VOL. 9 NO.

8 SEPTEMBER 2023

ENGINEERING IDEAS INTO REALITY

THE
BIOTECH
BOOM
HOW AUSTRALIA CAN
MAKE THE MOST OF A
$10 BILLION INDUSTRY

14 40 46
OCEAN CLEAN-UP WET AND WILD PARRAMATTA SQUARE
PREVENTING PLASTIC POLLUTION A BRISBANE DRAIN GOES GREEN SYDNEY’S NEWEST CBD

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02-05_EA87_SEP23_Contents.indd 2 16/8/2023 11:40 am
 CONTENTS
003

THE JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA

VOL. 9 NO. 8 SEPTEMBER 2023

24
GETTING
MEDICAL
Despite constraints on investment
and limits on commercial
opportunities, Australia’s biotech ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA
future looks bright. NATIONAL OFFICE

11 National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600

Phone 02 6270 6555
www.engineersaustralia.org.au
[email protected]
1300 653 113

National President and Board Chair:

Nick Fleming FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER
APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus) GAICD
Chief Executive Officer:
Romilly Madew AO FTSE HonFIEAust
Board Director: Raj Aseervatham FIEAust
CPEng APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus)
Board Director: Lachlan Blackhall FIEAust FTSE
Board Director: Lucia Cade FIEAust FAICD
Board Director: Thomas Goerke FIEAust CPEng
EngExec NER GAICD
Board Director: Kourosh Kayvani FIEAust
CPEng MAICD
Board Director: Liza Maimone FIEAust CPEng
EngExec NER APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus)
Board Director: Lisa Vitaris MAICD
Group Executive, Policy and Public Affairs:
Damian Ogden CompIEAust

Publisher: Mahlab
Managing Director: Bobbi Mahlab
Editor: Joe Ennis
[email protected]
Deputy Editor: Jonathan Bradley
[email protected]
Advertising Manager:
Josh Lomas
[email protected]
COVER PHOTO: SIEMENS

Creative Director: Gareth Allsopp

Art Director: Caryn Iseman
Production Manager: Lisa Galvan

369a Darling Street, Balmain, NSW 2041

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Printed by: IVE
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ISSN 2205-5983

Opinions expressed by contributors are their own except

where they are specifically stated to be the views of
ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY Engineers Australia. Engineers Australia retains copyright
This publication has been printed using paper sourced from for this publication. Written permission is required for the
sustainable forests as certified by PEFC, an international non-profit, reproduction of any of its content. All articles are general
non-governmental organisation promoting sustainable forest in nature and readers should seek expert advice before
management globally. With more than 300 million ha of certified acting on any information contained herein.
forests, PEFC is the world’s largest forest certification system.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

10:03:43
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 CONTENTS
005

14
ENVIRONMENT
The innovators
addressing ocean EVERY
plastic problems
at the source.
ISSUE

34
MANUFACTURING
For these companies, 06 PRESIDENT’S
the circular economy
is more than
AND CEO’S
a buzzword. MESSAGE
08 YOUR SAY
53 ENGINEERING
TRENDS
55 EVENTS
56 TECH WATCH
58 KEYSTONE

40
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
A Brisbane project
turns a century-old
stormwater drain
into a modern park.
11 AI REGULATION
Like many governments
around the world, Australia is
considering how to manage
CONSTRUCTION the pitfalls and possibilities of
The innovative artificial intelligence.
building technique
used for Sydney’s
second CBD.

46
13

CREATE DIGITAL
createdigital.org.au
Check out the create
website — your best
resource for the latest
engineering news
and information from
Australia and the world.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

02-05_EA87_SEP23_Contents.indd 5 16/8/2023 11:40 am

 INSIGHT
006

FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT & THE CEO

Making life better

ENGINEERS ARE APPLYING FRESH THINKING TO IMPROVE THE

HEALTH OF OUR CITIES, OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OURSELVES.

WELCOME TO the September issue field. This country has historically been and condense design and test phases
of create. After a mild winter, spring over-represented in inventions of projects and minimise disruption
has arrived with its blue skies, new and innovations that changed the during renewal and upgrade works to
growth and swooping magpies. world — or at least made life better. critical infrastructure.
Construction sites across the The Cochlear implant is a It’s vital that AI can be put
country, at least those in the southern household name, but what about to its best use to advance society
states, have said goodbye to cold, wearable tech that interprets but that this progress is measured
dark mornings and are basking in the biometric information from newborns and sustainable.
warm, but not yet too hot, days. or the elderly, or takes heart attack We are only beginning to
At Hanlon Park in Brisbane, the diagnoses down from five hours to understand the vast potential of AI; so
locals and the wildlife are enjoying a 10 minutes? too the risks.
free-flowing creek where a concrete As with their forebears, Australian It’s important that our policymakers
stormwater drain once stood, courtesy engineers are making remarkable and agenda-setters keep in touch with
of a naturalisation project that called gains in the field but, as many a past the STEM community to move forward
on a visionary local government and an generation will attest, the local industry at a pace that doesn’t disadvantage
innovative team of engineers. has some growing to do before it can Australia in the race to capitalise on
Such green spaces are integral support the breadth of talent this AI without barrelling headlong into
to our cities, providing habitat country can produce. a situation history may judge harshly.

“This country has historically been

over-represented in inventions and
innovations that changed the world.”
for urban wildlife, open space A uniform approach to expanding
for recreation and cooling, and green the profession will help the sector
tracts for cleaner air and water. We develop so local innovations can find a
take a look at this commendable commercial market here and Australian
project, which will be enjoyed for industry can reap the benefits.
generations to come. Rather than losing our valuable
It’s with an eye to the future graduates overseas, we could attract
that a dedicated team of scientists international expertise to our shores.
and engineers is developing new Around the globe, we see
biodegradable materials to save momentum gathering on the
the oceans from plastic waste. approach to artificial intelligence (AI).
Read how polymers derived In this issue, read how Engineers
from seaweed aim to prevent plastic Australia is participating in debates
pollution from entering the ocean and to help Australia establish ethical and
Dr Nick Fleming Romilly Madew AO
harming marine life, as well as new viable guidelines on the acceptable FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER FTSE HonFIEAust,
uses for waste wool and human hair. use of AI. APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus) GAICD, Chief Executive Officer
National President rmadew@
Our cover story this month looks This powerful tool has great
nationalpresident@ engineersaustralia.org.au
at developments in the bio-medical implications in engineering, to refine engineersaustralia.org.au

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

06-07_EA87_SEP23_CEO.indd 6 16/8/2023 11:41 am

 Gala dinner | 29 November

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Book tickets →

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 YO U R SAY

DEBATE AND DISCUSSION BY CREATE READERS

Getting energy right

There is an obvious solution to the expensive. This cost scales up with the
sustainable energy problem (“Negative proportion of renewables we
emissions,” create July 2023) which are trying to integrate. Again, why
we choose to continuously ignore: have we done this?
nuclear power. It is safe, stable, reliable,
controllable and emissions free. We still have no clear idea of what
It is also the cheapest way to the final cost of this will be, but for
generate baseload electric power integration costs alone it will be in the
essential for the grid to be able range of hundreds of billions of dollars,
to operate. and probably much, much more.
Solar, wind and batteries are not Shouldn’t this uncertainty, and risk,
the answer as they are intermittent, concern us as engineers?
unstable, unreliable, uncontrollable
and unaffordable, and thus cannot We will lock in fossil fuels
generate baseload power. Also, a because 100 per cent renewable
“black” start would be impossible. energy is even now recognised as
You cannot run a power grid from incredibly expensive. Multi-week
uncontrollable generators. wind lulls dictate dispatchables,
as battery storage will not scale
NATHANIEL BULL cost-effectively. We are thus still
locking in fossil fuels to the energy
mix. Is failure acceptable then?
Questions to consider
welcomes The cost of power will go up as
feedback from renewables increase, just as it has
the community Having watched, with some wherever renewables achieve a
bemusement, the slow-motion train significant share of the energy market.
Do you know of wreck of our energy transition in Do we really expect industry and
an exciting project Australia I’d like to put the following consumers will appreciate power that
we should write questions to my colleagues: is both less reliable and more costly?
about? Is there
an outstanding Perhaps it’s time for us as a profession
engineer in to speak up, loudly, and shape a new
your midst? “There is an obvious course for the nation.
Are you working
on an innovative solution to the sustainable MATTHEW SQUAIR CPENG
technology that
you’d like to share energy problem which we
with your fellow choose to continuously The engineer’s toolkit
members? Are
there engineers
out there doing
ignore: nuclear power.” I am so pleased to see artificial
their bit to help the intelligence and machine learning
community? Do you being referred to as tools (“Mind
want to comment The only technologies that we at work,” create June 2023), which
on an article you’ve actually know have been successful in will enable humans to excel. Way
read in create? deep decarbonising electricity grids to go! But we need to make many
are geothermal, nuclear and hydro. It is commentators in industry aware
Email letters@ entirely speculative that wind and solar of this instead of them assuming
engineersaustralia. will work. Why have we opted for the “expert status” and derailing the
org.au and we’ll be highest risk option? much-needed training to use
pleased to consider these tools.
your suggestions. When we consider integration
costs, wind and solar are the most OLLENCIO D’SOUZA

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 NEWS
011

F UTUR E TH IN K ING | NEW TEC HNO LO GY

ms

Risk and
reward
WHEN IT COMES TO BALANCING
INNOVATION AND REGULATION FOR
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, THE INPUT
OF ENGINEERS IS INVALUABLE.

THE RECENT acceleration

in artificial intelligence (AI)
capability has stirred the
imagination of the public, but
also increased fears of what
implications this seemingly
revolutionary technology
might have.
As pressure grows for
regulators to place safeguards
on the uses of AI, Engineers
Australia has heeded the
Australian government’s call
for submissions on how to
support responsible uses of
these systems. data. This will lead to greater “It has reached a stage where
The government has also productivity, freeing up engineers it is a lot more versatile than it
sought advice on how generative to be more innovative.” used to be,” he said.
AI — programs such as the large Engineers Australia’s “We are using a technology
language model ChatGPT — might Information, Telecommunications that is just another tool in our
shape the future of education. and Electronics Engineering toolbox that we can use to design
“AI has the potential for (ITEE) College, contributed to the and build. So in that respect, we
significant transformation Engineers Australia submissions. have to manage the risks that are
in the future of engineering ITEE Chair Peter Stepien associated with it.”
in ways we are just starting told create that while AI has Stepien said it was important
to understand,” said Damian been around for a long time, to embrace the benefits that AI
Ogden, Engineers Australia’s it has evolved. can deliver.
Group Executive for Policy
and Public Affairs.
“It will alter how engineering “AI HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
is taught and assessed. In the
workplace, it can optimise
TRANSFORMATION IN THE FUTURE OF
design processes, improve ENGINEERING IN WAYS WE ARE JUST
modelling and help extract
more meaningful insights from STARTING TO UNDERSTAND.”

