Infrastructure Engineering - Theses
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ItemUnderstanding the Co-evolution of Land, Water, and Environmental Governance in Victoria during 1860 - 2016( 2019)There are many cases where the changes in government interventions have resulted in considerable negative consequences to social-ecological systems (SESs) instead of promoting improvement. Difficulties occur in guiding governance change to steer SESs onto desirable pathways. However, the linkage between the degradation of SESs and governance failure remains unclear. To address this gap, this research aims to understand the co-evolution of land, water, and environmental governance through the integration of policy into social-ecological system frameworks (SESFs). This research is presented into three chapters to answer the following three research questions: Research Question 1: How does land, water, and environmental governance steer the SES condition? Research Question 2: How have policy instruments for land, water, and environmental governance developed from 1860 to 2016 in Victoria, Australia? Research Question 3: How have the policy instruments for land, water, and environmental governance co-evolved? Is there any association with biophysical changes? Chapter 3 developed an SES framework by extending the SES frameworks proposed by Ostrom and Anderies. In the proposed framework, SES condition is viewed as the product of the accumulation of policy instruments used in land, water, and environmental governance to rule the interaction between and among components of biophysical and social systems. Policy instruments can help policy analysts explain the linkages between resources, resource users, and public infrastructure providers and which has a significant role in enhancing the robustness of SES. The framework provides a new way to develop a wider recognition and appreciation of dynamic, site-specific biophysical and social system conditions in influencing the government intervention, and in turn, have been shaped by them. In particular, the framework can help policymakers elucidate: 1. how the biophysical system has been understood in SES governance as represented by the relevant policy instruments; 2. how the social system has been set up in SES governance; and 3. how the synergies and trade-offs between the biophysical and social systems have been managed in the governance of the SES. It can help for systematically analyzing SES governance through the configuration of policy instruments. Chapter 4 used the proposed framework to investigate the evolution of policy instruments used in the land, water, and environmental governance in Victoria, Australia. The content analysis of Victorian Acts related to land, water, and environment practices between 1860 to 2016 was conducted. The investigation found that policy instruments to manage the behavior in resource utilization (substantive and procedural policy instruments) did not vary. However, they were differences in the circumstances in which they were implemented, in this case, differing interactions among components of the biophysical and social systems. The policy instruments held a particular focus in managing components of SESs in different periods and the evolution of each policy instrument has its pathway. Four regimes were identified in the evolution of policy instruments used in water governance: reserve, authority, information, and integration regimes. Whilst, policy instruments used in land governance experienced three regimes (authority, information, and integration regimes) and policy instruments used in environmental governance experienced two regimes (information and integration regimes). Chapter 5 associated the co-evolution of land, water, and environmental governance and biophysical changes. The co-evolution was analyzed by unpacking the integration of policy instruments used in land, water, and environmental governance. The integration was analyzed by examining the relationships between SES components covered in policy instruments. Represented by the subtle changes in their integration, the analysis showed the Victorian government’s learning process in adapting and accommodating the natural system and its desire to avoid significant negative impacts on the land, water, and environmental conditions have resulted in the inclusion of the dynamic interaction within SES as the consideration in formulating its policy instruments. Comparing the co-evolution of policy instruments used in land, water, and environmental governance with state-wide changes within the biophysical system, it is found that there is a strong association between the integration of land, water, and environmental governance and the change in SES condition in Victoria from 1860 to 2016. This longitudinal study of Victoria land, water, and environmental governance developed a new way to explain the linkage between natural resources governance and SES condition. Re-constructing government intervention through policy instruments implemented in the land, water, and environmental governance, the study found the way policy instruments were designed and implemented varied with the state of understanding of the dynamic interactions within the SESs. Looking back over Victoria’s history in developing policy instruments used in land, water, and environmental governance, the study suggests that policy instruments should be formulated to address the interactions among components within SES, in this case, policy instruments as managers of interaction within SES. This is crucial to steer SES conditions onto desirable conditions.
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ItemUnlocking the key to mega project delivery( 2017)The Tier 1 contractors operating in the Australian marketplace have consistently failed to deliver their tendered financial targets on mega projects, which are defined as projects with contract values of more than $500m. Although these organisations have theoretically developed clear expertise in delivery, employed the best leaders, remunerated at the upper end, been governed by executive high profile directors and developed infallible systems, there is a high risk that the financial results on future mega projects will continue to erode shareholder value. The aims of this study were to quantify the scale and impact of financial failures in the industry and then develop a method of improving the management of mega projects. To achieve this, the research examined the performance of 91 current and completed projects in Australia since 2000. The data used for the research was collected from the following categories of projects: • 28 completed mega projects from 2000–2015 • 22 current mega projects from 2015–2020 • 24 completed minor projects from 2010–2016 • 17 other projects from 2011–2015 that were used to test the model hypothesis. The large number of projects sampled, the 20-year time span of the sample and access to unpublished industry data enabled this research to break new ground in the study of contractors’ financial performance. Analysis of the results from the mega projects studied indicates that on average, each completed project has posted a loss of 16%. This suggests that each project destroys its original 9% profit margin plus a further deterioration of 7%. In dollar terms, this represents a loss of $215m on an average project size of $1.32b. This equates to a $6b loss from corporate balance sheets between 2000 and 2015. The causes of project financial failure have been extensively studied in the published literature. Many of them are technical in nature and can therefore be easily understood and quantified. Examples of technical causes are inappropriate risk transfer, inclement weather, latent conditions, industrial relations, scope growth and the like. However, contractors tend to regard their own lessons learned from project failures as valuable intellectual property and seldom share this knowledge externally to benefit the wider construction industry. To develop a deeper understanding of the industry and search for potential solutions, the research explored the personal experiences of over 100 project leaders with experience of delivering mega projects. While the interviews with these project leaders confirmed that financial failure is indeed a real problem in the industry and that technical causes contribute to it, leadership and people factors emerged as being equally relevant when determining the causes of mega project failure. Although the technical aspects of a project can and do reduce project profitability, losses caused by human behaviours are very significant. To study this hypothesis, a new and original model of personnel selection (the ‘A+ model’) was developed and tested on a series of infrastructure projects ranging over a period of five years. The model is designed to provide a set of tools that executives can use to select project leaders and build project teams that have the skills and knowledge to eliminate the technical causes of financial failure. The correlation between the model outputs and the financial outcomes from the projects studied provides confidence that it can be used to structure and maintain teams that will deliver outstanding performance against all key result areas on a project, not just financial performance. The model is robust, simple to use and can be successfully applied to a diversity of project locations, types and sizes, ranging from $10m to over $500m in value across the road, rail, social and water infrastructure sectors. The results achieved by the model are exceptional and provide the theoretical basis for unlocking the key to mega project delivery.
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ItemModelling multi-year phosphorus flow at the regional scale: the case of Gippsland, Australia( 2015)Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for global food production, but it is geographically limited, non-substitutable, and non-renewable. In the traditional P management system, there exist a number of challenges to the sustainability of this vital resource, which, if not properly tackled, may lead to global P scarcity and hinder global food security. In order to provide effective policy and management response to overcome these challenges, and to safeguard global P sustainability, there is need for a sound understanding of the nature and magnitude of P flow through different systems at various geographical and temporal scales. An in-depth review of the available P flow analyses at different geographical and temporal scales has revealed that the regional scale which is significant in terms of the magnitude of P flow, has received limited attention in the multi-year analysis of P flow. Thus, there is a knowledge gap regarding the nature and magnitude of P flow over several years at the regional scale, but this understanding is essential for providing long-term and effective P management decisions. Therefore, utilizing the Substance Flow Analysis (SFA) method that relies on the mass balance principle, this study has performed a quantitative modelling of P flow over multiple years at the regional scale. In this regard, this study has developed SFA model of P in MATLAB/Simulink® software platform that can be utilized for analysing the nature and magnitude of multi-year P flow at the regional scale. This model takes into account both structurally and operationally, all the relevant P flows and storage associated with all key systems, subsystems, processes or components, and associated interactions of P flow to represent a typical P flow system at the regional scale. The main advantage of this model over available regional scale SFA models is that it is capable of analysing the trends or dynamic changes in P flow and storage over many years at an annual time step, whereas the available P flow models are static and can analyse P flow only for a particular year at a time. The unique capability of the model to comprehensively analyse various P flows and storage in a system, subsystems, or/and different components within subsystems and sub-subsystems while taking into account all interactions of P flow render it as a robust and powerful tool for the regional scale P flow analysis. This study has utilized this model in the case of Gippsland region in Australia to analyse the nature and magnitude of P flow and storage over a six-year period (2008-2013). This analysis has revealed that approximately 29% (4,445 tonnes) of the mean annual total inflow (15,349 tonnes) of P in this region eventually exited the system, indicating a substantial amount (10,904 tonnes) of P storage. The inflow of P mainly occurred as commercial fertilizer (10,263 tonnes) and livestock feed (4,443 tonnes), and the outflow mainly occurred as livestock products (4,181 tonnes); whereas the majority (66% or 7,218 tonnes) of P storage occurred in soils of the livestock farming system. The analysis has also revealed that the majority (approximately 90%) of the P flow and storage in this region was associated with the livestock farming subsystem. A significant annual variation in the magnitude of nearly all P flow and storage has been observed in the case of the main system (Gippsland region) and all subsystems. These variations in annual P flow and storage implies that making judgement based on a single year analysis may not represent the true picture of the magnitude of P flow, and therefore, emphasises the significance for multi-year analysis. This analysis also indicates that over the study period, a total of about 3,241 tonnes P were lost as soil erosion and runoff from different subsystems to water bodies in this region, eventually causing a substantial environmental and economic damage. Over the study period, a total of approximately 65,424 tonnes P storage (mainly in soils of the livestock farming subsystem) occurred in this region, which is more than the total quantity of P imported as commercial fertilizer into this region in that period. The accumulation of P in this manner over several years may lead to a massive stock of P in soils, which may ultimately intensify the risk of P loss as soil erosion and runoff. The findings of this analysis could be effectively utilized for making better P management decisions towards achieving P sustainability in this region. However, this study suggests that future research should investigate the reasons for the variations and trends in multi-year P flow as identified in the case of Gippsland region.
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ItemStatistical-dynamical modelling of catchment water balance: climatic and vegetation controls on hydrological fluxes( 2005)The prediction or modelling of catchment water balance is a fundamental hydrological question. So many natural resource management problems rely on accurate modelling of catchment water yield. Both Australian and global water resources are likely to face new and increased pressures in the future as a result of land-use changes, climate change and increased demand for water from both urban and agricultural users. However, the variability of catchment water balance, as well as the sources and timescales of this variability, still remains insufficiently understood. The principal aim of this thesis is an analysis of the water balance of Australian catchments. Using a variety of models, particularly recently developed probabilistic soil-moisture accounting models, catchment water balance and soil moisture variability are examined at different timescales, with particular emphasis on the mean annual timescale of catchment water balance. Recently published stochastic soil-moisture accounting models are presented in detail. This survey highlights the assumptions of the models, the theoretical and observational background to these assumptions, as well as the solutions, limitations and possibilities for improvement of the models. These models are then compared with observational data, and further extensions and solutions to some of the models are presented and discussed. Water balance variability at other timescales is also considered, by testing and extending theoretical hydrological models, resulting in a clearer understanding of the relative roles of climate, soil and vegetation to the variability of catchment water balance.
