NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN)DR ANTHONY MORFA

Business Development Manager, NSW Smart Sensing Network

Ben Eggleton: Nanophotonicsand phononics

Justin Gooding: Surface chemistry & biosensors

Mary O’Kane Chief Scientist and Engineer

How can we better prepare the NSW societyand economy for the upcoming IoT and i4.0revolutions?

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Connect Unis to Industry & GovernmentG

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Focused on NSW

The network comprises:SIX universities

With the mandate to:Perform commissioned research forpublic and private sectors and new businesses

The University of NewcastleThe University of Sydney, UNSW, Macquarie University, UTSUniversity of Wollongong

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Ultralow Limits(water sensing)

New Processes(UV monitors)

Machine Learning(wildlife monitoring)

New Materials (wearables)

We need your expertise to solve diverse challenges.

EnviroTech& AgTech

EnvironmentalMonitoring

Plant Health

Animal Health

Quality Assurance

Provenance/Origin

Harvest Efficiency

NSSN Themes& Subthemes

MedTech

Precision Healthcare

Quality of Life

Chronic Care

PersonalizedMedicine

AutomatedDiagnosis

BuiltEnvironment

Structural Integrity

Air Quality

Smart Services

Infrastructure Maintenance

Dynamic Transport

Resources &Energy

AutonomousVehicles

Remote (Subsurface)Internet/Sensing

DiagnosticMaintenance

Smart Ventilation

Remediation Monitoring

Manufacturing

Predictive Maintenance

In-line QC

Safe Data

SmartWarehouses

Data Communication

What are the benefits of being active in the NSSN?1) Access to unique project and funding opportunities with government and industry2) Opportunity to collaborate with new researchers from different disciplines3) Networking events, including with government and industry:

a) Workshops on themed areasb) ‘Sandpits’ with government and industry partnersc) NSSN member events

How does the NSSN work for you?

The NSSN staff actively scout

government and industry contacts for sensing challenges

Opportunities are shared on our

internal webpage & via Theme Leaders to acquire proposals from the Network

After end-user consideration, a

comprehensive project proposal is agreed to

and sent to universities for contracts

Funds are made available and the

project begins

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Case study: Sandpit

Sydney Water approached the NSSN to help solve pressing

challenges in delivering Sydney Water’s mission

The NSSN is bringing together

sensing experts from seven universities to

pitch solutions to these challenges

Six proposals will be drafted (2

short, 2 medium and 2 long term solutions) to

be sent to Sydney Water

Selected proposals will be

funded and begun

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Case study: R&D

The OEH approached the

network with a sensing need.

In July ‘17 a solution was pitched to

the OEH by researchers at the

University of Sydney.

One of three milestones are

complete, with the second milestone

underway.

The initial project is expected to finish in Q3 ’18, with additional

projects under discussion.

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‘Busy’ Research EnvironmentFederal government-funded

research and centres

Federal government-funded, industry-led

centres

Peak body-funded research grants

NSW-funded research network

via BDMsTheme Leaders

to Researchers, First Points of Contact, Heads of School, Etc.

NSSN Communication

NSSN NetworkingMeeting researchers, making a rough map of expertise

Commissioned Project EnquiriesRequesting information about capabilities for project enquiries

Workshop Development and InvitationsUnderstanding the needs for NSW-based thematic workshops, invite to workshops in preparation

Website UpdatesAs enquiries are finalized and posted online, updates will be sent to researchers

NSSN Website Navigation

NSSN Website Navigation

In a private members’ area of our website, we share opportunities with researchers. These opportunities can be anything from:

companies looking to prove their technologies in the real world, to

organisations looking for experts to join their boards, to organisations needing R&D that they cannot perform in

house

These opportunities will have listed deadlines and will require at most, a short proposal.

Project Proposals

We collect information from the end-users and build it into a consistent framework.

If the project is of interest to you, contact the Network, we would discuss personnel, budget and time requirements and work with the end user to develop a mutually beneficial

Current & Recent Opportunitiesis a Brisbane-based start up that produces agricultural sensors and is looking for a local researcher for a field study/demonstration

is a Finnish-based multinational that produces pipe and conduit for water and HVAC applications, they are looking to install their equipment in a local test building

is an NCRIS funded, Australia-wide, research network that monitors the Australian environment, they are looking for machine learning methods to count species and environmental monitoring sensors and equipment

is a Sydney-based accelerator and incubator that is looking for participants to join itsGrowLab program, and for new technological opportunities to share with its network

is the water, wastewater, recycled water and some stormwater service provider for over 5 million people. It recently asked the NSSN to host a ‘sandpit’ where industry challenges were presented and solutions discovered

What’s Next?

Sign up for the website to get updates and access to opportunities• Email Anthony.Morfa@Sydney.edu.au with questions

Propose solutions to end-user’s challenges

Or suggest new ways that the Network can work for you.

Stay ConnectedFeel free to stay engaged, you are welcome to contact:

Dr. Anthony Morfa

Room 308, A28 Physics Building | The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006+61 2 8627 7007 (office) | +61 401 954 975 (mobile)anthony.morfa@sydney.edu.au | | nssn.org.au

Questions?

Working with the NSSN:Process Approximate time*

Initiate discussions, Define problem, Share with network (all universities), Receive proposals (incl. approximate costs)

< 6 months

Selection of project, Definition of milestones,Arrange contracts

2-4 months

Project commences between partner and NSSN (timeframe agreed upon by partners)Hiring of staff (with NSSN assistance if needed),Acquisition of materials 1-6 months

NSSN follows up with partner,NSSN follows up with researchers ongoing

Internal & external reporting (supported by NSSN) ongoing

Our Structure

Board

Co-Directors

Members’ Committee

Chief Operating Officer

Project Administration

Business Development

Technical Theme Leaders

Machine LearningIn Nov. 2016, the National Parks Association indicated Koala populations are in decline. The Chief Scientist and Department of Industry engage with the NSSN to develop a simple solution to sense koalas.

Two Objectives were agreed upon: use machine learning to 1) detect koala bellows and 2) accurately identify individual koalas.

Outcome: Machine learning algorithm was developed that correctly identified 87% of koala bellows, with 89% false positives rejected. Additional work with images also correctly identified individual koalas.

Log Audio Detect koala calls

Manually filter false positives Use data

Printed WearableThe Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology (CBNS) and NSSN jointly developed a printed UV exposure sensor with food grade materials. Ideally, by using such sensors, families can limit their unhealthy UV exposure.

Two Objectives were agreed upon: to produce a 1) simple to fabricate UV exposure sensor that is also 2) inexpensive.

Outcomes: An inkjet printed sensor was developed, tailor made to respond under normal solar irradiance.

Luminosity Innovations has been founded by Stewart Hay to commercialize this technology

With funding from the NSSN and Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a new inexpensive device, based on ion mobility spectroscopy (IMS) is under development to quickly detect chemicals in the field.

Two Objectives were agreed upon: to 1) develop a portable chemical sensor with 2) the ability to separate and detect different chemicals (specifically PFAS, PFOA and PFCs).

Outcome: A low power (< 1 µW) consuming device has been developed that can selectively ionize PFOA. Two surface coatings have been developed to extract PFAS from water with the result that a $50 device can function for up to 50 hours on a 9 V battery. To date, detection limits in the low parts per billion range have been achieved.

Chemical Remediation