The ReefGrid project has been set up to develop technologies for long-range environmental sensor networks for monitoring marine ecosystems in tropical areas. Technologies developed here will be be directly relevant to the Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System (GBROOS), which is part of the Intergrated Marine Observing System NCRIS capability area. This program is the first substantial long-range sensor network for remote reef monitoring in the world.

The Great Barrier Reef is an important ecosystem both in economic and natural heritage terms. ReefGrid will monitor a range of parameters that will help scientists to understand the physical and biological dynamics of the GBR. Scientists will also be able to use the collected data to assess the health of the GBR. The effects of Climate Change, tourism, fishing, and pollutants on the GBR can be evaluated with a dataset that is more comprehensive than those currently available.

The ReefGrid.org website provides a portal that allows scientists and the public alike to access development data streams being delivered by the ReefGrid project as well as providing background information on the complex technologies necessary to make this these sensor networks work.  For information on the field deployments click on the Sensor Data link above.  A live webcam on Davies Reef can be accessed here.

ReefGrid is a collaborative project between JCU, QCIF, AIMS@JCU, AIMS and ISSNIP.

Contact Cameron Huddlestone-Holmes for more details.