Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem (GDE) analysis using remote imagery

Hydrobiology has been conducting multi-spectral imagery analysis to implement a range of recently developed tools available in the literature to mining projects across Australia and internationally. This has included assessing the rate of change of groundwater use indicators across the dry season, such as vegetation health (NDVI), landscape “wetness” (NDWI), actual Evapotranspiration (WIRADA/CMRSET data), groundwater…

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Samarco’s Fundão Dam failure

Hydrobiology experts have been providing on-ground support to BHP on a regular basis since dam failure in late 2015. This has involved impact characterisation related to: aquatic ecology, marine and fresh water quality, and geomorphology. Support has involved regular site visits as well as remote data analysis in Australia. In conjunction with Brazilian scientists, Hydrobiology has…

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The Malolo in action

Hydrobiology staff have recently been implementing a monthly marine monitoring program for ERM and Qantas on Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River. Our new commercial vessel, the Malolo (“relax” in Tok-Pisin), performed well providing a very smooth ride. While conditions were often glassy, it was not always smooth sailing!

DGT research at Hydrobiology

Hydrobiology is conducting a research project “Using an eco-toxicological approach to validate the Diffusion Gradients in Thin Film technique (DGT) for the measurement of bioavailable metal concentrations and applied to address the ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) framework test for bioavailable metal concentrations”. The research team has considerable experience in DGT technique, ecotoxicology, mine water chemistry,…

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Assessing Brisbane’s waterways

Hydrobiology ecologists have teamed up with engineers from Engeny Water Management to assess the condition of Brisbane’s waterways. The project was undertaken for Brisbane City Council and involved walking and canoeing the vast majority of our beautiful waterways to make visual assessments of the natural habitats for plants and animals and locate any bed or…

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Hydrobiology in Vietnam

Hydrobiology’s Ross Smith and Trang Huynh recently had a very busy and productive trip to Vietnam, attending two different conferences and taking part in several meeting with government and industry representatives. They first attended the 3rd International Conference on Environmental Pollution, Recovery and Management in Quy Nhon to discuss pollution management. The conference, attended by…

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Ross appears on Lateline

Ross Smith appeared on a Lateline report last Thursday (6/4/17) on fracking in the Northern Territory. The NT Government has established an independent inquiry in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Territory, which currently faces a moratorium. The independent inquiry is investigating the environmental, social and economic risks and impacts of fracking and is overseen…

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Amazing lakes

Hydrobiology has had the privilege to study some of the worlds most interesting and significant lakes over the years. Ranging from the almost 600m deep Lake Matano in Sulawesi (Indonesia) to the barely there Lake Disappointment in central Western Australia. We saw just how productive a lake can be as massive hauls of Tilapia were…

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Philippines Trade Mission

Hydrobiology’s Simon Drummond will be part of Australia’s export trade mission to Manila next week, 20th – 24th March. We will be exploring business opportunities with several current and potential clients, as well as meeting with DENR and several mining operations. Next week Manila also hosts the Asian Development Banks annual consultants trade fair, where we…

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