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A Method Of Uncertainty Analysis For Whole-Life Embodied Carbon Emissions (Co2-E) Of Building Materials Of A Net-Zero Energy Building In Australia, Mehdi Robati, Daniel J. Daly, Georgios Kokogiannakis Jan 2019

A Method Of Uncertainty Analysis For Whole-Life Embodied Carbon Emissions (Co2-E) Of Building Materials Of A Net-Zero Energy Building In Australia, Mehdi Robati, Daniel J. Daly, Georgios Kokogiannakis

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

The construction of new buildings requires the use of a substantial amount of materials, which have an associated embodied energy for manufacturing, transport, construction and end-of-life disposal. A number of inventories have been developed to collate the typical embodied energy or carbon emissions associated with different building materials and activities, and these can be used to quantify the environmental impacts of different construction methods. However, uncertainty exists in the estimation of embodied CO2-e emissions and other environmental impact results, due to i) inconsistencies in typical embodied carbon emissions values in inventories; ii) errors in estimations of material quantities; iii) assumptions …


Relationship Between Indoor Air Temperatures And Energy Bills For Low Income Homes In Australia, Clayton Mcdowell, Georgios Kokogiannakis, Laia Ledo Gomis, Paul Cooper Jan 2017

Relationship Between Indoor Air Temperatures And Energy Bills For Low Income Homes In Australia, Clayton Mcdowell, Georgios Kokogiannakis, Laia Ledo Gomis, Paul Cooper

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

Energy poverty is a prevalent issue in Australia and other countries across the globe especially for people with a low income. This paper seeks to investigate the relationship of energy consumption and indoor air temperatures and is separated into 3 sections; a comparison of actual electricity consumption to energy benchmarks provided by the Australian Energy Regulator, monitoring results of living room air temperature for the winter of 2015, and an analysis of living room air temperatures versus electricity consumption. The results of a comparison of electricity consumption of 119 low income elderly peoples (60+) dwellings to that of the energy …


General Purpose Cement With Increased Limestone Content In Australia, Iman Mohammadi, Warren J. South Jan 2016

General Purpose Cement With Increased Limestone Content In Australia, Iman Mohammadi, Warren J. South

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

This paper discusses the effects of an increase in the maximum allowable limestone content of general purpose (GP) cement from 7.5 up to 12%. The substitution of a higher content of clinker with limestone will allow for a lower embodied energy and emissions associated with the manufacture of GP cement. Fresh and hardened properties of normal-grade concrete (N20 and N32) prepared with GP cement containing limestone contents in the range of 5 to 12% were investigated. The compliance of test results were checked and confirmed against the requirements of cement and concrete specifications. In addition, the test results were statistically …


A Data-Driven Predictive Model For Residential Mobility In Australia - A Generalised Linear Mixed Model For Repeated Measured Binary Data, Mohammad-Reza Namazi-Rad, Payam Mokhtarian, Nagesh Shukla, Albert Munoz Jan 2016

A Data-Driven Predictive Model For Residential Mobility In Australia - A Generalised Linear Mixed Model For Repeated Measured Binary Data, Mohammad-Reza Namazi-Rad, Payam Mokhtarian, Nagesh Shukla, Albert Munoz

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Household relocation modelling is an integral part of the Government planning process as residential movements influence the demand for community facilities and services. This study will address the problem of modelling residential relocation choice by estimating a logit-link class model. The proposed model estimates the probability of an event which triggers household relocation. The attributes considered in this study are: requirement for bedrooms, employment status, income status, household characteristics, and tenure (i.e. duration living at the current location). Accurate prediction of household relocations for population units should rely on real world observations. In this study, a longitudinal survey data gathered …


Building A Microsimulation Model Of Heroin Use Careers In Australia, Alison Ritter, Nagesh Shukla, Marian D. Shanahan, Van Hoang Phuong, Vu Lam Cao, Pascal Perez, Michael P. Farrell Jan 2016

Building A Microsimulation Model Of Heroin Use Careers In Australia, Alison Ritter, Nagesh Shukla, Marian D. Shanahan, Van Hoang Phuong, Vu Lam Cao, Pascal Perez, Michael P. Farrell

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Illicit heroin use is a worldwide problem, with significant health and social costs. Treatment is known to be effective in changing heroin use habits, but it often needs to be provided over a lifetime, with people cycling in and out of treatment. It is therefore important to capture a long-term perspective on heroin use careers. The aim of this project was to build a lifetime microsimulation model of heroin using careers. This paper describes the conceptual logic of the model, the input parameters and the verification and validation results. A microsimulation model was chosen as the most appropriate simulation platform …


