The Sunshine Coast is typically known for surf, sand, and, well, sunshine. However, the beautiful beachside region north of Brisbane is also on the verge of establishing itself as a frontrunner in geo-intelligence. And, it’s all thanks to an initiative led by the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). Backed by a grant of $199,800 from the Queensland Government’s Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects program, the Space to Sea Accelerator project aims to utilise cutting-edge technology to address global challenges.
About the project
Led by UniSC’s Innovation Centre, this project is set to harness a number of tools. Including satellites, submarine cables, ground-penetrating radar, and artificial intelligence. These tools will collect and analyse data from images and information linked to locations to tackle complex issues. Plus, with the Sunshine Coast currently housing three of Australia’s five UNESCO Biosphere Reserves – Great Sandy, Noosa, and Sunshine Coast (encompassing landscapes such as the world’s largest sand island, extensive coastlines, subtropical rainforests, and mountainous terrains) – it naturally offers a vibrant setting for this study.
According to Jasmine Vreugdenburg, Director of the Innovation Centre, “Our goal is to explore solutions through intelligence. This could mean monitoring the growth of the Sunshine Coast’s population. Or, managing its impact on transportation, environmental conservation, and urban planning,” she elaborated. “Additionally, we aim to monitor changes in weather patterns and improve preparedness for weather occurrences.”
Tools and technologies
Vreugdenburg stressed the significance of this initiative for these areas. “Utilising sensing and geospatial intelligence from space to sea offers a chance to implement solutions that promote sustainability in these renowned regions,” she said. “Given their susceptibility to issues like climate change, this project serves as an effort to enhance disaster readiness. As well as improve management practices, and resilience.”
The initiative will leverage technologies such as imaging used by space satellites, ground-penetrating radar, fibre-optic distributed acoustic sensing, remote sensing with lasers, drones, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. This will provide precision in data collection and imaging from both urban developments and natural surroundings. By combining top-tier research expertise with industry insights, the Space to Sea Accelerator project aims to address the increasing need for real-time geospatial intelligence.
Find out more
The project will make use of the infrastructure available on the Sunshine Coast. This includes the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Network and the NEXTDC Sunshine Coast Data Centre (SC1). Which provide high-speed data and telecommunication connections to Asia and the United States. These facilities are crucial for ensuring the success of the project.
To learn more about the Space to Sea Accelerator project reach out to the Innovation Centre at innovation@usc.edu.au.
