Cargo scheduling decision support for offshore oil and gas production: a case study

Woodside Energy Ltd (Woodside), Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company, operates multiple oil and gas facilities off the coast of Western Australia. These facilities require regular cargo shipments from supply vessels based in Karratha, Western Australia. In this paper, we describe a decision support model for scheduling the cargo shipments to minimize travel cost and trip duration, subject to various operational restrictions including vessel capacities, cargo demands at the facilities, time windows at the facilities, and base opening times. The model is a type of non-standard vehicle routing problem involving multiple supply vessels—a primary supply vessel that visits every facility during a round trip taking at most 1 week, and other supply vessels that are used on an ad hoc basis when the primary vessel cannot meet all cargo demands. We validate the model via test simulations using real data provided by Woodside.     

Management Issues in Engineer Supply

ABSTRACT

This article presents the authors' research on quantifying trends in the future supply of professional engineers in Australia. Predictions are made concerning the effects of demographic change in the Australian population and within the Australian professional engineering work force. Similar trends are identified in other countries, which lead to further predictions of future drastic reductions in immigration of engineers to Australia. The overall conclusion is a rapidly developing scarcity of professional engineers in Australia and a very significant reduction in the growth rate of the professional engineering labor force. Similar trends are indicated in other countries including the United States. Some remedial human resource management strategies for Australia are identified.     

Distributed optimisation method for multi-resource constrained scheduling in coal supply chains

We consider an integrated planning and scheduling problem motivated by the coal supply chains in Australia. The problem considers production planning of several independent mines. The mines need trains to complete delivery of coal by the arrival of ships at the terminal. The trains, on the other hand, are in limited supply and therefore the mines need to share this common resource. For this problem, we present a mixed integer programming formulation which minimises total weighted earliness, tardiness and operational costs. We also present a distributed algorithm based on the Lagrangian relaxation, which incorporates the volume and Wedelin algorithms. The strength of our distributed algorithm is demonstrated by an extensive computational experiment on several randomly generated instances.     

Blockchain for trustworthy provenances: A case study in the Australian aquaculture industry

We explore the potential for a blockchain ledger to record supply chain provenances in an inherently trustworthy manner. The use of blockchain in this setting may allow for traceability of products through the supply chain without fear that an item’s provenance is fraudulent or has been tampered with. We compare the desirable properties of a blockchain ledger to those of a traditional database. We also consider challenges to the trustworthiness of a provenance idiosyncratic to the context of supply chains. We present a case study in which we conduct a series of semi-structured interviews with members of the prawn aquaculture industry in Australia. This industry was chosen as it stands to gain from robust provenances due to international competition. We find that blockchain based technology is unlikely to deliver substantial gains to the industry when compared to alternatives. Rather, most gains are likely to arise from the industry becoming digitalized, which would be a precondition for any blockchain technology to be operational.     

Production scheduling with uncertain supply: a new solution to the open pit mining problem

The annual production scheduling of open pit mines determines an optimal sequence for annually extracting the mineralized material from the ground. The objective of the optimization process is usually to maximize the total Net Present Value (NPV) of the operation. Production scheduling is typically a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) type problem containing uncertainty in the geologic input data and economic parameters involved. Major uncertainty affecting optimization is uncertainty in the mineralized materials (resource) available in the ground which constitutes an uncertain supply for mine production scheduling. A new optimization model is developed herein based on two-stage Stochastic Integer Programming (SIP) to integrate uncertain supply to optimization; past optimization methods assume certainty in the supply from the mineral resource. As input, the SIP model utilizes a set of multiple, stochastically simulated scenarios of the mineralized materials in the ground. This set of multiple, equally probable scenarios describes the uncertainty in the mineral resource available in the ground, and allows the proposed model to generate a single optimum production schedule. The method is applied for optimizing the annual production scheduling at a gold mine in Australia and benchmarked against a traditional scheduling method using the traditional single “average type” assessment of the mineral resource in the ground. In the case study presented herein, the schedule generated using the proposed SIP model resulted in approximately 10% higher NPV than the schedule derived from the traditional approach.     

