Rapidly deposited sand sheets of the Illawarra region,
south east Australia
Project Summary:
The project aims to provide detailed mapping, three dimensional
modelling and stratigraphic investigation of coastal sand sheets in southern
New South Wales. The project will provide detailed sedimentological information
for the regional sand mining industry and government agencies, broadening and
challenging the current paradigm of coastal evolution during the Holocene. The
project also hopes to provide information on hydrology, including the role of
sand sheets as coastal aquifers and identification of anomalous deposits attributed
to large scale tsunami events. A PhD thesis and the publications of several
reports and articles to government agencies and refereed journals are expected.
Chief Investigator(s):
Bill Buttemer
Lee Astheimer
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$60,000
$48,000
$50,000
$158,000
Industry Partner:
APLC
Project Title:
Organophosphate pesticides and locust control: Sublethal
effects on terrestrial vertebrates
Project Summary:
The proposed research will provide the first comprehensive study
of the sensitivity of Australian terrestrial vertebrates to the widely used
organophosphate (OP) pesticide, fenitrothion. This information is essential
for our industry partner to assess the impact of locust control activities on
native wildlife and to inform their field practices. We will correlate the extent
of cholinesterase inhibition, a biomarker of OP exposure, with physiological
and behavioural parameters to evaluate sublethal effects on selected birds,
mammals and reptiles under field conditions and i controlled laboratory experiments.
Our novel, integrated approach will serve as a model for future pesticide assessment
worldwide.
Chief Investigator(s):
Robin Chowdhury
Phillip Flentje
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$75,000
$55,000
$50,000
$180,000
Industry Partner:
Wollongong City Council & Rail Access Corporation/Rail Services
Australia
Project Title:
Integrated approach for the assessment and management
of landslide risk.
Project Summary:
Landslides have an enormous economic and social impact in many
countries. in Australia 82 people have died and landslides have destroyed 200
buildings and millions of dollars are spent in landslide remediation. The research
project will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the processes
and mechanisms of landsliding and will enable the development of effective strategies
for risk assessment and management. The research will lead to reliable, real-time
predictions, more effective early warning systems and to better strategies for
preventative action and loss reduction. Early work has been successful for real-time
prediction in August 1998 and has been recognised and adopted internationally.
Chief Investigator(s):
Chris Cook
Steve Gower
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$122,860
$120,000
$85,000
$327,860
Industry Partner:
Australian Superconductors
Project Title:
Design, construction and evaluation of a 20kJ superconducting
magnetic energy storage system
Project Summary:
This system will construct, and examine the overall system of,
a 20kJ energy storage system using high Tc superconductors (known as superconducting
magnetic energy storage system or SMES). It aims to integrate coil design, high
Tc current leads, cryogenic power semiconductors and the power conditioning
system into a functioning device. The research also seeks to reveal the rules
governing the optimum charge and discharge rates, capacities and operating profiles
for SMES. A 20 kJ SMES is significant to electrical engineering because it will
provide levelling of short time voltage drops in 3 phase power supply networks.
Chief Investigator(s):
Andy Davis
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Wyong Shire Council
Project Title:
Impacts of coastal development on estuaries: the utility
of non-motile macro-invertebrates in rapid biodiversity assessment
Project Summary:
Coastal environments, particularly estuaries, are under considerable
pressure from urban expansion. In order to adequately protect and manage these
productive systems a quick and cheap means of assessing their “health”
is required. Non-motile invertebrates, such as sponges and ascidians, are excellent
candidates for the assessment of stress in estuarine environments but, their
utility as surrogates for other components for the fauna remains unknown. This
project will i) determine whether non-motile invertebrates are useful for rapid
biodiversity assessment in estuarine environments ii) provide a detailed inventory
for the macrofauna of Southern NSW estuaries—a fauna which is currently
poorly known. It is anticipated that findings from this study will be applicable
to other temperate estuaries threatened by urban expansion.
