Joint fund supports smart sensing responses to disasters

Innovating for a Safer Future: The Connectivity Innovation Network and the NSW Smart Sensing Network announce winners of $230,000 Sensing for Disasters Funding

The Connectivity Innovation Network (CIN) and the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) are pleased to announce the winners of our joint call for proposals on Sensing for Disasters.

Following on from a joint Regional Connectivity Challenges Symposium in 2023, it was evident there is a need for innovative and advanced disaster sensing technologies.

As a result, the Connectivity Innovation Network and the NSW Smart Sensing Network released a joint call for proposals on Sensing for Disasters. This call for proposals in the sensing for disasters space presented an opportunity to develop research and innovative solutions that will improve outcomes for citizens of New South Wales, particularly those in regional disaster-stricken areas.

The call for proposals was to develop innovative disaster sensing technologies in the fields of physical and information sciences, and engineering. The aim is to nurture the creation and development of new sensing technologies that are real-time, accurate and reliable for predicting and monitoring natural disasters — floods and bushfire disasters in particular.

This call for proposals was divided into two streams:

  • Stream 1: Fundamental research with the objective of completing theoretical proof or lab experiments at the end of the project. The funding for Stream 1 projects is up to $40,000 per project.

  • Stream 2: Innovative projects that can be demonstrated in the field, at the end of the project. The funding for Stream 2 projects is up to $150,000 per project.

The winners

Following a rigorous assessment process, three projects have been selected as winners. These projects include pure theoretical research to push the boundary of integrated sensing and communications technology, an AI-based geospatial sensing management platform to optimize sensor deployment and maximise sensing accuracy, and a low-cost robust wireless rain gauge to revolutionise the way to monitor rainfall.

  • Integrated sensing and communication technology for Disaster Monitoring

    CI: Jinhong Yuan, University of New South Wales

    Funding: $39,959

    Duration: 12 months

  • Advanced AI-Enhanced Geospatial Sensing for Disaster Management

    CI: Wanchun Liu, University of Sydney

    Collaborators: UTS and Pivotel Satellite

    Funding: $40,000

    Duration: 12 months

  • A Novel Real-Time and Accurate Wireless Rain Gauge

    CI: Kai Wu, University of Technology Sydney

    Funding: $149,092

    Duration: 12 months

These projects promise to push the boundaries of disaster sensing technology and provide benefits to the citizens of NSW, especially those in regional areas affected by natural disasters. We look forward to seeing the progress towards delivering positive impacts in disaster preparedness and response.

NSSN NewsNicholas Haskins