A novel process for removing phosphorus microbiologically from wastewater. Australia is a water limited continent, and its rivers and lakes are priceless assets, but because of climatic conditions, these are especially sensitive to blooms of 'blue green algae'. Some are highly toxic, and water containing them is unsuitable for most purposes. Current technology for P removal requires constructing complex plant configurations, and most of these operate unpredictably and unreliably. This project ....A novel process for removing phosphorus microbiologically from wastewater. Australia is a water limited continent, and its rivers and lakes are priceless assets, but because of climatic conditions, these are especially sensitive to blooms of 'blue green algae'. Some are highly toxic, and water containing them is unsuitable for most purposes. Current technology for P removal requires constructing complex plant configurations, and most of these operate unpredictably and unreliably. This project will develop and fully evaluate a revolutionarily different alternative with a fully aerobic system, capable of being added onto the end of a conventional treatment plant, making protection of rivers and streams simpler and more feasible. Read moreRead less
Experimental and theoretical analysis of gas leakage rate through composite landfill covers due to geomembrane defects. The Australian Greenhouse Office indicated that waste emissions contributed 3.1% of net national emissions in 2001 with methane emissions from landfills accounting for 92% of total methane emissions from the waste sector, despite an increase in methane recovered from solid waste. It pointed out that the recent changes in waste management practices did not have an impact on repo ....Experimental and theoretical analysis of gas leakage rate through composite landfill covers due to geomembrane defects. The Australian Greenhouse Office indicated that waste emissions contributed 3.1% of net national emissions in 2001 with methane emissions from landfills accounting for 92% of total methane emissions from the waste sector, despite an increase in methane recovered from solid waste. It pointed out that the recent changes in waste management practices did not have an impact on reported methane emission levels and there is need to undertake a range of activities to reduce emissions from waste management activities. This project will address specifically the above issue by providing a new method of analysis to predict gas leakage rate and allow engineers to propose solutions to mitigate gas escapes. Read moreRead less
Passive biofiltration processes for nitrogen removal from polluted waters. Traditional urban wastewater treatment is energy and resource demanding. By combining principles of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) with advanced pollutant removal processes, we will create necessary knowledge to underpin development of novel sustainable urban water treatment systems. This project aims to understand and utilise Simultaneous Nitrification, Anammox and Denitrification (SNAD) processes within passive pla ....Passive biofiltration processes for nitrogen removal from polluted waters. Traditional urban wastewater treatment is energy and resource demanding. By combining principles of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) with advanced pollutant removal processes, we will create necessary knowledge to underpin development of novel sustainable urban water treatment systems. This project aims to understand and utilise Simultaneous Nitrification, Anammox and Denitrification (SNAD) processes within passive plant-soil-based biofilters for cost-effective removal of nitrogen from a range of polluted urban water sources. The project will open a potential for a new technological advancements in urban water management, while simultaneously providing benefits to the environment and community through greening and waterway protection.Read moreRead less
Household innovation and the transition to the low waste city. Australia is experiencing an urban waste crisis. Long-term solutions require new strategies to reduce waste generation. To be effective, these will need to engage and actively involve households. This project examines the capacity for experimentation and innovation in households necessary to transition to low waste cities. It integrates studies of demographic profiles of household waste generation, household low waste experiments and ....Household innovation and the transition to the low waste city. Australia is experiencing an urban waste crisis. Long-term solutions require new strategies to reduce waste generation. To be effective, these will need to engage and actively involve households. This project examines the capacity for experimentation and innovation in households necessary to transition to low waste cities. It integrates studies of demographic profiles of household waste generation, household low waste experiments and policy rationales and co-design to propose realistic pathways for decreasing waste generation. The research outcomes are critical for understanding and supporting pathways to low waste cities. The knowledge developed will support urban sustainability transitions in Australia and internationally. Read moreRead less
Multi-scale modeling of transport through deformable porous materials. Understanding solute transport through porous materials is essential because it provides a technical basis for answering many important questions in society today-how can humans avoid 'brittle bones', how to design durable infrastructure, how to safely store wastes (e.g. hazardous and municipal). Solution of each of these problems requires innovation in model development, new method of analysis, and insightful interpretation ....Multi-scale modeling of transport through deformable porous materials. Understanding solute transport through porous materials is essential because it provides a technical basis for answering many important questions in society today-how can humans avoid 'brittle bones', how to design durable infrastructure, how to safely store wastes (e.g. hazardous and municipal). Solution of each of these problems requires innovation in model development, new method of analysis, and insightful interpretation of results. While theoretical developments of this project are general, in the sense that they are not restricted to particular engineering disciplines, the four chosen applications closely align with two major research priorities namely An Environmental Sustainable Australia and Promoting and Maintaining Good Health.Read moreRead less
