The new Microsoft QUT eResearch Centre, which is the first of its kind in Australia and one of only a handful in the world, aims to give scientists more time for discovery and invention by automating the data processes that are necessary to their research.

The virtual lab is jointly funded by Microsoft Corp., QUT and the Queensland Government.

QUT Professor Paul Roe said the center would allow scientists to research climate change by providing the IT tools necessary to collate, manage and analyze vast amounts of information.

"For example QUT scientists are already involved in a project that uses adaptive sensor networks to collect sound data of bird colonies north of Brisbane," he said.

"The sensors capture data in real time, making it is possible to identify bird species by recognizing their calls. However the amount of data collected needs to be managed and indexed in a way that allows scientists to analyze the information."