Institutions
1. The
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney will be a major operator of the infrastructure,
continuing a ten year history of applying research in this domain. The
infrastructure will transform ISA’s work with national, state and local
governments to produce ecological, water and carbon footprints that underpin policy
work. Recent examples include: policy advice and ecological footprint analysis
for the ACT government (2011); data to support the National Carbon Pollution
Reduction Scheme (2008); a major GHG emissions calculator for Government
Climate Clever Program (2006); NSW Office of Environment and Heritage tools and
materials to support NSW business and industry (2011); and numerous footprints
for local councils. Much of this work was underpinned by the theory developed
in Balancing Act a two year project
commissioned in 2004 by the Federal Government to produce what is still the
only national economy-wide Triple Bottom Line (TBL) report in the world. Although somewhat outdated it is still widely used. The proposed
infrastructure will make redundant another 2-year Balancing Act project. Instead the VL will enable ISA to deliver
fast, high quality responses to specific research questions to fulfil the
steadily increasing demand for its footprint expertise. This is especially so
with the forthcoming carbon tax and acceptance by the Department of Climate
Change and Energy Efficiency of ISA’s methodology as appropriate for
underpinning organisations’ claims of Carbon Neutrality. The attached letters
of support illustrate ISA’s work with business and its track record in
providing applied research and consultancy. This emphasises the readiness and
timeliness of this proposal.
Recent prizes underline ISA’s approach
to quality standards: 2011 Australian Museum’s Eureka Prize for Innovative
Solutions to Climate Change; 2009 the Public Sector Green Globe Award for
Sustainability. In addition ISA’s work underpinned the GreenHome calculator for
which the Australian Conservation Foundation won a Banksia award in 2007. The
ACF count ISA among its most important strategic partners (Don Henry, 2007).
The VL will also support ISA’s commitment to teaching and outreach and promote
the VL as a model of eResearch infrastructure.
2. The
University of New South Wales.
In the operational
phase UNSW will participate and support others in using the VL to conduct state
of the art environmental footprinting and sustainability assessments. The Water
Research Centre at UNSW has an extensive track record in conducting such assessments
for government and industrial clients in Australia and internationally. The
team has used quantitative sustainability assessment tools including life cycle
assessment (LCA), carbon, water and ecological footprinting, to analyse
products and systems for clients including dairy producers, the Australian red
meat industry, regional biosolids managers, waste management companies
(including waste-to-energy, material recycling, landfill technologies),
manufacturing companies, Sydney Water Corporation and SA Water. We have also
developed decision-making frameworks based on LCA principles for the Water
Services Association of Australia and EPA Victoria. The VL will enable the
completion of such projects with a higher level of accuracy and in a much faster
timeframe. In turn, this will enable the Water Research Centre to deliver more
comprehensive analyses to industrial and government clients at a lower cost.
The Water Research Centre team also plays an active role in public outreach in
environmental footprinting through the delivery of undergraduate, postgraduate
and professional development courses. The existance of the VL will greatly
improve the ability to communicate the benefits of MRIO-based LCA to course
participants.
Other VL users at UNSW will include the
Life Cycle Engineering and Management (LCEM) Research Group, the UNESCO Centre
for Membrane Science and Technology, the Centre for Sustainable Materials
Research and Technology (SMaRT@UNSW), and the CRC for Low Carbon Living (see
attached letters of support). The LCEM Research Group apply LCA to industrial
settings. Their research with manufacturers enables reductions in resource
consumption and environmental footprint as well as optimizing efficiency and
supply chain management. The VL will contribute to LCEM’s sustainability
assessment toolbox, enabling analysis of a more comprehensive suite of
environmental aspects. SMaRT@UNSW brings together researchers from the
Faculties of Science, Engineering, Built Environment and ADFA to work with
industry on the development of innovative, sustainable materials and
manufacturing processes. The VL will support decision making around sustainable
materials and processes by enabling access to a world class environmental
assessment tool. The UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology
integrates fundamental science with enabling technologies and to dissimilate
membrane knowledge and information. The VL will streamline the use of LCA to
understand the impact of resource recovery from wastewater systems. The CRC for
Low Carbon Living aims to provide government and industry with social,
technological and policy tools to overcome identified market barriers
preventing adoption of cost effective low carbon products and services, while
maintaining industry competitiveness and improving quality of life. The VL will
enhance capabilty quantitatively measure the impact of CRC projects and
outcomes (see letter of support).