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ItemPerformance of steel framed domestic structures subjected to earthquake loads( 1997)This thesis investigates the performance of cold formed steel framed domestic structures subjected to earthquake loads. These structures generally include one and two storey houses, comprising steel wall framing, exterior veneer cladding and internal lining. The dynamic, non-linear performance of such structures during earthquakes is simplified to static linear behaviour for design purposes using the structural response modification factor, Rµ. This factor is defined as the product of the structural ductility reduction factor, Rµ, and the over-strength of the system, Ω. This thesis develops a rigorous technique for the determination of Rµ and the application of this technique is demonstrated for a proprietary framing system. This is achieved using novel non-linear, transient dynamic finite element models of these structures subjected to earthquake loads. The model parameters are estimated from unique experiments conducted on representative structures using a shaking table. It is shown that the framing system considered is non-ductile (ie Rµ≈1). This result directly contradicts the assumed ductile behaviour of these framing systems as specified in the Australian earthquake loading standard, AS 1170.4. The significance of this is that current design practices are unconservative and therefore underestimate the earthquake loads on these structures.
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ItemThe effect of adverse possession on part of a registered title land parcel( 2003-01)This thesis began as an investigation of the effect of adverse possession upon the land market where the adverse possession extends only to a small portion of the abutting parcel and the subject land is under a title registration scheme. The consequence of such adverse possession on part only of a parcel is that the location of the boundary demarcating the limits of the respective domains of two adjoining land parcels may be displaced. If part parcel adverse possession effectively transfers ownership of a small portion of an abutting parcel, the boundaries are shifted consequent to long term occupation, and will prevail over the strict technical legal boundary. In a registered title land system the occupational boundary then prevails over the legal boundary as certified in the register notwithstanding that registered title schemes purport to confer conclusiveness upon register entries. Alternatively, the registered proprietor’s estate is not paramount where any part of the proprietor's parcel has been adversely occupied. Consequently the occupier has an interest in the proprietor's land that is not disclosed in the register. Inspection of the register and reliance upon the inspection is insufficient to ascertain the complete legal status of the particular land holding. Inspection with consequent reliance upon the register is the major function of a registered title scheme. Alternatively, if part parcel adverse possession is ineffective to transfer ownership of registered land, the technical legal boundary prevails over the occupational boundary despite the fact that it is not the boundary accepted by the parties involved as governing. Both alternatives present a problem to the orderly conduct of the land market. Where occupations prevail, the prudent market participant takes precautions besides relying on inspection of the register. Where the legal boundary prevails, the participant seeks confirmation that the occupational and legal boundaries coincide. Another alternative utilised in some registered title jurisdictions empowers a court to transfer small sections to an adjoining landholder where a building or similar improvement is erected so that it encroaches upon the adjacent holding. This alternative was included within the ambit of the thesis as it developed. The aim of this research was the formulation of the best solution suitable for a registered land system with particular reference towards a uniform solution suitable for adoption in all Australian jurisdictions. The existing systems utilising adverse possession and statutory encroachment were evaluated against three recent law cases that illustrate the workings of these systems including perceived shortcomings. These lawsuits serve as a test against which the existing systems are compared and evaluated and were also used to evaluate the proposed solution. The results suggest that adverse possession alone should not override the purpose of the register which is to fully disclose the proprietary interests in land parcels. It was concluded that a necessary step in acquiring title to land through adverse possession involves the registration of the interest acquired. Whereas the present modes of dealing with the boundary problem are adequate, it is concluded that the best mode is that of statutory encroachment because it best serves several competing interests. Adopting the proposed solution would involve change and compromise in some of the Australian jurisdictions; these being necessary to adopt a uniform scheme throughout Australia. The proposed solution has added benefits of removing an illogicality from some of the present systems, eliminating encouragement for an off-register land market, and fosters an accurate public land register.
