Characterization of Fast Propagating Fires in Green Buildings. This project aims to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of fast-propagating fires and to address the deficiency in current fire models in assessing the fire safety requirement of green buildings. Although there are many compelling advantages associated with green building designs, because they promote better natural ventilation they could pose a significant fire hazard to occupants due to the propensity of rapid fire and s ....Characterization of Fast Propagating Fires in Green Buildings. This project aims to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of fast-propagating fires and to address the deficiency in current fire models in assessing the fire safety requirement of green buildings. Although there are many compelling advantages associated with green building designs, because they promote better natural ventilation they could pose a significant fire hazard to occupants due to the propensity of rapid fire and smoke spread within the enclosed space. The new predictive fire model in this project is expected to promote a safer and sustainable building environment.Read moreRead less
Building Australia's next-generation ocean-sea ice model. Ocean and sea ice models are used for predicting future ocean and climate states, and for climate process research. This project aims to bring the next generation of ocean-sea ice models to Australia and configure the models for our local priorities. The ultimate goal is to create a new coupled ocean-sea ice model for Australia that includes surface waves and biogeochemistry. The model will be optimised and evaluated on Australian facilit ....Building Australia's next-generation ocean-sea ice model. Ocean and sea ice models are used for predicting future ocean and climate states, and for climate process research. This project aims to bring the next generation of ocean-sea ice models to Australia and configure the models for our local priorities. The ultimate goal is to create a new coupled ocean-sea ice model for Australia that includes surface waves and biogeochemistry. The model will be optimised and evaluated on Australian facilities, and released for community use. These developments underpin future ocean state forecasts, sea ice forecasts, wave forecasts, decadal climate prediction and climate process studies. The project will benefit search and rescue, Defence and shipping operations, and will enhance future climate projections.Read moreRead less
Developing Light Weight Automotive Structures. In Australia, most automotive companies are now considering advanced high strength, formable steels for weight reduction. These steels are extremely complex with little published research in key areas of their application. The objective is to develop a detailed understanding of the forming and post forming properties of a range of these steels and from this to design and produce new lighter weight automotive structures. This work will include improv ....Developing Light Weight Automotive Structures. In Australia, most automotive companies are now considering advanced high strength, formable steels for weight reduction. These steels are extremely complex with little published research in key areas of their application. The objective is to develop a detailed understanding of the forming and post forming properties of a range of these steels and from this to design and produce new lighter weight automotive structures. This work will include improved finite element models to predict the shape as well as a detailed understanding of how to manufacture components from these steels at high production rates and the mechanical properties after manufacturing.
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Scalable Robust Video Surveillance over Constrained Networks. Real-time monitoring of large numbers of people is becoming increasingly important for applications such as efficient service delivery and security against both common crime and terrorism. The use of human operators for such tasks is infeasible due to the large amount of data collected. Existing autonomous video surveillance systems are prone to high numbers of false alarms and often require expensive hardware. This proposal seeks ....Scalable Robust Video Surveillance over Constrained Networks. Real-time monitoring of large numbers of people is becoming increasingly important for applications such as efficient service delivery and security against both common crime and terrorism. The use of human operators for such tasks is infeasible due to the large amount of data collected. Existing autonomous video surveillance systems are prone to high numbers of false alarms and often require expensive hardware. This proposal seeks to address both difficulties by using rigorous statistical signal processing methods to optimally fuse information from a network of low-cost cameras.Read moreRead less
Microstructural-Functional Effect of Silver Diammine Fluoride on Apatites. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding at the nanostructural level of the factors that contribute to the enhanced mineralisation and mechanical properties of dentine and enamel following the treatment with silver diammine fluoride (SDF). A variety of advanced nanomechanical, tomographic and microscopic techniques will be used to characterise sound, carious and SDF treated tissue. The new biomechanical ev ....Microstructural-Functional Effect of Silver Diammine Fluoride on Apatites. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding at the nanostructural level of the factors that contribute to the enhanced mineralisation and mechanical properties of dentine and enamel following the treatment with silver diammine fluoride (SDF). A variety of advanced nanomechanical, tomographic and microscopic techniques will be used to characterise sound, carious and SDF treated tissue. The new biomechanical evidence on the underlying mechanisms, alternative protocols, delivery systems enable to optimise the treatment. The scientific insights into arresting/repairing damage processes will provide critical data for developing minimal intervention protocols for pediatric and geriatric populations.Read moreRead less
Can an anti-HIV gene in blood stem cells protect from immune depletion by HIV? Approximately 15,000 individuals in Australia are currently HIV infected. Gene therapy has the capacity to remove antiretroviral treatment related issues, dramatically decrease treatment costs and simplify treatment of HIV.