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 NEWS
013

“But, of course, in everything

that engineers do, we always
complete a risk analysis — and
this is a technical and safety risk
analysis, to ensure that whatever
we were designing is going to be
safe,” he said.
“We must not build something
that’s unsafe, and AI would still
fit into that framework.
“However, I think the
government wants to make
a special case of AI, given
that it’s so different to what we
would normally consider as
being a traditional engineered
approach to a problem, which
is more deterministic.
“While AI is, in principle,
deterministic, it still lends itself
to providing a wide variety of
responses for a given input. That benefits while safeguarding to have some verification
makes it a little bit different.” professionals, educators, that a particular design is
That, Stepien said, explains why students and the community.” working correctly.
governments are approaching the “The approach must prioritise “So some governments
technology cautiously. regulation for AI systems around the world, that’s what
“And I think rightly so,” with high-risk implications, they’re doing. They’re saying,
he added. ensuring public protection while here is the risk associated with
“They want to ensure that maximising the benefits of these the use of AI, and depending
the risks they can mitigate systems and ensuring Australia upon where it sits, they either
by legislation [are addressed]. can develop an internationally regulate that area or they
But at the same time, I don’t think competitive AI industry.” don’t regulate.”
they want to hinder creativity in Stepien said an important Ogden described input
this space.” place on which to focus AI from engineers as “critical” to
And this is playing out on regulation was in its use in the AI debate.
an international scale too: critical systems, where failure “AI will not only impact the
governments want to ensure would have a significantly profession, but it is engineers
that they are not hindering detrimental effect. who are developing these
their own AI development and “We don’t want to have technologies and it will be
allowing competing nations to the government regulate and engineers who integrate them
get ahead of them. ABOVE (from top): hinder the use of AI in places into current and future systems,”
That means, Ogden said, Damian Ogden, where it can be used safely,” he said.
Engineers Australia,
properly deploying regulation Peter Stepien, ITEE. he said. “The more diverse
to reduce the risk of bias and “But we want to make sure perspectives we hear from,
misinformation. In that regard, that in places where it can cause the greater chance we have
he has found that Engineers a hazard, the government does at shaping policy which is
Australia’s members’ views align have some regulation. fit-for-purpose and supports
well with what the government “And this comes down to AI in the future.”
has been saying. mainly critical systems. We need JO N AT H A N B R A D LEY
“We have been speaking to
many members with strong
experience in this field, and our “WE DON’T WANT TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT
perspective on AI aligns quite
well with what we are hearing REGULATE AND HINDER THE USE OF AI IN PLACES
from government,” he said.
“We are advocating for a
WHERE IT CAN BE USED. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
balanced approach — regulatory THAT IN PLACES WHERE IT CAN CAUSE A HAZARD,
and non-regulatory
measures — to harness AI’s THE GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE SOME REGULATION.”

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

10-13_EA87_SEP23_News.indd 13 16/8/2023 11:42 am

 ENVIRONMENT

014

WORDS BY MICHELLE WHEELER

SEA CHANGE

There are cultures of sensitive Uluu uses seaweed to produce

saltwater microbes, and a polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHAs,
basement full of pressure vessels a material with the potential to
tended by the team’s resident replace many if not all plastics.
THE WORLD’S OCEANS “seaweed cooker”. “PHAs is a natural material, just
ARE ESTIMATED TO The team is trying to develop like cotton and silk and paper,
CONTAIN MORE THAN an alternative to plastic that’s that nature knows and can get rid
170 TRILLION PIECES good for the world. of,” Reisser said. “But it has this
OF PLASTIC. MEET THE In charge of the laboratory superpower of mimicking those
AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES is Uluu co-founder and co-chief properties that we love about
MAKING WAVES IN executive Dr Julia Reisser. She plastic and that we need. It’s
started Uluu to create new lightweight, durable, it melts and
OCEAN CLEAN-UP. materials from farmed seaweed. re-melts, it has good oxygen and
“We’re still missing a truly moisture barriers … with the big

I
compelling alternative [to] fossil difference of being biocompatible
N WATERMANS Bay, a quiet plastic,” Reisser said. “And the and truly biodegradable.”
Perth suburb best known for its reason for that is twofold. One is Reisser points to timber as an
million-dollar houses and ocean on the feedstock [raw material] example of a material that’s strong
views, something is brewing. A side … we currently [produce] and durable, yet biodegradable.
team of scientists, engineers and more than 400 million tonnes “A wooden table is not going to
entrepreneurs has assembled of plastic a year. Then on last forever like a plastic one will,”
a beachside laboratory with a the material side, we can’t she said. “But because it’s so thick
walk-in freezer of seaweed from live without plastic as a and used in an environment where
around the world. modern society.” the moisture is low [and] there is

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

14-23_EA87_SEP23_Oceanclean.indd 14 16/8/2023 11:42 am

 015

not so many microorganisms, it Instead, Uluu’s

can last a long time. If you dump a seaweed-eating microbes
whole table in the ocean, it’s going produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- IN THE WEEDS
to take months to degrade. But it co-3-hydroxyvalerate) — PHBV — a How Uluu’s PHAs are made
will eventually — and it’s the same co-polymer that’s more flexible
with PHAs.” than PHB. 1. FARM SEAWEED
Reisser, a marine scientist, One research and Uluu buys seaweed from Indonesia,
BELOW: Uluu
began studying plastic pollution development area on which engineer Jesús the world’s second largest producer
after discovering turtles eating Rodríguez is focused is Rodríguez (right) of farmed seaweed (pictured below).
at the company’s
plastic in her native Brazil. fine-tuning the properties pilot production
She was one of the earliest of Uluu’s PHAs for different facility with plant
members of The Ocean Cleanup, applications by adding tiny operator Chris
Phillips.
a Dutch not-for-profit developing amounts of secret ingredients BELOW RIGHT:
technology to remove plastic from to the Uluu fermenters. Samples of
the seas. That includes producing (from left) Uluu’s
seaweed, PHAs
But as time went on, Ressier PHAs that could replace polyester and pellets.
realised she was tackling the in the fashion industry.
symptoms rather than the problem.
“I wanted to be more
upstream,” she said. “It’s such 2. HYDROLYSIS
a massive problem that it’s hard The team breaks down the
to just clean it up.” carbohydrates in the seaweed into
fermentable sugars in a process called
A BEAUTIFUL IDEA hydrolysis — cooking the seaweed. The
Dr Jesús Rodríguez, an result is a liquid full of seaweed sugars
agro-industrial engineer from and a solid by-product.
Venezuela, moved to Australia
to join the Uluu team. 3. FERMENTATION
Rodríguez had been The sugar-rich liquid goes into a
researching PHAs in Italy but fermenter containing saltwater
wanted to use his expertise to microbes that can digest the seaweed
start PHA production rather than sugar and make PHAs. These PHAs
write reports. are the carbon storage system of the
“The idea of Uluu, for me, was microbes, serving a function similar
beautiful,” he said. to human fat.
Rodríguez was attracted to the
idea of using farmed seaweed. “WE HAVE A FEW MILLION 4. EXTRACT PHAS
Companies in other parts of the
world are producing PHAs, but
TONNES PER YEAR OF The cells are exploded using a unique
water-based method that removes the
they’re made with glucose from SEAWEED THAT’S PRODUCED, PHAs, a white powder, from inside
corn or sugarcane. the microbial cells.
“The cost of the PHAs is BUT IF WE WANT TO FULFIL
too high, and you interfere
with the food of the people,”
OUR AMBITION, WE REALLY 5. MAKE PELLETS
The powder is melted into pellets that
Rodríguez said. NEED TO BE FINDING WAYS can be extruded into any plastic form,
PHAs are natural polymers including films, rigids, coatings and
and are very versatile. Through TO SCALE THAT.” fibres. These pellets can be sold to
bioprospecting, many different manufacturers and used to produce
kinds have been discovered Ambitions the size of Uluu’s everyday items like packaging,
in nature. don’t come without risks. furniture, car parts and clothing.
According to Rodríguez, Global production of farmed
different microbes produce seaweed would have to increase
different types of PHA, and what dramatically to replace the
the microbes are fed also changes plastics produced each year. It
the material they produce. takes about 10 kg of seaweed to
Most of what is currently produce one kilogram of PHAs.
being commercialised is a PHA “We have a few million tonnes
named polyhydroxybutyrate per year of seaweed that’s
(PHB). It’s strong but too brittle produced,” Reisser said. “But if
for most applications. we want to fulfil our ambition,
we really need to be working on

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

14-23_EA87_SEP23_Oceanclean.indd 15 16/8/2023 11:42 am

 ENVIRONMENT

016

the ground with the farmers and

finding ways to scale that.”
The technology also has
challenges. Uluu is currently
piloting its technology with
premium fermenters used in
the pharmaceutical industry
to produce vaccines. But, to scale
the technology, Uluu will have
to employ giant fermentation
facilities more akin to the ethanol
and brewing industries.
“It’s a journey,” Reisser said.
“But I’m a true believer that
fermentation, or synthetic
biology … is going to be the future
for a few commodities. Not only
biopolymers, like us, but also
lab-grown protein.”
Reisser believes Uluu can
one day compete with the
cost of plastics produced from
fossil fuels. That path includes
selling the protein-rich, vegan
by-products of the production
process as aquaculture feed or
protein powders.
“It’s very risky, the kind of thing
“IT’S VERY RISKY, Hardman developed mobile
recycling stations, usually housed
that we’re doing, and we need the THE KIND OF THING THAT in shipping containers, that could
best engineers, the best scientists,” be sent to islands and other
Reisser said. “But I think the great WE’RE DOING, AND WE NEED remote communities with limited
thing is: if you do nail that, you
can turn a problem into something
THE BEST ENGINEERS, THE waste infrastructure.
“I thought if every small
that’s actually good.” BEST SCIENTISTS.” community could have small
mobile recycling equipment, then
GIVING PLASTICS VALUE that would start to get the value
Like Reisser, Plastic Collective of the materials,” she said. “They
founder and chief executive could basically make products
Louise Hardman was inspired that they needed, like benches or
to tackle ocean plastics after fence posts or whatever’s useful
working with turtles. in the community.”
ABOVE: Uluu
The zoologist was leading a co-founders Dr A typical Plastic Collective
turtle research project more than Julia Reisser set-up has equipment to break
(left) and Michael
25 years ago when she discovered down plastics, such as shredders,
Kingsbury in front
a dying green turtle that had of a PHA-producing granulators, small balers and
eaten plastic hidden in seagrass. fermenter. RIGHT: digital scales.
Louise Hardman,
Hardman went on to work in Plastic Collective.
Some communities choose to
environmental education before simply sell the shredded plastic,
founding her business in 2016. while others create new products
“At the time, there was a lot with manufacturing equipment
of media around sperm whales like extruders, injection moulders
eating plastic bags, turtles with and compression moulders.
straws in their nose,” she said. The company’s early designs
“And I just felt really where much of the world’s plastic for recycling machines were
disempowered. I needed to waste enters the ocean. based on those from Dutch open
work out a solution to empower “A lot of them will be either hardware project Precious Plastic.
myself to empower others.” burning, dumping or throwing Hardman later worked
Hardman started looking at the rubbish into the rivers or the with engineers to increase the
communities in the Asia-Pacific, environment, simply because of capacity of the equipment and
high transport costs, low incomes …
and poor infrastructure,” she said.

