AUT Faculties

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The research activities within each of AUT’s five faculties are overseen by an Associate Dean of Research who works closely with the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation and Enterprise. We encourage you to explore the broad suite of research activities from each faculties. Full text digital files are available open access for all items.

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Managing heuristics as a method of inquiry in autobiographical graphic design theses
(NSEAD/Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 12 JUN 2011) Ings, W
This article draws on case studies undertaken in postgraduate research at AUT University, Auckland. It seeks to address a number of issues related to heuristic inquiries employed by graphic design students who use autobiographical approaches when developing research-based theses. For this type of thesis, heuristics as a system of inquiry may provide a useful approach because it engages the researcher in a process that affirms imagination, intuition, subjectivity and forms of creative/critical/reflective problem solving. When employed as a framework, heuristics offers a rewarding but challenging system for connecting investigation with the researcher's personal experience. This article provides a discussion of heuristic's applications, limitations and advantages in relation to a number of recent postgraduate theses in graphic design. Through this, it seeks to provide a useful reflection on challenges and opportunities inherent within it as a system of inquiry.
Further developments in the Taylor 'V' type VAWT concept
(Pergamon Press, Elsevier, 1986) Robotham, A; Sharpe, DJ; Taylor, DA; Boyle, GA; Bilgen, E; Hollands, KGT
This paper describes the development of the Taylor 'V' Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (V-VAWT) which was first described at the 1983 ISES Solar Energy Congress in Perth, Australia. The aerodynamic performance prediction model VAWTTAY has been enhanced in VAWTTAY6. Further wind tunnel tests have been carried out using two-bladed models, and two of these are described. These tests have produced results which have demonstrated that power control of the V-VAWT can be achieved by varying the pitch of the blade tips. The design of a prototype 5kW machine, that utilises lightweight, composite blades, and the the continued development of the V-VAWT concept is discussed.
A unified approach to multivariable discrete-time filtering based on the Wiener-theory
(Institute of Mathematics ASCR, 1987) Barrett, JF; Moir, TJ
Several theories of discrete-time optimal filtering are in current use but the relationships between these theories is not always appreciated. By using a slightly modified form of the Wiener theory, a unification of the various methods is obtainable. In the present paper this approach is used to discuss in the multivariable case, instantaneous filtering, one-step delayed filtering, fixed-lag filtering, and prediction. It is shown that the one-step delay filter has a natural feedback structure related to the Kalman filter. The relation of the theory with the Hagander -Wittenma rk filter is also discussed.
The frequency and incidence of low-back-pain/sciatica in an urban-population
(New Zealand Medical Association, 1991-10-09) Laslett, M; Crothers, C; Beattie, P; Cregten, L; Moses, A
The frequency, incidence and severity of low back pain was assessed by a random telephone survey of 314 urban New Zealanders. Relationships between the severity and frequency of low back pain and referred lower extremity pain and other variables such as occupation, recreation, age, sex and predominant working posture was analysed.Point incidence was 17.5%, weekly incidence 33.4%, yearly incidence 63.7% and total incidence 79%. Some 28.3% get frequent minor episodes and 6.4% get frequent severe episodes of low back pain. Nearly 50% suffer the initial episode before the age of 30 years.Of those suffering low back pain within the last seven days, 14.3% experience reference below the knee and the total incidence of below knee pain was 13.7%. Over half (51.6%) have pain that has lasted seven days or less, but a third have had pain for longer than seven weeks. No correlation between the incidence of low back pain and referred pain and occupational posture was found.In conclusion, this telephone survey established that the incidence of low back pain in New Zealand is similar to that reported in overseas studies. The survey could not establish differences in low back pain characteristics across different social groupings, nor could a relationship between occupational posture and low back pain be established.
Progress in the development of a video-based wind farm simulation technique
(International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 1992-03-25) Robotham, AJ; Clayton, BR
The progress in the development of a video-based wind farm simulation technique is reviewed. While improvements have been achieved in the quality of the composite picture created by combining computer generated animation sequences of wind turbines with background scenes of the wind farm site, extending the technique to include camera movements has proved troublesome
Visual Impact Assessment - There's more to it than meets the eye!
(Mechanical Engineering Publications Ltd, 1992-03-25) Robotham, AJ; Quilleash, P; Clayton, BR
The visual impact of a wind farm is one of the major causes of concern for all current U.K. wind farm projects. Often visual impact is the singlemost important issue on which a planning application is judged. A fair and honest assessment of the visual impact of a wind farm demands the co-operation of the developer, the planning authority, the public, and other interested parties. Visual impact assessment also demands that each individual involved in the planning process make their own judgement, because it is inadequate for this issue to be decided by a single individual.
The South Pacific media:politics, ownership and control
(Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars (BCAS) / Critical Asian Studies, 1995-01-10) Robie, D
Two transnational media conglomerates own or control all the major circulation newspapers in the South Pacific. Through their subsidiaries Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation Ltd and French media magnate Robert Hersant's group in the French territories own five of the eight dailies in the region. The most recent daily, the National, began publishing in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in mid-November 1993. It is owned by a company associated with Malaysian senator Datuk Tiong Hiew King's family timber group, Rimbunan Hijau (RHG). Although the Tiong family is not in the big news media league of the Murdochs and Hersants, it has significant media interests, including the publishing of Malaysia's largest Chinese-language daily newspaper, Sin Chew Jit Poh.
Knowing the wheat from the weeds in noisy speech
(International Speech Communication Association (ISCA), 1997) Moir, T; Agaiby, H
This paper introduces a word boundary detection algorithm that works in a variety of noise conditions including what is commonly called the 'cocktail party' situation. The algorithm uses the direction of the signal as the main criterion for differentiating between desired-speech and background noise. To determine the signal direction the algorithm calculates estimates of the time delay between signals received at two microphones. These time delay estimates together with estimates of the coherence function and signal energy are used to locate word boundaries. The algorithm was tested using speech embedded in different types and levels of noise including car noise, factory noise, babble noise, and competing talkers. The test results showed that the algorithm performs very well under adverse conditions and with SNR down to -14.5dB.
The synthesis of hybrid mechanisms using genetic algorithms
(Mechanisms & Machines Research Group, Liverpool John Moores University, 1997) Connor, AM
This thesis presents a novel design methodology for the synthesis of hybrid mechanisms using Genetic Algorithms. GAs are a search and optimisation method which model the mechanics of population genetics to give a truly global search method. In parallel to the development of a suitable GA, the work also develops novel objective function criteria which go some way to providing an approximation to dynamic criteria whilst using only kinematic properties during calculations. This has considerable effect in reducing the time required to find a feasible solution. The thesis presents a set of results which validate the proposed methodology, both in terms of speed of convergence and quality of the final solutions obtained. The application chosen is the synthesis of a hybrid five bar path generating mechanism. A description is given of the development of a practical machine for a given test case, so as to illustrate that the solutions produced are feasible in terms of real world implementation. Results are presented which show the effectiveness of the machine. Finally, a critical analysis of both the methodology and the results is carried out. This highlights some areas in which the methodology could be improved by future work.
A comparison of two methods applied to the optimisation of fluid power circuits
(Research Studies Press, 1997-09-10) Connor, AM; Tilley, DG; Burrows, CR; Edge, KA
This paper describes two optimisation methods which can be applied to the parameter selection stage of Fluid Power System design. These two methods used are a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and a Tabu Search method, both of which have been claimed to be truely global methods. GAs are a method inspired by natural selection and Darwinian evolution whilst Tabu Search is an aggressive search metaheuristic which guides local search methods towards the globally optimum solution. Results are presented for two different circuit optimisation tasks. These results show that each of the two methods have both advantages and disadvantages.
The importance of brand-specific associations in brand extension: further empirical results
(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 1998) Glynn, MS; Brodie, RJ
This paper reports a replication of Broniarczyk and Alba’s study on the influence of brand-specific associations on brand extensions. The results broadly support the original study showing brand-specific associations (attributes which differentiate a brand from the competition) can dominate the effects of the parent brand to the point where they reverse extension evaluations. Thus the study provides further evidence to challenge the commonly held assumption that the effect associated with the original brand name and product category is automatically transferred to the brand extension.
Community, demagogues and the South Pacific news media
(Australian Key Centre for Cultural and Media Policy; University of Queensland, School of Journalism and Communication, 1998-02) Robie, D
On 19 October 1995, the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea issued the terms of reference for a Constitutional Review Committee's (CRC) Subcommittee on Media Accountability: to examine 'whether changes need to be made to ensure that, while freedom of the press is maintained, owners, editors and journalists of all elements of the media are accountable and that persons aggrieved by media abuses have reasonable redress'. The CRC held a public seminar in January 1996 to explore the issues and the Media Council of Papua New Guinea held a 'freedom at the crossroads' seminar the following month. Public responses were overwhelmingly in favour of the traditional 'free' press in Papua New Guinea, as guaranteed under Section 46 of the Constitution. The report of the Subcommittee on Media Accountability to Parliament in June 1996 essentially came to the same conclusion. However, the CRC introduced three draft media laws in November which introduced a controversial system involving a Media Commission, registration of journalists, licensing of media organisations and serious penalties for transgressors. The proposed legislation was widely condemned and was eventually shelved in February 1997. A general view is that the media debate was manipulated by a small group of politicians out of self-interest. This paper examines the developments in the context of the erosion of the news media and free expression in the South Pacific generally.
