The environmental consulting sector is an effective leading indicator of WA's economic performance, and industry leaders are noticing a big improvement.
Renewables, railways, and a pick-up in the resources sector are providing work for local environmental services businesses, which have become increasingly optimistic after taking a hit amid the slowdown in mining construction projects.
Shark detection technology developed by Perth-based environmental consultancy Astron and its partner, C4D Intel, has completed its first prototype field trials.
Perth-founded stock investing platform Simply Wall St has been ranked as Techboard's top startup for the past fortnight, making it the first ever company to have topped the ranking twice after having previously topped the list in December last year.
Two Western Australian organisations have become the second and third in the nation to secure unmanned aerial vehicles its manufacturer says can fly 300 per cent longer than its competitors'.
The slowdown in mining project work has resulted in a 26 per cent fall in the number of environmental professionals employed at the state's biggest consulting firms over the past year.
Astron Environmental Services has merged with its smaller, associated business, Astron Soil and Water, as the Perth group adapts to a tougher market and tighter margins.