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 ENVIRONMENT

019

r
She was amazed by the
amount of plastics and other
rubbish washing up on the region’s
otherwise pristine beaches.
Tait decided to hold a
community clean-up to understand
where it was coming from.
“I think we did 30 beaches
between capes Naturaliste and
Leeuwin over a weekend, and
then we held a workshop a
couple of weeks later to look at
the data,” she said. “The idea was
to identify sources and see if we
could do something about it.”
The group recognised that the
packing tape washing up onshore
was from bait boxes used by the
local rock lobster industry.
They looked for alternatives
and found a self-locking
cardboard box in South
Australia, then decided to work
“THEY NEEDED TO BE PRETTY MUCH with the industry and the state
government on a solution.
BOMBPROOF AND RUSTPROOF, BECAUSE “It took a while,” Tait said.
“But six years later, in 2011, they
YOU’RE WORKING IN A SALTY ENVIRONMENT. actually changed the legislation

YOU’VE GOT INSECTS, YOU’VE GOT HUMIDITY.” and it became illegal to have

d
packing tape on commercial and
recreational fishing vessels in the
make it more reliable in remote, state of WA.
tropical locations. “For us, that was really
“They needed to be pretty proof-of-concept that you could
much bombproof [and] rustproof, take citizen science data, as long
because you’re working in a as you collected it in a robust
salty environment,” she said. manner, you engaged the right
“You’ve got insects, you’ve got stakeholders, you came up with
humidity. All of those factors had a solution and you had a way to
to be taken into account when measure the impact.”
[designing] these containers.” Today, Tait is the founder and
Plastic Collective’s recycling chief executive of the Tangaroa
infrastructure is up and running Blue Foundation, a not-for-profit
in communities in Indonesia, dedicated to the removal and
Malaysia and Australia, with “That also provides a bit of a prevention of marine debris.
plans for more sites in Indigenous negotiation point for the sale of She also created the Australian
communities in northern materials,” she said. Marine Debris Initiative, a network
Australia, Papua New Guinea Ultimately, Hardman said of volunteers and partners that
and island communities in plastic only becomes waste when collects and categorises rubbish.
the Pacific. it’s not worth anything. TOP LEFT: A Plastic The initiative boasts more than
Collective recycling
As well as equipment, the “Plastic is a material,” she said. 30,000 clean-ups, with volunteers
facility. ABOVE:
company provides training and “If we give it value, we recover A typical Plastic meticulously logging the rubbish
links to buyers. the value and we don’t throw Collective set-up. they find and trying to stop it
Hardman said recovered ocean it away, which means it doesn’t through “source reduction plans”.
plastic is highly sought after by become pollution.” Projects range from reducing
manufacturers, and communities cigarette butts from rugby league
can command premium prices STOP IT AT THE SOURCE patrons in Townsville to working
for plastic recovered from places In 2004, Heidi Tait was with the plastics industry to stop
like coral reef restoration areas or working as a diving instructor the loss of resin pellets during
turtle nesting grounds. near Margaret River in manufacturing and transport.
Western Australia.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

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 ENVIRONMENT

021

With more than 23 million

data points, the Australian
Marine Debris Initiative is the
biggest database of its kind
in the Southern Hemisphere,
and one of the largest in
the world.
“It tells you really clearly that
what’s washing up on a beach in
Cape York is completely different
to what is washing up on a beach
in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay,”
Tait said.
“You can’t just say we’re
LEFT: Heidi going to do ‘this’ and it’ll fix the
Tait, Tangaroa problem; you need to look at a
Blue Foundation.
very regional setting. And the
data helps you to understand
where to start.”
Tait sees opportunities for
engineers in retrofitting existing
storm infrastructure to stop waste
from washing into the ocean, and
producing products that last or
can be repaired.
“If all you do is clean up, that’s
all you’ll ever do,” she said. “We
need to find ways of stopping the
source, otherwise, we’ll just be
cleaning up forever.”

“IF ALL YOU DO IS CLEAN UP,

THAT’S ALL YOU’LL EVER DO.
WE NEED TO FIND WAYS OF
STOPPING THE SOURCE.”

THE OCEAN CLEANUP

One of the world’s best known marine the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a
plastic organisations is The Ocean concentration of floating debris in the
Cleanup, a Dutch not-for-profit Pacific Ocean.
developing and scaling technologies The technology consists of a long
to remove vast quantities of plastic U-shaped barrier — up to 2.5 km in
from the seas. length — that’s slowly pulled through
IMAGE: JAMESMCPHERSONPHOTOGRAPHY.COM;

Founded in 2013 by 18-year-old the water, guiding the plastic into a

RIGHT: An
entrepreneur Boyan Slat, The Ocean retention zone at its far end. Ocean Cleanup
Cleanup now boasts more than But the organisation’s early designs Interceptor
120 engineers, scientists, computer recovered relatively small amounts of deployed
in Guatemala.
modellers and support staff working debris and attracted criticism from
to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. the scientific community for being
The organisation has ambitious expensive and a potential risk to
THE OCEAN CLEANUP

aims, including the removal of marine life.

90 per cent of floating ocean plastic The Ocean Cleanup is also
by 2040. developing “Interceptor” solutions for
The Ocean Cleanup has designed rivers, which aim to stop new plastic
several systems to collect rubbish from entering the ocean.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

14-23_EA87_SEP23_Oceanclean.indd 21 16/8/2023 11:42 am

 Transition Test #1
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traditional Engineering methodologies
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Transition Test #2
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A problem was identified and through

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Transition Test #1
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 COVER FEATURE

024

PICTURE
WORDS BY ELLE HARDY

OF HEALTH
CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH, GROUNDBREAKING
TECHNOLOGIES AND PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS
ARE REVOLUTIONISING HEALTHCARE AND
IMPROVING PATIENT OUTCOMES.

W
HEN BIOMEDICAL The three cutting-edge fields of
signals and systems biotech, med tech and health tech
engineer Dr Arman are interdisciplinary fields that
Ahnood wanted to create a tool to combine principles of engineering,
identify bilirubin concentration in medicine and biology to develop
the blood of newborns, he turned innovative solutions, medical
to consumer electronics. devices and technologies to
Specifically, a $20 pulse enhance diagnosis, treatment
oximeter sensor developed for and patient care.
activity trackers such as Fitbit. Many see this form of
As Ahnood prepared to start personalised medicine, which
pilot clinical trials, he told create uses wearables, real-time
the technology “will allow us monitoring and advanced
to determine whether they’re analytics, as the next frontier
at risk of developing later of healthcare.
stage disease”. While everyone knows
Ahnood believes that, if Cochlear, the bionic ear that
successful, it will be useful for is heralded as one of Australia’s
regional areas where people greatest innovations, local
don’t have immediate access to biomed continues to face a RIGHT: Siemens’s
Melbourne
hospital facilities. number of challenges. laboratory, where
“If we can detect elevated Lack of access to the company
bilirubin concentration in the first capital, limited support for is producing
influenza vaccines.
24 hours, we can administer very commercialisation and a lack
simple treatments,” he said. of coordination between funding
“If we lose that window of bodies and industry are chief
opportunity, there are long-term among them.
consequences that could result in Yet, in spite of this, biomed is
disability — or even death.” still a thriving, $10 billion industry.

“IF WE CAN DETECT ELEVATED BILIRUBIN

CONCENTRATION IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS, WE
CAN ADMINISTER VERY SIMPLE TREATMENTS.”

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

24_33_EA87_SEP23_coverstory.indd 24 16/8/2023 1:29 pm

 025

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

24_33_EA87_SEP23_coverstory.indd 25 16/8/2023 11:43 am

 COVER FEATURE

026

If Australia can up its game,

engineers hope that, one day,
consumer products will be the
ones learning from biomed.
“We produce a high number of
biomedical engineering graduates
in Australia,” said Kelly Coverdale,
chair of Engineers Australia’s
Biomedical College.
“But we don’t have a well
established industry base to
support their employment.”
While Australia is
conducting a great deal of
exciting biomedical and medtech
research, Coverdale said, there
is generally more opportunities
in research than in product
development, as that area
continues to be prioritised
for funding.

ON TREND
Whether it’s in regenerative
medicine, bioinformatics,
medical imaging, biomaterials,
prosthetics, telemedicine or
artificial intelligence in healthcare,
some Australian pioneers are
trying to ensure the nation sees “WE PRODUCE A HIGH NUMBER OF
a “brain gain”.
“One of the challenges in
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING GRADUATES IN
Australia is that about two thirds AUSTRALIA. BUT WE DON’T HAVE A WELL
of engineering innovation gets
done in universities. In the US, ESTABLISHED INDUSTRY BASE TO SUPPORT
it’s the other way around,” said
Professor Mark Kendall, the
THEIR EMPLOYMENT.”
biomedical engineer and inventor
TOP: Professor
behind skin sensor technology Mark Kendall,
In a similar vein is
WearOptimo. WearOptimo. Nutromics, co-founded by
“There’s a different attitude RIGHT and chemical engineer and
BELOW RIGHT:
towards risk appetite in Using the
entrepreneur Peter Vranes.
Australia — in terms of how capital WearOptimo skin The firm is creating a patch
gets deployed — than those larger sensor technology. that can be worn on the back
funds that are based, for instance, of the arm and uses needles
in the US. So there’s more work to only two millimetres long to
be done on that front.” access the interstitial fluid
Kendall made the decision to under the skin.
launch WearOptimo in Australia Vranes told create that one
to help the local innovation application for the technology,
ecosystem and try to spur which includes the first
a bigger industry. commercial use of electrodes
Former Formula One driver coated with DNA sensors, is to
Mark Webber is an investor and treat heart attacks.
ABOVE: Kelly
strategic partner in WearOptimo’s Coverdale, chair
“Chest pain protocol sees
first product, a dehydration sensor of Engineers blood drawn to measure troponin,
that will help elite athletes, military Australia’s and it takes five to six hours to
Biomedical
personnel, mining workers and, College. diagnose,” he said.
eventually, the elderly monitor “A troponin sensor on our
their hydration levels. patch can begin streaming data

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

24_33_EA87_SEP23_coverstory.indd 26 16/8/2023 1:29 pm

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24_33_EA87_SEP23_coverstory.indd 27 16/8/2023 11:43 am

 COVER FEATURE

028

immediately and reduce that time

to 10 minutes.”
Rounding out the impressive
collection of wearables pioneers
is Goldilocks, a baby-monitoring
system woven into a cotton
jumpsuit that helps stressed
new parents address their
babies’ needs.
“We have two thermistors:
RIGHT: Nutromics
one for core temperature CEO Peter Vranes
and one for skin temperature, (right) with Senior
as well as an accelerometer gyro, R&D Scientist Mars
Harrison (left)
which sits on the diaphragm and CFO Rowan
and detects things like breathing Wilkie. BELOW:
waveforms and gross motor The wearable
Nutromics device.
movements,” said Shem Richards,
medical device engineer and
Goldilocks co-founder.
Hooking up to a proprietary
artificial intelligence, the system
tells parents some steps that their
clinician consultants recommend
to help resolve the identified
issue — and, if necessary, connects
them to telehealth help.
In the next year, Richards said
Goldilocks will be launching a
“THE CHALLENGE WAS CREATING
product for dementia patients, A DEVICE WHICH WOULD ACHIEVE WHAT
woven into a shirt with silver
fabric technology. A PLATE CAN ACHIEVE. WE HAD TO ENSURE
“It will monitor things such as
falls through gait analysis [and]
THAT WHAT WE CREATED WOULD GET
PURCHASE PROXIMATELY AND DISTALLY.”

