Reliability-based design optimisation methods in large scale systems
- Authors: Ezzati, Ghasem
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Structural optimisation is an important field of applied mathematics, which has proved useful in engineering projects. Reliability-based design optimisation (RBDO) can be considered a branch of structural optimisation. Different RBDO approaches have been applied in real world problems (e.g. vehicle side impact model, short column design, etc.). Double-loop, single-loop, and decoupled approaches are three categories in RBDO. This research focuses on double-loop approaches, which consider reliability analysis problems in their inner loops and design optimisation calculations in their outer loops. In recent decades, double-loop approaches have been studied and modified in order to improve their stability and efficiency, but many shortcomings still remain, particularly regarding reliability analysis methods. This thesis will concentrate on development of new reliability analysis methods that can be applied to solve RBDO problems. As a local optimisation algorithm, the conjugate gradient method will be adopted. Furthermore, a new method will be introduced to solve a reliability analysis problem in the polar space. The reliability analysis problem must be transformed into an unconstrained optimisation problem before solving in the polar space. Two methods will be introduced here and their stability and efficiency will be compared with the existing methods via numerical experiments. Next, we consider applications of RBDO models to electricity networks. Most of the current optimisation models of these networks are categorised as deterministic design optimisation models. A probabilistic constraint is introduced in this thesis for electricity networks. For this purpose, a performance function must be defined for a network in order to define safety and failure conditions. Then, new non-deterministic design optimisation models will be formulated for electricity networks by using the mentioned probabilistic constraint. These models are designed to keep failure probability of the network below a predetermined and accepted safety level.
- Authors: Ezzati, Ghasem
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Structural optimisation is an important field of applied mathematics, which has proved useful in engineering projects. Reliability-based design optimisation (RBDO) can be considered a branch of structural optimisation. Different RBDO approaches have been applied in real world problems (e.g. vehicle side impact model, short column design, etc.). Double-loop, single-loop, and decoupled approaches are three categories in RBDO. This research focuses on double-loop approaches, which consider reliability analysis problems in their inner loops and design optimisation calculations in their outer loops. In recent decades, double-loop approaches have been studied and modified in order to improve their stability and efficiency, but many shortcomings still remain, particularly regarding reliability analysis methods. This thesis will concentrate on development of new reliability analysis methods that can be applied to solve RBDO problems. As a local optimisation algorithm, the conjugate gradient method will be adopted. Furthermore, a new method will be introduced to solve a reliability analysis problem in the polar space. The reliability analysis problem must be transformed into an unconstrained optimisation problem before solving in the polar space. Two methods will be introduced here and their stability and efficiency will be compared with the existing methods via numerical experiments. Next, we consider applications of RBDO models to electricity networks. Most of the current optimisation models of these networks are categorised as deterministic design optimisation models. A probabilistic constraint is introduced in this thesis for electricity networks. For this purpose, a performance function must be defined for a network in order to define safety and failure conditions. Then, new non-deterministic design optimisation models will be formulated for electricity networks by using the mentioned probabilistic constraint. These models are designed to keep failure probability of the network below a predetermined and accepted safety level.
The attitudes of Australian heterosexuals to same-sex parenting
- Authors: Marchesani, Charmaine
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text: false
- Description: Master of Applied Science
Investigating bird responses to fire in the Heathy Dry Forests of Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Kuchinke, Diana
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Globally, forest birds are under pressure, from agriculture and urban development fragmenting the landscape. Adding to these pressures, changes in the patterns of global climate drivers give rise to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. In Victoria, Australia, changing weather conditions are resulting in increases in the frequency and extent of bushfires. Furthermore, prescribed burning is applied to the landscape in attempts to not only ameliorate the impacts from bushfire, but as part of a ‘pyrodiversity begets biodiversity’ protocol. These pressures all impact birds by reducing resources for: food, nesting and protection from predators. This thesis investigated bird responses to fire in the Heathy Dry Forests of Victoria, against variables of time-since-fire and fire frequency. Bird responses were modelled in terms of: community, foraging guilds and individual species. As a community, birds showed a resilience to both time since fire and fire frequency. Responses by foraging guilds and individual species highlighted some different responses. The common species from each foraging guild showed responses that broadly represent their guild. This thesis highlighted that an effective tool in adaptive management is to predict the trends of our common forest birds, as surrogates for entire bird communities, not just for fire responses, but for a broader reflection on the health of the landscape. The modelling of one species, the Laughing Kookaburra, showed a response to both time since fire and fire frequency, with a reduced abundance in post-fire new-growth vegetation. As this species is noted as being in decline down the east coast of Australia, it is flagged in this thesis as a species of concern. Further, this thesis investigated alpha and beta responses by the forest birds to prescribed burns of different severities. Results suggest that forest birds show little response to small prescribed burns in the landscape, regardless of severity. This may be a result of Heathy Dry Forests’ rapid regeneration post-fire. However, one species that exhibits site fidelity, the White-throated Treecreeper, left areas impacted by high severity prescribed burns. The White-throated Treecreeper’s response flagged the importance of tree hollows being maintained in the landscape, essential for the species that require hollows for roosting and nesting.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Globally, forest birds are under pressure, from agriculture and urban development fragmenting the landscape. Adding to these pressures, changes in the patterns of global climate drivers give rise to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. In Victoria, Australia, changing weather conditions are resulting in increases in the frequency and extent of bushfires. Furthermore, prescribed burning is applied to the landscape in attempts to not only ameliorate the impacts from bushfire, but as part of a ‘pyrodiversity begets biodiversity’ protocol. These pressures all impact birds by reducing resources for: food, nesting and protection from predators. This thesis investigated bird responses to fire in the Heathy Dry Forests of Victoria, against variables of time-since-fire and fire frequency. Bird responses were modelled in terms of: community, foraging guilds and individual species. As a community, birds showed a resilience to both time since fire and fire frequency. Responses by foraging guilds and individual species highlighted some different responses. The common species from each foraging guild showed responses that broadly represent their guild. This thesis highlighted that an effective tool in adaptive management is to predict the trends of our common forest birds, as surrogates for entire bird communities, not just for fire responses, but for a broader reflection on the health of the landscape. The modelling of one species, the Laughing Kookaburra, showed a response to both time since fire and fire frequency, with a reduced abundance in post-fire new-growth vegetation. As this species is noted as being in decline down the east coast of Australia, it is flagged in this thesis as a species of concern. Further, this thesis investigated alpha and beta responses by the forest birds to prescribed burns of different severities. Results suggest that forest birds show little response to small rescribed burns in the landscape, regardless of severity. This may be a result of Heathy Dry Forests’ rapid regeneration post-fire. However, one species that exhibits site fidelity, the White-throated Treecreeper, left areas impacted by high severity prescribed burns. The White-throated Treecreeper’s response flagged the importance of tree hollows being maintained in the landscape, essential for the species that require hollows for roosting and nesting.
