Strong Foundations Adrian Spencer Is Bringing New Thinking to the Biggest Projects

VOL. 5 NO. 11 DECEMBER 2019

ENGINEERING IDEAS INTO REALITY

STRONG FOUNDATIONS ADRIAN SPENCER IS BRINGING NEW THINKING TO THE BIGGEST PROJECTS

22 44 KEEPING WICKETS MANUFACTURING SUCCESS CRICKET TAKES ON SMART SENSORS DEAKIN UNIVERSITY’S INCUBATOR

00-00_EA49_Dec19_Cover3.indd 1 20/11/19 1:19 pm CRICOS: 00122A | RTO: 3046

— Engineer what’s next…

Elevate your engineering career with a Master of Engineering (Management)

The Master of Engineering Management from RMIT will equip you with leadership skills, as well as specialist training in: - Managing innovation and change. - Developing strategies for national and global markets. - Agile management. - Adaptive leadership. - Developing new business models for organisational growth and prosperity.

Applications for Semester 1 2020 are now open. Commonwealth supported places may be available. Find out more rmit.edu.au/engineering

03-05_EA49_Dec19_Contents_2.indd 2 20/11/19 5:21 pm CONTENTS 003 THE JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA

VOL. 5 NO. 11 DECEMBER 2019

28 ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA NATIONAL OFFICE

11 National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600 Phone 02 6270 6555 www.engineersaustralia.org.au memberservices@engineers australia.org.au 1300 653 113

NATIONAL PRESIDENT: Trish White FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER IntPE(Aus) APEC Engineer CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Bronwyn Evans HonFIEAust CPEng EngExec FTSE NER APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus)

Publisher: Mahlab Managing Director: Bobbi Mahlab Editor: Kevin Gomez BS [email protected] Writer: Jonathan Bradley [email protected] Digital Editor: Rachael Brown [email protected] Group Managing Editor: James Chalmers Group Sales Manager: Stuart Neish 02 9556 9122 [email protected] Advertising Manager: Lorcan Ryan 02 9556 9136 [email protected] Creative Director: Gareth Allsopp Art Director: Sonia Blaskovic Digital Art Director: Liam Gardner STRONG Production Manager: Kathy Little

FOUNDATIONS 369a Darling Street, Balmain NSW 2041 www.mahlab.co Adrian Spencer makes complicated Printed by: BlueStar Group projects look simple. Having Mailed by: D&D Mailing already masterminded solutions ISSN 2205-5983 to some of South Australia’s biggest construction works, he is getting ready to take on his Opinions expressed by contributors are next challenge. ɽȃǉȈɨɁʥȶǉʯƺǉɥɽʥȃǉɨǉɽȃǉʰƃɨǉɰɥǉƺȈˎƺƃȢȢʰ stated to be the views of Engineers Australia. Engineers Australia retains copyright for this publication. Written permission is required for the reproduction of any of its content. All articles are general in nature and readers COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: KELLY BARNES & ANDREA BOURNE PHOTOGRAPHY: COVER should seek expert advice before acting on any information contained here in.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY ěȃȈɰɥʍƹȢȈƺƃɽȈɁȶȃƃɰƹǉǉȶɥɨȈȶɽǉǁʍɰȈȶǼɥƃɥǉɨɰɁʍɨƺǉǁǹɨɁȴɰʍɰɽƃȈȶƃƹȢǉǹɁɨǉɰɽɰƃɰƺǉɨɽȈˎǉǁƹʰĀKy:ӗƃȶ ȈȶɽǉɨȶƃɽȈɁȶƃȢȶɁȶӸɥɨɁˎɽӗȶɁȶӸǼɁʤǉɨȶȴǉȶɽƃȢɁɨǼƃȶȈɰƃɽȈɁȶɥɨɁȴɁɽȈȶǼɰʍɰɽƃȈȶƃƹȢǉǹɁɨǉɰɽȴƃȶƃǼǉȴǉȶɽǼȢɁƹƃȢȢʰӝŚȈɽȃ ȴɁɨǉɽȃƃȶјѕѕȴȈȢȢȈɁȶȃƃɁǹƺǉɨɽȈˎǉǁǹɁɨǉɰɽɰӗĀKy:ȈɰɽȃǉʥɁɨȢǁԇɰȢƃɨǼǉɰɽǹɁɨǉɰɽƺǉɨɽȈˎƺƃɽȈɁȶɰʰɰɽǉȴӝƺreate is then mailed out in biodegradable wrap sourced from a reputable international chemical supplier, EIP, which has been developing, manufacturing and distributing degradable and biodegradable chemical additives to manufacturers ɁǹˎȶȈɰȃǉǁɥȢƃɰɽȈƺɥɨɁǁʍƺɽɰǹɁɨǁǉƺƃǁǉɰӝ

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

03-05_EA49_Dec19_Contents_2.indd 3 20/11/19 5:08 pm 03-05_EA49_Dec19_Contents_2.indd 4 21/11/19 11:38 am CONTENTS

005

EDUCATION A new University of Western 16 Australia facility immerses students in learning. 22 SPORT How technology is bringing cricket experts and fans even closer to the action.

EVERY 38 MONTH CENTENARY 06 PRESIDENT’S Australia’s greatest military hero MESSAGE built his success 07 on engineering YOUR SAY principles. 11 NEXT GEN VOICES

CENTENARY 14 WHAT’S ONLINE? The engineering that turned the Sydney Opera House 55 EVENTS MANUFACTURING 40 from an idea to an icon. Inside the Deakin University 56 TECH WATCH 44 incubator helping innovators realise their visions. 58 KEYSTONE

NEWS

09 WARMAN CONTEST Mechanical engineering students avert an interstellar apocalypse. 12 10 NIGEL WHITEHEAD The BAE Systems CTO looks at the future of defence technology.

12 SAAD KHAN This engineer reinvented how his company manages rolling stock.

PEOPLE Brian Uy, 2019 Civil Engineer of the Year, says a career in PEOPLE 50 structures is the way to go. Raj Kurup’s safer and CREATE DIGITAL 53 cheaper plan to treat createdigital.org.au sodium oxalate waste. Check out the create website — your best resource for the latest engineering news and information from Australia and the world.

QR CODES LIKE THIS APPEAR IN THIS ISSUE OF CREATE. SCAN THEM WITH YOUR QR READER OR SMARTPHONE FOR BONUS CONTENT.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

03-05_EA49_Dec19_Contents_2.indd 5 21/11/19 1:21 pm INSIGHT

006 FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT & THE CEO

Celebrating our engineering heroes

ENGINEERING HEROES CAN COME IN ALL SHAPES AND ȟȶɁʥȢǉǁǼǉƃȶǁȈǁǉƃɰӗƃȶǁɰʍɥɥɁɨɽȈȶǼ SIZES, FROM FAMOUS NAMES TO FAMILY FRIENDS. ƺɁȢȢǉƃǼʍǉɰӗʥǉƺƃȶƃȢȢƺȃƃȶǼǉɽȃǉ ʥɁɨȢǁǹɁɨɽȃǉɥǉɁɥȢǉƃɨɁʍȶǁʍɰә “Who is your engineering hero?” ŚǉȃƃʤǉʍɰǉǁɁʍɨ:ǉȶɽǉȶƃɨʰʰǉƃɨ That’s one question we asked 100 ƃɰƃɥȢƃɽǹɁɨȴɽɁȃȈǼȃȢȈǼȃɽɽȃǉʤƃȢʍǉ ȴǉȴƹǉɨɰɥɨɁˎȢǉǁɁȶɁʍɨ:ǉȶɽǉȶƃɨʰ ƺƃɨǉǉɨƃɽ{KӗƹǉǹɁɨǉԄɨǉɽȈɨȈȶǼԅȈȶіўљњ ɁǹɽȃǉǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼƺɁȴȴʍȶȈɽʰɁǹ website, 100yearsea.com.au. ɽɁƹǉƺɁȴǉȴǉɨȈƺƃԇɰˎɨɰɽǹǉȴƃȢǉ today and our proud engineering {ǉȶǉɨƃȢ°ɁȃȶÃɁȶƃɰȃӗʥȃɁʥǉ ɥɨɁǹǉɰɰɁɨɁǹǉȢǉƺɽɨȈƺƃȢǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼӝ heritage under the theme “Anything pay tribute to in these pages, was ÃǉȴƹǉɨɰƃȢɰɁȶɁȴȈȶƃɽǉǁƃǁȈʤǉɨɰǉ ȈɰɥɁɰɰȈƹȢǉԅӝ ɁȶǉɁǹɽȃǉȴɁɰɽɥɁɥʍȢƃɨƺȃɁȈƺǉɰӗȈȶ ƃɨɨƃʰɁǹɥɨɁȴȈȶǉȶɽȈȶǁȈʤȈǁʍƃȢɰӴɥƃɰɽ ǹʰɁʍԇɨǉɁȶɽȃǉȢɁɁȟɁʍɽǹɁɨƃ ɨǉƺɁǼȶȈɽȈɁȶɁǹȃȈɰȴƃȶʰƃƺȃȈǉʤǉȴǉȶɽɰ ƃȶǁɥɨǉɰǉȶɽӴƃɰǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼȃǉɨɁǉɰӝ Christmas gift for an engineer or ƃɰƃȶǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨӗǉȢǉƺɽɨȈƺƃȢȈȶǁʍɰɽɨʰ ěȃǉɰǉȈȶƺȢʍǁǉǁɥȈɁȶǉǉɨȈȶǼ ƃɰɥȈɨȈȶǼǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨӗɥȢǉƃɰǉƺɁȶɰȈǁǉɨ ɥȈɁȶǉǉɨƃȶǁƺƃɥɽƃȈȶɁǹȈȶǁʍɰɽɨʰӴƃɰ іўɽȃƺǉȶɽʍɨʰKȶǼȢȈɰȃǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨ Ɂʍɨ:ǉȶɽǉȶƃɨʰƺɁǹǹǉǉɽƃƹȢǉƹɁɁȟӗ ʥǉȢȢƃɰȃȈɰɨǉȴƃɨȟƃƹȢǉɨǉƺɁɨǁƃɰƃ ɰƃȴƹƃɨǁ¶ȈȶǼǁɁȴ9ɨʍȶǉȢӗȴǉɨȈƺƃȶ Wonders Never CeaseӗʥȃȈƺȃɽǉȢȢɰɽȃǉ ȴȈȢȈɽƃɨʰƺɁȴȴƃȶǁǉɨӝ ĄǉƃɨǁȴȈɨƃȢ{ɨƃƺǉɁɥɥǉɨӗˎƺɽȈɁȶƃȢ ɰɽɁɨʰɁǹіѕѕʍɰɽɨƃȢȈƃȶǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼ ČǉʤǉɨƃȢȴǉȴƹǉɨɰƃȢɰɁȶɁȴȈȶƃɽǉǁ ěřƺȃƃɨƃƺɽǉɨÃƃƺ{ʰʤǉɨӢƺɁȴɥƃȶʰ ƃƺȃȈǉʤǉȴǉȶɽɰƃȶǁȈɰƃʤƃȈȢƃƹȢǉǹɨɁȴ ɁȶǉɁǹɁʍɨɥǉɨɰɁȶƃȢǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼ ǹɁʍȶǁǉɨČȈɨ°ɁȃȶɁȢȢƃȶǁӗ:ӝťӝ eabooks.com.au. ȃǉɨɁǉɰӗKǁȈɽȃ:ȢƃɨȟǉӗʥȃɁ100 years Ýԇ:ɁȶȶɁɨɁǹŚǉɰɽǉɨȶʍɰɽɨƃȢȈƃȶ yȈȶƃȢȢʰӗʥǉԇǁȢȈȟǉɽɁɽȃƃȶȟƃȢȢ ago ƹǉƺƃȴǉɽȃǉˎɨɰɽʥɁȴƃȶɽɁǉƃɨȶ ǼɁȢǁˎǉȢǁɰɥȈɥǉȢȈȶǉǹƃȴǉӗɽȃǉČȶɁʥʰ ȴǉȴƹǉɨɰƃȶǁʤɁȢʍȶɽǉǉɨɰǹɁɨɽȃǉȈɨ ȃǉɨȴƃɰɽǉɨԇɰȈȶǉȢǉƺɽɨȈƺƃȢǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼ ÃɁʍȶɽƃȈȶɰČƺȃǉȴǉԇɰŚȈȢȢȈƃȴʍǁɰɁȶӗ ɰʍɥɥɁɨɽȈȶїѕіўƃȶǁʥȈɰȃʰɁʍƃ ʥɁȶǁǉɨǹʍȢǹǉɰɽȈʤǉɰǉƃɰɁȶƃȶǁƃɥɥʰ Çǉʥťǉƃɨә “Many of our members also celebrated more everyday engineers as heroes: parents, grandparents and family friends who introduced them to the profession.”

ƃɽɽȃǉɥɨǉɰɽȈǼȈɁʍɰÃƃɰɰƃƺȃʍɰǉɽɽɰ ěǉɰȢƃԇɰKȢɁȶÃʍɰȟӗƃȶǁÃƃɨǼƃɨǉɽ ȶɰɽȈɽʍɽǉɁǹěǉƺȃȶɁȢɁǼʰә ƃȴȈȢɽɁȶӗʥȃɁǁǉʤǉȢɁɥǉǁɽȃǉ AǉɰɥȈɽǉɽȃǉɧʍƃȢȈˎƺƃɽȈɁȶӗ:Ȣƃɨȟǉ ɁȶƹɁƃɨǁɰɁǹɽʥƃɨǉǹɁɨÇČԇɰɥɁȢȢɁ ȈȶȈɽȈƃȢȢʰɰɽɨʍǼǼȢǉǁɽɁǼǉɽƃȚɁƹȈȶ ɰɥƃƺǉɥɨɁǼɨƃȴӝ ȃǉɨˎǉȢǁƃȶǁɽɁɁȟƃɥɁɰȈɽȈɁȶƃɽ ɁʥǉʤǉɨӗȴƃȶʰɁǹɁʍɨȴǉȴƹǉɨɰ {ǉȶǉɨƃȢKȢǉƺɽɨȈƺӯ{KӰǹɁɨʥȃȈƺȃɰȃǉ ƃȢɰɁƺǉȢǉƹɨƃɽǉǁȴɁɨǉǉʤǉɨʰǁƃʰ ʥƃɰʤƃɰɽȢʰɁʤǉɨɧʍƃȢȈˎǉǁӖɰʍɥǉɨʤȈɰȈȶǼ ǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨɰƃɰȃǉɨɁǉɰӖɥƃɨǉȶɽɰӗ ȃʍȴƃȶԄƺɁȴɥʍɽǉɨɰԅӝ ǼɨƃȶǁɥƃɨǉȶɽɰƃȶǁǹƃȴȈȢʰǹɨȈǉȶǁɰʥȃɁ Undeterred, she used her spare ȈȶɽɨɁǁʍƺǉǁɽȃǉȴɽɁɽȃǉɥɨɁǹǉɰɰȈɁȶӢ ɽȈȴǉɽɁȈȶʤǉȶɽƃȶǁɥƃɽǉȶɽƃǼɨƃɥȃȈƺƃȢ ɰƺȃɁɁȢɽǉƃƺȃǉɨɰƃȶǁʍȶȈʤǉɨɰȈɽʰ ƺƃȢƺʍȢƃɽɁɨɽȃƃɽƺɁʍȢǁɰɁȢʤǉǉɧʍƃɽȈɁȶɰ ȢǉƺɽʍɨǉɨɰӢƺɁȢȢǉƃǼʍǉɰƃȶǁɥǉǉɨɰӢ ɨǉȢƃɽȈȶǼɽɁǉȢǉƺɽɨȈƺƃȢɽɨƃȶɰȴȈɰɰȈɁȶȢȈȶǉɰ mentors and managers.

