National groundwater model aims to strengthen Australia's water future
University of Newcastle researchers, together with a team of Australian and international partners, are building a national open-access 3D computational model of Australia’s groundwater systems. The model will support informed decision-making about water resources in a changing climate.
The project is funded by AuScope and the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.
Led by School of Science lecturer Dr Sara Polanco, the project will transform an existing Australia-wide research model into a national resource that supports groundwater planning, research and policy development.
The project brings together experts from the University of Newcastle, the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Geoscience Australia, Utrecht University in the Netherlands and Deltares, a world-leading independent research institute also based in the Netherlands.
"Groundwater supports everything from drinking water supplies to agriculture and critical minerals processing, but we still don't have a consistent national picture of how these systems respond to environmental change," Dr Polanco said.
The team will use advanced modelling tools, the National Computational Infrastructure's Gadi supercomputer and AI-assisted analysis to bring together data about Australia's geology, water systems and environment in a single platform.
Researchers and planners will be able to explore groundwater systems across Australia, with the new model connecting detailed regional studies with broader national assessments.
“By bringing together data and modelling capabilities at this scale, we can support more informed decision-making about Australia's groundwater future,” Dr Polanco said.
The project team will also create open-source tools, training resources and practical guides to help researchers and decision-makers use and improve the model over time.
"The goal is to create a resource that continues to grow and improve as new data, technologies and community needs emerge," Dr Polanco said.
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Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.