Multiscale Modelling and Thermal Design Optimisation of Large-Scale Biomass Stockpiles for Use in Renewable Energy Products. By minimising the risk of spontaneous combustion this project will significantly contribute to the ability of the Australian sugar industry to store wet bagasse (sugar cane fibre residue) in large stockpiles. This will facilitate the year-round availability of biomass as a feedstock in renewable energy production. The mathematical models developed in this project deliver a ....Multiscale Modelling and Thermal Design Optimisation of Large-Scale Biomass Stockpiles for Use in Renewable Energy Products. By minimising the risk of spontaneous combustion this project will significantly contribute to the ability of the Australian sugar industry to store wet bagasse (sugar cane fibre residue) in large stockpiles. This will facilitate the year-round availability of biomass as a feedstock in renewable energy production. The mathematical models developed in this project deliver an enabling mechanism for facilitating the diversification of the sugar industry with the potential to produce significant financial returns for the industry. This research has the potential to initiate considerable and extremely positive, down-stream environmental impacts for Australia by enhancing feedstock production for ecologically sustainable power generation systems.Read moreRead less
Mathematical modelling of dye-sensitised titania solar cells: a route to improved efficiency in production. Dye-sensitised titania solar cells (DSCs) provide a technically and economically credible alternative to silicon photovotaic devices. Increasing the efficiency of commercially produced DSCs to 12% from the current production cell efficiency of 6%,will result in significantly lower delivered energy costs than the current alternative photovoltaic devices. This project will develop a mathemat ....Mathematical modelling of dye-sensitised titania solar cells: a route to improved efficiency in production. Dye-sensitised titania solar cells (DSCs) provide a technically and economically credible alternative to silicon photovotaic devices. Increasing the efficiency of commercially produced DSCs to 12% from the current production cell efficiency of 6%,will result in significantly lower delivered energy costs than the current alternative photovoltaic devices. This project will develop a mathematical model of a DSC as a first stage in the development of a decision support capability for the manufacture of more efficient DSC's. The model will extend existing models to incorporate full transport modelling and side-reactions in the electrolyte and will be validated by experimental work.Read moreRead less
Practical Identity-Based Cryptography: Efficient and Secure Elliptic Curve Pairings. Bilinear pairings on elliptic curves are a new cryptographic tool and allow novel and improved applications in information security. For example, they have been proposed as a substitute of existing public key infrastructures, an essential element in electronic commerce and a secure Internet. The research will lead to an increase in fundamental knowledge in the area of practical implementation and secure applic ....Practical Identity-Based Cryptography: Efficient and Secure Elliptic Curve Pairings. Bilinear pairings on elliptic curves are a new cryptographic tool and allow novel and improved applications in information security. For example, they have been proposed as a substitute of existing public key infrastructures, an essential element in electronic commerce and a secure Internet. The research will lead to an increase in fundamental knowledge in the area of practical implementation and secure applications of pairings. The results will benefit all users of electronic communications who require security for their information. This includes the financial industries, government, commerce and domestic users. It will also support many new product opportunities aligned with Motorola's business markets.Read moreRead less
Mathematical and computational models for agrichemical retention on plants. Mathematical and computational models for agrichemical retention on plants. This project aims to build interactive software that simulates agrichemical spraying for multiple virtual plants reconstructed from scanned data. Mathematical modelling and computer simulation could offer an alternative to expensive experimental programs for agrichemical spraying of plants. This project will use contemporary fluid mechanics to bu ....Mathematical and computational models for agrichemical retention on plants. Mathematical and computational models for agrichemical retention on plants. This project aims to build interactive software that simulates agrichemical spraying for multiple virtual plants reconstructed from scanned data. Mathematical modelling and computer simulation could offer an alternative to expensive experimental programs for agrichemical spraying of plants. This project will use contemporary fluid mechanics to build practical mathematical models for droplet impaction, spreading and evaporation on leaf surfaces, and experimentally calibrate and validate the models. The software is expected to drive the development of agrichemical products that increase retention, minimise environmental impacts, and reduce costs for end-users.Read moreRead less
Novel statistical analysis for traffic modelling. This collaborative research with Queensland Main Roads aims to develop and apply novel statistical modelling techniques which improve on the current statistical methods used for transport modelling. The research outcomes will provide a high level of accuracy in terms of predictions for trips leading to better use of expensive survey data. Predictions will be incorporated into transport models. Such model will be used for improving decisions i ....Novel statistical analysis for traffic modelling. This collaborative research with Queensland Main Roads aims to develop and apply novel statistical modelling techniques which improve on the current statistical methods used for transport modelling. The research outcomes will provide a high level of accuracy in terms of predictions for trips leading to better use of expensive survey data. Predictions will be incorporated into transport models. Such model will be used for improving decisions involving multi billion dollar transport infrastructure investment and applied to South East Queensland. The methods can be extended to transport models for other large conurbations in Australia. Outcomes include improved transport systems with economic benefits for business and the community. Read moreRead less
