Identification Power and Instrument Strength in Discrete Outcome Models. This project aims to develop new econometric and statistical techniques to quantify causal effects in treatment models with discrete outcomes. Expected outcomes include a much-needed weak instrument test, a measure for identification strength in partial identification setting, and an instrument-covariate selection procedure for high dimensional discrete models based identification power. The benefits include advanced knowle ....Identification Power and Instrument Strength in Discrete Outcome Models. This project aims to develop new econometric and statistical techniques to quantify causal effects in treatment models with discrete outcomes. Expected outcomes include a much-needed weak instrument test, a measure for identification strength in partial identification setting, and an instrument-covariate selection procedure for high dimensional discrete models based identification power. The benefits include advanced knowledge in econometrics and statistics, and enhanced tools for program evaluation and policy assessment in empirical causal analysis using observational data. The project falls into the category of smarter information use and is relevant to any national priority areas where policy interventions require assessment.Read moreRead less
Selection of mixed strength moment restrictions and optimal inference . This project aims to develop consistent model selection criteria even if the target model only provides a weak signal about the parameter of interest. This project expects to generate new knowledge on model selection using new and innovative techniques. Expected outcomes include the quantification of the maximum information on parameter from weak-signal models; new entropy-based model selection criteria; and a robust investi ....Selection of mixed strength moment restrictions and optimal inference . This project aims to develop consistent model selection criteria even if the target model only provides a weak signal about the parameter of interest. This project expects to generate new knowledge on model selection using new and innovative techniques. Expected outcomes include the quantification of the maximum information on parameter from weak-signal models; new entropy-based model selection criteria; and a robust investigation of the still debated hypothesis in environmental economics that with open and liberalized trade, developing countries would become pollution havens for dirty industries of advanced countries. Success in this undertaking will dramatically enlarge the pool of applied work involving economic models with weak signals.Read moreRead less
Predicting concentration-gradient-driven liquid transport in 2D membranes. This project aims to achieve a predictive understanding of liquid transport through two-dimensional (2D) membranes driven by concentration gradients by using a combination of novel theory and computation. Membranes made from 2D nanomaterials hold great promise for many applications from desalination to power generation to chemical sensing, but the concentration-gradient-driven transport processes that underlie these appli ....Predicting concentration-gradient-driven liquid transport in 2D membranes. This project aims to achieve a predictive understanding of liquid transport through two-dimensional (2D) membranes driven by concentration gradients by using a combination of novel theory and computation. Membranes made from 2D nanomaterials hold great promise for many applications from desalination to power generation to chemical sensing, but the concentration-gradient-driven transport processes that underlie these applications are not well understood. The expected outcome of this project is an unprecedented quantitative understanding of the parameters that control these transport processes. This will enable predictive optimisation of 2D membranes, which will reduce the time and cost of membrane development for diverse applications.
Read moreRead less
Collision Avoidance in Shipping Lanes via Intelligent Sensor Data Fusion . This project aims to develop an online maritime traffic monitoring system for reliable collision/contact avoidance that exploits complementary data from high-resolution airborne sensors and surface vessel sensors. Our approach is based on optimal scheduling and fusion of the sensor data and possibly other sources of data to construct a comprehensive dynamic picture of maritime traffic, in real-time. Moreover, the proposed ....Collision Avoidance in Shipping Lanes via Intelligent Sensor Data Fusion . This project aims to develop an online maritime traffic monitoring system for reliable collision/contact avoidance that exploits complementary data from high-resolution airborne sensors and surface vessel sensors. Our approach is based on optimal scheduling and fusion of the sensor data and possibly other sources of data to construct a comprehensive dynamic picture of maritime traffic, in real-time. Moreover, the proposed methodology enables quantification of confidence in the predictions. This will provide ship owners, directly to their vessels and/or at the fleet management centres, information such as weather reports, reliable collision/no-collision warnings and avoidance strategies, on-the-fly. Read moreRead less
