Environment modelling of Great Barrier Reef habitats using Autonomous Transect Surveying. This project has as its goal the development of algorithms and methods capable of modeling unstructured, reef environments using data collected by an autonomous robotic system capable of surveying the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) currently has a small research Umanned Underwater Vehicle capable of undertaking such survey work. Under the proposed project, this vehicle ....Environment modelling of Great Barrier Reef habitats using Autonomous Transect Surveying. This project has as its goal the development of algorithms and methods capable of modeling unstructured, reef environments using data collected by an autonomous robotic system capable of surveying the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) currently has a small research Umanned Underwater Vehicle capable of undertaking such survey work. Under the proposed project, this vehicle will be equipped with appropriate sensors (such as vision systems, sonar, depth and temperature sensors). The proposed grant will support an APA (I) whose aim will be the construction of comprehensive models of the state of the reef over which the vehicle will operate.Read moreRead less
Port Stephens Flood Tide Delta: Shoreline Management Issues. The results of this project will contribute substantially to the knowledge of flood tide delta morphodynamics and specifically to those deltas exposed to ocean waves which are most typical throughout eastern and southern Australia. The model generated by the project will be used to test solutions to the problems in Port Stephens and more generally to similar systems elsewhere in Australia. The model will permit the assessment of the re ....Port Stephens Flood Tide Delta: Shoreline Management Issues. The results of this project will contribute substantially to the knowledge of flood tide delta morphodynamics and specifically to those deltas exposed to ocean waves which are most typical throughout eastern and southern Australia. The model generated by the project will be used to test solutions to the problems in Port Stephens and more generally to similar systems elsewhere in Australia. The model will permit the assessment of the responses of the deltas and shoreline to climate change, changing wave climate and reinvigorated sediment budgets, thereby addressing National Research priority-Responding to climate change and variability. The project will is provide training for one APDI and two APAIs in a range of skills.Read moreRead less
Improving the success of hybrid living shorelines for coastal protection. This project aims to improve the success of hybrid living shorelines that combine the restoration of mangroves and oysters with engineered structures to enhance restoration outcomes and coastal hazard resilience. It expects to generate new knowledge on the effectiveness of innovative coastal-manager-led solutions that have not yet been robustly evaluated. Expected outcomes of this project include delivery of the technical ....Improving the success of hybrid living shorelines for coastal protection. This project aims to improve the success of hybrid living shorelines that combine the restoration of mangroves and oysters with engineered structures to enhance restoration outcomes and coastal hazard resilience. It expects to generate new knowledge on the effectiveness of innovative coastal-manager-led solutions that have not yet been robustly evaluated. Expected outcomes of this project include delivery of the technical guidelines needed to practically design and implement nature-based coastal protection at scale. This should provide significant socio-economic and environmental benefits through improving Australia’s capacity to adapt to increased erosion and flood risk caused by climate change and coastal urbanisation.Read moreRead less
Freshwater biofouling of hydraulic conduits: impact, mitigation, and control, and the consequences of Climate Change. National economic and environmental benefits will flow from increased outputs of renewable energy from hydroelectric power systems. Improved performance of canals and pipelines will enable energy and water losses to be reduced and will provide the National Electricity Market with additional renewable energy, lowering the requirement for fossil fuels. Knowledge of the impacts of ....Freshwater biofouling of hydraulic conduits: impact, mitigation, and control, and the consequences of Climate Change. National economic and environmental benefits will flow from increased outputs of renewable energy from hydroelectric power systems. Improved performance of canals and pipelines will enable energy and water losses to be reduced and will provide the National Electricity Market with additional renewable energy, lowering the requirement for fossil fuels. Knowledge of the impacts of Climate Change will enable industry to manage changes in rainfall pattern and conduit biofouling. An improved understanding of biofilms can be applied to achieve wider national benefit in water reticulation, irrigation systems and maritime applications. The team will develop research skills and technical expertise and train PhD students and industry counterparts.Read moreRead less