Statistical methods for quantifying variation in spatiotemporal areal data. This project aims to develop new statistical methods for extracting insights into spatial and temporal variation in areal data. These tools will extend the Australian Cancer Atlas which provides small area estimates for 20 cancers across Australia. The project is significant because it will allow government and other organisations to reap dividends from investment in collecting spatial information and it will enable mode ....Statistical methods for quantifying variation in spatiotemporal areal data. This project aims to develop new statistical methods for extracting insights into spatial and temporal variation in areal data. These tools will extend the Australian Cancer Atlas which provides small area estimates for 20 cancers across Australia. The project is significant because it will allow government and other organisations to reap dividends from investment in collecting spatial information and it will enable modelled small-area estimates to be released without compromising confidentiality. The expected outcomes include new statistical knowledge and new insights into cancer. The results will benefit the many disciplines, managers and policy makers that make decisions based on geographic data mapped over space and time. Read moreRead less
Expenditure needs and drawdown of retirement savings during later life: how important are demographic factors and financial resources? Projections of expenditure patterns in retirement which allow for population heterogeneity will provide individuals with a better appreciation of their income needs and their savings requirements for a comfortable retirement. It will also enable financial institutions to develop products which better target retirees' needs over the course of retirement, and in ad ....Expenditure needs and drawdown of retirement savings during later life: how important are demographic factors and financial resources? Projections of expenditure patterns in retirement which allow for population heterogeneity will provide individuals with a better appreciation of their income needs and their savings requirements for a comfortable retirement. It will also enable financial institutions to develop products which better target retirees' needs over the course of retirement, and in addition it will enable improved assessment of aspects of Government income support policy. Specifically, understanding the complex interactions between private and public pensions, and concession card receipt upon expenditure behaviour, will enable more accurate costings of the public support of elderly families as Australia's population ages. Read moreRead less
Modelling of Nitric Oxides and Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Bagasse-Fires Boilers. The project aims to develop computational models to predict emissions of nitric oxides and carbon monoxide from sugar-mill boilers burning bagasse. Bagasse combustion does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and clean and efficient combustion of this fuel has become very important for the sugar industry and for Australia. The project combines the opportunity of direct boiler measurements by SRI with the m ....Modelling of Nitric Oxides and Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Bagasse-Fires Boilers. The project aims to develop computational models to predict emissions of nitric oxides and carbon monoxide from sugar-mill boilers burning bagasse. Bagasse combustion does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and clean and efficient combustion of this fuel has become very important for the sugar industry and for Australia. The project combines the opportunity of direct boiler measurements by SRI with the modelling expertise at the University to develop combustion-kinetics models for these species. The models will be incorporated into the previously developed computational fluid dynamics - combustion code of the furnace to give the capability of emission prediction as a function of burner operating conditions and fuel parameters.Read moreRead less
Modelling interactions of spray droplets with plants. This project addresses the National Research Priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia by developing sophisticated mathematical models and interactive software that will identify environmentally friendlier technologies to efficiently deliver agrichemicals while minimising large scale water usage. National benefits will accrue from the provision for postdoctoral, PhD and IT staff training, while direct links with industry will provi ....Modelling interactions of spray droplets with plants. This project addresses the National Research Priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia by developing sophisticated mathematical models and interactive software that will identify environmentally friendlier technologies to efficiently deliver agrichemicals while minimising large scale water usage. National benefits will accrue from the provision for postdoctoral, PhD and IT staff training, while direct links with industry will provide technology transfer to end-users to ensure community uptake. The project will benefit rural and regional communities by providing long-term solutions in the areas of water use and quality, pesticide pollution reduction, and improved environment and human health care.Read moreRead less
Bayesian statistical models for understanding outcomes and improving decision-making for women screened for breast cancer. This project has two key benefits: (i) the development of frontier statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis and data synthesis, which are imperative in a wide range of disciplines; and (ii) the application of these methods for improved understanding of breast cancer outcomes for women screened in Queensland. The project results will lead to direct health and financi ....Bayesian statistical models for understanding outcomes and improving decision-making for women screened for breast cancer. This project has two key benefits: (i) the development of frontier statistical methods for spatio-temporal analysis and data synthesis, which are imperative in a wide range of disciplines; and (ii) the application of these methods for improved understanding of breast cancer outcomes for women screened in Queensland. The project results will lead to direct health and financial benefits through targeted policies for increasing screening uptake and reducing cancer morbidity and mortality and therefore health spending in this area. Importantly, the project represents an excellent training opportunity to develop a PhD candidate into an experienced interdisciplinary researcher.Read moreRead less