A Bottom-Up Data Collection Methodology For Characterising The Residential Building Stock In Australia, Clayton Mcdowell, Georgios Kokogiannakis, Paul Cooper, Michael P. Tibbs Jan 2016

A Bottom-Up Data Collection Methodology For Characterising The Residential Building Stock In Australia, Clayton Mcdowell, Georgios Kokogiannakis, Paul Cooper, Michael P. Tibbs

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

In Australia the majority of the current residential building stock has been constructed with little regard to energy consumption or thermal comfort. With only 1-2 % of Australia's building stock being replaced each year retrofitting solutions are necessary if residential energy consumption is to be reduced. Australia's records of the characteristics of its current building stock are minimal and outdated and thus these need to be renewed to enable the evaluation of retrofit upgrade strategies. Thus this paper presents a methodology and results of a bottom-up data collection tool that captured building and occupant characteristics from 200 elderly low income …


Characteristics Of Power Quality Disturbances In Australia: Voltage Dips At Low-Voltage Sites, Sean T. Elphick, Victor W. Smith, Victor J. Gosbell, Sarath Perera, Philip Ciufo, Gerrard M. Drury Jan 2015

Characteristics Of Power Quality Disturbances In Australia: Voltage Dips At Low-Voltage Sites, Sean T. Elphick, Victor W. Smith, Victor J. Gosbell, Sarath Perera, Philip Ciufo, Gerrard M. Drury

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Voltage dips are considered to be one of the costliest of all power quality disturbances due to their disruption of industrial and commercial operations. The ability to characterise the voltage dip performance of distribution networks has many benefits for industry. There is considerable potential for industry to make large economic gains if voltage dip behaviour can be better understood and planned for. To put strategies in place to deal with voltage dips, there is a need for extensive data collection and analysis so that correct planning decisions can be made. This study details the characteristics of voltage dip data which …


Inclusion Of Mobile Telephone Numbers Into An Ongoing Population Health Survey In New South Wales, Australia, Using An Overlapping Dual-Frame Design: Impact On The Time Series, Margo Barr, Raymond A. Ferguson, David G. Steel Jan 2014

Inclusion Of Mobile Telephone Numbers Into An Ongoing Population Health Survey In New South Wales, Australia, Using An Overlapping Dual-Frame Design: Impact On The Time Series, Margo Barr, Raymond A. Ferguson, David G. Steel

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

No abstract provided.


Changing Accuracy Of Self-Reported Bmi Over Time In Nsw, Australia, Margo Barr, David G. Steel, Raymond A. Ferguson Jan 2014

Changing Accuracy Of Self-Reported Bmi Over Time In Nsw, Australia, Margo Barr, David G. Steel, Raymond A. Ferguson

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

No abstract provided.


Climate Change Mitigation With Integration Of Renewable Energy Resources In The Electricity Grid Of New South Wales, Australia, Md Abu Abdullah, Ashish Agalgaonkar, Kashem M. Muttaqi Jan 2014

Climate Change Mitigation With Integration Of Renewable Energy Resources In The Electricity Grid Of New South Wales, Australia, Md Abu Abdullah, Ashish Agalgaonkar, Kashem M. Muttaqi

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The implementation of climate change mitigation strategies may significantly affect the current practices for electricity network operation. Increasing penetration of renewable energy generation technologies into electricity networks is one of the key mitigation strategies to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Additional climate change mitigation strategies can also contribute to emission reduction thereby supplementing the renewable energy generation participation, which may be limited due to technical constraints of the network. In this paper, the penetration requirements for different renewable energy generation resources are assessed while concurrently examining other mitigation strategies to reduce overall emissions from electricity networks and meet requisite …


Australia's Transport Is Falling Behind On Energy Efficiency, Philip Laird Jan 2014

Australia's Transport Is Falling Behind On Energy Efficiency, Philip Laird

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Australia has scored poorly in the energy efficiency of its land transport, and is well behind other major economies, a recent international scorecard has revealed. That means Australians are using more energy to travel each kilometre than people in developed nations such as the US, and major emerging economies such as China, Brazil, and India.


