Fabrication of Magnesium Diboride (MgB2) thick films. The recent discovery of superconductivity at 39 K in MgB2 has stimulated considerable interest in terms of both fundamental research and applications. The purpose of the proposed project is to conduct fundamental studies on the synthesis, structures and microstructures, and physical properties of doped and undoped MgB2 thick films. The ultimate goal of this study is to fabricate high quality MgB2 thick films on different substrates and to gai ....Fabrication of Magnesium Diboride (MgB2) thick films. The recent discovery of superconductivity at 39 K in MgB2 has stimulated considerable interest in terms of both fundamental research and applications. The purpose of the proposed project is to conduct fundamental studies on the synthesis, structures and microstructures, and physical properties of doped and undoped MgB2 thick films. The ultimate goal of this study is to fabricate high quality MgB2 thick films on different substrates and to gain a better understanding of their various properties with a view to device application.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Information Model to Support Metropolitan Planning, Management and Analysis. This project will be the first in Australia to integrate diverse types of urban data using an open-standard geospatial information model to research the outcomes of major urban renewal proposals in collaboration with both a state and local government planning instrumentalities.
Since the issues being addressed are common to every planning body in Australia, the flow-on benefits will be of national signif ....An Integrated Information Model to Support Metropolitan Planning, Management and Analysis. This project will be the first in Australia to integrate diverse types of urban data using an open-standard geospatial information model to research the outcomes of major urban renewal proposals in collaboration with both a state and local government planning instrumentalities.
Since the issues being addressed are common to every planning body in Australia, the flow-on benefits will be of national significance for future urban planning and management.
The research will place Australia at the forefront of international research to improve spatial information management that will inform planning decisions at the local and state level.Read moreRead less
Prediction and optimisation of the acoustic performance of mufflers for sleep apnea devices. ResMed is a world leader in the technology of developing products for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). ResMed provided the first successful non-invasive treatment of OSA with their sleep apnea device. Noise reduction is an important issue in the development of this product, since these devices operate on a bedside table. This project will enable the acoustic performance of these small irregularly ....Prediction and optimisation of the acoustic performance of mufflers for sleep apnea devices. ResMed is a world leader in the technology of developing products for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). ResMed provided the first successful non-invasive treatment of OSA with their sleep apnea device. Noise reduction is an important issue in the development of this product, since these devices operate on a bedside table. This project will enable the acoustic performance of these small irregularly shaped mufflers to be reliably predicted and optimised. The successful outcomes will improve the quality of the well-being of the user. This research also has relevance to the design of mufflers for use in broader applications such as locomotives and ferries.Read moreRead less
Australia's Nuclear Choices. Australia's nuclear choices will be made in the context of a challenging and fluid international strategic environment characterised in Australia's immediate region by heightened global concerns regarding such transnational dilemmas as terrorism, energy security and nuclear proliferation. This project, through exploring the nature, evolution and consequences of contemporary strategic, military and civil nuclear developments impacting on the international non-prolifer ....Australia's Nuclear Choices. Australia's nuclear choices will be made in the context of a challenging and fluid international strategic environment characterised in Australia's immediate region by heightened global concerns regarding such transnational dilemmas as terrorism, energy security and nuclear proliferation. This project, through exploring the nature, evolution and consequences of contemporary strategic, military and civil nuclear developments impacting on the international non-proliferation regime will enable Australian policy-makers to better calibrate the costs and benefits of potential policy changes across these strategic, regime and market realms of Australia's nuclear interests.Read moreRead less
The Surface Science of Vacuum Glazing. In order to achieve a stable vacuum in evacuated glazing, high temperature baking during evacuation is required. The high temperature processing prevents the use of strengthened glass, such as tempered glass. However, samples made at low temperatures suffer from poor vacuum characteristics, particularly when exposed to UV radiation. In this project, we aim to discover the chemical and physical processes occurring on the glass surface responsible for vacuum ....The Surface Science of Vacuum Glazing. In order to achieve a stable vacuum in evacuated glazing, high temperature baking during evacuation is required. The high temperature processing prevents the use of strengthened glass, such as tempered glass. However, samples made at low temperatures suffer from poor vacuum characteristics, particularly when exposed to UV radiation. In this project, we aim to discover the chemical and physical processes occurring on the glass surface responsible for vacuum degradation. We will use this knowledge to develop a low temperature manufacturing process that can be used with tempered glass and results in a high-quality vacuum, stable over the device service life.Read moreRead less
Investment Approaches and Applications in Financial Markets: Evolutionary Kernel Based Subset Time-Series Using Semi-Parametric Approaches. The project will develop new investment assessments based on subset time-series modeling. Innovative evolutionary kernel smoothing algorithms using semi-parametric approaches will be introduced. The project will make three important applications of this modeling in financial markets: a) benchmarking and evaluation of inflation-indexed bonds; b) evaluation of ....Investment Approaches and Applications in Financial Markets: Evolutionary Kernel Based Subset Time-Series Using Semi-Parametric Approaches. The project will develop new investment assessments based on subset time-series modeling. Innovative evolutionary kernel smoothing algorithms using semi-parametric approaches will be introduced. The project will make three important applications of this modeling in financial markets: a) benchmarking and evaluation of inflation-indexed bonds; b) evaluation of the performance of global diversified investment funds; and c) prediction to provide early warning of the emergence of destabilising deflation or inflation. These three applications will lead to improved risk management practices and investment performance. Recursive algorithms will provide new statistical methods to study investment asset price movements and market volatility.
