This internet browser is outdated and does not support all features of this site. Please switch or upgrade to a different browser to display this site properly.

Space & Astronomy Projects

The Curtin Institute for Data Science is supporting partners from academia, industry, and government across various sectors such as, health sciences, astronomy, agriculture and aquaculture, manufacturing, transport with their data science, software development, and computational needs.

At present, the Institute would typically contribute to 30-40 research projects per annum, working with over 50 external organisations.

HomeResearch at CurtinData ScienceOur ProjectsSpace & Astronomy

Astronomy Australia Limited; Swinburne University of Technology; Macquarie University

Astronomy Data and Computing Services (ADACS)

Astronomy Data And Computing Services (ADACS) is a joint project between Curtin University, Swinburne University of Technology and Macquarie University, funded by Astronomy Australia Limited to provide astronomy-focused training, support, and expertise on data and computing.

ADACS focuses on providing astronomers with upskilling to become more capable and efficient users of software and hardware. As part of this upskilling, astronomers learn to write research software that is more robust and easier to develop, share, and reuse.

The Curtin School of Earth and Planetary Science

Mars up close: A 3D visualisation portal

The Martian surface is peppered with over half a million large (>1 km diameter) and tens of millions of smaller impact craters. High-resolution surface imagery helps researchers better understand the processes sculpting Martian surface topography. The public release of a Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter dataset will allow unprecedentedly detailed analysis of the Martian surface.

A team of researchers – led by Prof Benedix from the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences – partnered with the CIDS to develop a machine learning workﬂow that automatically detects impact craters on the Martian surface.

Australian Space Agency; CSIRO/Pawsey Supercomputing Centre; Curtin Institute for Data Science

The Australian Space Data Analysis Facility

The Australian Space Data Analysis Facility (ASDAF) aims to help Australian small to medium-sized enterprises and researchers get the most out of space data. Curtin Institute for Data Science is the primary delivery partner for ASDAF and uses its data science expertise to help achieve ASDAF’s remit.

Currently, large volumes of geospatial, geophysical and Earth observation data from a range of satellite platforms are publicly available through national facilities.

Pawsey Supercomputing Centre; Curtin University; University of Toronto

PIGI Parallel interferometric GPU imaging

The Pawsey Centre for Extreme-Scale Readiness (PaCER) was established with the goal of preparing Australia’s computational researchers for this new era of supercomputing.

To achieve this goal, PaCER engaged the CIDS on the PIGI project in which recent advancements in interferometric reconstruction algorithms were combined with fast instrumental modelling GPUs.

The Australian Space Data Analysis Facility; In-situ Marine Optics

Automating the processing and validating of remote sensing data products

In-situ Marine Optics engaged the Australian Space Data Analysis Facility for data science and software development to enhance the operational capabilities of its remote sensor monitoring systems. IMO also sought to have in-situ validation integrated into their systems, and to have improved quality control of derived water-quality monitoring products.

This partnership allowed IMO to leverage new technologies to stay on the leading edge of scientific innovation and opportunity, and improve their offered services.