A reliability based approach for sustainable management of community buildings. The proposed project will address a major issue of maintaining service delivery and managing risk of failure of infrastructure assets owned by local councils. A working business tool will be developed based on fundamental understanding of behaviour of building infrastructure over a long period of time which will enable 79 local councils in Victoria to optimise their maintenance and capital expenditure with a realisti ....A reliability based approach for sustainable management of community buildings. The proposed project will address a major issue of maintaining service delivery and managing risk of failure of infrastructure assets owned by local councils. A working business tool will be developed based on fundamental understanding of behaviour of building infrastructure over a long period of time which will enable 79 local councils in Victoria to optimise their maintenance and capital expenditure with a realistic understanding of the implications of investment. The national benefit will be a significant improvement of service delivery to community through better design and management of council assets and a significant saving of maintenance cost of councils.Read moreRead less
An Investigation of the allocation of risks during the bidding process for public-private partnerships. The specific aim of this research is to improve on current approaches to risk identification and allocation during the bidding process for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for infrastructure projects. This research will contribute to the strategic development of public-private procurement policies which have the full confidence of the primary stakeholders and assist governments in the select ....An Investigation of the allocation of risks during the bidding process for public-private partnerships. The specific aim of this research is to improve on current approaches to risk identification and allocation during the bidding process for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for infrastructure projects. This research will contribute to the strategic development of public-private procurement policies which have the full confidence of the primary stakeholders and assist governments in the selection of alternative 'public' or 'private' mechanisms for the provision of infrastructure facilities. This is essential if broader questions related to economic issues are to be addressed. A specific research outcome will be the minimisation of transaction costs incurred during the bidding process.Read moreRead less
The Characterisation of Fires in Tunnels. A series of 22 fires ranging from 2 megawatt up to 20 megawatt intensity will be set under controlled conditions in unused tunnel facilities, in New South Wales. Instrumentation in the tunnel, donated by the State Rail Authority of New South Wales, will monitor the movement of particulates (smoke). This information is vital to tunnel design, and for passenger life safety. This information will be applicable to all tunnels worldwide.
Development of a Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT) Database. In recent years, incidents of fire flashover have caused considerable destruction to property and the loss of life. Fire prediction and understanding is an area of significance to both the Australian public and the firefighting profession. The NSW Fire Brigade has recently introduced Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT). To extend this scheme, a database of configurations will be developed using computational modelling, ....Development of a Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT) Database. In recent years, incidents of fire flashover have caused considerable destruction to property and the loss of life. Fire prediction and understanding is an area of significance to both the Australian public and the firefighting profession. The NSW Fire Brigade has recently introduced Compartment Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT). To extend this scheme, a database of configurations will be developed using computational modelling, allowing firefighters the ability to experience virtually different situations. Detailed experimental studies will be conducted to validate the numerical model. This database will have use and significance beyond Australia and successful implementation promises reductions in the loss of life and property.Read moreRead less
Experimental and numerical study of sprinklers for improved fire safety. Fire sprinklers are a common method for extinguishing fires. Current lack of detailed knowledge about sprinklers can lead to conservative design and excessive cost, often limiting the installation of these proven life-saving devices. This project sees the involvement of Arup Pty Ltd and the NSW Fire Brigade in examining the behaviour of sprinklers using a custom-designed test-rig, laser based measurement and a numerical mod ....Experimental and numerical study of sprinklers for improved fire safety. Fire sprinklers are a common method for extinguishing fires. Current lack of detailed knowledge about sprinklers can lead to conservative design and excessive cost, often limiting the installation of these proven life-saving devices. This project sees the involvement of Arup Pty Ltd and the NSW Fire Brigade in examining the behaviour of sprinklers using a custom-designed test-rig, laser based measurement and a numerical model. This will result in improved confidence in sprinkler specification and installation and the project will have use and significance beyond Australia. Successful implementation promises reductions in the loss of life and property as well as financial savings.Read moreRead less
