SIMPaCT – New South Wales’ coolest public park | University of Technology Sydney

Two people sitting in a park under some trees.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly playing a role in benefiting human lives and is now going to help make Bicentennial Park at Sydney Olympic Park a cool urban oasis.

SIMPaCT (Smart Irrigation Management for Parks and Cool Towns) is a partnership ISF is involved with between the NSW Government, several other universities and private industry.

It will merge environmental monitoring and AI across the popular 42-hectare parkland to provide the coolest possible microclimates for residents and visitors during increasingly hot summers.

It is a practical example to demonstrate how smart water management can ease the pressure on our most valuable natural resource. It is Australia’s largest smart green infrastructure project and a major leap forward in the development of heat-responsive urban design.

The Digital Restart Fund, administered by the Department of Customer Services of the NSW Government, will award $2.5 million to Sydney Olympic Park Authority to make SIMPaCT a reality.

This multidisciplinary partnership brings true innovation, cutting-edge science and technology, and ultimately greater climate resilience to Sydney Olympic Park, the state’s premier event destination.

The sensors in Bicentennial Park will record soil moisture and air temperature information and combine it with local weather forecasts. AI will then predict when and for how long different sections of the park need to be watered.

Installation of weather sensor. Photo: Tanya Xaybounheuang

This innovative project uses only recycled water and by evaluating how successful the irrigation management was in keeping defined soil moisture levels, the AI module learns over time how to provide optimal plant hydration.

Project creator and lead Dr Sebastian Pfautsch, Associate Professor at Western Sydney University believes this to be a breakthrough for the field.

This is not science fiction. This is real. The work helps to optimise microclimate and water use in summer. Our technology will be scalable, delivering maximum coolth from plants around buildings and parks anywhere – if you have enough water to irrigate.
– Dr Sebastian Pfautsch, UWS

Environmental conditions across the park will be made visible in several forms. Park visitors can use their mobile phones to check where the coolest spot for a picnic is, or where they should exercise.

Sydney Olympic Park Authority will use this information to optimise their water management and detect technical problems in their irrigation system.