Research impact tag: Environment - Research Impact at UWA

Restoring the land by slaying weeds and flaming seeds

August 4, 2025/in 40 - Engineering, Economy, Engineering, Computing & Mathematics, Environment, Public policy, Stories /by Rosanna Marchesani

Associate Professor Andrew Guzzomi and his team at UWA’s Centre for Engineering Innovation develop innovative technologies to meet the challenges of restoring land and improving agriculture sustainability. Their comprehensive ecotech systems can effectively establish native plants, providing regulators and companies with greater confidence in the ecological restoration of these areas. In agricultural farming regions, the team’s mechanical weeding technologies combat herbicide resistant weeds with precision. Their solutions will deliver significant benefits for the environment and the economy, helping to grow food with less chemical exposure.

Recharging Perth’s water supply

October 17, 2024/in 41- Environmental Sciences, Environment, Public policy, Science, Stories /by Rosanna Marchesani

Water is a precious commodity in Western Australia and whilst desalination is important, groundwater continues to be a critical resource for Perth city.

A team from UWA are working with government to implement new systems to accurately measure how much water is entering Perth’s aquifers. As the climate continues to heat and dry, there is information that these so-called “recharge” fluxes are dropping too.

The team are advocating that future water supplies for Perth should include aquifer replenishment and use of treated wastewater, to rehydrate and support the biodiversity of urban ecosystems.

Side by side: offloading LNG on the open seas

December 14, 2017/in Engineering, Computing & Mathematics, Stories /by Scott Mitchell

A new and innovative technology; Shell’s Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility is being deployed to meet increasing global energy demands.

However, deploying in deep water far away from sheltered areas, offloading LNG offshore presents new technical challenges.

Researchers at UWA work closely with Shell to meet challenges associated with reliable offloading of LNG; a critical component for the successful implementation of the technology.

Drop by drop

July 19, 2017/in Engineering, Computing & Mathematics, Stories /by Scott Mitchell

Water is a key driver for all our activities; transporting life giving solutions into the environment and into our bodies. It plays a critical role in making our cities and towns more liveable and our industries viable. Staggeringly, we have access to only 3% of the world’s total water. Of that, 1% falls in the wrong place, 1% falls at the wrong time and only the remaining 1% is accessible for use. By using a multidisciplinary approach, Professor Anas Ghadouani and his team have been dedicated to helping communities close the loop on the water cycle at a local level.

Understanding and predicting ocean weather

February 10, 2017/in Engineering, Computing & Mathematics, Stories /by Scott Mitchell

Our planet experiences a range of natural disasters that can cause loss of life and displacement of communities. By using the latest technology and modelling to understand and predict ocean weather, this team have been able to help global communities.

Seeds of Life

October 20, 2016/in Science, Stories /by Scott Mitchell

Food security in Timor-Leste became a major issue following its independence in 2002. Having poor farming practices and increasing concerns over food security, by 2015 Timor-Leste was ranked fourth on the Global Hunger Index. During the hungry season which spans 3 – 4 months per year, farmers and their families experience severe food shortages, poverty and chronic hunger, leading to malnutrition and stunted growth in children. The UWA Seeds of Life program has impacted the lives of East Timorese by reducing the hungry season and improving food and nutrition.

A Healthy House Tracker

June 14, 2016/in Architecture, Landscape & Visual Arts, Engineering, Computing & Mathematics, Stories /by Scott Mitchell

We can’t ignore the effects of climate change on how we live or our ever growing use of resources such as electricity and water. As consumers we look to be more environmentally conscious, but what about our houses and offices – are they running efficiently? This research team are creating innovation in the building design process and better management of resources such as gas, wind and solar power, water and electricity for building owners. Using existing smart and augmented reality technology as well as the concepts of sustainable living, this research could save consumers around 30% of the lifecycle cost of the building.

Murujuga: Dynamics of the Dreaming

June 1, 2016/in Arts, Indigenous, Stories /by Scott Mitchell

This team from UWA are exploring the Dampier Archipelago (Murujuga). What they have uncovered so far is astounding, and pushes back the known occupation of this place to before the Last Ice Age. It also contains an estimated one million engraved motifs of great scientific and cultural significance, an important part of understanding the human journey in Australia’s north-west. The Dampier Archipelago (Murujuga) is a National Heritage Listed place, contains heavy industry and is the traditional home of several Aboriginal groups.

Barrow Island Archaeology Project: a deep history

April 15, 2016/in Arts, Indigenous, Stories /by Scott Mitchell

Led by Peter Veth, Professor of Archaeology, the UWA team (the first to be granted permission to conduct a long-term heritage research project on Barrow Island) set out to establish how Australia was settled by Aboriginal people and what life was like. Celebrated amongst their findings was some of the earliest evidence of Aboriginal occupation of Australia (dating to approximately 50,000 years ago) anunique climatic records of Northern Australia and the discovery of some of the earliest human use of maritime resources east of Wallacea.