Phytocapping for sustainable waste containment systems and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and odour from waste disposal sites. Landfills remain the main method of waste disposal in Australia and are a major source of groundwater contamination and greenhouse and odour emissions. This national research program will establish, under a wide range of Australian conditions, whether landfill phytocaps can meet regulatory performance criteria for water infiltration into and gas emissions from clo ....Phytocapping for sustainable waste containment systems and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and odour from waste disposal sites. Landfills remain the main method of waste disposal in Australia and are a major source of groundwater contamination and greenhouse and odour emissions. This national research program will establish, under a wide range of Australian conditions, whether landfill phytocaps can meet regulatory performance criteria for water infiltration into and gas emissions from closed landfills more effectively, efficiently and sustainably than conventional capping systems. The project will produce (a) a scientific basis for site owners and regulators to agree on the performance and cost of conventional and phyto cover technologies, (b) a manual for the design and permitting of alternative covers and (c)improved scientific prediction of cover performance.Read moreRead less
Riparian rehabilitation and ecohydraulics: interactions between flow, sediment, vegetation and bank erosion in longstem tubestock rehabilitation works. Riparian lands are important for maintaining viable ecosystems, improving water quality and reducing sediment yields in rivers and streams. Research in Australia has shown that streambank erosion is the most significant processes in the continuing physical and ecological degradation of riparian zones. The recently developed longstem tubestock sys ....Riparian rehabilitation and ecohydraulics: interactions between flow, sediment, vegetation and bank erosion in longstem tubestock rehabilitation works. Riparian lands are important for maintaining viable ecosystems, improving water quality and reducing sediment yields in rivers and streams. Research in Australia has shown that streambank erosion is the most significant processes in the continuing physical and ecological degradation of riparian zones. The recently developed longstem tubestock system has shown promise in controlling streambank erosion using native vegetation. However, rehabilitation practices rely on ad-hoc recipes without a thorough scientific understanding of near-bank processes. This research will fill this gap by combining field and laboratory experiments on tubestock plantings in order to develop guidelines and predictive tools for riparian zone management.Read moreRead less
Development and modelling of dust suppression technology. Over 50 per cent of Australia's export income is derived from industries that rely on bulk materials handling and processing. With greater throughputs and increasing integration of transport routes, ports and residential communities, more pressure is being placed on industry to control its dust emissions. There is an urgent need for Australia to invest in a more unified and scientific approach to develop and optimise dust suppression tech ....Development and modelling of dust suppression technology. Over 50 per cent of Australia's export income is derived from industries that rely on bulk materials handling and processing. With greater throughputs and increasing integration of transport routes, ports and residential communities, more pressure is being placed on industry to control its dust emissions. There is an urgent need for Australia to invest in a more unified and scientific approach to develop and optimise dust suppression technology for mining and export infrastructure. This project will help secure the sustainability of Australia's bulk exports by ensuring that products can be handled, conveyed and loaded safely and reliably. It will also reduce the risk of exposing workers and the community to unsafe concentrations of airborne dust.Read moreRead less
Adaptation of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) to Climate Change, Changing Transport Patterns and Urban Form. This research will (a) provide guidance on future adaptations of stormwater quality infrastructure, (b) provide better scientific understanding of pollutant movements in urban systems and (c) provide methodology to 'future proof' infrastructure design against the pressures of climate change and urban population growth. Project outputs will (a) enable water-sensitive urban designs to b ....Adaptation of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) to Climate Change, Changing Transport Patterns and Urban Form. This research will (a) provide guidance on future adaptations of stormwater quality infrastructure, (b) provide better scientific understanding of pollutant movements in urban systems and (c) provide methodology to 'future proof' infrastructure design against the pressures of climate change and urban population growth. Project outputs will (a) enable water-sensitive urban designs to be applied reliably and (b) minimise the cost of re-building assets before the end of their design life due to climate change. The ultimate benefit is the reduction in water pollution from roadways leading to improved human and ecosystem well-being of urban communities.Read moreRead less
A new end use of recycled water for sustainable Australian water. The economic, environmental and social impacts of this project would have benefits across Australia, and the rest of the world. Recycled water has never been used in clothes washing machines anywhere in the world, by introducing it here in Australia we would save approximately 20% of domestic water used for laundry purposes. This also has significant policy implications as this would be a huge step towards the implementation of a ....A new end use of recycled water for sustainable Australian water. The economic, environmental and social impacts of this project would have benefits across Australia, and the rest of the world. Recycled water has never been used in clothes washing machines anywhere in the world, by introducing it here in Australia we would save approximately 20% of domestic water used for laundry purposes. This also has significant policy implications as this would be a huge step towards the implementation of a program of recycled water usage in Australia.Read moreRead less
