RIEL Seminar Series – Machine learning and Traditional Knowledge to map wetland change

Porni Mollick is a PhD candidate with the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods (RIEL) at Charles Darwin University.

Wetlands are important ecosystems that support the environment, culture, and local communities. In northern Australia, especially in the Northern Territory, wetlands are mostly natural but face growing pressures from climate change and human activities.

In the seminar ‘Machine learning and Traditional Knowledge to map wetland change’, Porni will discuss a study that used satellite imagery and Indigenous Knowledge to assess wetland changes in the Daly River catchment between 2015 and 2024. Seven types of wetlands were mapped, revealing an overall increase of 36%, likely influenced by climatic drivers such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole. The work achieved high classification accuracy and demonstrates how integrating modern technology with Traditional Ecological Knowledge can enhance the protection and management of wetlands into the future.

Porni’s research focuses on climate change and water extraction impacts on wetlands in northern Australia. Porni holds an honours degree and three master degrees, including a Master of Philosophy in Environment, Remote Sensing, Geography and Earth Sciences. With nearly six years of experience, her research interests are remote sensing, geographic information systems, hydrology, landscape ecology, freshwater science, and climate change adaptation.

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