Overview
Background
Pascal is a spatial data scientist whose research combines geographic information systems (GIS), spatial economics, renewable energy, and electricity network modelling to support the transition to sustainable and resilient energy systems. He develops digital spatial models and decision-support tools that help governments, industry and researchers make evidence-based decisions about infrastructure, mining and regional development.
His research integrates large-scale geospatial datasets with engineering, environmental and economic analyses to better understand the interactions between natural resources, energy systems and human activities. Current projects focus on renewable energy planning, power transmission and distribution networks, mine closure and repurposing, critical infrastructure, freight and logistics, and regional resource economies.
Research areas include:
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data science
- Renewable energy planning and energy transitions
- Electricity transmission and distribution network modelling
- Spatial economics and regional development
- Mining systems, mine closure and post-mining land use
- Digital twins and decision-support systems
- Critical infrastructure and freight network analysis
- Earth observation and environmental spatial modelling
Pascal has more than a decade of experience applying geospatial technologies across research, teaching and industry. He works closely with government agencies, industry partners and interdisciplinary research teams to develop innovative spatial tools that support infrastructure investment, decarbonisation pathways and sustainable resource management.
Availability
- Dr Pascal Bolz is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience, Universitaet Hamburg
- Masters (Coursework) of Earth Sciences, Universitaet Hamburg
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research impacts
Pascal's research develops practical digital tools and spatial intelligence that help governments, industry and communities make better decisions about energy, infrastructure and natural resources. By integrating engineering, economics and geospatial science, his work provides evidence to support investment, regional planning and the transition to low-carbon energy systems.
His research has contributed to:
- Improving the planning of renewable energy projects through spatial suitability and infrastructure analysis.
- Supporting the mining sector to identify opportunities for mine-site renewable energy, electrification and post-mining land use.
- Developing digital models of electricity transmission and distribution networks that enable scenario analysis for future energy systems.
- Quantifying regional infrastructure, freight and resource supply chains to support strategic planning and economic development.
- Creating open, reproducible spatial datasets and analytical workflows that improve transparency and accelerate research and industry collaboration.
Pascal works closely with government agencies, industry partners and research organisations to ensure that research findings can be translated into practical decision-support tools. His projects combine large and diverse datasets—including energy infrastructure, transport networks, mining assets and environmental information—to provide an integrated understanding of regional systems.
The overarching goal of his research is to improve the way infrastructure and natural resources are planned and managed, helping to reduce costs, strengthen regional resilience and support Australia's transition to a more sustainable, reliable and economically competitive energy future.
Works
Search Professor Pascal Bolz’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
100 years of soil erosion monitoring: advances, limitations and pathways for improved validation of soil erosion models
Kondage, Yasanga Suduweli, Bolz, Pascal, McKenna, Phillip B. and Côte, Claire M. (2026). 100 years of soil erosion monitoring: advances, limitations and pathways for improved validation of soil erosion models. CATENA, 273 110384, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.110384
2026
Other Outputs
Australian Water Atlas for Resource Extraction (AWARE) pilot project
Rochford, L. M., Bolz, P., Samper, A., McIntyre, N., Bulovic, N., Edraki, M. and Cote, C. M. (2026). Australian Water Atlas for Resource Extraction (AWARE) pilot project. Perth: Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies.
2025
Conference Publication
Australian Water Atlas for Resource Extraction (AWARE), Pilot project
Rochford, Louisa M., Bolz, Pascal, Samper, Agnes, Bulovic, Nevenka, Edraki, Mansour, McIntyre, Neil and Cote, Claire (2025). Australian Water Atlas for Resource Extraction (AWARE), Pilot project. CRC TiME Annual Forum 2025, Darwin, NT, Australia, 26-27 August 2025.
2025
Journal Article
ESG mapping of the Australian mining sector – The state of play on mobilising spatial datasets for decision making
Lèbre, Eléonore, Czarnota, Karol, Walsh, Stuart D.C., Haynes, Marcus, Ufer, Natasha, Sonter, Laura J., Sreekar, Rachakonda, Bolz, Pascal, Bulovic, Nevenka, Côte, Claire, Kunz, Nadja C., Micklethwaite, Steven, Northey, Stephen A., Rochford, Louisa M., Schodde, Richard, Seligmann, Benjamin and Sturman, Kathryn (2025). ESG mapping of the Australian mining sector – The state of play on mobilising spatial datasets for decision making. Resources Policy, 105 105592, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105592
2025
Other Outputs
Renewable energy as post-mining land use
Claire Madeleine Côte, Pascal Bolz and Jacqui Robertson (2025). Renewable energy as post-mining land use. Brisbane, Queensland: ACARP.
2025
Other Outputs
Optimising future copper production in the North West Mineral Province Phase 1
Evans, Tom, Rochford, Louisa, Bolz, Pascal, Soto, Juan, Sturman, Kathryn, Worden, Sandy, Verster, Lizette, Jefferson-Montoya, Mayra, Micklethwaite, Steven and Noppé, Mark (2025). Optimising future copper production in the North West Mineral Province Phase 1. Brisbane: University of Queensland.
