Defence Partnerships

The University of Adelaide

Defence Partnerships

Introduction The University of Adelaide is a world-class tertiary education and research institution committed to delivering high quality and distinct education and research experiences.

The University of Adelaide has a proud history of collaboration with Australia’s defence sector. Over many years, the University has worked extensively with both the Department of Defence and defence organisations in a variety of ways including in an advisory capacity, as a research partner, and as an organisation that produces high quality graduates ready for work in the defence sector.

Whilst the University is an open environment, we understand the sensitivities that can be associated with defence work and so have staff cleared for national security and can avail ourselves of facilities at the Defence, Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) for classified data.

Defence research The University has established a number of worldclass research institutes and centres in partnership with government and industry. They bring together world-leading researchers, supported by modern infrastructure and an innovative culture, to tackle state and national research priorities.

In addition the University has developed relationships with the DSTO, Defence Material Organisation (DMO) and Capability Development Group (CDG) through the Rapid Prototype Development and Evaluation (RPD&E), leading to strong inhouse capabilities.

Engagement with DSTO Engagement with DSTO is extensive across the University and includes all of our five faculties covering both research and education. The University has a formal partnership agreement with DSTO that allows for contract research, staff and equipment exchange, collaborative projects and sponsorship for undergraduate and postgraduate students alike.

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance Data collection, analysis and dissemination is critical in maintaining information superiority and situational awareness and is becoming particularly complex with the advent of the systems-of-systems approach in defence.

The University was a foundation member of the multi-university Defence Systems Innovation Centre (DSIC) which was a source of contemporary thinking and bestpractice in systems engineering and systems integration (Network Centric Warfare) research. DSIC closed mid-2014 following the successful establishment of the Data to Decision Co-operative Research Centre (D2D CRC) which operates in much the same area, though focused on issues associated with big data.

The D2D CRC spans security as well as defence issues and currently involves both the Teletraffic Research Centre and the Australian Centre for Visual Technologies at the University of Adelaide. The University’s Mathematics School, through a new Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers of Big Data, Big Models, New Insights, underpins the more theoretical aspects of big data analysis.

Radar systems The Adelaide Radar Research Centre (which grew out of the Centre of Expertise in Phased Array and Microwave Radar established by DSTO at the University) is focused on the use of radar for surveillance and environmental monitoring. It brings together research groups from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Discipline of Physics together with various external organisations such as DSTO, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Antarctic Division and commercial companies such as Raytheon Australia and Atmospheric Radar (ATRAD).

Visual technologies The work of the Australian Centre for Visual Technologies (ACVT) is in the defence and security space with DSTO and other defence agencies. This has included involvement in Coastwatch and working on applications such as airborne surveillance imagery from UAVs. A focus of more recent work, some of which has been patented, has been automation in monitoring video from many cameras to generate an understanding of the paths which targets may take between their fields of view.

Communications and information networking The Centre for Defence Communications and Information Networking was formed in recognition of the growing importance of advanced telecommunications and information networking to Australia’s defence and security. The focus for the centre is advanced defence communication and information networking engineering, research and development. The centre regularly collaborates with DSTO, DMO, the Chief Information Operations Group – Defence, and defence companies large and small (working on bids and as a technical review authority).

Defence information The Defence Information Group, based in the School of Computer Science, conducts research in collaboration with DSTO into the challenges of building the large, complex distributed systems required in defence.

Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) The University’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) brings together experimental physicists, chemists, material scientists, biologists, experimentally driven theoretical scientists and medical researchers to create new sensing and measurement technologies. IPAS is built on a strong ongoing partnership with DSTO and their support of numerous research projects and positions.

In addition to its photonics capability IPAS has a suite of advanced manufacturing machinery including 3D metal printing and 5-axis CNC ultrasonic milling. These are

available for access by local companies through the Optofab Facility at the University.

IPAS is currently working with local defence companies including ASC to determine how this facility can support their activities.

Middle East Area of Operations Prospective Study surveyed 1,324 personnel preand post-deployment.

Researchers from IPAS have enjoyed a long and fruitful working relationship with BAE Systems. This partnership has taken the form of ARC Industry Linkage Grants in developing specific laser technologies, numerous consultancy projects and a $1.5m State Government project for developing highpower, mid-infrared fibre lasers for defence applications. The project also had a focus on defence photonics and on the education of students and future high-tech employees for South Australia in photonics engineering.

The University of Adelaide has been successful in several Concept Technology Development Programs with the Department of Defence (now managed through DSTO). Over $7m has been invested into these programs by Defence. Significantly, through this program the University has demonstrated a capability to meet detailed performance goals, timelines and budgets evidenced by the repeat nature of this business across quite diverse fields. Some of the activities included in this program include:

Health and wellbeing The University is actively involved in the health and wellbeing of Australian Defence Force members and veterans through our Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies which is working with the Joint Heath Command and the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify emerging health trends with the aim of implementing early intervention and future preventative strategies.

Recent initiatives include our translational mental health research which has included surveying large numbers of Australian Defence Force personnel. For example the Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study surveyed 24,481 personnel and the

CTD program

>> Passive vibration damping for submarine

engine mounts (School of Mechanical Engineering) >> Passive noise reduction for submarine

engine exhaust (School of Mechanical Engineering) >> Transport of high power laser through fibre

(IPAS with BAE Systems) >> GPS anti-jam capability development

(School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering with BAE Systems) >> Context based image sensing (Australian

Centre for Visual Technologies) >> Active noise suppression for submarine

engine exhaust (School of Mechanical Engineering).

Producing work-ready defence sector graduates With an outstanding reputation for teaching and the quality of our graduates, the University of Adelaide works closely with the defence sector to ensure our students are ready to step out as an integral part of the sector’s workforce.

Postgraduate offerings relevant to the Defence sector include: >> Master of Marine Engineering >> Master of Sciences (Defence Signal Processing) >> Master of Sciences (Defence) >> Tailored courses (short courses are developed bespoke for

DSTO and the defence industry on a variety of topics)

Overseas collaboration For many years, the University of Adelaide has interacted with the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD) representing the research arms of the US Navy, Army and Air Force in the region. This partnership funding has provided for conference support, development of white papers and research.

In addition, two three-year post-doctoral positions in IPAS were funded through this program.

The University of Adelaide has a growing relationship with North Carolina State University which currently focuses on defence research and also research in agriculture, food and health.

Discussions regarding collaborative research between the two universities and their respective defence research government entities (DSTO in our case) are well developed.

For further enquiries Assoc. Prof Michael Webb Director, Defence and Security The University of Adelaide SA 5005 Australia Email: michael.webb@adelaide.edu.au adelaide.edu.au/defence-security facebook.com/uniofadelaide twitter.com/uniofadelaide youtube.com/universityofadelaide DISCLAIMER: The information in this publication is current as at the date of printing and is subject to change. You can find updated information on our website at adelaide.edu.au With the aim of continual improvement the University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the degrees, diplomas, certificates and courses on offer. As a result the specific programs and courses available will change from time to time. Please refer to adelaide.edu.au for the most up to date information or contact us on 1800 061 459. The University of Adelaide assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information provided by third parties.

CRICOS 00123M © The University of Adelaide. Published August 2016 2546-5