Computer simulation and field application of tidal buffering and sub-surface alkaline barrier techniques to enhance acid sulphate soils management. In low-lying coastal areas, groundwater drawdown due to deep flood mitigation drains and prolonged droughts has exacerbated sub-surface pyrite oxidation, forming sulphuric acid. The distribution of acid following rainfall affects soil-water quality. The pressures of urban development in the Shoalhaven floodplain (civil infrastructure, agriculture, aq ....Computer simulation and field application of tidal buffering and sub-surface alkaline barrier techniques to enhance acid sulphate soils management. In low-lying coastal areas, groundwater drawdown due to deep flood mitigation drains and prolonged droughts has exacerbated sub-surface pyrite oxidation, forming sulphuric acid. The distribution of acid following rainfall affects soil-water quality. The pressures of urban development in the Shoalhaven floodplain (civil infrastructure, agriculture, aquaculture and recreational industries) necessitate the accurate prediction of acid migration. Therefore, the key challenge will be the development of comprehensive numerical models, which include complex estuarine hydrogeology and tidal dynamics, supported by field monitoring. Using these models, the novel concepts of 2-way floodgates that promote tidal flushing and the effectiveness of sub-surface alkaline barriers can be tested in the Shoalhaven, and subsequently applied globally.Read moreRead less
Optimising permeable pavements with underlying reservoirs to enhance urban tree performance. This project will determine the optimal configuration of permeable pavements with underlying storage reservoirs and water delivery system to resolve the water security challenges that trees face in urban environments. This project will promote the healthy growth of urban trees and will lead to more liveable and healthier cities.
Derivation of Emissions Models from Vehicle Certification Tests. This research project will aim to prove the concept that emissions models capable of modelling changes in driver behaviour can be obtained from data that has been used as part of the vehicles emission certification process. Second by second emissions data from certification tests will be disaggregated into their component phases of acceleration, cruise, deceleration and idle. The emissions characteristics of these phases will be es ....Derivation of Emissions Models from Vehicle Certification Tests. This research project will aim to prove the concept that emissions models capable of modelling changes in driver behaviour can be obtained from data that has been used as part of the vehicles emission certification process. Second by second emissions data from certification tests will be disaggregated into their component phases of acceleration, cruise, deceleration and idle. The emissions characteristics of these phases will be established and analysed to produce empirical models of emissions per unit time versus mode of operation. These models will then be able to describe the changes in emission characteristics under different vehicle operating modes modes for a range of vehicle types.Read moreRead less
Optimization of fuel consumption and vehicle emission by simulating the integrated air conditioning and engine controls. As public interest on environmental conservation increases, tougher regulations on vehicle emission and fuel consumption will be implemented causing likely further restrictions on fuel consumption while operating the air conditioning system. Currently air conditioning and engine systems are controlled by two separate programs and lack effective communication between each other ....Optimization of fuel consumption and vehicle emission by simulating the integrated air conditioning and engine controls. As public interest on environmental conservation increases, tougher regulations on vehicle emission and fuel consumption will be implemented causing likely further restrictions on fuel consumption while operating the air conditioning system. Currently air conditioning and engine systems are controlled by two separate programs and lack effective communication between each other. This research aims to gain better understanding of the quantitative effects of car air-conditioning systems on fuel consumption and various air pollutant emissions, and develop an integrated simulation tool that links the air conditioning, engine fuel consumption and emission to assist the achievement of optimum vehicle energy and emission management.Read moreRead less
Removal of toxic air pollutants from car cabin by photocatalytic oxidation reactor. The air inside car cabin contains the contaminated air drawn from the traffic exhaust which has high levels of volatile organic compounds and other toxic air pollutants. The poor air quality in the car can pose a public health problem. Photocatalytic oxidation is an emerging technology which can remove the toxic organic pollutants in car cabin by mineralising them. This proposed research aims to quantify the pho ....Removal of toxic air pollutants from car cabin by photocatalytic oxidation reactor. The air inside car cabin contains the contaminated air drawn from the traffic exhaust which has high levels of volatile organic compounds and other toxic air pollutants. The poor air quality in the car can pose a public health problem. Photocatalytic oxidation is an emerging technology which can remove the toxic organic pollutants in car cabin by mineralising them. This proposed research aims to quantify the photocatalytic oxidation process occurring in titanium dioxide mediated reactor by simulating air flow and radiation. The developed simulation model can be used as a designing tool to optimise the cost-effective reactor design.Read moreRead less