- Authors: Kuchinke, Diana
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Globally, forest birds are under pressure, from agriculture and urban development fragmenting the landscape. Adding to these pressures, changes in the patterns of global climate drivers give rise to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. In Victoria, Australia, changing weather conditions are resulting in increases in the frequency and extent of bushfires. Furthermore, prescribed burning is applied to the landscape in attempts to not only ameliorate the impacts from bushfire, but as part of a ‘pyrodiversity begets biodiversity’ protocol. These pressures all impact birds by reducing resources for: food, nesting and protection from predators. This thesis investigated bird responses to fire in the Heathy Dry Forests of Victoria, against variables of time-since-fire and fire frequency. Bird responses were modelled in terms of: community, foraging guilds and individual species. As a community, birds showed a resilience to both time since fire and fire frequency. Responses by foraging guilds and individual species highlighted some different responses. The common species from each foraging guild showed responses that broadly represent their guild. This thesis highlighted that an effective tool in adaptive management is to predict the trends of our common forest birds, as surrogates for entire bird communities, not just for fire responses, but for a broader reflection on the health of the landscape. The modelling of one species, the Laughing Kookaburra, showed a response to both time since fire and fire frequency, with a reduced abundance in post-fire new-growth vegetation. As this species is noted as being in decline down the east coast of Australia, it is flagged in this thesis as a species of concern. Further, this thesis investigated alpha and beta responses by the forest birds to prescribed burns of different severities. Results suggest that forest birds show little response to small prescribed burns in the landscape, regardless of severity. This may be a result of Heathy Dry Forests’ rapid regeneration post-fire. However, one species that exhibits site fidelity, the White-throated Treecreeper, left areas impacted by high severity prescribed burns. The White-throated Treecreeper’s response flagged the importance of tree hollows being maintained in the landscape, essential for the species that require hollows for roosting and nesting.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Globally, forest birds are under pressure, from agriculture and urban development fragmenting the landscape. Adding to these pressures, changes in the patterns of global climate drivers give rise to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. In Victoria, Australia, changing weather conditions are resulting in increases in the frequency and extent of bushfires. Furthermore, prescribed burning is applied to the landscape in attempts to not only ameliorate the impacts from bushfire, but as part of a ‘pyrodiversity begets biodiversity’ protocol. These pressures all impact birds by reducing resources for: food, nesting and protection from predators. This thesis investigated bird responses to fire in the Heathy Dry Forests of Victoria, against variables of time-since-fire and fire frequency. Bird responses were modelled in terms of: community, foraging guilds and individual species. As a community, birds showed a resilience to both time since fire and fire frequency. Responses by foraging guilds and individual species highlighted some different responses. The common species from each foraging guild showed responses that broadly represent their guild. This thesis highlighted that an effective tool in adaptive management is to predict the trends of our common forest birds, as surrogates for entire bird communities, not just for fire responses, but for a broader reflection on the health of the landscape. The modelling of one species, the Laughing Kookaburra, showed a response to both time since fire and fire frequency, with a reduced abundance in post-fire new-growth vegetation. As this species is noted as being in decline down the east coast of Australia, it is flagged in this thesis as a species of concern. Further, this thesis investigated alpha and beta responses by the forest birds to prescribed burns of different severities. Results suggest that forest birds show little response to small rescribed burns in the landscape, regardless of severity. This may be a result of Heathy Dry Forests’ rapid regeneration post-fire. However, one species that exhibits site fidelity, the White-throated Treecreeper, left areas impacted by high severity prescribed burns. The White-throated Treecreeper’s response flagged the importance of tree hollows being maintained in the landscape, essential for the species that require hollows for roosting and nesting.
"So what I do is bang in the search term and see how I go" The information-seeking approaches of Arts Academy students
- Authors: Claridge, Cheryl
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: In this qualitative research project I investigated the use of library systems by a cohort of students from the University of Ballarat Arts Academy. The purpose of the study was to build a clearer picture of how these students use the library resources for their information-seeking, with a view to improving the provision of library services, resources and training. In particular I aimed to identify whether this cohort had a common approach to information-seeking. In this study I thematically analysed the data from eight think-aloud protocols and semi- structured interviews. Participants were Arts Academy students studying Performing Arts, Visual Arts or a Visual Arts/Education dual-degree who were searching for information to complete an assessment task. With the exception of two second year dual-degree students all participants were first year students. The steps taken by participants in information-seeking were identified and the successes and difficulties they experienced with the library’s systems highlighted. The participants in this cohort did not share one specific ‘information-seeking style’ however I identified some common factors across this group of students. All of the participants engaged in a staged process to source the information they required, although in some cases this process was non-linear. They did not however utilise the full capabilities of the search tools they used or access potentially useful tools and resources which the library provides. A number of participants were reticent about using eResources as they had been instructed not to use internet resources for assessment tasks. As a result of this inquiry I have made recommendations relating to the provision of library training and services, collection maintenance and library record standards. Collaboration between library and academic staff would be required to implement these recommendations to ensure optimum outcomes. Areas highlighted for future research include similar studies with student cohorts from different disciplines and an examination of students’ approaches to choosing a topic or focus for assessment tasks.
- Description: Master of Education (Research)
- Authors: Claridge, Cheryl
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: In this qualitative research project I investigated the use of library systems by a cohort of students from the University of Ballarat Arts Academy. The purpose of the study was to build a clearer picture of how these students use the library resources for their information-seeking, with a view to improving the provision of library services, resources and training. In particular I aimed to identify whether this cohort had a common approach to information-seeking. In this study I thematically analysed the data from eight think-aloud protocols and semi- structured interviews. Participants were Arts Academy students studying Performing Arts, Visual Arts or a Visual Arts/Education dual-degree who were searching for information to complete an assessment task. With the exception of two second year dual-degree students all participants were first year students. The steps taken by participants in information-seeking were identified and the successes and difficulties they experienced with the library’s systems highlighted. The participants in this cohort did not share one specific ‘information-seeking style’ however I identified some common factors across this group of students. All of the participants engaged in a staged process to source the information they required, although in some cases this process was non-linear. They did not however utilise the full capabilities of the search tools they used or access potentially useful tools and resources which the library provides. A number of participants were reticent about using eResources as they had been instructed not to use internet resources for assessment tasks. As a result of this inquiry I have made recommendations relating to the provision of library training and services, collection maintenance and library record standards. Collaboration between library and academic staff would be required to implement these recommendations to ensure optimum outcomes. Areas highlighted for future research include similar studies with student cohorts from different disciplines and an examination of students’ approaches to choosing a topic or focus for assessment tasks.
