Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemTranslating Place-Related Questions to GeoSPARQL Queries(ACM, 2022-04-25)Many place-related questions can only be answered by complex spatial reasoning, a task poorly supported by factoid question retrieval. Such reasoning using combinations of spatial and non-spatial criteria pertinent to place-related questions is increasingly possible on linked data knowledge bases. Yet, to enable question answering based on linked knowledge bases, natural language questions must first be re-formulated as formal queries. Here, we first present an enhanced version of YAGO2geo, the geospatially-enabled variant of the YAGO2 knowledge base, by linking and adding more than one million places from OpenStreetMap data to YAGO2. We then propose a novel approach to translate the place-related questions into logical representations, theoretically grounded in the core concepts of spatial information. Next, we use a dynamic template-based approach to generate fully executable GeoSPARQL queries from the logical representations. We test our approach using the Geospatial Gold Standard dataset and report substantial improvements over existing methods.
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ItemTowards Understanding Evapotranspiration Shifts Under a Drying Climate(Copernicus, 2022-03-28)Around 60 percent of terrestrial precipitation on the global average transforms into evapotranspiration. However, reliable estimation of actual evapotranspiration (AET) is challenging as it depends on multiple climatic and biophysical factors. Despite developments such as remotely sensed AET products, AET responses to prolonged drought is still poorly understood. Therefore, this study focuses on understanding long-term changes and variability of AET prior to and during the Millennium Drought in Victoria, Australia. We also investigate the capability of commonly used rainfall-runoff models to simulate AET under multiyear droughts. Therefore, we employ simple sensitivity analysis to examine four different water balance approaches between pre-drought and drought periods in six different study catchments in Victoria. The first water balance approach is the simplest long-term water balance approach, partitioning long-term precipitation into evapotranspiration and runoff. The second water balance approach adopts a long-term change in storage to the water balance during the Millennium Drought by employing regional-scale change in GRACE estimates derived from Fowler et al. (2020). The third and fourth water balances are based on simulations from SIMHYD and SACRAMENTO. Surprisingly, the adoption of long-term change in storage during the Millennium Drought indicates that the annual rates of pre-drought AET were largely maintained throughout the drought; i.e. the rate was relatively constant with time. This suggests that AET gets priority over streamflow following a drying shift in precipitation partitioning; resulting in a relatively constant AET under multiyear drought. In contrast, the rainfall-runoff models underestimated AET during the drought compared to both water balance approaches. These results broadly acknowledge the need for model improvements to provide more realistic AET estimates under future drying climates and provide a new perspective on recent hydrological phenomena such as changing rainfall-runoff relationships in these regions. Furthermore, this sensitivity analysis was augmented and confirmed by a regional-scale water balance approach.
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ItemDesign charts for piles socketed into rock(Australian Geomechanics Society, 2022)A method for the design of piles socketed into rock was published over 40 years ago by Williams et al. (1980). The method appears to describe pile response in a range of rock types of varying strength with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Recently, the design curves in the original paper were digitized and included in spreadsheets for rapid socketed pile design. This has led to the development of a series of design charts for use in preliminary design. This paper briefly explains the method and presents charts which can quickly provide the dimensions of socketed piles to suit a wide range of likely conditions.