TIMELINE: AUSTRALIAN INNOVATIONS

1990s

Pioneering
1980s

Oral bronchitis heart transplant

1970s

vaccine surgeon Dr Victor

Broncostat is Chang creates
developed by an artificial heart
Professor Dr valve at Sydney’s
Technegas, a Robert Clancy St Vincent’s
The CPAP system carbon-based at the University CSIRO scientists Hospital.
for treatment nanoparticle of Newcastle, design “gene A technique
Professor Graeme of sleep apnoea invented by Dr reducing shears” — RNA using plastic rods
Clark’s bionic ear is developed Richard Fawdry acute bronchitis molecules that in place of metal
changes the lives by Professor and Dr Bill Burch, attacks by up to cut messenger pins and screws is
of millions and Colin Sullivan of is used to help 90 per cent. RNA, removing its developed by Dr
puts Australia Sydney University lung ventilation ability to convey Michael Ryan and
on the map and later scanning for disease-causing Dr Stephen Ruff
as a biotech commercialised pulmonary genetic at Sydney’s North
innovator. by firm ResMed. embolism. information. Shore Hospital.

1979 1981 1985 1987 1987 1991 1991

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

24_33_EA87_SEP23_coverstory.indd 28 17/8/2023 10:10 am

 029

and other patients get back to

work quickly.
whether they’ve remembered The device is the difference,
to turn on the air conditioner he told create, between major
through body temperature, surgery separating soft tissues
as well as sleep and sleep and disturbing the fracture,
apnoea,” he said. and a small incision that uses a
cannulated drill and screws the
RESEARCH INNOVATIONS NX Nail into the bone, requiring
ABOVE: Shem
Richards, Hand surgeon Dr Greg Couzens only one stitch.
Goldilocks. LEFT: has developed a device called “The challenge was creating a
Slipping the NX Nail in conjunction with device which would achieve what
Goldilocks module
into clothing. biomedical engineering firm a plate can achieve,” he said.
BELOW: Inside Field Orthopaedics, which “A plate reduces the fracture
the module.
he uses to help AFL players and sits on the bone, ensuring
it has the correct rotation. We
had to ensure that what we
created would get purchase
proximately and distally, [and]
be small enough and strong
enough to fit inside the bone.”
His collaborator on the
design, Michael Maurer, the vice
president of technology at Field
Orthopaedics, said that the device
was specifically designed from
computerised tomography data
and has a compaction taper to
achieve implant stability.
“We’re also promoting healing
through our material selection,”
he said.
LEFT: Implanting
the NX Nail device.
“We’re utilising a specialty
titanium alloy that has extremely
good biocompatibility and also
2000s

Researchers at The first

The world’s A CSIRO team the University modular self-fit
first multifocal led by Dr Peter of Wollongong hearing aid
contact lens Waterhouse develop the is released,
is developed discovers that Biopen, a device Melbourne allowing users
by research double-stranded which acts like medical with dexterity
scientist Stephen RNA triggers Victorian a 3D printer researchers problems to
Newman in RNA interference, scientists in to deposit identify a way self-manage
Queensland. known as RNAi collaboration Professor Ian regenerative of analysing their own
or gene silencing. with the CSIRO Frazer from the stem cells on RNA fragments hearing aids.
Perth surgeon develop anti-flu University of damaged bone in a mother’s
Dr Fiona Wood’s vaccine Relenza, Queensland, and cartilage. blood that
spray-on skin a neuraminidase in conjunction indicates oxygen
reduces skin inhibitor with researchers and nutrient
culturing for developed by in the United deprivation
burns victims the Australian States, creates a in a foetus,
from 21 days to biotech firm preventative for which can help
five days. Biota Holdings. cervical cancer. prevent stillbirths.

1992 1995 1996 2006 2011 2013 2018

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 C O V ETRE CF H
EAN TOUL RG EY

031

D
down to the controller level
as well as the building
management solution.”
Until recently, much of
is a great way to connect the pharmaceutical manufacturing
innovator to the end user, and control involved using paper
“answers many of the key and pens.
questions around commercialising “A multivitamin you buy at
biomed tech in Australia”. the supermarket traditionally
had 50 to 150 physical pages of
COLLABORATIVE SUCCESS handwritten notes,” he said.
If a picture is emerging of the “What we provide the
has stiffness that more closely industry, it is one of a small pharmaceutical biotech sector
resembles that of bone compared space where collaboration is is the digitalisation of their
to other implant material critical to success. processes and products both
that’s used.” Siemens, one of the world’s through hardware and software.
Sydney-based startup largest technology firms, knows “These are often complete
ARIA Research has embarked this better than most. digital twins of processes and
on a fundraising campaign It is working with CSL Seqirus, paperwork all the way down to
for its innovation, which the world’s second largest widgets — for example, a sensor
provides blind people with TOP: The NX Nail influenza vaccine provider, in for how many people are in
a visual perspective through implant. ABOVE: its project making flu vaccines the room, or others to measure
Hand surgeon
hearing — a much simpler, Dr Greg Couzens at a facility in Melbourne. temperature and pressure levels.”
cheaper to access and less (top) and Field The state-of-the-art facility
n invasive approach to a solution Orthopaedics
collaborator
will supply influenza vaccines AI DIAGNOSIS
compared to a bionic eye. Michael Maurer. to Australia and the rest of the Far beyond paper and pen,
CEO and co-founder world, plus Australian antivenenes artificial intelligence (AI) is
e Robert Yearsley told create and Q-fever vaccine. being increasingly integrated
that ARIA is the world’s first “Where we come in is the into healthcare systems — and
non-invasive bionic vision plant-wide automation,” explained Australian researchers are at
system — “an analogue for how Howard Sachs, a digital architect the forefront of developing
dolphins echolocate, but for advisor at Siemens. AI-based solutions.
humans”, he said. “This includes the One notable innovation is the
Yearsley said that the manufacturing execution development of AI algorithms that
firm is “pioneering a new system — the technology stack analyse medical imaging data,
type of relationship with the that sits below the enterprise such as X-rays and magnetic
[National Disability Insurance resource planning software, resonance imagery, to detect
Scheme], because one of their
biggest problems is getting
good data on the effectiveness “WHAT WE PROVIDE THE PHARMACEUTICAL
of assistive technology on
the ground.” BIOTECH SECTOR IS THE DIGITALISATION OF
To this end, he said that
working with the world’s largest
THEIR PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS BOTH
single disability marketplace THROUGH HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE.”
ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

24_33_EA87_SEP23_coverstory.indd 31 16/8/2023 11:43 am

 COVER FEATURE

032

Know your biotech

Biotech tends to be a catch-all word

for the confluence of medicine and
technology, but practitioners divide
the field into three distinct,
if overlapping, areas.

BIOTECHNOLOGY is technology
based on knowledge of living
LEFT: Siemens
is introducing
organisms and uses biomolecular
digitalised and cellular processes to develop
processes into the things such as new medicines and
pharmaceutical
industry.
diagnostic tools. Biotech firms
conduct groundbreaking research
and development to find new
ways to do everything from
treating rare diseases to improving
“THE CAPACITY OF STATE-OF-THE-ART AI TO manufacturing processes.

RECOGNISE OBSCURE AND MINUSCULE PATTERNS MED TECH, sometimes called bio
WITHIN MULTIMODAL, MULTIDIMENSIONAL MEDICAL med, means using technology for
products, services and solutions that
IMAGES IS ON PAR WITH, AND SOMETIMES improve people’s lives. Most people

SURPASSES, THE ABILITY OF HUMAN EXPERTS.” experience med tech in devices, from
pregnancy tests to prosthetic limbs,
while in hospitals it is the systems that
diseases and abnormalities with on existing manual and can save lives through monitoring and
high accuracy. labour-intensive workflows. complex surgical tools.
Dr Antonios Perperidis, “A key benefit of integrating
research engineer and fellow reliable AI algorithms in radiology HEALTH TECH, often called the
at the Australian Institute for practice is AI’s capacity to fastest growing vertical within the
Machine Learning and Artificial analyse vast, multidimensional healthcare sector, is the technology
Intelligence Lead for the Women’s data and monitor miniscule applications that enhance the
and Children’s Hospital, said patterns consistently while delivery of healthcare services.
that there’s a wide range of overcoming issues like operator Think wearables, AI diagnostics,
methodologies for producing fatigue, incomplete data search, electronic healthcare records and
algorithms that can analyse satisfaction syndrome and inter telemedicine platforms.
medical imaging data. or intra-observer variability,”
“The advent of deep neural he said.
networks over the last decade
has effectuated a gearshift MOVING FORWARD research for feasibility in the
in algorithm performance,” While there is a decidedly context of relevant standards,
he explained. optimistic mood when it comes manufacturing and regulatory
“In a controlled environment, to Australian biotech, bio med relevant design principles.”
the capacity of state-of-the-art and health tech practitioners, Furthermore, she added,
AI to recognise obscure and Coverdale said that the challenge Australia lacks a single entity
minuscule patterns, sometimes is how to translate emerging that supports the identification
imperceivable by the human research into viable products. and growth of a globally
eye, within multimodal, “The priorities of research competitive industry.
multidimensional medical do not align with the priorities “We need to develop a national
images is on par with — and of industry, so often outputs ecosystem,” she said.
ABOVE: Dr Antonios
sometimes surpasses — the ability of research are often not Perperidis,
“All of the states are competing
of human experts.” commercially translatable Australian against each other rather than
Perperidis adds that without further significant Institute for combining efforts to understand
Machine Learning.
AI algorithms can be used investment,” she said. exactly what the needs are
to perform a number of “Many industry partners for Australia, and prioritising
clinically relevant tasks, aiding report they need to reassess funding to fill the gaps where
radiologists and improving innovations emerging from it’s actually needed.”

