTWARE need to happen to make this all work seamlessly. Most VERSION PREDICTING GEOFF PODGER of this responsibility and hard work resides with Product CATCHMENT Managers. BEHAVIOUR Role of a Toolkit Product Manager Rainfall Runoff Library Each product in The CRC’s Catchment Modelling Toolkit (RRL) Report by Geoff Podger is assigned a Product Manager. The Product manager is responsible for: Induction of Toolkit products Version 1.0