іѕɽȈȴǉɰǹƃɰɽǉɨɽȃƃȶɥɨǉʤȈɁʍɰȴǉɽȃɁǁɰӝ As our Centenary year draws to a Trish White Dr Bronwyn Evans {KȢƃɽǉɨɨǉȢǉȶɽǉǁӗƃɥɥɁȈȶɽȈȶǼȃǉɨ ƺȢɁɰǉӗʥǉԇǁȢȈȟǉɽɁƺƃȢȢɁȶƃȢȢɁǹʰɁʍɽɁ FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER Hon FIEAust CPEng EngExec FTSE ɽɁƃȶǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼɨɁȢǉȈȶіўїїӝ:Ȣƃɨȟǉ ǁɁǉʤǉɨʰɽȃȈȶǼʰɁʍƺƃȶɽɁƹǉɁȶǉɁǹ APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus), NER APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus), National President Ǎǒƭǅ/ɠƭƟɃȻǒɚƭǅ˴ƟƭȦ ʥǉȶɽɁȶɽɁǉȶȚɁʰƃȢɁȶǼƃȶǁɰʍƺƺǉɰɰǹʍȢ these engineering heroes. nationalpresident@ bevans@ 9ʰȴǉȶɽɁɨȈȶǼɁɽȃǉɨɰӗɽƃȢȟȈȶǼ engineersaustralia.org.au engineersaustralia.org.au about the amazing things we do in ɁʍɨɥɨɁǹǉɰɰȈɁȶӗʤɁȢʍȶɽǉǉɨȈȶǼӗɰȃƃɨȈȶǼ

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

06-07_EA49_Dec19_Letters.indd 6 21/11/19 12:52 pm YOUR SAY

007 DEBATE AND DISCUSSION FROM CREATE’S READERS

modern Tarcoola to Darwin sections, is inappropriate. For example, the article states that “very little was done by way of surveying and gathering information”. For Tarcoola to Darwin, considerable aerial surveying, Back on track mapping with 2 m contour intervals, ǼɨɁʍȶǁɰʍɨʤǉʰɰӗˎǉȢǁɽɨȈɥɰӗȃʰǁɨɁȢɁǼʰӗ The article entitled “Going the geological and soil testing was done. distance” on the Tarcoola to Darwin A comprehensive environmental railway in the September edition impact statement study, including of create lumps three construction consultation with Aboriginal projects into one and brings the communities and pastoralists, engineering down to the lowest was undertaken. common denominator — i.e., the The assertion is that “the stretch original Ghan line. between Adelaide and Darwin is The three parts of these lines are: quite inert” is factually incorrect. The original Ghan railway from Port Gilgal soils, which are as bad as the Augusta via Quorn and Oodnadatta black soils in Queensland, are found ɽɁȢȈƺǉČɥɨȈȶǼɰӝěȃǉˎɨɰɽɰǉƺɽȈɁȶ along the route. opened in 1879, with the extension There was a detailed geological welcomes to Alice Springs opening in 1929. investigation using leading feedback from The much newer Tarcoola to Alice technology into sinkholes undertaken the community Springs line, which was opened prior to construction. in 1980. The article also compares the ěȃǉˎȶƃȢɰǉƺɽȈɁȶǹɨɁȴȢȈƺǉ Ghan, a long-distance passenger Springs to Darwin, which was train, pulled by NR class locos with opened in 2003. 22 t axle load (the article states 15 t axle load), with short distance heavy haul railroads of up to 40 t “Given the technology axle loads. This is not a relevant comparison as of the time and the each operation is designed according to the commercial needs. environment, it should not The comparison of the rate of construction in Australia with reﬂ ect on the integrity of 3.1 people per square km, with the development of high–speed trains in the pioneering engineers.“ China where there are 145 people per square km, beggars belief. Most of the comments in this article seem to apply to the T. S. CALVER original Ghan railway, which had many MIE Aust (Retired) ɥɨɁƹȢǉȴɰʥȈɽȃːɁɁǁȈȶǼӗɰƃȶǁǁɨȈǹɽӗǉɽƺӝ For this old narrow-gauge line, CORRECTION these comments may generally be The article, ‘Too close for comfort’”, which correct, but given the technology appeared in the October 2019 issue of createӗɰƃȈǁɽȃƃɽƃɨɽȈˎƺȈƃȢʥȃȈɰȟǉɨ of the time and the environment, technology developed at the University of it is understandable and should Queensland was able to measure forces ȶɁɽɨǉːǉƺɽɁȶɽȃǉȈȶɽǉǼɨȈɽʰɁǹɽȃǉ ɁǹјӝјÇӝěȃǉƺɁɨɨǉƺɽˎǼʍɨǉȈɰјӝјՎÇӝ pioneering engineers. To apply the same comments and generalisations to the much more

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

06-07_EA49_Dec19_Letters.indd 7 21/11/19 12:53 pm Remediate your infrastructure without disrupting your day to day operations.

Mainmark’s unique methods provide cost-effective, time-efficient solutions. We re-level and re-support sea ports, concrete slabs, pavements, airports, railways, bridge approaches, stacker-reclaimer rails, highways, culverts, buildings HUKTHU`V[OLYZ[Y\J[\YLZ>LZ[YLUN[OLUHUKZ[HIPSPZL^LHRNYV\UKÄSSOVSLZ and voids, and revitalise ageing concrete and steel infrastructure – helping to ensure you have a safe, functioning environment.

For an obligation free, expert opinion contact us 1800 623 312 | www.mainmark.com

Leaders in Advanced Ground Engineering and Asset Preservation Technologies.

08-09_EA49_Dec19_News_Warman_2.indd 8 20/11/19 1:27 pm NEWS 009 FUTURE THINKING | NEW TECHNOLOGY

Saving the world THE 32ND ANNUAL WARMAN DESIGN AND BUILD COMPETITION ONCE AGAIN CALLED UPON STUDENTS TO USE THEIR CREATIVITY TO AVERT (FICTIONAL) DISASTER.

ENGINEERS ARE often called Since 1988, the competition has students Juan Robertson and upon to solve problems big and asked mechanical engineering Kynan Wright. small. But the disaster facing students to use their design talents Wright tells create that he and Gondwana, a small planet on the to solve a challenge facing the Robertson focused on reliability in edge of the galaxy, could have trouble-prone Gondwanans. their design. destroyed its entire world. This year, teams were tasked “We wanted to build something An imminent meteor shower with devising an autonomous that would work almost every threatened to rupture a toxic system that could transfer 20 time, which is not only good waste storage site, creating an spherical storage vessels — plastic engineering practice for the environmental catastrophe. balls 6.5 cm in diameter — from a scenario, but also gave us a good Standing between Gondwana rectangular ‘ocean compound’ to a shot at the competition,” he says. TOP: The winning and oblivion were engineering separate ‘inland compound’. University of “The day of competition went students from the Asia-Pacifi c who The transfer had to take place Auckland team, surprisingly well; we’d done a lot answered the call for help. within 60 seconds — the quicker with University of of testing the previous day, so we Monash, Malaysia Gondwana is fi ctional, but the the better — and the entire system (second, left) felt confi dent in the reliability of students are real; 17 teams from had to weigh less than 6 kg. and University our robot.” Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia This year, a two-person team of Canterbury Robertson says the team’s (third, right). and Singapore competed in the from the University of Auckland INSET: Robertson testing increased its odds, but a fi nal of the 32nd annual Warman claimed victory with a device that accepts the prize. drive to optimisation could also Design and Build Competition, held got the job done in seven seconds. lead to unintended consequences. in Sydney in October. The team consisted of fi rst-year “You make one thing better and it has fl ow-on eff ects to other components that you could never “WE’D DONE A LOT OF TESTING THE have envisaged,” he tells create. PREVIOUS DAY, SO WE FELT CONFIDENT IN “You change one thing, then you change everything.” THE RELIABILITY OF OUR ROBOT.” JONATHAN BRADLEY

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

08-09_EA49_Dec19_News_Warman_2.indd 9 20/11/19 1:28 pm NEWS

010 Fighting

BAE SYSTEMS’ NIGEL 1.5 billion pounds ($2.8 billion) He recently made his first WHITEHEAD HAS PLENTY of research and development visit to Australia in his current OF EXPERIENCE, BUT spending over ﬁve years. role, with the local arm of BAE WHEN IT COMES TO Asked how he stays on beginning prototyping of the DEFENCE, HIS EYE IS top of his brief, Whitehead Hunter Class under the $35 billion FIRMLY ON THE FUTURE. answers in terms of his lengthy Future Frigate program next year. experience in his industry — from Construction will begin in 2022. AFTER NEARLY four decades apprentice to aerodynamicist During his trip, Whitehead in the defence industry, Nigel and beyond — while keeping a visited sites in which the local Whitehead, Chief Technology relentless curiosity and being team of 4100 is involved in Officer (CTO) at BAE Systems able to draw on a network of efforts such as the Hunter Class, retains a youthful exuberance for expert advice. the Jindalee Operational Radar his work. “You end up in a position Network, various autonomous “I actually look at the world where you start assimilating system projects, and the fit through the eyes of a 25-year-old,” information, you build a mental celebrated Nulka program. he tells create. model of how things work, and Nulka came out of the “I think I’m a youngster and it’s you are constantly seeking to Defence Science and Technology only when people stopped telling do things better, and you’re Organisation in the 1970s and me how young I am to do the constantly seeking to understand was developed in the 1980s. job I do that I realise that I’m no what’s going on,” he explains. Production for the Australian longer that 25-year-old.” “If you’re curious by nature, all and US navies began the Exuberance aside, defence is that stuff comes quite naturally. following decade. a serious business. What is made “And the people I work with It involves solid fuel rockets is literal life-and-death stuff, and on a daily basis are some of the that autonomously launch, hover, the history of warfare is one of finest minds in defence. Certainly, and lure incoming anti-ship disruptive technology. some of the finest minds in the missiles away from their target. Whitehead points out examples: world. As a network, we inform Today Nulka is Australia’s most the long-bow, the machine gun, the each other.” successful defence export, with tank and so forth each delivered a Whitehead lived in Australia more than $1 billion in sales to battle-winning advantage. for three-and-a-half years from Canada and the US. Anticipating and creating 1998 — in Adelaide and then in Flight control expertise from tomorrow’s technology is a key Newcastle — and was responsible the Nulka team out of Melbourne part of the CTO portfolio, including for delivery of the Hawk lead-in has been highly useful across knowing where and how to deploy fighter for training RAAF pilots. other programs, says Whitehead.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

10-11_EA49_Dec19_News_BAE+Student.indd 10 20/11/19 2:03 pm 011

NEXT GEN VOICES

WHO: MEG CUMMINS WHAT: BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING ӭÝÇÝĩĄČӮӭČ:Ý¸ĄČӮ ӭ:ř¸ӮӭKÇřĄÝÇÃKÇě¸Ӯ WHERE:ĩÇřKĄČěťÝy WOLLONGONG

OPPOSITE: What is the value of your Computer engineering degree to you? illustration of BAE Systems’ SABRE I have learnt how to test engine. THIS problem-solve, pitch and sell “That team was also working PAGE: The Nulka my ideas, and implement decoy. INSET as part of a company group (from left): BAE’s ɥɨɁȚǉƺɽɰɽȃƃɽǁȈɨǉƺɽȢʰȈȶːʍǉȶƺǉ on autonomous systems and Natalie Waldie, ɽȃǉƺɁȴȴʍȶȈɽʰӝɽȃƃɰƃȢȢɁʥǉǁ has therefore developed and Ed Muthiah, Nigel ȴǉɽɁɥʍɽȴʰǁɨǉƃȴɰɁǹ Whitehead. then perfected an expertise “saving the world” into for a number of Australian ɽƃȶǼȈƹȢǉɁʍɽƺɁȴǉɰӝ programs which were run in the early 2000s to develop the What would be your methodology for autonomous ideal job? aircraft,” he says. ʥɁʍȢǁȢɁʤǉɽɁƹǉɽȃǉɥɨɁȚǉƺɽ One disruption the future lead on a United Nations could bring is in the area of ȃʍȴƃȶȈɽƃɨȈƃȶǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼ hypersonics, which have gained a “THE PEOPLE I WORK project to deliver clean water lot of attention in recent years. and sanitation to remote BAE has been developing WITH ON A DAILY BASIS ǁǉʤǉȢɁɥȈȶǼƺɁʍȶɽɨȈǉɰӝ hypersonic railguns in the US for some time. In 2015 it acquired ARE SOME OF THE FINEST Who is one engineer you a strategic stake in Reaction MINDS IN DEFENCE.” most admire? Engines, an English company I am completely inspired developing a spaceplane. ƹʰAɨÃƃɨȢǉȶǉ¶ƃȶǼƃӝ “The reality is that speed might What he is certain of, however, ČȃǉȈɰƃɥɁʥǉɨȃɁʍɰǉʥȃɁ be the new stealth: get there is that this is a hell of a time to be ɰʍɥɥɁɨɽɰƃȶǁǉȴɥɁʥǉɨɰ quickly, do what you need to do, starting a career as an engineer. women in engineering and get back quickly,” Whitehead says. “With ubiquitous sensors ȈɰƃȶƃǁʤɁƺƃɽǉǹɁɨǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨɰ “Equally, if we are going to and digital enablement of changing the world! counter some of the potential the design process we’re in a threats we see from others who position where our products can What draws you to are developing that capability, talk to us and tell us what it’s like humanitarian engineering? it will be a case of fighting fire to be used by their operators, ÝǹɽǉȶӗȈȶǉȴǉɨǼǉȶƺȈǉɰӗɽȃǉ with fire. You probably have to and with the smart design ʥɁɨȢǁɨʍɰȃǉɰɽɁɥɨɁʤȈǁǉȈȶȈɽȈƃȢ have something hypersonic to processes, we have the smart ƃȈǁӢȃɁʥǉʤǉɨӗɽȃǉɨǉƹʍȈȢǁ intercept something hypersonic.” way of folding in operating and and recovery is not as heavily It is not certain what this operational data into that design,” ɰʍɥɥɁɨɽǉǁӝʍȴƃȶȈɽƃɨȈƃȶ era’s equivalent of the long-bow, he says. ǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼʥɁɨȟɰɽɁɰʍɥɥɁɨɽ machine gun or tank will be. “We are developing things ɽȃǉƺɁȴȴʍȶȈɽȈǉɰɽȃɨɁʍǼȃ Whitehead concedes that his job that are more usable, more ǉǁʍƺƃɽȈɁȶƃȶǁȈȶǹɨƃɰɽɨʍƺɽʍɨǉӝ is to more or less place bets on effective and higher performing what is going to be important. His than you’ve ever been able to Read the full interview hit rate is never perfect, but it has achieve before.” at bit.ly/MCummins improved over the years. BRENT BALINSKI

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

10-11_EA49_Dec19_News_BAE+Student.indd 11 20/11/19 2:03 pm NEWS

012

The right track

SAAD KHAN’S INNOVATIVE SOFTWARE HELPED ONE RAIL ENGINEERING COMPANY DRASTICALLY IMPROVE ITS APPROACH TO ROLLING STOCK MANAGEMENT.

WHEN SAAD Khan’s data Khan says TrainDNA is already raising preventative maintenance analytics platform TrainDNA went changing jobs within Downer. work orders.” live earlier this year, it became One example is the company’s Downer has also expressed clear it would change the way fleet operations support officers. interest in Khan’s team exploring assets — and people — operate “That person’s role is to the field of robotics. across Downer forever. basically be the first point of “Is there a world where trains TrainDNA is software designed contact for any crew who operate can do stuff by themselves?,” to anticipate the need for the train to say, ‘hey look, there’s Khan says. “All those questions maintenance on trains before a something that looks like it’s are being asked of us in the team failure occurs that affects service. wrong with the train’,” Khan says. Are you an to explore and innovate.” It was developed by Khan and “Essentially that role used innovative engineer MICHELLE WHEELER his team over two years and went to be predominantly waiting or know someone live in March. for something to go wrong who is? Register Khan, who was named among and then raising corrective your interest at create’s Most Innovative Engineers maintenance work orders. bit.ly/InnovativeEng for 2019, says the team trained This person is now actually for the Most some people to use TrainDNA going to get a whole heap of Innovative Engineer with existing facilities. information that’s going to come listing. create will “But we also recognised that from the train. And instead of call for nominations this actually warrants a bigger raising corrective maintenance in January 2020. change to the business,” he work orders they’re going to be says. “Not just some nice new dashboards.” To that end, the company’s rolling stock services unit built Innovation junction an integrated operating centre, which launched this past April. Saad Khan (pictured) was just 28 when he joined Downer, taking on the TrainDNA project It’s a central hub that seats in 2017. In developing TrainDNA, he managed multiple teams spread across Australia, long-term and short-term including partnerships with universities and local businesses. One of the challenges in planners, managing multiple implementing the “behemoth of a project” was to bring a new CEO along for the journey. assets, over multiple sites, from Khan brought together data scientists and software developers from around the country the one location. to go through the story of the project with the executive leadership team. He also rolled TrainDNA is one of the out progressive training to key users, who championed the software within the business. core tools being used within the centre.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

12-13_EA49_Dec19_News_SaadKhan2_2.indd 12 20/11/19 5:09 pm Engineering Insurance specialists.

