Water Planning Tools

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Archive for visualisation tools

Virtual Water Trading Simulation

CSIRO economists have developed the Australian Knowledge Exchange (AKX) – an online prediction market which aims to forecast water availability.

The AKX has been set up by CSIRO to test whether trading knowledge online can work for water management and decision-making. The AKX is effectively a prediction market which aims to forecast future events. Traders in the AKX use their knowledge to buy and sell ‘virtual stocks’ in an online marketplace. The market price for these stocks represents the consensus forecast of the traders in the market.

In the current simulation study, the researchers are assessing whether  traders can combine their knowledge to predict dam levels in the region, in much the same way as stock market traders predict future prices of commodities like oil.

Interested people can register online, get $100,000 play money and start trading predictions. At the end of each month for three months, the trader who has predicted the dam levels most closely will win a small cash prize.

Visit the AKX Website…

Engagement Tools: Catchment Detox

Catchment Detox, an online catchment management simulation game, is an initiative of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), in partnership with eWater CRC, the CSIRO, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) and National Science Week.

The program was developed by the eWater CRC as part of its catchment management software packages (see here) into a game to go live during National Science Week.

Play Catchment Detox

From the site: It’s an online game where you’re in charge of the whole catchment. You get to decide what activities you undertake – whether to plant crops, log forests, build factories or set up national parks. The aim is to fix environmental problems and provide food and wealth for the population.

Managing Australia’s waterways is a huge challenge with climate change, increased demand for water and environmental problems putting our rivers under stress. Catchment Detox gives an idea of just how difficult it is to manage a river catchment.

Are you up for the challenge?

Related links

Media Article: Catchment Detox: Your Land, Your Water, Your Choice

Groundwater Visualisation Modelling

A  joint initiative between Queensland University of Technology researchers and the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water is examining the use of new technologies to develop 3-D visualisation and animation models to support the management of groundwater resources.

Find out more from the project website and report.