The Identification and Development of Strategies for Increasing Engineering Enrolments. There is a continuing nation-wide decline in high school student enrolment in higher level mathematics and science. This is already leading to a reduction in the number of students undertaking university engineering programs in Australia and the situation is expected to worsen. This project is directed toward a better understanding of the reasons for the trend and the development of strategies to reverse it. ....The Identification and Development of Strategies for Increasing Engineering Enrolments. There is a continuing nation-wide decline in high school student enrolment in higher level mathematics and science. This is already leading to a reduction in the number of students undertaking university engineering programs in Australia and the situation is expected to worsen. This project is directed toward a better understanding of the reasons for the trend and the development of strategies to reverse it. It aims to 1. Evaluate the most effective strategies that increase student's interests and understanding of engineering and increase participation in engineering studies. 2. Develop an optimised national communication strategy for promoting engineering studies to secondary students.Read moreRead less
A Fundamental Investigation into the Behaviour of Mineral Matter in Coal during Coke Formation and in Blast Furnace. Minerals in coal are present in various forms and sizes resulting in vastly different thermal behaviour. Thermal transformation of minerals in coal influences the coke properties and subsequent performance of coke in blast furnace. Earlier investigations have been based on bulk ash analysis of coals. In the current project, Computer Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy will be ....A Fundamental Investigation into the Behaviour of Mineral Matter in Coal during Coke Formation and in Blast Furnace. Minerals in coal are present in various forms and sizes resulting in vastly different thermal behaviour. Thermal transformation of minerals in coal influences the coke properties and subsequent performance of coke in blast furnace. Earlier investigations have been based on bulk ash analysis of coals. In the current project, Computer Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy will be used in place of bulk ash analysis for coal, coke and thermally treated coke in blast furnace simulated conditions to investigate and model the effects of minerals in coal on coke structure during coke-making and its subsequent effect on its performance in blast furnace.Read moreRead less
Improving road safety: advanced hybrid vehicle-based technology for monitoring driver drowsiness. Innovative technology geared towards reducing road accidents and fatalities (for improving public health) will constitute major socio-economic benefit to Australia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau notes fatigue as a major cause of road accidents (2006). The World Health Organisation dedicated World Health Day 2004 to road safety and emphasized the importance of combating fatigue ('Road Safety ....Improving road safety: advanced hybrid vehicle-based technology for monitoring driver drowsiness. Innovative technology geared towards reducing road accidents and fatalities (for improving public health) will constitute major socio-economic benefit to Australia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau notes fatigue as a major cause of road accidents (2006). The World Health Organisation dedicated World Health Day 2004 to road safety and emphasized the importance of combating fatigue ('Road Safety is no Accident'). This research will develop an innovative driver drowsiness detecting technology. With drowsiness attributable to substantial road fatalities, this technology aims to reduce this emotional and socio-economic burden on the community, contributing to national and community benefit by providing a safer road environment.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Systems Analysis: Fire Growth and Severity in Enclosures. An integrated systems risk-based model for fire safety has been developed and has been internationally acclaimed. A new fire severity submodel urgently needs to be developed before ramifications of the World Trade Centre catastrophe impact on fire safety regulations. Current submodels seriously misrepresent the real fires. They were developed from 1970's experiments on 2-3 metre cube-like enclosures and predict that fires ....An Integrated Systems Analysis: Fire Growth and Severity in Enclosures. An integrated systems risk-based model for fire safety has been developed and has been internationally acclaimed. A new fire severity submodel urgently needs to be developed before ramifications of the World Trade Centre catastrophe impact on fire safety regulations. Current submodels seriously misrepresent the real fires. They were developed from 1970's experiments on 2-3 metre cube-like enclosures and predict that fires engulf enclosures. Recent preliminary experiments have revealed that real fires burn locally at windows and only appear to be all engulfing. The research will lead international collaboration involving extensive experiments and some modelling to be completed in twelve months.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453561
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,706.00
Summary
Integrated Precision Machining of Complex Profiles. High precision and high speed machining is of central importance to the development of a wide range of frontier technologies such as precision manufacturing, nano-materials fabrication, semiconductor and composite processing, vehicle production and steel structure manufacturing. The research significance has been well established by the world-leading projects and achievements. The proposed facility has distinct features and capability of high l ....Integrated Precision Machining of Complex Profiles. High precision and high speed machining is of central importance to the development of a wide range of frontier technologies such as precision manufacturing, nano-materials fabrication, semiconductor and composite processing, vehicle production and steel structure manufacturing. The research significance has been well established by the world-leading projects and achievements. The proposed facility has distinct features and capability of high loop-stiffness, high repeatability, universal profiling, organic integration of key machining operations, and great flexibility of both low and high speeds. These unique characteristics will enable the innovative development of many research programs which will otherwise be impossible to achieve.Read moreRead less