3. CSIRO
CSIRO has two roles in operating the VL:
(1)coordination and management and (2) research related to the sustainable use
of natural resources. CSIRO work aims to provide ongoing support to decision makers to regarding sustainable
consumption policies, social marketing, supply-chain initiatives, life-cycle
assessments and carbon/energy/water footprinting indictors. CSIRO has an
extensive track record and expertise in this domain.
4. The
University of Queensland and Griffith University
After the successful implementation of data feeds, use the VL to (1) understand
and elucidate the nexus between flows
of water, energy and carbon within inter-regional, inter-state and
international trade (eg. How will Australias water development strategy
influence energy? How will our carbon abatement plan influence water?), (2)
analyse life cycle Impacts with a particular emphasis on nutrient flows) (3)
develop MRIO-based indicators of sustainability and eco-efficiency policy (4)
analyse the Queensland regional metabolism (a unique application of the VL with
the sub-regional information available initially only for Qld), and (5)
identify potential synergies between e-MRIO and other related urban/regional
metabolism mapping techniques. The UQ-GU team have an extensive eperience in
these domains and the VL will greatly accellerate the ability to analysis,
interpret and communicate outcomes.
5. The
University of Ballarat.
In the operation phase UB
will troubleshoot the optimisation tools for balancing the MRIO framework.
There will be requirements for data volume testing and computation capacity
testing to ensure sufficient users can be served. CIAO also has an excellent
record in supporting researchers using software tools during their operational
phase. For example GANSO, a tool developed by CIAO, has been utilised in
workforce management optimisation carried out for Transfield. CIAO actively
supports the users of these products (and other CIAO software) through the
provision of documentation, training and online support forums.
Key Person
Key personnel (both in-kind and NeCTAR-funded; DP = Development Phase, OP = Operational phase).Prof Manfred Lenzen
University of Sydney, Chief
Investigator.
- More than 100 published articles in international, peer-reviewed journals
- Editor-in-Chief for the ISI-listed journal Economic Systems Research
- Associate Editor for the ISI-listed Journal of Industrial Ecology
- Chief Investigator in Australian and overseas research grants
- Extensive global academic collaborator network
- Founder of interdisciplinary ISA research group (www.isa.org.usyd.edu.au)
2006-2011: Chair of Sustainability Research, The University of Sydney, Australia
2002-2006: Senior Research Fellow, School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Australia
2004-2005: Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, Institute for Environmental Studies, The University of Tokyo, Japan
2000-2001, 2003: Visiting Professor, Energy Planning Program, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2000, 2002: Guest Researcher, AKF, Institute for Local Government Studies, Copenhagen, Denmark
1995-2002: Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Australia
1991-1995: Research Assistant, Institute for Geodynamics, Bonn University, Germany
1993-1994: Contract Researcher for the Federal Parliament, Bonn, Germany
1990-1991: Contract Researcher for the State Ministry for Building and Dwelling of North-Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, Germany
Chief Investigator. DP - Overall coordination of technical input during Development Phase. Overall project vision and technical guidance. OP - troubleshooting and support for testing of MRIO Reconciliation Engine.
Dr Thomas Wiedmann,
CSIRO, CSOF6M
Dr Wiedmann joined CSIRO
Ecosystem Sciences in April 2011 as a Senior Research Scientist.
Dr Wiedmann
manages the Urban Futures Analysis project which is part of the Integrated
Carbon Pathways project, one of the CSIRO strategic priorities.
Dr Wiedmann has a long-standing expertise
in the development and application of environmental input-output analysis in
the fields of footprint analysis (carbon/energy/water), industrial ecology and
sustainable consumption and production.
