Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354575
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Earth and Ocean Informatics and Technology Network (EON-ITnet). Sustainable resource exploration and mining onshore, as well as marine planning, exploration, and defence depend on effective cross-disciplinary investigation, sharing of expertise and technologies for integration and computational analysis of multidimensional data spaces. EON-ITNET will cross-fertilise the use of artificial intelligence, advanced computing and smart information sharing for management, analysis, visualisation and me ....Earth and Ocean Informatics and Technology Network (EON-ITnet). Sustainable resource exploration and mining onshore, as well as marine planning, exploration, and defence depend on effective cross-disciplinary investigation, sharing of expertise and technologies for integration and computational analysis of multidimensional data spaces. EON-ITNET will cross-fertilise the use of artificial intelligence, advanced computing and smart information sharing for management, analysis, visualisation and metadata modelling between these traditionally separate research groups, with the outcome of improving research efficiency and lowering costs. EON-ITNET will form an alliance with the Caltech-based GeoFramework, which is advancing a novel object-oriented data analysis environment, binding community software for Earth visualisation and simulation to 4D data bases.Read moreRead less
Longshore Sediment Supply to the Deep Ocean. The current model to supply sand to deep water off continental margins is that provided by rivers operating at low sea level. We propose an alternative model in which sand is provided by longshore transport to deep water at high sea level north of Fraser Island, SE Queensland. Here we will test the validity of our new model by site studies of sea bottom morphology, composition and dynamics. If the model proves true, we will have: 1) generated an entir ....Longshore Sediment Supply to the Deep Ocean. The current model to supply sand to deep water off continental margins is that provided by rivers operating at low sea level. We propose an alternative model in which sand is provided by longshore transport to deep water at high sea level north of Fraser Island, SE Queensland. Here we will test the validity of our new model by site studies of sea bottom morphology, composition and dynamics. If the model proves true, we will have: 1) generated an entirely new exploration model for deepwater hydrocarbons, 2) provided new expertise and seabed maps for generating a superior marine naval defence capability.Read moreRead less
China and Latin America: New Challenges and Opportunities for Australia. This project examines the growing international influence and strength of one of Australia's most strategically important neighbours, the People's Republic of China. Emerging commercial and diplomatic alliances between China and Latin America pose economic and political challenges for Australia and other resource exporters. This research consolidates Australia's reputation as a leader in the field of China Studies by clarif ....China and Latin America: New Challenges and Opportunities for Australia. This project examines the growing international influence and strength of one of Australia's most strategically important neighbours, the People's Republic of China. Emerging commercial and diplomatic alliances between China and Latin America pose economic and political challenges for Australia and other resource exporters. This research consolidates Australia's reputation as a leader in the field of China Studies by clarifying the nature of these challenges over the next five to ten years. The project will produce academic seminars in Sydney, Guadalajara, and Monterrey; the exchange of Australian and Mexican scholars, and joint publications in a field of study that bears direct relevance to the national interests of both countries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346878
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,000.00
Summary
GeoWulf: An Inference Engine for Complex Earth Systems. The project is to build a `Beowulf' cluster as a platform for solving
complex data inference problems in the Earth sciences, and in
particular the fields of thermochronology, seismology, crustal and
mantle dynamics, and landform evolution. A Beowulf cluster is a
network-linked set of commonly available `off-the-shelf' PC-computers
configured to give unprecedented performance/cost ratio. Projects
using the Beowulf facility will combine ....GeoWulf: An Inference Engine for Complex Earth Systems. The project is to build a `Beowulf' cluster as a platform for solving
complex data inference problems in the Earth sciences, and in
particular the fields of thermochronology, seismology, crustal and
mantle dynamics, and landform evolution. A Beowulf cluster is a
network-linked set of commonly available `off-the-shelf' PC-computers
configured to give unprecedented performance/cost ratio. Projects
using the Beowulf facility will combine state-of-the-art computational
techniques recently developed at ANU, and high quality data sets
collected over the past decade to address fundamental questions in
the Geosciences.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453608
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$579,230.00
Summary
Multifunctional confocal laser scanning microscope with time resolved and two photon imaging and fluorescence correlation capabilities. We seek to establish an Australian first confocal laser scanning microscope with time resolved imaging and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy capabilities. Its advantages include ultrasensitive detection of weak fluorescent emissions against high autofluorescent background by using fluorescence lifetime signatures, with over three orders of magnitude discrimi ....Multifunctional confocal laser scanning microscope with time resolved and two photon imaging and fluorescence correlation capabilities. We seek to establish an Australian first confocal laser scanning microscope with time resolved imaging and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy capabilities. Its advantages include ultrasensitive detection of weak fluorescent emissions against high autofluorescent background by using fluorescence lifetime signatures, with over three orders of magnitude discrimination improvement. The system will also be able to monitor binding of single molecules. These techniques will open new and exciting avenues for interdisciplinary research at the frontier between biological and physical sciences. The microscope will operate within an existing multi-user Optical Characterisation Facility supporting research of an established network of scientists in the Sydney area.Read moreRead less
