University of Technology Sydney

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

A provable privacy-preserving data sharing system for the cloud environment. This project aims to develop an innovative data sharing system, with a mathematically provable privacy guarantee, in a cloud environment. This will be adopted by Australian Education Management Group’s (AEMG) cloud campus to exchange data in a restricted privacy manner between partner institutions. It will be commercialised as a middleware that can be plugged into existing cloud environments to maintain required privacy even when the cloud crosses various jurisdictions with different privacy policies. The outcomes will benefit educational organisations, and lay the foundations for data sharing in other communities such as the government, banks, and other industries in Australia. Field of research: 0806 - Information Systems

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

High-throughput portable and wearable device fabrication facility. This project aims to establish a fabrication and characterisation facility for high-throughput production of portable, wearable and stretchable biomedical devices to accelerate the design–fabrication–evaluation process and save ‘trial-and-error’ costs during optimisation turnaround. It will apply computer-aided design for the programmable synthesis of hybrid materials for high-throughput screening of disease biomarkers, and super-solution imaging of single molecules in live cells. This facility will provide capability for researchers pursuing industry transformation and other initiatives in the development of advanced materials, biomolecular sciences, nanotechnology, photonics and device engineering. Field of research: 1004 - Medical Biotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

The Aboriginal land estate in New South Wales. This project aims to investigate Aboriginal economic activity via the first extensive place-based ethnographic study of New South Wales (NSW) Aboriginal Land Council. It examines approaches to managing lands for economic development and community benefit, especially the leveraging of communal land holdings for economic advancement as the return of land to the NSW Aboriginal community will escalate from 2017. Yet the benefits of land-based entrepreneurialism in NSW have never been reviewed. The project will provide significant benefits, including improved policy settings and insights into Aboriginal worlds. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Upconversion nanothermometry: enabling high brightness in a thermal field. This project aims to create a unique library of nanometer scale temperature-responsive sensors for bio-discoveries, disease diagnostics, device manufacturing and anti-counterfeiting, by investigating a new observation in enhanced photon energy conversion. The project will develop a thermal-field diagnostics approach to reveal interfacial cation-ligand behaviours of luminescent hybrid nanomaterials, and modify the otherwise quenching molecules to facilitate energy upconversion. This will link surface chemistry and heterogeneous interfacial physics. It will allow ratiometric fluorescence to achieve extremely high sensing sensitivity in intracellular nanothermometry, enabling super resolution thermal imaging of living cells. Field of research: 0303 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Gas metal arc welding process monitoring with acoustic sensing. This project aims to investigate the physical mechanisms of Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) sound generation, and establish an acoustic model that correlates the acoustic signal with other wielding parameters. Key acoustic features and identification algorithms for process monitoring will be explored, and a prototype GMAW process monitoring system developed. GMAW is an arc welding process that is widely used in industry and well suited to automatic welding. The proposed monitoring method is an urgent need identified by industries for improving process control and quality. Auditory cues have been found to be critical for expert welders to adjust the weld process and to maintain quality, but the mechanisms underpinning the process are not well understood. The project will provide significant benefit to the Australian manufacturing industry’s productivity and innovation. Field of research: 0913 - Mechanical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Simulating complexity: ultrastrong interactions in superconducting circuits. This project aims to explore effects of strong interactions on phases of light and matter in complex quantum systems, by mimicking them with surrogates called quantum simulators. The project expects to open up new research directions by building a novel versatile simulator platform from nanoscale superconducting electronic circuits in which all elements are flexibly engineered and precisely controlled. Expected outcomes from the project will include better understanding of complex materials and a certifiable scaling-up pathway towards simulation complexity, future hi-tech manufacturing; and enhanced research capacity in the new interdisciplinary field of quantum engineering. This should help to position Australia as a centre for hi-tech quantum industry leading to both social and economic benefits. Field of research: 0206 - Quantum Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Effective, efficient and scalable processing of big geo-textual streams. This project aims to develop novel approaches to realise the value of geo-textual data, which carries both location and textual information. The project expects to address three key challenges brought by massive volumes and high speeds of big geo-textual streams: better user experiences; increased efficiency; and greater scalability in query processing. The project should provide individuals, business and government agencies with the ability to unlock key values in the overwhelming volume of high-speed, big geo-textual streams for important usage in many emerging key applications, such as social media analytics, location-based services, social networks, e-marketing and cybersecurity. Field of research: 0806 - Information Systems

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Comprehensive free access to Australian industrial and workplace law. This project aims to develop an ‘Australian Industrial and Workplace Relations Law Library’ on AustLII. The project will make relevant current law searchable in one location; digitise decisions contained in the major industrial law report series published since Federation; scan other key resources; add dynamic virtual databases; develop data mining tools to better recognise citation information in printed industrial law materials; and develop citation analysis, visualisation and other analytical tools for industrial and workplace law research. The project hopes to improve research in the field of Australian industrial and workforce relations system and the history and development of work in Australia, and inform policy and debate. Field of research: 1801 - Law

