Patchwork of agricultural properties in the Po Valley, Italy, captured by Sentinel-2A, 29/06/2015. Copyright: Copernicus data (2015)/ESA.

International space experts are currently in South Australia pooling their talents to use remote sensing technologies to help solve global food and water security issues. More than 30 participants from 10 nations are in Adelaide, South Australia, for the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program.

A major focus of the five-week procession, which began on 11 January 2016, is the creation of a white paper on the topic of food and water security based on remote sensing technologies and spatial analysis. It will consider how space technologies and space systems can be utilised to improve the production, monitoring and availability of global food and water needs.

It is the fifth time the University of South Australia has hosted the International Space University program since 2011.Food and Water Security team project chair Dr Ray Williamson said the topic was of vital importance, particularly for developing nations, at a time when the southern hemisphere was in the grips of the El Nino effect.

“We’ll be looking at sensor networks on the ground that communicate with satellites in orbit and then send back information about specific plots where you’ve got your sensors – temperature, humidity, soil moisture,” Dr Williamson said.

“By combining different filters in the data you get back you can begin to determine things like stress on crops because a stressed patch of corn will show a signature in different colours just like when you see the leaves turn brown.

“We’ll be using satellite systems that are already operating, they may want to explore the possibility of dedicated satellite systems and the other thing we’ll be looking at to tie in with the satellite data is data taken from drones flying over, which is a new and rather exciting possibility.”

The program authorities identified South Australian company Myriota as an example of the possibilities that can be achieved. The company was formed to commercialise technology developed by the University of South Australia’s Institute for Telecommunications Research and will use low earth orbit satellites to provide two-way data connectivity for remote sensors and devices for industries such as agriculture where there is a need to access data in very remote locations.

Dr Williamson said the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program would focus on ways to help developing nations find solutions to food and water security issues.

He said it was about finding the right pathways to get the information into the right hands.

“What this will be largely focused on is what can be done with current systems or future systems that wouldn’t be too expensive in developing countries,” Dr Williamson said.

“So it involves education and training and maybe some clever app you could put on your cheap smartphone.”

The program also involves the building of a miniature satellite to be launched on a high altitude balloon over the Adelaide Hills, a wine region on the periphery of South Australia’s capital city Adelaide, on January 26. The balloon is expected to reach a height of about 25km.

ISU Space Programs Director and former NASA Chief Exploration Scientist John Connolly said the white paper topics were chosen with a view to relating the space industry to practical ways of improving everyday life on earth.

“A lot of people think that space is about sending bushels of dollars off to the heavens but it’s not, all the jobs are down here first of all but the benefits are felt down here as well so food and water security is a particular topic that’s of importance to the global south and since we’re in the southern hemisphere we chose that one,” he said.

Connolly said the mini satellite would collect data from vineyards in the Adelaide Hills wine region using remote sensors, visible and infrared imagery.

“We’re going to try to produce some data about the state of those vineyards and how things might be improved. It’s an example of how you use that data for the larger food and water security issue so it’s a little bit of hands on satellite engineering.”

“It introduces them to a network of like-minded individuals who are strategically situated all over the world in different space agencies and commercial companies.”

Connolly said the white paper, which will be presented at the program’s closing ceremony on February 12, would be targeted chiefly at governments.