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

24_33_EA87_SEP23_coverstory.indd 32 16/8/2023 11:43 am

 Living with extremes
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Resources Symposium
12-15 November | Sydney

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24_33_EA87_SEP23_coverstory.indd 33 16/8/2023 11:43 am

 M A N U FAC T U R I N G

034

WORDS BY JEN WALKER

READY
TO ROLL THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
HAS BECOME MORE
THAN A CONCEPT. A
NUMBER OF INNOVATIVE
AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES
ARE SHOWING HOW THE
PRINCIPLE WILL PLAY
OUT IN REAL LIFE.

T
HE TERM “circular Chair of Engineers Australia’s companies are finding success in
economy” is often thought to Environmental College. viewing waste as a resource.
mean better management of “There is also potential for
waste streams, but that’s only one increased recycling using waste GREAT WRAP
part of true circularity. [or] demolition products from the Australian households throw out
A central tenet of circularity construction sector,” she said. more than 300 kg of food waste
is designing out waste. Products “The biggest challenge is in the each year. Great Wrap has found
and materials are created so they implementation, to ensure that the a way to convert this waste into
can be repurposed either through products meet all the respective a plastic-film alternative.
reuse or recycling — including standards, so that they are “Currently, we are using an
composting — to minimise the functional and fit for purpose. imported potato waste-derived
need to extract virgin resources to “If recycled products do not bioplastic, compounding it
make new items or add to landfill. meet the same standards of new with other biomaterials to
There are also economic products, implementation in produce our compostable home
benefits. Circular Australia Hub construction can be more difficult.” wrap and our compostable
estimates there is more than $200 But as the circular economy pallet wrap,” said Martin
billion in economic opportunity in becomes more established, a Markotsis, Great Wrap’s
circular solutions and the potential range of innovative recycling Materials Innovation Manager.
for 17,000 new jobs.
And with about 35 per cent ABOVE: Engineers
Australia
of Australian waste currently Environmental
going to landfill, disposal costs College Chair
could be reduced. Lucy Baker.

The opportunity with the most

potential from an engineering
perspective is in process
engineering — manufacturing — as
this contributes about $100 billion
to Australian GDP annually,
according to Lucy Baker,

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

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 035

“We have in-house extrusion is growing fast, with 150,000

compounding capabilities to more people predicted to move to
compound our film material, the area by 2030. That’s a lot of
which we then process into cast sewerage to process.
stretch film in our factory in The solution developed
Tullamarine in Victoria. by Logan City Council and
“Our vision for further food ABOVE: Logan Logan Water was a $28 million
Water’s biosolids
waste valorisation over the gasification facility. gasification facility, which was
coming two years includes RIGHT: Martin completed last year.
using Australian potato waste to Markotsis, The facility sees waste-activated
Great Wrap.
produce polyhydroxyalkanoates sludge pumped to centrifuges,
(PHAs) in biorefineries built where biosolids are dewatered
here in Australia. We would to 22 per cent dry solids, then
then compound the locally transferred to 34 t, 18 m
produced PHA material industrial-grade belt dryers
in-house and then produce that dry the biosolids to 90 per
film on our cast film lines.” cent dry solids.
Markotsis said the company The dried biosolids move to
is looking to optimise processes the gasification phase where they
to produce bioplastics such are processed in a hearth at 650
as PHA in a sustainable and “THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS degrees Celsius for about 100
economical way, so final products
can compete on performance IN THE IMPLEMENTATION, TO seconds to create a charcoal-like
product called biochar.
and pricing with petrochemical
plastic wrap, which ends up
ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCTS “Biochar contains nutrients
like those found in commercial
in landfill. MEET ALL THE RESPECTIVE slow-release fertilisers and can

LOGAN WATER BIOSOLIDS STANDARDS, SO THAT THEY also be added to soil, asphalt,
concrete and bricks to sequester
GASIFICATION FACILITY
The population of the Queensland
ARE FUNCTIONAL AND FIT carbon for thousands of years.
It also has potential to be used
city of Logan, south of Brisbane, FOR PURPOSE.” in industrial combustors as fuel

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

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 M A N U FAC T U R I N G

036

and feedstock, and as activated innovation has identified a role It is then sealed with recyclable
carbon,” said Mike Basterfield, for biosolids in the circular or compostable food-grade wrap.
Group Manager of Logan Water. economy: a community-created “We have multiple clients
“The hearth also produces a “resource” can return nutrients to who have set up a closed-loop
syngas that combusts in an oxidiser the earth and sequester carbon for recycling program and they are
that is set to around 850 degrees thousands of years. able to use the product multiple
Celsius for a two second retention times,” Howarth said.
time, which destroys persistent PLANET PROTECTOR The wool can be composted
organic pollutants, such as PFAS. WOOLPACK when it can no longer be reused.
“The heat produced is recovered Until 2016, the underbelly wool In addition to providing a new
from heat exchangers and the air is of sheep generally ended up revenue stream to sheep farmers,
treated through a wet scrubber and in landfill. Meanwhile, the company said it has so far
electrostatic precipitator to ensure approximately 30 per cent of prevented approximately 40
emissions meet environmental global landfill is polystyrene. Olympic-sized swimming pools of
requirements. The facility reuses One solution exists for both polystyrene from going to landfill.
the heat energy to dry the biosolids waste problems.
in the belt dryers.” “We’ve used waste wool BELOW (from SUSTAINABLE SALONS
Basterfield said that prior to the unsuitable for the textile industry left): Logan’s Human hair has a remarkable
biochar product;
gasification facility, gravity drainage and given it a second life and Planet Protector composition: it is one of the
decks and belt filter presses were commercialised it into a product produces insulated highest organic sources of nitrogen
packaging from
used to dewater the biosolids to that is insulated packaging to wool; a sheep’s and contains 20 other elements
around 14 per cent dry solids. replace polystyrene in cold supply underbelly wool such as sulfur and carbon.
usually ends up in
Every day, four truckloads of chains,” said Planet Protector landfill; Sustainable
“We’re the world’s biggest
biosolids would be transported founder Joanne Howarth. Salons collects hair collector of human hair but we
300 km to the Darling Downs The wool used in Planet and transforms it don’t just collect it, we study it and
into new products.
region to be applied to land — a Protector “goes through a very turn it into products such as hair
process that accounted for 30 rigorous washing process — which booms that clean up oil spills,”
per cent of the total wastewater involves six baths of boiling hot said founder of Sustainable Salons
treatment plant operating costs. water — and then it’s felted to Paul Frasca.
“Now, the gasification process our specifications”. The organisation has collected
reduces carbon emissions by 80 t of hair from Australian and
about 6000 t a year, operational
cost savings and carbon credits
“ENGINEERS NEED TO WORK New Zealand hairdressers and
pet groomers since its inception
will return almost one million CLOSELY WITH INVESTORS in 2015, and one kilogram of hair
dollars a year, and a new revenue
stream is being created from AND GOVERNMENT TO can remove 840 g of spilled oil
from seawater
biochar sales,” Basterfield said.
But it’s not only the council’s
RESOLVE A SOLUTION THAT “We have another product
coming out later this year: hair
budget that benefits. The WORKS FOR US.” fertiliser,” Frasca said, adding that

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

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 037

the company also produces

Refoil, made from aluminium FOGO TO GO
collected from salons.
It is also investigating how According to the Australian AORA’s 2031 vision says
human hair can replace heavy Government’s National Waste that the organics recycling
metals in flexible organic Report 2020, about half the industry currently has the capacity
light-emitting diode, or OLED, waste organics in Australia ends to process 51 per cent more
displays and solar panels. up in landfill, where it creates organic materials, but there
Hair is 45 per cent carbon approximately 13 million tonnes are several obstacles.
and experiments have shown of greenhouse gases — about “There are major contamination
that exposing hair to extreme three per cent of the nation’s issues in FOGO — households
temperatures can extract carbon total emissions. might put plastic or glass in it — so
dots, which can then be But the negative isn’t just what a lot of composters won’t process
blended with other agents to this food organics and garden it,” Wadewitz said, adding that the
make them luminescent. organics (FOGO) waste creates; it’s government permits, as well as
what we’re missing out on that regulatory policy uncertainty, also
THE ROAD AHEAD worries Chair of the Australian hinder industry growth.
Baker said the engineering RIGHT: Peter
Organics Recycling Association Beyond government concerns,
profession is developing good Wadewitz, (AORA), Peter Wadewitz. he believes that terminology and
processes for plastics, tyres, glass Australian “If we keep wasting all this education are key to maximising
Organics Recycling
and paper. Association.
material by putting it in landfill, the potential of FOGO.
However, Australia has set itself we’re missing the opportunity “If it’s not reusable or
an ambitious target of recycling or to get it back to agriculture recyclable, then it’s got to be
reusing 80 per cent of its waste by and horticulture to build good, compostable — we need to
2030. That figure currently stands sustainable healthy soils,” he said. promote this a lot harder,” he said.
at about 63 per cent. “That soil is being depleted Wadewitz believes greater
“Engineers need to work closely every day.” education to avoid contamination
with investors and government to The benefits of compost include in recycling streams and
resolve a solution that works for us. reducing water loss in soils, adding highlighting associated cost
We are missing a national recycling nutrients, protection against savings — FOGO disposal levies
framework that is integrated across erosion, and reducing the need for are about half that of landfill — will
Australia,” Baker said. synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. also help boost the industry.
Across the profession, she said,
engineers should emphasise the
potential and importance of the
circular economy in Australia’s
sustainable future and encourage
further exploration and adoption
of circular economy practices.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

34_39_EA87_SEP23_Byproducts.indd 37 16/8/2023 1:30 pm

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34_39_EA87_SEP23_Byproducts.indd 39 16/8/2023 11:45 am

 SUSTAINABILITY

040

WORDS BY CHRIS SHEEDY

R E T U R N TO
N AT U R E
A CONCRETE STORMWATER
CHANNEL IN BRISBANE HAS BEEN
TRANSFORMED INTO A MEANDERING
STREAM THROUGH LUSH PARKLAND,
REPRESENTING A NEW, SUSTAINABLE
SIDE OF ENGINEERING.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