Chief Investigator(s):
Rian Dippenaar
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$80,800
$83,200
$85,700
$249,700
Industry Partner:
BHP Innovations Pty Ltd
Project Title:
The formation and stability of intermetallic phases
in a Zincalum coating bath
Project Summary:
The proposed project is designed to develop a sound understanding
of the mechanism and rate of formation of inter-metallic phases (dross) in the
molten metallic bath of the reaction vessel used for hot-dip galvanising of
steel strip. This knowledge is the key to understanding the effect of process
variables on the formation of dross, which causes quality problems. A fundamental
understanding of the linkage between process variables and product quality will
help the Australian industry to design remedial action for the prevention of
excessive precipitate formation. Training will be provided for a researcher
in advanced research techniques.
Chief Investigator(s):
Rian Dippenaar
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
BHP Minerals Research
Project Title:
Agglomeration of Fine Iron ORe Particles in a fluid bed
cascade
Project Summary:
A multi-billion dollar facility to produce hot priquetted iron from
iron ore fines is being commissioned in Australia but the efficiency of the process
is hampered by the sticking of particles in the reactors and transfer pipes. This
project is aimed at establishing the mechanisms of sticking by studying the underpinning
scientific principles in simplified systems. A fundamental understanding of the
sticking problem will help the Australian industry to design appropriate counter
measures. A researcher will be trained in collaboration with the industry partner
to solve an industrial problem through fundamental scientific research.
Chief Investigator(s):
Tony Eyers
Chung Tung Chou
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Motorola Australia
Project Title:
Distributed caching for quality of service provision
in mobile multicast IP networks.
Project Summary:
Multicasting is an efficient method to deliver information from
a sender to a selected group of recipients in communication networks. The recent
groth in mobile communications has fuelled an increasing demand to provide multicast
services such as video conferencing over mobile networks. These services generally
require strict Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees which can be especially challenging
to meet in the mobile environment because of its inherent unreliability and
bandwidth limitation. This project will investigate the research issues related
to designing distributed caching for ensuring QoS guarantees in mobile multicasting.
The goal is to provide both mobile device and network designers with a systematic
distributed caching design methodology.
Chief Investigator(s):
Kristine French
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
State Forests
Project Title:
The relationship between bat diversity and invertebrates
in harvested forests.
Project Summary:
Production forests consists fo a mosaic of patches of regenerating
forest of different ages amongst unlogged areas. Each patch has a different vertical
structure that potentially affects animal behaviour. At present we have little
knowledge of how animals use different patches and how these influence regional
biodiversity. This project investigates how the change in forest structure within
these patches affects foraging of bats. It will take a multiorganim approach by
investigating both predator (bats) and prey (moths and bats). Spatial scales of
these two taxa will be investigated simultaneously allowing us to determine if
prey distribution is influencing predator behaviour.
Chief Investigator(s):
Kristine French
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Wyong Shire Council
Project Title:
The effect of urbanisation on bird populations
Project Summary:
Fragmentation of habit in urban areas is known to affect the avian
community. What is not understood is whether urban fragments of how birds use
remnants and the surrounding urban matrix. As a result, management protocols
to enhance urban diversity lack adequate direction. This project will investigate
what species are affected by urban fragmentation, how fragmentation affects
the population structure, feeding behaviour and reproductive output. It will
determine what resources are used in fragments and surrounding areas and compare
this to areas to continuous bushland.
Chief Investigator(s):
Vic Gosbell
Ian Burnett
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$92,860
$81,000
$83,000
$256,860
Industry Partner:
Integral Energy
CHK Engineering
Project Title:
Power Quality survey and monitoring methodologies for
the Australian electricity distribution industry.
Project Summary:
The deregulation of the Australian electricity industry increases
competition but threatens the quality of the electricity supply. State regulators
are trying to protect quality by imposing codes and mandatory routine measurements.
