Research areas
The School conducts research through the following Research Institutes at UniSA and undertakes industrial consultancy in key areas both nationally and internationally.
Institute of Sustainable Systems and Technologies
The University officially launched the Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies as a flagship institute in 2006. ISST's brief is wide-ranging yet strategic to develop systems and technologies that will sustain ecosystems and facilitate social and economic development while optimising the use of natural resources; to minimise waste, emissions and other environmental consequences; and to reduce costs.
Focusing on research, development, consulting, testing, monitoring and analysis in the areas of built environment and sustainable development, ISST embraces work carried out within the Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment.
The School hosts the ISST research concentrations of Agricultural Machinery Research and Design, Sustainable Energy and Sustainable Design and Manufacturing Research.
Agricultural Machinery Research and Design Centre (AMRDC)
The highly experienced staff have practical farming and manufacturing backgrounds and advanced academic qualifications. They are therefore able to offer practical research and consultancy services based on their understanding of the engineering needs of farmers and the agricultural industry. Current projects include:
- Improved Tillage and Seeding Equipment
- High Efficiency SubSoil Ripper/Amelioator for Vineyards
- Cropping System Research: importance of no-till seeding system technology (GRDC, SAGITF, Industry)
- Development of wide spread seed sowing systems (GRDC)
- Grain Harvester Modifications for handling snail infested crops (GRDC, Industry)
- Specialised sprayer machinery for plantation environment (Ausindustry, Industry)
- Improved separation techniques for snail contaminated grain (GRDC)
- Spray performance measurements of sprayer equipment (Industry)
- Wear and performance evaluation of ground openers (Industry, UniSA)
If you are interested in more information please visit AMRDC website.
Sustainable Energy Centre (SEC)
The multidisciplinary group of researchers was established at the University of South Australia in 1996 with a focus on energy and its associated environmental issues. Its main R&D programs are in the areas of solar energy application and energy management including heating, dehumidification and cooling. Outcomes of its activities include developing methodologies for evaluating, regulating and monitoring energy use in housing developments.
Products developed, which are finding their way to commercialisation, include its roof-integrated solar heating system, a new generation of solar lights and phase change storage systems for heating and cooling applications. This group also has a high educational profile through establishing the South Australian Solar Car Consortium.
Researchers were the main organisers of a successful ISES Solar World Congress which was held in Adelaide in 2001. Since 1998, research staff and students have been active participants at national and international conferences including the International Solar Energy Society Congresses, World Renewable Energy Congresses and ANZSES conferences. They have also published extensively in international journals.
If you are interested in more information please visit SEC website.
Sustainable Design and Manufacturing Research (SDMR) group
This is an engineering research group with expertise in the areas of advanced manufacturing, supply chain management, manufacturing management, green manufacturing, robotics, intelligent control and engineering design that has a strategic focus on applying novel and innovative engineering solutions to productivity improvements and engineering sustainability. The research objectives are, therefore, focussed on these strategic areas.
The key areas of current research activities are:
- Intelligent optimisation of supply chain design and operations
- Distributed and collaborative manufacturing
- Design for assembly, disassembly, recyclability and product upgrade
- Whole of life risk analysis and costing
- Decision support systems
- Modelling and simulation
- CIM, robotics, automation and machine vision systems
- Micro joining
To find out more of this group's activities please visit this SDMR link.
Mawson Institute
The Mawson Institute focuses on the basic science and engineering that underpins 'next generation' manufacturing, providing new technologies based upon new knowledge and innovation that can be integrated into products or processes. Scientists and engineers will work in parallel, rather than sequentially, on concept and commercialisation, significantly reducing the time and steps for new product development. Staff members of AME who are associated with the Mawson Institute aim for and achieve excellence in the field of Nanotechnology and Nanomanufacturing research.
Nanotechnology and Nanomanufacturing
In the future, nanotechnology will provide significant socio-economic benefits across all major sectors. Nanomanufacturing will focus on the design, engineering, and commercialisation of specific devices and tools, such as microfluidic devices as well as the manufacturing of nanomaterials. This bilateral approach will deliver expertise and outcomes in the two areas of know-how in the design, engineering and manufacturing of specific state-of-the-art devices and expertise in the actual manufacturing of nanomaterials using these devices.
This concept will provide significant opportunities for SA's advanced manufacturing industry base for participation in the world-wide advancing nanotechnology market.
If you are interested in more information please visit this link.