40_45_EA87_SEP23_Dreamdrain.indd 40 16/8/2023 1:30 pm

 041

really quickly. And they did that

job very well; the engineers were

I
highly competent.
T TOOK several years of design “When you want to change
and consultation to transform that and start naturalising it,
a functional but unsightly adding plants, bends in the water
stormwater channel into a 600 m course and other features, you
creek through parkland that is invariably slow water down. To
now popular with children and compensate for that we needed to
LEFT: Hanlon Park adults alike. do significant bulk earthworks.
has become a Most importantly, the “So it’s a very complex
place popular with
children and adults
reinvention of Brisbane’s engineering task in terms of
alike. BELOW: Hanlon Park required excellent optimising that design to make
Alan Hoban, engineering work. sure we weren’t making flooding
Bligh Tanner.
“We think it might be the most any worse for anybody.”
significant creek naturalisation
project in Australia,” said Alan FLOOD RESILIENCE
Hoban, Director of Stormwater Recent flooding in Queensland
Australia and Director and has proven conclusively that
Principal Engineer at Bligh no stormwater drainage system
can cope with the worst of what
nature offers.
“WE THINK IT MIGHT BE THE The infrastructure must simply
MOST SIGNIFICANT CREEK continue to perform. It must
survive the event. The Hanlon
NATURALISATION PROJECT Park re-naturalisation project, a
far softer landscape, was tested
IN AUSTRALIA.” and proven several times during
and after its completion.
Tanner, the design lead on the “We had four decent-sized
Brisbane City Council project. floods during construction, and
“The engineers 100 years ago one since,” Hoban said.
had one focus, which was flooding “So we didn’t even get to
and drainage and getting water completion before we had it
away as quickly as possible. The tested thoroughly. An open
local catchment group realised construction site with quite a
something better could be done.” number of flood events was a
People power and a challenge and a frustration.
forward-thinking team at “But it all worked because we
Brisbane City Council helped had done a lot of engineering
make the vision a reality. But analysis to understand the
along the way from concrete velocities and erosive forces of the
drain to creek re-naturalisation creek. That’s why it didn’t just get
were numerous challenges, ripped apart.”
Hoban said. The iterative design process
First and foremost was the began with sketches: quick designs
ever-constant threat of flooding. that allowed the team to consider
“The area has a 30 km2 potential water movement options.
urbanised catchment upstream of The team spent a great deal of
it,” he said. “You don’t need much time analysing maps of current
rain in that catchment to cause waterways to begin locking down
flash flooding through the site. possible shapes and forms of the
“So we were transitioning from new creek.
something that was the ultimate Fixed constraints were then
engineering of last century. Back introduced. A major sewer line
then, they turned waterways ran through the site — one of
into geometric drains that were Brisbane’s biggest — which had a
optimised to convey water number of manholes and smaller
feeder lines running across to the
main pipe.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

40_45_EA87_SEP23_Dreamdrain.indd 41 16/8/2023 11:46 am

 The West Gate Bridge Project

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40_45_EA87_SEP23_Dreamdrain.indd 42 16/8/2023 11:46 am

 SUSTAINABILITY

043

people and to attract wildlife

to the park, but safe for bicycles
and pedestrians.
“Green infrastructure evolves
over time,” Hoban said.
“When you’re doing reinforced
concrete, you know once it’s set
pretty much how much strength
you’ve got. But when you’re using
vegetation, it might be 12 months
to two years before that’s in place.
“So you need a really good
approach to working with risk.”

“IT ALL WORKED BECAUSE WE HAD DONE

A LOT OF ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO
UNDERSTAND THE VELOCITIES AND EROSIVE
FORCES OF THE CREEK. THAT’S WHY IT
DIDN’T JUST GET RIPPED APART.”
There was also a focus on Bligh Tanner used a package
active transport, including walking called Tuflow.
and bike routes and bridges. The software helped the design
Where these features sat engineers produce maps showing
in the park and how they exactly how deep the water might
interacted with the creek had get across the site, how fast it
to be carefully planned. could flow, and the effect of any
“There was a reasonable change in the extent of flooding
amount of civil engineering, just compared to the existing situation.
thinking about the grades and “Once we had those site
levels of those paths and the results, we could see where we SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS
bridge designs, and how they needed levels to be a bit lower or There was a lot of that concrete to
all work together,” Hoban said. higher, so we might need more dig up and drag away.
“Initial sketches were on paper, but excavation,” Hoban said. “We On such a high-profile — “gutsy
software is now quite sophisticated, probably ran through around and provocative”, as Hoban
both in terms of earthworks terrain 20 iterations of the design.” ABOVE: Bligh describes it — project that was sure
modelling software and the ability Surface materials were also a Tanner’s work to attract a lot of scrutiny, it was
replaced a concrete
to create quite organic forms. You focus for flood resilience. They stormwater drain
important to do the work in the
imagine that software is really had to be designed so they would with a natural most sustainable manner.
good at drawing quite geometric not erode under flooding, but they watercourse. Bligh Tanner and construction
forms, but we can now also use it also had to slow water down to firm Epoca Constructions agreed
to create quite organic ones.” create a meandering creek. to re-use as much concrete
Flood modelling software Surfaces required a certain as possible.
enabled further iteration; level of softness and greenery, Much of it was used in the
appealing enough to engage new site for landscape walls that

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

40_45_EA87_SEP23_Dreamdrain.indd 43 16/8/2023 11:46 am

 S U S T A I EN NA EB RI LGIYT Y

044

double as places to sit and rest;

for armouring the creek bed
cooling benefit when we look
at thermal imaging.
“THESE GREEN-BLUE PLACES
in high-velocity areas; and as “It’s a pretty significant IN OUR CITIES BECOME
stepping stones across the creek. sustainability benefit provided to
“Public parks are important the local community.” COOLING PLACES, AND THERE’S
places to showcase sustainability
principles,” Hoban said. “People
Since the project was completed
last year, word has spread about
A HUGE BENEFIT TO PEOPLE IN
talk a lot about sustainability and its success. Delegations from JUST BEING ABLE TO GET CLOSE
resource conservation, but when local governments in New South
people see it in action, that’s when Wales and Queensland have TO — OR INTO — WATER.”
it starts to resonate for them.” already visited or been in touch
The biodiversity benefits from to make enquiries. It has also
such a project are also significant, been the focus of an international
Hoban said. waterways conference. BY THE
There are now fish in the creek Coverage in the media, even ABOVE: Green NUMBERS
space like
and their numbers are increasing. including a report from ABC Hanlon Park
With the numerous varieties and TV’s Gardening Australia, has reduces the
urban heat
levels of vegetation, bird life has influenced other communities to
island effect. Idea proposed: 2010
also boomed. connect with their local members
As urban areas increase in to suggest similar solutions for Design begins: 2019
size, the heat island effect means their unsightly drains. Construction time: 2 years
such green spaces help to make Where such projects can Project area: 5.2 ha
those cities more liveable. proceed, a broad range of talent Channel removed: 500 m
“These green-blue places in our is required to realise the New creek length: 600 m
cities become cooling places, and re-naturalisation journey. Earthworks removed:
there’s a huge benefit to people in “We had civil engineers, 20,000 m2
just being able to get close to — or structural engineers, electrical Plants: 43,000
into — water,” Hoban said. “We engineers, geotechnical engineers Trees: 462
really start to see some of that and flooding engineers, as well as
landscape architects, ecologists,
and a range of other people,”
Hoban said.

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

40_45_EA87_SEP23_Dreamdrain.indd 44 16/8/2023 11:46 am

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40_45_EA87_SEP23_Dreamdrain.indd 45 16/8/2023 11:46 am

 CONSTRUCTION

046

WORDS BY CHLOE HAVA

WITH TIME AND BUDGET

CONSTRAINTS ALONG
WITH SIGNIFICANT SITE
ISSUES, A ONE-OF-A-KIND
“JUMPSTART” TECHNIQUE
WAS USED TO DELIVER
A STELLAR URBAN
REGENERATION PROJECT.

S
YDNEY IS Australia’s
economic epicentre, but
most of its inhabitants
don’t live anywhere near the
city’s harbourside central
business district.
With a burgeoning workforce
of 23,000 employees, there has
been an ever-growing need to
develop a new CBD in Parramatta,
the heart of greater Sydney.
The centrepiece of this
new precinct is the new $3.5
billion Parramatta Square
precinct, a civic hub and public
domain that includes four
commercial towers (4, 3, and
6 and 8 Parramatta Square).
Construction group Built,
in joint venture with Obayashi
(BOJV), was selected by Walker
Corporation and Parramatta
Council to deliver the project.
The new precinct, among
Australia’s largest ever urban
transformations, has ensured
Parramatta is recognised as one
of the most connected cities
in the world, accommodating
several top-tier private sector
and government institutions, said
Patrick Polomka, Senior Project
Manager, Walker Corporation.
These include Property and
Development NSW, the Australian
Taxation Office, Australian
Broadcasting Corporation, Link
Market Services, Westpac, Deloitte,
Endeavour Energy, NAB and LG.
“Combining state-of-the-art
workspaces with the highest
achievable sustainability
credentials and premium

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

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 047

design and construction of

4 Parramatta Square, beginning
amenities, it will improve with a complex regulatory anchored hydrostatic basement
social and economic outcomes process that needed approvals structure to deal with the high
for generations to come,” from all levels of state and local groundwater pressures,” he said.
Polomka said. government, said Polomka. “These conditions would typically
However, there were “The site’s proximity to the add a significant period of time to
several hurdles to navigate in existing floodplain and adjoining a construction program.”
the design and construction of sites with multiple levels required
the precinct, including site and extensive consultation between A “JUMPSTART” SOLUTION
regulatory issues. project teams to deliver a highly To mitigate these challenges,
LEFT: The façade Here’s how BOJV and resilient and connected precinct, and others, a “jumpstart”
of the 4 Parramatta Walker managed to overcome with direct links to the public methodology using structural
Square building. them — and receive a finalist domain and all major transport steel was employed.
RIGHT: The
project expedited nod in the 2023 Australian hubs,” he said. “The site had no direct
construction Construction Achievement Awards “The central location of access, being bounded by a
with a “jumpstart” along the way. 4 Parramatta Square made site large commercial building to
methodology.
access extremely challenging, as the east, the existing Parramatta
PROJECT CHALLENGES it’s surrounded by Parramatta train station and rail corridor to
Several challenges were Railway to the south, the Sydney the south, as well as the large
unearthed throughout the Water building and University of excavation zones for the balance

“THE SITE HAD NO DIRECT

ACCESS, BEING BOUNDED BY
A LARGE COMMERCIAL
BUILDING TO THE EAST, THE
EXISTING PARRAMATTA TRAIN
STATION AND RAIL CORRIDOR
TO THE SOUTH.”

BY THE
NUMBERS:
PARRAMATTA SITE AREA 3 ha
SQUARE
COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL
NET LETTABLE AREA
290,000 m2
PUBLIC SPACE 6000 m 2
Western Sydney to the east and of the precinct to the north and
several existing developments west,” said Polomka.
OCCUPANTS 23,000 along Macquarie Street.” “The team had to create
Challenging geotechnical through access to the site, which
COMBINED PRECINCT ground conditions due to the meant we had to rapidly build
VALUE $2.8 billion existence of a large igneous to street level.”
dyke running diagonally These conditions, coupled
HEIGHT (6 AND 8 through the precinct also posed with a construction program
IMAGE: MATTHEW VASILESCU

PARRAMATTA SQUARE) problems, said Peter Whyte, Built that couldn’t be met with a
223 m Construction Director. conventional build, meant BOJV
“This resulted in the had to implement innovative
SUSTAINABILITY RATING requirement for a diaphragm methods, said Whyte.
6 Star Green Star As Built retention wall and a permanently “Four Parramatta Square was
run as a competitive tender. Due
to early handover requirements,

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

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 CONSTRUCTION

048

“The program remained on

the critical path while the lower
floors were ‘filled in’ underneath
concurrently with the upper
floors, saving a significant
amount of time — approximately
12 weeks — compared to a
conventional build,” said Hodgett.
Through extensive use of
structural steel for both the
vertical and horizontal structures,
the jumpstart technique also
facilitated the construction of
elevated floors without extensive
high-strutting form and falsework,
markedly reducing the on-site

“WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE BUILDING’S

IMPRESSIVE ELEVATED PODIUM LEVEL DESIGN TO
REACH THE TYPICAL FLOORS EARLIER, REMOVING A
TOTAL OF SIX SUSPENDED LEVELS PLUS THE 1.5 M
THICK HYDROSTATIC SLAB.”
BOJV had to realise opportunities intermediate floors — allowed a labour required to erect
through clever construction structural steel floor plate to be the structure.
sequencing that reduced the constructed earlier than if built “The expansive podium design
overall construction duration floor by floor from the basement with inclined columns in steel
and associated plant and labour up, said Richard Hodgett, could be constructed concurrently
costs to ensure we remained Engineering Manager, Built. in a safer manner with the tower
competitive so we could secure “By repeating the jumpstart floor levels which were on the
this coveted project,” he said. sequence, BOJV were able to critical path,” he said.
“[We] took advantage of the install ground floor framing, level
building’s impressive elevated one [and] then level three in quick LEVERAGING THE TECHNIQUE
podium level design to reach the succession, resulting in a triple Following the success of the
typical floors earlier, removing a jumpstart,” he said. 4 Parramatta Square jumpstart
total of six suspended levels plus Once the team had progressed ABOVE: The methodology, BOJV used a similar
the 1.5 m thick hydrostatic slab to level three, the tower’s typical jumpstart approach technique at 6 and 8 Parramatta
off the critical path.” floor structure could then was the first of
Square to again reduce the overall
its kind to use
Adopting a sequence of work progress to completion using inclined columns. build program, said Hodgett.
that accelerates upper floors of a conventional post-tensioned “The installation of triple-height
building through the use of three and concrete floors. steel columns allowed the team to
to four-storey high concrete-filled essentially jump the structure to
steel tube columns — a jumpstart the lower ground floor, and then
technique that bypasses

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

46_51_EA87_SEP23_ParmamattaSquare.indd 48 16/8/2023 1:31 pm

 Get ready! Registration
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46_51_EA87_SEP23_ParmamattaSquare.indd 49 16/8/2023 11:46 am

 5 reasons to choose
QuadshoreTM 150 over
ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS conventional propping systems

Designed by engineers at Coates and 4. Reduced costs for labour, transport and
Monash University, Quadshore 150 consumables
Compared with a conventional propping system, Coates
is the lightest, heavy-duty propping estimates that Quadshore 150 will reduce transport costs
solution in the world. Here’s why due to its lighter weight and higher capacity, which means
less equipment, machinery and labour are required on
you should consider hiring it for site. The boltless design will also result in significant cost
your next project. savings on consumables throughout the entire lifecycle
of the product.
1. Stronger, yet lighter than conventional
systems 5. Lower carbon footprint due to less transport
Conventional propping systems are often costly and Quadshore 150 is more environmentally sustainable than
inefficient due to their low capacity-to-weight ratio and conventional propping systems in a number of ways. As
bolted module-to-module connections. Quadshore 150 it is made with higher-grade steel, there is less material
uses lightweight, high-strength steel elements to provide used in its manufacture and less energy is required for its
extra-high load-bearing support of up to 170 tonnes. The transportation. Boltless connections mean less waste of
working load limit-to-weight ratio of a 3m assembly is at any kind of steel componentry.
least 1.7 times higher than conventional systems.

2. Faster and easier to install and de-install

Quadshore’s patented boltless connectivity eliminates
the need for consumables. As a result, assembly and
disassembly time is at least 60% quicker than conventional
systems with the same capacity. A range of end sections
means adjustments are faster and easier, too. These
include an unloading jack that enables the screw jack to be
disengaged with zero manual effort.

3. Safer due to less manual handling

Conventional propping systems pose challenges around
safety due to the need for manual handling and heavy
machinery or equipment to unload and install it. As
Quadshore 150 is considerably lighter with no bolted
connections between its modular beams and a smaller site
footprint, Coates expects the number of lost time injuries Learn more
reported by customers will be dramatically reduced.
To request a copy of the Quadshore 150 technical
brochure, or to book a Lunch & Learn session for your
team, email [email protected] or
call (02) 8796 5000.

coates.com.au 13 15 52

46_51_EA87_SEP23_ParmamattaSquare.indd 50 16/8/2023 11:46 am

 CONSTRUCTION

051

“THE JUMPSTART METHODOLOGY HELPED was one of the biggest in

Australia — and the first of its
4 PARRAMATTA SQUARE ACHIEVE ITS TWO kind with inclined columns,
said Polomka.
FUNDAMENTAL PROJECT GOALS OF BEING “The jumpstart methodology
DELIVERED ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET helped 4 Parramatta Square
achieve its two fundamental
ON A SIGNIFICANTLY CONSTRAINED SITE.” project goals of being delivered
on time and under budget on
ABOVE: The
again up to level one, enabling the steel while working around tower at 6 and a significantly constrained site,”
construction to start the typical the jump-form core construction 8 Parramatta he said.
cycles of the commercial floor to ensure access was maintained Square is the “Using this methodology, we
largest commercial
slabs then drop back to infill the at all times. building in Australia reached the typical floors earlier
basement and podium slabs off “The modelling allowed the by net lettable area. which allowed work to start on
the critical path,” he said. team to identify clear pathways multiple levels, helping us achieve
To install these columns safely to install each column weighing the tower’s extremely tight
and efficiently, the team adopted up to 25 t each,” said Hodgett. 24-month delivery timeframe for
3D modelling to simulate the the base completion and interior
process, using tower cranes to lift NEW HEIGHTS fitout, which is a significant feat
At the time of construction, the for a 40-level building.”
project’s jumpstart methodology

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

46_51_EA87_SEP23_ParmamattaSquare.indd 51 16/8/2023 11:46 am

52-53_EA87_SEP23_EngineerTrends.indd 52 16/8/2023 11:47 am
 ENGINEERING TRENDS
053
MEMBERS HAVE FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO
ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA’S SEVEN TECHNICAL JOURNALS AT:
portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/content/library-resources-and-services

STAY CURRENT
HIGHLIGHTS FROM AUSTRALIA'S MOST
UP-TO-DATE ENGINEERING RESEARCH

Australian Journal of

Mechanical
Water banking in aquifers as
Engineering
a tool for drought resilience in
Australian Journal of Mechanical Engineering

the Murray Darling Basin

Volume no. 20 Issue no. 5 December 2022

Arঞcles
1207 Mulঞ-a‚ribute opঞmisaঞon of submerged arc welding process parameters using Taguchi GRA-PCA hybrid
approach
Abhijit Saha and Himadri Majumder

1213 Analysis of hydrodynamic journal bearing with mixed hydrodynamic and boundary lms
Fuhang Xie, Yongbin Zhang and Haijun Chen

1226 Modelling and invesঞgaঞng the impact of EDM parameters on surface roughness in EDM of Al/Cu/Ni Alloy
Mangesh Phate, Shraddha Toney and Vikas Phate

1240 Energy analysis and experimental evaluaঞon of momentum exchange impact damper with pre-straining spring
mechanism

Australian Journal of
Lovely Son, Eka Satria, Jhon Malta and Berry Yuliandra

1254 Experimental analysis for thermo-physical properঞes of phase change materials during accelerated thermal

Mechanical
cycling

Journal: Australasian Journal of Water Resources

Onkar A. Babar, Vinkel K. Arora and Prabhat K. Nema

1267 A review on characterisঞcs of cold sprayed coaঞngs

Engineering
Akella Srikanth and Venkateshwarlu Bolleddu
Volume no. 20 Issue no. 5 December 2022

1284 Experimental evaluaঞon of factors inuencing drilling of randomly oriented bre reinforced composite laminates
Deep Ghetia, Abhiram V. Shandilya, Amogh Kumar and Rajesh Mathivanan N

Authors: D. W. Page, D. Gonzalez, T. Clune, Y. Colton

1300 Bending and viscoelasঞc behaviour of delaminated woven E-glass/epoxy composite
Phaneendra Kumar Kopparthi, Kiran Kumar Yadav Aerra, Bhaskara Rao Pathakokila and Suresh Gamini

1310 Simultaneous opঞmisaঞon of quality and producঞvity characterisঞcs during machining of mulঞwall carbon
nanotube/epoxy nanocomposites
Prakhar Kumar Kharwar, Rajesh Kumar Verma and Abhishek Singh

1329 Inuence of arc constricঞon current (ACC) on microstructural evoluঞon and tensile properঞes of tungsten inert Volume no. 20 Issue no. 5 December 2022

& G. D. Bonnett
gas welded thin sheets of aerospace alloy
Tushar Sonar, Sudersanan Malarvizhi and Visvalingam Balasubramanian techjournals.engineersaustralia.org.au
(See full contents list on page i) ISSN 1448–4846

TMEC_COVER_20-5.indd 1 29-10-2022 11:43:50

A PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE SWARM OF Water banking in aquifers is an internationally

DESIGN PERFORMANCE RECONNAISSANCE
FRAMEWORK FOR OPTIMISATION proven, low-cost solution that could improve
DRONES USING
TIMBER FRAMING PARAMETERS OF ARTIFICIAL drought resilience across the Murray–Darling
SPAN TABLES SHELL AND TUBE INTELLIGENCE AND Basin. While significant potential for water
Journal: HEAT EXCHANGER NETWORKING banking through managed aquifer recharge
Australian USING CFD Journal: (MAR) or conjunctive use of surface and
Journal of Civil Journal: Australian
Engineering Australian Journal groundwater resources has been identified
Journal of
Authors: J. Jiang, of Mechanical Multi-Disciplinary in the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, there is a
L-M. Ottenhaus Engineering Engineering need to establish clear policy and institutional
& J. M. Gattas Authors: Authors: foundations to incentivise adoption. This
A. Hanan, A. A. Jain, A.
U. Zahid, T. Feroze paper clarifies principles and frameworks to
Structural sawn Saraogi, P.
timber is widely & S. Z. Khan Sharma, V. Pandit secure water rights for recharge, storage and
used in & S. R. Hiremath recovery within the sustainable limits of water
timber-framed Heat exchangers resources currently set under law.
residential have found This paper
housing, but a extensive proposes a novel
range of short and applications in system for search BELOW RIGHT:
long-term supply the engineering and recognition Storage of
chain pressures sector owing to in flood-affected low security
is causing market the crucial need areas using surface water
demand to for heat transfer a swarm of to high security
significantly and temperature autonomous groundwater through
outpace the regulation in the drones. The water banking.
available supply. process industry. system is based
This paper This research on a combination
examines shows how the of machine WITHOUT WATER WITH WATER
how existing performance learning, artificial BANKING BANKING
timber-framing optimisation intelligence
span tables can parameters of a Capacity
and networking
be improved to shell-and-tube technologies.
reduce the heat exchanger The drones are Low security
over-specification affect its equipped with Surface water Low security
of timber products performance in cameras and allocation
in housing terms of the extent High security High security
sensors to identify
construction and of heat transfer victims, assess
thus improve achieved and fall damage and
supply use. in the shell outlet provide real-time
Groundwater
temperature. updates to High security
allocation
rescue crews. High security

