ATN in PROFILE

UniSA leads research into national wireless sensor network

Demonstrating the type of targeted research capability that has made ATN universities leaders in their fields of expertise, UniSA’s Institute for Telecommunications Research will be leading the charge in developing a new satellite-based wireless sensor network to provide Australia with an improved capacity to collect information vital for industry, defence, the environment and national security.

Announced by Innovation, Science and Research Minister, Senator Kim Carr, UniSA has been awarded $5 million under the federal government’s priority Australian Space Research Program.

Matched with an investment from partners, including Canadian partner and global designer and manufacturer of space hardware, COM DEV, South Australian companies: EMS Satcom Pacific and SAGE Automation, as well as national organisations: DSTO, CSIRO, Australian Institute for Marine Science, the project will be worth more than $12 million over 2.5 years.

The project will scope and test the use of microsatellites for use in providing two-way data communications to remote sensors and devices, and will be vital in building Australia’s capability in space-based technologies.

It highlights the research innovation and excellence taking place at the university, which has been building its capabilities in a number of space-related areas, with the International Space University (ISU) Space Summer School to take place at UniSA in early 2011.