Technology In Australia Research Articles

Mentoring as a potential means to assist consumer representatives contribute effectively to the assessment of health technologies in Australia: a pragmatic review.

This project was implemented on behalf of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Consumer Consultative Committee (CCC) to explore training to support and retain new consumer representatives to participate effectively in HTA committees. These committees are key parts of the Australian Government's health system. Currently, there is no training available to them, specific to their roles in HTA committees. Hypothesizing that mentoring is appropriate, the project team undertook a literature review to identify definitions of mentoring, its benefits, skills requirements, resources, examples of best practice, and how mentoring might support consumer representatives in formal health technology assessment committee structures. A rapid review was commenced by the project team and fifty-seven articles were identified and read independently. Following discussion, the team revised its approach as there was little evidence to assess and drew upon thirty-five articles where elements of mentoring were described. Discussion was followed by a thematic qualitative analysis exploring mentoring models. The project team agreed that features of mentoring programs were necessary to design a mentoring program under the headings of definitions, mentors' qualities, benefits of training, resources, other considerations, and evaluation. These assist the design of a pilot project to test mentoring's effectiveness. Mentoring may assist consumers working in the health technology area to develop their skills and competencies and contribute to representing the needs of health consumers in the approval of applications. A pilot mentoring program is currently being designed and will run with one mentor and one mentee in an HTA committee.

Studying Learner’s Perception of Attaining Graduate Attributes in Capstone Project Units Using Online Flipped Classroom

This article describes an empirical study to evaluate how the flipped learning (FL) approach has impacted a learner’s perception in attaining the graduate attributes (GAs) of five capstone project units offered at Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, where the authors are affiliated. The subjects include one undergraduate and one postgraduate business unit, and one undergraduate and two postgraduate units in networking. Our study is distinguished from previous research in two novel aspects. First, the subject matter concerns capstone project units which are taken by students in the final year of their degree. In these units, students are expected to apply a variety of knowledge and skills that they have acquired thus far in carrying out an industry-based project of substantial complexity. The learning outcomes (LOs) require students to apply skills and knowledge that they have learned across completed units and connect them with real-world problems. Second, the FL approach has been applied wholly in an online virtual classroom setting due to the social distancing restrictions enforced by local authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hypothesis is that FL has positively influenced the perception of learners in their attaining the GAs. We tested this hypothesis by using data collected by an online survey administered to the student cohorts of the five chosen units at the end of Trimester 1 of 2021. The survey, which comprised 14 questions, assesses a student’s perception of achieving the LOs through developments in three dimensions, including cognitive, affective, and behavioural, acquired in a real-world client setting. Statistical analyses of the survey data reveal that the FL approach resulted in a positive perception by students of their attaining the GAs through achieving the LOs of the capstone project units, which in turn is supported by the responses to the three measured dimensions.

Mass Timber Envelopes in Passivhaus Buildings: Designing for Moisture Safety in Hot and Humid Australian Climates

The uptake of buildings employing cross-laminated timber (CLT) assemblies and designed to Passivhaus standard has accelerated internationally over the past two decades due to several factors including responses to the climate crisis by decarbonising the building stock. Structural CLT technology and the Passivhaus certification both show measurable benefits in reducing energy consumption, while contributing to durability and indoor comfort. However, there is a general lack of evidence to support a fast uptake of these technologies in Australia. This paper responds to the compelling need of providing quantitative data and adoption strategies; it explores their combined application as a potential pathway for climate-appropriate design of energy-efficient and durable mass timber envelope solutions for subtropical and tropical Australian climates. Hygrothermal risk assessments of interstitial condensation and mould growth of CLT wall assemblies inform best-practice design of mass timber buildings in hot and humid climates. This research found that the durability of mass timber buildings located in hot and humid climates may benefit from implementing the Passivhaus standard to manage interior conditions. The findings also suggested that climate-specific design of the wall assembly is critical for mass timber buildings, in conjunction with excellent stormwater management practices during construction and corrosion protection for metallic fasteners.

