Advanced data system

The AquaWatch system collects extensive data from both water quality sensors and Earth observation satellites. Advanced data analytics is essential to transform the raw data into actionable insights, facilitating informed decisions from water management to preparedness for climate change impacts.

AquaWatch uses CSIRO’s Earth Analytics Science and Innovation (EASI) platform to aggregate and analyse water quality data. By integrating environmental modelling and artificial intelligence (AI), we can develop forecasts to better anticipate future conditions.

This new high-performance platform enables us to “turbo-charge” the capacity to process and integrate large amounts of data. The flexibility of the EASI platform allows customisation to meet the needs of specific end users of the AquaWatch data system. The adaptability enables AquaWatch to deliver a diverse range of data services tailored to specific requirements and applications.

Currently, CSIRO is operationalising AquaWatch deployments of EASI for the national pilot sites and is in the process of testing for international sites.

Early warning system

AquaWatch’s water-based sensors serve as an early warning system for potential hazards such as toxic algal blooms, blackwater incidents, and contamination from runoff. For example, water quality alerts generated by the AquaWatch system enable environmental managers to rapidly intervene, minimising the impact on both aquatic ecosystems and human health. In situations such as bushfire aftermath or floods, water‑based sensors help assess water quality recovery.

AquaWatch utilises cutting-edge technology such as petabyte-scale multi-sensor data assimilation, cloud‑computing and advanced visualisation techniques to enhance the effectiveness of its monitoring and alert system.