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Life-long learning in the understanding of big data. This project aims to design and develop computational systems and algorithms that learn as humans do (life-long learning). This will enable systems to automatically interpret Big Data from social media, social network and public surveillance. This project will apply the knowledge learned in auxiliary Big Data sources to effectively interpret target tasks and analyse the communication network (one variant of social network). This project is expected to benefit science, society and the economy, and help governments to better serve the public by improving transport logistics, modelling and regulation, and preventing crime and terrorism. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Adaptive value-flow analysis to improve code reliability and security. This project aims to develop client-driven adaptive value-flow analysis to detect software bugs in system software written in the C/C++ programme language. Static analysis tools for automated code inspections can benefit software developers, but are imprecise, inefficient and not user-friendly for analysing real-world industrial-sized software. The project will investigate static, dynamic and user-guided value-flow analysis to efficiently and precisely analyse large-scale programs according to clients’ needs, thereby allowing compilers to generate safe, reliable and secure code. This project is expected to advance value-flow analysis for industrial-sized software, improve software reliability and security, and benefit Australian software systems and industries. Field of research: 0803 - Computer Software

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Materials architecture design for low-cost energy storage application. This project aims to develop anode materials for high energy, long service life sodium-ion batteries. The natural abundance of sodium makes sodium-ion batteries the most promising low cost system for large-scale electrical energy storage. However, they are limited by the low rate of diffusion through their anodes. This project will investigate the electrochemical sodiation/desodiation anisotropy on different crystalline facets of anode materials to identify more rapid diffusion pathways and develop a better, high-rate. Success is expected to improve battery performance and enable energy distributors to lower the cost of renewable electrical energy, encouraging its adoption. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Using quantum artificial intelligence to bootstrap a quantum computer. This project aims to enable truly scalable engineered quantum systems. Classical methodologies to characterise and control quantum many-body systems are rapidly becoming infeasible. To achieve genuinely quantum technologies such as quantum computation, simulation and sensing requires a new type of control. This project will investigate a quantum generalisation of machine learning techniques which have revolutionised classical computing and automation. The successful development by Australian researchers of a means to automate the control of quantum technology would give Australia a competitive advantage in this emerging sector, while even a small scale device or technology that controls quantum technology would be commercial. Field of research: 0206 - Quantum Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Impact investing and the global diffusion of social stock exchanges. This project aims to examine the establishment and global diffusion of social stock exchanges and assess how such a platform may assist the nascent Australian market for impact investing. Investors and social enterprises struggle to connect, communicate and agree on measures of return. This project will examine the social systems needed to organise and sustain markets. This approach is expected to inform the development of Australia’s potential $32 billion market in providing finance to solve social problems. Field of research: 1503 - Business and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Electrifying commercial vehicles in Australia. This project aims to develop alternative hybrid electric and pure electric vehicle technologies for the Australian commercial vehicle sector. Worldwide concern about greenhouse gases and stringent vehicle fuel consumption have changed vehicle driveline systems, and created demand for hybrid and electric automotive technologies. This project will examine different powertrain configurations for commercial vehicles, and use numerical simulations to evaluate vehicle fuel economy, life cycle emissions and life cycle costs and demonstrate the benefits of these alternatives. These vehicle technologies have the potential to reduce fuel in this sector by up to 50%, and reduce vehicle emissions and operational costs across the commercial transportation sector. Field of research: 0902 - Automotive Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Complete blood fractionation using a low-cost microfluidic system. This project aims to understand particle focusing in inertial microfluidic systems to design efficient devices for cell sorting. The field of microfluidics could ultimately advance medical research but device design is primitive. Microfluidic particle separations are not thoroughly simulated before fabrication to predict performance. This project is expected to accelerate progress in design of efficient microfluidic devices. The knowledge and models developed in this project should help design and develop a microfluidic device for efficient fractionation of complex fluids into valuable components. Field of research: 0903 - Biomedical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

