Smart Irrigation Management for Parks and Cool Towns (SIMPaCT)

Multi-award winning project: Creating cooler parks and gardens for our communities to enjoy, using smart water irrigation systems at Bicentennial Park

SIMPaCT uses machine learning and smart technology to cool the microclimate, using data sourced from a mix of environmental sensors. A network of sensors has been set up to record soil moisture and air temperature. The information will be used to fine-tune irrigation at the park using artificial intelligence (AI). Insights will be shared online so that park users will be able to find the coolest and shadiest places in the park for picnics, play and exercise. In addition, SIMPaCT helps mitigate the Urban Heat Island effect in the adjacent residential precincts. ​

SIMPaCT focuses on making the park a 'cool island', with far reaching thermal benefits for communities downwind from the park.​

This project has set up over 50 devices to measure temperature and humidity. There are also 13 weather stations and over 200 ‘smart-soil’ devices installed across the park.

Engagement

The Digital Restart Fund awarded $2.5M to the Sydney Olympic Park Authority for the Smart Irrigation Management for Parks and Cool Towns (SIMPaCT) project. Western Sydney University researchers developed the concept and are administering and delivering SIMPaCT with SOPA and Sydney Water, in partnership with a team of university researchers at UTS and Monash, and industry partners including The ARCs Group, Eratos, Centratech, HARC and Saphi.​

Department leading the project

Transport for NSW​