- Description: Master of Education (Research)
The reading/spelling connection : case studies of readers and spellers
- Authors: O'Brien, Terence
- Date: 2000
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "The thesis argues that reading and spelling are interdependent and complex processes, and that "good" readers. but "poor" spellers, read in ways which do not assist in their developing spelling repertoires: their reading behaviours contribute to overall text meanings wihout contributing to individual word knowledge. As well, their writing behaviours do not allow for this knowledge to be used, practised, or displayed."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A financial stress index to model and forecast financial stress in Australia
- Authors: Mukulu, Sandra
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The series of financial crises that cascaded through and rocked much of the world over the past decade created opportunities to draw meaning from the pattern of countries succumbing to crisis and those who appear to be wholly or partially immune. This thesis examines the case of Australia, a developed country that has seldom experienced an endogenous crisis in the last few decades, but has experienced crisis by contagion. This study designs a financial stress index to measure and forecast the health of the Australian economy and proposes a custom-made stress index to: Gauge the potential for a crisis; and Signal when a timely intervention may minimise fear and contagion losses in the Australian financial market. Financial and economic data is used to design indicators for stress in the banking sector and equity, currency and bond markets. Further, this study explores how movements in equity markets of key trading partners of Australia can be used to predict movements in the Australian equity market. The variance-equal weights (VEW) and principal components approach (PCA) are used to subsume 22 stress indicators into a composite stress index. The VEW and PCA stress indexes were examined to determine monitoring and their forecasting capabilities. It was found that the VEW stress index performed better than the PCA stress index, because it provided more consistent estimates for the level of Australian financial stress. Although, both models show some promise, each model fell short of giving adequate forecasts in financial stress especially at the peak time of the 2007-2009 GFC. Thus, more research is needed to understand the complex nature of financial crisis, how crises develop and the techniques that can be used to predict the onset of financial crises.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Mukulu, Sandra
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The series of financial crises that cascaded through and rocked much of the world over the past decade created opportunities to draw meaning from the pattern of countries succumbing to crisis and those who appear to be wholly or partially immune. This thesis examines the case of Australia, a developed country that has seldom experienced an endogenous crisis in the last few decades, but has experienced crisis by contagion. This study designs a financial stress index to measure and forecast the health of the Australian economy and proposes a custom-made stress index to: Gauge the potential for a crisis; and Signal when a timely intervention may minimise fear and contagion losses in the Australian financial market. Financial and economic data is used to design indicators for stress in the banking sector and equity, currency and bond markets. Further, this study explores how movements in equity markets of key trading partners of Australia can be used to predict movements in the Australian equity market. The variance-equal weights (VEW) and principal components approach (PCA) are used to subsume 22 stress indicators into a composite stress index. The VEW and PCA stress indexes were examined to determine monitoring and their forecasting capabilities. It was found that the VEW stress index performed better than the PCA stress index, because it provided more consistent estimates for the level of Australian financial stress. Although, both models show some promise, each model fell short of giving adequate forecasts in financial stress especially at the peak time of the 2007-2009 GFC. Thus, more research is needed to understand the complex nature of financial crisis, how crises develop and the techniques that can be used to predict the onset of financial crises.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Tropical cyclone tracks in CMIP5 models : statistical assessment and future projections
- Authors: Bell, Samuel
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Tropical cyclones (TCs) can have devastating social and economic impacts on coastal communities situated all around the globe. The impact of anthropogenic induced climate change on TC activity has attracted widespread scientific interest over the past decade, resulting in the development of a variety of approaches for TC projection in climate models. However, many uncertainties remain, including those associated with the TC detection algorithm and climate model inter-dependencies that impact projection results. This thesis seeks to address these uncertainties, as well as filling several knowledge gaps in the literature such as limited TC projection studies in the Southern Hemisphere and a global need for regional-scale TC track density projections. The independent TC detection and tracking algorithm utilised in this thesis is first evaluated to determine if it can simulate a realistic TC track climatology in reanalysis data. By way of cluster analysis, model-detected and observed TC tracks are compared and objective criteria for a consistent “TC track” definition are established. Regional-scale TC track projections are then examined in each TC basin around the globe. The exact methodology of cluster analysis in each basin is slightly modified to accommodate basin-scale differences in track climatology but generally follows a cluster assessment of TC tracks in observations, historical climate simulations and future climate projections using results from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) models. Regional impacts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on TC tracks are also examined in current- and future-climates. Projection results are found to be supportive of existing studies, especially in the North Pacific and the Southern Hemisphere. Isolation of TC tracks into clusters indicated that the regional dominance of ENSO is well simulated by the CMIP5 models. Several regional changes in TC activity are noted and attributed to projected changes in the large-scale environment, and changes in ENSO-specific conditions.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Bell, Samuel
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Tropical cyclones (TCs) can have devastating social and economic impacts on coastal communities situated all around the globe. The impact of anthropogenic induced climate change on TC activity has attracted widespread scientific interest over the past decade, resulting in the development of a variety of approaches for TC projection in climate models. However, many uncertainties remain, including those associated with the TC detection algorithm and climate model inter-dependencies that impact projection results. This thesis seeks to address these uncertainties, as well as filling several knowledge gaps in the literature such as limited TC projection studies in the Southern Hemisphere and a global need for regional-scale TC track density projections. The independent TC detection and tracking algorithm utilised in this thesis is first evaluated to determine if it can simulate a realistic TC track climatology in reanalysis data. By way of cluster analysis, model-detected and observed TC tracks are compared and objective criteria for a consistent “TC track” definition are established. Regional-scale TC track projections are then examined in each TC basin around the globe. The exact methodology of cluster analysis in each basin is slightly modified to accommodate basin-scale differences in track climatology but generally follows a cluster assessment of TC tracks in observations, historical climate simulations and future climate projections using results from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) models. Regional impacts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on TC tracks are also examined in current- and future-climates. Projection results are found to be supportive of existing studies, especially in the North Pacific and the Southern Hemisphere. Isolation of TC tracks into clusters indicated that the regional dominance of ENSO is well simulated by the CMIP5 models. Several regional changes in TC activity are noted and attributed to projected changes in the large-scale environment, and changes in ENSO-specific conditions.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Luxville Delusion
- Authors: McCuskey, Eric
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text
- Full Text: false
- Description: Federation University Australia hosts Erin McCuskey's exhibition 'Luxville Delusion' at the Post Office Gallery, 28th October - 28th November 2015. Image: Erin McCuskey Queen Mary, 2014 digital cine still Courtesy the artist.
- Authors: McCuskey, Eric
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text
- Full Text: false
- Description: Federation University Australia hosts Erin McCuskey's exhibition 'Luxville Delusion' at the Post Office Gallery, 28th October - 28th November 2015. Image: Erin McCuskey Queen Mary, 2014 digital cine still Courtesy the artist.
Injury epidemiology among Australian female cricketers
- Authors: Perera, Nirmala
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Cricket is a male-dominated sport; however, its popularity among females is increasing. Like other sports, participation in cricket poses the risk of injury to players. Injury problems for female cricketers are virtually unknown, as studies examining cricket injuries include almost exclusively male participants. In other sports, the types of injuries experienced by men and women are known to be different. Therefore, a clear understanding of the extent and types of injuries sustained by female cricket players is required, to underpin appropriately targeted injury prevention strategies. This thesis provides the first detailed epidemiological profile of cricket injuries sustained by women, by: 1. conducting a systematic review describing injuries in competitive team bat or stick sports in women, to enable cricket injuries to be viewed within the perspective of wider, but relevant, injury data, 2. evaluating existing data sources relating to hospital admissions from Victoria and Queensland and successful insurance claims across Australia, 3. examining the nature and incidence of cricket injuries in elite female players using Cricket Australia’s Athlete Management System, and 4. conducting a nationwide self-report survey of injuries during the 2014–15 season. This PhD research represents participants from different levels of play, across age groups and across Australia. The findings indicate that incidence of injuries for female cricketers were higher than expected based on previous findings in comparable sports, except when considered in relation to insurance claims. The cricket injury rate across hospital presentations, insurance claims, the AMS (Fair Play AMS 2016) and self-reported survey data, each of which represents different level of the sports injury pyramid, identified all-rounders and pace bowlers as having a higher incidence of injury than players in other positions. The highest frequency of reported injuries were in the head, hands, knees and ankles. The nature of the most common injuries were dislocations/sprains/strains, fractures, muscle injury, joint injury and gradual onset injuries. At the elite-level, lumber spine stress fractures accounted for a significant amount of time-loss from the sport. In this thesis, findings from the insurance claims, self-reported survey and AMS (Fair Play AMS 2016) data indicated that most injuries were of a low severity and were more likely to be treated outside of healthcare facilities such as hospitals. In summary, patterns of the most common injuries, in terms of anatomical location and nature of the injuries, were consistent throughout community-level players with some similarities to elite-level players. However, the injury mechanisms and risk factors may differ depending on the level of competition and player’s skill. Recommendations are that ongoing injury surveillance should be conducted at all levels of the sport, and surveillance methodology should be tailored to the specific setting, personnel and available resources. Therefore, before implementing an injury surveillance system at the community-level of the sport, more research is needed to fully understand what type of injury surveillance system might be feasible and suitable in this context.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Perera, Nirmala
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Cricket is a male-dominated sport; however, its popularity among females is increasing. Like other sports, participation in cricket poses the risk of injury to players. Injury problems for female cricketers are virtually unknown, as studies examining cricket injuries include almost exclusively male participants. In other sports, the types of injuries experienced by men and women are known to be different. Therefore, a clear understanding of the extent and types of injuries sustained by female cricket players is required, to underpin appropriately targeted injury prevention strategies. This thesis provides the first detailed epidemiological profile of cricket injuries sustained by women, by: 1. conducting a systematic review describing injuries in competitive team bat or stick sports in women, to enable cricket injuries to be viewed within the perspective of wider, but relevant, injury data, 2. evaluating existing data sources relating to hospital admissions from Victoria and Queensland and successful insurance claims across Australia, 3. examining the nature and incidence of cricket injuries in elite female players using Cricket Australia’s Athlete Management System, and 4. conducting a nationwide self-report survey of injuries during the 2014–15 season. This PhD research represents participants from different levels of play, across age groups and across Australia. The findings indicate that incidence of injuries for female cricketers were higher than expected based on previous findings in comparable sports, except when considered in relation to insurance claims. The cricket injury rate across hospital presentations, insurance claims, the AMS (Fair Play AMS 2016) and self-reported survey data, each of which represents different level of the sports injury pyramid, identified all-rounders and pace bowlers as having a higher incidence of injury than players in other positions. The highest frequency of reported injuries were in the head, hands, knees and ankles. The nature of the most common injuries were dislocations/sprains/strains, fractures, muscle injury, joint injury and gradual onset injuries. At the elite-level, lumber spine stress fractures accounted for a significant amount of time-loss from the sport. In this thesis, findings from the insurance claims, self-reported survey and AMS (Fair Play AMS 2016) data indicated that most injuries were of a low severity and were more likely to be treated outside of healthcare facilities such as hospitals. In summary, patterns of the most common injuries, in terms of anatomical location and nature of the injuries, were consistent throughout community-level players with some similarities to elite-level players. However, the injury mechanisms and risk factors may differ depending on the level of competition and player’s skill. Recommendations are that ongoing injury surveillance should be conducted at all levels of the sport, and surveillance methodology should be tailored to the specific setting, personnel and available resources. Therefore, before implementing an injury surveillance system at the community-level of the sport, more research is needed to fully understand what type of injury surveillance system might be feasible and suitable in this context.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Algae-based models to configure consumptive flows for ecological benefit in the highly regulated MacKenzie River, south-east Australia
- Authors: Atazadeh, Ehsan
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Many river ecosystems, especially those in arid and semi-arid, are experiencing severe stress due to the increasing demands on the ecosystem services they provide, coupled with anthropogenic catchment impacts and factors associated with climate change and weather extremes. The flow regime of the Mackenzie River was substantially modified since the construction of a water supply reservoir on its upper reach in 1887. Water is now regulated at several locations downstream of the reservoir, creating a substantially modified flow regime, impacting key environmental values of the river. The river receives an environmental flow allocation and the river channel is used to transfer water dedicated for consumptive use. Water Quality and algal monitoring formed the basis of models that were developed evaluate the ecological condition of this working river under base flow and before, during and after freshes that deliver water to users. Samples of diatoms, soft algae and measurements of water quality were analysed at ten sampling sites for three years (between February 2012 and November 2014) along the MacKenzie River in different seasons and under different flow regimes to understand the spatial and temporal variation in the relationship between algal communities and water quality, and so stream condition. Baseline information on algal communities and water quality was collected during base flow conditions, while experiments on the effect of water releases on algal communities were based on flow regime variations (manipulated flow regimes), specifically on the algae community structure, water quality and ecosystem function. These comprised cease to flow (0 ML/day), low flows (10-15 ML/day), freshes (35-40 ML/day) and high flow (55ML/day) conditions. Physical and chemical characteristics of water, including pH, temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, phosphorus and cations and anions were measured. Biological properties of the algal periphyton communities, including dry mass, ash-free dry mass, chlorophyll-a concentration and species composition, were also measured. Furthermore, the DSIAR (Diatom Species Index for Australian Rivers) score was calculated to classify the condition of the waterway. The results showed the algal species composition changed under different flow regimes along the river. The sensitivity of diatoms to changes in water quality and flow rates deemed them useful indicators of river condition. The results indicated that flows tended to improve DSIAR scores and diatoms versus green algae and cyanobacteria biomass measures in the mid and lower reaches. The biological properties of the algal periphyton communities, and the species composition, varied between sites under different flow regimes. The accumulation of dry mass (not ash-free) decreased downstream during freshes, however the accumulation of AFDM (ash-free dry mass) gradually increased downstream. The results showed that the concentration of chlorophyll-a decreased downstream under water release events. The Pearson’s correlation matrix revealed flow regimes had a significant influence on the water chemistry characteristics and biological properties. The principal component analysis (PCA) illustrated that upstream species of algae were associated with low pH and temperature and higher DO. In contrast downstream species were associated with higher turbidity, TSS, conductivity, TN, and TDS. The correspondence analysis (CA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) showed a split between algal assemblages during water release events in comparison with before and after water release. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) identified five significant environmental variables including pH, TSS, Turbidity, TN and TP explaining algal assemblage and structure along the river. The collected data were used to develop ecological response models based on algae communities living under different flow regimes in the MacKenzie River. The algae-based models across a hydraulic gradient may be useful in water management efforts to find sustainable solutions in the river by balancing environmental and human values. The empirical data and models showed the lower reaches of the river to be in poor condition under low flows, but this condition improved under flows of 35 ML/day, as indicated by the reduction in green algae and cyanobacteria and improvement in DSIAR scores. The results are presented to tailor discharge and duration of the river flows by amalgamation of consumptive and environmental flows to improve the condition of the stream thereby supplementing the flows dedicated to environmental outcomes. Ultimately the findings can be used by management to configure consumptive flows to enhance the for ecological condition of the MacKenzie River.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Atazadeh, Ehsan
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Many river ecosystems, especially those in arid and semi-arid, are experiencing severe stress due to the increasing demands on the ecosystem services they provide, coupled with anthropogenic catchment impacts and factors associated with climate change and weather extremes. The flow regime of the Mackenzie River was substantially modified since the construction of a water supply reservoir on its upper reach in 1887. Water is now regulated at several locations downstream of the reservoir, creating a substantially modified flow regime, impacting key environmental values of the river. The river receives an environmental flow allocation and the river channel is used to transfer water dedicated for consumptive use. Water Quality and algal monitoring formed the basis of models that were developed evaluate the ecological condition of this working river under base flow and before, during and after freshes that deliver water to users. Samples of diatoms, soft algae and measurements of water quality were analysed at ten sampling sites for three years (between February 2012 and November 2014) along the MacKenzie River in different seasons and under different flow regimes to understand the spatial and temporal variation in the relationship between algal communities and water quality, and so stream condition. Baseline information on algal communities and water quality was collected during base flow conditions, while experiments on the effect of water releases on algal communities were based on flow regime variations (manipulated flow regimes), specifically on the algae community structure, water quality and ecosystem function. These comprised cease to flow (0 ML/day), low flows (10-15 ML/day), freshes (35-40 ML/day) and high flow (55ML/day) conditions. Physical and chemical characteristics of water, including pH, temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, phosphorus and cations and anions were measured. Biological properties of the algal periphyton communities, including dry mass, ash-free dry mass, chlorophyll-a concentration and species composition, were also measured. Furthermore, the DSIAR (Diatom Species Index for Australian Rivers) score was calculated to classify the condition of the waterway. The results showed the algal species composition changed under different flow regimes along the river. The sensitivity of diatoms to changes in water quality and flow rates deemed them useful indicators of river condition. The results indicated that flows tended to improve DSIAR scores and diatoms versus green algae and cyanobacteria biomass measures in the mid and lower reaches. The biological properties of the algal periphyton communities, and the species composition, varied between sites under different flow regimes. The accumulation of dry mass (not ash-free) decreased downstream during freshes, however the accumulation of AFDM (ash-free dry mass) gradually increased downstream. The results showed that the concentration of chlorophyll-a decreased downstream under water release events. The Pearson’s correlation matrix revealed flow regimes had a significant influence on the water chemistry characteristics and biological properties. The principal component analysis (PCA) illustrated that upstream species of algae were associated with low pH and temperature and higher DO. In contrast downstream species were associated with higher turbidity, TSS, conductivity, TN, and TDS. The correspondence analysis (CA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) showed a split between algal assemblages during water release events in comparison with before and after water release. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) identified five significant environmental variables including pH, TSS, Turbidity, TN and TP explaining algal assemblage and structure along the river. The collected data were used to develop ecological response models based on algae communities living under different flow regimes in the MacKenzie River. The algae-based models across a hydraulic gradient may be useful in water management efforts to find sustainable solutions in the river by balancing environmental and human values. The empirical data and models showed the lower reaches of the river to be in poor condition under low flows, but this condition improved under flows of 35 ML/day, as indicated by the reduction in green algae and cyanobacteria and improvement in DSIAR scores. The results are presented to tailor discharge and duration of the river flows by amalgamation of consumptive and environmental flows to improve the condition of the stream thereby supplementing the flows dedicated to environmental outcomes. Ultimately the findings can be used by management to configure consumptive flows to enhance the for ecological condition of the MacKenzie River.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The development of the Malaysian vocational education and training system
- Ramanathan Chettiar, Palaniappan
- Authors: Ramanathan Chettiar, Palaniappan
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The vocational education and training (VET) sector in Malaysia has experienced significant change over the last 10 years. This thesis aimed to identify the challenges facing VET development in Malaysia and consider the lessons that can be learnt from Australian and Singaporean VET experiences. This research explored the challenges using a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) to answer the research question from a multiple stakeholder perspective. The 42 respondents included policymakers, chief executive officers (CEOs) from industry, CEOs from registered training organisations (RTOs), VET instructors and trainees. There were 34 respondents from Malaysia involved in the interviews. Two policymakers and two CEOs of RTOs from Singapore and Australia were also involved in the interviews. An online survey was answered by 209 Malaysian respondents. Significantly, the literature review, including literature from Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, focused on the development of VET policy and the ideas associated with vocational education theory, human capital theory, systems theory and threshold theory, program theory, employability theory, collective skills formation, stakeholder engagement and the capability approach. The literature review provided an overview of the motivations behind government initiates to expand skills development initiatives using different models, the shifting of responsibility for employability to the employee and promoting inclusivity within the nation. While VET objectives were overt, the need for socially inclusive results were not. There is a need to consider economic, social and education contexts when developing VET systems, given the diversity of Malaysian society. The argument is made within the thesis that the development of VET policy has been largely led by government and legislation, rather than industry. The thesis suggests that challenges inherent in the development of a VET system arise from the gaps between VET policy and practice, rhetoric and implementation. While the presence of policy mechanisms for system efficiency was acknowledged by stakeholders, VET policy was characterised by respondents as incremental rather than long term. Most stakeholders acknowledged the importance of lifelong learning and for the need for Malaysia to become a learning nation. The lack of a single agency to monitor skills development was considered an obstacle for effective skills development within the country. Accordingly, this thesis proposes a set of recommendations to address these challenges and provides directions for future research.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ramanathan Chettiar, Palaniappan
