4. RESEARCH / ACADEMIA

Case Study

Goyder Institute & S.A.L Water: Geospatial Analysis Guides Sustainable Water Management

Service Focus: Geospatial Statistics & Planning

Client Context:

The Goyder Institute for Water Research, in partnership with S.A.L Water, conducts applied
research to improve water security and sustainability in South Australia. Their work supports government policy, agricultural planning, and ecosystem preservation in regions facing increasing water scarcity.

Challenge:

Decision-makers needed to identify priority catchment areas for targeted water conservation efforts, but existing data was fragmented across multiple agencies and lacked spatial integration. The challenge was to combine satellite imagery, hydrological models, and field observations into a cohesive geospatial decision-support tool.

StatiCian Approach:

We delivered a comprehensive geospatial statistical analysis that included:

  • Mapping and integrating satellite remote sensing data with on-the-ground hydrological
    measurements.
  • Spatial clustering algorithms to detect high-risk catchments.
  •  Predictive modelling to estimate future water stress scenarios under different climate
    conditions.
  • An interactive GIS platform for policy planners and researchers.

Results:

  • Identified priority zones covering 20% less land while safeguarding over 90% of at-risk
    water resources.
  • Enabled targeted infrastructure investments in the most critical areas.
  • Provided policy-makers with an interactive map-based tool for long-term planning.

Benefit

The Goyder Institute and S.A.L Water can now strategically allocate resources for water conservation, ensuring scientific evidence directly drives sustainable water policy and operational decisions.