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Item3D CITYLUR: MODELLING 3D CITY LAND-USE REGULATIONS to SUPPORT ISSUING A PLANNING PERMIT(ISPRS, 2021-10-07)The applications and understanding of Land-use Regulations (LuR) are more communicable when they are linked to the digital representation of the physical world. In order to support issuing a planning permit and move towards the establishment of automated planning permit checks, this paper investigates how LuRs related to a planning permit process can be modelled in 3D called 3D CityLuR. 3D CityLuR serves as a 3D model for representing LuRs' legal extents on a city scale. It is formed based on multiple geometric modelling approaches representing LuRs, which can provide a better cognitive understanding of LuRs and subsequently facilitate LuR automatic checks. To this purpose, according to LuRs' descriptions and characteristics explained in related planning documents, key parameters representing LuRs' extent are identified (e.g. maximum distance in overlooking or maximum allowed height in building height regulations). Accordingly, to automatically model each LuR, a geometric modelling approach (e.g. Boundary Representation (B-Rep), CSG, and extrusion) that best fits with the identified key parameters is proposed. In addition, to combine 3D CityLuR with an integrated BIM-GIS environment, the level of information need in terms of geometries and semantics is specified. Finally, the paper results in a showcase for five LuRs including building height, energy efficiency protection, overshadowing open space, overlooking, and noise impacts regulations. The showcase is a proof of concept for determining how these LuRs can be modelled in 3D and combined with 3D city models based on the selected geometric modelling approaches, identified parameters, and level of information need.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableA multi-layered energy resilience framework and metrics for energy master planning of communities: A university campus case study(Society of Risk Analysis, 2021-12-05)
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ItemDevelopment of an LADM-based Conceptual Data Model for 3D Underground Land Administration in Victoria(International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), 2022)Currently, many cities around the world use underground space for different applications such as tunnels, utility networks, parking, walkways, and shopping malls. Due to the increasing use of underground areas, management of this space is very important for decision-makers and stakeholders. A 3D Underground Land Administration (ULA) data model has an underpinning role in the management of spatial and semantic information of underground physical structures (physical aspects) as well as the ownership attributes and the extent of legal spaces in underground (legal aspects). Current data models focus on either physical or legal aspects and are mostly based on 2D approaches. The Land Administration Domain Model (LADM), as an ISO standard (ISO 19152), is a prominent legal 3D model adopted for land administration. Several studies and countries have used this data model for land administration purposes. However, LADM has not been fully implemented for modelling underground assets. In addition, it does not consider the physical aspects of underground objects. Physical structures have significant roles in defining the ownership extent of underground assets in some jurisdictions such as Victoria, Australia. On the other hand, LADM-based data models developed by different studies are based on the current requirements and legislative of different jurisdictions. Although these solutions can be helpful, a comprehensive underground data model customised for Victoria is needed. This research aims to develop an LADM-based conceptual data model for 3D ULA to enable integrated management of underground assets by interlinking legal and physical aspects. It is based on the requirements and legislative of Victoria jurisdiction. These requirements include underground legal objects and boundaries and underground physical objects. The data model developed in this study is one of the first and crucial steps to enable 3D digital management of underground rights, restrictions and responsibilities (RRRs) in Victoria.
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ItemEvaluation of the International 3D Geospatial Data Models and IFC Standard for Implementing an LADM-based 3D Digital Cadastre(International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), 2022)Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) is an international standard for defining both semantic and spatial information connected with rights, restrictions, and responsibilities (RRRs) that affect land, water, built assets, natural resources, underground spaces, and airspaces. Since LADM is currently a conceptual land administration model, one of the main goals for the new version of this standard is to develop technical encodings. These technical encodings would be useful for adopting the LADM in different applications related to land administration. Therefore, the conceptual schema of LADM standard can be implemented in different and varying ways depending on the implementation requirements. The aim of this paper is to evaluate current standards used widely in the domains of geospatial information systems (GIS) and building information modelling (BIM) in terms of their capabilities to serve as an LADM-based technical encoding for 3D digital cadastre implementation. Some of these standards are CityGML, Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), IndoorGML, and LandInfra/InfraGML. There should be a specific use case for each implementation model or technical encoding. For example, a BIM-based implementation of the LADM standard can be useful for 3D digital lodgement of cadastral data when dealing with individual building and property subdivisions. LADM data encoded within a BIM model would be useful during planning, certification, and registration of a new complex subdivision, especially within built environments. In addition, LanInfra/InfraGML can provide another encoding option for 3D digital land registration. More specifically, LanfInfra/InfraGML supports surveying elements which are not well supported in IFC, CityGML and IndoorGML standards. Another option is CityGML technical encoding that can be effective for producing 3D digital property maps for an entire jurisdiction. Current property maps only depict 2D land parcels and ignore spatial and ownership dimensions of vertically placed assets, such as apartments, tunnels, subterranean retail malls, car parks, and utility networks. Developing a CityGML encoding for LADM would be considered a significant milestone towards realising 3D property maps that can provide a fully-integrated representation of underground and aboveground RRRs. Finally, IndoorGML is also another technical encoding which may not an appropriate option for 3D digital cadastre, but it can enable the use of LADM data for lawful indoor navigation. The main contribution of this study is to identify the possible technical encodings for the LADM standard and how various spatial and semantic entities within each encoding can be used to model the equivalent concepts defined in the LADM standard. This would provide guidelines for implementing the conceptual model of LADM using a specific 3D geospatial or BIM standard.
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ItemAn innovative cost-effective floating solar still with integrated condensation coils(Australian PV Institute, 2021-12-16)