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ItemA multi-component indicator of stream condition for waterway managers: balancing scientific rigour with the need for utility( 2000-01)Measuring the environmental condition of waterways is of interest to river managers, governments and the community. In the State of Victoria, Australia and elsewhere, there is concern that environmental values of streams are declining and that information about the environment, needs to be considered when river management decisions are being made. This thesis explores the use of environmental indicators as a tool to assist management of rivers. The promise of indicators is that they can turn large amounts of environmental data into simple, timely results and thereby provide an effective means of incorporating this information into river management decisions. It is also suggested that indicators will be useful for measuring the outcomes of management intervention and provide feedback on the effectiveness of strategies. Can environmental indicators live up to this promise? This thesis examines this question by reviewing indicator systems that have been developed by others and then exploring, in detail, the Index of Stream Conditions (ISC) that is is intended as a tool to assist the management of rivers in Victoria. I argue that environmental indicators have a role at the level of regional waterway management authorities but only if they are closely aligned with managers’ needs. Without consideration of non-technical issues, indicators are unlikely to be used, so it is important to establish a balance between pragmatic constraints and the need for scientific rigour. A procedure to achieve this balance is described in this thesis and was applied to the development of the ISC. Selection of indicators and the choice of indicator frameworks are explored and the value judgements behind the interpretation of indicator scores are examined. It is also important to consider the accuracy and sensitivity of indicators. Possible objectives for the use of indicators include benchmarking, detecting change and providing information to trigger management intervention. Case studies are used to explore the performance of indicators in practical applications in streams in Victoria in relation to these objectives. Extensive use is made of non-traditional statistical procedures, including bootstrapping, and results are presented that show the likely variance of indicator scores and the relationship between indicator objectives and required sampling effort.
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ItemA methodology for estimating yield from small ungauged rural catchments( 1991)An estimate of streamflow yield from ungauged catchments is often required by water management Authorities. A survey of Authorities indicated that the techniques used in computing streamflow yield from small ungauged rural catchments were limited to a range of empirical methods with questionable accuracy. There is clearly a need to develop a more reliable simplified methodology. The proposed methodology is based on the calibration of a rainfall-runoff model using a number of gauged catchments and the development of regression relationships between catchment physiographical characteristics and model parameters. The parameters are then used in conjunction with the rainfall-runoff model and meteorological observations to estimate streamflow yield from ungauged catchments. The 2-parameter rainfall-runoff model (MOSAZ) was developed only after a detailed study of actual evapotranspiration and parameter optimisation. Morton's model, based on Bouchet's complementary theory, proved to be an adequate method to calculate actual evapotranspiration from catchments. The model was tested with data from forested, native pasture and irrigated wheat catchments. The model is considered to be superior to methods based on pan evaporation as the actual evapotranspiration predicted using Morton's model is independent of the catchment cover and the prevailing soil moisture conditions in the catchment. A number of optimisation techniques based on direct search and gradient methods were tested for accuracy. From the methods tested, the pattern search and the Gauss-Marquardt algorithms proved to be superior. The interaction between satisfactory compliance with simple least squares error assumptions and the goodness-of-fit between observed and predicted streamflow was also studied. An important feature of the proposed methodology is the use of a multi-dimensional plotting routine termed Andrews' curves to separate the 184 catchments in the study region into a number of hydrologically homogeneous groups based on catchment physiographical characteristics which are related to MOSAZ model parameters. Regression relationships between MOSAZ model parameters and catchment physiographical characteristics were developed for one homogeneous group of catchments based on information from 17 catchments. The developed regression relationships were used to calculate streamflow from four test catchments to demonstrate the applicability of the developed methodology. As the results appeared promising, it is possible to extend the developed methodology to other homogeneous catchment groups.
