Research at School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment

AHSCA involves stakeholders of the Australian housing industry who have the capacity and willingness to commit to being change agents for the sector to address industry challenges.

Find out more about AHSCA

An industry collaboration initiative embracing smart technologies and processes in delivering a modern construction industry

The Centre Will Invest In:

• Research grants
• Visiting academics
• Academic and research exchange
• Undergraduate scholarships for construction management students
• A site for practical demonstration of building techniques

Research

• The Sustainable Construction Management and Education team has a strong group of actively engaged researchers. It aims to develop strategies for responding to climate change while embedding engaged learning in the construction management program as part of the Western Sydney University Strategic Plan. Undergraduate student numbers have increased significantly since 2007. The enrolment surge indicates a need to conduct research into improving sustainable construction education.

This research seeks to ultimately contribute to safer construction and infrastructure projects. The research will contribute to the ability of government to equitably and precisely assess a tenderer’s capability to meet the elevated WHS standards envisioned to be set by a BIM-informed WHS management framework.

Find out more about WH&S Management using Building Information Modelling (BIM)

The focus of this project is on the engagement and implementation of networked open social scholarship. ‘Networked open social scholarship involves creating and disseminating research and research technologies to a broad, interdisciplinary audience of specialists and non-specialists in ways that are both accessible and significant’ (Implementing New Knowledge Environments, 2016). In the Built Environment there are numerous Professional Associations that seek to catalyse knowledge sharing of innovative research and leading edge practitioners’ experiences.

Find out more about linked semantic platforms for social & physical infrastructure & wellbeing

Current Research Areas

• Engineering Materials and Processing Technologies
• Smart Structures and Safety Engineering

Current Research Themes

• Structures
• Sustainability
• Materials

Current Research Areas

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Water Engineering
• Environmental Engineering

Current Research Interests

• Application of Nd-Fe-B magnets in motors, actuators and magnetic couplings.
• Design and development of high speed, high efficiency, DC brushless motor with slotless windings and controller.
• Power Electronics and drive systems
• Variable reluctance motors including switched reluctance and stepper motors
• Induction and reluctance generators
• Renewable sources of energy and conversion to electrical energy
• Converter topologies for drive systems
• Power system protection
• Micro Electromechanical Devices
• Fuzzy Logic Control Systems
• Interior or Buried Permanent Magnet Drive Systems
• Condition monitoring of power system equipment
• Application of Finite Element Methods in Electromagnetic Design
• Neuro-Fuzzy Applications
• EM I/EMC and Power Quality issues
• Sensorless Control of Brushless Drive Systems

Research

• The Robotics, Vision and Signal Processing (RVSP) team aims to develop innovative concepts, methodologies and techniques in the field of robotics, computer vision and signal processing and apply these developments to solving practical problems.

Projects and Research Interests

We have the potential to deliver the following technologies in high need for the community:

• solar materials which are photosensitive oxide semiconductors for solar energy conversion which are competitive with silicon;
• devices for solar–hydrogen – environmentally friendly energy;
• water purification without oxidants which produces high quality water using solar energy. The group's work offers solar energy to convert sewage into drinking water.