Reforming the procurement of construction and financing of Australian infrastructure: Advancing capacity, competition and investment. The project will significantly assist Federal and State governments in delivering value for money in the provision of a substantial infrastructure pipeline. The project will promote the transformation of the domestic construction industry in Australia, in terms of saving unnecessary transaction costs, promoting productivity, advancing training and accessing the wo ....Reforming the procurement of construction and financing of Australian infrastructure: Advancing capacity, competition and investment. The project will significantly assist Federal and State governments in delivering value for money in the provision of a substantial infrastructure pipeline. The project will promote the transformation of the domestic construction industry in Australia, in terms of saving unnecessary transaction costs, promoting productivity, advancing training and accessing the world's best knowledge and skills. In total, the project will help ensure that new infrastructure contributes to Australia's economic growth and counters inflationary pressures. Finally, the transferable knowledge outcomes of this project have potential to capture global attention and promote Australia as a leading nation in the provision of infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Foundation remediation using resin injection. The aim of this research project is to explore the application of injected expanded polyurethane resins as a new option for the re-levelling and stabilisation of deflected foundations on reactive clay soils. It will identify the physical and behavioural characteristics of resin-injected reactive clay foundations, in the context of both shallow and deep injection, and will identify any limitations to the applicability of the approach. Based on detaile ....Foundation remediation using resin injection. The aim of this research project is to explore the application of injected expanded polyurethane resins as a new option for the re-levelling and stabilisation of deflected foundations on reactive clay soils. It will identify the physical and behavioural characteristics of resin-injected reactive clay foundations, in the context of both shallow and deep injection, and will identify any limitations to the applicability of the approach. Based on detailed laboratory and field testing, and advanced numerical modelling, the outcome will be the ability to confidently assess various foundation remediation strategies in reactive clay soils, and provide much needed design guidance to the geotechnical profession and building industry.Read moreRead less
Assessing the adaptive capacity of hospital facilities to cope with climate-related extreme weather events: A risk management approach. Given Australia's and New Zealand's relatively high exposure to climate extremes, the social, economic and health benefits of better managed hospital facilities are significant. Floods, bushfires, heatwaves and cyclones cost Australia over $1.4bn/year and New Zealand over NZ$43m/yr in disruption to communities, business productivity and damage to infrastructure. ....Assessing the adaptive capacity of hospital facilities to cope with climate-related extreme weather events: A risk management approach. Given Australia's and New Zealand's relatively high exposure to climate extremes, the social, economic and health benefits of better managed hospital facilities are significant. Floods, bushfires, heatwaves and cyclones cost Australia over $1.4bn/year and New Zealand over NZ$43m/yr in disruption to communities, business productivity and damage to infrastructure. This research will help to mitigate these costs by protecting populations from the health risks associated with such events. The potential benefits will be most significant for those vulnerable communities at high risk such as the aged, the obese, the ill and those geographically exposed to more extreme weather events.Read moreRead less
Assimilation of architectural and services design in early design modelling. How can buildings in a climate as varied as Australia's balance the best environmental comfort standards for their human occupants, cost and at the same time meet the urgent imperative of reduced energy consumption and associated carbon emissions? This practice-based research will develop tools to support more informed decision making in the earliest stage of an integral approach to services in the design of buildings. ....Assimilation of architectural and services design in early design modelling. How can buildings in a climate as varied as Australia's balance the best environmental comfort standards for their human occupants, cost and at the same time meet the urgent imperative of reduced energy consumption and associated carbon emissions? This practice-based research will develop tools to support more informed decision making in the earliest stage of an integral approach to services in the design of buildings. It will provide knowledge about designing architecture that is more environmentally responsive, can provide comfortable air in more optimised ways, that consume less energy and do this through promoting smarter use of information in practice.Read moreRead less
Making better decisions about built assets: learning by doing. This research will assist the built environment professions and their clients to make better decisions about new developments through a novel 'learning by doing' approach. Used successfully in other fields such as natural resource management, this idea will capitalise on the large number of asset investments undertaken to benchmark original stakeholder intentions and aspirations against the reality of current performance. Decisions w ....Making better decisions about built assets: learning by doing. This research will assist the built environment professions and their clients to make better decisions about new developments through a novel 'learning by doing' approach. Used successfully in other fields such as natural resource management, this idea will capitalise on the large number of asset investments undertaken to benchmark original stakeholder intentions and aspirations against the reality of current performance. Decisions will be re-evaluated in the context of contemporary economic, social and environmental criteria to enable existing multi-criteria models to deliver more sustainable outcomes that are also feasible and in the national interest, and consequently minimise the industry's current exposure to future climate change.Read moreRead less