• Advice & solutions tailored to your risks

• Highly experienced advisers to help you navigate the complexities of insurance

• Access to exclusive insurance markets

• We advocate for you in the event of a claim

Find out more at enginsure.com.au

1300 854 251 [email protected]

Licensee: Whitbread Associates Pty Ltd trading as EngInsure Insurance & Risk Services ABN 69 005 490 228 | AFSL 229 092

12-13_EA49_Dec19_News_SaadKhan2_2.indd 13 20/11/19 2:04 pm WHAT’S ONLINE

014 READ ABOUT THE LATEST TRENDS, INNOVATIONS AND PEOPLE SHAPING THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION AT: createdigital.org.au

CONVERSATION TRENDING TOPICS STARTERS SOME OF OUR MOST-READ STORIES HERE’S WHAT YOU’VE BEEN LIKING, ONLINE ARE: SHARING AND COMMENTING ON: 1190 01 LIKES

Mandatory engineers registration has 2993 passed in Victoria. CLICKS What happens now? 02 342 COMMENTS

Student wins international award for a simple solution to providing safe 1152 drinking water LIKES 03 13,825 CLICKS Engineers are building a hybrid vehicle that doesn’t cost 269 the earth. COMMENTS Get more of the latest engineering news: createdigital.org.au

Scan this code with your smartphone to AN ENGINEERING head to Engineers Australia’s EA Xchange. http://bit.ly/ COMMUNITY ONLINE EAXchangeforum ěȃǉʥǉƹȃƃɰȴƃǁǉȈɽǉƃɰȈǉɨɽȃƃȶǉʤǉɨɽɁƺɁȶȶǉƺɽʥȈɽȃɥǉǉɨɰӗˎȶǁ resources and get answers to questions on almost any topic under the sun. Bringing these functions together in one place for Australia’s engineers is the aim of a new online platform launched by Engineers Australia. EA Xchange, available to Engineers Australia members and volunteers, makes it easy for engineers around the country to connect with others, exchange ideas and share relevant resources.

EngineersAustralia @create_digital_ linkedin.com/company/ engaustralia engineers-australia/

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

14-15_EA49_Dec19_WhatsOnline_2.indd 14 20/11/19 2:08 pm 14-15_EA49_Dec19_WhatsOnline_2.indd 15 20/11/19 2:08 pm EDUCATION

016

ADVANCED

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

16-21_EA49_Dec19_EZone2_2.indd 16 20/11/19 2:08 pm 017

WORDS BY NICHOLAS BRANT

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA IS PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON NEW AND REFURBISHED FACILITIES THAT WILL SERVE AS A HOME FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS.

ISITORS TO the University of Western Australia V (UWA) would be hard put not to notice the extensive works taking place on the western edge of the Crawley campus. The work is the culmination of many years of effort to update facilities to benefit staff and students across the Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, including physics and computer sciences. The build represents the PICTURED: UWA’s EZONE facility from physical aspect of the EZONE the west (opposite) project, with ‘E’ representing and east (top left). education, entrepreneurship, RIGHT: Artist’s impression of the excitement, and engagement. interior. BELOW: The project contains three John Dell. new science laboratories and 11 flexible teaching spaces to accommodate 150 research structure comprising an 8 m2 students across a fully refurbished reaction floor with a 5 m long, 5 m building and an entirely new building multidisciplinary teams high, 1 m thick concrete element. adjacent building. early on in their careers because “The wall will be bolted Together, the buildings will be that is how you achieve a lot of between two static structural able to accommodate up to 1500 solutions in the industry.” supports and sit on a large people at any one time. UWA Project Manager Merv concrete base and it will UWA Executive Dean of the Shortt says the new Structures allow students to recreate an Faculty of Engineering and Laboratory embodies the key earthquake environment on a Mathematical Sciences Professor themes of EZONE. commercial scale and test the John Dell tells create that the The outside structure is wall’s ability to bend and twist facility’s primary design principle entirely glass, enabling anyone, and manipulate changes,” he says. is connection. be they staff, student or general “The Reaction Wall will be “Physically, each building will public, to observe the work going only one of four in the country be connected with walkways, but on inside, Shortt says. and it will arguably be the most they also have a lot of glass walls “It is quite cathedral-like, with advanced one.” and doorways to enable everyone high ceilings, as we don’t know UWA School of Civil and to observe the work going on how future students will want to Resource Engineering Deputy around them across different utilise the space, so we have tried Head Professor Barry Lehane says disciplines,” he says. “With to future-proof the facility as much the Structures Lab will enable students from so many different as possible so they can bring in large student groups to engage in fields working closely, we hope it as much equipment as they can hands-on experimental projects. will inspire a team environment possibly imagine,” he tells create. “The Strong Floor and and impart the importance of Standing on the lab’s first floor Reaction Wall will facilitate balcony, Shortt gestures to the the application of vertical and foundations for the Reaction Wall, which will be a 300 t concrete

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

16-21_EA49_Dec19_EZone2_2.indd 17 21/11/19 1:29 pm EDUCATION

018

lateral loading of instrumented large-scale components employed in civil, mechanical and mining engineering,” he says. “This facility will initially be employed to test new materials currently being developed under a variety of loading conditions.”

MAKING WAVES Nearby, the new Hydrodynamic Laboratory is taking shape featuring the same ‘cathedral-like’ principles and high ceilings and will contain state-of-the-art technology. UWA Oceans Graduate School Associate Professor Nicole Jones says the facilities will help students Future facilities gain an intuitive understanding of The refitted building blends ﬂ uid motions before they learn the the old with the new by exposing Edith Cowan University has almost

underlying equations. old supporting columns and ABOVE: The ˎȶȈɰȃǉǁǉʯɥƃȶǁȈȶǼȈɽɰǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼ “The new technology means incorporating them as an University of ǹƃƺȈȢȈɽȈǉɰʥȈɽȃɽȃǉƺɁȴɥȢǉɽȈɁȶɁǹƃ they can better visualise the architectural feature. Melbourne’s ǹɁʍɨӸȢǉʤǉȢƹʍȈȢǁȈȶǼɽȃƃɽȈȶƺȢʍǁǉɰ Fishermen’s Bend 2 fluid motion for the various campus. BELOW: 2700 m ɁǹːɁɁɨɰɥƃƺǉʥȈɽȃɰǉʤǉȶ experiments we undertake in INDUSTRY LINKS Merv Shortt. state-of-the-art laboratories. fluid transport, mixing and Woodside and BHP are major ěȃǉȶǉʥԤїњȴȈȢȢȈɁȶƹʍȈȢǁȈȶǼ dispersion,” she says. “Many of sponsors of EZONE, with ȈȶƺȢʍǁȈȶǼˎɽɽȈȶǼӸɁʍɽǉʯȈɰɽȈȶǼ the motions we want to study in engineers from both companies ǹƃƺȈȢȈɽȈǉɰʥȈȢȢɰʍɥɥɁɨɽȶǉʥ are quite small in both length and expected to benefit from a ɽǉƃƺȃȈȶǼƃȶǁɨǉɰǉƃɨƺȃɥɨɁǼɨƃȴɰӗ time scales and so upgrading the dedicated industry space being ɥƃɨɽȈƺʍȢƃɨȢʰȈȶɽȃǉˎǉȢǁɁǹ visualisation and measurement established in the refurbished part ĀǉɽɨɁȢǉʍȴKȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼӝ techniques will aid the students’ of the precinct. ÃǉƃȶʥȃȈȢǉӗȈȶřȈƺɽɁɨȈƃӗɽȃǉ ĩȶȈʤǉɨɰȈɽʰɁǹÃǉȢƹɁʍɨȶǉȈɰȢƃʰȈȶǼ the foundations for its $80 million “WE DON’T KNOW HOW FUTURE STUDENTS WILL WANT yȈɰȃǉɨȴǉȶԇɰ9ǉȶǁƺƃȴɥʍɰӗʥȃȈƺȃ ʥȈȢȢƹǉǁǉʤɁɽǉǁɽɁǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨȈȶǼƃȶǁ TO UTILISE THE SPACE, SO WE HAVE TRIED TO ǁǉɰȈǼȶǁȈɰƺȈɥȢǉɰӝ FUTURE-PROOF THE FACILITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.” ČɥɨǉƃǁƃƺɨɁɰɰќӝїȃƃӗɽȃǉ ɥɨǉƺȈȶƺɽʥȈȢȢȃɁɰɽȢƃɨǼǉӸɰƺƃȢǉ ǉʯɥǉɨȈȴǉȶɽƃȢǹƃƺȈȢȈɽȈǉɰӗȈȶƺȢʍǁȈȶǼ understanding of important UWA Associate Dean of ɁȶǉɁǹɽȃǉʥɁɨȢǁԇɰȢƃɨǼǉɰɽ processes such as turbulence.” Teaching and Learning Dianne ʥȈȶǁӸʥƃʤǉɽƃȶȟɰǹɁɨɰȈȴʍȢƃɽȈȶǼ Shortt leads us to the Hesterman says they wanted ɁƺǉƃȶɰӗƃɥɨǉɰɰʍɨȈɰǉǁʥȈȶǁɽʍȶȶǉȢ refurbished building across the the space to be as flexible as ǹɁɨɽǉɰɽȈȶǼȶǉʥƃǉɨɁǁʰȶƃȴȈƺ ﬁ rst-ﬂ oor walkway that traverses possible to allow activities in the ǁǉɰȈǼȶƃȶǁƃɽǉɰɽȈȶǼǹƃƺȈȢȈɽʰǹɁɨ what will become the new Western building to evolve over time and autonomous systems. Entrance to the Crawley campus for future students and industry ěȃǉʍȶȈʤǉɨɰȈɽʰɥȢƃȶɰɽɁʍɰǉɽȃǉ and points to the bridge pods. collaborators to be able to adapt ɥɨǉƺȈȶƺɽƃɰƃȢȈʤȈȶǼȢƃƹɁɨƃɽɁɨʰʥȈɽȃ “We are leaving exposed two the space to their needs. ƃȶȈȶɽǉǼɨƃɽǉǁǉȶǉɨǼʰɰʰɰɽǉȴʤȈɨɽʍƃȢ sets of bridge pods, one set acting The university has long had ɥɁʥǉɨɥȢƃȶɽɽȃƃɽƺʍɽɰǉȴȈɰɰȈɁȶɰ in compression while the other set industry experts supervising ƃȶǁȴƃȶƃǼǉɰǉȶǉɨǼʰʍɰǉӝ acts in tension,” he says. “This is projects and teaching into units, ČɽƃǼǉіʥȈȢȢƹǉɨǉƃǁʰǹɁɨɽȃǉїѕїљ a basic output of the construction Hesterman says. ƃƺƃǁǉȴȈƺʰǉƃɨӗʥȈɽȃɽȃǉƺƃȴɥʍɰɽɁ process, so it shows students how “But for the first time we ƹǉǹʍȢȢʰǁǉʤǉȢɁɥǉǁƹʰїѕјїӝ to be more adventurous with can now offer a dedicated space designs by utilising compression for industry representatives to and tension principles.” work intensively with students for an extended period of time,” she says.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

16-21_EA49_Dec19_EZone2_2.indd 18 20/11/19 2:08 pm Victoria University (VU) is tackling the gender gap 4*Ȃ -$)"*( )$)$ ) С)"$) -$)" Ѱ ѱ+-*"-(я$).+$-$)"!0/0- " ) -/$*). *!2*( )/*#**. - -$).$ ) я / #)*'*"4я )"$) -$)"*-(/# (/$.ю

“Towards the end of my degree I was accepted into an employer graduate program.

I’m now a principal sustainability consultant and team leader at AECOM, leading a team of eight.”

Sian Willmott Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Architectural Engineering)

Take the next step in your career with a /$*)!-*(юݦ$'0, /0 -"/.*+

*0/(*- ѐ ݦ)* vu.edu.au/study-engineering

$/*-$)$1 -.$/4я *юТТУФЦ Ѱ '*0-) ѱяТФЦЩЧѰ4 ) 4ѱяХУУХ

16-21_EA49_Dec19_EZone2_2.indd 19 20/11/19 2:08 pm While few would argue that the ultimate goal of achieving ZERO FATALITIES and ZERO SERIOUS / PERMANENT INJURIES on our roads should be the only target to aim for, achieving that goal will undoubtedly require signiﬁcant effort and investment on behalf of all stakeholders – especially given the current state of the nation’s road toll. It’s also clear that achieving that goal will require much more than increased levels of enforcement activities and/or improved driver education.

L1B6-A2_1I_nEnAov4a9t_ioDne Tc1o9w_aErdZso nZe2ro__2D.inPdSd_ 2 210x275+5mm.indd 2-3 20/11/19 2:08 pm 12/11/19 2:28 pm Together with driver behaviour and enforcement, it has supplied the ﬁrst tension wire rope barrier system into long been recognised - both in Australia and internationally Australia in 1991), LB Australia has been responsible for the - that factors including vehicle safety, traffic management introduction of a wide range world-renowned road safety and the quality and design of road network infrastructure technologies, including: are all critical factors in reducing the road toll. Indeed, the European Commission’s ‘Vision Zero’ policy framework • BASYC motorcycle crash barrier; highlights the importance of implementing a “Safe System” • BARRIACEL motorcycle crash attenuating device; with core elements including safe road use, safe vehicles • JEROL frangible posts and columns; and safe infrastructure. • SMART CUSHION speed dependent crash attenuator; Needless to say, the term ‘safe infrastructure’ also extends and most recently to the design and performance capabilities of roadside • DOLRE low stress parapet system. furniture and safety infrastructure including barriers, fences, crash cushions and other safety equipment. What’s more, as the exclusive Australian partner of In keeping with this Safe System approach to road internationally renowned Finite Element (FE) modelling network infrastructure, LB Australia Pty Ltd has been specialists GD Tech Engineering, LB Australia - through its leading the way in the provision of world-leading road sister company if3 - continues to test and develop specialist safety equipment and technologies for over 35 years. From road safety solutions speciﬁcally for the Australian road its earliest work in wire rope safety barriers (LB Australia network.

“We’ve always recognised the critical role that ‘passive must remain the ultimate genuine goal – and we’ll continue safety’ plays in reducing road trauma,” LB Australia to work with our partners around the globe to develop and Managing Director, Paul Hansen, commented. supply products to help achieve that goal.” “It’s clear from the European example, that when “After all, one fatality on our road network, is one fatality combined with driver education, enforcement and too many,” Paul Hansen concluded. improvements to the road network, passive safety devices such as frangible posts and poles, safety barriers, crash cushions and high performance parapet systems can, and do, play a major role in reducing road trauma,” he said. Not surprisingly, the company’s focus on providing engineered safety solutions to reduce road trauma is reﬂected in its motto ‘INNOVATION TOWARDS ZERO’. “While it is not always possible to eliminate all of the issues involved with driver behaviour, we believe that everything and anything that can be done to help mitigate the risk of fatality or serious injury in the event that a driver does make an error, must be done,” Paul Hansen said. “And while Zero Fatalities and Zero Serious Injuries may seem to be an almost impossible task, we too believe that it

LBA_Innovation Towards Zero_DPS_210x275+5mm.indd 2-3 16-21_EA49_Dec19_EZone2_2.indd 21 1220/11/19 2:208 pm SPORTS ENGINEERING

022

WORDS BY CRIS ANDREWS

ENGINEERS ARE PUTTING SENSORS AND DATA-COLLECTORS INSIDE CRICKET EQUIPMENT, GIVING FANS AN EVEN CLOSER LOOK AT THE GAME. B L EYE ON THE L

RICKET IS the sort of game where people like to try and work out what will A C happen next. That could be the cricket tragic, squabbling with friends and colleagues on the other STATS AND SUNDRIES side of the Tasman about Sports equipment company whether Australia or New Kookaburra hopes to have a new Zealand will win this year’s smart ball on the ﬁ eld for the Boxing Day Test. Big Bash 2020-21 competition, It could be the rival opening although its presence has not been batsmen from those teams conﬁ rmed by Cricket Australia, the thinking about how to avoid sport’s governing body.

