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“We are very optimistic and bullish about the hyperscaler demand in the enterprise sector. To support the growing needs of global technology giants and cloud service providers expanding in the region, we at the company are proud to announce that we will be building the first hyperscaler data centre facility in the Philippines,” – The Philippines telco company’s VP and head of ICT Business for Enterprise
The Philippines is recognised as one of Southeast Asia’s emerging markets, with numerous technology firms planning to build data centres there. Data centre providers are likely to see new opportunities because of IoT data processing. IoT is anticipated to deliver applications and workloads that require near-real-time responsiveness, promoting the deployment of edge data centres. Due to the sheer rapid growth and development of data centre projects, new players will be able to enter the industry.
In addition, an article stated that the Philippines data centre market will reach USD 535 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 11.40 per cent between 2021 and 2026.
With this in consideration, the Philippines’ fully integrated telco business has stated that it will construct the country’s “first and largest” data centre, which will serve the vast power and IT needs of global hyperscalers. The facility, which will be built under its subsidiary, will be telco-neutral and will incorporate sustainability in with its design and operations, according to the company. The facility will be Tier-3 certified and Tier-4 ready when it launches, the company said in a statement.
“This hyperscaler data centre is a first of its kind. It will have more power capacity in one facility versus all our 10 VITRO data centres combined. It will also be designed to be the global class in energy efficiency and reliability, and will make use of the latest in green technology,” said the Philippines telco company’s VP and head of ICT Business for Enterprise
The company mentioned that it is expanding its data centre network to support and provide the considerably larger needs of hyperscalers, notably to service their availability zones, which are the key nodes of their worldwide network for delivering cloud products.
“We are continuously enhancing our existing data centres in three main ways. First, we are adding more power capacity per rack to support the dense and high-powered equipment of hyperscalers. Second, we’re further enhancing the reliability and energy efficiency of our data centre facilities. And last, we’re also looking for ways to deliver Renewable Energy to support the carbon neutrality commitments of these companies,” added the company’s VP and head of ICT Business for Enterprise.
Moreover, with its VITRO Data Centre facilities located in various important areas, the telco company maintains the country’s largest network of data centres. These data centres are also supported by the company’s 524,000-kilometre fibre optic network, which connects the Philippines to the rest of the world.
These facilities are connected to the telco company’s participation in 14 international submarine cable systems and one terrestrial system that carries data traffic in and out of the Philippines, with three more new submarine cables in construction, including the Jupiter Cable, Apricot Cable, and Asia Direct Cable.
OpenGov Asia in an article reported that the business world is moving at a rapid pace to keep up with the overwhelming demand for information and the need to monetise and operationalise raw data. With the ever-changing demands of the modern business model, many companies place their trust in data centres, as these facilities play a critical role in meeting their IT requirements.
Data centres are more than just safe and secure facilities with reliable power and network connectivity. They are quickly becoming an asset to many businesses, proving to be a dependable extension of their IT team. As a result, data centres are increasingly becoming an essential component of modern business start-ups. In this scenario, data centres become crucial to progress and are no different for the Philippines.


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Digital innovation empowers ageing individuals by promoting better health management, social engagement, cognitive stimulation, safety, and access to resources, ultimately improving their overall quality of life.
While ageing is frequently accompanied by a deterioration in functional mobility, loss of muscle strength, and an increase in body fat, this trend could be reversed thanks to a novel magnetic muscle therapy developed by researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Weekly exposure to very low levels of proprietary pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) using the BIXEPS device invented by NUS researchers in 2019 is associated with significant improvements in mobility and body composition after 12 weeks, particularly in older people, according to a recent community study conducted in Singapore involving 101 participants aged 38 to 91 years old. After three months of magnetic muscle therapy, participants reported reduced pain perception.
Associate Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón, who led the research team and is a Principal Investigator with NUS iHealthtech and co-founder of QuantumTX, says that the BIXEPS device uses a specific magnetic signature to target the muscles in a user’s leg and create metabolic activity in the cells, just like when a person exercises.
Studies from the past showed that when magnetic muscle treatment was used on one leg after knee surgery, the whole body’s metabolism improved. This was mostly seen as changes in the blood lipid profiles. That is, the effect went beyond just the leg that was treated and led to changes throughout the whole body.
After eight weeks of treatment, 72% of individuals reported improved skeletal muscle maintenance along with reductions in total and visceral fats, with 85% of subjects reporting improvements in functional mobility after 12 weeks, most notably among the elderly.
These encouraging findings suggest that this PEMF-based technology could be a beneficial adjunct to traditional geriatric therapies aimed at lowering the prevalence of frailty and metabolic diseases in the elderly population.
Importantly, visceral fat is an inflammatory fat that has been linked to a variety of metabolic diseases, including diabetes. Previous research has found that people in Southeast Asia retain visceral fat more persistently than persons in other regions of the world, despite exercise.
As a result, people in Southeast Asia get diabetes at a lower BMI than persons of other ethnicities. This has created a significant challenge for the Southeast Asian health business. Researchers finally have a solution to this local healthcare dilemma in the form of magnetic field therapy.
Based on the promising findings of the community study, the team has collaborated with research groups in the United States and Hong Kong to perform randomised controlled clinical studies to further validate the advantages of frailty across various ageing groups.
Since 2022, the team has also begun a senior-focused study with 200 elders across four Singapore community care centres to assess how the technology can improve function and ease chronic problems. This research is projected to be completed in 2023.
Real-world pilot data from current community programmes have also shown promise of improved HbA1c control – the most common measure for diabetes progression – after beginning weekly BIXEPS sessions.
The research team is currently collaborating with the Singapore General Hospital to perform a clinical trial to evaluate further the therapeutic potential of PEMF-based therapies for diabetes progression management.
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The consultative committee of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs was briefed by Hardeep S. Puri, the Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, about the progress made in the Smart Cities Mission. Minister Puri highlighted the significant advancements taking place within the 100 smart cities and their positive impact on India’s urban future. He underscored the vital role played by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) in effectively managing and implementing the mission at the city level, thus maximising its potential.
The Smart Cities Mission, launched in June 2015, seeks to enhance the lives of citizens by implementing “smart solutions” that focus on core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and a high quality of life. Under the initiative, 100 cities were selected through a two-stage competition to be developed as Smart Cities. According to the government, the regions are showcasing satisfactory advancements.
The Smart Cities Mission is overseen by an Apex Committee led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. They regularly provide updates on the implementation status of projects through the Real-Time Geographical Management Information System (GMIS). According to the Smart Cities Mission Statement and Guidelines, each city establishes a Smart City Advisory Forum (SCAF) at the local level to facilitate collaboration and provide guidance. The SCAF comprises various stakeholders such as Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Mayor, the District Collector, local youth, technical experts, and other relevant parties. So far, the Smart Cities have convened more than 756 SCAF meetings.
In addition, at the state level, a High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) chaired by the Chief Secretary has been established. This committee plays a crucial role in overseeing the Smart Cities Mission within the state. Furthermore, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs appoints Nominee Directors to the Boards of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) who actively monitor the progress of projects in their respective cities.
The Committee conducted visits to various project sites in Goa, including the ‘Mandovi Riverfront Promenade’, ‘Flood Mitigation Works’, and the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). During these visits, the status and progress of the projects were discussed as of 1 May 2023. It was highlighted that the Smart Cities Mission comprises approximately 7,800 projects with a total value of INR 1.8 trillion (US$ 21 billion). Out of these, more than 5,700 projects (73% by number) worth INR 1.1 trillion (US$ 13.3 billion) (60% by value) have already been completed. The remaining projects are expected to be completed by June 2024. Also, INR 38,400 crores (US$ 4.6 billion) have been released under the Smart Cities Mission as of 1 May, out of which INR 35,261 crores (US$ 4.2 billion) has been used.
The Ministry maintains regular communication and engagement with the states and Smart Cities through video conferences, review meetings, field visits, regional workshops, and more. These interactions occur at different levels and serve multiple purposes, including assessing the performance of cities and providing necessary support and guidance for their improvement.
An official said that ICCCs play a crucial role in enhancing situational awareness through the utilisation of advanced technologies. These centres provide comprehensive visualisations that enable civic officials to effectively address various urban functions and handle daily tasks, issues, and emergencies following detailed standard operating procedures. ICCCs have evolved into the central hubs of these smart cities, showcasing the effective application of technology in fortifying urban management.
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Bernard Widjayam, the Head of the Market Conduct Department at the Financial Services Authority (OJK), underscored the significance of incorporating technology into the oversight of financial service businesses. In his statement, he highlighted the limitations of manual analysis when it comes to efficiently and effectively analysing data on behaviour within the industry.
Manually analysing vast amounts of data related to financial service business behaviour can be a time-consuming task. Furthermore, relying solely on manual analysis can introduce the risk of inefficiencies, inaccuracies, and inconsistencies in the data analysis process. It may lead to a lack of coherence and potentially misleading information.
By leveraging technology in the supervision and monitoring of financial service businesses, the aim is to enhance data analysis’s efficiency, accuracy, and reliability. Automation and advanced algorithms can streamline the process, enabling faster and more comprehensive analysis of behaviour-related information. In turn, facilitates timely and informed decision-making for regulatory authorities and promotes a more transparent and compliant financial services sector.
Implementing technology-driven solutions allows for data collection, processing, and analysis automation. By harnessing advanced analytical tools and techniques, regulatory bodies can uncover patterns, trends, and anomalies in behaviour data that may otherwise be overlooked in manual analysis. This comprehensive and data-driven approach enables a deeper understanding of the industry, identifies potential risks or misconduct, and supports proactive regulatory interventions.
Moreover, using technology to supervise financial service businesses helps establish a consistent and standardised framework for data analysis. It ensures that the analysis is conducted systematically and unbiasedly, reducing the potential for human errors and subjective interpretations. It promotes transparency, fairness, and accountability in assessing behaviour within the financial services industry.
Bernard Widjayam also highlighted the potential use of AI and machine learning technologies in monitoring the offerings of financial products and services through various media channels. By harnessing the power of AI and machine learning, regulatory authorities can enhance their ability to detect and assess potentially misleading or non-compliant advertisements and promotions in the financial services sector.
AI and machine learning algorithms can analyse enormous amounts of data from different sources, such as websites, social media platforms, and online advertisements, to identify patterns and anomalies in the marketing practices of financial service providers. It enables authorities to swiftly identify misleading claims, hidden fees, or unfair marketing tactics that misguide consumers or violate regulatory standards.
Using AI and machine learning technologies can significantly augment the effectiveness and efficiency of regulatory oversight in the digital age. These technologies can automate the monitoring process, flagging suspicious advertisements or promotions for further investigation and reducing the burden of manual monitoring on regulatory authorities.
To promote the digitalisation of activities in BPR/BPRS as outlined in pillar 2 of the Indonesian Banking Development Roadmap, CBI, as the Credit Insurance Management Institution (LPIP), has implemented Artificial Intelligence (AI) and utilised credit scoring for credit application analysis.
Implementing AI in credit application analysis is expected to provide higher efficiency and accuracy. By leveraging AI technology, CBI can process customer data quickly and accurately, identify credit risks, and make more precise credit decisions. Moreover, CBI can evaluate the credit profiles of prospective borrowers based on factors such as credit history, income, and assets. It enables CBI to make objective and fair credit decisions.
With the implementation of AI and the utilisation of credit scoring, CBI can accelerate the credit application process, reduce undesirable credit risks, and improve the overall operational efficiency of BPR/BPRS. This step aligns with the vision of the Indonesian Banking Development Roadmap, which emphasises the importance of digitalisation in enhancing the competitiveness of the banking sector.
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China’s Chengdu Qingbaijiang Cold Chain Logistics Park has been constructed and is already active, providing e-commerce firms with integrated cold chain logistics services. In addition, the third phase of the Chengdu Yinli Agricultural Products Cold Chain Logistics Centre was started last month.
The Qingbaijiang sector of Chengdu’s national backbone cold chain logistics hub has already placed around 1.55 million cubic metres of cold chain storage into service, with numerous significant cold chain projects underway. Nearly 100 facilities with a construction increase of 10,000 cubic metres are planned to be erected over the next three years, driving the growth of Chengdu’s national backbone cold chain logistics hub.
At the Chengdu Qingbaijiang Cold Chain Logistics Park, cutting-edge innovations are on display in a single-story, high-density, and high-standard three-dimensional cold storage facility. The magnificent warehouse has a 17-metre ceiling, covers nearly six stories, and is home to hundreds of tonnes of reserve beef as well as neatly arranged steel frames. It has several cutting-edge characteristics and is Southwest China’s first high-standard thermal insulation warehouse.
A 10,000 square metre warehouse with a fully enclosed loading and unloading platform, a low-temperature hallway, movable three-dimensional shelves, high-rise electric forklifts, infrared sensor quick opening and closing doors, a 24-hour monitoring system and a cloud warehouse temperature control platform are all included in the warehouse.
It also boasts various digital systems including a smart security system. This warehouse stands out from conventional cold storage because it uses a cutting-edge external wall insulation system that guarantees stable insulation and sustained operational excellence.
Temperature levels in storage facilities and delivery vehicles can be monitored and controlled by digital sensors and IoT devices. Thus, the freshness and shelf life of the items are preserved, and the necessary temperatures are maintained throughout the distribution process.
By providing precise demand forecasting, optimising inventory levels, and reducing overstocking or understocking, digital technologies can assist reduce food waste. This helps create a cold chain distribution system that is more environmentally responsible and durable.
Further, higher-quality urban cold chain distribution services may increase efficiency, improve product quality, boost customer satisfaction, and take a more sustainable approach to food delivery by utilising digital innovation. The result of these developments is a more dependable and effective supply of perishable items in metropolitan areas, which benefits both businesses and consumers.
Chengdu believes that in terms of effectiveness, precision, scalability, real-time monitoring, data management, collaboration, customer experience, and innovation, digital technologies provide a substantial advantage that promotes organisational growth and success.
In addition, the complex is constantly flooded with cold chain logistics vehicles from across the nation, which causes a busy traffic situation inside the park. In Southwest China, Chengdu Yinli is renowned as a major distribution hub for frozen livestock and poultry products, aquatic products, dry goods, non-staple food items, fruits, and vegetables.
The completion of the third phase of the project, according to reports, will raise the entire park. It will include functions such as intelligent storage, production, processing, and urban distribution into its functioning. This will strengthen and broaden the industrial chain.
Reports also stated that the public will be able to enjoy even higher-quality urban cold chain distribution services in the future. During the succeeding building phases, the distribution centre intends to integrate sophisticated technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) identification, automatic unloading, and automated handling to improve the park’s intelligence and modernisation.
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Although today’s artificial intelligence systems possess immense size and capability, they frequently struggle to differentiate between what is real and what is a hallucination. For instance, autonomous driving systems can fatally overlook pedestrians and emergency vehicles positioned directly in their path. Similarly, conversational AI systems confidently fabricate information and often provide inaccurate assessments of their level of uncertainty, particularly after undergoing reinforcement learning.
However, a collaboration between researchers at MIT and the University of California, Berkeley, has yielded a novel approach to constructing advanced AI inference algorithms. This method enables the algorithms to generate multiple plausible explanations for data while also accurately gauging the quality of these explanations.
The newly developed method utilises a mathematical technique called Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC). SMC algorithms are commonly used for uncertainty-calibrated AI to propose likely explanations for data and assess their plausibility as more information becomes available.
However, SMC falls short when applied to complex tasks due to the simplicity of generating probable explanations. Particularly in challenging domains like self-driving, where analysing video data, identifying objects, and predicting hidden motion paths are involved, sophisticated algorithms are required to make plausible guesses. Regular SMC cannot support such advanced algorithms.
The newly introduced SMC method with probabilistic program proposals (SMCP3) addresses these limitations. SMCP3 enables more intelligent approaches to generate probable explanations for data, update them based on new information, and accurately estimate their quality. Unlike previous versions of SMC, which only allowed simple strategies with calculable probabilities, SMCP3 allows using any probabilistic program that incorporates random choices. This flexibility enables sophisticated guessing procedures with multiple stages, overcoming the previous restriction.
The research paper on SMCP3 demonstrates that employing advanced proposal procedures can enhance the precision of AI systems in tracking 3D objects, analysing data, and improving the algorithms’ estimations of data likelihood. Previous studies conducted by MIT and other institutions have revealed that these estimations can be utilised to infer the effectiveness of an inference algorithm in explaining data compared to an idealised Bayesian reasoner.
George Matheos, the first co-author of the paper and soon-to-be MIT EECS PhD student, expressed great enthusiasm for SMCP3’s ability to enable the practical application of well-established, uncertainty-calibrated algorithms in complex problem scenarios where previous versions of SMC were ineffective.
Today, many new algorithms propose explanations based on data but often lack uncertainty calibration and fail to consider alternatives or assess their explanations. SMCP3 offers the potential to use these algorithms more effectively by incorporating uncertainty calibration, ensuring trustworthy AI systems for reliable and safe decision-making.
Vikash Mansinghka, the paper’s Senior Author, further explains, “Monte Carlo methods have been fundamental in computing and artificial intelligence since the advent of electronic computers.” However, designing and implementing them has always been challenging, requiring manual derivation of mathematical equations and awareness of intricate mathematical constraints. SMCP3 automates these complex mathematical aspects while expanding the range of possible designs.
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Singapore will spend about S$3.3 billion on information and communications technology (ICT) this year. This is on top of the money it has spent in previous years to improve its digital infrastructure and make services better for people, companies, and government workers.
Over the last five years, the government has spent about S$16 billion on ICT. In both FY 2021 and FY 2022, it was expected that S$3.8 billion would be spent on ICT. In the past, attempts to combine the demand for ICT services through bulk tenders and to update the back-end ICT infrastructure of the government through the cloud have saved money.
“Our ICT investments in the past five years have laid a firm foundation for the next bound of digital government,” said Kok Ping Soon, Chief Executive, GovTech.
He added that the Government will maintain a high level of ICT spending in 2023, as they continue to push ahead with the cloud strategy and find more ways to work closely with the industry through co-developed projects and bulk tenders. Providing opportunities for SMEs to take on government projects is also important, as SMEs form a key pillar of our Smart Nation efforts, he continued.
More than 30% (S$1 billion) of what the government plans to spend on ICT in FY 2023 will go towards developing apps for the Government Commercial Cloud (GCC).
Since the “Cloud First” Strategy was announced in October 2018, about 66% of qualified government systems have been moved to the Government Commercial Cloud (GCC). This makes it possible to reach the goal of 70% by the end of 2023.
In FY 2023, co-developed projects with industry are projected to be worth about 45% (S$1.49 billion) of all spending, up from 27% in FY 2022 and 20% in FY 2021.
Co-developed projects save time and money by using the SG Tech Stack and other government platforms for security compliance and interoperability, as well as reusing well-tested software components to build apps quickly.
Currently, 27 companies are qualified to work with the government on projects using the SG Tech Stack. When the S$0.62 billion Agile Co-Development and ICT Professional Services bulk tender is called in FY 2023, this list of providers will be updated.
In co-developed projects, engineers and developers from the government may oversee building one part while their peers from the private sector build another. This is different from the usual outsourced approach, in which a vendor builds the whole project based on what the government agency wants.
As a result of the Government’s planned ICT spending for FY 2023, a lot more projects will be given out through bulk bids. About 76%, or S$2.5 billion, of the planned spending will go to these projects. In FY 2022, only 27% of the spending went to these projects. By putting together all the requests for the same ICT goods and services, bulk tenders have helped public agencies save money, time, and effort.
This year, there are three important bulk contracts worth a total of S$1.85 billion: Enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Hosting Support Services (HSS), and Personal Computers & Printer.
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) still have a lot of chances, as nearly 80% of all procurement opportunities for FY 2023 will be open to SMEs, which is the same as the previous year.
The Ministry of Sustainability and Environment previously indicated that starting in 2024, government ICT contracts will include environmental sustainability criteria.
Suppliers who participate in the forthcoming PC and Printer bulk tender must follow energy and environmental regulations and reuse packaging and materials.
Additionally, GovTech is trying to optimise code reuse for cloud projects in FY 2023 and reduce the carbon footprint of the cloud infrastructure in GCC and government data centres to satisfy BCA-IMDA Green Mark criteria.
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Experts from Flinders University have secured a funding grant of nearly AU$ 1.4 million to enhance specialised satellite surveillance software and drone technology for a ground-breaking forestry research initiative. Over the course of two years, the College of Science and Engineering will conduct the project titled ‘Assessment of remote sensing techniques for monitoring the health of plantations.’ The research is financially supported by both federal and state governments through the Mount Gambier Centre of the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI).
Flinders University’s Associate Professor in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), David Bruce, has outlined the objectives of the project aimed at enhancing plantation forestry surveillance. The research will involve the utilization of advanced ‘supercomputers’ to process satellite imagery, enabling early detection of underperforming trees for plantation foresters across Australia.
The project aims to identify various issues such as disease, waterlogging, inadequate management, drought, or storm damage by statistically comparing specific clusters of trees within the same age-class and species against the broader population.
In addition, the team plans to incorporate high-resolution satellite data collection to assess poorly performing tree patches and validate their analysis through low-altitude aerial observations using aircraft and drones in specific locations. This comprehensive approach will aid in developing a more effective early warning system for plantation health monitoring.
The Flinders University team comprises Associate Professor Bruce, an expert in remote sensing, and Marcio DaSilva, a PhD candidate who has previously been involved in satellite data collection related to the Kangaroo Island bushfires. Collaborating with computer programmer Michael Hillman, the team has dedicated over 18 months to testing algorithms on desktop computers.
Subsequently, they have progressed to experimenting with cloud computing environments in collaboration with experts from CSIRO. This iterative process has allowed them to refine and scale up their research methodologies effectively.
The AU$1.38 million research project involves collaboration with several key partners. These include experts from the Green Triangle Forest Health Group, NIFPI (National Institute for Forest Products Innovation), the Growers Research Advisory Committee, Forest Corporation NSW, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, UniSA (University of South Australia), as well as numerous forest companies in Australia. The project benefits from the diverse expertise and contributions of these partners.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that the latest round of grants has allocated a total of AU$ 6 million to support eight research projects. This underscores the significant investment being made in advancing research initiatives across various domains.
The Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry emphasised that the funding provided for the third round of projects, amounting to AU$6 million, will not only support ongoing research careers in the forest and wood products sectors but also contribute to the development of future forestry jobs.
These projects are expected to play a crucial role in promoting innovation across various areas, including forest management, worker safety, advanced remote sensing, forest water use, tree breeding genetics, and optimising resource utilisation. The aim is to explore these domains and facilitate advancements that will have a positive impact on the forestry industry and its stakeholders.
In the October Federal Budget of 2022-2023, a significant commitment of AU$ 100 million over a span of five years was made to enhance and expand the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI) throughout Australia. The allocated funds are intended to support research and development endeavours aimed at addressing the national challenges faced by the forest and wood products industries. This substantial investment reflects the government’s recognition of the importance of these sectors and their potential to contribute to the country’s economic growth and sustainability.