Expert judgment of environmental health risks from exposures to contaminants in urban water systems. Sustainable urban water policy requires informed risk management procedures for health and environmental risks from exposures to many contaminants in urban water systems. This research articulates with the National Water Quality Management Strategy and national guidelines for drinking and recycled water; and it shows barriers to successful community adoption of new sustainable water technologies. ....Expert judgment of environmental health risks from exposures to contaminants in urban water systems. Sustainable urban water policy requires informed risk management procedures for health and environmental risks from exposures to many contaminants in urban water systems. This research articulates with the National Water Quality Management Strategy and national guidelines for drinking and recycled water; and it shows barriers to successful community adoption of new sustainable water technologies. Technical advances in modelling expert opinion will contribute to improved standardised risk assessment frameworks throughout government. The research is fundamental for better decision-making for regulators, suppliers, and managers and it will influence the international development of similar guidelines for sustainable urban water use.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional printing of structures using fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete. This project aims to investigate geopolymer binders for cement. Three-dimensional printing using concrete can eliminate expensive formwork but is hampered by a lack of underpinning theoretical material and structural research. Conventional Portland cement’s setting characteristics limit its use for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The project will develop a theoretical framework for the structural properties of ....Three-dimensional printing of structures using fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete. This project aims to investigate geopolymer binders for cement. Three-dimensional printing using concrete can eliminate expensive formwork but is hampered by a lack of underpinning theoretical material and structural research. Conventional Portland cement’s setting characteristics limit its use for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The project will develop a theoretical framework for the structural properties of the 3D printed concrete and flow of geopolymer binder through aggregate bed, and design a fibre reinforcement system. This project is expected to improve construction, reduce injury rates and create high-end technology-based jobs.Read moreRead less
Collective action and collaborative governance in crisis situations. This project aims at tackling the challenges that coordinated collective action faces in situations of complex crisis. It will generate novel scholarly knowledge that addresses the question of how a heterogeneous collective of actors that transcends organizational and institutional boundaries can establish, sustain, restore, and organize the capacity to act and make appropriate decisions in crisis situations. The expected outco ....Collective action and collaborative governance in crisis situations. This project aims at tackling the challenges that coordinated collective action faces in situations of complex crisis. It will generate novel scholarly knowledge that addresses the question of how a heterogeneous collective of actors that transcends organizational and institutional boundaries can establish, sustain, restore, and organize the capacity to act and make appropriate decisions in crisis situations. The expected outcomes include an improved theoretical understanding of multi-actor collaborative governance in crisis situations by identifying obstacles and governance gaps that need to be overcome. This should provide significant benefits in terms of national and international response strategies to crisis situations of various kind.Read moreRead less
Information Health Monitor: An Instrument to Assess the Product and Service Quality of Information. Information quality problems are widespread in practice and have significant economic impacts. This project will refine and extend a rigorous theoretical framework for understanding information quality and develop and validate the Information Health Monitor, an instrument for assessing the quality of information within organisations. Existing approaches to information quality are mostly not rigoro ....Information Health Monitor: An Instrument to Assess the Product and Service Quality of Information. Information quality problems are widespread in practice and have significant economic impacts. This project will refine and extend a rigorous theoretical framework for understanding information quality and develop and validate the Information Health Monitor, an instrument for assessing the quality of information within organisations. Existing approaches to information quality are mostly not rigorously defined and view information as a product. This work is significant and innovative as it is soundly based in existing theory, rigorously defined and views information as both a product and service. The instrument will enable organisations to better identify and address their information quality problems.Read moreRead less
A Green and Fire-resistant Magnesium Oxychloride Cementitious Composite . This project aims to develop a novel and green fibre reinforced magnesium oxychloride cementitious composite with durability and resilience for buildings subject to fire/bushfire attack via well-integrated multiscale numerical and experimental studies. This enhances integrity and safety of buildings and increases the energy efficiency for buildings. The project will significantly advance the research and application of gre ....A Green and Fire-resistant Magnesium Oxychloride Cementitious Composite . This project aims to develop a novel and green fibre reinforced magnesium oxychloride cementitious composite with durability and resilience for buildings subject to fire/bushfire attack via well-integrated multiscale numerical and experimental studies. This enhances integrity and safety of buildings and increases the energy efficiency for buildings. The project will significantly advance the research and application of green cement, and find a solution for recycle and reuse a large amount of waste/industry by-products in construction towards circular economy. The research outcomes are innovative material, models, experiment technology and modelling methods, with significant impact and benefits to environment, economy and society. Read moreRead less