The economic costs of road traffic crashes: Australia, states and territories

In this paper, we obtain detailed data on road traffic crash (RTC) casualties, by severity, for each of the eight state and territory jurisdictions for Australia and use these to estimate and compare the economic impact of RTCs across these regions. We show that the annual cost of RTCs in Australia, in 2003, was approximately $17b, which is approximately 2.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Importantly, though, there is remarkable intra-national variation in the incident rates of RTCs in Australia and costs range from approximately 0.62 to 3.63% of Gross State Product (GSP). The paper makes two fundamental contributions: (i) it provides a detailed breakdown of estimated RTC casualties, by state and territory regions in Australia, and (ii) it presents the first sub-national breakdown of RTC costs for Australia. We trust that these contributions will assist policy-makers to understand sub-national variations in the road toll better and will encourage further research on the causes of the marked differences between RTC outcomes across the states and territories of Australia.     

Modelling the impacts of water efficient technologies on energy intensive water systems in remote and isolated communities

Essential service providers face unique challenges that are specific delivering a secure and safe water and energy supply to remote communities such as islands and isolated mainland townships. Many remote communities rely on energy intensive water supply systems which are inherently costly to operate. Water demand management programmes such as retrofitting households with water-efficient devices and appliances are one way of reducing the water-energy costs in these communities. This paper presents modelling results from a comparison between business as usual and a scenario where water-efficient strategies were retrofitted in households in three remote communities in Northern Australia. The modelling demonstrated considerable savings to both the water and energy average daily consumption and associated economic costs though reduced reliance on desalination plants and bore pumping. The retrofit scenario was shown to reduce water demand by between 14 and 39 ML/y and total energy demand in off-grid communities by between 83 and 208 MWh/y. Cost reductions for delivering treated water to households ranged between around AUD$11,000 and AUD$70,000 per year, depending on uptake rates of the retrofit programme by each community. This paper forms part of Stage 1 of the Remote and Isolated Communities Essential Services (RICES) project. Stage 2 will confirm many of the assumptions underlying the modelling and build on the smart metering datasets and community engagement process currently underway in Stage 1. The overall outcome of the RICES project is to ensure that such strategies are practical to implement on a broader scale to ultimately achieve more sustainable water and energy efficient off-grid communities.     

澳大利亚棉花纤维品质分析

简单介绍了澳大利亚棉花种植及相关情况。详细分析了2001-2005年澳大利亚主要产棉区棉花纤维的长度、长度整齐度、短绒率、比强度、马克隆值、反射率和色特征级。对部分指标参照了同期的乌斯特国际水平值进行了分析。     

In Australia are people born in other countries at higher risk of road trauma than locally born people?

This study examined whether people born in other countries had higher rates of death and hospitalization due to road crashes than people born in Australia. Data on deaths that occurred in the whole of Australia between 1994 and 1997 and hospitalizations that occurred in the state of New South Wales, Australia, between 1 July 1995 and 30 June 1997 due to road crashes were analyzed. The rates of death and hospitalization, adjusted for age and area of residence, were calculated using population data from the 1996 Australian census. The study categorized people born in other countries according to the language (English speaking, non-English speaking) and the road convention (left-hand side, right-hand side) of their country of birth. Australia has the left-hand side driving convention. The study found that drivers born in other countries had rates of death or hospitalization due to road trauma equal to or below those of Australian born drivers. In contrast, pedestrians born in other countries, especially older pedestrians had higher rates of death and hospitalization due to road crashes. Pedestrians aged 60 years or more born in non-English speaking countries where traffic travels on the right-hand side of the road had risks about twice those of Australian born pedestrians in the same age group.     

Evaluating the COVID-19 impacts on the construction and demolition waste management and resource recovery industry: experience from the Australian built environment sector

The COVID-19 crisis has brought unprecedented challenges to many sectors, including the built environment. The construction and demolition (C&D) waste management and recovery industry is an essential service provider to this sector. Like other industries, this industry has been affected by the pandemic in many ways. However, in Australia, this impact has not been thoroughly investigated. This study, therefore, explores COVID-19 impacts on the Australian C&D waste recovery and construction industry as the major waste consumer and generator. To achieve this aim, a literature review and a series of semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 participants representing five stakeholder groups (government, construction, waste recovery, material supplying and consultancy) across five Australian states. The research findings established that there is a critical need for leveraging digital technologies, developing business contingency plans, creating coalitions between government and industry, and diversifying supply chains to reduce supply chain risks. This study also uncovered a range of targeted responses and recommendations to manage pandemic-induced disruptions and improve the circular economy in the industry. Our findings can immediately assist industrial practitioners and government decision-makers in managing the impacts of COVID-19 on the waste recovery activities in C&D waste and other waste streams.

Graphical abstract

     

Failure of rockbolts in underground mines in Australia

Over the last 15 years there has been an increasing incidence of failure in rockbolts used in underground mines in Australia. Failures have also been observed in the United Kingdom where Australian Technology rockbolting is also used. Most of the failures in the United Kingdom were found to be initiated by corrosion pits, but in Australia, the fractures were considered likely to be due to stress corrosion cracking (SCC). This paper reports a metallurgical study of 44 failed rockbolts from four different underground mines in Australia. The study confirmed that failure was generally due to SCC and showed that this was usually initiated by bending of the bolts that occurred due to lateral movement of the rock strata. It also showed that many of the failed bolts had very low toughness with Charpy impact values of 4–7 Joules.     

Home hemodialysis in Australia: current perspective

Home hemodialysis (HD) in Australia represents 11% of the dialysis population. This percentage has declined over the last 20 years but the absolute number of home HD patients has increased since 2001. The major reason for this resurgence has been the institution of nocturnal HD at home. Predominantly, this has been as a strictly alternate day exercise, although 5-6 times per week dialysis is also practised. Short-daily HD is uncommon in Australia. Nocturnal HD now comprises 30% or more of all home HD. Most home HD in Australia is practiced without remote monitoring, using simple machines with separate reverse osmosis units. Patients tend to self-needle and not all have a "partner." The enthusiasm for nocturnal HD in particular has been fuelled by ANZDATA Registry data demonstrating a survival advantage for patients dialyzing alternate days compared with 3 times per week; and for patients dialyzing for >18 hours per week compared with 12 or 15 hours per week.     

Editorial Selected papers from the Digital Image Computing Technology and Applications conference 2007 (DICTA 2007)

Digital Image Computing Technology and Applications (DICTA) is the flagship event hosted by the Australian Pattern Recognition Society. Since the inception of DICTA in 1991, the conference has provided a forum for researchers in the area of image analysis and its applications to communicate their findings. DICTA is based in Australia and New Zealand but has attracted increasing interest from other parts of the world. Twenty four percent of the papers submitted to DICTA2007 were from outside Australia and New Zealand, as were all six invited speakers.     

Alcohol and fatal road accidents: estimates of risk in Australia 1983.

This paper concerns the statistical relationship between the risk of a fatality and the age and sobriety of drivers in New South Wales, Australia. The estimation of this relationship is based on fatal accident data from New South Wales and non-accident or control data from South Australia collected between the hours of 5.00 AM and 3.00 PM. The results are presented in new ways. In particular, tables of "accidents attributable to alcohol" and age specific intensity functions of "risk attributable to alcohol" may be an aid to policy making.     

Evaluation of electronic stability control effectiveness in Australasia

Electronic stability control (ESC) is an in-vehicle technology aimed at improving primary safety by assisting the driver in avoiding loss of control of the vehicle. The aim of this study was to use available crash data from Australia and New Zealand to evaluate the effectiveness of ESC in reducing crash risk and to establish whether benefits estimated from overseas studies have translated to the Australian and New Zealand environments. The sample analysed included 7699 crashed vehicles fitted with ESC which comprised of 90 different models. Poisson regression was used to test whether the differences in the observed and expected crash counts for ESC fitted vehicles were significant, with exposure being induced from counts of rear end impacts. It was found that ESC reduced the risk of single vehicle crashes in which the driver was injured by 68% for 4WDs compared with 27% for passenger cars. The effect of ESC on multiple vehicle crashes in Australia and New Zealand was not clear. The long-term benefits of fitting ESC to all vehicles in Australia were also investigated based on the estimated single vehicle crash reductions.     

Regenerator research,development and applications in Australia - 1978 statusRecherche et développement pour le régénérateur de chaleur et applications en Australie - état en 1978

Energy and cost savings by regenerative heat recovery in air-conditioning systems in Australia are potentially greatest in the humid tropical regions using total heat regenerators, while sensible heat regenerators are satisfactory for use in southern regions.A sensible heat regenerator with a matrix made from polyester film was evolved by CSIRO, and is being manufactured commercially in Melbourne and used in southern Australia. A total heat regenerator with a matrix made from wool-nylon ribbon is being developed by CSIRO. Satisfactory performance has been obtained, but carry-over and face area for given capacity are excessive at this stage.     

Cost-effective GHG mitigation strategies for Western Australia’s housing sector: a life cycle management approach

The demand of natural resources for Western Australia’s (WA) housing sector is increasing due to economic and population growth, which will be a challenging task for Australia to achieve its GHG reduction target. This paper has assessed possible GHG mitigation options for Western Australia’s houses, where energy-intensive clay brick walls and single-glazed windows are currently being used. A life cycle management framework has been used to determine cost-effective GHG emissions mitigation strategies. This framework integrates life cycle assessment tool, energy rating tool (AccuRate), and life cycle cost (LCC) analysis in order to ascertain environmentally and economically viable alternative building envelop for constructing a house in WA. The results show that the house made of cast in situ sandwich walls, recycled core materials and double-glazed windows, and equipped with solar energy system for electricity and water heating is the best option. This option has life cycle GHG emissions and LCC saving potentials of 7 and 20 %, respectively.     

The effectiveness of helmets in bicycle collisions with motor vehicles: A case–control study

There has been an ongoing debate in Australia and internationally regarding the effectiveness of bicycle helmets in preventing head injury. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of bicycle helmets in preventing head injury amongst cyclists in crashes involving motor vehicles, and to assess the impact of ‘risky cycling behaviour’ among helmeted and unhelmeted cyclists. This analysis involved a retrospective, case–control study using linked police-reported road crash, hospital admission and mortality data in New South Wales (NSW), Australia during 2001–2009.     

Regenerator research, development and applications in Australia - 1978 status

Energy and cost savings by regenerative heat recovery in air-conditioning systems in Australia are potentially greatest in the humid tropical regions using total heat regenerators, while sensible heat regenerators are satisfactory for use in southern regions.A sensible heat regenerator with a matrix made from polyester film was evolved by CSIRO, and is being manufactured commercially in Melbourne and used in southern Australia. A total heat regenerator with a matrix made from wool-nylon ribbon is being developed by CSIRO. Satisfactory performance has been obtained, but carry-over and face area for given capacity are excessive at this stage.     

隔板工位送风末端气流组织数值模拟研究

工位送风通常与背景送风相结合来消除室内余热,该方式会增加系统的投资和运行费用.为解决此问题,采用数值模拟的方法对工位区迎面送风、面部双侧送风及头腿送风等末端形式的送风性能进行研究,试图用工位送风替代背景送风.研究结果表明,迎面送风和面部双侧送风在230m3/h～270m3/h风量范围内可替代背景送风,其中面部双侧送风消...