Should Users Pay The Toll For Australia's Infrastructure Problem?, Garry Bowditch Jan 2013

Should Users Pay The Toll For Australia's Infrastructure Problem?, Garry Bowditch

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Australia spends more on infrastructure today than at any stage in its history. Yet governments are unable to meet demand and don't expect ever to do so. What can governments do to keep up with escalating demand and community expectations for infrastructure? Reserve Bank assistant governor Philip Lowe says tolls and levies could be the answer to more efficiently funding the transport infrastructure we need - infrastructure he says would boost productivity and improve living standards. Tolls are just one issue likely to be debated as part of the Productivity Commission's current inquiry into infrastructure costs, which is considering how …


Australia's Infrastructure Cost Conundrum, Garry Bowditch Jan 2013

Australia's Infrastructure Cost Conundrum, Garry Bowditch

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Infrastructure is about the long-term growth and prosperity of a nation, but Australia will get very little of this benefit if the cost of building it continues to rapidly escalate. Australia is becoming increasingly uncompetitive in design and delivery of major projects. This is an unacceptable situation, and a newly commissioned multi-state inquiry by the SMART Infrastructure Facility will identify the key causes and make recommendations to help secure better value for taxpayers' money. Australian jurisdictions have experienced sharp rises in the cost of delivering mega-projects. In the pre-GFC mining construction boom period of the mid-2000s construction costs were 20-30% …


Holden To Cease Making Cars In Australia By 2017: Experts React, Paul Gollan, Hamza Bendemra, Henry Ergas, Elizabeth Van Acker, Nicholas Economou, Phil Toner Jan 2013

Holden To Cease Making Cars In Australia By 2017: Experts React, Paul Gollan, Hamza Bendemra, Henry Ergas, Elizabeth Van Acker, Nicholas Economou, Phil Toner

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

General Motors Holden has confirmed speculation it will withdraw from car production in Australia by the end of 2017. The announcement by Holden comes after days of sustained public speculation and calls from the federal government for the company to clarify its intentions. Holden has said it will "transition to a national sales company in Australia and New Zealand" and "discontinue vehicle and engine manufacturing and significantly reduce its engineering operations in Australia by the end of 2017." GM Chairman and chief executive officer Dan Akerson cited a "perfect storm of negative influences", including the sustained strength of the Australian …


Asset Management In The Energy Pipeline Industry In Australia, Richard Dwight, Tieling Zhang, Khaled O. El-Akruti Jan 2013

Asset Management In The Energy Pipeline Industry In Australia, Richard Dwight, Tieling Zhang, Khaled O. El-Akruti

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

A review of asset management systems within the context of energy pipelines has been conducted. It covers available methodologies, current asset management systems, opportunities for improvement and research challenges. A particular point of interest is the degree to which consideration of remaining life and the influence of maintenance activities are used to drive the asset management strategy. Asset management within the energy pipeline industry is mostly concerned with integrity assurance. Irrespective of this overriding goal, cost of delivery is also of concern. At any point of the service life the remaining life of the pipeline at an acceptable level of …


Ground Improvement At The Port Of Brisbane, Australia Using Vertical Drains And Vacuum Assisted Preloading, Buddhima Indraratna, Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn, A S. Balasubramaniam Jan 2013

Ground Improvement At The Port Of Brisbane, Australia Using Vertical Drains And Vacuum Assisted Preloading, Buddhima Indraratna, Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn, A S. Balasubramaniam

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Soft clays in coastal areas have low shear strength and high compressibility. Thus construction activities for infrastructure developments in these deposits often pose geotechnical problems due to large time dependent settlements and lateral movements. Ground improvement techniques are adopted to reduce the water content of the soft clays by preloading techniques with vertical drains. Depending on the magnitude of the surcharge used substantial immediate settlement with lateral movements can takes place during preloading. This in tum causes stability problems in the loaded areas. The use of vacuum assisted preloading has now become a popular method in Australia where substantial loads …


Characteristics Of Power Quality Disturbances In Australia: Voltage Harmonics, S T. Elphick, V W. Smith, V J. Gosbell, S Perera Jan 2013

Characteristics Of Power Quality Disturbances In Australia: Voltage Harmonics, S T. Elphick, V W. Smith, V J. Gosbell, S Perera

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Management of harmonic voltage levels can impose significant economic impacts for both electricity suppliers and customers. For the case where harmonic voltage levels are high, economic costs include damage to equipment and associated loss of production due to high voltage harmonic levels as well as the costs associated with mitigation of harmonic currents, for example, harmonic filters. In the alternate scenario, ie. the case where harmonic voltage levels are acceptable, considerable expense may be incurred mitigating harmonic currents unnecessarily due to lack of knowledge of harmonic levels and/or network capabilities. As such, there is considerable potential for industry to make …


Performance Monitoring Of Rail Tracks Stabilized By Geosynthetics And Shock Mats: Case Studies At Bulli And Singleton In Australia, Buddhima Indraratna, Sanjay Nimbalkar, Pongpipat Anantanasakul, Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn, Tim Neville Jan 2013

