http://hdl.handle.net/11343/159 2018-09-20T20:57:54Z http://hdl.handle.net/11343/216329 An innovative model for structural health assessment of bridges Maizuar Urban transport infrastructure plays a key role in the Australian economy. Articulated trucks are now used to transport approximately 80% of the freight in Australia, and the average loads carried by these trucks have more than doubled in the past decade. Ageing road structures subject to increasing demand from heavy traffic loading mean that existing road structures may fail to satisfy specified structural requirements, in consequence many of these structures are facing major repair, even complete replacement decisions in the coming decades. Bridging the ‘information gap’ between traffic loading and its effect on life-cycle structural performance of road structures is the focus of this research. The overarching approach to this problem is to develop a holistic theoretical framework for life-cycle structural performance assessment of road structures. In this framework, innovation in reliability-based modeling in conjunction with modern Non-destructive Testing (NDT) techniques and Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) technology is the driver for the technological development that will improve the performance and durability of road structures. In this PhD study, a reliability-based life-cycle assessment framework of the bridges has been developed to predict the residual service life of a bridge with consideration of progressive bridge structural deterioration resulting from daily heavy truck loading obtained through WIM data analysis and dramatic structural degradation due to extreme event (e.g. multiple truck impacts) via statistical data analysis. The model predictions were validated by the experimental data. While the dynamic behavior of the Merlynston Creek Bridge in Melbourne under heavy truck loading was monitored using IBIS-S interferometric radar technology, the structural characteristics of Eltham Trestle Bridge under train loading were monitored using the combination of 3D optical measurement system and IBIS-S. The results demonstrate that NDT can capture the structural characteristics of a bridge, such as natural frequencies, mechanical stiffness of elastomeric bearings, and strain profiles of critical bridge members. The condition assessment results of the bridges can be used as the inputs for the developed life-cycle assessment framework to predict the residual life of the bridges. The outcomes of this research have the potential to enable maintenance and capital works decisions that maximize return on resources allocated, while maintaining road performance © 2018 Dr. Maizuar 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11343/216302 Modelling damage to glazing and aluminium facades by flying objects Pathirana, Mahil Impact by flying debris in windstorms conditions has been a major contributor to damage to aluminium, glass and other types of building facades. However, no codified design guidelines are currently available to quantify the required impact resistance of an aluminium or glazing panel for a given impact action. This research presents the development of an analytical model for assessing impact induced damage (permanent deformation or perforation) to an aluminium panel for given mass of the projectile (debris) object, velocity of impact, and importantly, parameters characterising the stiffness properties of the windborne impactor object. Stochastic methodology is developed to simulate the risk of fracture of the glass panel when subject to the transient action of point contact that can be generated by the impact of hailstones or windborne solid debris particles. The introduced simulation methodologies are able to predict the impact resistance capacity of glazing and aluminium panels without conducting impact experiments. The aim of introducing the proposed simulation model is bringing about significant savings by waiving away the need of conducting repetitive physical experimentation on panels of different dimensions, and at different rates of loading. © 2018 Dr Mahil Pathirana 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11343/216297 Optimising the role of auxiliary midwives to improve maternal and newborn health care in Myanmar: the potential for task shifting Than, Kyu Kyu Background: Over 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day, almost all of them in low and middle-income countries. Human resource constraints, both in terms of numbers and quality, are at the core of the problem. Task shifting is an approach designed to address the crisis in human resources for health. In 2015, Myanmar reported a maternal mortality ratio of 282 per 100,000 live births with only 14 health care providers per 10,000 people, well below WHO recommendations of 23 health care providers. Currently in Myanmar, most babies are born without the assistance of a skilled birth attendant (e.g. a midwife), a situation believed to be a major contributor to high maternal and newborn mortality. The Ministry of Health and Sports trains and deploys a cadre of volunteers, called auxiliary midwives (AMWs) to provide maternal and newborn care in areas without skilled birth attendants. This thesis examines the role of AMWs and the feasibility and acceptability of task shifting selected interventions to AMWs to improve maternal