Theory and methods for evaluation of microstructural fatigue damage. The microstructural damage accumulation stage often consumes a significant portion of the total fatigue life of structures. However, its progressive evaluation is beyond the reach of safety inspection techniques which are currently employed to maintain structural integrity and prevent fatigue failures. This project aims to fill this gap by developing innovative methods for the measurement of material properties related to fatig ....Theory and methods for evaluation of microstructural fatigue damage. The microstructural damage accumulation stage often consumes a significant portion of the total fatigue life of structures. However, its progressive evaluation is beyond the reach of safety inspection techniques which are currently employed to maintain structural integrity and prevent fatigue failures. This project aims to fill this gap by developing innovative methods for the measurement of material properties related to fatigue damage and establishing a new theory which links these properties to the remaining life of the structure. The project outcomes will facilitate the global trend towards predictive maintenance strategies, thereby generating substantial cost benefits, specifically, for high-value assets and ageing infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Human Leukocyte Antigen-A and -B regulation of Natural Killer cell function. The aim of this project is to determine how genetic variation in the genes encoding cell surface receptors expressed by innate lymphocytes and the molecules they recognise diversifies their capacity to sense and respond to infection. This knowledge is critical for understanding why there are intrinsic differences between individuals with respect to their capacity to respond to different types of infection and will ultim ....Human Leukocyte Antigen-A and -B regulation of Natural Killer cell function. The aim of this project is to determine how genetic variation in the genes encoding cell surface receptors expressed by innate lymphocytes and the molecules they recognise diversifies their capacity to sense and respond to infection. This knowledge is critical for understanding why there are intrinsic differences between individuals with respect to their capacity to respond to different types of infection and will ultimately inform our capacity to better deploy personalised medicines.Read moreRead less
Coarse Geometry: a novel approach to the Callias index & topological matter. Coarse geometry is the study of the large-scale structure of metric spaces, in terms of operator algebras. This project aims to use coarse geometry to develop novel approaches to Callias index theory and its applications, and to topological phases of matter, where the Nobel Prize in physics in 2016 was awarded. This will yield new techniques in index theory and other areas, and solutions to several important problems. O ....Coarse Geometry: a novel approach to the Callias index & topological matter. Coarse geometry is the study of the large-scale structure of metric spaces, in terms of operator algebras. This project aims to use coarse geometry to develop novel approaches to Callias index theory and its applications, and to topological phases of matter, where the Nobel Prize in physics in 2016 was awarded. This will yield new techniques in index theory and other areas, and solutions to several important problems. Outcomes include a noncompact generalisation of the famous Guillemin-Sternberg conjecture that quantisation commutes with reduction, and new models of topological phases of matter in terms of K-theory of operator algebras. This project will benefit Australia by reinforcing its position in these highly active areas in science.Read moreRead less
Next generation nondestructive inspection using guided-wave mixing. This project aims to develop a novel approach for early damage detection. It relies on a systematic experimental investigation of nonlinear ultrasonic interaction between different input wave modes in the presence of damage, so as to identify optimal mode selections and operating parameters that will maximise the sensitivity to particular forms of structural damage. The effects of in-service loading on wave-mixing response, and ....Next generation nondestructive inspection using guided-wave mixing. This project aims to develop a novel approach for early damage detection. It relies on a systematic experimental investigation of nonlinear ultrasonic interaction between different input wave modes in the presence of damage, so as to identify optimal mode selections and operating parameters that will maximise the sensitivity to particular forms of structural damage. The effects of in-service loading on wave-mixing response, and non-contact detection suitable for hard-to-inspect surface conditions, will also be investigated. The new developments will help transform existing schedule-based maintenance practice to a condition-based maintenance paradigm, to achieve significant cost savings in maintenance.Read moreRead less
Fatigue Life Assessment of Structures under Realistic Loading Conditions. The project will develop a new methodology for the assessment of fatigue life of structures subjected to realistic loading conditions. This new methodology is based on recent advances in experimental techniques which make possible, for the first time, the investigation of the crack opening/closure mechanisms and the crack driving force for large numbers of fatigue cycles (>1 million) of variable amplitude, representative o ....Fatigue Life Assessment of Structures under Realistic Loading Conditions. The project will develop a new methodology for the assessment of fatigue life of structures subjected to realistic loading conditions. This new methodology is based on recent advances in experimental techniques which make possible, for the first time, the investigation of the crack opening/closure mechanisms and the crack driving force for large numbers of fatigue cycles (>1 million) of variable amplitude, representative of real-world applications. The project will expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capabilities in structural life prognosis. It will increase the competitiveness of domestic products and industries, fostering international collaborations and leadership of Australia in this strategically important area of research.Read moreRead less