Shear heating in granular materials: micromechanics of thermal conduction and production. Oil, gas and geothermal exploration are amongst the major energy industries in Australia and must be optimised to enable efficient production. These processes are dominated by the transfer of heat through granular soil media. Past research was based on continuum heat-flow solutions, but these problems are governed by distinct networks of particle-particle contacts and interparticle pore-fluids. Heat-flow so ....Shear heating in granular materials: micromechanics of thermal conduction and production. Oil, gas and geothermal exploration are amongst the major energy industries in Australia and must be optimised to enable efficient production. These processes are dominated by the transfer of heat through granular soil media. Past research was based on continuum heat-flow solutions, but these problems are governed by distinct networks of particle-particle contacts and interparticle pore-fluids. Heat-flow solutions depend on effective terms of thermal conduction, production and convection, but these change with loading. A systematic study must therefore be accomplished to formulate the micromechanics of the effective thermal properties, such that continuum solutions are refined to optimise energy exploration.Read moreRead less
Fundamental studies of the packing and compaction of fine particles. This project will investigate the fundamentals of the packing and compaction of fine particles at both microscopic and macroscopic levels through a combined theoretical and experimental program. It involves the use of advanced techniques to generate particle scale information, so that a packing and compaction process can be assessed at various time and length scales. It will produce a comprehensive understanding of the underlyi ....Fundamental studies of the packing and compaction of fine particles. This project will investigate the fundamentals of the packing and compaction of fine particles at both microscopic and macroscopic levels through a combined theoretical and experimental program. It involves the use of advanced techniques to generate particle scale information, so that a packing and compaction process can be assessed at various time and length scales. It will produce a comprehensive understanding of the underlying physics, computer models capable of predicting the micromechanic and transport properties of porous media, and an effective means to solve many packing and compaction problems widely encountered in minerals and materials processing industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer for analysis of complex mixtures in oils, ancient rocks, recent sediments, natural products and atmospheric aerosols. Research benefits will be:1. More effective remediation of petroleum spills through better understanding of degradation pathways, and ecotoxicological impact of spills.
2. Better understanding of the role of urban aerosols in human health impacts and climate change.
3. More effective development of finite petroleum resources by better understand ....Time-of-flight mass spectrometer for analysis of complex mixtures in oils, ancient rocks, recent sediments, natural products and atmospheric aerosols. Research benefits will be:1. More effective remediation of petroleum spills through better understanding of degradation pathways, and ecotoxicological impact of spills.
2. Better understanding of the role of urban aerosols in human health impacts and climate change.
3. More effective development of finite petroleum resources by better understanding of processes altering crude oil in the sub-surface.
4. Identification of natural products from algae, cyanobacteria, plants and mushrooms as new sources of pharmaceutical agents. 5. Improved knowledge of early evolution of life on Earth, helping maintain Australian scientists as world leaders in this field. 6. Greater understanding of the source and migration of petroleum in frontier areas.Read moreRead less
Biosphere, hydrocarbon and ore fluid interactions in the Early Precambrian. Ore deposits and petroleum are important for economic and social areas of Australia's growth. New discoveries are needed to maintain Australia's wealth as mines reach the end of operations and petroleum supplies decrease. This project will demonstrate how ore fluids and hydrocarbons interact in the geological environment. It should, therefore greatly expand the conceptual framework in which to explore for both mineral an ....Biosphere, hydrocarbon and ore fluid interactions in the Early Precambrian. Ore deposits and petroleum are important for economic and social areas of Australia's growth. New discoveries are needed to maintain Australia's wealth as mines reach the end of operations and petroleum supplies decrease. This project will demonstrate how ore fluids and hydrocarbons interact in the geological environment. It should, therefore greatly expand the conceptual framework in which to explore for both mineral and hydrocarbon resources, particularly in old, deep and hot basins, which are considered to be the last frontiers of exploration. Outcomes concerning the nature of early life will be of global interest.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238524
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,424,000.00
Summary
The international Ocean Drilling Program - Collaborative Australian Involvement. The Ocean Drilling Program is supported by 21 countries. Australia contributes as a 1/3 member of a consortium with Canada, Chinese Taipei, Korea. The drillship JOIDES Resolution is the unique facility allowing researchers access to the environmental and geological data recorded in the seafloor.
In 2002 the JOIDES Resolution will be drilling sites of international importance in the study of the deep biosphere; deep ....The international Ocean Drilling Program - Collaborative Australian Involvement. The Ocean Drilling Program is supported by 21 countries. Australia contributes as a 1/3 member of a consortium with Canada, Chinese Taipei, Korea. The drillship JOIDES Resolution is the unique facility allowing researchers access to the environmental and geological data recorded in the seafloor.
In 2002 the JOIDES Resolution will be drilling sites of international importance in the study of the deep biosphere; deep sea gas hydrates; oceanic crust generation and evolution (utilising real time geochemical and geophysical experiments in the crust); and past ocean circulation, sea surface temperature and productivity. Fourteen Australian Universities, CSIRO and AGSO support ODP and provide scientists for pre- and post-drilling research and postgraduate training.
Read moreRead less