Active projects - Queensland Water Modelling Network

QWMN External Engagement Program

The QWMN has initiated an External Engagement Program to help build the capacity of water modelling and user expertise in Queensland, facilitate engagement across the full range of actors in the Queensland water-modelling ecosystem, and stimulate innovation in all aspects of water modelling and use. A consortium, led by the International WaterCentre, is delivering a program of work that complements QWMN activities and investments to facilitate greater collaboration among water modellers, users and decision makers across Queensland, creating a community of water modelling excellence.

Critical review of climate change in Queensland water modelling

This project aims to assess Queensland’s current ability to incorporate climate variability and climate change projections in water models. Bringing together an experienced team of hydrologists, hydroclimate scientists, water quality scientists and practitioners, Alluvium Consulting Australia is delivering the project in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and University of Newcastle. Using the best available science, the project will provide a clear pathway to consistent, robust modelling approaches for assessing climate change in Queensland water models.

Grass fed beef cattle heifers in the dust

Prediction of daily rainfall and runoff peak rates to inform hillslope erosion prediction and improve water quality modelling

This project will provide data improvements and estimation techniques that might allow hillslope erosion predictions of the Paddock to Reef catchment modelling for Reef Plan (for grazing lands) to be more sensitive to cover and management improvements. Delivered by Griffith University, this project will include data products for predictions of runoff depth and the peak runoff rate, at time and spatial scales for improved P2R Catchment modelling for Reef Plan.

Stream bank erosion in the Great Barrier Reef catchments

This project will investigate the feasibility of applying alternative approaches to assess stream bank erosion rates in the Great Barrier Reef catchments. Alluvium is leading the project with support from Griffith University, Reef Catchments, Fitzroy Basin Association and Wildland Hydrology. Improving stream bank erosion rate prediction in Great Barrier Reef catchments would deliver a better understanding of the key drivers of water quality, informing targeted mitigation strategies to improve water quality in Queensland.

Supporting regional groundwater supply security assessments in Queensland

Groundwater is a common water supply source for many rural and urban communities within Queensland, with many towns either wholly or partly dependent on groundwater. However, evaluation of this resource is often difficult, making risk assessment and management challenging. Piloted in Monto and Biggenden but with potential statewide relevance, the project will deliver a shared understanding of the capability of a community’s water supply system to meet current and forecast future urban water demand, and the associated water supply security risks.

Visualisation of coupled economic and Queensland water quality models

This project will develop a cloud-based platform to couple water quality and economic models to assess natural resource management investment options for the Great Barrier Reef region. Truii Pty Ltd (in collaboration with the Office of the Great Barrier Reef) are developing this platform based on two existing custom tools: the Great Barrier Reef Foundation Reefonomics tool and the Seqwater Catchment Investment Decision Support System. The platform will use data management functionality to enable revision and updating of the latest available water quality and economic modelling data.

Model data portal to deliver catchment modelling data to end users

Successful modelling programs receive constant requests from end users for model results. These requests often require intensive processing. Truii Pty Ltd, in collaboration with the Office of the Great Barrier Reef, will develop a web-based model data portal to enable the delivery of catchment modelling results from the Paddock to Reef program. Data requesters will be able to create and record data queries which will generate data summaries for visualisation and download.

Addressing uncertainty in coupled water models using machine learning techniques

Linking models of varying complexity and scope can lead to uncertainties from each individual model, magnifying the uncertainty of final predictions. Data driven models and ensemble machine learning techniques can be used to improve predictions of water quality model outputs. BMT are leading this project in partnership with the University of Western Australia and Healthy Land and Water. The outcome is to develop capability hybridising process-based and data driven water models to improve predictions of model outputs in the context of a south-east Queensland catchment.

QWMN External Engagement Program

Critical review of climate change in Queensland water modelling

Prediction of daily rainfall and runoff peak rates to inform hillslope erosion prediction and improve water quality modelling

Stream bank erosion in the Great Barrier Reef catchments

Supporting regional groundwater supply security assessments in Queensland

Visualisation of coupled economic and Queensland water quality models

Model data portal to deliver catchment modelling data to end users

Addressing uncertainty in coupled water models using machine learning techniques

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