Spatial analysis and modelling of flood risk and climate adaptation capacity for assessing urban community and critical infrastructure interdependency

Flood hazards are the most common and destructive of all natural hazards in the world. A series of floods that hit the south east region of Queensland in Australia from December 2010 to January 2011 caused a massive devastation to the State, people, and its critical infrastructures. GIS-based risk mapping is considered a vital component in land use planning to reduce the adverse impacts of flooding. However, the integrated mapping of climate adaptation strategies, analysing interdependencies of critical infrastructures, and finding optimum decisions for natural disaster risk reduction in floodplain areas remain some of the challenging tasks. In this study, I examined the vulnerability of an urban community and its critical infrastructures to help alleviate these problem areas. The aim was to investigate the vulnerability and interdependency of urban community’s critical infrastructures using an integrated approach of flood risk and climate adaptation capacity assessments in conjunction with newly developed spatially-explicit analytical tools. As to the research area, I explored Brisbane City and identified the flood-affected critical infrastructures such as electricity, road and rail, sewerage, stormwater, water supply networks, and building properties. I developed a new spatially-explicit analytical approach to analyse the problem in four components: 1) transformation and standardisation of flood risk and climate adaptation capacity indicating variables using a) high resolution digital elevation modelling and urban morphological characterisation with 3D analysis, b) spatial analysis with fuzzy logic, c) geospatial autocorrelation, among others; 2) fuzzy gamma weighted overlay and topological cluster analyses using Bayesian joint conditional probability theory and self-organising neural network (SONN); 3) examination of critical infrastructure interdependency using utility network theory; and 4) analysis of optimum natural disaster risk reduction policies with Markov Decision Processes (MDP). The flood risk metrics and climate adaptation capacity metrics revealed a geographically inverse relationship (e.g. areas with very high flood risk index occupy a low climate adaptation capacity index). Interestingly, majority of the study area (93%) exhibited negative climate adaptation capacity metrics (-22.84 to < 0) which indicate that the resources (e.g. socio-economic) are not sufficient to increase the climate resiliency of the urban community and its critical infrastructures. I utilised these sets of information in the vulnerability assessment of critical infrastructures at single system level. The January 2011 flood instigated service disruptions on the following infrastructures: 1) electricity supplies along 627km (75%) and 212km (25%) transmission lines in two separate areas; 2) road and rail services along 170km (47%) and 2.5km (38%) networks, respectively; 3) potable water supply along 246km (56%) distribution lines; and 4) stormwater and sewerage services along 33km (91%) and 32km (78%) networks, respectively. From the critical infrastructure interdependency analysis, the failure of sewerage system due to the failure of electricity supply during the January 2011 flood exemplified the first order interdependency of critical infrastructures. The ripple effects of electricity failure down to road inaccessibility for emergency evacuation demonstrated the higher order interdependency. Moreover, an inverted pyramid structure demonstrated that the hierarchy of climate adaptation strategies of the infrastructures was graded from long-term measures (e.g. elimination) down to short-term measures (e.g. protection). The analysis with Markov Decision Processes (MDP) elucidated that the Australian Commonwealth government utilised the natural disaster risk reduction expenditure to focus on recovery while the State government focused on mitigation. There was a clear indication that the results of the MDP analysis for the State government established an agreement with the previous economic analysis (i.e. mitigation could reduce the cost of recovery by 50% by 2050 with benefit-cost ratio of 1.25). The newly developed spatially-explicit analytical technique, formulated in this thesis as the flood risk-adaptation capacity index-adaptation strategies (FRACIAS) linkage model, integrates the flood risk and climate adaptation capacity assessments for floodplain areas. Exacerbated by the absence of critical infrastructure interdependency assessment in various geographic analyses, this study enhanced the usual compartmentalised methods of assessing the flood risk and climate adaptation capacity of flood plain areas. Using the different drivers and factors that exposed an urban community and critical interdependent infrastructures to extreme climatic event, this work developed GIS-enabled systematic analysis which established the nexus between the descriptive and prescriptive modelling to climate risk assessment

Sundown, sunrise: how Australia can finally get solar power right

The journey to a new model of electricity delivery in Australia has begun, but has so far seen mistakes and much waste. If the transformation is managed poorly, consumers will pay again. Overview An energy revolution is at hand in Australia, as the arrival of home batteries combines with the falling cost of solar panels to transform the centralised grid. But for its benefits to be spread fairly and efficiently, governments must avoid the mistakes of the past by rejecting expensive subsidies and by setting charges that reflect the true cost of providing electricity. In the first phase of large-scale growth in solar, lavish feed-in tariff schemes introduced between 2008 and 2011 encouraged 1.4 million households to install panels on their roofs – the highest proportion of households of any country. State governments began winding back the schemes in 2012, but by the time the last runs out in 2028 they will have cost the economy $9 billion. Worse, people who chose not to install solar, or could not afford it, have paid for the schemes through a subsidy to solar PV owners worth$14 billion. The schemes have reduced emissions, but at a very high price. There are much cheaper ways to tackle climate change. In the coming second phase of solar growth, state governments should introduce new electricity tariffs that encourage consumers to use less power in periods of peak demand. The tariffs would remove a subsidy to solar PV owners, making their panels less profitable in the short term, but they would also open the door to radically new uses of power that will transform the grid and cut both costs and emissions. As home batteries come on the market from as early as next year, people will be able to store power from their solar panels during the day then use it in the evening when demand on the network is greatest. This will reduce the load on the network, cutting power prices not just for solar panel owners but for everyone. But network businesses have some difficult decisions ahead to ensure they remain profitable. Some infrastructure in electricity networks may become redundant as consumers draw less power from the main grid. Governments must decide now who will pay for these asset write-downs. The journey to a new electricity system has begun. If we manage the transformation poorly, consumers will pay again. If we do it well, everyone can benefit from a more efficient, sustainable and affordable system

