Many business areas across the new Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) are engaging in a growing community utilising remotely sensed data and modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to support their analysis and decision making.
DCCEEW and DAFF have established interdepartmental Communities of Practice (CoPs) to embrace new ways of working and to develop, integrate and apply world class science, technology, data and digital capabilities to continually improve how we serve our stakeholders. The aim of these CoPs is to increase cross-cutting science, information and research activity, and build capability of staff to undertake operational science.
The CoPs bring together the different areas of agriculture, biosecurity, environment, heritage and water, as well as our portfolio agencies Murray Darling Basin Authority, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Bureau of Meteorology. They are driven by the department’s agenda for science and innovation and promote the need to connect, collaborate and create more together.
Drones CoP
The purpose of the Drones CoP is to provide a forum to facilitate drone use and to connect people across the departments and the portfolio agencies (Murray Darling Basin Authority and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority) with a focus on delivering coordinated and strategic advice and decisions for the use of drones to meet science and other business objectives. The Drone CoP also provides a means to link with other CoPs (e.g. AI and Remote Sensing CoPs) to leverage our collective knowledge and experience in areas of common interest.
There are several supporting working groups and the drone pilot meeting that underpin the science and innovation being undertaken by the broader Drones CoP that are documented under the Terms of Reference:
- Drones and Animals– Key objective is to develop and maintain a best practice protocol for key wildlife/animal groups for use by DCCEEW and DAFF drone operators and contracted operations and provide advice on animal ethics submissions where drones will be used.
- Beyond Visual Line of Sight and Autonomous Drones - Key objective is to develop and maintain best practice as DCCEEW and DAFF drone operators expand into Extended Visual Line Of Sight (EVLOS) and Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
- Drone Pilots Meeting – Key objectives are to develop operations fit for our work, maintain regulatory compliance and identify and coordinate training opportunities
The Drones CoP and working groups enable knowledge sharing and the rapid dissemination of best practice operations across DCCEEW, DAFF, portfolio agencies and the wider APS.
Drone CoP chair: Renee Bartolo crp@awe.gov.au
Artificial Intelligence CoP
The purpose of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) CoP is to provide a forum to promote a culture of innovation and collaboration to develop and operationalise business solutions using artificial intelligence (machine learning and deep learning). The AI CoP focuses on delivering advice and examples for the use of AI to meet science and other business objectives. The AI CoP also provides a means to link with other CoPs (e.g. Drone and Remote Sensing CoPs) to leverage our collective knowledge and experience in areas of common interest. Learnings, experience and solutions are shared to prevent duplicated effort and to build on work that has already been done.
Remote Sensing CoP
The Remote Sensing (RS) CoP connects colleagues with an interest in earth observation technologies across the departments and the portfolio agencies (Murray Darling Basin Authority, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Bureau of Meteorology). The purpose of the RS CoP is to share on projects undertaken across the different business areas, and to share knowledge and experience on applying earth observation technology to deliver on the department’s objectives, supporting decision and policy making. The RS CoP facilitates the collaboration on projects undertaken in areas of common interest as well as the sharing of experiences and findings by leveraging collective knowledge. Imagery applications and technologies are shared, together with insights into suitable imagery sources and providers. The RS CoP is still young and is committed to building a growing community that allows us to share knowledge and expertise. It also provides a means to link with other CoPs (e.g. Drone and AI CoPs) to leverage our experience in areas of common interest.
Remote Sensing CoP chair: Bianca Kallenberg geospatial@awe.gov.au
AI – Drones – Remote Sensing CoP Conference
In June 2022, the former Department of Agriculture, Water & the Environment facilitated its inaugural AI-Drone-Remote Sensing Community of Practice Conference (‘Connect, Collaborate, Create and Communicate’), presenting on the wide capabilities of our department’s and our science community.
The conference brought together colleagues from diverse areas and locations along with guest keynote speakers and delivery partners presenting on the intricacies of working with AI, remote sensors and drones across a wide range of applications.
Strong emphasis was given to the need to continue cooperation beyond the Machinery of Government changes between DCCEEW & DAFF to build on the innovation already developed, share knowledge and to create a strong science community across the APS.
Get in touch
Want to know more? Please reach out to one of the CoP chairs or the Office of the Science Convenor.
Office of the Science Convenor: science.strategy@awe.gov.au