Innovative Research Enhances Coastal Water Quality Monitoring
HDR Spotlight: Avik Nandy
Avik successfully catching the drone by hand after a 2 km transect over the ocean in very high winds, standing on steep ground in Bruny Island, Tasmania.
To improve coastal water quality monitoring for Australia’s extensive aquaculture operations, Avik Nandy's research focuses on the detection and quantification of Chlorophyll-a concentrations in near-coastal environments. Chlorophyll-a is the chemical or pigment in marine plants and algae that gives them their distinctive colours and can be used to detect them and measure the amount in the water. By integrating in-situ measurements with satellite-derived data, Avik has successfully developed, tested and deployed a flexible and scalable retrieval model that captures the complex relationships between light and dynamic water surface properties to monitor water quality in a form and scale relevant to coastal aquaculture management.
After deploying a water quality sensor attached to a solar-powered buoy for continuous data collection in Great Bay, Tasmania.
Avik’s journey into remote sensing began with his background in urban planning and GIS. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, India, where he focused on geospatial analysis and the revitalisation of tram systems in Kolkata. Following graduation, he served as a Senior GIS Specialist at the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement, Royal Government of Bhutan, designing, planning, and implementing several settlements across the country.
After spending over five years collaborating with government agencies on projects that integrated spatial planning, environmental management, and geospatial technologies, Avik pursued a Master’s degree in Geographic Information Science at The University of Queensland. He was awarded the prestigious Australian Government Endeavour Scholarship, a highly competitive and internationally recognised scholarship, to support his studies.
It was during his time at Queensland that Avik discovered remote sensing—a field that instantly captivated him. “The ability to observe and interpret the Earth from above opened an entirely new perspective,” Avik reflects.
Central to Avik's project is the development of a machine learning-based statistical model that adapts to site-specific conditions. This model dynamically selects and calibrates the most suitable algorithms for Chlorophyll-a retrieval, ensuring improved accuracy and scalability across diverse near-coastal environments. However, the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of near-coastal waters posed significant challenges. "Existing published models often failed to yield statistically significant results when applied to these complex environments," Avik explains.
One of the key insights from Avik's research is the impracticality of relying on a single static model due to the dynamic variability of near-coastal waters. Periodic field data collection remains essential to validate and recalibrate model parameters. This underscores the importance of developing locally tuned models that are responsive to site-specific conditions and adaptable to the continuously evolving nature of aquatic environments.
Out at sea collecting water column samples in a boat around Great Bay, Tasmania, facing heavy winds, choppy water, rain, and freezing cold weather.
Avik's project delivers a dynamic modelling framework that can potentially reduce reliance on extensive field sampling, thereby minimising the need for highly technical surveys and specialised equipment. By streamlining the data collection process, the model offers a more efficient and accessible approach to water quality monitoring. Importantly, it is designed to capture the local characteristics of surface water with greater accuracy—an essential advancement for effective and sustainable aquaculture monitoring.
Looking ahead, Avik plans to further experiment and refine the developed model. Given its adaptability to varying surface water properties, the model has the potential to be expanded to include additional water quality parameters, such as total suspended solids (TSS) and coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Integrating these variables will enhance the model’s capacity to deliver comprehensive, multi-parameter assessments, supporting more robust and holistic approaches to water quality monitoring.
This research is conducted as part of the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), fostering collaboration across industry, government, and academia. National-scale data were sourced from the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) to support the development and validation of Chlorophyll-a retrieval algorithms at a continental scale, enabling broader applicability and impact across Australia’s coastal and marine environments.
Avik's project has significantly strengthened his capabilities in research design, analytical problem-solving, and the management of large-scale environmental datasets. It has also deepened his proficiency in programming and data processing, equipping him with the technical and computational skills required to work effectively with complex, multi-source geospatial data in applied environmental contexts.
Reflecting on his journey, Avik emphasises the importance of effective project management and maintaining a clear catalogue of tasks and progress logs. Beyond the technical and academic challenges, he advises prioritising work-life balance. "Taking care of mental health, seeking support when needed, and speaking with professionals during periods of stress are not signs of weakness; they are critical strategies that contribute meaningfully to a sustainable and successful research journey," he shares.
Outside of research, Avik dedicates time to personal growth through activities such as exercise, meditation, drawing, painting, and playing the piano. He also enjoys attending classical music concerts, which offer both inspiration and reflection. During his PhD journey, he launched a personal website (www.aviknandy.com) where he shares experiences through creative storytelling. This platform not only reflects on how everyday moments can offer profound insights but also invites others to share their own stories—fostering a space for connection, learning, and shared understanding.