Dr Wiedmann's previous affiliation was with
the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York, United Kingdom
(UK), where he employed environmental input-output modelling for the analysis
and quantification of impacts associated with household consumption and
international trade.
Dr Wiedmann has coordinated a number of
research projects funded by the European Commission and the UK and Australian
Governments. He led a research project that produced the first time series of
the UK's national carbon footprint.
Academic
qualifications
- Diploma (Master of Science) in Chemistry from the University of Ulm, German
- Doctor of Philosophy in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, also from the University of Ulm, Germany.
In 2009, he was the guest editor of a special issue of the journal Economic Systems Research on 'Carbon Footprint and Input-Output Analysis'.
He is also a member of the 'Methodology' Technical Working Group of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product/Supply Chain Initiative.
OP – Coordination of technical review and user
testing during Operational Phase.
DP Integration
of work flows, concordance tables and codes to create automated data feeds at
the national level, and for inter-regional trade flows. OP – Troubleshooting
and upkeep of the national/state IO data feeds and end user support. Testing of
Virtual Laboratory functionality through case studies on urban sustainability
and hinterland teleconnections.
Dr Chris Dey
Uni of Sydney,
Christopher Dey is a Senior Research Fellow in the Integrated Sustainability
Analysis (ISA) team in the School of Physics at the University of Sydney. His
research interests are broadly in renewable energy and sustainability analysis.
His sustainability analysis work concerns incorporating physical and social
indicators into the macro economic structure of economies, as provided by
input-output analysis. He has a PhD from the University of Sydney. He teaches
energy and environmental science courses in the Bachelor and Masters of
Environmental Science degrees.
OP - Testing of Virtual Laboratory functionality through case studies on energy, water and greehouse gas emissions.
OP - Testing of Virtual Laboratory functionality through case studies on energy, water and greehouse gas emissions.
Dr Arne Geschke
University of Sydney
Dr Arne Geschke is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Integrated Sustainability Analysis research group in the School of Physics at the University of Sydney. His main research interests include large-scale global input-output analysis, the use of high-performance optimisation routines for input-output analysis, global sustainability assessment and environmental-economic impact assessment.
Arne finished his Phd in 2012 during which he developed large parts of the methodology that will be applied in the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory. He presented his research results at various international conferences and has co-authored more than 10 peer-reviewed journal articles so far. Arne has also provided reviewing services to Economic Systems Research and Industrial Ecology.
In the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory, Arne will supervise the deployment of the core infrastructure on the NeCTAR Research Cloud and ensure the compatilibity of the different moduls that will be provided by the partner organisations.
Prof Richard Stuetz,
UNSW, Lvl E, DP (0.04 FTE): Prof John Yearwood, Uni of
Ballarat, OP (0.03 FTE); Prof Paul Lant, Uni of Qld, DP & OP (0.05
FTE): DP & OP - Project guidance on technical aspects of the data and
systems integration.
Integration of MRIO Reconciliation
Engine; Integration of Entire Workflow
Dr Julien Ugon,
Uni of Ballarat, DP & OP (0.1 FTE); Dr Dean Webb, Uni
of Ballarat, A6, DP (0.4 FTE): DP - Integration of the optimisation routines
for balancing the Mother and Children MRIO tables. OP - Trouble-shooting,
infrastructure improvement, finalisation of documentation materials.
Dr. Peter Vamplew,
Uni of Ballarat, Lvl C6 OP (0.03 FTE): Define and advise on operational and quality
requirements.
Integration of User Interface tools
Dr Dean Webb,
Uni of Ballarat, Lvl A6, DP (0.48 FTE) & OP (0.14 FTE): DP -
Integration of interstate trade data. OP - Trouble-shooting , infrastructure
improvement, finalisation of documentation materials
Dr Steven Kenway,
Uni of Qld, Lvl A6 DP & OP (0.25 FTE); Dr Joe Lane, Uni
of Qld, Lvl A6, DP (0.1 FTE); Dr Peter Daniels, Griffith Uni, Lvl C6, DP
& OP (0.11 FTE); Lavinia Poruschi, Griffith Uni, RA Grd2 DP (0.61
FTE); Assoc Prof Iain MacGill, UNSW, Lvl D2, DP(0.04 FTE) & OP (0.08
FTE): DP – Integration of work flows, concordance tables and codes to create
automated data feeds for sub-state input-output tables. OP – Troubleshooting/
upkeep of the sub-regional IO and ABS water/energy data feeds, and end user
support. Testing of Virtual Laboratory functionality through case studies on
the water-energy-sustainability nexus, urban systems sustainability &
policy implications of MRIO accounting.
