A Machine Learning Framework for Concrete Workability Estimation . Concrete is the most used construction material in Australia. The project aims to develop a system to measure the workability of concrete in transit in agitator trucks using advanced machine vision and machine learning, and provide a reliable alternative to the current practice of visually testing concrete workability by certified testers. Concrete that fails to meet workability requirements is one of the most frequent reasons fo ....A Machine Learning Framework for Concrete Workability Estimation . Concrete is the most used construction material in Australia. The project aims to develop a system to measure the workability of concrete in transit in agitator trucks using advanced machine vision and machine learning, and provide a reliable alternative to the current practice of visually testing concrete workability by certified testers. Concrete that fails to meet workability requirements is one of the most frequent reasons for rejection at construction sites, resulting in significant costs, waste, and delays. Multimodal data sources will be used to provide a reliable workability estimate in real time, enabling construction teams to identify and rectify workability issues in transit while continuously monitoring the adjustments effects.Read moreRead less
Avoiding catastrophic failure of cable bolts in underground mines. This work aims to identify the factors responsible for the emerging problem of catastrophic failure of high-load cable bolts in underground mines and develop strategies for resisting their failure. The work is of high importance since failure of cable bolts is now being reported in several mines across Australia and is expected to become a problem world-wide. The work is novel as it intends to be the very first study of catastrop ....Avoiding catastrophic failure of cable bolts in underground mines. This work aims to identify the factors responsible for the emerging problem of catastrophic failure of high-load cable bolts in underground mines and develop strategies for resisting their failure. The work is of high importance since failure of cable bolts is now being reported in several mines across Australia and is expected to become a problem world-wide. The work is novel as it intends to be the very first study of catastrophic cable bolt failure. The expected outcome is the development of economically viable solutions for avoiding catastrophic cable bolt failure. It is anticipated that the findings will also be relevant to the civil engineering sector.Read moreRead less
Avoiding catastrophic failure of rock bolts in underground coal mines. This project will examine the factors responsible for the emerging problem of catastrophic failure of rock bolts in underground mines in order to develop strategies for resisting such failures. The consequences of rock bolt failure are potentially enormous from both a mine safety and economic standpoint. The strategies developed are expected to not only reduce the likelihood of injury and death from rock falls but to also red ....Avoiding catastrophic failure of rock bolts in underground coal mines. This project will examine the factors responsible for the emerging problem of catastrophic failure of rock bolts in underground mines in order to develop strategies for resisting such failures. The consequences of rock bolt failure are potentially enormous from both a mine safety and economic standpoint. The strategies developed are expected to not only reduce the likelihood of injury and death from rock falls but to also reduce very expensive mine downtime and avoid costly replacement of broken rock bolts. Australian Rock Bolting Technology is now used internationally and the work will be of substantial significance both nationally and internationally. It will help maintain Australia's international prominence in this field.Read moreRead less
Microbiologically Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Underground Mines. Premature brittle failure of rock & cable bolts due to stress corrosion cracking can cause fatalities and serious damage, and has been reported in several mining operations across Australia and world-wide. The evidence suggests that microbial activity is a contributing factor. The project aims to implement experimental methodologies to determine the specific conditions responsible for bolt failure and develop novel prevent ....Microbiologically Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Underground Mines. Premature brittle failure of rock & cable bolts due to stress corrosion cracking can cause fatalities and serious damage, and has been reported in several mining operations across Australia and world-wide. The evidence suggests that microbial activity is a contributing factor. The project aims to implement experimental methodologies to determine the specific conditions responsible for bolt failure and develop novel prevention techniques applicable in underground mines. The benefits of this research will be improved understanding of the environment causing catastrophic failure of bolts and avoidance of potential hazards & economic loss in mining projects. This will lead to improved safety & increased productivity in mining operations.Read moreRead less
Australian supply chain regulation: practical operation and regulatory effectiveness. This project uses empirical research to examine the practical operation and effectiveness of three innovative Australian regulatory models designed to improve working conditions in supply chains in the clothing, long-haul transport and cash-in-transit industries. The project will result in proposals for reform and improved working conditions.
