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Jarrad McKercher

Background

Jarrad is a PhD Candidate and casual Research Assistant at ECU specializing in remote sensing, spatial data analysis, and environmental modelling. With expertise in QGIS, ArcGIS, and R, they have conducted advanced wildfire and soil studies, including fire severity assessment, species distribution modelling, and digital soil mapping. Previously working with the Perth Airport Rare Plant Project and the PEAT project, they conducted habitat and predictive modelling, plant propagation techniques and plant monitoring. Currently Jarrad is undertaking his PhD alongside the PEAT project in the Walpole Wilderness Area.

Within the School of Medical and Health Sciences, Jarrad is responsible for the management and execution of all spatial analyses and data workflows underpinning the Australian Food Atlas. This includes the design, development, and maintenance of its interactive dashboards.

Overview of thesis

My PhD research project aims to locate peatlands within the Walpole Wilderness Area through digital soil mapping and inform land management decisions through the development and evaluation of a peat soil moisture index. Utilising a range of remote sensing and digital topographical data, delineation of peatlands will be obtained through machine learning methods. Through this identification of peatlands within the landscape, we will develop a peat specific moisture index to inform land management decisions around fire management which will also assist in fire hazard assessments. Through historical fire regime and severity data, the peat moisture index will be validated and calibrated for its use in fire behaviour modelling. The outcomes of this project will provide a resource to assist in research on peatlands and a new potential moisture index for fire behaviour models.

Qualifications

  • Master of Science by Research, Edith Cowan University, 2024
  • Bachelor of Science Environmental Management, 2021
  • Recreational Skippers Ticket (2019)
  • First Aid (2024)
  • Group 1 Operation of a 4WD Vehicle (2021)
  • Snake Awareness, Management and Safe Catching Techniques (2020)
  • White Card CPCCWHS1001 (2020)
  • Pesticides Skill Set (Level 3) AHCMOM213 (2020)
  • Operate and maintain Chainsaws AHCMOM213 (2018)

Research

Research Interests

  • Fire behaviour and management
  • Geospatial & Environmental Modelling
  • Geophysics and subsurface analysis

Past Research employment history

  • 2024-2025: Research Assistant, Edith Cowan University

Other work

  • 2017-2020: Service Fitter, Beaurepaires Kewdale
  • 2020-2022: Environmental Field Technician, Natural Area
  • 2022-2024: Environmental Consultant, Natural Area

Past Teaching

  • (Demonstrating) 2023: Geographical Information Systems SCM2104, Edith Cowan University
  • (Demonstrating) 2025: Geography and Environment GEO1150, Edith Cowan University

Scholarships and Awards

  • 2023 December – 2024 February: Biodiversity and Conservation Science Summer Scholarship, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Supervisors


Contact

Jarrad McKercher
PhD Student
School of Science
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