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Remote control engineering – New technologies can minimise the time engineers need to spend in harsh and challenging conditions.
From mining to aerospace, remote technologies are enhancing efficiency, improving safety and minimising the time engineers need to spend in harsh and challenging conditions. –Words by Megan Breen-This article was originally published in the November 2024 issue of create with the headline “At arm’s length”.
In a country the size of a continent, “remote” is a familiar word. These days, remote also describes the array of new technologies that promise to improve safety and productivity – and make the tyranny of distance no impediment to getting the job done.
The oil and gas industry uses remote operated vehicles (ROVs) for deep-sea tasks and automated well monitoring systems for real-time performance tracking. Construction benefits from building information modelling (BIM) and remote management tools such as drones. In the energy sector, smart grids and wind turbine sensors enable remote monitoring and optimisation.
Engineers Australia Acting Chief Engineer Bernadette Foley FIEAust CPEng EngExec told create there have been significant improvements in both safety and productivity in all industries that have embraced remote technology for operation and monitoring from a distance.
The use of technology has changed how engineers and associates approach their work, shifting from hands-on tasks in hazardous environments to remote oversight. This transition not only enhances operational efficiency, but also significantly reduces exposure to risks such as heavy machinery accidents and extreme conditions.
“Automation has been a game-changer in improving safety for engineers,” Foley said. “Tasks that once involved significant risk, such as handling hazardous materials or performing high-risk maintenance, are now safer thanks to the use of remote systems.
“This has led to a cultural shift within the industry, where safety is increasingly built into the design and operation of engineering systems.”
The return of wind-powered shipping – While future fuels will be crucial to decarbonising trade, some engineers are revisiting wind power.These sail-powered craft offer a zero-emissions approach to maritime shipping
International trade was powered by wind for millennia, before falling from favour with the rise of fossil fuels. Now the decarbonisation imperative is putting wind back in the sails of shipping.
This article was originally published in the November 2024 issue of create with the headline “Sailing cargo”.
Maritime shipping is incredibly efficient. For every tonne of cargo a modern container ship transports, it will emit as little as 10 g of carbon dioxide per kilometre. Truck transport emits at least six times more emissions, while air freight is about 50 times more carbon-intensive.
Nonetheless, the vast scale of maritime freight transport means the industry currently accounts for almost three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Without strong action, this proportion will swell rapidly as shipping volumes grow and other sectors decarbonise.
Achieving the industry’s target of halving emissions between 2008 and 2050 demands a wide variety of innovations, with green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol all being touted as replacements for bunker fuel. While future fuels will undoubtedly be crucial to decarbonising shipping, some engineers are revisiting wind power, with encouraging results.
A greener future for Australia’s data centres From renewable energy integration to waste-heat recovery, here’s how Australian data centres are tackling the challenge of rising energy consumption.
As the backbone of the digital economy, data centres must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing renewable energy and circular economy principles, operators can meet the rising demands of AI and the Internet of Things while reducing their environmental impact.
As the demand for reliable access to data continues to grow exponentially, data centres have become critical infrastructure for modern economies. Their role is continuously expanding, driven by advances in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and the ever-growing need for computational capacity.
However, this growth brings with it significant challenges. Data centres require vast amounts of energy to power servers, cooling systems and networking equipment, and, despite growing investments in renewable energy, many of these facilities still rely on grid electricity derived from fossil fuels.
Research published last year predicted that the booming global data centre industry would emit 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions by 2030, placing significant pressure on data centre operators and governments to keep the carbon footprint of these facilities in check.
In response, countries including Singapore, Ireland and the Netherlands have previously introduced moratoriums on the development of new data centres. However, in the majority of cases, construction on these centres has resumed due to skyrocketing demand for data capacity.
Australia is in a competitive position to champion the growth of powerful and sustainable data centres, but in order to do so, the industry must address key infrastructure gaps and prioritise sustainable practices.
4 experts explain how Australia can become an innovation superpower – research and development
How does investment in R&D and advanced manufacturing compare with the rest of the world – and what steps can it take to excel?
How does the country’s investment in R&D and advanced manufacturing compare with the rest of the world – and what steps can it take to excel?
OECD data has revealed the extent to which Australia funds research and development (R&D) projects compared to other countries.
The map below depicts relative total expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP for the top 10 investing countries, plus Australia, which ranks 22nd. This includes projects carried out by private companies, universities and government laboratories.
Expert tip: “Scaling requires entrepreneurship”
Dr Raj Aseervatham FIEAust CPEng, National President and Board Chair of Engineers Australia, explains why there are always two parts to the art of innovation: creation and scaling
“Creation requires four ingredients: purpose, education, R&D activity and R&D funding. There is no shortage of purpose, reflected in many societal needs; nationally, regionally and globally. Looking to the future, our commitment to the other three – at global leadership levels – will be undeniable. Our foundational elements – schools, universities and STEM education – enviably strong. They will be digitally and technologically leading-edge.
Inside the Port Hedland Solar and Battery Project
Located in Australia’s largest iron ore port, APA’s Port Hedland project is rewriting the rules for building renewable energy systems in extreme weather conditions.
In one of Australia’s most resource-rich regions, the Port Hedland Solar and Battery Project demonstrates how renewable energy can support critical industries even in the face of extreme weather conditions.
In the Pilbara, where strong winds and heavy rains regularly pummel the coastline, resilient energy systems are essential for keeping critical industries on their feet.
Port Hedland, Australia’s largest iron ore port, depends on consistent power to support its massive resource operations, but its location on the cyclone-prone coast of the Pilbara adds a layer of complexity to any energy project – particularly those involving renewables.
However, through the Port Hedland Solar and Battery Project, APA Group is redefining what’s possible for renewable energy in extreme climates.
By integrating a robust solar and battery system with cyclone-resistant design features, the initiative demonstrates how clean energy can thrive in even the harshest conditions
How are engineers rethinking design for circularity? –ENVIRONMENT
More than seven million tonnes of construction waste goes to landfill each year – equivalent to enough bricks to build a metre-high wall around Australia’s coastline.
Joe Karten’s daughters, aged six and nine, enjoy playing with LEGO. Perhaps unsurprisingly for the children of a core member of the team for developer Built, they regularly spend hours assembling all sorts of creations, which sometimes stand proudly for several days before the girls break them down and pack the pieces into a bucket, ready for their next production.
“Imagine, though, if every time they got bored with one of their LEGO creations, they threw the pieces in the bin, and I had to go out and buy new LEGO sets,” Karten, Built’s Head of Sustainability and Social Impact, said. “If that happened, they wouldn’t be playing with LEGO for very long.
“And yet, that’s what we do with buildings and fit-outs. We know how to get the very best value out of materials even when we’re children. But as engineering and construction businesses, we need to do a lot better.”
In fact, a spokesperson for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water told create, circularity is already happening in the construction supply chain. Engineers have to get on board.
“There is no escaping the change towards circular construction,” the spokesperson said. “It’s growing in momentum internationally, and Australia is committed to making this transition.
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