150 km/h bouncers from Lockie RIGHT: If it is adopted, a microchip Ferguson and Pat Cummins. Or Kookaburra’s inside the ball would provide the the TV commentator wondering smart ball contains live broadcaster with instant stats sensors that can whether the ball will swing in measure speed after every delivery. the first ever test at the new and spin. That’s speed at release, pre and Perth Stadium, this month, as post-bounce, as well as spin values. much as it used to at the old Current ball-tracking technology WACA ground. uses ﬁ xed stationary radar that To make a decent prediction, sees a speed reading recorded at though, requires information. And the same point regardless of how whereas old stagers will tell you tall the bowler is. that a good eye and a cricket This results in a speed bias brain is all that’s needed to work in favour of a bowler with a things out, these days, people lower release point — for instance, involved in cricket, from changing India’s Jasprit Bumrah. room to armchair, like to use Likewise, the bias works against technology to gather and check taller quicks, like Australia’s their information. current fast bowling attack. To get accurate data means The new Kookaburra ball putting tracking sensors as close relays revolutions from one to the action as possible. viewpoint, which should And you can’t get much closer provide more accurate readings, than on the actual bat and ball. according to electronics engineer Jon Sawdon Smith, who worked on the ball for Jetson

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

22-27_EA49_Dec19_Cricket2_2.indd 22 20/11/19 2:10 pm 2 2 - 2 7 _

E IMAGE: SPORTCOR INDUSTRIES A 4 9 _ D e c 1 9 _ C r i c k e t 2 _ 2 . i n d d

2 3 ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA |DECEMBER2019 2 1 / 1 1 / 1 023 9

1 2 : 5 3 p m SPORTS ENGINEERING

024

a bowler might best take against a particular batter, or speculate about the success of the tactics Industries, one of Kookaburra’s that the bowler actually chooses. technical partners. The nerds would lap it up. about the angle of the backlift “We replaced the traditional and the path of the bat, the cricket ball cork and rubber HIT FOR SIX speed of the bat’s downswing insides with a silicon composite The latest smart bat, Str8bat, is and the speed on impact with that contains the sensor and a being promoted by the legendary the ball. small coin-cell Bluetooth battery,” former Australian batsmen and These are performance Sawdon Smith says. captain, Greg Chappell. metrics that give the batter and “The rechargeable system lasts Since retiring as a player the coach an indication of what for five to eight hours, making it in 1984, Chappell has been a the player needs to do to improve useable in a club game or during commentator, a coach and has their efficiency. training. It is radio-frequency now just retired after a third stint “The sensor captures linear based, not an inductive charge, so as a national selector. and angular motion without the ball needs to be placed five “This technology will eventually cameras,” says Str8bat’s CEO centimetres from the charging be used by broadcasters to help Gagan Daga, an electronics and device, when recharging.” commentators analyse the game,” communications engineer. With a smart ball, TV Chappell says. Daga adds that the sensor broadcasters could see how much “But more immediately, I see can record up to 300 hits in one speed is lost when a fast bowler it as a game-changer in the way go and that it transfers the data, bowls a bouncer or whether a batters train and for the coaches remotely to a computer, tablet, or spinner turns the ball more from who train them.” smartphone. over or around the wicket. Str8bat is a mobile phone-sized “A 3D-gaming engine turns Commentators could make sensor that affixes to the back of a the data into visuals, and suggestions about what approach cricket bat with a Velcro strip. cloud-based analytics enable When a batter goes to hit the deeper scrutiny of the batter’s ball, the sensor records data performance,” he says. Orthodox batting technique recommends that the bat should swing back and forth in a straight “I SEE IT AS A GAME-CHANGER IN THE WAY BATSMEN line with the trajectory of the ball, TRAIN AND FOR THE COACHES WHO TRAIN THEM.”

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

22-27_EA49_Dec19_Cricket2_2.indd 24 20/11/19 2:10 pm 025

Daga adds that the Str8bat technology can isolate the bat’s swing and impact from other movements the batter might Sawdon Smith says that the ball make before or after they hit does behave like a regular ball. the ball. “The inner core is rigid Perhaps some clever pundit or enough to protect the electronics, coach might use it to find a way to but also flexible enough to give get Smith out — short of hitting him when it hits the ground or the on the head. bat,” he says. Maybe they could have a look “We used high-speed cameras at whether Smith does anything to test how the ball compresses different with his bat swing when when it bounces. When a ball is he faces left-arm spinners, the being bowled into the ground at one sort of bowler against whom up to 150 km/h and hit at Smith’s batting stats aren’t in a 70 km/h, that’s a lot of force class of their own. acting on it.” At the prototype stage, TAKING THE CREASE engineers looked at different giving the batter the best possible Both the smart bat and ball have plastics to make the core, Sawdon chance to hit the ball. been tested by their makers. Smith explains, and used different “If your bat’s only on line But Cricket Australia has grades of silicon and silicon momentarily, it’s no wonder you’re said that before the smart ball composites — one that included a nicking a lot of balls [to the wicket could be considered for use in low-density material. keeper or slip] or missing a lot,” professional cricket, it would He adds that the ball hasn’t Chappell says. need further independent testing been tested in water, but he thinks A batsman like Australia’s ABOVE: Jon Sawdon Smith. to make sure it plays like a if someone hits it in a river or it Steve Smith, with all those OPPOSITE: The traditional ball and is unaffected got left out in the rain, the leather movements before and after the Str8bat interface. by its internal mechanisms. would be more likely to break BELOW: The smart ball has been hit, might appear to ball contains than the electronics. contradict this. a sensor and a Daga says that the Str8bat But, for the crucial bit, when Bluetooth battery. sensor is also strong enough to Smith swings the bat back to hit the ball, it comes down straight and in line with the ball. At least that’s what it looks like to the naked eye. Chappell explains that using Str8bat tech, you would know for sure. “I can watch someone bat, picking the bat up at an angle to the gully, or like [former Queensland, Australia, and South Africa batter] Kepler Wessels, who used to tuck the bat in behind him,” he says. “I can see it and try and explain it to a batsman, but they’ll swear black and blue they’re not doing that. And even when you pull the video tape out, they can still deny what they see. [The Str8bat visual] is hard to deny, as it gives you a 3D image of what you’re doing from all the different angles.”

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

22-27_EA49_Dec19_Cricket2_2.indd 25 20/11/19 2:10 pm SPORTS ENGINEERING

026

that not even the most high-tech bat or ball sensor could hope to withstand any vibration from analyse what’s going on. impact but light enough not to In December 1979, Dennis affect the weight or swing of Lillee strode out to bat against the bat. England in a test match at the Chappell sees a time when WACA carrying one of the these sensors will actually aluminium ComBats that he be embedded inside the bat. was promoting for a company Kookaburra has said that the he co-owned. smart ball technology will, in the It wasn’t long before it all future, be able to tell for sure kicked off. Lillee hit one towards whether a batter edges a ball and the boundary, England captain whether low catches have been Mike Brearley complained that

taken cleanly. the bat was damaging the ball, ABOVE (from and, when Greg Chappell, who left): Str8bat CEO his ComBat across the field in a CARRYING THE BAT was Australian skipper that day, Gagan Daga, Greg temper, and grudgingly carried on Chappell, Str8bat Sometimes, however, cricket came out with a wooden bat for Chief Operating with the wooden one. throws up a situation so bizarre Lillee, the great fast bowler flung ÝǹˎƺǉɨĄƃȃʍȢÇƃǼƃɨӝ “The thing was useless anyhow; when you hit the ball it hardly went anywhere,” Chappell recalls. “A 3D-GAMING ENGINE TURNS THE “I’ve got no idea what Dennis thought he was doing.” DATA INTO VISUALS, AND CLOUD-BASED To work that one out, you would ANALYTICS ENABLE DEEPER SCRUTINY OF have probably needed a sensor attached to Lillee’s forehead. THE BATTER’S PERFORMANCE.”

First-class innings

Despite cricket’s obsession with predicting the future, the sport’s best Stokes swung his bat and hit the ball moments are those that appear to when he went into overdrive towards defy prediction. the end of that historic innings. They °ǉǹǹěȃɁȴɰɁȶԇɰˎɨɰɽƹɁʍȶƺǉɨɁǹ ƺɁʍȢǁˎǼʍɨǉɁʍɽʥȃȈƺȃʍɰɽɨƃȢȈƃȶ the 1974-75 Ashes series. Shane bowler he hit the hardest. Warne’s ball-of-the-century against Sensors would record the drop in Mike Gatting in 1993. Ben Stokes’s bat speed and impact force when remarkable match-winning hundred Stokes pushed the ball into the in this past winter’s Ashes Test ɁʍɽˎǉȢǁǹɁɨƃɰƺƃȴɥǉɨǉǁɽʥɁӗƃȶǁɽȃǉ at Headingly. increase, when he hit the ball over the In the future, smart ball and smart fence for six. bat technology would help broadcast They would also be able to see commentators provide instant what happened to the trajectory of feedback to explain moments like the bat when Stokes went for a reverse these to the viewing public. sweep or a switch-hit. Take the Stokes innings. Analysts The smart ball sensor could with the smart bat tech would have indicate what impact the bowler been able to tell how much harder changing his line, or the length, angle or speed of the ball, had on what Stokes tried to do and was able to do.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

22-27_EA49_Dec19_Cricket2_2.indd 26 20/11/19 2:10 pm PROVIDINGPROVIDING SECUIRTY SECURITY Steel Mains is proud to be Australia’s largest manufacturer of Mild Steel pipes for the water industry. We continue to manufacture Sintakote® Steel pipe with manufacturing facilities located in both Victoria and Western Australia. Materials and labour required to manufacture our pipes are sourced locally, ensuring our pipes enjoy greater than 98% local content.

Local stock, delivery and design & installation support mean that Steel Mains is able to reduce all your pipeline supply risks. Local manufacture and product Standardsmark certification provide you with that additional supply security, with all aspects of our manufacturing meeting Australian quality standards. When the lifespan and security of your asset are important to you, Steel Mains Sintakote pipeline systems are your ideal choice for your next pipeline project.

22-27_EA49_Dec19_Cricket2_2.indd 27 20/11/19 2:10 pm COVER STORY

028

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

28-37_EA49_Dec19_Adrian4.indd 28 20/11/19 2:58 pm 2 8 - 3 7 _

E IMAGES: KELLY BARNES A 4 9 and developed engineer.” stead to become awell-rounded but Ithink it’s held me ingood It may not sound very sensible, conscious career decision of mine. tells not necessarily goodat,” Spencer zone, he seeks away outof it. The moment he finds his comfort describes as “counter-intuitive”. WORDS BY A _ D e “I tryto“I take on roles that I’m c FOUNDATIONS 1 9 create _ A d career inamanner he built his engineering DRIAN SPENCER r i CIVIL ENGINEER’S CAREER OFMAKINGTHECOMPLEX LOOK STRAIGHTFORWARD. a AS SPENCERREADIES ADRIAN FOR ANEW CHALLENGE, n 4 . “That’s beena SUSAN MULDOWNEY . i n d d

2 9 has Road Superway. Centre and the $840million South Australia Aquatic and Leisure such as the $100 million South and infrastructure projects, state’s most high-profile buildings been happy to pass them his way. His long-term employer, GHD, has years looking for new challenges. Year in2016,has spent the past 13 Australian Young Engineer of the Engineers Australia as the South engineer and was recognised by He has worked on some of the Spencer, who isaChartered in Australia. never before used technique Spencer applieda (pictured), Adrian Superway South Road For Adelaide’s CREATE radar tower inFiji, the country he Antarctica and aweather-watch gas platform storage facility in project seem“invisible”. Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk engineering behind the city’s Gillett Andersen to make the with architects Grieve and has worked hand-in-glove City Tram Extension project certiﬁ geometric challenges during ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA |DECEMBER2019 LOOKS AT THIS Spencer has also designed a He has faced complex cation on Adelaide’son cation 2 0 / 1 1 / 029 1 9

2 : 5 8 p m COVERCOVER FEATURESTORY

030

completing his Bachelor of Civil and Structural Engineering at University of Adelaide. He took on a graduate role with the architects,” he explains. in 2007 and, within a couple of “We had to get it right the first will soon be calling home when years, he was appointed to a key time. The project was started he takes on what is sure to be his technical role on the structural and finished within about greatest challenge to date: Country design of the South Australia 13 months, so there wasn’t time Manager for GHD, based in Suva. Aquatic and Leisure Centre. to be making mistakes.” “This role will be a huge Designed by Peddle Thorp Spencer describes the project acceleration in Adrian’s career,” Architects, the 10,000 m2 centre as a “steep learning curve”. says Carl Willis, a GHD Principal features a steel roof with a form “One of most challenging and Market Leader, Asia, who that evokes rolling waves. It aspects was the tubular played a role in Spencer’s houses a 10-lane Olympic-class connections,” he says. “It was such decision to move to Fiji. competition pool, a 55 m water an unusual geometry that required “I’ve recently returned from the polo pool, a series of springboards multiple tubular members coming Philippines, where I was operations and diving platforms, and a vast to single points of connection. I manager, and I know that when 3460-seat grandstand. worked hard to get an aesthetically you’re working as a country GHD was the civil and pleasing result with all the truss manager in a developing nation structural engineering consultant connections of different sizes and you need to be extremely thorough on the project and was orientations and directions.” and tenacious. That’s why Adrian responsible for the design and Michael Tasker, GHD’s will do such a good job.” documentation of elements such Technical Director, Structures, as the structural steel framing, was Adrian’s first manager at IN THE DEEP END precast podium and grandstand GHD and interviewed him for his Spencer grew up on a hobby farm seating plats, all in-situ concrete, undergraduate work experience and credits this experience with and site grading and drainage. ABOVE: Spencer role in 2003. He also worked with worked on his early interest in engineering. Spencer modelled and designed the Australian Spencer on the aquatic centre “I grew up in an environment the structural steel superstructure, Embassy’s project and describes him as an Chancery Building where things were always being including the curved wide-span in Laos. BELOW obvious choice for the project’s made fairly intuitively by my dad,” trussed roof, grandstand framing and OPPOSITE: The complex structural work. he says. “That’s something that and other key elements. South Australia “The thing with Adrian is he Aquatic and sticks with me today — trying to “Most of the structure was Leisure Centre. always provides a well-considered create and come up with solutions exposed, so it was important to solution,” he says. to problems.” get the aesthetic right, and this “For the superstructure, we A desire to watch his work involved a close collaboration needed someone who could really “growing out of the ground” and think it through but could also to create tangible benefits for his bring some imagination to the community attracted Spencer task, and that was Adrian.” to civil engineering. He joined GHD as an undergraduate while

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

28-37_EA49_Dec19_Adrian4.indd 30 20/11/19 2:58 pm 2 8 - 3 7

_ Ã{KČӖÇAĄK9ÝĩĄÇKӭĂĩě::KÇěĄKӮ E A 4 9 says Spencer. “Each segment keep the erected loads inbalance,” between each side of the pier to them on, one by one, alternating and lifted them up, and stressed concrete box girder segments design and construction phase. roles throughout the four-year technical and project-management and Spencer held anumberof balanced cantilever method lanes of traffic. bridge that carriesupto eight sub-consultants SMEC and IBT. design serviceswith major GHD provided allengineering skills to the SouthRoad Superway. structure, Spencer turned his the aquatic centre’s intricate steel After risingto the challenge of BUILDING BRIDGES SO THEREWASN’T TIMETOBEMAKINGMISTAKES.” WAS STARTED ANDFINISHEDWITHINABOUT13MONTHS, “WE HADTOGETITRIGHTTHEFIRSTTIME. _ D e Education: Education: Manager, Fiji,GHD Country Current position: Spencer? Who isAdrian Career highlights: “We essentially precast It was constructed usingthe The project includes a2.8km As lead consultant, c