Factors influencing Australian sugarcane irrigators’ adoption of solar photovoltaic systems for water pumping

Sugarcane farmers have several options to manage their energy costs of irrigation. One option these farmers are yet to widely adopt is solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for energy generation. The objective of the study was to understand the potential rate and peak level of adoption by Australian sugarcane irrigators of solar PV energy systems for water pumping and the key factors influencing adoption. This study used the ADOPT framework to examine farmers' adoption behaviour regarding solar PV systems. An industry survey and expert focus group findings were used to apply the ADOPT framework, and sensitivity testing was performed. The study found that after 10 years, 50% of sugarcane farmers were estimated to adopt solar PV systems for irrigation. Farmers' adoption decisions were predicted to be influenced by several factors including economic and environmental benefits, ease of use, existing knowledge, business risk, and the farmer's current financial position. Sensitivity testing revealed that improving the profitability from installing solar PV systems could markedly increase the level of adoption. Grid connection policies and government renewable energy subsidies that increased income or reduced capital costs and thereby increased economic returns for sugarcane irrigators could improve peak adoption levels by up to 40%. Government policies had a greater impact on adoption than environmental benefits generated by the PV systems. From the results we infer that the historically changing relative advantage of the technology has resulted in some farmers exercising the option to hold off investing until they feel the relative advantage has peaked. This is the first study using the ADOPT framework to consider solar technology in Australia. • Results estimate a peak adoption level of 50% of sugarcane farmers adopting solar PV. • The level of peak adoption is sensitive to the profit advantage of the technology. • Renewable energy and grid connection policies influenced PV adoption levels. • Time to peak adoption was predicted at 10 years. • CSIRO's ADOPT framework was used for the first time to assess the adoption of PV.

Incentives and concerns on vehicle-to-grid technology expressed by Australian employees and employers

• Commuters are willing to reduce their upfront costs on electric vehicles and the associated vehicle to grid technology. • Respondents want to reduce their daily transport costs on transportation by using the vehicle to grid technology. • Employers are concerned with the cost of the vehicle to grid technology. Electromobility options, especially electric vehicles (EVs) are more environmentally friendly, efficient and economical than conventional vehicles (CVs). There is a low market penetration of EVs and associated vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies in Australia compared to some European countries like Norway. Thus, transport planners and electrical grid policymakers need to investigate commuters’ perceptions and behaviours related to EVs and V2G and the effects of incentives, as commuters will eventually switch from CVs to EVs. Our study investigated commuters’ perceptions of and attitudes to V2G technology adoption at workplaces. The main findings are: 1) Commuters are willing to reduce their upfront costs when adopting EVs and associated V2G technologies. 2) Commuters want to reduce their daily transportation costs by using V2G technologies and care less about transport sustainability . 3) The greatest concerns of employers are that the cost of the V2G technology which could be too high and that its internal rate of return is unclear.

Comparing public attitudes towards energy technologies in Australia and the UK: The role of political ideology

We explore the relationship between political ideology and public attitudes towards a range of energy technologies (namely: biomass, coal, shale (or coal seam) gas, natural gas, carbon capture and storage, hydroelectricity, nuclear, solar thermal and photovoltaic, wave and wind energy). Our empirical analysis draws on the results of two similar nationally representative public surveys that were conducted in Australia and the UK in 2017. Our findings suggest that political ideology is significantly associated with public attitudes towards energy technologies. Specifically, supporters of left-leaning political parties tend to be more supportive of renewables and opposed to biomass, shale (coal seam) gas, nuclear and fossil fuel energies compared to right-leaning individuals. We also create an alternative ideological proxy to capture the relative emphasis that parties place on the environment and economy and find that supporters of environmentally focused parties generally express similar energy preferences to left-leaning individuals and economy-focused respondents align with right-leaning attitudes. Our findings are robust to different choices of proxy.

Hybrid concentrated solar biomass (HCSB) plant for electricity generation in Australia: Design and evaluation of techno-economic and environmental performance

Cost-efficient dispatchable renewable technologies are critical for enabling the energy transition towards 100% renewable generation. One promising example involves the integration of biomass boilers with concentrated solar power (CSP) referred to as hybrid concentrated solar biomass (HCSB) plants.This study evaluates the technical feasibility of a potential plant design for a rice-straw-fed HCSB plant. A case study for the Riverina-Murray region of Australia, a prime area for deployment owing to abundant solar and biomass resources is presented.Based on an assessment of different hybrid concepts, we investigate a solar-biomass hybridization with a concentrated solar tower system. With this hybrid concept, both the CSP and biomass boiler can raise steam to feed the high-pressure turbine enabling greater thermal efficiency. We evaluate HCSB plant performance at four scales: 5, 15, 30 and 50 MWe. Depending on size, HCSB plants reach thermal efficiencies from 21 to 34%. Considering the economic feasibility, assuming an internal rate of return (IRR) of 11%, viable deployment requires an electricity price of AU$ 120–350/MWh.The techno-economic assessment demonstrates advantages compared to standalone CSP plants and highlights the competitiveness of HCSB plants compared to other renewable technologies in Australia. The social and environmental impact assessment highlights additional benefits including local job creation and potential carbon emission mitigation.

Measurements of the relative permeability to CO2‐and‐brine multiphase fluid of Paaratte formation at near‐reservoir conditions

AbstractCO2 sequestration in deep saline aquifers is a promising method to reduce atmospheric CO2. The on‐going CO2CRC Otway project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of large‐scale CO2 storage in deep saline formations and to develop new monitoring technologies in Australia. The relative permeability curves are essential for predicting the movements of CO2 and estimate residual trapping in the aquifer during and after injection through numerical simulations. However, studies of relative permeability curves for the Paaratte sandstone at the in situ conditions are limited. In addition, different rock types in the Paaratte formation can behave differently when CO2 displaces brine. This work reports four relative permeability experiments of CO2/brine systems using the unsteady‐state core flooding method for different types of rock collected from various depths of Paaratte formations at near‐reservoir conditions. The relative permeability results calculated from the analytical Johnson, Bossler, and Naumann (JBN) method and the numerical history matching method are compared. The JBN method does not calculate the relative permeability accurately for CO2/brine systems due to the assumptions of incompressible flow, since the CO2 relative permeability results calculated from the JBN method are similar for all the cases. The history matching results show that the brine (water) relative permeability of the core samples with a high fraction of macropores is similar to the measurements for Paaratte formation reported in the literature over a large range of brine (water) saturation. In contrast, the brine relative permeability of the core samples with a high fraction of micropores is considerably higher than that of the core samples with macropores, suggesting better connectivity for the samples with a high fraction of micropores. The new findings will be useful in reservoir‐scale numerical modelings of the Paaratte formation to more accurately predict the movement of CO2 during and after the injection. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Environmental, Economic, and Social Performance of Nuclear Technology in Australia

Abstract The prominence of climate change is surging with Australia feeling the impacts of hotter and dryer climates. With 2030 approaching, Australia's promise to reduce emissions is seeming harder to achieve with their energy mix being dominated by fossil fuels. The development of small modular reactor (SMR) technology in the nuclear industry offers a possible solution for Australia to shift away from coal and gas energy sources and invest in low carbon nuclear technologies. SMR technology is suitable for the Australian context due to the number of remote locations, the size of the mining, and processing industries and the minimal nuclear experience Australia has. This study aimed to quantify the environmental benefits of Australia incorporating nuclear power in their energy mix and to calculate the levelized cost of electricity of constructing a 684 MWel nuclear plant using the NuScale module. Additionally, a survey was created to provide an insight into the Australian perception of energy generation and nuclear power. The responses showed the Australian attitudes toward nuclear power and the misconceptions that are resulting in negative perceptions and attitudes.

Application of Drones in the Whole Life Cycle of Engineering Construction Project

With the rapid development of information technology, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), as a new and popular technology, has also been tried in the field of engineering construction. In this paper, through the application of UAV technology in Australia's large-scale project to extinguish mountain fire, the application effect of UAV in the whole life cycle of engineering construction project is analogized. UAV assisted project progress, management quality and safety and other aspects, so that managers can timely and efficiently understand the situation of the project site, and effectively improve the management's control over the project construction, indicating the future application prospect of UAV technology in the construction field.

“Building the Threads of Connection that We Already Have”: The Nature of Connections via Technology for Older People

ABSTRACT Objectives: The social connectedness of older people is of increasing concern. Technology has been suggested for enhancing social inclusion. This study aimed to explore the nature and quality of connections via technology. Methods: Qualitative exploration of experiences, stories, and needs was undertaken through semi-structured interviews with older (7) and middle-aged (3) adults with rich experience of connections via technology in Australia and England. Core aspects of connections through technology were constructed through interpretive description analysis. Results: Four key aspects were: 1. The caliber of connections: descriptions of a range of subjective quality of connections and characteristics of good connections; 2. Experiences of poor connection (mis- and dis-connection) including descriptions of experiences creating isolation; 3. Reasons to connect described the purposes of technology-based connections including connecting with others, themselves and places important to them; 4. Making connections work described active strategies to enhance connection. Conclusions: Using technology is part of the social engagement of many people. Considering the related feelings of connection and support strategies and needs could enhance future research and practice with older people. Clinical implications: The different characteristics and potential positive and negative experiences of connection via technology need consideration in measuring social isolation and supporting older adults.

Hygrothermal behaviour of emerging timber-based envelope technologies in Australia: A preliminary investigation on condensation and mould growth risk

This study uses dynamic hygrothermal simulations to assess the risk of failure of both timber-framed and mass-timber emerging external wall assemblies across Australian major cities, where most of the population lives. The transient analysis also investigates the sensitivity of the simulation outcomes with respect to the indoor climate input data. Results suggest that the mass-timber timber envelope performs overall better across the different scenarios of analysis compared to the timber-framed solution. However, the hygrothermal behaviour of the massive envelope solution consistently changes with the indoor climate model variation. This article highlights the importance of addressing condensation risk and moisture safety in timber envelopes from the early design stage. Input data and simulation scenarios must be carefully defined according to the specific case as they can highly impact the results’ outcome.

Medium-throughput Drug Screening of Patient-derived Organoids from Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases to Direct Personalized Therapy.

Patients with colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastases (CRPMs) have limited treatment options and the lowest colorectal cancer survival rates. We aimed to determine whether organoid testing could help guide precision treatment for patients with CRPMs, as the clinical utility of prospective, functional drug screening including nonstandard agents is unknown. CRPM organoids (peritonoids) isolated from patients underwent parallel next-generation sequencing and medium-throughput drug panel testing ex vivo to identify specific drug sensitivities for each patient. We measured the utility of such a service including: success of peritonoid generation, time to cultivate peritonoids, reproducibility of the medium-throughput drug testing, and documented changes to clinical therapy as a result of the testing. Peritonoids were successfully generated and validated from 68% (19/28) of patients undergoing standard care. Genomic and drug profiling was completed within 8 weeks and a formal report ranking drug sensitivities was provided to the medical oncology team upon failure of standard care treatment. This resulted in a treatment change for two patients, one of whom had a partial response despite previously progressing on multiple rounds of standard care chemotherapy. The barrier to implementing this technology in Australia is the need for drug access and funding for off-label indications. Our approach is feasible, reproducible, and can guide novel therapeutic choices in this poor prognosis cohort, where new treatment options are urgently needed. This platform is relevant to many solid organ malignancies.

Use of technology by orientation and mobility professionals in Australia and Malaysia before COVID-19

Purpose Orientation and Mobility (O&M) professionals teach people with low vision or blindness to use specialist assistive technologies to support confident travel, but many O&M clients now prefer a smartphone. This study aimed to investigate what technology O&M professionals in Australia and Malaysia have, use, like, and want to support their client work, to inform the development of O&M technologies and build capacity in the international O&M profession. Materials and Methods A technology survey was completed by professionals (n = 36) attending O&M workshops in Malaysia. A revised survey was completed online by O&M specialists (n = 31) primarily in Australia. Qualitative data about technology use came from conferences, workshops and interviews with O&M professionals. Descriptive statistics were analysed together with free-text data. Results Limited awareness of apps used by clients, unaffordability of devices, and inadequate technology training discouraged many O&M professionals from employing existing technologies in client programmes or for broader professional purposes. Professionals needed to learn smartphone accessibility features and travel-related apps, and ways to use technology during O&M client programmes, initial professional training, ongoing professional development and research. Conclusions Smartphones are now integral to travel with low vision or blindness and early-adopter O&M clients are the travel tech-experts. O&M professionals need better initial training and then regular upskilling in mainstream O&M technologies to expand clients’ travel choices. COVID-19 has created an imperative for technology laggards to upskill for O&M tele-practice. O&M technology could support comprehensive O&M specialist training and practice in Malaysia, to better serve O&M clients with complex needs. Implications for rehabilitation Most orientation and mobility (O&M) clients are travelling with a smartphone, so O&M specialists need to be abreast of mainstream technologies, accessibility features and apps used by clients for orientation, mobility, visual efficiency and social engagement. O&M specialists who are technology laggards need human-guided support to develop confidence in using travel technologies, and O&M clients are the experts. COVID-19 has created an imperative to learn skills for O&M tele-practice. Affordability is a significant barrier to O&M professionals and clients accessing specialist travel technologies in Malaysia, and to O&M professionals upgrading technology in Australia. Comprehensive training for O&M specialists is needed in Malaysia to meet the travel needs of clients with low vision or blindness who also have physical, cognitive, sensory or mental health complications.

BioLogiQ, Licella partner to commercialize Licella's Cat-HTR technology in Australia

Bark coverages lead to the premature death of saguaro cacti (Carnegiea gigantea). Bark coverages on surfaces of more than 20 species of tall, long-lived cacti occur throughout the Americas. This study analyzed data of bark coverages on twelve surfaces on 1149 saguaro cacti from four sampling periods over a period of 23 years. Bark coverage starts on equator-facing surfaces and progresses to polar-facing surfaces. For this population, 45 % of all cacti were dead by the end of the 23-year period of study. In order to understand how bark coverages are related to cactus death, four machine learning programs were used to analyze the data obtained. Decision trees predicted rates of bark coverages and death with time as a variable with probabilities of 90 % and 99 %, respectively. Trough surfaces were better predictors of bark coverage and cactus death than crest surfaces. Left troughs of both polar- and west-facing surfaces were the best predictors of bark coverage and cactus death with probabilities above 99 %. The four machine learning programs gave complimentary results to present a unified view to predict future bark coverages over time and predict eventual cactus death with more than 99 % accuracy.

An Overview of Cold Spray Additive Technology in Australia for Melt-less Manufacture of Titanium

The difficulty in significantly reducing the cost of titanium products is partly related to the high cost of manufacturing. This includes additive manufacturing; e.g. Electron Beam Melting (EBM) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM), as well as traditional approaches that are based on a melting process. In particular, the cost of titanium powder has placed limits on the application of additive manufacturing approaches that involve melting to broader commercial applications beyond military, aerospace and implants. More than a decade ago, Australia adopted cold spray technology as a meltless additive manufacturing technique to fabricate titanium through a strategic initiative at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The high deposition rate, ~100 times faster than the other additive technologies, and the solid state deposition were amongst the rationales for investment in cold spray technology. A combination of carefully designed experiments and sophisticated 3D models were developed to assess performance of the current industrial-scale cold spray systems for commercial clients. The success and challenges of this solid state deposition technology will be detailed with a focus on real industrial impact. The future development of melt-less titanium manufacturing using cold spray will be discussed with consideration of commercial and environmental benefits.

CCS in Australia: Activities and Lessons Learned

There is the perception that somehow carbon capture and storage (CCS) is too expensive, too complex, and already by-passed by other technologies in Australia. However the challenge of meeting Austr...