The institutions of the humanities: History of the humanities in Australia. This project aims to understand how institutions shaped and made possible the humanities as a field of knowledge-making in Australia. Research on the history of the humanities and its institutions is under-developed in Australia and internationally. This project will focus on the history of universities, libraries and learned academies since the Second World War to demonstrate the importance of the humanities in social and economic well-being. The project expects that an historically-nuanced understanding of institutions that support the humanities will enable scholars and policy makers to better organise them so the humanities thrive in the future. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Liquid-phase hydrogen carriers for energy storage and delivery. This project aims to overcome hydrogen storage and delivery issues by developing liquid-phase hydrogen storage materials with high hydrogen capacity, exceptional stability and that do not change phase during hydrogen evolution. This project will build on the recent synthesis of strategically important hydrogen storage compounds. The innovative liquid-phase hydrogen storage and delivery technology will enable effective usage of established liquid fuel distribution techniques and infrastructure throughout the country. The project would benefit renewable energy, chemical, and manufacturing industries, where new employment opportunities would be created. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Cross-domain knowledge transfer for data-driven decision making. This project aims to develop a set of cross-domain knowledge transfer methodologies to support Data-Driven Decision-Making (D3M) systems. D3M is essential in business, particularly for ever-changing environments in today’s big data era, but D3Ms for solving new problems may face in-domain data insufficiency. The challenge is to effectively transfer knowledge from multiple heterogeneous source domains. The outcomes are expected to transfer implicit and explicit knowledge, handle discrete and continuous outputs, and support business decision-making, which should advance the discipline of transfer learning and data-driven DSS in dynamically changing environments. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Satellite tracking of health threats from grass pollen exposure. This project aims to discover why pollen exposure has increased since the 1960s. Grass pollens are the main environmental allergen source in Australia and the primary cause of allergic diseases. This project will investigate the ecological causes of changing pollen allergen exposures through integrating 40 years of satellite data, field phenology cameras, and pollen traps that track grass pollen sources, their evolution and impact areas. The outcomes are expected to advance knowledge of environmental drivers and enable more accurate pollen forecasts that alleviate the medical and socioeconomic burden of allergic diseases, estimated to cost 30 billion dollars. Field of research: 0501 - Ecological Applications

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Measuring inflation expectations and inflation expectations uncertainty. This project aims to construct model-based measures of inflation expectations and inflation expectations uncertainty. Inflation expectations can determine economic outcomes. This project will develop non-linear time-varying models to combine information from noisy and possibly biased measures of inflation expectations from surveys and financial markets. These model-based measures are expected to be better calibrated and to provide valuable information for policymakers for formulating macroeconomic policies. They can be used to better assess the credibility of monetary policy and shed light on the causes of low inflation rate in developed economies. Field of research: 1403 - Econometrics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

High-dimensional models with a change point. This project aims to provide a set of estimation and inference procedures for high dimensional quantile regression. Statistical models of threshold regression with change or tipping points are used to explore social issues, including changes in oil and gas prices, effective dosage of drugs and the racial mix in neighbourhoods. To date, using low numbers of variables, the findings have been limited. Big data makes it possible and desirable to solve more detailed models to provide more accurate results. The quality and accuracy of the project’s results are expected to help governments devise well informed and appropriate policies for social issues. Field of research: 1403 - Econometrics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Changing administrative territory. This project analyses how China changes subnational administrative territory – establishing and enlarging cities and eliminating others – to develop regional economies, establish power bases, and govern society. Using systematic data on changes to administrative divisions, this project will analyse how China strategically changes subnational territory to achieve political, economic and social goals – aligning the territorial space of the state with economy and citizenship. Results from research in four cities are expected to provide strategic information for establishing city-to-city partnerships as well as insights for economic development and national security. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Effects of pornography on audiences. This project aims to improve understanding of pornography’s effects on its audiences. Academic knowledge on this topic is silo-ed and often contradictory across humanities and social science disciplines. This project will synthesise these discrete traditions to produce a shared paradigm, vocabulary and evidence base so these disciplines can share their findings. The project will also provide a replicable case study of translation between humanities and social sciences data archives. Making this knowledge comprehensible to policymakers, educators and parents is expected to improve public debate and policy outcomes about pornography, and aims to improve the healthy sexual development of young Australians. Field of research: 2001 - Communication and Media Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

The Medicare Safety Net and its effect on efficiency, equity and welfare. This project aims to measure the welfare implications of social health insurance reforms. It will use the introduction of the Extended Medicare Safety Net to examine the effect of social insurance reforms on the efficiency and equity of Australia's health care system. The project expects to produce evidence on the partial and aggregate effects of the Medicare Safety Net and knowledge on the relationship between social insurance and health system performance. In doing so, the research seeks to help policy makers to improve the design of social health insurance programmes to make the system more sustainable and equitable. Field of research: 1402 - Applied Economics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Effect of predation on virulence traits of opportunistic pathogens. The project aims to determine if increased fitness of bacteria in animal or human hosts (increased virulence) can occur due to indirect rather than direct selective pressure, particularly pressure on bacteria arising from predation by protozoa. Protozoa feed on many pathogenic bacteria (e.g. those that cause cholera and chronic infections) in the ocean, and warming oceans are predicted to increase predation. Knowing the effect of warming oceans on marine bacteria and the emergence of virulence in bacteria that are subject to predation in the environment can inform design of tools for monitoring the risk of infection outbreaks. Benefits would be realised by academic researchers, clinicians and policy-makers interested in optimising the tracking of infection threats. Field of research: 0605 - Microbiology