In this study we will model a new approach to treat HIV in which the patient's own cells are used as the therapy by incorporating an anti-HIV gene. These cells are then re-introduced into the p ....Can an anti-HIV gene in blood stem cells protect from immune depletion by HIV? Approximately 15,000 individuals in Australia are currently HIV infected. Gene therapy has the capacity to remove antiretroviral treatment related issues, dramatically decrease treatment costs and simplify treatment of HIV.
In this study we will model a new approach to treat HIV in which the patient's own cells are used as the therapy by incorporating an anti-HIV gene. These cells are then re-introduced into the patient.
The strong mathematical focus of this project, and its application to a promising approach against HIV, will place Australia at the forefront of the mathematics of gene research and contribute to the National Priority Area of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and the Priority Goal of Preventative Healthcare.
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Enhancing the fidelity of low-cost human-in-the-loop physical sailboat simulators. The project will develop a new generation of human-in-the-loop (HiL) sailboat simulators to strengthen R&D within Australia's largest sporting goods market and to increase the participation rates in sailing. The resulting HiL develpments will be useful to a wide range of educational, sporting and training applications, including fo example motorcycle and automotive driver simulators. Furthermore, the innovative b ....Enhancing the fidelity of low-cost human-in-the-loop physical sailboat simulators. The project will develop a new generation of human-in-the-loop (HiL) sailboat simulators to strengthen R&D within Australia's largest sporting goods market and to increase the participation rates in sailing. The resulting HiL develpments will be useful to a wide range of educational, sporting and training applications, including fo example motorcycle and automotive driver simulators. Furthermore, the innovative boat-to-boat interaction capability of the simulations will lead to improved aids in high performance yacht racing like the America's Cup.Read moreRead less
Metal folding fundamentals to shape new corrugated building products . FormFlow has developed a ground-breaking forming process enabling the use of corrugated iron as a structural element. This is a step change for Australia`s steel and building industry and will provide a direct benefit to fireproofing homes. Up scaling of this new technology poses significant challenges due to the lack of understanding in the new forming process and the effect of pre-processing on the incoming material. Fundam ....Metal folding fundamentals to shape new corrugated building products . FormFlow has developed a ground-breaking forming process enabling the use of corrugated iron as a structural element. This is a step change for Australia`s steel and building industry and will provide a direct benefit to fireproofing homes. Up scaling of this new technology poses significant challenges due to the lack of understanding in the new forming process and the effect of pre-processing on the incoming material. Fundamental knowledge of material behaviour will be developed with advanced models that account for the unique process deformation conditions. The intended outcome includes computer software for process design and new concepts for part shape control to improve product quality, repeatability and enable high volume manufacture.Read moreRead less
Robust Optimal Asset Liability Management via Stochastic Control Theory. The Australian federal and state governments are strongly exposed to the Australian and international investment markets, either directly or through entities such as the Future Fund, state-owned insurers and superannuation schemes. Additionally, the investment pool represented by individual Australian's superannuation savings managed by non-government organisations is significant. Robust and effective management of these ....Robust Optimal Asset Liability Management via Stochastic Control Theory. The Australian federal and state governments are strongly exposed to the Australian and international investment markets, either directly or through entities such as the Future Fund, state-owned insurers and superannuation schemes. Additionally, the investment pool represented by individual Australian's superannuation savings managed by non-government organisations is significant. Robust and effective management of these assets in order to meet future liabilities of these funds are essential to a stable Australian economy. This research has the potential to be a key component of reliable investment management, helping make Australia an important investment hub.Read moreRead less
Quantification of Traffic Generated Nano and Ultrafine Particle Dynamics and Toxicity in Transit Hubs and Transport Corridors. The socio-economic benefits to Australia will include (i) new knowledge for the multiparameter assessment of nano and ultrafine particles, pollutants in the centre of current scientific, medical and policy debates (ii) a breakthrough in the scientific understanding of traffic generated particles in the urban atmosphere (iii) determining the toxicological impact of these ....Quantification of Traffic Generated Nano and Ultrafine Particle Dynamics and Toxicity in Transit Hubs and Transport Corridors. The socio-economic benefits to Australia will include (i) new knowledge for the multiparameter assessment of nano and ultrafine particles, pollutants in the centre of current scientific, medical and policy debates (ii) a breakthrough in the scientific understanding of traffic generated particles in the urban atmosphere (iii) determining the toxicological impact of these particles on biological systems. The ultimate economic benefit will be improved urban design to lower human exposure to ultrafine particles, thus reducing health care cost and productivity losses. The research will also place Australia at the forefront of international progress towards better methods for achieving environmental sustainability.Read moreRead less