When it comes to corals, the first image most people think of is something like the Great Barrier Reef. They think of big, colourful, rocky structures in warm tropical waters, teeming with all kinds of life. The hard corals that build these structures might be the most famous, but they’re not the only important coral
Coastal wetlands form a crucial connection between the land and sea. They provide protection from erosion, habitat for important fisheries species, and store large amounts of carbon. While mangroves might be the most well-known type of wetlands, other elements of these ecosystems are just as important for broader ecosystem health. Salt marshes are one important
People often ask me what inspired me to create GeoNadir. To be honest, first and foremost it was selfish intention to make my life easier. Since 2013 I have amassed a huge amount of drone mapping data, and I’ve always had the problem of how to store, process, and share it in a simple workflow.
Ecosystem restoration is a key element of repairing damage to the planet and working towards a sustainable future. In theory, ecosystem restoration is simple. You simply regrow damaged or lost habitat. Saying this and doing it however, are two very different things. Ecosystem restoration is still a very new, often poorly understood science. It is
Mangrove conservation is a pressing global concern. These habitats are highly productive ecosystems that offer many environmental services. Mangrove forests store nearly 10 times more carbon per hectare compared to terrestrial forests, playing an important role in the fight against climate change! They also safeguard the coastlines of tropical and subtropical regions, home to nearly
The old saying “a stitch in time saves nine” is pretty apt for environmental monitoring and management. The sooner that we can spot a problem in the environment, the smaller it usually is and the easier it is to fix. When a problem goes unnoticed for a while, it can quickly snowball and become very
Drones and their data processing software continue to evolve. As they do, we discover new ways to collect and process data. As the storyteller for GeoNadir, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to lots of amazing people who work with drones. This week, I spoke to Dr Jeff Gillan from the University of Arizona. He’s
If you’re a farmer in Western Australia, dryland salinity is an old enemy. It takes productive pastures and croplands and turns them into barren, salty fields. In southwest WA, dryland salinity has caused the loss of over 1 million hectares of productive agricultural land. A further 2.8 to 4.5 million hectares of productive land is at risk
Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons (or ICOLLs for short) are a common ecosystem near many coastal towns. But despite being on many people’s back doorstep, local communities often misunderstand them. This makes managing these systems tricky, especially when what the environment needs isn’t what the community wants. Stories from Above is about learning
It’s not news that glaciers are retreating globally. In recent years, the steady retreat of glaciers has been one of our most visible indicators of climate change. Between 1994 and 2017, 6.1 trillion tonnes of ice was lost from the world’s glaciers. But understanding the relationship between climate change and glaciers isn’t as simple as
The flooding in south-east Queensland and northern NSW has been some of the worst in decades for many regions. As the weather system responsible moves south, clean-up and damage assessment begins in QLD. New South Wales is bracing for more heavy rainfall. Australia is no stranger to flooding. Most of our towns and cities
Like most Australians, you probably haven’t given much thought to oyster reefs, except when you’re ordering a yummy entree for your night out, or watching out for their sharp shells on your beach trip. But for many of the coastal towns of NSW, oysters are an important source of income and heritage. The sheltered waters
Mother Earth’s Paparazzi is a term used to describe drone enthusiasts who capture images of mother earth to help protect at-risk ecosystems. Over the past seven years, I have captured tens of thousands of beautiful drone images. But I don’t consider myself a skilled photographer – I’m simply lucky that my subject is stunning! And
Sea Cucumbers have threatened species and it’s critical we create the largest population map of their habitats. The first time I flew my drone on Heron Reef about five years ago I was blown away by what I would now be able to map and monitor. I was looking for live coral and I certainly
Earth observation data reveals valuable information that you should know. In the wake of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (#COP26) there’s even more than usual climate related information hitting the headlines. And this just landed from Professor Peter Macreadie and team from Deakin University (and others), reminding us to consider the role of blue carbon ecosystems (e.g. mangroves,
Using drone images of clam reef, we estimate the amount of live tissue & model their contribution to the calcium carbonate of the reef. I have to confess that I absolutely LOVE clam chowder. I remember when I was first introduced to it at Phil’s Fish Market and Eatery in Moss Landing, California >20 years
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