Next generation evaporated and laser diode processed thin-film silicon-on-glass solar cells. The project targets a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight by depositing cells onto glass as it comes from a glass factory. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cel ....Next generation evaporated and laser diode processed thin-film silicon-on-glass solar cells. The project targets a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight by depositing cells onto glass as it comes from a glass factory. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cells represent the cleanest and most acceptable technology yet suggested for supplying the world's future energy needs. A cleaner future environment than otherwise likely is another expected outcome as is the creation of major new opportunities for Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Bubble Dynamics in Fine Droplets: Behaviour and Control. The principal vision in this project is to gain a deeper understanding of the formation, growth and collapse of bubbles within micron-size droplets and, in doing so, provide the technical underpinning necessary to advance the development of a range of emerging technologies in the light alloys manufacturing, atomisation, non-invasive medical therapy, drug delivery, and nucleation / solidification in thermal energy storage systems. Expected ....Bubble Dynamics in Fine Droplets: Behaviour and Control. The principal vision in this project is to gain a deeper understanding of the formation, growth and collapse of bubbles within micron-size droplets and, in doing so, provide the technical underpinning necessary to advance the development of a range of emerging technologies in the light alloys manufacturing, atomisation, non-invasive medical therapy, drug delivery, and nucleation / solidification in thermal energy storage systems. Expected outcomes include new experimental evidence and validated mathematical models for the analysis of bubbles encapsulated by fine droplets. The outcomes should significantly enhance Australia’s research and innovation capacity in the field of confined space bubble dynamics and related industrial applications. Read moreRead less
Development of nano-structured thermoelectric materials for power generation from heat. To make thermoelectric technology attractive for practical power generation purposes, new high efficiency materials have to be developed. Our fabricated nanostructured thermoelectric materials will have improved performance due to the peculiarities in electrical and thermal transport. The novel thermoelectric materials and constructed prototype devices with high thermoelectric performance will be practically ....Development of nano-structured thermoelectric materials for power generation from heat. To make thermoelectric technology attractive for practical power generation purposes, new high efficiency materials have to be developed. Our fabricated nanostructured thermoelectric materials will have improved performance due to the peculiarities in electrical and thermal transport. The novel thermoelectric materials and constructed prototype devices with high thermoelectric performance will be practically used for various power generation purposes. This offers a long-term solution to the global warming threat through decreasing amounts of waste heat presently generated. It will also strengthen Australia's position in world-wide research on thermoelectricity.Read moreRead less
Preparing for the next generation global navigation satellite system era: developing and testing new user and reference station receiver designs. The gross accumulated benefits of the widespread adoption of Gnss technology in the mining, agriculture and construction sectors alone by 2030 could be between $66B and $126B, primarily due to improvements in Gnss machine guidance systems - energy savings, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, improved agricultural practices, etc. The national benefit ....Preparing for the next generation global navigation satellite system era: developing and testing new user and reference station receiver designs. The gross accumulated benefits of the widespread adoption of Gnss technology in the mining, agriculture and construction sectors alone by 2030 could be between $66B and $126B, primarily due to improvements in Gnss machine guidance systems - energy savings, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, improved agricultural practices, etc. The national benefit would be enormous if the project could help facilitate the rapid and orderly introduction into Australia of high accuracy multi-constellation Gnss positioning technology. This project would also enable Australian researchers and industry to build up expertise in new Gnss signals and techniques, all crucial for supporting a local industry for next generation navigation products and services.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354872
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
The ARC Cleaner Energy and Hydrogen Research Network. The importance of clean energy is well recognised, and it is important to recognise, leverage and exploit Australian needs in the context of world progress in the area. The first task of the initiative will be to identify and focus research in the knowledge of existing trends. The Network will bring together Australia's finest research groups to provide an Australian focus on cleaner energy and hydrogen research, participate in major internat ....The ARC Cleaner Energy and Hydrogen Research Network. The importance of clean energy is well recognised, and it is important to recognise, leverage and exploit Australian needs in the context of world progress in the area. The first task of the initiative will be to identify and focus research in the knowledge of existing trends. The Network will bring together Australia's finest research groups to provide an Australian focus on cleaner energy and hydrogen research, participate in major international programs, and provide a framework for relevant researchers to interact. It will develop an advisory role for Government and industry on technological options for sustainable energy development.Read moreRead less