Experimental and theoretical analysis of gas leakage rate through composite landfill covers due to geomembrane defects. The Australian Greenhouse Office indicated that waste emissions contributed 3.1% of net national emissions in 2001 with methane emissions from landfills accounting for 92% of total methane emissions from the waste sector, despite an increase in methane recovered from solid waste. It pointed out that the recent changes in waste management practices did not have an impact on repo ....Experimental and theoretical analysis of gas leakage rate through composite landfill covers due to geomembrane defects. The Australian Greenhouse Office indicated that waste emissions contributed 3.1% of net national emissions in 2001 with methane emissions from landfills accounting for 92% of total methane emissions from the waste sector, despite an increase in methane recovered from solid waste. It pointed out that the recent changes in waste management practices did not have an impact on reported methane emission levels and there is need to undertake a range of activities to reduce emissions from waste management activities. This project will address specifically the above issue by providing a new method of analysis to predict gas leakage rate and allow engineers to propose solutions to mitigate gas escapes. Read moreRead less
Sustainable retirement villages for Ageing Australians. This project aims to deliver sustainable retirement villages to better accommodate older Australians and assess their effects on the growth of the retirement village industry. More organisations and governments globally are embracing sustainable development, but the Australian retirement village industry has been largely static and unresponsive; it has not yet met the green movement’s challenge to provide a sustainable living environment fo ....Sustainable retirement villages for Ageing Australians. This project aims to deliver sustainable retirement villages to better accommodate older Australians and assess their effects on the growth of the retirement village industry. More organisations and governments globally are embracing sustainable development, but the Australian retirement village industry has been largely static and unresponsive; it has not yet met the green movement’s challenge to provide a sustainable living environment for senior citizens. This project is expected to improve the living environment of retirement villages and the quality of life of older Australians.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101502
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions for road infrastructure. This project aims to develop an assessment model to accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions that roads generate over their life cycle. The project will integrate recent methodological developments and practical advances from road construction and maintenance into its proposed assessment model. The expected outcome will be an assessment model and mapping tool which will visualise emissions levels and better map these e ....Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions for road infrastructure. This project aims to develop an assessment model to accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions that roads generate over their life cycle. The project will integrate recent methodological developments and practical advances from road construction and maintenance into its proposed assessment model. The expected outcome will be an assessment model and mapping tool which will visualise emissions levels and better map these emissions into the cost-benefit analysis of roads. This will make greenhouse gas reduction more effective and cheaper, and make the Australian infrastructure sector more competitive.Read moreRead less
Modelling and testing corroding reinforced concrete structures. The project aims to develop models and methods to enable the early detection of active steel corrosion. Most of Australia’s critical infrastructure is located on or near the coast in high saline conditions and is exposed to a high risk of reinforcing steel corrosion. Our ability to design and monitor such structures is crucial. The first part of the project aims to develop an innovative finite element model to improve the prediction ....Modelling and testing corroding reinforced concrete structures. The project aims to develop models and methods to enable the early detection of active steel corrosion. Most of Australia’s critical infrastructure is located on or near the coast in high saline conditions and is exposed to a high risk of reinforcing steel corrosion. Our ability to design and monitor such structures is crucial. The first part of the project aims to develop an innovative finite element model to improve the prediction of both active steel reinforcement corrosion and the time to concrete cracking in a chloride environment. It then plans to develop a non-destructive method, combining ultrasonic waves-based technology and acoustic emission, to detect active steel corrosion before any damage is visible on the structure.Read moreRead less
Improved Landfill Barrier Design for Changing Climates. The proposed research project will develop advanced methods and guidelines for practising engineers for improved engineering and design of waste containment barrier systems, leading to improved protection of groundwater resources and the environment and sustainable development of the country. The project will contribute to the priority area of building an environmentally sustainable Australia with a specific focus on water as a critical re ....Improved Landfill Barrier Design for Changing Climates. The proposed research project will develop advanced methods and guidelines for practising engineers for improved engineering and design of waste containment barrier systems, leading to improved protection of groundwater resources and the environment and sustainable development of the country. The project will contribute to the priority area of building an environmentally sustainable Australia with a specific focus on water as a critical resource.Read moreRead less
The characterisation of wastewater distribution patterns for the production of decision support systems for pathogenic risk analysis in water catchments. The project will aim to collate data and map base-level distribution patterns of molecular and microbial markers of human sewage and natural/agricultural contamination with reference to diurnal and seasonal fluctuations. These data will then be used to develop decision support systems that predict contaminant dispersion and identify high-risk c ....The characterisation of wastewater distribution patterns for the production of decision support systems for pathogenic risk analysis in water catchments. The project will aim to collate data and map base-level distribution patterns of molecular and microbial markers of human sewage and natural/agricultural contamination with reference to diurnal and seasonal fluctuations. These data will then be used to develop decision support systems that predict contaminant dispersion and identify high-risk contamination sources. The diurnal collection of data is expected to show significant variations in the measured parameters associated with time of day, light intensity and temperature. Mapping of the sewage and nutrient loads throughout the year will provide base line data for identifying potential hotspots for targeting system upgrades or improved management programs.Read moreRead less
Cost-effective integrated engineering and "community partnerships" solution to a latent water policy issue: private dam management and flood safety. Project aims to further develop an engineering model for cost-effective innovative flood safety design/review for private dams in Southeastern Australia and integrate this with community impact assessment. Together, this is a "community partnerships" solution to a significant water policy vacuum on private dam safety and flood policy. Expected outco ....Cost-effective integrated engineering and "community partnerships" solution to a latent water policy issue: private dam management and flood safety. Project aims to further develop an engineering model for cost-effective innovative flood safety design/review for private dams in Southeastern Australia and integrate this with community impact assessment. Together, this is a "community partnerships" solution to a significant water policy vacuum on private dam safety and flood policy. Expected outcomes: improved risk transparency for dam owners and State Government, minimising costs of failures, ie. loss of life, damage to public and private infrastructure and environment; giving owners an affordable and effective design/review procedure to better manage their dams, providing data on community responses and water law reform proposals consonant with international best-practice.Read moreRead less
A study of turbulence and influence of anthropogenic inputs in small subtropical estuaries. This project aims to improve our basic understanding of mixing and dispersion processes in small subtropical estuaries, and to develop improved predictive models to assist with the management of natural ecosystems. This will be the first comprehensive study of mixing processes and the influence of anthropogenic inputs in small subtropical estuaries.
An experimentally-validated thermo-hydro-mechanical theory for waste containment lining systems. Geosynthetic clay liners are engineering systems that are widely used around the world to protect groundwater from municipal, industrial and mining contaminants. The project will conduct cutting-edge experimental, theoretical and computational research leading to a major improvement in their short-term and long-term performances.
Design Rationale for Gated Canal Estates. This project will provide new knowledge on how to design gated canal estates to maximise their water quality and avoid events leading to the development of poor, and even harmful, water quality. It will document this new knowledge as Engineering Design Guidelines, which can be implemented to minimise adverse water quality impacts. A User Manual will also be developed to document the application of water quality decision support systems for use in designi ....Design Rationale for Gated Canal Estates. This project will provide new knowledge on how to design gated canal estates to maximise their water quality and avoid events leading to the development of poor, and even harmful, water quality. It will document this new knowledge as Engineering Design Guidelines, which can be implemented to minimise adverse water quality impacts. A User Manual will also be developed to document the application of water quality decision support systems for use in designing canal estates. This project will foster technology transfer from the research environment to the private and public sectors, also enabling a student to complete a PhD program.Read moreRead less