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ItemEnhanced value for money outcomes through alliance techniques: a framework for public private partnerships in Australia( 2007)While much of Australia's current infrastructure has been traditionally provided by the public sector, there is a recent trend towards private organisations providing infrastructure services. Governments have realised that to maintain economic competitiveness along with social cohesion, the value of private finance within infrastructure development can not be understated, whereby the private sector invests in infrastructure and provides related services to the public sector at a reasonable cost. Whilst there are a multitude of variations, this concept is commonly known as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). Recent Public Private Partnership projects in the developed world have focussed heavily on achieving Value for Money (VfM) outcomes for governments through the application of robust polices and guidelines. This study has investigated current Australian PPP policies (both State and Federal) to determine whether enhanced Value for Money outcomes can be achieved through the integration of Alliance techniques. Value for Money in a theoretical sense is defined as the functional performance achieved for a given consumption of resources. The actual quantum of Value for Money calculated is not important; the focus being on the relativity between the traditional PPP model and a model that utilises Alliance techniques. Specific techniques and perceptions of Alliance Contracting were investigated through a series of surveys with direct users from both the public and private sectors, and the level of applicability to a PPP process was established. A detailed review of Australian and UK PPP projects was undertaken and a series of in depth case studies were investigated to better understand the practical implications and the current shortcomings in current PPP policy approaches. The framework for a new approach was developed and further tested and refined through an industry workshop with key PPP representatives from a variety of sectors. The study concludes with drafting new guidelines for PPP projects, to enhance Value for Money outcomes for all parties. Whilst it was found that not all Alliance techniques would enhance Value for Money outcomes, a number of key areas were identified where improvements could be made to current practices, namely: • Development of policies to mandate interaction between the State, bidders and end users at critical stages of PPP projects. Proposed enhancements to the current PPP policy model have been developed, including: • Incorporation of relationship based Alliancing techniques to assist with the complex and varied contractual nature of a PPP project; • A credit based abatement regime which incentivises parties to outperform specific outputs in the form of credits which can then be used against underperforming areas; and • The appointment of an Independent Reviewer to oversee the long term management of the contract.
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ItemA competitive estimating and tendering strategy model for use in the civil engineering construction industry( 1996)The Australian civil engineering construction industry does not have a formal methodology for setting margin (markup) on project tenders. A need exists to structure and formalise the decision-making process used in setting margin, since the margin-size decision is critical to a company's success in winning work and its subsequent profitability. Despite the number of software systems available for cost estimating, none has features to help in making the margin-size decision. Numerous competitive tendering strategy models for setting margin have been developed, but very few are used in practice. A number of disadvantages in the features of these models make them unsuitable and difficult to apply. The objective of this thesis is to improve the procedures and tools available for use in the competitive tendering process in the civil engineering construction industry. This objective is achieved primarily by the development of a competitive tendering strategy model. The competitive tendering strategy model uses fuzzy set theory, a modelling technique designed for handling linguistic and approximate information, to model the margin-setting process and provide recommendations of margin size. The use of fuzzy set theory allows assessments to be made in qualitative terms, which suit the subjective nature of the margin-size decision. The goal of the competitive tendering strategy model is to help a company achieve its objectives in tendering. The model provides over ninety factors that may influence the choice of margin size, and enables the company to assess the impact of those that are relevant to its tender situation. The competitive tendering strategy model formalises the decision-making process and provides a standard methodology for setting margin on civil engineering project tenders, which can be tailored to suit the individual practices of each company. The implementation of the model in the form of a software system, named PRESTTO, makes the model quick and easy to use. The PRESTTO software system can increase the efficient use of the brief time available for setting margin. The competitive tendering strategy model provides accurate recommendations of margin size, based on its validation with actual project tenders collected from a survey of the Australian construction industry. The model therefore reflects current sound decision-making practices in setting margin and can be used with confidence as a guide to setting margin. The objective of this thesis is also achieved by the development of a theoretical framework that defines a standard methodology for the integration of cost estimating, tendering, and cost control, for use by both clients (owners) and contractors. The competitive tendering strategy model is placed in the context of this overall framework, since the margin-size decision is not made in isolation. This framework provides the theoretical basis for the implementation of a fully integrated software system. The PRESTTO software system, which consists of a cost estimating module integrated with a tendering module, is a partial implementation of this fully integrated system. A major conclusion of this thesis is that fuzzy set theory can be applied successfully to model the margin-size decision. Fuzzy set theory is an enhancement on previous modelling techniques because it allows assessments to be made in qualitative and approximate terms, which suit the nature of the margin-size decision. The competitive tendering strategy model developed, which supports subjective judgement and experience, can help civil engineering contractors gain a competitive edge in tendering. By providing them with a standard methodology to improve the quality of their decision-making, this model can help contractors reduce the uncertainty associated with setting margin, resulting in a more competitive bid.