The SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, in collaboration with the Andy Thomas Space Foundation, have named two Australian PhD students as the inaugural recipients of Dr Peter Woodgate Scholarships for Earth Observation.
Donna Fitzgerald, from the University of South Australia, and Oliver Hatswell, from Flinders University, will each receive scholarships valued at $35,000 per year for their research projects.
Fitzgerald’s project involves quantifying the dieback of eucalypt forests and vegetation health changes over time using comparative remote sensing techniques to monitor forest health.
The findings will be used to develop a remote sensing and scenario-based framework for dieback analytics in other forests.
“We’re delighted to award this scholarship to Donna Fitzgerald,” said Professor Andy Koronios, CEO of SmartSat CRC.
“We believe her project mirrors the scope of the scholarship, and the proposed research methods were very sound. Given Australia’s climate change challenges, her research is a critical area of work.”
Dr Peter Woodgate began working in 1976 with the Forest Commission of Victoria as a crew leader in hardwood assessment, and later held positions as officer-in-charge of the Dieback Research Station in Yarram. The government highly sought his advice on forest change, ecology and conservation, amongst other areas.
“Donna’s project aligns with his vision and SmartSat’s mission of using space data to enhance decision making for land and sea-based environments,” said Professor Koronios.
Hatswell’s project involves the innovative mapping of archaeological landscapes in the Australian Arid Zone using satellite remote sensing. It will undertake an extensive trial of high-resolution remote sensing and machine learning methods to map key geomorphic features and inform understanding of archaeological potential, chronology, and depositional history.
Michael Davis, Chair, Andy Thomas Space Foundation, said that Oliver’s research will play an important role in cultural heritage management, working in collaboration with the Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka and Wangkangurru Yarluyandi, Traditional Owners of the Simpson Desert and Coongie Lakes.
“Oliver’s research may contribute to Aboriginal cultural heritage and pastoral landscape management, which the committee considered would align closely with the values of the Andy Thomas Space Foundation and SmartSat.”
The late Dr Peter Woodgate was instrumental in setting up SmartSat CRC’s structure and governance framework and was the inaugural SmartSat Chair, serving from August 2019 until his sudden unexpected passing in December 2022. He had also been due to take up the role of President of the Geospatial Council of Australia, a role now filled by Kate Lundy.