Review of the Gas Access Regime

The Commission was asked to review the National Third Party Access Regime for Natural Gas Pipelines. The review sought to assess the benefits and costs of the Regime, including its effects on investment. The Commission’s preliminary findings were released for public comment in December 2003 and its final report was submitted to the Government in June 2004. The Commission confirmed its initial finding that, while access regulation is required, the current cost-based price regulation had significant drawbacks and put forward proposals to reduce regulatory costs while preserving benefits. The Commission’s key finding in the final report is the proposed addition of a less costly, monitoring option.Access; Competition; Deregulation; Distribution networks; Energy consumption; Electricity; Energy conservation; Energy resources; Gas; Gas Access Regime; Gas Code; Gas consumers; Gas Pipelines Access Law; Gas producers; Monopoly; National Access Regime; Natural gas; Natural resources; New South Wales; Northern Territory; Pipelines; Queensland; Resource management; Resource tax; South Australia; Tasmania; Transmission networks; Victoria; Western Australia;

Prioritising sensory systems for Queensland: An evaluation of alternative sensory systems using multiple criteria analysis

Sensor technology is an extensive field – the Encyclopedia of Sensors comprises 10 volumes of more than 400 chapters. Although sensors have been in use for centuries, sensor technology is rapidly developing now; the digital age provides the opportunity for real-time decision-making based on data received from complex technical systems. New opportunities for sensor technology platforms are becoming available, and the benefits from the application of these platforms have greatly increased

Queensland Energy DataBase

Time series of Queensland production, consumption and prices for all energy sources 1970-201

Mutual recognition schemes

Australia’s and New Zealand’s mutual recognition schemes are unique in the world by their extensive scope and coverage. They make it easier to do business across borders and give consumers a wider and more competitive range of goods and services. This report was released on 25 September 2015 and assesses the coverage, efficiency and effectiveness of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) and Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA). It also recommends ways to further improve interjurisdictional movement of goods and skilled workers, and reduce red tape, including examining the scope for establishing automatic mutual recognition for registered occupations. It addresses matters identified by the Cross-Jurisdictional Review Forum (CJRF), including requirements for the use of goods and business registration (the CJRF is an interjurisdictional committee of officials that oversees the MRA and TTMRA). Key points The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) and Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) are generally working well. However, the benefit of the schemes risks slowly being eroded due to regulators not always implementing mutual recognition as required, weak oversight, and an increase in the number of goods and related laws permanently kept outside the scope of the schemes. There are specific concerns with the operation of mutual recognition of occupations, such as \u27shopping and hopping\u27 and background checks. These issues have the potential to weaken the community\u27s and regulators\u27 trust in the schemes and undermine their legitimacy. This review has therefore focused on improving governance arrangements, potentially expanding coverage, and addressing irritants to the smooth operation of the schemes. The Commission proposes to reform the governance arrangements by: strengthening the cross-jurisdictional group of officials that oversees the schemes, including by giving it more specific outputs, timeframes and reporting requirements improving the accountability of regulators in individual jurisdictions and their coordination with policy makers responsible for mutual recognition. The Commission proposes the following to improve the operation of the schemes. Where there are legitimate concerns about shopping and hopping, governments should make better use of existing mechanisms to address them, such as referring a jurisdiction\u27s registration requirements to a COAG Ministerial Council for consideration. Governments should reduce ambiguity about the schemes, including by clearly stating that continuing professional development can be required for all persons renewing their occupational registration, including those originally registered under mutual recognition. For occupations where background checks are necessary and are routinely required of local applicants, registration bodies should be able to conduct their own checks on people seeking registration under mutual recognition. Governments should update all Ministerial Declarations which prescribe the equivalence of occupations across Australia, and consider extending them to New Zealand. The Commission proposes to maintain the coverage of the schemes - including the exemption of laws on the use of goods, manner of carrying on an occupation, and business registration - except in two instances. The Australian Government should accelerate work on the harmonisation of Australian Design Rules with international (UN) vehicle standards and then remove the TTMRA exemption for road vehicles no later than the end of 2018. Governments should strengthen their collaborative efforts to streamline regulation of hazardous substances, industrial chemicals and dangerous goods. The TTMRA permanent exemption should then be removed by the end of 2018, in line with the timing of foreshadowed regulatory reforms. Automatic mutual recognition (AMR) is more cost effective than the mutual recognition schemes for professionals providing services across borders on a temporary basis. The WA, ACT and NT Governments should fulfil their commitment to adopt AMR for veterinarians. All Australian jurisdictions should adopt a proposed AMR scheme for architects. The period between formal reviews of the schemes should be increased to ten years. &nbsp

Water Rights Arrangements in Australia and Overseas

There are significant differences in the way water rights are defined, allocated and administered in Australia and overseas. This paper includes comparisons of the arrangements for managing water rights against accepted best practice principles for South Au stralia, Queensland, NSW, Victoria South Africa, Chile, Colorado, Mexico and California.Australia; Research; Reports; Arid; California; Chile; Climate; COAG; Colarado; Council of Australian Governments; Drought ; Irrigation; Markets; Mexico; Murray-Darling Basin; Natural resources; Pollution; Rainfall; Rio Grande; Salinity; South Africa; Sus tainable development; Sustainability; United States of America; Water; Water rights; Weather;