Predictive Assessment Tool for Beach Conditions Using Video Imaging and Neural Network Analysis. Beaches are vital part of Australian lifestyle and economic development. Monitoring of variable beach conditions is vital for beach safety and for management of storm erosion. The aim of this project is to develop an assessment tool which will permit a rating system of beach conditions both from an environmental as well as a leisure aspect. This tool will be developed into a software analysis system ....Predictive Assessment Tool for Beach Conditions Using Video Imaging and Neural Network Analysis. Beaches are vital part of Australian lifestyle and economic development. Monitoring of variable beach conditions is vital for beach safety and for management of storm erosion. The aim of this project is to develop an assessment tool which will permit a rating system of beach conditions both from an environmental as well as a leisure aspect. This tool will be developed into a software analysis system which will include components of artificial intelligence to enable the system to use feedback loops to create a better prediction of the beach morphology relative to the breaking wave characteristics.Read moreRead less
DEVELOPING A SMART FIRE RISK ADVISORY SYSTEM USING FIRE MODELLING AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES. This project aims to develop a prototype fire risk advisory system for fire prevention and protection. Intelligent knowledge-based systems technologies will be tailored to provide a standardised approach for fire risk analysis by using collective expertise of fire engineers and fire modelling. This project will lead to a significant advancement to the development of intelligent systems tec ....DEVELOPING A SMART FIRE RISK ADVISORY SYSTEM USING FIRE MODELLING AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES. This project aims to develop a prototype fire risk advisory system for fire prevention and protection. Intelligent knowledge-based systems technologies will be tailored to provide a standardised approach for fire risk analysis by using collective expertise of fire engineers and fire modelling. This project will lead to a significant advancement to the development of intelligent systems techniques for industrial applications and provide a better fire risk analysis tool for fire protection and preventions with the benefit of reduced risk for buildings.
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OPTIMISATION OF COMPACT BOILING HEAT EXCHANGERS USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK. Compact heat exchangers are increasingly considered for duties in many industrial applications, involving phase change processes of boiling and condensation. In many cases such applications are completely new and no previous experience or information is available for constructive design of compact heat exchangers. This project aims to develop a commercially-viable design methodology that will be innovative and novel ....OPTIMISATION OF COMPACT BOILING HEAT EXCHANGERS USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK. Compact heat exchangers are increasingly considered for duties in many industrial applications, involving phase change processes of boiling and condensation. In many cases such applications are completely new and no previous experience or information is available for constructive design of compact heat exchangers. This project aims to develop a commercially-viable design methodology that will be innovative and novel with in mind of robust and speedy computations of key design parameters of compact boiling heat exchangers through the artificial neural networks (ANN) model and maintaining the inherent accuracy associated with the solutions of the boiling flow and heat transfer processes from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and validated using experimental data. It will provide a cutting edge to the Industry Partner to compete successfully on the local and global market fronts in designing and manufacturing compact boiling heat exchangers.Read moreRead less
The potential of biosolids and flyash mixtures for soil remediation for revegetation of degraded land. Revegetation of land that has been subjected to land clearing or mining is often limited by the poor quality or lack of topsoil. It may prove possible to remediate these areas of land by incorporating a mixture of two waste products, biosolids and flyash. The aim in this project is to determine the usefulness of this method of land remediation by investigating the nutrient levels and fate of co ....The potential of biosolids and flyash mixtures for soil remediation for revegetation of degraded land. Revegetation of land that has been subjected to land clearing or mining is often limited by the poor quality or lack of topsoil. It may prove possible to remediate these areas of land by incorporating a mixture of two waste products, biosolids and flyash. The aim in this project is to determine the usefulness of this method of land remediation by investigating the nutrient levels and fate of contaminants in various mixtures of biosolids and flyash materials, in the absence and presence of soil minerals, and soil ameliorants such as fertilizers and gypsum.Read moreRead less
Strategies to reduce risk of heat induced illness during intermittent, high intensity activity in a tropical environment. Regular intermittent, high intensity physical activity (IHIA) affords protection against modern life-style diseases (type II diabetes, coronary heart disease and some cancers) but when conducted in the tropics, exposes persons to the risk of dehydration, heat cramps, hypotension, heat syncope, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Australia has rapid population growth in the tropi ....Strategies to reduce risk of heat induced illness during intermittent, high intensity activity in a tropical environment. Regular intermittent, high intensity physical activity (IHIA) affords protection against modern life-style diseases (type II diabetes, coronary heart disease and some cancers) but when conducted in the tropics, exposes persons to the risk of dehydration, heat cramps, hypotension, heat syncope, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Australia has rapid population growth in the tropics and key sporting fixtures have moved to the region. We have set up the research capability and must now move on a range of IHIA in sport, workplaces, armed and emergency services to provide strategies to reduce the risk of heat induced illness in a tropical environment.Read moreRead less
