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A collaborative agreement has been signed, aimed at developing new space-based infrared technology.
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SITAEL Australia has announced it has entered into a partnership with the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS).
The agreement aims to foster innovative research into space-based infrared instruments, with SITAEL Australia and IPAS will to leverage multi-aperture infrared sensors with intelligent processing to deliver low-cost, high-resolution thermal imagery.
The partnership forms part of the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat CRC), set up to enhance Australia’s sovereign space capability through the development of intelligent satellite systems and Earth observation data services.
“We are taking an innovative pathway to the collection of thermal imagery from space, combining the small satellite and infrared instrument knowledge of SITAEL, with the unique expertise and capabilities in sensing from IPAS,” executive director and general manager of SITAEL Australia Mark Ramsey said.
Associate professor Martin O’Connor, Defence Technologies Theme Leader at IPAS, said the partnership aligns to the commercial outcomes focus of the project by connecting technological development with end-user application.
He said the one-and-a-half-year project would have applications across defence and surveillance, water monitoring, fire monitoring and agriculture.
“Innovative space-based thermal imagers will be used for wide-area, bushfire early warning and tracking,” O’Connor added.
“Algorithms will interpret data in real time to help immediately pin point fires in areas obscured by smoke.”
Other applications are expected to include checking inland and coastal water quality and monitoring industrial energy use and its effect on climate change.
Ultimately, the research aims to support a transition to problem-centric operations in the infrared domain.
Professor Andy Koronios, CEO of the SmartSat CRC, welcomed the new collaboration.
“We are pleased to see the strong co-operation between our industry and academic partners, to develop next-generation Earth observation technologies, creating economic value through innovation,” Koronios said.
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