Nanocomm Hub Newsletter - May 2020
From the Director
All eyes on the horizon
As ever, we continue to set our sights on new and exciting ventures. In recent months, Nanocomm Hub members have begun to envisage our next frontier: an ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub with a theme of "artificial-intelligence-based materials design for construction".
By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI), we can reimagine the construction industry. Facilitated by AI, we can quickly and precisely predict the performance of novel materials, smarten robotics for construction speed and safety, streamline waste recycling, sorting and management, and transform renewable energy technologies. The potential applications of AI in construction are infinite, and will increase efficiency and reduce costs industry-wide.
Stakeholder consultations will take place later this month, with partner engagement and registration to follow. We will prepare our proposal in October. Bidding for a new ARC Hub is a highly competitive process, but our excellent track record of the past few years will surely give us an edge.
In the meantime, I'd like to remind all of you that we need to wind up the Nanocomm Hub by the end of 2021. We began this process in March by addressing projects completed late last year. We're now working closely with Chief Investigators at our various partner universities - we aim to ensure everyone meets their project milestones and financial deadlines as planned.
In winding up, we encourage you to communicate any issues that may have arisen as a result of coronavirus-related restrictions or other unforeseen events. For example, if your project has been delayed, you may now wish to request an extension. We hope to make our final months as smooth as possible for all concerned.
Wenhui Duan, Director, ARC Nanocomm Hub
Upcoming Events
NICOM7 postponed until 11-14 July 2021:
Unfortunately, due to global travel restrictions prompted by the ongoing pandemic, we have had to make the difficult decision to postpone the 7th International Symposium on Nanotechnology in Construction (NICOM7) until 11–14 July 2021. We look forward to a safe and successful symposium at that time.
For more information and abstract submission: https://www.monash.edu/nanocomm/NICOM7
Australasian Structural Engineering Conference (ASEC 2020)
The ASEC 2020 (Australasian Structural Engineering Conference) will be held online in November 2020. ASEC is organised by Engineers Australia, attracting high calibre papers and presenters in the field of structural engineering. ASEC 2020 will explore innovation and drivers of change in the areas of buildings, transport infrastructure, energy, engineering 4.0 and forensic engineering.
For more information: https://aseconference.org.au/
Featured People
PhD student Afifa Tamanna reworks our roads
As part of the Hub community, Afifa Tamanna has dedicated herself to developing a novel technique to characterise cutter oils (cutters) for optimal sprayed seal road construction. These solvents reduce the viscosity of bitumen binder, enhancing the adhesion between binder and aggregate.
Afifa has employed gene expression programming (GEP), an emerging area of artificial intelligence, to develop a non-destructive micro-CT characterisation technique. She has also relied on industrial experimentation. Combining these approaches has allowed her to generate practical and accurate diffusion models for sprayed seal solvents.
Now in the final year of her PhD in the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University, Afifa has been working hand in hand with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) on an Austroads project. Their findings will inform the update of AS 3568, the standard used by Australian road agencies for solvent quality control.
"I hope my research will lead to more durable and sustainable sprayed seals for improved efficiency in road transport," says Afifa. "This will help sustain Australian communities and economic prosperity."
Before embarking on her doctorate, Afifa earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the highly regarded Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Upon graduating, she lectured in the Department of Civil Engineering at Presidency University in Bangladesh.
Looking to the future, Afifa predicts, "Research on the characterisation and applicability of bio-oil in Australian sprayed seals could bring about another revolutionary step to address environmental issues." In the meantime, she'll keep up her good work. Find more about Afifa.