Dr Steven Kenway,
Uni of Qld, Lvl A6 DP & OP (0.25 FTE); Prof John Boland,
Uni of SA, Lvl E, DP & OP (0.02 FTE); Christian Reynolds, Uni of SA,
Lvl B2, DP (0.1 FTE): DP – Integration of work flows, concordance tables and
codes to create automated data feeds for waste generation and processing. OP –
Extraction of an Australian Waste-Input-Output model. Troubleshooting and
upkeep of the Waste sector data feeds and end user support. Testing of Virtual
Laboratory functionality through case studies on industrial symbiosis and other
waste management approaches.
Data streams - Environmental extensions
Dr Joe Lane,
UQ, Lvl A6, DP (0.4 FTE); Dr Hazel Rowley, UNSW, Lvl B, DP
(0.75 FTE): DP – Integration of work flows, concordance tables and codes to
create automated data feeds for ABS water and energy accounts, greenhouse gas
emissions, toxic and other emissions, LCA data, and environmental footprint
models. OP - Troubleshooting and upkeep of the environmental extensions data
feeds and end user support. Testing of VL functionality through case studies on
industrial/corporate LCA and footprint applications.
Mr Jim West,
CSIRO, CSOF5, DP (0.37 FTE) & OP (0.16 FTE); Dr Stephen
Moore, UNSW, Lvl C6, OP (0.08 FTE): DP – Work flows, concordance tables and
codes to create automated data feeds for Materials Flow data and accounts. OP –
Troubleshooting and upkeep of the Materials Flow data feeds and end user
support. Testing of Virtual Laboratory functionality through case studies on
material footprinting of urban systems and consumption.
Additional user testing during Operational
Phase
Dr Robert Crawford,
Uni of Melb, Lvl B6, OP (0.4 FTE): OP – Testing of Virtual
Laboratory functionality through case studies on architecture, construction and
transport.
Dr Stuart Khan,
UNSW, Lvl C6, OP (0.08 FTE): OP – Testing of Virtual Laboratory
functionality through case studies on hybridisation of sustainably assessment
with approaches for human health/environmental risk assessment.
Assoc Prof Greg Leslie,
UNSW, Lvl D4, OP (0.08 FTE): OP – Testing of Virtual Laboratory
functionality through case studies on resource recovery from municipal
wastewater systems.
University of Sydney Project Team
Mr Neal Anderson
Project Manager
Information Communication and Technology, the University of
Sydney
Neal has worked in the IT industry since 1999 in a variety
of roles from business analyst programmer, project manager, and currently is
the Programme and project manager for externally funded EResearch projects.
He has been employed at the University of Sydney since 2007,
originally working on various Human Resources application projects, and has
been involved in several ANDS/NecTAR funded projects since late 2011.
ANDS projects
AP24 – Brain and Mind Research Institute ApplicationDC2C – NSW Tardis node
DC2D – Agriculture and Ecology Data Capture
DC2F – MyResearchData
NeCTAR projects – IT Project Manager
NeCTAR Characterisation Virtual Laboratory – Atom Probe
NeCTAR Virtual Laboratory, Industrial Ecology
Mr Zhuoyang Chen
Business Analyst
Information Communication and Technology, the University of
Sydney.
Mr Chen also works on other ANDS projects as a business
analyst to develop business process, gather business requirements for business
sponsors and core business users.
The project includes:
BMRI application – AP24
Metadata Store – MS20
NECTAR Industrial Ecology
DC2B – SHED
