Wimmera Landscape mapping technology measures up

Luisa Schellens had only been in Wimmera - even Australia for that matter - for less than a year, yet she knew more about the lie of the land than some of the locals.

As a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyst for the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Luisa is part of a project using modern technology to get a better understanding of the natural assets in the region and the impacts of salinity and declining water quality.

Funding

Thanks to $425,000 from the Australian and State Governments Luisa is analysing computer images that reflect the height and contours of the entire region using both aerial photography and Digital Elevation Modelling.

This puts the CMA in the fortunate position of having comprehensive data about the landscape - from its valleys to its peaks, and how this is changing over time.

Activities

"The aerial photos and data were captured in 2004 and although we hope to update the photos on a regular basis, the data will remain valid for about 20 years as the height of the land rarely changes," said Luisa. "We're very lucky to have it. It means we can do a lot more detailed analysis of our region."

The CMA continues to find different ways to process the data for various applications from wetland conservation to soil management and trialling different land uses. The images are also useful for providing a 3D representation to help with strategic planning. And Luisa is working on programming for mobile GIS so that the data can be used in the field.

Achievements

The CMA has aerial maps of all properties across the region that farmers can use to manage their properties - for example, to find areas at risk of flooding or sites that would benefit from having trees planted. Property management planning helps farms be more profitable and sustainable.

"You can see what trees exist now, and if you want to clear land for grazing or cropping, you can use these maps to work out an equivalent area to replant," she said.

The photos can also be used to track changes in landscape over time and can be incorporated into agricultural software.

"We're using technology to provide highly sophisticated tools to manage both environmental issues and agriculture. Farmers can tell everything about the lay of the land - where to put in a dam or how their land is changing over time. This is how people will be farming in the future," said Luisa.

More information

• Luisa Schellens, Wimmera CMA GIS analyst: (03) 5382 1544 or schellensl@wcma.vic.gov.au
• Wimmera Catchment Management Authority website: www.wcma.vic.gov.au

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

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Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts