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| CSIRO | SOLVE | Issue 10 | FEB 07 | |
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ARTICLES
Soldiers, police and security personnel will soon be safe under fire in an ultra-lightweight ceramic material.
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StoryWith airspace increasingly crowded, mathematical modelling is identifying the traffic control ‘gaps’.
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StoryResource managers use computer models to estimate how much sediment enters the waters around the Great Barrier Reef, but there is no standard error factor attached.
Full StoryAn international research collaboration aims to deliver a high-amylose wheat variety with specific consumer health benefits.
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StoryIn the vanguard of nanotechnology, CSIRO is leading the way to new renewable energy and health technologies.
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StoryA decade of research into systems-based approaches comes to fruition in CSIRO’s Sustainable Communities Initiative.
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StoryA mathematical modelling program is expected to save millions by accelerating the trip through the drug discovery pipeline.
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StoryAn autonomous twin-hulled robot submarine is set to map and monitor the habitats of the Great Barrier Reef.
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Securing Urban Water Managing the risks associated with climate change, which is quite dramatically increasing the variability of our rainfall, is probably the most difficult test we have ever had to face. For urban water utilities, which together supply water and wastewater services to 16 million Australians, or about 80 per cent of the population, the major challenge is sustainably addressing the issues of climate change, coupled with population growth. Although it is recognised that new water sources are needed, such as desalinisation plants, water recycling plants, groundwater exploration and water trading, they are much more energy-intensive than existing sources and we must ensure that the industry does all it can to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. This is where an innovative industry response to R&D is pivotal to success. The sheer magnitude of the task confronting us presents not only challenges, but also opportunities. Over the next five to 10 years, capital expenditure on new water sources and associated infrastructure will increase substantially. All options must be considered because every situation is different. Decisions will depend on a range of factors because there is no silver bullet. We will also need to recognise that water is fundamentally different to other commodities and is an issue that people are very passionate about. Communities need to be involved very early in decisions on new water sources. Education on water-use efficiency and on alternative water sources will always play an important role. When looking at alternative options, we need to see them within the context that urban Australia uses 20 per cent of all the water extracted from the environment. Urban Australia needs a secure source of water to ensure the economic prosperity of the country. Ross Young
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