Read moreRead less
Assisted GPS and Advanced Positioning For Emergency Services. Many volunteers have lost their lives fighting bushfires in Australia. Fires are becoming more numerous and more fierce. Some of those firemen could have been saved if better information was available: where they were, where the firefront was and how it was progressing. This project aims to save lives by solving part of this problem: locating and reporting the position of the remote firefighter by making GPS work reliably under trees. ....Assisted GPS and Advanced Positioning For Emergency Services. Many volunteers have lost their lives fighting bushfires in Australia. Fires are becoming more numerous and more fierce. Some of those firemen could have been saved if better information was available: where they were, where the firefront was and how it was progressing. This project aims to save lives by solving part of this problem: locating and reporting the position of the remote firefighter by making GPS work reliably under trees. This will also make search and rescue operations safer and more efficient. The technology can transfer readily into the location-based services market which is set to boom in the next decade. This project helps maintain momentum in Australia's world-class but small positioning industry.Read moreRead less
Restoring hydrological connectivity of surface and ground waters: Biogeochemical processes and environmental benefits for river landscapes. This project examines the restoration of lateral hydrological connectivity to improve floodplain structure and function. The connections between stream flows and both shallow groundwaters and floodplains are critical in sustaining river landscapes. Degrading land and water management practices compounded by natural climatic extremes have severed this link. ....Restoring hydrological connectivity of surface and ground waters: Biogeochemical processes and environmental benefits for river landscapes. This project examines the restoration of lateral hydrological connectivity to improve floodplain structure and function. The connections between stream flows and both shallow groundwaters and floodplains are critical in sustaining river landscapes. Degrading land and water management practices compounded by natural climatic extremes have severed this link. Restoring hydrological connectivity is vital for replenishing groundwater storage and increasing base flows that affect fundamental riverine processes. Using an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture, our project unites multidisciplinary scientific and industry expertise to investigate the biogeochemical and biophysical effects of secondary floodplain channels and in-stream structures on riverine groundwater processes.Read moreRead less
DEVELOPING A SMART FIRE RISK ADVISORY SYSTEM USING FIRE MODELLING AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES. This project aims to develop a prototype fire risk advisory system for fire prevention and protection. Intelligent knowledge-based systems technologies will be tailored to provide a standardised approach for fire risk analysis by using collective expertise of fire engineers and fire modelling. This project will lead to a significant advancement to the development of intelligent systems tec ....DEVELOPING A SMART FIRE RISK ADVISORY SYSTEM USING FIRE MODELLING AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES. This project aims to develop a prototype fire risk advisory system for fire prevention and protection. Intelligent knowledge-based systems technologies will be tailored to provide a standardised approach for fire risk analysis by using collective expertise of fire engineers and fire modelling. This project will lead to a significant advancement to the development of intelligent systems techniques for industrial applications and provide a better fire risk analysis tool for fire protection and preventions with the benefit of reduced risk for buildings.
Read moreRead less
OPTIMISATION OF COMPACT BOILING HEAT EXCHANGERS USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK. Compact heat exchangers are increasingly considered for duties in many industrial applications, involving phase change processes of boiling and condensation. In many cases such applications are completely new and no previous experience or information is available for constructive design of compact heat exchangers. This project aims to develop a commercially-viable design methodology that will be innovative and novel ....OPTIMISATION OF COMPACT BOILING HEAT EXCHANGERS USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK. Compact heat exchangers are increasingly considered for duties in many industrial applications, involving phase change processes of boiling and condensation. In many cases such applications are completely new and no previous experience or information is available for constructive design of compact heat exchangers. This project aims to develop a commercially-viable design methodology that will be innovative and novel with in mind of robust and speedy computations of key design parameters of compact boiling heat exchangers through the artificial neural networks (ANN) model and maintaining the inherent accuracy associated with the solutions of the boiling flow and heat transfer processes from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and validated using experimental data. It will provide a cutting edge to the Industry Partner to compete successfully on the local and global market fronts in designing and manufacturing compact boiling heat exchangers.Read moreRead less