February 2019 wrap-up

By March 4th, 2019

February was a busy month, which we spent getting back into the swing of things.

In the media:

  • “New mapping tools are being developed by researchers at Australia’s top science institute, the CSIRO, to help get the jump on fast-spreading infectious diseases” – Data61 researchers publish new research on the use of mapping and social media technology to track disease. We were featured in a range of media outlets, published a blog post, and the work was featured on television and radio segments.
  • A new research project in partnership with the Garvan Institute, using virtual reality to allow patients and researchers to ‘see’ the drivers of cancer in virtual reality, was announced.
  • Our work on the development of a ‘Drought Map’ tool – which brings together disparate data into a single online interactive map to assist analysis, decision making, planning and reporting around drought response – was made accessible to the public.
  • The Digital Transformation Agency published a new report on blockchain; featuring Data61’s work on examining the use of ‘smart money’ to allow payments for government schemes, which we worked on in partnership with the Commonwealth Bank.
  • “The NSW government has provided the first look at a “digital twin” proof-of-concept that it is developing with Data61” – a fascinating new technology for the creation of a digital equivalent of a real-world asset – such as a building or even a city – was announced, in partnership with the NSW Government.
  • We announced that we’re partnering with Transport for NSW to apply rigorous data science to transport systems.

And in other news:

  • Data61’s machine learning expert Richard Nock and CEO Adrian Turner spoke at the NSW Government’s ‘Policy Lab’ event
  • Data61’s Peter Runcie was cited in an AECOM report looking at global infrastructure.
  • CEO Adrian Turner published a piece in the Australian Financial Review, on the opportunity for Australia in the autonomous vehicle industry
  • We published a video about our work on the use of virtual reality technology to help prawn farmers move to efficient, high production, low-risk prawn aquaculture.
  • Data61’s partnership with Microsoft’s Hololens ended up on stage at the announcement of their second-generation headset – we’re using the headset in a range of different applications and at the Immersive Environment Lab.
  • We hosted a Privacy Preserving Record Linkage workshop – a workshop to bring together academics and implementers to discuss advances in private record linkage – at our ATP offices – read more about it here.