1 Adelaide CityTram Extension Anzac MemorialWalk Centenary SouthRoadSuperway and LeisureCentre South Australian State Aquatic University ofAdelaide Bachelor ofEconomics, University ofAdelaide Engineering (1stClassHonours), Bachelor ofCivilandStructural 9 _ A d r i a n 4 . i n d d

3 1

Positions andawards:

Institute ofAustralia (2019) Northern Territory Concrete Past President,SouthAustralia/ and Children’sHospital—Concept South Australian New Women’s Humanitarian Standby Roster Member, RedRAustralia Year —SouthAustralia (2016) Professional Engineerofthe Engineers Australia’s Young Advisory Group(2019) South Australia CivilEngineering Past Member,University of THE PROJECT ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA |DECEMBER2019 2 0 / 1 1 / 031 1 9

5 : 0 9 p m International Women’s Day 2020

#An equal world is an enabled world

Be inspired by Nadine Champion

-uঞ-Ѵuঞv|Ň|_ouŇ m|u;ru;m;u

;7b1-ঞm]|_bu|;-uvo=_;uѴb=;|ov|7bm]l-uঞ-Ѵ-u|v-m7v|u;m]|_;mbm]|_; lbm7ķ-7bm;_-lrbombv-|_o]_|Ѵ;-7;uom1ou-];ķbmm;uv|u;m]|_-m7u;vbѴb;m1;ĺ omĽ|lbvv|_;orrou|mb||o_;-u=uol-7bm;om_o1_-m]bm]ou|_bmhbm]1-m ;m-0Ѵ;o|o];||_uo]_|_;lov|1_-ѴѴ;m]bm]vb|-ঞomvѴb=;1-m|_uo-|oĺ

Secure your corporate table today engineersaustraliaIWD.com.au

;u|_ Brisbane Melbourne Sydney Tuesday 3 March Wednesday 4 March Thursday 5 March Friday 6 March

28-37_EA49_Dec19_Adrian4.indd 32 20/11/19 2:58 pm COVER STORY

033

weighed between 65 t and 90 t, was laterally pre-stressed to achieve a wide deck proﬁ le “It was an incredibly narrow and match cast against the road corridor created with previous so that a perfect ﬁ t very minimal land acquisition,” was achieved when erected.” says Spencer. This construction method “This meant that we needed to is not unusual; however, create a tiered structure, like a tree Spencer notes the approach to canopy that spreads wide at the bridge articulation was a first top. The shape and form is really for Australia. quite unusual and I felt really “An innovative approach to fortunate to work on this project. articulation was adopted through Mason Willis, Asset Manager, the use of mid-span needle beam Streets Infrastructure Management expansion joints, typically at every and Governance, with the City

“YOU MIGHT THINK THAT A BRIDGE IS JUST A BRIDGE, BUT ADRIAN IS ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE TECHNICALITIES IN A WAY THAT MADE THEM REALLY INTERESTING.”

four to five spans, with each joint of Adelaide, says Spencer has a consisting of a pair of 13.5 m long knack for distilling complex ideas. steel beams, and a combination “You might think that a bridge

of guided bearings and keeper is just a bridge, but Adrian is CLOCKWISE bearings,” he says. “Normally you able to explain the technicalities FROM TOP articulate bridges with bearings at in a way that made them really LEFT: Erecting a truss for the piers. There were a lot of positive interesting,” he says. South Road safety and maintenance outcomes “He doesn’t talk down to people Superway; that resulted from this approach.” who don’t share his expertise.” Spencer in Adelaide; a This method also allowed Bureau of for a reduction in bearings and EXTENDING THE CITY Meteorology required less scaffolding or Another local project that Spencer tower Spencer worked on temporary works on the road cites as a career highlight is the in South structure below. City Tram Extension, completed Australia. late last year. A key element in the revitalisation of Adelaide’s

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

28-37_EA49_Dec19_Adrian4.indd 33 20/11/19 2:59 pm m p

4 5 : 2

IMAGE: MAT WAY MEDIA 1

9 1 / 1 1 / 1 2 “The project initially considered considered initially project “The as movements, right “Left and undertaken was work The procurement were “There public transport system, the the system, transport public the at is located extension and Terrace North of intersection Street. King William is which union, grand a four-way of piece challenging an incredibly explains. Spencer work,” track are movements, straight as well The in all directions. permitted up come to was challenge real could that geometry a track with the of requirements the achieve a was there and vehicles, rail light was what around discussion of lot feasible.” technically tight an extremely within to added which timeframe, challenge. the had project the issues in that a state to prior a deadline but election, government special this of procurement says proceed,” to had trackwork navigate to had “We Spencer. the as process that through certifier and design independent complied design the that confirm Government’s State the with There requirements. technical management, risk of a lot was highly input from with combined specialists.” technical skilled SINK OR SWIM a call about got Spencer When he manager role, country Fiji GHD’s paternity from just returned had Spencer’s work work Spencer’s in Adelaide: the City Tram Extension (left) and leading bridge inspections. (above). THAT COULD ACHIEVE THE COULD ACHIEVE THAT COVER FEATURE COVER 4 3

d d n i . 4 n a i r d A TRACK GEOMETRY A TRACK A REQUIREMENTS OF THE LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES.” OF THE REQUIREMENTS “THE REAL CHALLENGE WAS TO COME UP WITH “THE REAL CHALLENGE WAS _ 9 1 c e D _ 9 4 A

E ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU _

3 034 -

8 2 035

leave. His first child, a daughter named Matilda, was born earlier this year. Walk the walk “Carl Willis encouraged me to apply,” he says. “I guess I’m GHD’s Technical Director, By shifting the boundary of throwing myself into the deep end Structures, Michael Tasker says Adelaide’s Government House again, which I’ve had a habit of Adrian Spencer is known at GHD 10 m west, the project gained doing over my career, but I know for his collaborative approach. 2700 m2 for the public realm. that I’m up for the challenge and “He listens carefully, so you “It was a complex and I’m going to be supported by a know the questions he raises will technically challenging project great team.” be smart ones,” says Tasker. because the engineering aspects Spencer says he does not Designed by architects Grieve weren’t meant to be the focus,” expect his time in Fiji to be all Gillett Andersen, the Anzac says Spencer, who was lead cocktails and palm trees. BELOW and Centenary Memorial Walk is a engineer on the project. “There GHD’s recent work in Fiji BOTTOM RIGHT: public realm commemorating was a lot of subtle detailing and Adelaide’s Anzac includes the redevelopment of Centenary 100 years following Anzac effort made with the architect the Blackrock Camp, a regional Memorial Walk. involvement in World War I. and the landscape architect to hub for police and peacekeeping GHD delivered a number of achieve a sense of memorial training for the Fiji and Australian sensitive urban landscape. We also Governments, and a Runway had to construct a perimeter wall Extension at Nausori Airport that was sensitive to Government in Suva to improve Boeing 737 House and security was also aircraft take-off and landing safety. a concern. “It’s going to be a really “We created a venetian-style interesting challenge and I think fence, which opened views I’m going to learn a lot from it, both of the Government House personally and professionally,” grounds but reduced the risk of Spencer says. “I can’t wait to see it being climbed or tampered where that will lead us.” with through the use of regular vertical structural steel blades and engineering disciplines, including hidden connections.” civil, structural, electrical “The angle of the fence needed and mechanical. to be extremely precise,” says The walk features interpretive Esther Chew, Senior Project artwork etched into South Architect at Grieve Gillett Australian-sourced granite Andersen. “We had three months panels and the boundary wall is ɽɁǁǉɰȈǼȶɽȃǉɥɨɁȚǉƺɽƃȶǁˎʤǉ comprised of angular steel blades months to deliver it on site that maintain a sense of privacy and it was absolute teamwork. for Government House while The structural elements creating a sense of openness needed to be integrated with along the Memorial Walk. electrical elements and Adrian’s understanding of the project was ǉɰɰǉȶɽȈƃȢƃȶǁːƃʥȢǉɰɰӝԅ

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

28-37_EA49_Dec19_Adrian4.indd 35 20/11/19 2:59 pm SPONSORED CONTENT

036

Queen’s Wharf development begins to rise INFRABUILD CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN CLOSELY INVOLVED IN FOUNDATION WORKS FOR BRISBANE CBD’S NEWEST PRECINCT, THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN QUEENSLAND.

NFRABUILD CONSTRUCTION Manager, says the schedule for BENEFITS OF VERTICALLY SOLUTIONS (formerly LIBERTY supply and delivery of cut and bent INTEGRATED SUPPLY I OneSteel Reinforcing) has kept bar for the slabs originally allowed The steel supply for the raft slabs the Queen’s Wharf project ahead of for a 14-day period between is one component of InfraBuild program by accelerating its supply each. However, the business was Construction Solutions’ total supply of reinforcing steel to site for two of able to meet Principal Contractor package, which will amount to more the project’s large raft slabs. Multiplex’s request to supply both ABOVE: Queen’s than 12,500 t by project end. The Approximately 700 t of simultaneously. Wharf precinct bulk has been cut and bent heavy (artist’s impression) reinforcing has been used in the The solution has helped is scheduled to bar (up to 40 mm), plus mesh, two slabs, which form a base Multiplex continue to deliver the open late 2022. which both come from InfraBuild for two of the four towers that program ahead of schedule. Construction Solutions’ Acacia Ridge will make up Brisbane’s $3.6 “We committed to a supply facility on Brisbane’s southside. billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane program from the outset, and Managing that volume of Integrated Resort Development. we exceeded expectations by reinforcing steel from the Michael Jostsons, InfraBuild increasing the supply when production facility for use in the Construction Solutions Project requested,” Jostsons says. raft slabs, each of which is up to

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

2In8f-r3a7B_uEildA 4D9P_SD.eincd1d9 _ Adll rPiaang4e.isndd 36 20/11/19 2:59 pm 19/11/19 10:17 am 037

3 FACTS

InfraBuild Construction Each basement level is Solutions’ vertically approximately integrated supply chain 2 20,000 m and allowed it to collaborate will require 4000 m3 with upstream of concrete. production facilities and scale up supply to meet demand.

2.2 m deep, required coordinated ěȃǉƺɁȴɥƃȶʰԇɰ forward planning. The slabs had 01 integrated up to 17 layers of reinforcing and supply chain at peaks in the delivery program has allowed it to InfraBuild Construction Solutions ƃƺƺǉȢǉɨƃɽǉɰʍɥɥȢʰ was delivering up to 90 t per day. of reinforcing “Given that it was heavy bar, steel to meet the relatively limited supply is held project’s needs in stock,” Jostsons explains. “We had to work with the mill to plan Two raft slabs availability of stock so we could 02 have been process the bar, schedule it and poured ahead get it out to site.” of schedule CONCEPT IMAGE: SUBJECT TO APPROVAL. REPRODUCED COURTESY OF DESTINATION BRISBANE CONSORTIUM’ It’s one of the advantages of for the project’s InfraBuild Construction Solutions’ Parker Architects. Multiplex has been four towers vertically integrated supply contracted to deliver the project’s chain that it can collaborate with shell and core works, including the InfraBuild upstream production facilities when basement, base services, the tower 03 Construction required and scale up its ability to structures and the façade of the main Solutions will process large volumes of bar at its integrated resort. ɰʍɥɥȢʰƃɽȢǉƃɰɽ manufacturing facilities on demand. The Brisbane skyline will be 12,500 t of Delivering to a large project site radically altered by the time reinforcing steel in the CBD has added challenges. Queen’s Wharf’s sculpted towers ɽɁɽȃǉƺȈɽʰӸɰȃƃɥȈȶǼ “Queen’s Wharf is currently are complete. The precinct will project the largest construction project comprise four new luxury hotels, underway in Queensland and it’s 2000 residential apartments and in one of the busiest parts of the more than 50 bars and restaurants. Brisbane CBD,” says Jostsons. “We’ve An elevated Skydeck that takes successfully cooperated with other inspiration from the verandah of LEARN MORE trades, suppliers and materials traditional “Queenslander” houses infrabuild.com going in and out on a restricted will be publicly accessible and delivery pattern; and we’ve needed off er 360-degree views of the river, to coordinate with multiple cranes the city and its surrounds. Projects like the Queen’s Wharf and unloading areas within the site. A new casino, which replaces Development are all about forward “There are currently nine the existing Treasury Casino, will ɥȢƃȶȶȈȶǼƃȶǁȃƃʤȈȶǼːǉʯȈƹȈȢȈɽʰɽɁ towers on site — with the tenth operate in the arc-shaped building meet program needs. expected in 2020. That’s where facing the Brisbane River, Southbank the complexity in this project lies.” on the opposing side of the river. So large is the new precinct ICONIC PROJECT that it will occupy approximately Design of the Queen’s Wharf 10 per cent (27,.312 ha) of the area Development has been led by Cottee of the Brisbane CBD.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

InfraBuild DPS.indd All Pages 28-37_EA49_Dec19_Adrian4.indd 37 1290/1/111/1/199 1 20::5197 pam CENTENARY

038 ENGINEERING would come from General John Monash, and it would be a mode WHEN IT CAME TO THE BATTLEFIELD, of thinking rooted deeply in his was promoted to Brigadier General. ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST pre-war occupation: engineering. In this role, he led the fi ve infantry CELEBRATED MILITARY FIGURES Born in Melbourne in 1865 divisions of the Australian Corps, DREW ON HIS ENGINEERING MINDSET to Jewish immigrants from totalling 200,000 troops. TO GET THE JOB DONE. Prussia, in present-day Poland, To military life, he brought the Monash studied engineering expertise of his civilian occupation. IMAGES: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL ORDER NUMBER 16289046; WIKI COMMONS at the University of Melbourne, HEN EUROPE graduating with a Master’s in 1893, THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND collapsed into war after along with subsequent degrees in “Considerable weight attached to W the assassination of arts and law. Monash’s engineering and business Archduke Franz Ferdinand, many By the time war broke out in background when explaining his expected the fighting to be over Europe, Monash was well known in wartime performance,” writes in a matter of months. Instead, the Melbourne society and a signifi cant historian Peter Pedersen in conflict hardened into a bloody presence in Australian engineering. Monash as Military Commander. stalemate; the trenches separating He had established a thriving “The important distinction lies the two sides on the Western business specialising in the in the defi nition of engineering Front during World War I barely then-new technology of reinforced as ‘literally a mode of looking shifted for much of its duration. concrete; until 1908, it operated at things’, its practitioner the man Defensive technologies had as what Dr Alan Holgate and Dr with the genius fi rst to recognise made off ensive warfare diffi cult ABOVE: General Geoff Taplin described in their the real conditions of the technical and old tactics obsolete. It would John Monash after paper The Contribution of Sir problems before him and then the war. BELOW John Monash to 20th Century require new technologies and new (from left): A by skilful eff ort to discover ways of thinking to permit one side German railway Engineering in Australia as an an adequate solution. Monash to make progress over the other. gun captured by “eff ective monopoly”. possessed these attributes in Australian troops; For the Australians fi ghting Monash on the Monash found his way to war high degree.” the war, that new thinking $100 note. through a tour in Gallipoli. He was then assigned to France, where he

1865 1893 1894 1895 1912 THE LIFE OF JOHN MONASH Born in Graduated with Founded Graduated with Appointed Melbourne, a Master of engineering Bachelors of Arts President of the Victoria Engineering from ˎɨȴÃɁȶƃɰȃծ and Laws from Victorian Institute the University of Anderson, which the University of of Engineers Melbourne pioneered the Melbourne use of reinforced concrete in Australia

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

38-39_EA49_Dec19_Monash_2.indd 38 20/11/19 5:09 pm 039

VICTORYWORDS BY IAN WILSON & JONATHAN BRADLEY the war until 1918, and it was The connection was one for which Monash was an recognised by his contemporaries. enthusiastic proponent. The fi nal decade of Monash’s Australia’s offi cial historian of the The tactic was enacted on a life was devoted to his role as war, C.E.W. Bean, said Monash large scale at the Battle of Amiens, Chair of the State Electricity prepared battle plans “as an where the Allies breached the Commission of Victoria, to which engineer rather than as an artist”. German frontline. That was the he was appointed in 1921. He “[Monash’s] last great fi ght opening phase of the Hundred immediately had to deal with at the Hindenburg Line he Days Campaign that would, three an unexpectedly high moisture described — before the battle and months later, end the war. content in the state’s brown coal, after — as ‘simply a problem of Holgate and Taplin highlight which reduced its effi ciency. engineering’,” Bean wrote. “When how Monash set his engineer’s Combining his political ABOVE: A stamp seeking the degree of Doctor honours Monash. mind to war, noting his “precision and engineering talents, he BELOW (from left): of Engineering of Melbourne and attention to detail; use of all unifi ed power generation and Monash in 1918; University, he submitted his available mechanical means ... distribution across the state Melbourne’s Morell The Australian Victories in Bridge, engineered book, to break the enemy’s resistance, and opened a plant at Yallourn, by Monash France in 1918, as a thesis on the leaving the infantry to mop up which his obituary would and Anderson; application of the principles of and defend against counter-attack; describe as “one of the romances a Yallourn briquette factory. engineering to the conduct an uncommon ability to visualise of engineering in Australia”. of war.” topography on the basis of maps; Monash’s work took a toll on Looking at a map, Monash’s and an insistence that as little as his health, and he died at age 66 engineering mind visualised possible be left to chance.” in 1931. He remains celebrated, the potential power of multiple Coming back from war a but less recognised is that weapons used in combination. hero — “in the 1920s,” writes even his best-known military This combined-arms approach biographer Geoff rey Serle, achievements were underpinned is credited by many historians “Monash was broadly accepted, by the sound engineering mind for helping to break the grinding not just in Victoria, as the greatest that guided his work — on and off attrition that characterised living Australian” — he returned the battlefi eld. to engineering.