Engineering Trends
Member access to exclusive papers

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

52-53_EA87_SEP23_EngineerTrends.indd 53 16/8/2023 11:47 am

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54-55_EA87_SEP23_Events.indd 54 16/8/2023 11:47 am

 SAVE THE DATE
055

CON F ER EN CES & EVENTS | OCTOBER 2023 – FEBRUARY 2024

Location: in-person Prague, Czech Republic

11–13 Website: wec2023.com Climate Smart
The global engineering community will reunite
OCT 2023
SEVENTH WORLD to explore the breakthrough technologies and Engineering
ENGINEERS capacity development focused on the United Conference 2023
CONVENTION Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Register now Location: in-person Melbourne
Website: engineersaustralia.org.au/cse

Location: in-person Sydney Gain insights, knowledge and

07–09 Website: indopacificexpo.com.au/IMC2023
Conference delegates will be involved in
practical solutions for addressing
NOV 2023 climate change at CSE23. Attendees

29-30
IMC discussions concerning the latest developments
in naval architecture, marine engineering and will benefit from expert-led sessions,
INTERNATIONAL
MARITIME maritime technology in the areas of defence and networking opportunities and
CONFERENCE commercial shipping. innovative ideas, empowering them
Register now
NOV
to make a positive impact in the
2023
fight against climate change.

Location: in-person Sydney The program for CSE23 includes

Website: engineersaustralia.org.au/hwrs2023
some of the profession’s brightest
Innovation, collaboration and engineering
12–15 excellence come together for HWRS 2023,
with this year’s theme "Living with extremes".
and boldest minds as well as key
leaders across government and
NOV 2023
HYDROLOGY AND Topics cover the spectrum of engineering industry offering diverse perspectives
WATER RESOURCES hydrology and the progress made in on climate mitigation and resilience,
SYMPOSIUM 2023 understanding the uncertainties facing
the clean energy transition and
water resources managers now and in
coming decades. opportunities in the circular economy.
Early-bird registrations close 15 September 2023
Plenary speaker line-up includes:
Dr Alan Finkel AC, former Chief

07–09 Location: in-person Brisbane

Website: engineersaustralia.org.au/acam2024
Scientist of Australia
Ruby Heard CPEng, Director,
FEB 2024
11TH ACAM 2024 aims to bring together engineers, Alinga Energy Consulting
AUSTRALASIAN academics, postgraduate scholars and Eytan Lenko, Chief Executive
CONGRESS industry managers to share research and
Officer, Boundless Earth
ON APPLIED development in all aspects of applied mechanics
for a resilient and sustainable future. Lisa McLean, CEO, Circular Australia
MECHANICS
(ACAM 2024) Register now Kane Thornton, Chief Executive,
Clean Energy Council
Professor John Thwaites AM,
Chair, Monash Sustainable
Development Institute and Chair,
Climateworks Centre
ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA EXCELLENCE Register now
AWARDS GALA DINNER
29 November 2023

Location: Crown Towers, Melbourne

Website: engaus.org/excellenceawards
Join us in Melbourne this November for the highly anticipated
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the 2023 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

54-55_EA87_SEP23_Events.indd 55 16/8/2023 11:47 am

 TECH WATCH
056

TH E L ATES T DEVELO PMENTS FRO M A RO UND THE WO R LD.

01

04

02

03

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

56-57_EA86_SEP23_Techwatch.indd 56 16/8/2023 11:47 am

 057

01 02 03
Source-gated
transistor
This transistor is more energy-efficient and
could be used in medicine, computing and in
large-area displays. Image: University of Surrey

Researchers at the UK’s University Quantum “jellybean” Green hydrogen

of Surrey have developed technology An artist’s impression of how a “jellybean” The photoreactor splits water molecules to
that could see the creation of configuration can keep qubits separated. generate hydrogen. Image: Mohite lab/Rice
Image: Tony Melov/UNSW University; Gustavo Rakosksy/Rice University
new low-cost, energy-efficient
and flexible displays. The
advance concerns source-gated Engineers at the University of New New efficiencies in generating
transistors — special devices that South Wales working on quantum hydrogen from solar energy have
use less power than traditional computing have developed a way been achieved at the US’s Rice
transistors while producing to keep qubits — units of quantum University via a new photoreactor
high-signal amplification and information — far enough apart so that brings electrocatalysts
are reliable under different that they can be integrated into together with halide perovskite
conditions. Source-gated transistors silicon chips with enough space semiconductors. Using an
consist of a thin-film transistor with for wires to run between them. anticorrosion barrier to insulate
a metal-semiconductor contact Quantum computers arrange the device’s semiconductor from
but have encountered problems electrons into series of “quantum water, the team was able to convert
maintaining heat stability. “We gates” that represent binary values; solar energy to hydrogen with a
used a rapidly emerging two-qubit gates implement quantum 20.8 per cent efficiency. “All devices
semiconductor material called algorithms with electron pairs in of this type produce green hydrogen
IGZO or indium-gallium-zinc which one particle is dependent on using only sunlight and water, but
oxide to create the next generation the state of the other. This requires ours is exceptional because it has
of source-gated transistors,” said them to be placed just 10s of record-breaking efficiency and it
Dr Radu Sporea. “Through nanoscale nanometres apart, and the jellybean uses a semiconductor that is very
contact engineering, we obtained configuration keeps the particles cheap,” said Rice University
transistors that are much more stable close to one another, but not too doctoral student Austin Fehr. “We
with temperature than previous close. While the concept has been designed a system that absorbs light
attempts. Device simulations allowed used before, this is the first time it has and completes electrochemical
us to understand this effect.” More been demonstrated with silicon. “It’s water-splitting chemistry on its
effective source-gated transistors only when you go to larger numbers surface.” The team’s breakthrough
could be useful in medicine and of electrons, say 15 or 20 electrons, came when it produced a barrier
computing and are suitable for that the jellybean becomes more with two layers: one to protect the
large-area electronics. continuous and homogeneous,” said semiconductors in water and
PhD student Zeheng Wang. “That’s another to facilitate a continued
where you have your well-defined flow of electrons.
spin and quantum states that you can
use to couple qubits to another.”

04
Pneumatic gripper Able to pick up, hold and release do is turn the gripper horizontally.
A high-pressure gas is used to operate this objects, the tool can be mounted This triggers a change in the
soft, 3D-printed gripper. Image: “Yichen
on to a robotic arm and operates via airflow in the valves, making the
Zhai’s pneumatic gripper bot”, UC San
Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, https:// power from a bottle of high-pressure two fingers of the gripper release.”
flickr.com/photos/jsoe/53087292098/in/ gas. “We designed functions so that The team produced an extra-soft
album-72177720310197003/, CC BY 2.0
a series of valves would allow the gripper by developing a 3D-printing
gripper to both grip on contact method that traces a continuous
Roboticists at the University of and release at the right time,” said path and produces the device in
California San Diego have devised postdoctoral researcher Yichen Zhai. a single extrusion, preventing the
a soft gripper that is 3D printed and “It’s the first time such a gripper can leaks and defects that contribute
can be operated without electricity. both grip and release. All you have to to the material’s stiffness.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 2023

56-57_EA86_SEP23_Techwatch.indd 57 16/8/2023 1:43 pm

 KEYSTONE
058

EN GIN EER S AT THE PINNAC LE O F THE PRO FESSIO N

Dr Jun Sugawara
CPEng, Director (Geotechnical)
Department of Transport and
Main Roads, Queensland

WHEN IT COMES TO HIS

WORK AS A GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEER, JUN SUGAWARA
IS NOT AFRAID TO GET HIS
HANDS DIRTY.

WHEN DR JUN Sugawara was

03
TIPS FOR
growing up in Japan, he and his school
SUCCESS
mates were fascinated by motorcycles
and auto racing — the products of
the country’s engineering talents at
companies like Suzuki and Yamaha.
This boyhood tinkering encouraged
1 Every day is
an opportunity
to learn.
him to pursue a degree in mechanical
engineering, and although those
days are long behind him — he now
works as a geotechnical engineer for
2 Learn from
the people
around you, be they
Queensland’s Department of Transport
senior colleagues,
and Main Roads (TMR) — he still values
industry,
hands-on experience.
academics — or
“Although I'm director of the
even Google.
Geotechnical Section in TMR, I
still consider myself as one of the
engineers and I try to build a very
flat organisation: no hierarchy, very
3 Don't get other
people to do
your thinking for
transparent, very fair,” he told create.
you: try to figure
“I really enjoy not only the office The project team completed the delivered a comprehensive and
out your own
work but also the work in the field.” work in four months — in time to tailored training program.”
solutions for
For a state the size of Queensland, reopen the rail line for the sugar cane Sugawara’s efforts were recognised
the problems
that means a lot of travel and, by harvest season. by the Japanese Government, and
you encounter.
way of example, Sugawara mentions Sugawara has applied this with good reason: he drew from his
an arterial road slope-remediation experience internationally too, experience in Japan, a country where
project he worked on in Cairns. working with the United Nations landslides are common, to propose
“There were very heavy, prolonged Development Programme in Bosnia technical solutions not in use outside
rainfall events in early 2019 that caused and Herzegovina after flooding in 2014. the country.
a major slope failure … along the Cairns “That caused more than 3000 Sugawara is a Chartered engineer,
IMAGE: RUSSELL SHAKESPEARE

West Arterial Road,” he said. landslides throughout the country, and he sees the qualification as
“This failure caused significant resulting in the destruction of important to gaining professional
damage to the road embankment and approximately 2000 houses,” he said. recognition as well as building his
the sugar cane rail track located at the “I was responsible for the development future career.
toe of the embankment. Very urgent of a situational analysis and training “That will give you another path
slope remediation on the rail track needs assessment — related, in to become an APEC Engineer — so
restriction was required to maintain particular, to slope or landslide risk that you have the opportunity to work
the road safety.” management. Then I designed and outside Australia as well.”

ENGINEERSAUSTRALIA.ORG.AU

58-60_EA87_SEP23_Keystone.indd 58 16/8/2023 11:48 am

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