Application of Vortex Fluidics in Macroalgal Biorefinery. This project aims to improve seaweed processing to deliver multiple high-value products including alginate, fucoidan and laminarin, which have food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses. The project integrates an advanced biorefinery process with a vortex fluidic device to accelerate chemical reactions, reduce the catalysts and chemicals used, and improve product yield and productivity. Application of the device in the critical steps of enzym ....Application of Vortex Fluidics in Macroalgal Biorefinery. This project aims to improve seaweed processing to deliver multiple high-value products including alginate, fucoidan and laminarin, which have food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses. The project integrates an advanced biorefinery process with a vortex fluidic device to accelerate chemical reactions, reduce the catalysts and chemicals used, and improve product yield and productivity. Application of the device in the critical steps of enzymatic digestion, acid and alkaline extraction, and precipitation is intended to deliver significant water, energy, chemical and cost saving. It is anticipated that the innovation will lead to the establishment of a new sustainable seaweed processing industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Developing tools for assessing ecological performance of marine protected areas. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are rapidly being established around Australia as a device to conserve marine biodiversity. Their ability to sustain animal and plant populations depends critically on the ability of populations to replenish themselves, but we have no ready way of assessing replenishment, relying instead on simple counts of animals and plants within MPAs as a measure of their success. We propose a new ....Developing tools for assessing ecological performance of marine protected areas. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are rapidly being established around Australia as a device to conserve marine biodiversity. Their ability to sustain animal and plant populations depends critically on the ability of populations to replenish themselves, but we have no ready way of assessing replenishment, relying instead on simple counts of animals and plants within MPAs as a measure of their success. We propose a new measure, using relationships between adult stocks and recruitment, as a way of assessing the long-term success of MPAs. We will test this measure using comparisons among marine national parks that were established recently in Victoria.Read moreRead less
Ocean response to tropical cyclone forcing on the Australian North West Shelf. Tropical cyclones are a major hazard for the offshore oil and gas industry. This project will develop the ability to predict the ocean response to tropical cyclones, leading to a paradigm shift in the way industry designs and operates both present and future offshore projects.
Vulnerability mapping of hazards and economic loss assessment of offshore oil and gas platforms subject to accidental explosion and fires. In Australia, up to 100 offshore oil and gas wells per year are drilled, but fire and explosion are a risk. This project develops vulnerability maps of offshore platforms subjected to accidental explosions, so that economic loss, environmental and social impact can be effectively assessed based on these factors and mitigation measures can be introduced.
Surplus baitfish? The consumption and bioenergetics of a predatory fish. This project aims to improve fisheries management of economically important baitfish by increasing our understanding of the ecosystem demand of predatory fish. The ecosystem demand of predatory fish is currently not understood, because it fails to include the considerable impact of juvenile fish, especially when they reside in an estuary. The project intends to implant acoustic transmitters, calibrated in a flume, to discov ....Surplus baitfish? The consumption and bioenergetics of a predatory fish. This project aims to improve fisheries management of economically important baitfish by increasing our understanding of the ecosystem demand of predatory fish. The ecosystem demand of predatory fish is currently not understood, because it fails to include the considerable impact of juvenile fish, especially when they reside in an estuary. The project intends to implant acoustic transmitters, calibrated in a flume, to discover bioenergetic rates in the field by determining the diet and the size- and temperature-dependent growth and biogenetics of a predatory fish species, from juvenile to adult, from estuary to the open sea. The outcomes include an ecosystem synthesis of related pelagic fish predators from catchment to coast.Read moreRead less
Marine predators, marine parks and marine hotspots: is zoning an effective conservation tool in a changing environment? Southeast Australia is a marine hotspot in terms of climate change, and is an important habitat for seals, seabirds, sharks and other predators. This project will use state-of-the-art technology to assess their feeding requirements in relation to marine park zoning and the changing oceanographic environment.