Novel biofuels derived from waste tyres and their effects on reducing oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter emissions

Abstract There are tons of waste tyres produced each year globally. Production of oil from the waste tyre not only manages the wastes but also produces fuels for compression ignition engines. In this investigation, a novel approach developed by Green Distillation Technologies in Australia was used to convert whole end of life tyres (ELTs) into carbon, steel, and tyre oil. The physicochemical properties of the tyre oil are similar to diesel fuel, and the fuel is miscible with diesel in any blended ratio. An engine experiment was conducted on a EURO IIIA diesel engine. All experiments were performed at constant speed and four different engine loads. Two blends (10% and 20%) of tyre oil were compared to reference diesel fuel. Exhaust emissions, including gaseous emissions, particulate matter (PM) and particulate number (PN) were investigated. The results indicate simultaneous reductions in both diesel PM and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions with the tyre oil blends when compared to diesel. NOx emissions were reduced by approximately 30% with both blends with respect to diesel. The reduction in PM and PN emissions were in the range of 35–60% and 5–20%, respectively. Carbon monoxide (CO) were increased by ∼ 10% compared to the reference diesel except at quarter load. Insignificant change in brake power (BP), brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) were observe with the tyre oil blends. The engine remained compliant with its EURO IIIA guidelines during the use of the tyre oil blends. Based on the engine performance and emission result, the tyre oil could be alternative to traditional diesel fuel.

Installation and use of ballast water treatment systems – Implications for compliance and enforcement

The International Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention entered into force in September 2017. In the convention, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) required two options: ballast water exchange (BWE) standard D-1, and ballast water performance standard D-2 which required ballast water treatment systems (BWTSs). We explored the impact of policy on the utilization of BWTSs by examining IMO Type Approval records and country-level databases in the United States and Australia. In December 2018, 65 BWTSs had IMO Type Approval and 13 had US Coast Guard approval. The majority of vessels with BWTSs had either electrolytic or UV treatment systems (Australia, 84%; USA, 89%). From 2016 to 2017, both countries experienced an increase in the percentage of vessels with BWTS, vessels utilizing BWTS, and total ballast discharge treated with BWTS. Based on this analysis, shipowners appear to primarily rely on two treatment technologies in Australia and the United States to meet compliance.

Preferences for and potential impacts of financial incentives to install residential rooftop solar photovoltaic systems in Australia

Shifting the production of energy from fossil fuels to renewable resources contributes towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions needed for climate change mitigation. Many countries, including Australia, have had generous financial incentives in place to support households to adopt renewable energy technologies, such as rooftop photovoltaic solar panels. Given the increasing reductions in, and eventually a shift, from subsidies to market-based mechanisms the trend of new solar panel adoption is unclear. Solar power is a particularly relevant climate change mitigation technology in Australia given the country's high insolation rates. Australia has one of the highest rates of residential solar adoption in the world with 20% of households having solar panels. This study uses Australia as a case study because of the range of incentives available and the potential impacts of changes in incentive policies which are already under way. To determine preferences for changes in incentives and to predict consumer choices for adopting solar panels under future policy changes, a choice model was applied. Results showed that about two-thirds of the respondents would be willing to install a photovoltaic system. Installation costs had the greatest influence on choice of a photovoltaic system, followed by a 10-year and a 5-year guarantee of being able to sell excess solar power to retailers, and a high feed-in-tariff. Being able to access an interest free loan did not affect respondents' choices, and up-front rebates were preferred to be at least AUD 4000. Income, education, knowledge about Australia's renewable energy polices and believing in environmental benefits of solar energy all positively influenced the willingness to install a photovoltaic system while age had a negative effect. Preferences for financial incentives varied significantly across respondents. About a third of respondents were sufficiently sensitive to costs and incentives that a substantial cut in subsidies would probably dissuade them from installing a photovoltaic system. Younger people and those knowledgeable about renewable energy policies preferred low installation costs but were not motivated by incentives. Factors likely to influence their decision-making included their level of electricity consumption, rising electricity prices and decreasing costs for storage systems, and they may conclude that solar photovoltaic systems pay off even without government subsidies, which are gradually being phased out.