2025
Journal Article
A multimethod GIS-based framework for site selection of underground pumped storage power stations using closing coal mines: a case study of the Shanxi province, China
Sun, Zhongbo, Zhao, Yixin, Bolz, Pascal, Côte, Claire and Ren, Jiandong (2025). A multimethod GIS-based framework for site selection of underground pumped storage power stations using closing coal mines: a case study of the Shanxi province, China. Renewable Energy, 243 122521, 122521. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122521
2024
Other Outputs
The feasibility of developing regionally integrated transitions beyond mining in the Hunter Region
Bolz, Pascal, Egan, Myles, Eckert, Courtney, Littleboy, Anna, Mackenzie, John, Ryan, Roberta, Samper, Agnes, Wetzel, Amanda and Worden, Sandy (2024). The feasibility of developing regionally integrated transitions beyond mining in the Hunter Region. Adelaide, SA Australia: CSIRO. doi: 10.25919/16y4-fk53
2024
Other Outputs
Fire management review and Fire resilience guidance. Meandu Mine fire: impacts on rehabilitation
McKenna, Phillip, Bulovic, Nevenka, Bolz, Pascal and Erskine, Peter (2024). Fire management review and Fire resilience guidance. Meandu Mine fire: impacts on rehabilitation. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2024
Journal Article
Downscaled climate model erosivity projections and drivers of change across distinct climate regions
Bulovic, Nevenka, McIntyre, Neil, Trancoso, Ralph, Bolz, Pascal and Shaygan, Mandana (2024). Downscaled climate model erosivity projections and drivers of change across distinct climate regions. Catena, 244 108250, 108250. doi: 10.1016/j.catena.2024.108250
2024
Journal Article
Sustainable integration of desalinated seawater into regional water supply networks using a participatory modelling framework
Pagliero, Liliana, McIntyre, Neil, Aitken, Douglas, Bolz, Pascal, Jamett, Nathalie, Pérez-Murillo, Gabriel, Rivero, Francisca, Herrera-León, Sebastián, Ordens, Carlos M., Campos, Levi, García, Giovana and Cisternas, Luis A. (2024). Sustainable integration of desalinated seawater into regional water supply networks using a participatory modelling framework. Environmental Science and Policy, 155 103714, 103714. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103714
2024
Journal Article
Regional post-mining land use assessment: an interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach
Worden, Sandy, Svobodova, Kamila, Côte, Claire and Bolz, Pascal (2024). Regional post-mining land use assessment: an interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach. Resources Policy, 89 104680, 104680. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104680
2024
Other Outputs
Final Report: Drones4waste, Hercules mine site, Tasmania
Micklethwaite, S., Asmussen, P., Erskine, P. and Savinova, E. (2024). Final Report: Drones4waste, Hercules mine site, Tasmania. Brisbane: University of Queensland.
2023
Conference Publication
Developing a regional data catalogue to support the technical assessment of post-mining land use
Côte, Claire Madeleine, Bolz, Pascal, Pagliero, Liliana, Shaygan, Mandana, Edraki, Mansour and Erskine, Peter (2023). Developing a regional data catalogue to support the technical assessment of post-mining land use. AusIMM Life of Mine Conference 2023, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2-4 August 2023. Carlton, VIC, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2023
Other Outputs
Site selection report: rehabilitation options for ponded areas due to longwall coal mining
Rochford, Louisa, Bolz, Pascal, Hernandez Santin, Lorna and Shaygan, Mandana (2023). Site selection report: rehabilitation options for ponded areas due to longwall coal mining. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2023
Journal Article
Multimethod provenance analysis using detrital zircon and rutile U-Pb geochronology across Devonian basin systems in the Tasmanides of eastern Australia
Asmussen, P., Gust, D.A., Bryan, S.E., Purdy, D., Murphy, D. and Allen, C.M. (2023). Multimethod provenance analysis using detrital zircon and rutile U-Pb geochronology across Devonian basin systems in the Tasmanides of eastern Australia. Gondwana Research, 118, 174-191. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2023.03.004
2023
Journal Article
Physical and geochemical reconstruction of a 2.35–2.1 Ga volcanic arc (Toumodi Greenstone Belt, Ivory Coast, West Africa)
Hayman, P. C., Bolz, P., Senyah, G., Tegan, E., Denyszyn, S., Murphy, D. T. and Jessell, M. W. (2023). Physical and geochemical reconstruction of a 2.35–2.1 Ga volcanic arc (Toumodi Greenstone Belt, Ivory Coast, West Africa). Precambrian Research, 389 107029, 1-19. doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2023.107029
2023
Journal Article
Deciphering a cryptic unconformity in the Surat Basin using high frequency detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology: Insights into basin dynamics on the north-east margin of Gondwana
Asmussen, Pascal, Pidgeon, Brett, Gaede, Oliver, Gust, David and Flottmann, Thomas (2023). Deciphering a cryptic unconformity in the Surat Basin using high frequency detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology: Insights into basin dynamics on the north-east margin of Gondwana. Gondwana Research, 118, 117-134. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2023.02.018
2023
Other Outputs
CleanCo: Swanbank Power Station: Hydrological and water quality assessment
Chrystal, Robynne, Bolz, Pascal, Edraki, Mansour and McIntyre, Neil (2023). CleanCo: Swanbank Power Station: Hydrological and water quality assessment. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute.
2023
Other Outputs
Design of Activities for the Investigation of Ngadju Salt Lake Systems
Chrystal, Robynne, McIntyre, Neil, Bolz, Pascal, Edraki, Mansour, Worden, Sandy, Holcombe, Sarah, Barnes, Rodger and Hernandez Santin, Lorna (2023). Design of Activities for the Investigation of Ngadju Salt Lake Systems. Brisbane, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Pascal Bolz is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improving the Prediction of Soil Losses from Disturbed and Rehabilitated Land in Mining Operations at Sub-Catchment Scale
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Phill McKenna
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Pascal Bolz's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: