Large scale optimisation of the numbers and locations of meters and monitoring devices, including modelling the multiple objectives of system deployment cost and resolution of data collected, is required for effective system design and operation.

OPTIMA CIs: Assoc. Professor Guido Tack

Associates: Dr Mario Boley

PhD candidate: starting soon

Multi-objective optimisation of environmental outcomes in urban water systems

This project forms part of a broader research program with The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water that aims to test advances in real-time control technology (RTC) to control a network of small- and large-scale rainwater and stormwater storage. The aim is to simultaneously deliver water supply, flood protection, and delivery of flow regimes into waterways that match the ecological requirements of important aquatic species, such as the platypus.

OPTIMA CIs: Professor Kate Smith-Miles

Associates: Professor Tim Fletcher, Dr Mathew Burns

PhD Candidate: Shiraz (Yi) Zhen

Waterways long-term ambient WQ monitoring network

This project forms part of a broader research program with The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Water that aims to interrogate and optimise the waterways long-term water quality monitoring network. The aim is to identify key physicochemical water quality parameters that best predict stream conditions to allow for targeting of sampling effort and identification of key catchment characteristics linked to water quality and stream values.

OPTIMA CIs: Professor Kate Smith-Miles

Associates: Professor Tim Fletcher

PhD Candidate: Vaughn Gray

Measuring The Birrarung: Data Fusion and Optimisation

The aim of this project is to first build a data fusion solution from existing available data sources about the Birrarung to gain a more global understanding of its state. Using this knowledge the student will investigate questions such as:

• Where does geographical lack of data about the Birrarung make it hard to estimate its state?
• How can we best supplement lack of data: by citizen science, new instrumentation, or modelling methods such as kriging; to gain a fuller understanding of the river state?
• How can we effectively measure the effect of interventions in terms of improving overall river health / water quality to increase the swimmability corridor along the river length?
• How should we plan interventions to maximise the improvement of the river’s swimmability given limited resources?

OPTIMA CIs: Professor Peter Stuckey

Associates: Dr Paul Satur

PhD Candidate: Leilah Taouk