Archived News for Engineering Professionals

More authorities have joined the push to boost STEM education in Australia, while the Prime Minister mocks the idea.

3D models for new view of ancient vista

The WA Department of Agriculture is taking a high-tech approach to land and water surveying, using 3D-printers to render the vastness of the outback in a small scale.

Australia's electric uptake investigated

An American researcher is investigating the slow uptake of electric cars in Australia, with just under 2000 sold in the last three years compared to more than 300,000 in the US.

DNA gets new role as nano-builder

Engineers are getting genes to do their dirty work, designing DNA that can build nanostructures for them.

Prefab palace to change local game

The University of Melbourne will soon be home to an advanced centre for prefabricated housing, in a move some say will transform the Australian building industry.

Road-users use report to look for better deal

Transport lobbies and authorities have jumped on a new report that claims Australia could be choked by its own congestion, unless big new projects start soon.

Space mining bill for bold new digs

The US has taken a technical step in the new space race, passing a bill to allow mining in space.

Fukushima fallout hurts Japan's nuclear view

A new survey shows the shifting view of nuclear power in Japan since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Gas boom slows in analysts' eyes

There are claims this week that Japan's Inpex Corporation is struggling to keep the $A43.5 billion Ichthys LNG project on schedule due to delays with the South Korean shipyard manufacturing the massive offshore platform.

Grattan slams rooftop rort

A new report says the cost of programs to encourage rooftop solar systems have outweighed the benefits by $9 billion.

James Hardie builds big on last year's base

James Hardie has seen its annual profit almost triple, up to $A369.57 million on the back of its US and European operations.

New towers go beyond new limits

The Victorian Government has approved seven new apartment towers in Melbourne, in an area some consider poorly served by public transport.

States aim to make powerful new target

Now that the Federal Government has successfully slashed the Renewable Energy Target, progressive State Governments could fill the void.

Getting a fix on quantum switch

An international team featuring Australian researchers has released a study looking at how quantum matter changes when it makes a ‘quantum phase transition’.

Gloucester's green light as water woes wash away

Coal seam gas company AGL can fire up its Gloucester operations once more, after the EPA cleared away a contamination scare.

Lead joints contaminate good land

A new study has found the use of lead solder in water supply pipelines has resulted in environmental contamination across a 70km stretch of land in central New South Wales.

RET deal rolls ahead, igniting wood-burning issues

A Senate inquiry has been told around 1,000 wind turbines will need to be built to meet the new Renewable Energy Target figure of 33,000 gigawatt hours.

Local work to power future motors

Australian research engineers are working on a system that could vastly improve the efficiency of electric motors.

Miners to get feet wet on offshore releases

The Industry Minister has unveiled 29 new offshore areas for oil exploration at an energy industry conference.

Printable radios as new use for graphene

British engineers have printed a radio frequency antenna using compressed graphene ink, in what could be one of the first commercial applications for the high-tech material.