Global trends in oceanic wind speed and wave height. This project will determine whether winds and waves over the world's oceans have changed over the past 30 years. Such information is critically important in understanding global climate change, evaporation, air-sea interaction and to safely design and operate coastal and offshore facilities.
Port Stephens Flood Tide Delta: Shoreline Management Issues. The results of this project will contribute substantially to the knowledge of flood tide delta morphodynamics and specifically to those deltas exposed to ocean waves which are most typical throughout eastern and southern Australia. The model generated by the project will be used to test solutions to the problems in Port Stephens and more generally to similar systems elsewhere in Australia. The model will permit the assessment of the re ....Port Stephens Flood Tide Delta: Shoreline Management Issues. The results of this project will contribute substantially to the knowledge of flood tide delta morphodynamics and specifically to those deltas exposed to ocean waves which are most typical throughout eastern and southern Australia. The model generated by the project will be used to test solutions to the problems in Port Stephens and more generally to similar systems elsewhere in Australia. The model will permit the assessment of the responses of the deltas and shoreline to climate change, changing wave climate and reinvigorated sediment budgets, thereby addressing National Research priority-Responding to climate change and variability. The project will is provide training for one APDI and two APAIs in a range of skills.Read moreRead less
Engineering solutions for the next generation of offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Offshore extraction of oil and gas reserves is a key industry for Australia, annually contributing A$21 billion to the economy, and underpinning much of our prosperity. With reserves close to shore being exhausted and A$1 trillion of gas reserves (four times that already developed) known to be 'stranded' in deep and remote locations, the outcomes of the proposed research programme will help scientifically under ....Engineering solutions for the next generation of offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Offshore extraction of oil and gas reserves is a key industry for Australia, annually contributing A$21 billion to the economy, and underpinning much of our prosperity. With reserves close to shore being exhausted and A$1 trillion of gas reserves (four times that already developed) known to be 'stranded' in deep and remote locations, the outcomes of the proposed research programme will help scientifically underpin the reliable design of the next generation of Australia's exploration and development infrastructure. It continues Australia's leadership in the field of offshore geotechnics and engineering, fostering tomorrow's engineering leaders and ensuring the future competitiveness of Australia's offshore oil and gas industry.Read moreRead less
Modelling of sand wave migration and its interaction with pipelines. The movement of sand due to sand waves can interfere with marine structures such as pipelines and cables on the seabed. It may also cause free spans of pipelines, with potentially serious consequences. Most previous research has considered sand wave propagation and the stability of pipelines as separate problems. In this project, we propose a coupled analysis of sand wave migration and its interaction with pipelines through mat ....Modelling of sand wave migration and its interaction with pipelines. The movement of sand due to sand waves can interfere with marine structures such as pipelines and cables on the seabed. It may also cause free spans of pipelines, with potentially serious consequences. Most previous research has considered sand wave propagation and the stability of pipelines as separate problems. In this project, we propose a coupled analysis of sand wave migration and its interaction with pipelines through mathematical and numerical modelling. The theoretical work will be supported by laboratory experiments. The resulting research will provide a better understanding of sand wave migration, beach profiles and the stability of pipelines.Read moreRead less
Environment modelling of Great Barrier Reef habitats using Autonomous Transect Surveying. This project has as its goal the development of algorithms and methods capable of modeling unstructured, reef environments using data collected by an autonomous robotic system capable of surveying the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) currently has a small research Umanned Underwater Vehicle capable of undertaking such survey work. Under the proposed project, this vehicle ....Environment modelling of Great Barrier Reef habitats using Autonomous Transect Surveying. This project has as its goal the development of algorithms and methods capable of modeling unstructured, reef environments using data collected by an autonomous robotic system capable of surveying the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) currently has a small research Umanned Underwater Vehicle capable of undertaking such survey work. Under the proposed project, this vehicle will be equipped with appropriate sensors (such as vision systems, sonar, depth and temperature sensors). The proposed grant will support an APA (I) whose aim will be the construction of comprehensive models of the state of the reef over which the vehicle will operate.Read moreRead less
Coupled models for waves, a porous seabed and breakwater interactions. Design of coastal structures such as breakwaters has demanded more accurate and reliable methods for the evaluation of the stability of structures and their foundations. Stability of the breakwater and its foundation is the first key issue for practical engineers. This project will establish the first fully coupled model for wave-seabed-structure interaction. The proposed study will not only enhance the understanding of the c ....Coupled models for waves, a porous seabed and breakwater interactions. Design of coastal structures such as breakwaters has demanded more accurate and reliable methods for the evaluation of the stability of structures and their foundations. Stability of the breakwater and its foundation is the first key issue for practical engineers. This project will establish the first fully coupled model for wave-seabed-structure interaction. The proposed study will not only enhance the understanding of the complex system, which is an area of vital interest for design of coastal structures, but also contribute to the national development and competitiveness in ocean exploration, reduce the risk of potential environmental damage caused by failure of breakwaters and produce high quality research students.Read moreRead less
Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arb ....Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arbitrary fish motion and give answers to these and other questions concerning swimming. It may also help humans to swim more efficiently and provide simulation tools for the design of robotic undersea vehicles.Read moreRead less
Satellite measurements of ocean wave breaking. This project aims to develop a methodology for global satellite measurements of ocean wave breaking and determine global trends. Measurements of ocean wave breaking are elusive and not available at global scale, but are important for understanding ocean wave dynamics, air-sea interaction, aerosol production, gas transfer, ocean mixing, climate, and other coupled dynamics in the air-sea system, and designing and operating coastal and offshore facilit ....Satellite measurements of ocean wave breaking. This project aims to develop a methodology for global satellite measurements of ocean wave breaking and determine global trends. Measurements of ocean wave breaking are elusive and not available at global scale, but are important for understanding ocean wave dynamics, air-sea interaction, aerosol production, gas transfer, ocean mixing, climate, and other coupled dynamics in the air-sea system, and designing and operating coastal and offshore facilities. This project will produce major updates of wave and General Circulation Models which will be important for our understanding of wave, ocean and climate dynamics, the design and operation of coastal and offshore facilities and the determination of global trends. The new satellite sensing is expected to be used extensively in metocean and engineering applications, and for major updates of wave and general circulation models.Read moreRead less