Queensland University of Technology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Control and communications for high value distributed electrical storage. The project aims to develop a new framework to support the successful deployment of resilient ‘prosumer-based’ energy systems. The increasing deployment of new energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, and battery and other energy storages, challenges the current operating regimes of energy systems. The successful and active participation of prosumers, who are both producers and consumers of energy, becomes a critical issue in the operation and management of such systems. The proposed framework explores ways to integrate new technology into existing systems, focusing on new methods of energy management with interactions with millions of devices and storage units, and real-time communications to devices. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Transition to Customer Response Driven Networks. The project seeks to develop an electrical network costing framework that appropriately rewards customers who act to reduce network stress. The solution to the existing explosion in distribution network costs is to develop customer-responsive solutions in demand management and use of storage. The aim of this project is to develop a framework for network costs that is driven by local congestion and which would reward customer-responsive solutions. The vision is that the aggregator would provide customers with communications/control equipment that would automate the changes in the responsiveness so that customer-generated load shifting would act to limit peaks. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Development of Intelligent Structures that can Self-evaluate Deterioration. This project aims to transform traditional civil structures into smart structures that can accurately identify current and future structural deterioration conditions and automatically notify the infrastructure management authority for timely maintenance. Civil structures deteriorate over their long life spans. Currently, we have no effective method to identify when deterioration has reached the point where maintenance is required. The project plans to develop innovative structural deterioration evaluation systems using output-only vibration data and versatile optimisation algorithms to enable long-term deterioration assessment and maintenance management even under demanding operating conditions. These could be used with both conventional data acquisition systems and modern monitoring systems with smart wireless sensors. Expected project outcomes will enhance structural safety and maintenance efficiency. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Degradation conscious grid-scale battery energy management scheme. The project aims to develop an improved battery management system to smooth the intermittent contribution of renewable energy sources to the grid. As the level of penetration of renewable energy sources into electrical grids increases, energy storage will play an increasingly important role in solving some of the technical challenges caused by the intermittent nature of the renewable sources. The existing design methods for grid-scale battery management systems do not take into consideration the degradation of the battery banks. Thus, this project aims to fill this gap by developing an electrochemical-based, degradation-conscious, battery management system. The proposed system aims to increase the life span and capacity use of the batteries. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Private Literacy Tutoring: A sociology of shadow education. This project intends to investigate the extent and impact of private academic tutoring in Australia. Markets in private academic tutoring or ‘shadow education’ are growing. Globally, studies point to both positive and negative social, economic and educational impacts. In Australia, the federal government briefly funded private tutoring vouchers for students who did not meet literacy benchmarks (2004–08), but in 2013 equity concerns about families’ tutoring investments helped prompt a senate inquiry into the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). This project plans to study private tutoring across Australia. It aims to investigate families’ investments in shadow education and the implications of this for Australian literacy education policy. This may also be relevant in other countries where shadow education is also rapidly expanding in response to growing educational competition and testing agendas. Field of research: 1303 - Specialist Studies In Education

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Which children develop severely disruptive school behaviour? By systematically tracking 250 children through the first six years of school, this project aims to identify factors contributing to the development, perpetuation and exacerbation of disruptive school behaviour. Disruptive student behaviour has been identified as one of the most significant issues confronting Australian schools. Yet common educational responses often inflame rather than reduce problem behaviours. The project aims to produce new knowledge about how best to address those factors in the early years while student attitudes and behaviour are still relatively malleable. Field of research: 1303 - Specialist Studies In Education

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

The new screen ecology and innovation in production and distribution. The project aims to explore new models of online and screen content creation. Major United States information technology corporations are challenging Hollywood and television networks and are likely to come to dominate new screen services into the future. This project focuses on the most challenging and potentially disruptive and innovative forms of production and distribution this new screen ecology is taking. Processes of professionalisation and monetisation of previously amateur content creation are underpinning an explosive growth of a lower-budget, more diverse and structurally innovative tier of advertising- and sponsor-supported online content. Centred on strategies of platforms such as YouTube, but international in scope, the project aims to contribute to innovation in Australian screen production and distribution. Field of research: 2001 - Communication and Media Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Harmonising genes for modern agriculture. Harmonising genes for modern agriculture. This project aims to fully understand how a plant distinguishes self from non-self genes and to develop ways of precisely enhancing, repairing, updating, and/or redirecting genetic traits in harmony with the genome. The world’s food security relies on modern crops that are continually updated with genetic traits for higher yield and protection against changing environmental stresses. A crop plant’s genes determine its growth, development, survival and agronomic fitness. The ability to precisely edit genes in crop plants is tantalizingly close but significant barriers must be overcome. Anticipated outcomes are safer, higher yielding and more sustainable crops. Field of research: 0701 - Agriculture, Land and Farm Management