Catchment Studies
Surface and ground water interact within catchments, and these interactions need to be understood and targeted for management options. The GeoAg approach builds a sound geoscientific understanding from interpretation of spatial data.
GeoAg has completed projects using minimal data sets such as published maps and aerial photographs through to major studies involving multiple geophysical surveys integrated with drilling and field mapping.
In all cases the client’s needs determines the balance between exploitation of existing data and collection of new information.
Wetlands
Many wetlands are at risk from agricultural, industrial and residential developments. Sustainable management requires sound understanding of the surface and ground water process interacting in wetlands.
GeoAg wetland interpretation methodology centres on spatial data interpretation to provide information on surface and ground water processes. Client’s needs and availability of data determine if any acquisition of additional data set are required. Readily available data such as topography, air photographs and geological maps are used while additional information such as drill hole information and geophysical data such as Airborne Electromagnetics, Magnetics and Radiometrics improves the quality of information obtained.
Dryland Salinity
Groundwater levels have significantly increased due to land clearing causing dryland salinity. Salinity is major environmental and economic problem in Australia. Agricultural, biodiversity and infrastructure are all affected by salinity.
The management of dryland salinity must be based on geoscientific information. Understanding of surface and groundwater process are the key to developing cost effective management of salinity. GeoAg uses skills in spatial data analysis to provide information products such as salt hazards and soil mapping . These can be used in Farm and Catchment Planning to manage salinity through options of recharge reduction and discharge enhancement.
Infrastructure is also widely affected by salinity and the associated rising watertables, investigations of salinity and roads are ongoing within GeoAg.