Performance Monitoring Of Rail Tracks Stabilized By Geosynthetics And Shock Mats: Case Studies At Bulli And Singleton In Australia, Buddhima Indraratna, Sanjay Nimbalkar, Pongpipat Anantanasakul, Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn, Tim Neville

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Rail tracks are conventionally built on compacted ballast and structural fill embankments overlying the natural subsoil. Ballast plays an important role in providing track stiffness to support heavy traffic loads, and providing rapid drainage. However, ballast deforms and degrades progressively under the heavy cyclic loading of passenger and freight trains, which may lead to a loss of track geometry, and require costly regular maintenance. In particular, track construction requires appropriate stabilization techniques for ballast, the extent of which depends also on the type of subgrade. Comprehensive field trials were carried out on two rail lines in Bulli and recently in …


Sydney Basin Landslide Susceptibility, Nsw, Australia, Phillip N. Flentje, David Stirling, Robin N. Chowdhury, Darshika Palamakumbure Jan 2013

Sydney Basin Landslide Susceptibility, Nsw, Australia, Phillip N. Flentje, David Stirling, Robin N. Chowdhury, Darshika Palamakumbure

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

University of Wollongong GIS-based Landslide Inventory has been expanded to facilitate reliable modeling of landslide susceptibility and hazard zonation over the wider Sydney Basin area. Landslide inventory development is underway after designing a state of the art inventory structure following a comprehensive international literature review. The alphanumerical as well as spatial data bases of landslides have been updated after field verification of landslides in Sydney and Newcastle as the stepping stone for the wider Sydney Basin area landslide susceptibility model development. In the lead up to this, landslide susceptibility modeling in two smaller sub-regions of Sydney (Wollongong Local Government Area …


Australia's Hand Out Addicted Car Industry Needs Some Tough Love, Henry Ergas Jan 2012

Australia's Hand Out Addicted Car Industry Needs Some Tough Love, Henry Ergas

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The Federal Government will contribute millions of dollars to Australian car manufacturers Holden and Ford in an effort to keep Australia's automotive sector afloat. The government will add $34 million to a $103 million rescue package for Ford's Victorian assembly plant that will see the facility remain open until at least 2016. The funding, which will be met by a grant from the Victorian Government, comes as Holden is reportedly negotiating with Canberra over co-investment to produce a new Commodore model in 2018. But should governments continue to bail out an industry that is lagging in Australia and internationally? University …


Inclusion Of Mobile Phone Numbers Into An Ongoing Population Health Survey In New South Wales, Australia: Design, Methods, Call Outcomes, Costs And Sample Representativeness, Margo Barr, Jason J. Van Ritten, David G. Steel, Sarah V. Thackway Jan 2012

Inclusion Of Mobile Phone Numbers Into An Ongoing Population Health Survey In New South Wales, Australia: Design, Methods, Call Outcomes, Costs And Sample Representativeness, Margo Barr, Jason J. Van Ritten, David G. Steel, Sarah V. Thackway

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Background: In Australia telephone surveys have been the method of choice for ongoing jurisdictional population health surveys. Although it was estimated in 2011 that nearly 20% of the Australian population were mobile-only phone users, the inclusion of mobile phone numbers into these existing landline population health surveys has not occurred. This paper describes the methods used for the inclusion of mobile phone numbers into an existing ongoing landline random digit dialling (RDD) health survey in an Australian state, the New South Wales Population Health Survey (NSWPHS). This paper also compares the call outcomes, costs and the representativeness of the resultant …


Characteristics Of Power Quality Disturbance Levels In Australia, Sean Elphick, Vic Smith, Vic Gosbell, Robert Barr Jan 2012

Characteristics Of Power Quality Disturbance Levels In Australia, Sean Elphick, Vic Smith, Vic Gosbell, Robert Barr

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The Australian Long Term Power Quality Survey (LTNPQS) now covers 2,000 sites with a range of different characteristics including strength (related to fault level), line construction and dominant load type. This paper details the latest outcomes of the LTNPQS project in terms of both disturbance levels and reporting methods. A comparison of the differences between voltage, unbalance and harmonic THD levels at strong (close to transformer) and weak (towards the end of LV feeders) sites has been performed and significant differences have been found. A multivariable linear regression study has been undertaken in order to investigate the correlation between site …


Providing And Financing Aged Care In Australia, Henry Ergas, Francesco Paolucci Jan 2011

Providing And Financing Aged Care In Australia, Henry Ergas, Francesco Paolucci

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

This article focuses on the provision and financing of aged care in Australia. Demand for aged care will increase substantially as a result of population aging, with the number of Australians aged 85 and over projected to increase from 400,000 in 2010 to over 1.8 million in 2051. Meeting this demand will greatly strain the current system, and makes it important to exploit opportunities for increased efficiency. A move to greater beneficiary co-payments is also likely, though its extent may depend on whether aged care insurance and other forms of pre-payment can develop.