However, at present there are no credible quantitative measures of power quality,
and the measurement of every relevant parameter at every point in the power
system is impractical. This project will develop cost-effective methods for
monitoring a large power system, including a specification for monitoring instruments,
their number and location, methods of data compression, automatic recognition
of the types of disturbances and characterisation by useful power quality indices.
Chief Investigator(s):
Ann Hodgkinson
Robyn Iredale
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$50,000
$22,292
$22,292
$94,584
Industry Partner:
Department of State and Regional Development
Shoalhaven Council
Project Title:
Internationalisation, information flows and networking
in rural and regional firms: Implications for regional development
Project Summary:
This project will model the local and international strategies
leading firms use to export, access new information and source inputs. The research
involves interviews with 150 rural and regional NSW firms utilising an evolutionary
methodology developed by this research team. It will be the first study to provide
substantial evidence of how new information enters non-metropolitan regions
and how it is used as the basis for design and technological innovations. It
will also provide detailed analyses of the networks used by such firms and the
relative significance of industrial clusters to their sustained growth. The
results will highlight the similarities and differences in the internationalisation
strategies of firms in different regions providing the basis for regional policies,
that build on the existing relationships in such regions.
Chief Investigator(s):
Brian Jones
Gerald Nanson
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Coleambally Irrigation
Project Title:
Influence of palaeochannels on groundwater access and
movement in the Coleambally Irrigation area.
Project Summary:
This project will assess the influence of paleochannels and associated
land units on groundwater access and movement using the Coleambally Irrigation
District as a model. This will be achieved through integration of extensive
existing and new borehole, soil, groundwater and electromagnetic data using
Geographic Information System methodologies. A better understanding and management
of water access to shallow aquifers in irrigation areas will improve the management
and use of groundwater resources, and also assist in the control of downstream
salinity problems. Such information will be widely applicable and important
both in Australia and internationally.
Chief Investigator(s):
Roger Lewis
Chao Zhang
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Email Limited
Project Title:
Experimental development of thermionic cooling for domestic
refrigeration
Project Summary:
We plan to prove in practice the concept of solid-state cooling
by thermionic emission for domestic refrigeration. The proposed experimental
work follows naturally from the recent theoretical advances made in this area
by us and others. A structure consisting of very thin, alternating layers of
semiconductors is calculated to have high cooling efficiency. In contrast to
standard compressor-based refrigerators, a refrigerator based on the new concept
has no moving parts, is silent, vibration free, environmental friendly and low
maintenance. The project links experts in semiconductor physics theory and experiment
with Australia's largest manufacturer of domestic refrigerators, whose factory
is regionally based (Orange, NSW).
Chief Investigator(s):
Clem Lloyd
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$52,000
$52,000
$52,000
$156,000
Industry Partner:
John Fairfax Holding Ltd
The DART Foundation
Project Title:
Trauma and the newsroom: Helping journalists avoid trauma
to others and to themselves when reporting stressful situations.
Project Summary:
Fair and effective journalism in Australia is impeded by traditional,
but outmoded and unjust, reporting practices. This project is designed to produce
better journalism in the reporting of victims involved in catastrophic events
and stressful situations. journalists can cause traumatic stress among these
victims by inappropriate reporting practices. Journalists are themselves vulnerable
to traumatic stress from reporting catastrophes and stressful situations. Unlike
other participants in traumatic events, journalists get no professional trauma
counselling in their workplaces. This project aims to remove from the newsroom
reporting and techniques likely to traumatise victims and introduce best-practice
trauma counselling for journalists.
Chief Investigator(s):
Roselyn Melville
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Burnside
Project Title:
Foster carers: redefining their role and responsibilities
in response to deinstitutionalisation
Project Summary:
Child welfare systems throughout Australia have difficulty attracting
and maintaining adequate numbers of foster carers. This project critically examines
the quality of carer support and training, and the role of foster carers within
the current policy environment fo deinstitutionalisation. The research will
assist in the development of policy and practice to more accurately reflect
carer needs, such as improved carer recruitment and training. It is hoped that
the research will raise retention rates and reduce costs associated with higher
carer turnover. This will lead to improved outcomes for children in care can
be expected as the numbers of experienced and well-supported foster carers increase.