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The vocational education and training (VET) sector in Malaysia has experienced significant change over the last 10 years. This thesis aimed to identify the challenges facing VET development in Malaysia and consider the lessons that can be learnt from Australian and Singaporean VET experiences. This research explored the challenges using a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) to answer the research question from a multiple stakeholder perspective. The 42 respondents included policymakers, chief executive officers (CEOs) from industry, CEOs from registered training organisations (RTOs), VET instructors and trainees. There were 34 respondents from Malaysia involved in the interviews. Two policymakers and two CEOs of RTOs from Singapore and Australia were also involved in the interviews. An online survey was answered by 209 Malaysian respondents. Significantly, the literature review, including literature from Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, focused on the development of VET policy and the ideas associated with vocational education theory, human capital theory, systems theory and threshold theory, program theory, employability theory, collective skills formation, stakeholder engagement and the capability approach. The literature review provided an overview of the motivations behind government initiates to expand skills development initiatives using different models, the shifting of responsibility for employability to the employee and promoting inclusivity within the nation. While VET objectives were overt, the need for socially inclusive results were not. There is a need to consider economic, social and education contexts when developing VET systems, given the diversity of Malaysian society. The argument is made within the thesis that the development of VET policy has been largely led by government and legislation, rather than industry. The thesis suggests that challenges inherent in the development of a VET system arise from the gaps between VET policy and practice, rhetoric and implementation. While the presence of policy mechanisms for system efficiency was acknowledged by stakeholders, VET policy was characterised by respondents as incremental rather than long term. Most stakeholders acknowledged the importance of lifelong learning and for the need for Malaysia to become a learning nation. The lack of a single agency to monitor skills development was considered an obstacle for effective skills development within the country. Accordingly, this thesis proposes a set of recommendations to address these challenges and provides directions for future research.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Resilience in a aquatic ecosystems : Developing predictive models to explain the effects of anthropogenic stressors on Murray-Darling Basin billabongs
- Reid, Michael, Gell, Peter, Davidson, Thomas, Sayer, Carl, Tibby, John, Fluin, Jennie
- Authors: Reid, Michael , Gell, Peter , Davidson, Thomas , Sayer, Carl , Tibby, John , Fluin, Jennie
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Symposium on Australia-China Wetland Network Research Partnership; Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGLAS) Nanjing, China; 23rd-28th December 2014 p. 61-67
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened in the world (MEA 2005) and have been identified as one of the ten Australian ecosystems most vulnerable to tipping points. The floodplain lakes and wetlands (billabongs) of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) are hotspots of productivity and diversity and provide important breeding, feeding and refuge habitat for a range of floodplain river biota, as well as important ecosystem goods and services by way of flood mitigation, nutrient cycling and sediment trapping. Nonetheless, MDB billabongs are threatened by water resource and agricultural development and climate change. In recognition of these threats, water dependent ecosystems of the MDB are currently subject to expensive and controversial management measures involving water buy backs estimated to cost up to $30 billion and the subsequent delivery of environmental water. The need to understand the critical drivers of change and the internal system interactions that underlie ecosystem responses in floodplain river ecosystems has never been greater. This project will develop ecosystem response models that will not only identify the critical threatening drivers, but also provide the guidance necessary to rehabilitate these important ecosystems.
- Authors: Reid, Michael , Gell, Peter , Davidson, Thomas , Sayer, Carl , Tibby, John , Fluin, Jennie
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Symposium on Australia-China Wetland Network Research Partnership; Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGLAS) Nanjing, China; 23rd-28th December 2014 p. 61-67
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened in the world (MEA 2005) and have been identified as one of the ten Australian ecosystems most vulnerable to tipping points. The floodplain lakes and wetlands (billabongs) of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) are hotspots of productivity and diversity and provide important breeding, feeding and refuge habitat for a range of floodplain river biota, as well as important ecosystem goods and services by way of flood mitigation, nutrient cycling and sediment trapping. Nonetheless, MDB billabongs are threatened by water resource and agricultural development and climate change. In recognition of these threats, water dependent ecosystems of the MDB are currently subject to expensive and controversial management measures involving water buy backs estimated to cost up to $30 billion and the subsequent delivery of environmental water. The need to understand the critical drivers of change and the internal system interactions that underlie ecosystem responses in floodplain river ecosystems has never been greater. This project will develop ecosystem response models that will not only identify the critical threatening drivers, but also provide the guidance necessary to rehabilitate these important ecosystems.
Rule-based interactive assisted reinforcement learning
- Authors: Bignold, Adam
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Reinforcement Learning (RL) has seen increasing interest over the past few years, partially owing to breakthroughs in the digestion and application of external information. The use of external information results in improved learning speeds and solutions to more complex domains. This thesis, a collection of five key contributions, demonstrates that comparable performance gains to existing Interactive Reinforcement Learning methods can be achieved using less data, sourced during operation, and without prior verifcation and validation of the information's integrity. First, this thesis introduces Assisted Reinforcement Learning (ARL), a collective term referring to RL methods that utilise external information to leverage the learning process, and provides a non-exhaustive review of current ARL methods. Second, two advice delivery methods common in ARL, evaluative and informative, are compared through human trials. The comparison highlights how human engagement, accuracy of advice, agent performance, and advice utility differ between the two methods. Third, this thesis introduces simulated users as a methodology for testing and comparing ARL methods. Simulated users enable testing and comparing of ARL systems without costly and time-consuming human trials. While not a replacement for well-designed human trials, simulated users offer a cheap and robust approach to ARL design and comparison. Fourth, the concept of persistence is introduced to Interactive Reinforcement Learning. The retention and reuse of advice maximises utility and can lead to improved performance and reduced human demand. Finally, this thesis presents rule-based interactive RL, an iterative method for providing advice to an agent. Existing interactive RL methods rely on constant human supervision and evaluation, requiring a substantial commitment from the advice-giver. Rule-based advice can be provided proactively and be generalised over the state-space while remaining flexible enough to handle potentially inaccurate or irrelevant information. Ultimately, the thesis contributions are validated empirically and clearly show that rule-based advice signicantly reduces human guidance requirements while improving agent performance.
- Description: Doctor of Pholosophy
- Authors: Bignold, Adam
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Reinforcement Learning (RL) has seen increasing interest over the past few years, partially owing to breakthroughs in the digestion and application of external information. The use of external information results in improved learning speeds and solutions to more complex domains. This thesis, a collection of five key contributions, demonstrates that comparable performance gains to existing Interactive Reinforcement Learning methods can be achieved using less data, sourced during operation, and without prior verifcation and validation of the information's integrity. First, this thesis introduces Assisted Reinforcement Learning (ARL), a collective term referring to RL methods that utilise external information to leverage the learning process, and provides a non-exhaustive review of current ARL methods. Second, two advice delivery methods common in ARL, evaluative and informative, are compared through human trials. The comparison highlights how human engagement, accuracy of advice, agent performance, and advice utility differ between the two methods. Third, this thesis introduces simulated users as a methodology for testing and comparing ARL methods. Simulated users enable testing and comparing of ARL systems without costly and time-consuming human trials. While not a replacement for well-designed human trials, simulated users offer a cheap and robust approach to ARL design and comparison. Fourth, the concept of persistence is introduced to Interactive Reinforcement Learning. The retention and reuse of advice maximises utility and can lead to improved performance and reduced human demand. Finally, this thesis presents rule-based interactive RL, an iterative method for providing advice to an agent. Existing interactive RL methods rely on constant human supervision and evaluation, requiring a substantial commitment from the advice-giver. Rule-based advice can be provided proactively and be generalised over the state-space while remaining flexible enough to handle potentially inaccurate or irrelevant information. Ultimately, the thesis contributions are validated empirically and clearly show that rule-based advice signicantly reduces human guidance requirements while improving agent performance.
- Description: Doctor of Pholosophy
Organisational change in Department of Defence : A comparison of change management acceptance and interdependencies between military and non-military personnel
- Authors: Leonard, Ann
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , DBA , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Organisational change is used to understand how varying cultures interpret the effects of organisational life, including social capital, leadership and organisational structure. The literature shows how the culture of an organisation can have a direct impact upon the acceptance of change. However most of the empirical data is only concerned with either the culture of public servants or military personnel within the organisation. The purpose of this study is to seek an understanding of how multiple cultures directly relate to organisation change in an integrated environment. This study explores two cultures within Defence (public servants and military personnel) and identified interdependencies between these groups. The study adopted qualitative research methods using interviews to gather the main source of data that was triangulated with demographics and organisational documentation. The results revealed the social capital of the two cultures are equally interdependent. The social network of the integrated office environment is critical for public servants to support military personnel. Furthermore the existence of a new cultural group was identified within the integrated environment. This group provides legitimacy to the interdependencies as they have experience within both cultures. This research could be beneficial to individuals who are charged with leading organisational change in Defence. Additionally the research provides insight into the differing cultures and identifies the interdependencies required to support the military through effective change management.
- Description: Doctor of Business
- Authors: Leonard, Ann
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , DBA , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Organisational change is used to understand how varying cultures interpret the effects of organisational life, including social capital, leadership and organisational structure. The literature shows how the culture of an organisation can have a direct impact upon the acceptance of change. However most of the empirical data is only concerned with either the culture of public servants or military personnel within the organisation. The purpose of this study is to seek an understanding of how multiple cultures directly relate to organisation change in an integrated environment. This study explores two cultures within Defence (public servants and military personnel) and identified interdependencies between these groups. The study adopted qualitative research methods using interviews to gather the main source of data that was triangulated with demographics and organisational documentation. The results revealed the social capital of the two cultures are equally interdependent. The social network of the integrated office environment is critical for public servants to support military personnel. Furthermore the existence of a new cultural group was identified within the integrated environment. This group provides legitimacy to the interdependencies as they have experience within both cultures. This research could be beneficial to individuals who are charged with leading organisational change in Defence. Additionally the research provides insight into the differing cultures and identifies the interdependencies required to support the military through effective change management.
- Description: Doctor of Business
- Authors: Morris, Brian
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: This thesis considers how applicable is the network paradigm to understanding the development of an information technology and technology industry in Ballarat, Australia.
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
Estimating visual quality, a component of culturally-associated ecosystem services in palaeo-lake environments
- Chhetri, Prem, Kattel, Giri, Dong, Xuhui, Yang, Xiangdong, Min, Xu
- Authors: Chhetri, Prem , Kattel, Giri , Dong, Xuhui , Yang, Xiangdong , Min, Xu
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Symposium on Australia-China Wetland Network Research Partnership; Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGLAS) Nanjing, China; 23rd-28th December 2014 p. 23-26
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Evaluation of visual quality is essentially a multi-dimensional and multi-sensory experience of landscape assessment. Visual quality refers to the character, condition and quality of lakes/wetlands. It involves perceiving, preferring and valuing the visual quality by the public. Visual quality is an outcome of the perceptual, cognitive and emotional processes in response to visual stimuli of a lake environment. Visual quality therefore is dependent upon the perceptual and structural aspects of perceived scenes of wetlands. Visual assessment, an evaluating process of gaining non-material or intangible benefits by people from ecosystems, through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, self-reflection, recreation, and aesthetic experiences, has now become one of significant research areas under cultural components of ecosystem services. Public perception in such studies is composed from both the objective and subjective elements of human–landscape interactions. However, it is still a matter of debate whether subjective–objective realities are dichotomous or supplementary to enhancing the quality of human experiences in natural settings. In fact, much research considers them as inseparable and integral parts of landscape perception, despite the tendency for disintegrating landscapes into their constituent components. There is a fundamental theoretical divergence of opinions over the question whether a landscape has an intrinsic or ‘objective’ beauty, which may be in some ways measurable or comparable, or whether beauty is a value that can be only attributed subjectively to an area or a specific landscape.
- Authors: Chhetri, Prem , Kattel, Giri , Dong, Xuhui , Yang, Xiangdong , Min, Xu
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Symposium on Australia-China Wetland Network Research Partnership; Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGLAS) Nanjing, China; 23rd-28th December 2014 p. 23-26
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Evaluation of visual quality is essentially a multi-dimensional and multi-sensory experience of landscape assessment. Visual quality refers to the character, condition and quality of lakes/wetlands. It involves perceiving, preferring and valuing the visual quality by the public. Visual quality is an outcome of the perceptual, cognitive and emotional processes in response to visual stimuli of a lake environment. Visual quality therefore is dependent upon the perceptual and structural aspects of perceived scenes of wetlands. Visual assessment, an evaluating process of gaining non-material or intangible benefits by people from ecosystems, through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, self-reflection, recreation, and aesthetic experiences, has now become one of significant research areas under cultural components of ecosystem services. Public perception in such studies is composed from both the objective and subjective elements of human–landscape interactions. However, it is still a matter of debate whether subjective–objective realities are dichotomous or supplementary to enhancing the quality of human experiences in natural settings. In fact, much research considers them as inseparable and integral parts of landscape perception, despite the tendency for disintegrating landscapes into their constituent components. There is a fundamental theoretical divergence of opinions over the question whether a landscape has an intrinsic or ‘objective’ beauty, which may be in some ways measurable or comparable, or whether beauty is a value that can be only attributed subjectively to an area or a specific landscape.
