Environmental engineering
There is an urgent need for ecosystem restoration.听The听United Nations has declared 2021-2030 the听. This global effort aims to massively up-scale the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems as a proven measure to restore ecosystem services, fight the climate crisis and enhance food security, water supply and biodiversity.
Our environmental team (EcoEng @ WRL) places a strong emphasis on partnerships, collaborations and joint studies. While our research focuses on the water-based processes in the environment, we value our partnerships with the ecological, economic, management and engagement experts. We encourage other groups to develop partnerships and establish contacts to ensure we have the best understanding of a community, including local concerns and global implications. With an outstanding, enthusiastic and committed team of scientists, engineers and cross-disciplinary colleagues, the group draws upon its extensive research and experience to provide innovative and effective answers to complex ecosystem engineering questions throughout Australia and overseas.
Key areas
Restoration and creation of wetlands and waterways:听Nature is complex. Endangered ecological communities exist in a fine balance, influenced by numerous factors. Over the past 20+ years we have restored some of the largest and most complex ecosystems in Australia.
Priority decisions and engagement:听Wicked problems require, prioritised solutions. We utilise several engineering/project management decision-making software systems to prioritise restoration actions, climate vulnerability, economic benefit analyses, etc. We also regularly work with local communities and government to develop educational modules and demonstration projects.
Remediation of contaminated or threatened ecosystems:听Eco-engineering combines engineering principles with ecosystem restoration practice. One of our key strengths is linking these disciplines to听restore waterway health, redesign landscapes and create new habitats that are safe for the community and based on sound ecological principles. To date, we have specialised in acidic, eutrophic, and PFAS contaminated environments and associated remediation.
Climate change assessment and response:听Exploring and quantifying听local scale impacts, assessing waterway risk, designing adaptation strategies and infrastructure, using physical and numerical models for further understanding, communicating with stakeholders and communities.