Chief Investigator(s):
Sharon Nightingale
Geoff Brooks
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$72,234
$49,580
$51,422
$173,236
Industry Partner:
BHP Steel
Project Title:
High Temperature behaviour of resin bonded refactory
composite
Project Summary:
This project aims to establish a predictive model for behaviour
of a refractory composite which plays a critical role in the stability of blast
furnace operations and prolonging campaign life. effects of extrusion conditions
and heating on volatile loss, structure and properties of resin bonded Al2O3-SiC-C
used to seal the tapholes and protect hearth refractories will be studied. Results
will be verified by comparison with analyses of core samples taken from a blast
furnace. Data will be used to improve control of furnace operations, increase
safety and extend furnace life thereby improving the competitiveness of Australia's
steel industry.
Chief Investigator(s):
Josef Pieprzyk
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$81,360
$70,000
$72,000
$223,360
Industry Partner:
Nortel Networks Australia Pty Ltd
Project Title:
Internet Electronic Voting Protocols
Project Summary:
The right to participate in free elections is the cornerstone
of any democratic society. The project investigates problems related to the
conversion of paper-based voting into a fully fledged electronic equivalent.
We are going to design and analyse a family of e-Voting protocols which can
be used to conduct large-scale elections(for instance nation wide), small-scale
voting (teleconferencing and on-line decision making), opinion testing of a
target group, electronic collection of signatures for petitions and nation-wide
referenda.
Chief Investigator(s):
Anatoly Rozenfeld
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Nucleat Fields (Aust) PTY LTD
Project Title:
Development of a single photon emission tomography for
imaging small laboratory animals
Project Summary:
The goal of this research is to develop a device for imaging the
distribution and kinetics of radiolabelled drugs in laboratory animals, such
as rats and mice. The project combines the expertise and facilities of the collaborating
partners and incorporates several innovative concepts, including a new high
resolution detector and novel methods of photon collimation and image reconstruction.
The major outcome will be a unique imaging capability that will allow, for the
first time, radiochemists, pharmacologists and other basic researchers to study
receptor-drug interactions non-invasively in live animals.
Chief Investigator(s):
Geoff Spinks
Hugh Brown
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$ 71460
$ 62800
$ 62800
$ 197060
Industry Partner:
BHP Coated Steel Australia
Project Title:
Rapid assessment of paint properties using indentation
analysis
Project Summary:
The aim of this project is to develop an instruments and supporting
analysis methodology to allow the rapid assessment of paint film properties.
The project will provide valuable knowledge on the mechanics of contact between
probes and viscoelastic polymer coatings. Such information has general relevance
to friction properties and adhesion of polymers. The information from the testing
will also be used by the Industrial Partner to adjust paint baking processes
so as to maintain optimal coating quality. Such quality improvements are important
to the future expansion of BHP's business internationally.
Chief Investigator(s):
David Steel
Yan-Xia Lin
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Project Title:
Measuring interviewer effects for household surveys
Project Summary:
Household surveys are a vital source of social and economic information
for businesses and governments. The performance of interviewers can greatly
affect the quality of information obtained from such surveys. This project will
develop new statistical methods to measure the impact of interviewers on the
quality of survey estimates for the sample designs used in practice. It will
develop major new quality management tools that will improve the quality and
interpretation of information obtained from household surveys.
Chief Investigator(s):
Julie Steele
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
ASICS Tiger Oceania Pty Ltd
Project Title:
Footwear for fat flat feet: Shoe design and obese children
Project Summary:
Children's footwear has traditionally been based on cut-down versions
of adult shoes, with minimal research pertaining to shoes designed for specific
groups such as obese children. As childhood obesity is rapidly increasing, the
nexus between obesity, foot biomechanics, and footwear warrants urgent investigation,
particularly as foot discomfort, caused by increased weight-bearing, may hinder
obese children from participating in activity, in turn, perpetuating their obesity.