A conceptual re-alignment of methodology underpinning tax effect accounting : An Australian exploration of the contemporary normalising effect
- Authors: Morton, Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research examines the presence and effectiveness of the ‘normalising effect’, traditionally offered as the main justification for tax effect accounting’s (TEA) adoption. TEA can be seen as a technical facet of accounting practice, ‘normalising’ the timing differences between the accounting and taxation systems. That is, income tax is recognised according to when transactions are recognised for accounting purposes in order to ‘normalise’ reported profits, thereby reflecting an income statement focus. It has been contended that this will improve the usefulness of financial reports by ‘correcting’ misleading and ‘unreal’ fluctuations in income tax. Australia’s adoption of AIFRS in 2005 entailed a major conceptual re-alignment of the methodology underpinning TEA, moving away from the income statement focus in favour of a balance sheet focus. This implied a different normalisation emphasis. It is within this contemporary setting, based on a study of 90 companies over the two regulatory periods between 2002 and 2011 (AGAAP and AIFRS), that a quantitative measure of the presence and effectiveness of the normalising effect was undertaken, additionally considering the subsequent balance sheet impact. Effective normalisation was revealed during the AGAAP period, whilst only effective after the removal of loss makers during the AIFRS period. These findings suggest that the relaxation of recognition criteria under AIFRS may have had a meaningful impact on the effectiveness of the new standard. However, when normalisation was given a more narrow definition in light of prima facie tax, deferred taxes had a more substantial impact, particularly during the AIFRS period. Such findings are consistent with the notion thatTEA enables reported tax to be ‘as if’ it were a function of accounting, without a substantial build up on the balance sheet as a consequence. These findings have implications for evaluating the efficacy of TEA and comprehending the nature of contemporary financial statements.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Morton, Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research examines the presence and effectiveness of the ‘normalising effect’, traditionally offered as the main justification for tax effect accounting’s (TEA) adoption. TEA can be seen as a technical facet of accounting practice, ‘normalising’ the timing differences between the accounting and taxation systems. That is, income tax is recognised according to when transactions are recognised for accounting purposes in order to ‘normalise’ reported profits, thereby reflecting an income statement focus. It has been contended that this will improve the usefulness of financial reports by ‘correcting’ misleading and ‘unreal’ fluctuations in income tax. Australia’s adoption of AIFRS in 2005 entailed a major conceptual re-alignment of the methodology underpinning TEA, moving away from the income statement focus in favour of a balance sheet focus. This implied a different normalisation emphasis. It is within this contemporary setting, based on a study of 90 companies over the two regulatory periods between 2002 and 2011 (AGAAP and AIFRS), that a quantitative measure of the presence and effectiveness of the normalising effect was undertaken, additionally considering the subsequent balance sheet impact. Effective normalisation was revealed during the AGAAP period, whilst only effective after the removal of loss makers during the AIFRS period. These findings suggest that the relaxation of recognition criteria under AIFRS may have had a meaningful impact on the effectiveness of the new standard. However, when normalisation was given a more narrow definition in light of prima facie tax, deferred taxes had a more substantial impact, particularly during the AIFRS period. Such findings are consistent with the notion thatTEA enables reported tax to be ‘as if’ it were a function of accounting, without a substantial build up on the balance sheet as a consequence. These findings have implications for evaluating the efficacy of TEA and comprehending the nature of contemporary financial statements.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Reducing climate change related fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from operational longwall coal mines
- Authors: Holmes, Robert
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The aim of this research is to quantify and validate a method which can significantly reduce fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from collieries in Australia, both cost-effectively and safely. Methane (CH₄) is controlled in collieries currently only for safety, statutory compliance or for capture and use reasons. But today, there is pressure on collieries to reduce not only mining costs but their greenhouse gas emissions. It is known that 65% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with collieries come from fugitive ventilation air methane (VAM). The oxidising machinery to mitigate these fugitive emissions is expensive, has safety concerns and is not widely used at present for these reasons. But widespread concern over GHG emissions means that it is desirable to lower VAM emissions now. One safe, low-cost and non-gas drainage solution explored herein to reduce emissions, is a method to prevent some CH₄ from entering the mine airstream and becoming VAM in the first place. This emissions reduction method underwent a 12-month trial in a colliery in the Hunter Valley using six different quantified and costed non-gas drainage measures. All relevant data was retained, and with the mine’s permission has been processed and published here as a part of this research. A reduction in fugitive emissions of 95,398 t/CO₂-e below that projected for the subsequent 12 months was quantified, at a mitigation cost of A$1.08 t/CO₂-e. The level of mitigation achieved, represents approximately 20% of the mine’s VAM emissions. This research has also further tested the method used in the Hunter Valley trial, by visiting two other large collieries in Queensland, and assessing the two most successful mitigation measures from the Hunter Valley trial (roadway sealing and pressure balancing of sealed panels) against operational conditions at these collieries by ventilation modelling, using their measured gas, airflow and seal pressure data.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Holmes, Robert
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The aim of this research is to quantify and validate a method which can significantly reduce fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from collieries in Australia, both cost-effectively and safely. Methane (CH₄) is controlled in collieries currently only for safety, statutory compliance or for capture and use reasons. But today, there is pressure on collieries to reduce not only mining costs but their greenhouse gas emissions. It is known that 65% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with collieries come from fugitive ventilation air methane (VAM). The oxidising machinery to mitigate these fugitive emissions is expensive, has safety concerns and is not widely used at present for these reasons. But widespread concern over GHG emissions means that it is desirable to lower VAM emissions now. One safe, low-cost and non-gas drainage solution explored herein to reduce emissions, is a method to prevent some CH₄ from entering the mine airstream and becoming VAM in the first place. This emissions reduction method underwent a 12-month trial in a colliery in the Hunter Valley using six different quantified and costed non-gas drainage measures. All relevant data was retained, and with the mine’s permission has been processed and published here as a part of this research. A reduction in fugitive emissions of 95,398 t/CO₂-e below that projected for the subsequent 12 months was quantified, at a mitigation cost of A$1.08 t/CO₂-e. The level of mitigation achieved, represents approximately 20% of the mine’s VAM emissions. This research has also further tested the method used in the Hunter Valley trial, by visiting two other large collieries in Queensland, and assessing the two most successful mitigation measures from the Hunter Valley trial (roadway sealing and pressure balancing of sealed panels) against operational conditions at these collieries by ventilation modelling, using their measured gas, airflow and seal pressure data.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Occupational rehabilitation in Victoria : practitioners' perceptions of change
- Authors: Lord, Anne
- Date: 1996
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text: false
- Description: "The aim of this work is to assess the impact of legislative changes on the practice of occupational rehabilitation as perceived by rehabilitation practioners using the Victorian experience as a case study."
- Description: Master of Applied Science
- Swan, Christopher, Morgan, Damian, Lawton, Alan
- Authors: Swan, Christopher , Morgan, Damian , Lawton, Alan
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Relation: 15th International Conference Corporate Social Responsibility and 6th Organisational Governance Conference; Melbourne, Australia; 4th-6th September 2016
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed: