UC research has transformed water management at Canberra's National Arboretum through a UC designed state-of-the-art Internet of Things-based (IoT) irrigation system that significantly reduces water waste and optimises plant hydration, leading to healthier and more resilient flora ensuring the Arboretum’s long-term viability. Lower water consumption eases pressure on local water resources, ensuring availability for households and businesses which is vital in the drought prone Canberra region. 

The IoT irrigation system uses sensors embedded in the soil to continuously collect data about the soil condition which is then analyzed and fed into irrigation systems in real time. In essence, the IoT-based soil condition monitoring system is like having a highly intelligent assistant that keeps track of the soil’s needs and takes care of watering efficiently.