To remove this barrier to physical activity, this project will develop design
recommendations for shoes to decrease high foot loading suffered by obese children
and will have immediate benefits in shoe selection for all overweight/obese
children.
Chief Investigator(s):
Ah Chung Tsoi
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$94,700
$80,800
$86,500
$262,000
Industry Partner:
Health Insurance Commission
Project Title:
Automated detection of public fraud in the Medicare
system using neural network techniques.
Project Summary:
The expected outcome of this project is set of automated methods
based on neural network techniques for the detection of public fraud committed
by patients, receptionists, for monetary gain: or by people engaged in “doctor
shopping” for illicit gain of drug supplies, in the Medicare system. This
would reveal the true level of public fraud in the current Medicare system,
as well as assisting the Health Insurance Commission in reducing their level
of payments due to fraudulent activities
Chief Investigator(s):
Linda Viney
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$71,487
$74,585
$76,154
$222,226
Industry Partner:
Illawarra Area Health Service
Project Title:
Are crazies credible? Working with consumers to evaluate
a mental health service
Project Summary:
The views of consumers of mental health services are often invalidated
and undermined by simple statements such as: “that is not true, they're
crazy”. The research aims to improve mental health services through credible
consumer evaluation. It is innovative because it involves consumers as researchers
in developing a non-medical consumer-directed model and credible methodology
for evaluating current and planning future mental health services. The expected
outcomes include: (a) a consumer-directed model to evaluate mental health services;
(b) new methods that operationalise the consumer-directed model and overcome
previous methodological problems with this client group; and (c) a regional
evaluation as a template for international researchers and mental health services.
Chief Investigator(s):
Gordon Wallace
John Norrish
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
WTIA
Project Title:
An electronic nose for detection and monitoring of welding
fume exposure
Project Summary:
Tests have shown that excessive breathing zone exposure to harmful
fumes is likely to occur if the welders head position coincides with the bulk
of the fume plume. The welder is unable to detect this exposure risk due to
the protective helmet and unpredictable fume movement. The aim of the project
is to develop a sensor for breathing zine fume measurement in arc welding situations.
Polymer sensors have been used as gas and olfactory detectors and seem to be
most suitable for this application. The research involves the development of
a suitable sensor element and detection telemetry circuitry.
Chief Investigator(s):
Gouxiu Wang
Hua Kun Liu
S Zhong
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$60,234
$74,080
$63,922
$198,236
Industry Partner:
Aust Battery Technology Ltd & Lexel Battery Ltd
Project Title:
Solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries for telecommunication
and portable electronic devices
Project Summary:
The aims of the research are to develop solid state rechargeable
lithium polymer batteries and thin film microbatteries for telecommunications
and for miniature electronic devices. The significance of this project is to
develop advanced solid-state rechargeable technology and to stimulate advanced
battery manufacture in Australia. The expected outcomes will be to produce prototype
lithium polymer batteries for cellular phones, notebook computers and palm computers.
Thin-film microbatteries will also be fabricated using a pulsed laser ablation
technique.
Chief Investigator(s):
Heather Yeatman
2001 $
2002 $
2003 $
Total $
$22,292
$22,292
$22,292
$66,876
Industry Partner:
Sanitarium
Project Title:
Prospective study of key factors affecting consumers’
food choice
Project Summary:
Social and retail environments within which people make food choices
are changing rapidly and research methods are required to predict future trends.
This prospective study will contribute to a theoretical framework describing
influences on food choice and refine applied consumer research methodologies
using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Regionally-based Australian health
food companies need to grow their business by anticipating and understanding
consumer trends in order to produce and market healthy foods that address consumer
needs. This longitudinal study will identify key influences on the adoption
of healthy food choice behaviours in teenage, young parent and middle age cohorts.
