THE foundations of offshore oil and gas structures are moving into deeper waters off the Western Australian continental shelf.

REMOTELY controlled drones are becoming more common in military and paramilitary operations and now a Perth-based company is ready to tackle the commercial market with its range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s).

DELIVERY of construction projects in WA requires major re-evaluation before matching up with international standards, according to Professor Peter Love of Curtin University.

DURACK II, a world-class building situated in the heart of the Perth CBD, sets a benchmark in environmentally-friendly design and is the brain-child of design, engineering, environmental, management, planning and advisory company AECOM.

WITH WA’s rich magnetite resources in demand locally and overseas, the expertise of engineering firm Engenium has allowed mining company Atlas Iron to take maximum advantage of the Ridley Magnetite site, 90kms east of Port Hedland.

NEW technology from local company Metrocount aims to allow in-depth analysis of traffic signal activity, increasing road safety and transport efficiency.

Curtin University of Technology academic Dr Euan Lindsay has been elected as President of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE).

HOW should a business leader respond to an investment opportunity that offers a return of $50 for every $1 invested? According to Curtin University of Technology's Professor Rolf Gubner they wouldn’t get that in any bank or stock market, unless they’re very lucky, but smart thinking gives access to a potential goldmine.

YEAR NINE students from seventy high schools have fought for glory in the state round of this year’s Engineers Australia Science and Engineering Challenge – with the winners’ trophy being awarded at a state championship battle held this week.

 

THE University of Western Australia is moving to the forefront of global imaging and analysis with the addition of a powerful and sensitive instrument that can search for evidence of the earliest life on Earth, help find new ore deposits, and detect weapons-grade uranium in minute dust particles.

 

 

 

 

 

PERTH companies have joined forces to put together an automated drone that is making waves in international security and defence markets.

ONE of the world’s most prestigious engineering accolades has been awarded to Vince Dooley of Alcoa’s global refining research and development group based at Kwinana in Western Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURTIN University’s new Engineering Pavilion Complex, a futuristic showpiece of environmentally friendly construction, is set to become the crown jewel of its campus, thanks to $20.5m in funding from the Federal Education Investment Fund.

COLLABORATION between the United States and Australia on scientific research will foster some of the most exciting work to battle global challenges, according to US Consul General Dr Kenneth Chern.

WA's sustainability research is set to expand with the announcement of a nation-leading initiative from Curtin University.

LEADING sustainability expert Professor Peter Newman says the North Port Quay proposal has the potential to not only make up for any carbon used during construction but also produce more green energy than the site requires.

The North Port Quay proposal is currently one of the key issues in the up coming May 16 Fremantle by-election with the project’s environmental credentials under close scrutiny from some candidates.

North Port Quay aerial shot / Image: Courtesy Glide Group

Prof Newman, head of the Curtin University Sustainability Institute, says the North Port Quay proposal will utilise green technologies in future operational stages to offset any carbon emitted during construction.

“You minimise in whatever way you can the carbon that’s involved in the embodied energy of any construction materials that are used, and you make clear what that sum total is,” he says.

“Then later, when the various green technologies are operational, you reduce that total to zero or into the positive by producing more renewable energy than is used by the whole development.

“In a short period of time, it is entirely feasible that North Port Quay would repay the amount of carbon used in the construction stages.”

Prof Newman says the current proposal ensures the development utilises every available technology to minimise the level of carbon involved in construction.

“Barges will be used to bring the rock walls, something that has been incorporated into planing from the beginning. Further, the use of geo-polymers instead of concrete will mean a far lower carbon impact.

“Also, the proposal incorporates low energy and local materials in the construction wherever possible.”

Professor Newman says the key to making North Port Quay a successful sustainable development lies in the groundbreaking usage of green technology to cater for all the energy requirements.

“That’s the key thing that has not been done anywhere else and we believe we can do it.” The privately funded North Port Quay proposal, located in the state seat of Cottesloe, plans to use the renewable energy sources of wind, solar and waves to generate power to the homes and businesses in the new development.

Professor Newman says the current proposal for the North Port Quay site off Rous Head is the most ideal location for the marina project, and rejects concerns over the environmental impact of the project.

“This is the most damaged part of the coastline that is also able to tap into the boat facilities and services in Fremantle. It’s an extension of Fremantle where people live and work relating to boats and ships,” he says.

“If there are any issues with the environmental impact, that will be assessed later in the Environmental Impact Statement and there will be a huge project to do that.

“This is a concept with the potential for greening a large scale urban development and we should not waste the opportunity before it has been properly tested.”

Professor Newman consulted various environmental and oceanic experts with several years of experience researching the WA coast before supporting the North Port Quay proposal. He says large scale projects are necessary to create significant developments in WA for sustainable technology.

“If you want to create a serious project incorporating renewable energy, such as smart grids and electric vehicles, you need adequate investment behind it so the opportunity to create a genuine green icon eventuates.”

A NORTH Port Quay spokesperson says shifting the development from the current proposed location would worsen the environmental impact and deny WA boaters a much-needed marina.

 

ONE week remains for small businesses to apply for an iVEC grant, allowing successful projects to access high-performance computing (HPC), potentially catapulting them to the top of their industry. 

LEADING scientists recently joined students from Shenton College at the University of Western Australia to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy with the launch of the Zadko telescope.

CURTIN University of Technology’s Western Australian School of Mines has bolstered its academic team with the appointment of Professor of Mining Engineering, Roger Thompson.