Author: Geoff Marchiori

Project title: Smart Energy Networking in Sovereign Hill Buildings

Project aim: To audit existing Sovereign Hill buildings to obtain data, and baseline the type and quantity of energy consuming devices. With this information concepts will be developed around networking these devices to enable central point of control, costings will be estimated for the implementation of such a system.

Industry partner: Sovereign Hill

Sovereign Hill is an internationally renowned, award-winning outdoor museum operated by The Sovereign Hill Museums Association, a not-for-profit, community-based organisation. Operating profits are invested back into the museum so that it can provide new experiences and encourage visitors to return. With over 100 buildings across the museum site, power and gas consumption varies with occupation and season.

Project title: Humdinger Project – Design and Optimization of Composite Parts

Project aim: To develop through research, design, verification, trial and tests light weight, commercially competitive, optimized parts for the Humdinger vehicle. Some of the parts that could be re-designed include the engine cover, floor panels, doors and floor, inner tub and rear engine cover assembly. These lightweight GRP parts will be manufactured by RPC in Batam Indonesia. Consideration in the design will take account the physical environment of both marine and land specifications and optimizationand integrity of the structure.

Industry partner: RPC Indonesia

RPC Technologies (RPC) are specialists in their field, offering integrated services to the defence, Infrastructure and Environment, GRP Pipe Systems, GRE Pipe Systems, Resource and Energy, and rail sectors. Composite materials are re-shaping the world, and RPC is re-shaping the way advanced composites are blended with more traditional methods of production to deliver engineered and manufactured solutions that take performance to the next level. RPC operate from a campus in Batam, Indonesia and are enthusiastic to develop new products.

Project title: Design and Optimisation for Filament Wound Pipes

Project aim: To develop through research, design, verification, trial and tests, improved pipe design and manufacture, commercially competitive, optimized pipes for clients. Some of the pipes could be re-designed to include winding with varying thickness filament with different materials in stages and layering in a more continuos manner without stopping due to peak exotherm reaction.

Industry partner: RPC Indonesia

RPC Technologies (RPC) are specialists in their field, offering integrated services to the defence, Infrastructure and Environment, GRP Pipe Systems, GRE Pipe Systems, Resource and Energy, and rail sectors. Composite materials are re-shaping the world, and RPC is re-shaping the way advanced composites are blended with more traditional methods of production to deliver engineered and manufactured solutions that take performance to the next level. RPC operate from a campus in Batam, Indonesia and are enthusiastic to develop new products.

Project title: Stormwater Capture and Reuse on RMIT University City Campus

Project aim: To provide an understanding of stormwater across the RMIT University City campus and make recommendations to improve RMIT’s adaptation responses to climate change using Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) to promote capture and reuse. Site surveys of RMIT City Campus will be undertaken to detemine the permeability of the campus and a storm water model will be developed.

Industry partner: RMIT University Property Services Group

RMIT Property Services Group (PSG) is responsible for managing the University’s portfolio of properties, valued at $1 billion and encompassing 131 buildings across all of RMIT’s campuses and sites. The University’s land holding is 75.4 ha (186.3175 acres). Part of the Resources portfolio and based on the City campus, Property Services is responsible for operating, maintaining and enhancing all RMIT-owned buildings across RMIT’s onshore campuses (City, Bundoora and Brunswick). Property Services is focused on providing quality and sustainable built environments to support all of RMIT University’s activities.

Image: © RMIT University, 2018

Project title: Ground Based Thermal Comfort Analysis of RMIT University City Campus Hotspots

Project aim: To provide an understanding of thermal comfort of ground level (outside) local hot spots across the RMIT City campus and make recommendations to improve thermal comfort of users. The study will include identifying the thermal comfort levels of individuals in key areas on campus and a review of historical climate data recorded by environmental organisations to review and analyse changes to climate over time.  Apparent Temperature, Standard Predicted Mean Vote, Physiologically Equivalent Temperature will be analysed to identify the thermal comfort levels of individuals in the ares of interest.

