Co-design and dynamic mission optimisation of hypersonic flight vehicles. This project aims to deliver fundamental knowledge by integrating the modelling and control with the design of next generation hypersonic platforms. In an era where Australia's national security reliance on geographic isolation and support from allied forces are being challenged, the research outcomes of this project will play an important role in understanding the capabilities of hypersonic systems. The project will also ....Co-design and dynamic mission optimisation of hypersonic flight vehicles. This project aims to deliver fundamental knowledge by integrating the modelling and control with the design of next generation hypersonic platforms. In an era where Australia's national security reliance on geographic isolation and support from allied forces are being challenged, the research outcomes of this project will play an important role in understanding the capabilities of hypersonic systems. The project will also have significant spillover benefits into other complex system domains, where computational tools can be used to aid in design leading to high embedded-IP products for Australian industry. Furthermore, the proposal encompasses a strong research training aspect, with graduates exposed to leading edge industry and academia.Read moreRead less
Automated vision-based aircraft collision warning technologies. Australia is a sparsely populated country with a number of unique airspace features. This project will investigate novel vision-based collision warning systems that can improve safety for piloted aircraft and also help achieve integration of UASs (Uninhabited Aerial Systems) into national airspace. The benefits of UAS technologies are particularly relevant to Australia, as governments and industry struggle to cope with providing equ ....Automated vision-based aircraft collision warning technologies. Australia is a sparsely populated country with a number of unique airspace features. This project will investigate novel vision-based collision warning systems that can improve safety for piloted aircraft and also help achieve integration of UASs (Uninhabited Aerial Systems) into national airspace. The benefits of UAS technologies are particularly relevant to Australia, as governments and industry struggle to cope with providing equivalent levels of service to remote communities over vast distances (or border protection of vast regions). The population base of Australia requires that cost-effective solutions are sought to meet this end. Read moreRead less
Mass-production of beneficial insects for commercial pest management - physicochemical definition of oviposition sites for development of cost-efficient artificial substrates. The mass-production of beneficial insects for commercial purposes demands the development of cost-effective techniques for breeding and distributing them to growers. Many predatory beneficial insects lay their eggs in sites that prevent effective mass culturing. To circumvent this difficulty, it should be possible to defin ....Mass-production of beneficial insects for commercial pest management - physicochemical definition of oviposition sites for development of cost-efficient artificial substrates. The mass-production of beneficial insects for commercial purposes demands the development of cost-effective techniques for breeding and distributing them to growers. Many predatory beneficial insects lay their eggs in sites that prevent effective mass culturing. To circumvent this difficulty, it should be possible to define such oviposition sites in chemical and physical terms, and then use the information to develop artificial substrates that are convenient for mass rearing the insects and for disseminating them to growers. We will use the mealybug predator Cryptolaemus montrouszieri to test the feasibility of this approach and to assess its application to other beneficial species.Read moreRead less
Reducing Blackout Risk through Live Modelling and Monitoring. This project aims to reduce the risk of blackouts through the development of on-line systems for modelling and monitoring of loads and power system controllers. This project is a collaboration with Transgrid, Powerlink, Vencorp and ElectraNetSA, four Transmission companies renowned for innovation in the area of system stability. The project proposes to develop innovative algorithms and to implement these algorithms using advanced hard ....Reducing Blackout Risk through Live Modelling and Monitoring. This project aims to reduce the risk of blackouts through the development of on-line systems for modelling and monitoring of loads and power system controllers. This project is a collaboration with Transgrid, Powerlink, Vencorp and ElectraNetSA, four Transmission companies renowned for innovation in the area of system stability. The project proposes to develop innovative algorithms and to implement these algorithms using advanced hardware, software and communication systems to dynamically generate decision tools for safe and efficient power system operating conditions. These systems will also generate alarms if any risky operational situations arise.Read moreRead less
Safety in the Heavy Vehicle Industry: A Collaborative Response. The management and regulation of heavy vehicles, particularly in relation to safety, is recognised as an urgent issue at all levels of government across Australia. In the absence of research that identifies the key determinants of heavy vehicle crashes, countermeasures will continue to be based on anecdote. The proposed study will determine the role key risk factors, namely scheduling and sleep-related factors, play in heavy vehicl ....Safety in the Heavy Vehicle Industry: A Collaborative Response. The management and regulation of heavy vehicles, particularly in relation to safety, is recognised as an urgent issue at all levels of government across Australia. In the absence of research that identifies the key determinants of heavy vehicle crashes, countermeasures will continue to be based on anecdote. The proposed study will determine the role key risk factors, namely scheduling and sleep-related factors, play in heavy vehicle crashes and will identify cost-effective strategies to reduce the growing economic burden associated with these crashes.Read moreRead less
Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. This project aims to determine the bacterial, protozoal and viral biodiversity in wildlife ticks and their native mammal hosts, and provide new information about the biology and transmission dynamics of these microorganisms and their potential to cause disease in wildlife, domesticated animals and humans. Anticipated outcomes are improved diagnostic tests and management proto ....Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. This project aims to determine the bacterial, protozoal and viral biodiversity in wildlife ticks and their native mammal hosts, and provide new information about the biology and transmission dynamics of these microorganisms and their potential to cause disease in wildlife, domesticated animals and humans. Anticipated outcomes are improved diagnostic tests and management protocols for tick-borne disease in Australia.Read moreRead less
Nanostrutured Magnesium-base Composites for High-density Hydrogen Storage. This project aims to develop nanocrstalline magnesium-based composites for effective hydrogen storage, overcoming two main technical barriers of current metal hydride systems: high charging/discharging temperature and slow kinetics. Nanoscale catalysts based on mesoporous carbons and metal nanoparticles will be introduced into the magnesium to increase storage capacity and increase the rate at low temperatures. Fundament ....Nanostrutured Magnesium-base Composites for High-density Hydrogen Storage. This project aims to develop nanocrstalline magnesium-based composites for effective hydrogen storage, overcoming two main technical barriers of current metal hydride systems: high charging/discharging temperature and slow kinetics. Nanoscale catalysts based on mesoporous carbons and metal nanoparticles will be introduced into the magnesium to increase storage capacity and increase the rate at low temperatures. Fundamental understanding on the effects of catalysts, and adsorption and desorption mechanisms will be obtained to optimise the composite materials. This project will lead to effective and practical technology for hydrogen storage that will meet the target of commercial fuel cell vehicles.Read moreRead less
Urinary continence and incontinence in men: New insight through new technologies. Healthy ageing in men is largely overlooked. Disorders of continence are surprisingly common with increasing age, and are socially debilitating. To understand changes in continence and address healthy ageing it is first necessary to gain an understanding of continence mechanisms in healthy men. Continence in women has received wide attention, but anatomy and function differ, as do the challenges throughout life (ch ....Urinary continence and incontinence in men: New insight through new technologies. Healthy ageing in men is largely overlooked. Disorders of continence are surprisingly common with increasing age, and are socially debilitating. To understand changes in continence and address healthy ageing it is first necessary to gain an understanding of continence mechanisms in healthy men. Continence in women has received wide attention, but anatomy and function differ, as do the challenges throughout life (childbirth vs. prostate disease). Using novel methods we will test a new hypothesis of male continence with the goal to provide new physiological discoveries, new methods, and baseline data upon which strategies to enhance healthy ageing and reduce the economic burden of disorders of continence can be developed and refined. Read moreRead less
Optimum location of FACTS devices with advanced control scheme for improving the security of complex power grid. Prevention of blackouts is one of the highest priorities of the electricity industry. One of the fundamental reasons for the recent blackouts in long transmission network is inter-area oscillations. Queensland's long transmission network is a vital part of the Australian electricity grid and is vulnerable to inter-area oscillations. There is a need for a comprehensive approach to inve ....Optimum location of FACTS devices with advanced control scheme for improving the security of complex power grid. Prevention of blackouts is one of the highest priorities of the electricity industry. One of the fundamental reasons for the recent blackouts in long transmission network is inter-area oscillations. Queensland's long transmission network is a vital part of the Australian electricity grid and is vulnerable to inter-area oscillations. There is a need for a comprehensive approach to investigate the effect of inter-area oscillation that contributes to blackouts. Focussing the Queensland network, this project will provide a complete assessment tool for the optimum location of FACTS devices with modern and advanced control schemes in improving the security of complex interconnected power-grid. Read moreRead less
Factors associated with the recruitment and retention of the current and future nursing workforce - a longitudinal e-cohort study. The overall effectiveness of the Australian health care system is dependent on a knowledgeable, skilled and viable nursing workforce. Currently there is a critical shortage of qualified nurses actively working in the Australian health care system which limits the capacity of the system to effectively manage an ageing population. The broad aim of this research project ....Factors associated with the recruitment and retention of the current and future nursing workforce - a longitudinal e-cohort study. The overall effectiveness of the Australian health care system is dependent on a knowledgeable, skilled and viable nursing workforce. Currently there is a critical shortage of qualified nurses actively working in the Australian health care system which limits the capacity of the system to effectively manage an ageing population. The broad aim of this research project is to examine factors associated with recruitment and retention of the current and future nursing workforce across metropolitan, regional and rural areas; with a particular focus on work-based injury. In addition, the project will employ smart use of information technology to develop innovative e-cohort techniques.Read moreRead less