1914 1916 19191921 1929

Appointed Promoted to Becomes a Education: Graduates with a Promoted to the Commander Major General, Foundation Doctorate in Engineering from the rank of General of the 4th commanding Associate University of Melbourne “in recognition Infantry the Australian Member of of his long and Brigade of the 3rd Division Engineers Appointed Chair and Commissioner distinguished Australian Australia of the State Electricity Commission service with the Imperial of Victoria Australian military Force forces”

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

38-39_EA49_Dec19_Monash_2.indd 39 20/11/19 5:10 pm CENTENARY

040

WORDS BY JONATHAN BRADLEY

BUILDING THE HOUSE

ARCHITECT JØRN UTZON’S FAMOUS DESIGN FOR THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE IS RECOGNISED ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT IT TOOK THE INGENUITY OF DOZENS OF ENGINEERS TO BRING IT TO LIFE.

The four “triangular” segments of the model can be arranged into the now iconic form of the Sydney Opera House.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

40-43_EA49_Dec19_OperaHouse.indd 40 20/11/19 5:04 pm 041

advice might have persuaded him not to pursue these proposals because of the obvious diffi culties KÇAÇČӳ9ĄěČ and the possibility that the engineer Ove Arup was assessors might take fright.” W tasked with turning Utzon’s forms were architect Jørn Utzon’s plans for “extravagant”, and membrane a new Sydney Opera House into action — the internal tension reality, he assigned 55 engineers from the shells’ thickness — was to solving the tricky mathematical insuffi cient to sustain the arches and technical problems involved. against the forces to which they Inspired by sail boats and would be subjected. swans and drawing on the settings “When we were appointed of Mayan pyramids and a castle as consulting engineers for the positioned on a Danish peninsula, project shortly after he received Utzon’s sketches were chosen in a the commission for the job, we New South Wales Government-run told him the technical facts of contest seeking designs for a life,” Arup went on. “But other national opera house to be built at suggestions all tended to Bennelong Point. destroy the basic sculptural Utzon’s design was graceful and quality and all our efforts expressionist, its sails invoking were then directed towards the boats and cliff s of Sydney ABOVE: solving the enormous problems “They had been trying to Harbour. It was also formally and Sydney Opera which gradually emerged.” create the concept in concrete House architect structurally challenging; when he Jørn Utzon. ever since,” Pitt writes. “They submitted his competition entry, RIGHT: Joe Bertony. SHELL GAMES simply didn’t know whether it Utzon had not shown his drawings The sails — or shells, as they were was possible to build such a huge to an engineer to see if the called — were to be built using structure as the Opera House concept could be created in reality. pre-stressed concrete, a versatile using pre-stressed concrete in the “This is possibly just as well,” but demanding material that shape Utzon had drawn.” reflected Arup civil engineer would need great precision to Former Arup Chair Dr John Jack Zunz, the project’s Principal work the way it was supposed to. Nutt explained the problem in Structural Designer, in a 1987 Early on in the project, Building a Masterpiece: The lecture at the Royal College of according to journalist Helen Pitt’s Sydney Opera House. Art, London. history of the building, The House, “The shells converged to points “The distinctive sculptural Utzon had bent a plastic ruler at the supports, concentrating quality of the building with its to show Ove Arup the form he the forces in an undesirable roof structure, often likened to wanted the shells to take. way,” he wrote. “The ridges had billowing sails, was an essential, sharp discontinuities of surface. if not the essential part of his ﬁ rst Curvatures near the pedestals proposals. Sound engineering caused enormous problems which were not resolved until late in the design. Each shell had to be linked to its neighbour to achieve overall stability.” COLLECTION: MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES. GIFT OF OVE ARUP AND ARUP AND MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES. GIFT OVE COLLECTION: MEDIA. OF BAUER COURTESY KOJDANOVSKI; MARINCO 2003. PHOTO: PARTNERS,

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

40-43_EA49_Dec19_OperaHouse.indd 41 20/11/19 5:32 pm CENTENARY

042

by a crane. Nothing quite like it had ever been done before. The changing profiles of the ribs It took 30,000 mathematical became the architectural theme of equations to determine the SAILS OF THE CENTURY the roof.” stresses that could be applied to The roof would go through 12 Now that Utzon had figured out the roof, and Bertony did them different iterations during this a way his shells could actually all — by hand. design stage, transforming from its be built, Arup’s engineers had They had to be accurate to original freeform shape through to figure out how to make them 1.5 cm, and so a Hornibrook parabolic and ellipsoid proposals. work. Of the many minds that set colleague, David Evans, fed Arup stressed the importance of about solving the problems in this Bertony’s equations into the one repeatable geometric shapes that process, one that stood out was computer in the country that was could underpin the design and be Joseph Bertony, a civil engineer powerful enough to handle them. fabricated easily from concrete who had emigrated from France Every single one was accurate. using a mould. after World War II. “It could be argued that The solution came to Utzon ABOVE: Hornibrook chief Corbett Gore in 1961 while he was back home THE ENGINEER WHO Ove Arup worked could have found another person, on the early design. in Denmark. Yuzo Mikami, an CAME IN FROM THE COLD OPPOSITE: or a team of people, to do what architect who worked with Utzon Born in Corsica in 1922, Bertony Stress-testing Joe did,” Pitt quotes Evans as before joining Arup, describes studied naval engineering before a model of the saying. “But I doubt if there was building (top left); Utzon dismantling a model of the joining the French military after scenes from the anyone with Joe’s genius to see Opera House and stacking the the outbreak of World War II. construction. how to develop the telescopic shells together, despairing that He was quickly recruited by construction might be impossible. the Allied forces as a spy, and “The curvatures of the shells, when he was captured by German which he thought to be quite forces, he was sent to a Nazi different from one shell to the concentration camp in Austria. A house divided other, were more similar to each The Sydney Opera House was a remarkable example of “SOUND ENGINEERING ADVICE MIGHT collaboration between the vision of the architect Jørn Utzon and the HAVE PERSUADED HIM NOT TO engineers at Arup and Hornibrook. PURSUE THESE PROPOSALS, BECAUSE “Design cannot be undertaken without a construction strategy OF THE OBVIOUS DIFFICULTIES.” in mind,” as the former Arup Chair Dr John Nutt put it. “On the Sydney Opera House, there was other than he had thought all During a transfer, he was able no political time to resolve all the these years,” Mikami wrote. “If to escape back to the French outstanding issues.” they were so similar, why couldn’t military, but he was captured The pressure caused problems, they be cut from a common again and sent to the Buchenwald with cost overruns and a schedule surface? In order to do that, the death camp, where he was forced that went long past its expected curvature must be the same in all to work making bombs. timeframe. Utzon left before the directions. What is a geometrical As Allied forces approached project was completed. body with constant curvature in to liberate the camp, the Nazi ɽɁȶǉɥɁȈȶɽӗɽȃǉƺɁȶːȈƺɽ all direction?” guards began rounding up became so intense that a physical The answer was a sphere. The prisoners to murder them; only a solution was found. shells would be triangles cut from fortunate escape from a transport “Gradually a growing tension sections of a single sphere, with train saved Bertony’s life. between Utzon and the Arup team the meridian lines of the sphere At age 31, Bertony left began to become apparent,” wrote coming together to form “ribs”. Europe for Australia, bringing journalist Helen Pitt in an obituary “The adopted structure was not his engineering expertise with of engineer Jack Zunz. “The Dane a shell but an interconnected rib him. Employed by Hornibrook, clashed with Zunz and Lewis so structure, the segments of which the Queensland construction much that a brick wall between were factory-produced and joined company that worked on the architects and engineers was built in the air,” wrote Nutt. Opera House, Bertony was ƹǉɽʥǉǉȶɽȃǉȈɨɁȶɰȈɽǉɁǹˎƺǉɰƃɽ “Each segment was of a size tasked with figuring out how Bennelong Point.” which could only be handled to design the steel erection arch that made construction of the roof possible.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

40-43_EA49_Dec19_OperaHouse.indd 42 20/11/19 5:07 pm 4 0 -

4 Ã{KČӖAřAÃÝÝĄKӱ9ĩ¸AÇ{ěKĄÝÝyČK¸¸ČӱіўћћӢÃ{KĩČKAŚě 3 ĀKĄÃČČÝÇÝyěKČťAÇKťÝĀKĄÝĩČKěĄĩČěӢĀÝěÝ{ĄĀČ9ťÃŤAĩĀÇӗ _

E Ãě:K¸¸¸9ĄĄťӗČěěK¸9ĄĄťÝyÇKŚČÝĩěŚ¸KČӫÝÇњћїӬӢŚ¶:ÝÃÃÝÇČ A 4 9 instead Idrank it,” he said. break the bottle on the roof; a bottle of champagne. Ididn’t flag, aHornibrook house flag and newspaper at the time. curved surface,” he told aSydney to stop roof tiles creeping on the licked when we nutted outaway fast-sticking epoxy resin. them inplace —he useda to raise the shells and join the difficultproblem of how contributed. Gore himself solved was how many different people of these engineering solutions with it.” truss and to build the ribs _ D e “I took“I with me anAustralian He celebrated upon the roof. knewwe“I hadtheroof But the most notable aspect c 1 9 _ O p e r a H o u s e . i n d d

4 3 100yearsea.com.au/books purchase your copy, visit: is available tomembersfor $49.95.To Engineers Australia. The hardcover book Engineering Achievements Never Cease: 100GreatAustralian This isaneditedextract from ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA |DECEMBER2019 followed by thetop chord. until thebottom chordswere joined, cables were gradually lengthened and two tram tracks. ȢƃȶǉɰɁǹɨɁƃǁɽɨƃǹˎ six side, supportingadeckcarrying bridge consists oftwo archessideby climbing 132mabove sealevel. The 503 mandthetop ofthestructure total: thespanacrosswater being each side.This encapsulated 1149min also theelevated approachesfrom steel archspanningtheharbourbut construction before its1932opening. the bridgeabsorbedeightyears of three years to complete. Intotal, the GreatDepression. given itwas achieved inthedepthof of engineering,allthemorestriking Harbour was anextraordinary feat The hugesteel arch spanningSydney Connecting acity To jointhemiddle,supporting The projectcomprised notonlythe Erection ofthearchalonetook ƺɥȢʍɰɽʥɁɨƃȈȢɽɨƃƺȟɰ , publishedby Wonders 2 0 / 1 1 / 043 1 9

5 : 0 7 p m MANUFACTURING

044

WORDS BY BRENT BALINSKI WORKING ON THE BRIGHT IDEAS BEING DEVELOPED AT A GEELONG INCUBATOR PROVIDE A GLIMPSE OF MANUFACTURING’S INNOVATIVE FUTURE.

LD INDUSTRIES pass on and new ones replace O them. We can always count on creative destruction to make life interesting, whatever our role or our industry. It can be highly unpleasant, but reinvention, handled well, can be a positive. A report on industrial clustering from the Brookings Institution describes how Pittsburgh’s steel and iron industry collapsed in the 1980s and was replaced by thriving biotech and IT businesses. Akron, Ohio, lost its rubber and tyre capacity in that decade, then reinvented itself as a polymers powerhouse. In Australia, Geelong’s transition after the loss of Ford, Alcoa and other traditional manufacturers has been “painful”, as a case study in the Australia 2030 report from Innovation and Science Australia notes, but it “is steadily carving out a brighter future”. New jobs and growth, the report says, are being created in “areas of existing strengths such as engineering, design and materials science, a legacy of its manufacturing base” as well as in newer sectors.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

44-49_EA49_Dec19_ManuFutures.indd 44 20/11/19 3:02 pm 045

A DREAM

and Carbon Revolution, but there is a range of different businesses A central plank in this at ManuFutures. manufacturing, an area where high rebuilding is the Geelong Conflux and FormFlow make costs of product scale-up make Future Economy Precinct at 3D-printed heat exchangers the early stage commercialisation Deakin University’s Waurn and bent corrugated metal journey even more challenging,” Ponds, which includes the respectively. Insight Engineering George tells create. ManuFutures incubator. specialises in industrial The challenges of a young The incubator is a new automation. When create visits, hardware business are many, but $13 million site in a neighbourhood a Deakin spinout company each occupant said the job was well-known for its materials aiming to produce boron nitride easier thanks to their neighbours. engineering excellence, and which nanotubes at scale is moving in. “None of them compete directly was assisted by $3 million in State There are 12 full-time tenants at with each other for customers,” Government funding. the time of writing, with capacity explains Spincer. “They have ManuFutures officially for 15. Others use the co-working a lot of complementary skills opened in April 2018 after a space, where hot-desking can be and expertise and I think we’ve few years in gestation, says Dr rented by the month. Production got to the point now where the OPPOSITE: Using Ben Spincer, Director, Deakin the haptics bays and offices are leased up businesses are all starting to feed Research Commercial. simulation kit to three years, with a two-year off each other and learn from He believes it fills a missing produced by Flaim extension after that. each other.” Technologies. middle at Waurn Ponds between BELOW: Lyn George, Director and research — such as at the Carbon Ben Spincer. co-owner at Austeng and Chair BURNING HOT Nexus, an open-access carbon of the Geelong Manufacturing Twenty years of engineering fibre facility — and an established Council, says the site is an and 25 years as a Country Fire company, such as highly inspiring example of how a Association volunteer have come successful one-piece carbon university can nurture start-ups. together for James Mullins, CEO, fibre wheel manufacturer “It is even more impressive that Carbon Revolution. it is concentrating on ‘hard tech’ “There’s the expertise we have in the university through three of our key institutes — Frontier Materials, Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation, and Applied Artificial Intelligence — plus obviously the School of Engineering across the road here,” Spincer tells create. “We’ve had the really fundamental side, and the endgame of basically scale manufacturing, and there’s this challenging gap in the middle.” The precinct is known for its strength in carbon fibre, which has attracted companies such as Quickstep Automotive, LeMond

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

44-49_EA49_Dec19_ManuFutures.indd 45 20/11/19 3:02 pm leaders in innovative electrical engineering design software AS/NZS 3000:2018 Compliance Checking Supports AS/NZS3008.1.1: 2017 Arc Flash Analysis to IEEE1584 & NENS 09 2014 Now includes support for 690Volt and 1000Volt Systems Now with support for Revit® 2020 Support for Revit App PowerCad-M Quality Services and Support

NEW - Now Includes Siemens 3WL10 ACB

TMTM FeatuFeatureses PowerCad-5owerCad-5 Compliance Checking • Cable Voltage Drop • Passive Harmonic Calculations Filter Sizing clause 2.5.5.3 arcing fault clearing capacity • Circuit Breaker Selection • Substation Sizing of protective devices for feeds of 800amps • Time/Current • Standby Generator and above Co-ordination Curves Sizing • Co-ordination Curve • Single Line Diagram clause 2.5.7.2.3 supply circuit discrimination On Screen CB OCR Display with option for checking protective devices Adjustment (dynamic) • Single Line Diagram less than 250amps • User Defined Export to AutoCAD® Time/Current clause 5.3.3.1.1 protective earth conductor • L.V.Distribution Co-ordination Curves Network Modelling thermal stress check. • Selectivity/Cascading • Bus-Tie modelling clause 5.7.4 earth system impedance • Maximum Demand • Check metering check at 0.4s and 5 sec disconnect times • Cable Thermal Stress modelling • Let Through Energy • Automatic Mains and Submains Cable • Cable Sizing Selections • Conduit Sizing • Automatic Final Subcircuit Cable Sizing • Fault-loop Impedance • Variable Speed Drives • Fault Level Calculations • Display Load Starting • ARC Fault Check Current Profile ® •ARC Flash calculations • AutoCAD Interface for Loads Input • Harmonic Analysis • Light Fitting and • Network Resonance Check Motor Libraries • Harmonic Mitigation • Reports with Print Preview • Power Factor Correction • Direct Online Support • Active Harmonic Filter Sizing • Standards AS/NZS, IEE, BS, CP5, SAS and IS (India)

44-49_EA49_Dec19_ManuFutures.indd 46 20/11/19 3:02 pm 4 4 - 4 9 _

E IMAGES: FLAMIN; DEAKIN A 4 9 accuracy of CFDmodelling, but because we getto can’t the fluid dynamics. says, referring to computational that’s inthe domain of CFD,” he at 90Hzor so, and traditionally and smoke ineffectively real-time computationally intense. of systems”, explains Mullins, and It ends upacomplicated “system possible, and usable at any time. most lifelike training simulation library, allaimed at producing the from operating aﬁ haptics, which emulate the kick breathing and protective gear, and bio-feedback vest, heating pads, virtual reality unit, anano-ﬁ integrating ahead-mounted display suppressant foam. sulfonate, which comes from fire chemicals such as perfluorooctane firefighters’ training grounds by problem: that of contamination on tackle avery different training simulation for surgeon training. in 2007 and examined tissue robotics PhD, which concluded feedback,” he tells of applied haptics and force kits for firefighters. haptics expertise to simulation and Innovation and isapplying for Intelligent Systems Research Professor at Deakin’s Institute co-founder of Flaim Technologies. Chief Technology Officerand _ D e “We take short-cuts obviously “We are modelling fire, water It comes with ascenario This has grown into aproduct He was later inspired to “It was“It some of the early days Mullins isalso anAssociate c 1 9 _ M a n u F u t u r e s . i n d d rehose.

create

4 7 of his his of bre believes continued success ownership by Deakin.Mullins ending aperiodof 100 percent external investment this year, has grown to 18employees. 2017, exports to 14 countries, and close as possible.” and replicate those conditions as what fire issothat they cantry in Queensland,” says Mullins. developers inthe burnhouses up be reverse engineered. possible, sothe conditions can with as much data collected as buildings are instrumented, and others. Real burning Standards and Technology JPL, the National Institute of California, as well as NASA’s Cosumnes Fire Department in has involved work with they’re continuing to evolve.” fire, water, smoke models, and close to real-world as possible in we tryand getthe realism as The company received Flaim launched inSeptember “We immerse ourdev team into “We putoursoftware Recreating real-life conditions CONTINUING TOEVOLVE.” SMOKE MODELS,ANDTHEY’RE POSSIBLE AS CLOSETOREAL-WORLDAS “WE TRY ANDGETTHEREALISM Deakin University. incubator at ManuFutures ABOVE: The MANUFACTURING INFIRE,WATER, especially inmore complex successful application of it, compared to metals, and the a lot of untapped potential. composites are tricky buthave embarking on aPhD. mature-age student and then of Engineering at Deakinas a after completing aBachelor into carbon-fibre research Jon Partington threw himself CYCLES OFINNOVATION logistical ideas.” suppliers, we find goodsharing of not alone, butwe also find good them and ouroperations,” he says. really make adifference to both world. the on take to ambitious little companies trying beneficial for advice from other and reliability demands. juggling expanding distribution product roadmap, while also are working to afive-year new will depend on agility. They ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA |DECEMBER2019 “It’s anew technology, still, Partington tells “We understand that we’re “It’s those five-minute chats that He considers the location create that 2 0 / 1 1 / 047 1 9

5 : 0 7 p m Securing the Future of Australia’s Welding Industry

^LSKH\Z[YHSPHJVTH\cVɉJL'^LSKH\Z[YHSPHJVTH\c

44-49_EA49_Dec19_ManuFutures.indd 48 20/11/19 3:02 pm 4 4 - 4 9 _

E IMAGES: PARTINGTON ADVANCED ENGINEERING A 4 9 a pretty bright future. product, it’s possible to carve out often —aheavily engineered rather than cost,and with —quite willingness to compete on value manufacturing firms. play vital roles within the newer is common to seeFord alumni industries are stillabout,and it go at this inGeelong. are not for the faint of heart. Advanced manufacturing start-ups FORWARD ADVANCE mechanical properties.” test, strand by strand, for those strands next door, and they could “We were able to take abunch of you canmeasure that,” he recalls. there’s not many places where modulus of carbon fibre, and full potential —isvaluable. with materials stillto realise their equipment —while working to Carbon Nexus and test carbon fibre. plastics and three grades of along with PMIfoam, engineering Aluminium isusedfor anchors, mounted on little aluminium hubs. continuous carbon-fibre filaments Engineering. The spokes are company, Partington Advanced lightweight wheels made by his process development.” to execute it, and alot of that’s thing, butyou’ve got to beable design concept with merit isone he explains. “Coming upwith a applications, isstilljuvenile,” _ D e CONCEPT WITHMERITISONE For those with clever ideas, a Talented engineers from older But there are pluses to having a “We were questioning the For Partington, proximity He points to one of the super BE ABLETOEXECUTE IT, c “COMING UPWITHADESIGN 1 9 _ M THING, BUTYOU’VE GOTTO A LOTOFTHAT’S PROCESS a n u F u t u r e s . i n d d

4 9 DEVELOPMENT.” ʥȈɽȃƺƃɨƹɁȶˎ Partington working RIGHT: Jon Mullins, FlaimCEO. ABOVE: James AND ƹɨǉӝ pedalling,” hetells whether you’re pedallingornot change gearsatany pointintime, to abicycle drivetrain, andwe can basically aclutch that’sadaptable calls itCentreHub change gearswhilecoasting. He clutch thatwould allow ariderto up withaconcept for anovel mountain bike competitions. international level inBMXand and work life withracing atan bikes. Hehasjuggleduniversity has beenpassionate about Since agethree,MichaelWilliams A bigshift Racing Products. a week to focus onWilliams to ManuFuturesabouttwo days Engineer atVicRoadsandcomes not qualifying. difference between winningand per cent acyclist’s off time—the gears sequentiallycan shave four to pedalandmove throughthe “We’ve beenableto achieve Back inhighschool,hecame He iscurrentlyaSenior Williams says thatnothaving create . MANUFACTURING motivating to come here,”hesays. bounce andit’sreally ideasoff, intelligent peopleyouvery can with hisneighbours. ideas andalove oftechnology start-ups meanssharingbold of thething,”hesays. type ofinputinto themachining got my nameonit,Iwant some quality standardIknow. Andifit’s in Geelong. going to beatleast$400.” this thingasagoodproduct,it’s that,” hesays. “Butto manufacture you don’twant itto bemorethan more thanathousanddollars,so parts mightendupbeingmilled. example, 3D-printed titanium remove cost wherepossible.For manufacturability to andtrying been arounddesignfor development thisyear has ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA |DECEMBER2019 “You’re surroundedby alotof Being located next to other “It’s having itmadelocally to a He plansto keep production “A top-of-the-range hubisno Most ofhisresearchand 2 0 / 1 1 / 049 1 9

3 : 0 2 p m PEOPLE

050

WORDS BY BRENT BALINSKI

BRIAN UY IS 2019 CIVIL ENGINEER OF THE YEAR, AND THE PERFECT PERSON TO EXPLAIN WHY HIS DISCIPLINE STILL MATTERS. MANOF

HERE’SSTEEL NOTHING like an infrastructure boom to made civil engineering seem like T remind us of the value of a wise university choice, and that civil engineers. lifting Australia’s civil engineering settled the deal. For Professor Brian Uy, Sir capacity in a profession where the After a PhD in composite John Holland Civil Engineer of the country has shortages. structures, Uy went to work Year, and a teacher and mentor “We do require a lot of at consultancy Arup, and, to thousands of students, no engineers to be retrained if they according to an old biography, reminder is needed. come from overseas,” he says. designed most of the steel and The profession embodies “We’re always looking for good steel-concrete composite building teamwork and presents exciting engineers locally and people who elements at Star City Casino. mobility prospects — both have an affinity for those STEM It was one of “those fast-track upwardly and throughout disciplines to consider a career projects”, he says, with design and other Washington Accord in engineering.” construction going on seven days signatory nations — and offers an a week. opportunity to make a meaningful NUMBERS AND STRUCTURES It was also work at the edge of and lasting impact. Uy grew up fascinated with Australian standards at the time. “You might be building a new building and construction, and “A lot of the design for the bridge in a region, or you might with a talent for mathematics. He main casino floor involved large be retrofitting a bridge in a says that early on he considered composite beams: very large region; maybe you’re involved in maths teaching, but his maths steel beams with concrete slabs. the design and construction of a teacher provided a nudge or two I also was involved in the design hospital,” Uy tells create. towards engineering. of all the large steel trusses “In many of the aspects that civil Architecture was another in the various theatres — back engineers are involved with, there’s possibility; one of his neighbours then it was the Lyric Theatre,” a real positive beneﬁt to society, was a director at a major Uy recalls. and so it’s an easy discipline to Sydney consultancy. “It was all the elements of ABOVE: University sell. But, like any, we have to get “He certainly saw the ups and structural engineering, and using of Sydney Professor of Structural out there and promote it.” downs, and we haven’t seen it concrete structures, steel and Engineering Uy has been in his current since then, but the recession hurt composite structures. We were Brian Uy. role as Head of Civil Engineering the architecture discipline quite using high-strength materials for and Professor of Structural severely,” recalls Uy. some of the steel work as well.” Engineering at the University of A good friend of his neighbour Sydney since November 2016. was a director for a structural LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Besides academia, he is engineering consultancy, Structural engineering is a involved in higher consulting, Meinhardt. A high school summer rewarding field, says Uy, and it standards development, and job there didn’t cure Uy of his offers exciting possibilities for architecture ambitions, but signs those willing to put in the work. of what would become the early 1990s “recession we had to have”

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

50-51_EA49_Dec19_BrianUy.indd 50 20/11/19 3:02 pm 5 0 - 5 1 _

E IMAGE: YIANNI ASPRADAKIS A 4 9 big groups with other companies.” and you’ll beworking as apartof where you’ll beleading teams, work. design of lot technical issues,maybe doing a civil engineering looking at quite career, and you might start off in careers, that you canhave a holistic view aboutengineering encourage people to look at a might seeas exciting,” he says. engineering disciplines that people other disciplines, there’s new competition, there’s lots of _ D e “Eventually you’ll getto astage “We’re tryingto always “Obviously there’s alot of c 1 9 _ B r i a n U y . i n d d

5 1 and soforth,” he says. the maintenance of structures, saving costsfor government on able to make areal difference, gratifying, becausewe’ve been community,” he says. be usedto the benefit of the in ourresearch, isnow able to that we’ve carriedoutinteams, into industry. theoretical ideas that later migrate to also beworking on the more level consulting engineering, but pleased to beinvolved inhigher LOCALLY TOCONSIDERACAREER INENGINEERING.” “I think that“I to me feels very “To seethat some of the work Of his own career, Uy says he’s “WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKINGFOR GOODENGINEERS for anotherbuilding?’.” the steel elements inthatstructure being disassembled,can we use thinking, ‘Okay, ifthisstructure is suppliers thatneedto start chain,” Uysays. “It’sthesteel and safety requirements to work. circular economy needsstandards of materials demandedby the from demountablesteel structures. on thepotential to reusematerial Part ofProfessor BrianUy’swork is standards Sustainability and ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA |DECEMBER2019 “It’s really all about the supply “It’s reallyallaboutthesupply The “cradle-to-cradle” lifecycle 2 0 / 1 1 / 051 1 9

5 : 1 0 p m Forging your design into reality For over 100 years, Townley have been experts in turning customer ideas into reality with unique and specialised custom forgings.

Why Forging? Why Townley? The forging process can create — We work collaboratively with you to parts that are much stronger than enhance your design. those manufactured by any other — We provide in-house NATA mechanical metalworking processes. This is testing to ensure design speciﬁcations why forgings are almost always or relevant standards are met. used where reliability and human — We provide rapid prototyping to enable safety are critical. product review and testing before committing to production. Forging advantages: — Our distribution network of 400+ — Greater strength to weight ratio locations throughout Australia and New Zealand provides a wider reach to — Better fatigue resistance market for your product. — Continuous grain ﬂow — Our team provides marketing and — Reliable and consistent quality. distribution solutions so that you can concentrate on engineering and design.

96 John Street, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057 T 1300 869 653 E [email protected] www.townleydropforge.com.au

52-53_EA49_Dec19_RajKurup.indd 52 20/11/19 3:03 pm PEOPLE

053

WORDS BY MICHELLE WHEELER

Raj Kurup (below) devised the SPORE solution to treat sodium oxalate waste in storage lagoons (left).

RAJ KURUP TOOK AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO A SEEMINGLY INTRACTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL Since being named in the Most PROBLEM — AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE SAFER AND Innovative list, Kurup has applied CHEAPER THAN THE ALTERNATIVES. for a global patent for SPORE. He has also been talking to two HEN DR Raj Kurup major aluminium producers and his team first came about funding for a trial of the W up with the SPORE “We worked for a year,” Kurup technology in Western Australia, solution for treating sodium says. “And we demonstrated as well as government grants. oxalate waste, his client didn’t over that year it’s not a one-off Kurup says it was fantastic believe it could be done. thing, it’s consistently that we get to be recognised in the list, SPORE — or the Smart Priming that outlook.” Are you an particularly coming from a small Oxalate Removal Enabler — is a Kurup says the SPORE system innovative engineer and innovative firm. He says way of dealing with legacy sodium is both safer and cheaper than or know someone the company operates in a very oxalate waste leftover from reﬁ ning other options. who is? Register positive environment that is quite bauxite to produce alumina. your interest at different from pure consulting. Many companies have been A BETTER APPROACH bit.ly/InnovativeEng “It’s just very good for us to storing this highly alkaline “There’s so much complexity for the Most have that recognition,” Kurup wastewater in lagoons for years. behind the work, but when it Innovative Engineer says. “It’s a really positive The SPORE solution enables comes to operating the system it’s listing. reinforcement for us to see that our sodium oxalate storage lagoons much, much, much simpler than create will call for personal philosophy and business to be converted into anaerobic any other alternative,” he says. nominations in philosophy have been approved by reactors that produce valuable Kurup believes innovation January 2020. third parties.” by-products, including sodium should never be just for the sake carbonate and methane. of change, or to make things The process achieves this more complex. without the ongoing addition of Instead, he aims for simplicity pH neutralisation chemicals. It for the end user. captures otherwise unrecoverable “To us, innovation is to see by-products from the sodium something not considered to be oxalate waste and allows the possible and finding a solution remediated lagoon to be used to that is simple enough, even treat fresh waste from the refinery. though there may be a lot more Kurup, who create named complicated mathematics and among Australia’s Most Innovative complicated science,” he says. Engineers in 2019, says he fought Kurup says new innovations to prove that the idea was viable. must also create economic value in a way that was previously considered impossible.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

52-53_EA49_Dec19_RajKurup.indd 53 20/11/19 3:03 pm GENIUS IDEAS... SUCCESS!

LET US HELP YOU FILL IN THE BLANKS

Davies Collison Cave is committed to understanding your intellectual property (IP) in the context of your business. We can help you with any aspect of IP that you encounter on your commercialisation journey, whether that is patents, trade marks, design and copyright issues, or privacy and data protection. dcc.com

Try SPACE GASS 12 free for 30 days and SPACE GASS 12 experience its amazing analysis speed, powerful 3D graphics and ease of use. Australia’s Leading Structural Engineering Software www.spacegass.com/trial

Reinforced Concrete Slab Design y Static analysis and Advanced Meshing Tools y Dynamic analysis y Buckling analysis Now Available y Steel design y Concrete design

y 2-way Revit interface

y Frame elements y Plate elements y Cable elements

y Portal frame builder y Structure wizard y Moving loads y Area loads

y Dimensions y Gridlines y On-screen notes y Shape builder

y Training videos www.spacegass.com y Top-notch support

54-55_EA49_Dec19_Events.indd 54 20/11/19 3:06 pm SAVE THE DATE

055 CONFERENCES & EVENTS | ÃĄ:їѕїѕӱČKĀěKÃ9KĄїѕїѕ

11-13 Location: Brisbane, QLD Website: sete2020.com.au Presented by the Systems Engineers Society of MAY 2020 Australia (SESA) and the Southern Cross Chapter of the SYSTEMS International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA), SETE ENGINEERING TEST 2020 will explore the conference theme of “Looking Back AND EVALUATION to the Future — Engineering Sustainable Critical and International CONFERENCE Large-Scale Systems”. Women’s Day 2020 An equal world is 11-13 Location: Melbourne, VIC Website: aseconference.org.au an enabled world The theme for ASEC 2020, “Engineering Evolution”, MAY 2020 covers a range of topics relevant to practicing structural 03 AUSTRALASIAN engineers, students, academics, researchers and industry Locations: STRUCTURAL specialist providers. Sub-themes include: “Energy”, Perth, WA: Tuesday 3 March; ENGINEERING — “Transportation Infrastructure”, “Buildings”, “Engineering Brisbane, QLD: Wednesday 4 March; CONFERENCE 4.09” and “Forensic and Research”. Melbourne, VIC: Thursday 5 March; 06 Sydney, NSW: Friday 6 March Website: MAR Location: Sydney, NSW Website: apemc2020.org engineersaustraliaiwd.com.au 19-22 2020 MAY 2020 APEMC was founded in 2008 and since its inception it has grown to become one of the major electromagnetic ASIA-PACIFIC Join us in celebrating and compatibility events in the world. The conference theme INTERNATIONAL for APEMC 2020 is ”Making Your World Compatible”. supporting women in engineering SYMPOSIUM ON Whether you are interested in testing, equipment and beyond with Engineers ELECTROMAGNETIC compliance, standards, design or the latest research in Australia’s International Women’s COMPATIBILITY the diverse range of related areas, there is something for Day events around Australia in everyone at APEMC 2020. March 2020. Engineers Australia’s International Women’s Day 7–12 Location: Melbourne, VIC Website: nano2020.org.au celebrations are the fastest growing NANO Conference, spearheaded by the International JULY 2020 events on the calendar, with the Committee on Nanostructured Materials, has been acting 2019 event series attracting more INTERNATIONAL as a traditional meeting place for most nanomaterials than 2300 professionals and selling CONFERENCE ON researchers, where the state-of-the-art research and NANOSTRUCTURED ȢƃɽǉɰɽƃǁʤƃȶƺǉǁˎȶǁȈȶǼɰȈȶɽȃǉˎǉȢǁƃɨǉɥɨǉɰǉȶɽǉǁӝ out across the country. MATERIALS ɨƃȶǼǉɁǹɽɁɥȈƺɰƃɽɽȃǉǹɨɁȶɽȈǉɨɁǹȟȶɁʥȢǉǁǼǉȈȶɽȃǉˎǉȢǁ We’re excited to announce of nanomaterials will be discussed and a wide number Nadine Champion (pictured) as the ɁǹɰƺȈǉȶɽȈˎƺƃȶǁɽǉƺȃȶɁȢɁǼȈƺƃȢɽƃȢȟɰʥȈȢȢƹǉǼȈʤǉȶƹʰ keynote speaker. Dedicating distinguished scholars and scientists. 30 years of her life to studying martial arts and strengthening the mind, Nadine Champion is a 13–18 Location: Sydney, NSW Website: icce2020.com thought leader on courage, inner The prestigious ICCE biennial series is organised under the SEPT 2020 strength and resilience. auspices of the Coastal Engineering Research Council of INTERNATIONAL With a Gold Medal at the the Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute, American CONFERENCE Society of Civil Engineers. The 2020 conference will mark World Cup of Martial Arts and an ON COASTAL ɽȃǉќѕɽȃʰǉƃɨɰȈȶƺǉɽȃǉˎɨɰɽ::KʥƃɰȃɁɰɽǉǁȈȶ¸ɁȶǼ undefeated record as a title-holding ENGINEERING Beach, California, United States. Coastal engineering is kickboxer, Nadine embodies the a discipline of fundamental importance to Australia, the competitive edge. world’s largest nation completely surrounded by ocean. As a woman in a traditionally The ICCE promotes academic and technical exchange on coastal-related studies covering a wide range of topics, male-dominated arena, she has a including coastal waves, near-shore currents, coastal unique insight into delivering under structures, sediment transport, coastal morphology, beach pressure and the importance of nourishment, natural hazards and coastal management. keeping a sense of humour.

Secure your tickets early. 27–30 Location: Brisbane, QLD Website: chemeca2020.org Register now. SEPT 2020 Chemeca is the annual conference for the Australian and New Zealand community of chemical and process CHEMECA engineers and industrial chemists. Together, participants 2020 learn and share industry knowledge, experiences, ideas and insights that help the industry to continue to grow.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

54-55_EA49_Dec19_Events.indd 55 20/11/19 3:06 pm TECH WATCH

056 THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

56-57_EA49_Dec19_Techwatch.indd 56 20/11/19 3:06 pm 057

Morphing material This conductive and deformable material 01combines gallium indium with LCEs. Image: 02 03 Soft Machines Lab, Carnegie Mellon University Super-thin lens Underwater sensor A new stretchable material created This camera lens is 20 times thinner than a A network of these battery-free sensors could by engineers at Carnegie Mellon human hair. Image: Dan Hixson/University of collect information under the sea — or other Utah College of Engineering worlds. Image: Courtesy of the researchers/MIT University’s Soft Machines Lab can change shape and conduct heat and electricity with only a portable Engineers from the University of Researchers from the Massachusetts electronic source of power. The Utah in the United States have Institute of Technology (MIT) hope to material combines deformable liquid created a new camera lens that explore oceans on our planet — and, metal droplets of gallium indium with is lighter and thinner than potentially, on other worlds — using a liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) that traditional devices, offering the network of sensors that can send and move when they are exposed to heat. ɥɁɽǉȶɽȈƃȢǹɁɨːƃɽɽǉɨƃȶǁȴɁɨǉ receive data without relying on battery Although LCEs cannot usually conduct compact mobile phones. The lens power. By making use of piezoelectric electricity, the addition of gallium also works with thermal imaging, energy and backscatter technology, indium permits them to transmit meaning it can be used in the dark, the sensors can stay submerged current while remaining malleable. “It allowing it to have applications in beneath the ocean for months as they is not only thermally and electrically the military or on drones. Rather collect data. The sensors absorb and conductive, it is also intelligent,” says than using the traditional curved store energy when acoustic waves are Associate Professor Carmel Majidi, who surface of a lens, the University transmitted towards them. By either directs the US-based Soft Machines of Utah innovation bends light ɨǉːǉƺɽȈȶǼɁɨȶɁɽɨǉːǉƺɽȈȶǼɽȃɁɰǉ Lab. “Just like a human recoils when using a multitude of microstructures, waves back to the transmitter, the touching something hot or sharp, all of which direct the waves towards system is able to send a signal. “Once the material senses, processes, and a single sensor. “They’re not a lens you have a way to transmit ones and responds to its environment without by themselves but all working zeroes, you can send any information,” any external hardware. Because it has together to act as a lens,” says says Assistant Professor Fadel Adib, neural-like electrical pathways, it is one Electrical and Computer Engineering of the MIT Department of Electrical ɰɽǉɥƺȢɁɰǉɨɽɁƃɨɽȈˎƺȈƃȢȶǉɨʤɁʍɰɽȈɰɰʍǉӝԅ Associate Professor Rajesh Menon. Engineering and Computer Science. Potential uses for the material include “Our lens is a hundred times “Basically, we can communicate with wearable computing, healthcare, lighter and a thousand times underwater sensors based solely on robots, and more. thinner, but the performance can the incoming sound signals whose be as good as conventional lenses.” energy we are harvesting.” The Because the lens can be made out of approach allows researchers to collect plastic rather than glass, it is data from Internet of Things devices. potentially cheaper to manufacture, and its thickness is measured in microns rather than millimetres.

Semiconducting dye electronics and biosensing, and ȈȴɥɁɨɽƃȶɽȃȈǼȃȢʰǉǹˎƺȈǉȶɽƺȃƃɨǼǉ The DPP-naphthalene dye as single crystals contains Dikotopyrrolo Pyrrole transport material for perovskite solar (left) and under ultra-violet light (right). Image: (DPP) pigment — also known as cells.” It is the chemical structure of 04 Queensland University of Technology Ferrari Red. “The dye’s versatility DPP rather than its striking colour opens its application as an active that makes it effective. “Conjugated Engineers from the Queensland semiconductor,” says Associate Red pigments are fused aromatic University of Technology have created Professor Prashant Sonar, who led the organic compounds which exhibit a semiconductor by combining research into the material. “This new a crystalline nature due to their naphthalene with a pigment best dye is not only capable of exhibiting as ǉƃɰʰɰɽƃƺȟȈȶǼӗʥȃȈƺȃȈɰƹǉȶǉˎƺȈƃȢǹɁɨ known for its use in Ferrari paint. a semiconductor in organic transistor transporting charges when used in The new material can be used for devices, but can also be used as various devices,” says Sonar.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | DECEMBER 2019

56-57_EA49_Dec19_Techwatch.indd 57 20/11/19 3:06 pm KEYSTONE

058 ENGINEERS AT THE PINNACLE OF THE PROFESSION

Simon Watkins CPEng, Associate — Mechanical/Hydraulics, Irwinconsult

SPECIALISING IN BUILDING SERVICES HAS PUT SIMON WATKINS IN CHARGE OF PROJECTS FROM THE DESERT TO THE TROPICS. 03

THERE WAS no question for Simon TIPS FOR Watkins when it came to pursuing SUCCESS engineering as a career. “It’s almost in the blood,” he tells create. “My father and his grandfather Pursue working were both engineers and with my 1 for the bigger strengths at school being the sciences ﬁrms at the and maths, it was just a natural start of your choice really.” career — they Finding his particular area of often offer an expertise was a less obvious path. accelerated career Watkins only became a heating, progression path. ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) specialist when he arrived in The only Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 2 stupid “I was shown my desk and I was question is the one shown, literally, a four-foot high pile of you do not ask. drawings in the corner of the room,” he says. “And they basically said to Older and more me, you are now the HVAC expert.” 3 experienced Being in charge of air conditioning people do not is an important job in the middle of expect you to know the desert, and Watkins set about everything. Home London or Dubai, but Watkins is not once he had begun the process, it learning all he could. in on people you starved for meaty projects. came together quickly. “I was sort of a young, hungry have developed “I’m lucky enough that, with “I actually went from being not engineer, and so I just took it and ran respect for and ask Irwinconsult, I have worked on some Chartered at all to Fellowship within with it,” he says. “The opportunities them questions. of Darwin’s biggest projects this past six or seven months,” he says. just developed from there.” ǁǉƺƃǁǉӗԅȃǉɰƃʰɰɁǹɽȃǉˎɨȴƃɽʥȃȈƺȃ The market, he says, is increasingly Dubai was a boom town at the he’s worked since 2011. “We’ve just demanding the accreditation. time, and that meant, Watkins says completed a brand-new 116-bed, $160 “It’s becoming more and more that he “was working on major, major million new regional hospital that important for winning major work,” IMAGE: GLENN CAMPBELL projects from the start”. we did all engineering services for. he says. The experience set him up for And we’re currently engaged on the “There are more and more people just as substantial projects in the UK, master planning and concept design that actually want to see that an including an extension of the Channel for a new Charles Darwin University engineer has gone that extra step and tunnel that links France and England. campus in the heart of the city.” become Chartered — and not just the Darwin, where he has lived for the Watkins says he put off gaining ǉȶǼȈȶǉǉɨӗƹʍɽɽȃƃɽɽȃǉˎɨȴǹɁɨʥȃȈƺȃ past 13 years, might not be as big as Chartered status for a long time, but they work has Chartered engineers.”

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

58-60_EA49_Dec19_Keystone.indd 58 20/11/19 3:07 pm Territory Generation’s solar success with Alice Springs Battery Energy Storage System

Territory Generation’s Battery Energy Storage System FUNCTIONS (BESS) is leading the way in enabling large-scale solar The BESS provides frequency stability and voltage uptake in Alice Springs. support, known as ‘Frequency Control Ancillary Services’, As a percentage of total load, Alice Springs has one of the to the power grid. greatest uptakes of solar generation in the world. While It also enables the reduction of spinning reserves, reduces solar photovoltaic generation is great for the environment, the impact of solar generation power swings and allows solar intermittency puts pressure on grid stability. further penetration of solar on to the grid. Cloud cover causes large swings in solar generation, and While it is remotely monitored and can be operated so a significant amount of conventional ‘spinning reserve’ from the Remote Operations Centre in Darwin, the BESS generation is required to be online, ready to take the place normally operates all of its intended functions completely of solar generation. autonomously including battery condition monitoring, Even with large amounts of spinning reserve, swings fire detection and suppression and air-conditioned in solar generation can be so fast that conventional temperature regulation. generation cannot react quickly enough to take over CHALLENGES seamlessly. The swings cause frequency fluctuations and instability on the power grid, which can ultimately Grid-connected battery energy storage systems are cause load shedding (partial blackouts). relatively new and the technology is still being developed. Territory Generation’s BESS is a complex example of SPECIFICATIONS cutting edge technology in practice. Territory Generation’s BESS is a grid-connected Lithium batteries are sensitive to extremes, particularly 5 MW (nominal) lithium iron phosphate battery high temperatures. As the Alice Springs climate varies system comprised of 816 individual batteries, which from sub-zero temperatures to the high 40s, the BESS is together store up to 4.8 MWh of energy. designed specifically to cope with these weather patterns In relation to grid size, the BESS has a capacity and has as few single points of failure as possible. significantly greater than other similar systems in PERFORMANCE Australia. In response to system events, it can deliver up to 10% of the region’s highest recorded load or over half In its early stages of operation, Territory Generation’s of the minimum load. BESS is proving very robust. Very few issues have been experienced, with significant improvements to grid As a whole, the system can deliver 5 MW for up to frequency stability immediately apparent. 40 minutes, 7.5 MW for 54 seconds or 8 MW for six seconds for extreme events. It is also modular to permit possible further expansion in the future.

58-60_EA49_Dec19_Keystone.indd 59 20/11/19 3:07 pm Free trial available at technic.com.au/V5

FINITE ELEMENT PACKAGE VERIFY AND OPTIMISE YOUR DESIGNS WITH COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS®

Robotic Design made easy with COMSOL Multiphysics and the Multibody

Dynamics module. Components can be rigid or flexible and a library of joints Technic Pty Ltd included. Seamless combination with other physics such as Heat Transfer, [email protected] Structural Mechanics and Electromagnetics and analysis with nonlinear +61 (03) 6224 8690 material properties enabled. technic.com.au/V5

58-60_EA49_Dec19_Keystone.indd 60 20/11/19 3:07 pm