Industry partner: RMIT University Property Service Group

RMIT Property Services Group (PSG) is responsible for managing the University’s portfolio of properties, valued at $1 billion and encompassing 131 buildings across all of RMIT’s campuses and sites. The University’s land holding is 75.4 ha (186.3175 acres). Part of the Resources portfolio and based on the City campus, Property Services is responsible for operating, maintaining and enhancing all RMIT-owned buildings across RMIT’s onshore campuses (City, Bundoora and Brunswick). Property Services is focused on providing quality and sustainable built environments to support all of RMIT University’s activities.

Image: © RMIT University, 2018

Project title: Biodiversity Assessment of RMIT University Melbourne Campuses

Project aim: To undertake an assessment of biodiversity values across RMIT’s three campuses (City, Brunswick and Bundoora) through ground surveys and available resources, such as the RMIT Tree Management Plan. The project will investigate how biodiversity at RMIT can help the community adapt to climate change and enhance amenity for the RMIT community.

Industry partner: RMIT University Property Service Group

RMIT Property Services Group (PSG) is responsible for managing the University’s portfolio of properties, valued at $1 billion and encompassing 131 buildings across all of RMIT’s campuses and sites. The University’s land holding is 75.4 ha (186.3175 acres). Part of the Resources portfolio and based on the City campus, Property Services is responsible for operating, maintaining and enhancing all RMIT-owned buildings across RMIT’s onshore campuses (City, Bundoora and Brunswick). Property Services is focused on providing quality and sustainable built environments to support all of RMIT University’s activities.

Project title: Optimal Operation of a 40KW PV and 40 KW Battery and Storage System a the Yackandandah Water Treatment Plant  in North East Victoria

Project aim: To study the generation from the clean energy system and the consumption patterns of Yackandandah water treatment plant. To determine how to operate the system at lowest cost, the return on investment of the system. Whether the system could have been configured differently to save more money and projected future costs of on-site generation, will also be determined.

Industry partner: North East Water

North East Water (NEW) provides water and sewerage services to 41 localities across the North East Victoria and are one of 12 similar corporations throughout regional Victoria. North Easter Water operates as a retailer that on-sells water from our wholesaler, Goulburn Valley Water (GMW), which manages water storage, delivery and drainage systems involving 70% of Victoria’s stored water. North East Water serves an estimated population of 107,000 people in an area of approximately 20,000 square kilometres. This region extends from Corryong in the east, along the Murray River to Yarrawonga, and south to Benalla and the alpine towns of Bright, Mt. Beauty and Dartmouth.

Project title: Design and Development of Light Weight Concrete Barges to Support Photo-Voltaic Panels

Project aim: To develop through research, design, verification, trial and tests, a light weight concrete barge, commercially competitive, for offshore and nearshore marine applications that can host photo-voltaic panels. The design of the barge will incorporate the use of light weight concrete partially developed and interface with composite fixtures and fittings where necessary. These lightweight concrete barges will be manufactured in Batam Indonesia, and floated into locations/positions off Singapore and Indonesia to support PV for power generation.

Industry Partner: Neptune Subsea Stabilisation

Neptune is a leading provider of integrated inspection, repair and maintenance solutions to the oil and gas, marine and renewable energy industries. Headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, Neptune’s presence spans operational centres located throughout Australia in Perth, Darwin, Melbourne and the UK and Asia. Neptune’s product range has been developed over 15 years of research, product design and offshore application and includes offshore grouting, subseas matresses and precast structures.

Project title: Food Organic and Garden Organic (FOGO) Kerbside Collection Feasibility Study

Project aim: To address organics generated in townships as well as rural properties and other tenements currently exempt from receiving the general waste service (kerbside and recycling). For potential future expansion purposes, organic waste streams within agribusiness, acceptable organic material from commercial and industrial sectors, will also be assessed.

Industry Partner: Macedon Ranges Shore Council

Macedon Ranges Shire Council coordinate community projects with community partners to enhance the look and use of public spaces such as parks, town centres, public land and community buildings. Projects are chosen from community plans, which are developed in the townships by local community members. Council works with local community representatives to ensure the design of any upgrades reflects the community’s views.