Performance and design optimisation of oscillating water column ocean wave energy converters. This project will develop an optimised design for ocean wave energy extraction devices, known as oscillating water columns. This will significantly reduce energy conversion losses from oscillating water columns and contribute towards making them internationally competitive with other renewable energy technologies.
Understanding and predicting submarine hydrofoil noise. Australia needs to develop a more sophisticated underwater flow-induced noise research and development capability if it is to achieve its ambitious naval plans set out under the Defence White Paper. This project will develop an experimentally validated model to predict submarine noise for the purposes of submarine design, operation and procurement.
The future of shipping: achieving autonomous navigation. This project aims to develop autonomous decision systems and onshore control stations to support the design and operation of unmanned cargo ships. Blending observations, numerical models, virtual reality and machine learning, the project will develop algorithms for unsupervised navigation and embed these in an advanced ship simulator platform capable of responding to environmental conditions and optimising sea freight transport capabilitie ....The future of shipping: achieving autonomous navigation. This project aims to develop autonomous decision systems and onshore control stations to support the design and operation of unmanned cargo ships. Blending observations, numerical models, virtual reality and machine learning, the project will develop algorithms for unsupervised navigation and embed these in an advanced ship simulator platform capable of responding to environmental conditions and optimising sea freight transport capabilities. The expected outcomes will enable the integration of automated controls in ships, including remote-control capabilities. This will support Australia’s transition towards an autonomous shipping industry, delivering greater reliability, efficiency, productivity and safety.Read moreRead less
Powering optimisation of large, energy-efficient multihull vessels, operating at critical speeds. Australia is currently the world leader in the design and construction of large aluminium vessels. The existing fleet of vessels is under pressure from increased fuel prices and regulatory requirements to reduce emissions; this project directly addresses the need to develop new energy-efficient multihull vessels using computations and model testing.
Efficiently unlocking full-scale WEC dynamics for industry cost reduction. This project will reduce the cost of ocean wave energy, by uniting leading expertise from academia with cutting-edge know-how and full-scale data from industry to advance the way oceanic forces on wave energy converters are represented in industry models. These models are critical for designing and controlling the next generation of wave energy converters, which have larger motions than ever before. Carefully tested model ....Efficiently unlocking full-scale WEC dynamics for industry cost reduction. This project will reduce the cost of ocean wave energy, by uniting leading expertise from academia with cutting-edge know-how and full-scale data from industry to advance the way oceanic forces on wave energy converters are represented in industry models. These models are critical for designing and controlling the next generation of wave energy converters, which have larger motions than ever before. Carefully tested models will lead to better estimates of power production and loads, which will drive down the cost of wave energy and enable its large-scale utilisation. Broad communication of benefits and sharing of new knowledge will accelerate commercialisation of ocean energy in Australia and pave the way to meeting our future energy needs.Read moreRead less
A Global Satellite Altimeter Database for Ocean Engineering Applications. Australia is a maritime nation with major shipping activities, offshore facilities and a very significant percentage of its population living near the coast. As such, it is critical that engineers can accurately predict ocean wave conditions. This project will bring together more than 20 years of satellite observations of the ocean into a single database. This database will represent a major resource for the nation, signif ....A Global Satellite Altimeter Database for Ocean Engineering Applications. Australia is a maritime nation with major shipping activities, offshore facilities and a very significant percentage of its population living near the coast. As such, it is critical that engineers can accurately predict ocean wave conditions. This project will bring together more than 20 years of satellite observations of the ocean into a single database. This database will represent a major resource for the nation, significantly enhancing our understanding of ocean wave conditions. The research projects associated with the database will provide an understanding of the ocean wave climate, oceanic extremes, tropical cyclone conditions and nearshore ocean design parameters.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
Oceanic Conditions within Extreme Tropical Cyclones. Australia's tropical and subtropical areas include major infrastructure projects such as the North West shelf oil and gas projects, major mining operations, export ports, natural environments such as the Great Barrier Reef and major tourism industries. All these industries are crucially impacted by extreme tropical cyclones. Despite the importance of these systems, our present understanding of tropical cyclones is incomplete. This project will ....Oceanic Conditions within Extreme Tropical Cyclones. Australia's tropical and subtropical areas include major infrastructure projects such as the North West shelf oil and gas projects, major mining operations, export ports, natural environments such as the Great Barrier Reef and major tourism industries. All these industries are crucially impacted by extreme tropical cyclones. Despite the importance of these systems, our present understanding of tropical cyclones is incomplete. This project will significantly enhance our ability to carry out accurate engineering design of critical offshore infrastructure, as well as marine forecasts in such environments. As such, the project will have major scientific, economic and social benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Remote sensing to improve structural efficiency of high-speed catamarans. This project aims to develop a monitoring system to remotely measure ship motions, loads and ride control activity under commercial operations. Data will be analysed using advanced statistical methods to inform evidence-based design to improve both structural efficiency and passenger comfort. The research will impact on design rules used worldwide, reducing weight and increasing payload and transport efficiency for this cl ....Remote sensing to improve structural efficiency of high-speed catamarans. This project aims to develop a monitoring system to remotely measure ship motions, loads and ride control activity under commercial operations. Data will be analysed using advanced statistical methods to inform evidence-based design to improve both structural efficiency and passenger comfort. The research will impact on design rules used worldwide, reducing weight and increasing payload and transport efficiency for this class of vessel. A "Smart” semi-autonomous interface will be developed to provide on-board seakeeping guidance to the ship captain. This technology will have significant benefits such as increased ship safety, vessel longevity and improving passenger comfort for all types of vessels worldwide including high-speed catamarans.Read moreRead less
Interferometric Distributed Feedback Fibre Laser Sensors. This project will solve important problems in realising next generation underwater optical fibre sensor systems for defence and marine exploration. OFTC's expertise in specialty optical fibre and devices will be combined with Thales' expertise in underwater sensor systems to give Australia a global lead. The benefits are commercial, national security and research standing. Domestic manufacture of a major optical system will assist maturat ....Interferometric Distributed Feedback Fibre Laser Sensors. This project will solve important problems in realising next generation underwater optical fibre sensor systems for defence and marine exploration. OFTC's expertise in specialty optical fibre and devices will be combined with Thales' expertise in underwater sensor systems to give Australia a global lead. The benefits are commercial, national security and research standing. Domestic manufacture of a major optical system will assist maturation of the sector which is dominated by component companies. This system for underwater surveillance is obviously important to a country with a large coastline to defend. This project will build Australia's global reputation renowned for research excellence in fibre and fibre devices.Read moreRead less