The nature and consequences of interruptions and multi-tasking. This project aims to generate new evidence of the nature and consequences of interruptions and multitasking in safety-critical clinical environments. Interruptions are ubiquitous in modern work environments. Multitasking, particularly with information technology, is now an attribute prized by many. However, there are increasing concerns that interruptions and multitasking contribute to errors and work inefficiency. Significant gaps ....The nature and consequences of interruptions and multi-tasking. This project aims to generate new evidence of the nature and consequences of interruptions and multitasking in safety-critical clinical environments. Interruptions are ubiquitous in modern work environments. Multitasking, particularly with information technology, is now an attribute prized by many. However, there are increasing concerns that interruptions and multitasking contribute to errors and work inefficiency. Significant gaps in our understanding of these relationships inhibit action to improve work productivity and safety. This project plans to measure the effects of these work practices, and to develop methods, statistical approaches and theory. It also plans to propose practical strategies to support safe and efficient work processes.Read moreRead less
Predicting misdiagnoses in the transition from competence to expertise. This project aims to test whether the utilisation of cues predicts vulnerability to misdiagnosis during skill acquisition. This project uses newly developed measures of cue utilisation, together with innovative, on-line scenarios and a longitudinal design, to measure different types of misdiagnosis amongst qualified radiologists, pathologists and pilots as they acquire expertise. With potential applications in medicine, avia ....Predicting misdiagnoses in the transition from competence to expertise. This project aims to test whether the utilisation of cues predicts vulnerability to misdiagnosis during skill acquisition. This project uses newly developed measures of cue utilisation, together with innovative, on-line scenarios and a longitudinal design, to measure different types of misdiagnosis amongst qualified radiologists, pathologists and pilots as they acquire expertise. With potential applications in medicine, aviation, energy, transportation, and defence, the expected outcomes will facilitate interventions such as targeted training and the provision of technical support, that will guide the diagnostic process and thereby reduce the impact of misdiagnoses on individuals and infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Maximise goaf gas drainage for safe coal extraction and emissions reduction. Coal mine methane is a serious mining hazard and greenhouse gas emissions. This project seeks to enhance mining safety by maximising gas capture during coal extraction. This will be achieved through field data back-analysis, coupled Multiphysics modelling, and stochastic risk assessment. Gas explosion and spontaneous combustion risks associated with intensive gas drainage will be quantitively assessed and eliminated to ....Maximise goaf gas drainage for safe coal extraction and emissions reduction. Coal mine methane is a serious mining hazard and greenhouse gas emissions. This project seeks to enhance mining safety by maximising gas capture during coal extraction. This will be achieved through field data back-analysis, coupled Multiphysics modelling, and stochastic risk assessment. Gas explosion and spontaneous combustion risks associated with intensive gas drainage will be quantitively assessed and eliminated to help mine managers’ decision making, design optimisation, and mitigation planning. This will provide significant benefit for the mining industry in maintaining production commitments in a safe workplace while addressing environmental concerns by capturing the fugitive emissions to be converted into a useful energy resource.Read moreRead less
Better Responses to Gender-based Violence in Cambodia's Construction Sector. This project aims to produce the first systematic assessment of gender-based violence (GBV) in Cambodia’s construction sector, which employs an unusually high percentage of women. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the project will investigate the causes and manifestations of workplace GBV and produce an analysis of local and international labour movement actors’ efforts to combat it, with a focus on how Cambod ....Better Responses to Gender-based Violence in Cambodia's Construction Sector. This project aims to produce the first systematic assessment of gender-based violence (GBV) in Cambodia’s construction sector, which employs an unusually high percentage of women. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the project will investigate the causes and manifestations of workplace GBV and produce an analysis of local and international labour movement actors’ efforts to combat it, with a focus on how Cambodia’s cultural, political and economic context influences local actors’ uptake of international norms. In addition to academic benefits, this analysis will benefit our partner organisations, which plan to use the project's findings to strengthen their programs and better equip local unions to tackle workplace GBV. Read moreRead less
Situational Assessment as a Marker of Cognitive Skill Decay. The aim of this study is to test how differences in exposure to complex tasks change the capacity for situational assessment. Amongst drivers, pilots and electricity controllers, the capacity to assess and respond effectively to changes in the operational environment are critical in sustaining performance and ensuring the safety and security of the public. Establishing the nature of this relationship will enable, for the first time, ob ....Situational Assessment as a Marker of Cognitive Skill Decay. The aim of this study is to test how differences in exposure to complex tasks change the capacity for situational assessment. Amongst drivers, pilots and electricity controllers, the capacity to assess and respond effectively to changes in the operational environment are critical in sustaining performance and ensuring the safety and security of the public. Establishing the nature of this relationship will enable, for the first time, objective measures of cognitive skill decay. In evaluating cognitive skill decay more accurately, we will provide a cost-effective, easily administered tool, enabling practitioners to identify and address areas of development and providing data to anticipate when cognitive skill decay is most likely to occur.Read moreRead less