Australia Should Delay A Carbon Tax Until The Rest Of The World Acts, Henry Ergas Jan 2011

Australia Should Delay A Carbon Tax Until The Rest Of The World Acts, Henry Ergas

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The big question about the carbon tax is not whether it's a good or a bad idea in theory. The major issue is whether it makes sense for Australia to implement it at a time of great uncertainty, both in terms of economic outlook and the extent and nature of international action. To my mind a carbon tax is not desirable. Australia's prosperity is based on a resource endowment that is carbon intensive, both in terms of our mineral and our agricultural sector. Moreover, much of that carbon intensity is not amenable to technological quick-fixes. For instance, there is little …


The Work Pattern Of Care Workers In Residential Aged Care Facilities In Australia: A Time And Motion Study, Siyu Qian, Ping Yu, Zhenyu Zhang Jan 2011

The Work Pattern Of Care Workers In Residential Aged Care Facilities In Australia: A Time And Motion Study, Siyu Qian, Ping Yu, Zhenyu Zhang

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Abstract of paper presented at the 2011 Health Informatics Conference, Brisbane Australia.


Impacts Of Coal Shrinkage, Permeability And Petrography On Gas Regime In Mines Case Study: Tahmoor Coal Mine, Nsw, Australia, Naj Aziz, Ian Porter, F Sereshki Jan 2010

Impacts Of Coal Shrinkage, Permeability And Petrography On Gas Regime In Mines Case Study: Tahmoor Coal Mine, Nsw, Australia, Naj Aziz, Ian Porter, F Sereshki

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The volumetric changes in the coal matrix (Coal Shrinkage), permeability under various gas environment conditions as well as perographical properties were studied in the laboratory. The shrinkage and permeability of coal were examined with respect to changing gas type and confining pressures. The shrinkage tests were carried out in high-pressure bombs while the permeability study was conducted in a specially constructed high-pressure chamber. Methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen, (N2) and a 50%-50% volume mixture of CO2/CH4 gas were used in the study. The tests showed that under different pressure levels gas type affected permeability and shrinkage characteristics of coal. …


Developments In Coal Mine Methane Drainage And Utilisation In Australia, Dennis John Black, Naj Aziz Jan 2009

Developments In Coal Mine Methane Drainage And Utilisation In Australia, Dennis John Black, Naj Aziz

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

In recent years there has been significant development in the field of coalbed and coal mine methane drainage and utilisation in Australia. This development has, in part, been necessitated by the rapid increase in mine production capacity and the need to maintain the safety of the mine and its employees through effective management of coal seam gas emission and outburst risk. The increased awareness of the contribution of coal mine gas emission, estimated to account for 4-5% of Australia's 559 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2-e) annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is placing additional pressure on operators to increase coal …


Geotechnical Assessment And Management Of 148 Landslides Triggered By A Major Storm Event In Wollongong, Australia, P N. Flentje, R N. Chowdhury Jan 1999

Geotechnical Assessment And Management Of 148 Landslides Triggered By A Major Storm Event In Wollongong, Australia, P N. Flentje, R N. Chowdhury

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

On the 17th August 1998 a severe rainfall event occurred over a widespread area of the City of Wollongong. During this storm, 1 person drowned and an estimated $50 to $100 million damage was caused to the City of Wollongong. Road access to the City was cut by raised water levels and debris flows covering and or scouring road and rail routes for up to 36 hours following this event. A geotechnical team of 3, including the first author, was organised at very short notice during the response phase of the emergency operations on the early morning of the 20th …


Efficiency Of Neighbour Analysis For Replicated Variety Trials In Australia, Brian R. Cullis, A. C. Gleeson Jan 1989

Efficiency Of Neighbour Analysis For Replicated Variety Trials In Australia, Brian R. Cullis, A. C. Gleeson

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Use of a one-dimensional neighbour method of analysis in 1019 variety trials of a range of crops conducted by plant breeders in four states of Australia in 1985–87 resulted in an average reduction of 42% in variances of varietal yield differences compared with conventional randomized complete block analysis. Of these trials, 219 were designed as square, rectangular or generalized lattices and the average reduction in variances of varietal yields with incomplete block analysis and recovery of interblock information was 33%. The results emphasized that plots should be wide enough to avoid interplot competition, and that neighbour analysis is of most …