The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's (DWER) WA Vegetation Extent (WAVE) Pilot has been recognised with a Merit Award in the People and Planet Solution of the Year category at the 35th Annual WAITTA INCITE Awards.
The People and Planet category celebrates technology-led solutions delivering positive social, environmental and community outcomes. It recognises initiatives that combine innovation with measurable impact for people, communities and the environment.
The WAVE Pilot is a flagship artificial intelligence initiative under the Western Australian Government's Native Vegetation Policy. Led by DWER in partnership with seven other government organisations, the project is exploring how satellite imagery, artificial intelligence and cloud computing can be used to map and monitor native vegetation across Western Australia at an unprecedented scale.
Accurate vegetation extent information is foundational to environmental management, land-use planning, conservation, biodiversity protection, climate resilience and regulatory decision-making. Yet Western Australia's vast size and ecological diversity have historically made vegetation mapping difficult, time-consuming and expensive. The WAVE Pilot is testing whether emerging technologies can help bridge this gap and provide more frequent, transparent and consistent information to support better decisions for government, industry, researchers, land managers and communities.
This recognition from WAITTA highlights the growing role that responsible AI and digital innovation can play in addressing complex environmental challenges.
Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to the WAVE Pilot, including partner agencies, researchers, Traditional Owners, land managers and the broader project team. This Merit Award reflects a shared commitment to delivering better environmental information, supporting evidence-based decisions, and creating lasting benefits for people, communities and Country.
Find out more about the WAVE Pilot: https://www.wa.gov.au/service/environment/environment-information-servi…
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