Advanced Software Engineering Support for Intelligent Agent Systems. Software Agents are an important technology for developing the complex software systems that are increasingly required to meet the needs of society. A crucial obstacle to the widespread adoption of agent technology is the lack of an appropriate software engineering methodology. This project proposes to explore support for design processes addressing advanced issues in agent systems, such as goal-based requirements, debugging ....Advanced Software Engineering Support for Intelligent Agent Systems. Software Agents are an important technology for developing the complex software systems that are increasingly required to meet the needs of society. A crucial obstacle to the widespread adoption of agent technology is the lack of an appropriate software engineering methodology. This project proposes to explore support for design processes addressing advanced issues in agent systems, such as goal-based requirements, debugging using design artefacts, component-based design, and reuse. We will also extend the methodology to support teamwork and open systems. We will be building on successful work we have already done in establishing a basic agent oriented software design methodology.Read moreRead less
Use of Distichlis spicata for sustainable forage production on saline land to manage dryland salinity. Sustainable and productive use of salt-affected lands is a priority for many farmers. This project aims to develop management strategies that optimise yield, water use and nutritive value of Distichlis spicata (a salt-tolerant grass) forage on salinised lands, and to understand how this forage species affects the salt cycle, water use and fertility improvement of saline soils.
Functional characterisation of neurons derived from embryonic stem cells and NS cells. The ability to obtain specific neurons from NS cells will revolutionise the study of nerve function, will allow the establishment of much-improved models for discovery of new drugs, and will define how enriched populations of neural cells can be obtained for applications in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The project will provide vital data for the emerging biotechnology industry associated will appl ....Functional characterisation of neurons derived from embryonic stem cells and NS cells. The ability to obtain specific neurons from NS cells will revolutionise the study of nerve function, will allow the establishment of much-improved models for discovery of new drugs, and will define how enriched populations of neural cells can be obtained for applications in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The project will provide vital data for the emerging biotechnology industry associated will applications of stem cell biology, and will stimulate clinical researchers to investigate the therapeutic potential of cell derived from NS cells.Read moreRead less
Pancreatic Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem Cells using Smart Surfaces. Cord blood cells obtained at the time of delivery of a baby are a valuable resource that have the potential to develop into many cell types. This Project entails attaching stem cells derived from cord blood to appropriate 3 dimensional smart surfaces, and examining the ability of such cells to develop into insulin-producing cells. An understanding of how to coax stem cells, seeded on to smart surfaces, to develop into ma ....Pancreatic Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem Cells using Smart Surfaces. Cord blood cells obtained at the time of delivery of a baby are a valuable resource that have the potential to develop into many cell types. This Project entails attaching stem cells derived from cord blood to appropriate 3 dimensional smart surfaces, and examining the ability of such cells to develop into insulin-producing cells. An understanding of how to coax stem cells, seeded on to smart surfaces, to develop into mature cells with different functions will enhance our ability to understand how cells develop. As well, it enhance the potential usefulness of cord blood for research purposes. Read moreRead less
Building communities: managing public assets to provide social value. Local government facilities have a social value for the community beyond the immediate provision of service or amenity. However, this aspect is not generally considered in the formal planning and management of public facilities, which concentrate on economic considerations and community service needs. This project explores the links between public assets, their social value and community well-being. The research will provide a ....Building communities: managing public assets to provide social value. Local government facilities have a social value for the community beyond the immediate provision of service or amenity. However, this aspect is not generally considered in the formal planning and management of public facilities, which concentrate on economic considerations and community service needs. This project explores the links between public assets, their social value and community well-being. The research will provide a rationale, model, and set of indicators to assess social value for facilities, assisting local government decision-making, including regional and rural communities, and contribute to the development of meaningful long-term infrastructure and community plans.Read moreRead less