and newborn health care in Myanmar. Methods: This research involved two studies. The first was a mixed methods study conducted in Magwe Region, Myanmar between July, 2015 and June, 2016 involving a survey of 262 AMWs, complemented by 15 focus group discussions (FGDs) with midwives, AMWs, mothers and community members and 10 key informant interviews with health care providers at different levels within the health care system. This study aimed to understand the skills, knowledge and role of AMWs and the feasibility and acceptability of task shifting essential maternal interventions to AMWs. A second qualitative study, conducted in Magwe and Yangon Regions between June, 2015 and February, 2016, involved 11 FGDs with midwives, AMWs and mothers and 16 key informant interviews to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a new inhaled formulation of oxytocin currently under development for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), and potentially ideal for task shifting to AMWs in future. Results: AMWs are trusted members of the community and provide preventive, promotive and childbirth care in hard-to-reach rural areas. However, in emergency situations involving curative care, AMWs are often required to exceed their assigned role. This pressure to provide curative care in hard-to-reach rural villages where there is no skilled provider or support infrastructure, concerned and frustrated AMWs. Simultaneously, their knowledge of danger signs and skills in conducting safe delivery and newborn practices were found to be poor. AMWs often work alone in many hard-to-reach villages, and both the community and health care providers believe they should be better equipped with the skills needed to undertake basic emergency care. The research also found that AMWs were capable of being utilised – with proper training and supervision – to deliver a package of maternal interventions through task shifting. The main interventions identified as feasible and acceptable for task shifting were oral vitamin supplementation during the antenatal care period, provision of misoprostol to prevent postpartum haemorrhage after childbirth, and the use of oral antibiotics for puerperal sepsis during the postpartum period. The study also endorsed the feasibility of introduction of an inhalable formulation of oxytocin (currently under development) for use by community-based birth care providers in areas lacking electricity and cold storage facilities. Conclusion: AMWs are a large body of health volunteers who have been embedded within the community and health system in Myanmar for nearly four decades, and enjoy widespread community acceptance and trust. The role of this valuable health workforce can be optimised through task shifting of essential maternal interventions to provide effective care to mothers in rural and remote areas. This will require extensive skills-based training, ongoing supportive supervision and strong policy commitment, but if done well, AMWs could play an important role towards reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.   © 2018 Dr. Kyu Kyu Than 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11343/216280 Assessing Forest Stewardship Council certification implementation for smallholder groups in Vietnam Vu, Hoa Forest Certification Stewardship Council (FSC) has been globally recognized as an effective tool to manage forests sustainably. While FSC has been widely accepted by large forest companies in developed countries, the developing country witness the slow uptake of forest certification, especially for smallholders due to their financial constraints and low expertise on forestry. Recognizing the importance of smallholders in the forestry sector and their constraints, FSC develop the forest group certification to encourage smallholders participating in the FSC certification. This study aims to assess the implement the forest certification group scheme to smallholders in Vietnam. In order to do that, the study focuses to examine barriers and enabling factors to implement the forest certification group scheme to smallholders by using desktop review, online surveys and in- depth telephone interview methods. The study found that the common barriers come from the government, including land tenure issues, inadequate policies and deficient resources on forest sustainable management. In addition, weak management capacities, low expertise on forestry and financial constraints are challenges to sustainable operations of smallholder groups. Despites these barriers, there are existing factors which could enable to implement the FSC group certification for smallholders in Vietnam. They are market demands of FSC-certified wood, NGO supports and governmental strategies to develop forest sustainable management. Through the concept of social capital, roles of NGO, the government and wood companies are engaging smallholders to the certification scheme. In addition to solutions often cited in literature, including increasing farmers’ awareness of forestry and certification, and strengthening policies and programs on forest certification, the research suggests that strengthening social capital of smallholder groups through bonding, bridging and increasing trust between members is a new pathway to promote the FSC for smallholder groups. © 2016 Hoa Vu 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z