International collaborative learning - the facilitation process
(EdMedia, 1999) Clear, Tony
International collaborative learning is becoming more viable through a variety of Internet enabled software products. Group Support Systems appear to offer promise. But it is not well understood how to facilitate the teaching and learning process in electronic environments. If education is to involve an interactive process of collaborative inquiry and dialogue between remote groups of learners, then designing meaningful learning experiences presents challenges in logistics, technology support, software design, and pedagogy. To better model the facilitation process in such environments, a theoretical framework based on an extension of Adaptive Structuration Theory is suggested. This framework is then related to experiences with custom application software development using Lotus Notes Domino(TM), internal trials and a limited scale collaborative learning exercise between students at Auckland Institute of Technology and Uppsala University. The paper concludes by providing some recommendations for the redesign of the application, suggesting revisions to the collaborative process based on the framework presented, and discussing further extensions to the trials.
Efficient optimisation of structures using tabu search
(MCB University Press, 1999) Connor, AM; Seffen, KA; Clarkson, PJ; Parks, GT
This paper presents a novel approach to the optimisation of structures using a Tabu search (TS) method. TS is a metaheuristic which is used to guide local search methods towards a globally optimal solution by using flexible memory cycles of differing time spans. Results are presented for the well established ten bar truss problem and compared to results published in the literature. In the first example a truss is optimised to minimise mass and the results compared to results obtained using an alternative TS implementation. In the second example, the problem has multiple objectives that are compounded into a single objective function value using game theory. In general the results demonstrate that the TS method is capable of solving structural optimisation problems at least as efficiently as other numerical optimisation approaches.
Knowledge skills and abilities demanded of graduates in the new learning environment
(NACCQ, 1999) Young, A.; Senadheera, L.; Clear, Tony
Changes in technology and employer demands require that we regularly survey our stakeholder communities to ensure the relevance and currency of what we are teaching, and the qualifications we offer to prepare our students for practice. At a presentation to an IT breakfast of the NZCS Auckland Branch in October 1998, the audience were surveyed in order to gauge how well we were doing in developing tomorrow's practitioners. Topics surveyed were: the relative importance of different technical skills required by employers, the key trends that we need to prepare graduates for, the impact of the Internet on skills required, the most urgent up skilling requirements of employees and the relative value of vendor vs. formal Polytechnic qualifications. The results of the survey are reported, the key findings analysed and some strategies are suggested which address the identified gaps.
A framework for product development
(NTNU/DTU, Technical University of Denmark, 1999) McAloone, TC; Robotham, AJ
Since the introduction of Integrated Product development in 1985, industry has widely been using this model to understand and articulate their design, business and production activities. Recently, however, the picture has started to alter, as the nature of industry’s business has had to adapt to a much more complex world and in many cases, Integrated Product Development is no longer a sufficient way of describing industry’s product development activity. This paper uses the model of Integrated Product Development as a start-point to exploring the changes that industry has been undergoing over the fifteen years since it was introduced and attempts to make pointers in the direction of a new framework for product development, which should guide industry in the future. The key research challenges that this paper identifies include: developing a framework that identifies and supports a multi-aspect approach to product development; understanding the strategic conditions that affect product development; developing a coherent approach to product quality based on product-life thinking; addressing environmental needs in a proactive manner through innovation techniques; and understanding both organisational and technical knowledge-management for improved product development
Global networking: problems and solutions in branching to electronic commerce
(AUT University, 1999) Petrova, K.
Online education - but is it education?
(ACM, 1999) Clear, Tony
No abstract.
A collaborative learning trial between New Zealand and Sweden - using Lotus Notes Domino in teaching the concepts of Human Computer Interaction
(ACM, 1999) Clear, Tony
This paper reports the results of a collaborative learning exercise between students at Auckland Institute of Technology and Uppsala University. The exercise was conducted using both a Lotus Notes Domino collaborative database and electronic mail to support students working in remote groups to perform a common task. Issues concerning the logistics of such an exercise, student participation and evaluations of the process, ethical considerations and the quality of the learning process are discussed. Some conclusions are drawn concerning the value of Group Ware technology to support this form of collaborative learning, and suggestions are made for future developments.
New nematode species and genera (Chromadorida, Microlaimidae) from the deep sea of the eastern tropical South Pacific
(Natural History Museum Vienna, 1999) Bussau, C; Vopel, K
Six new nematode species are described from the sediment of a manganese nodule area of the abyssal eastern South Pacific: Aponema nympha sp.n., Caligocanna mirabilis gen.n. sp.n., Microlaimus discolensis sp.n., M. clancularius sp.n., M. porosus sp.n., and Bathynox clavata gen.n. sp.n.. The new genera Caligocanna and Bathynox are considered to belong to the Microlaimidae MICOLETZKY, 1922. The genus Caligocanna gen.n. differs from all other genera of the family Microlaimidae in combining the following characters: The six cephalic setae of the second circlet longer than the four cephalic setae of the third circlet. Annulated cuticle; annules with numerous longitudinal bars. Monospiral amphids turn ventrally. The genus Bathynox gen.n. differs from all other genera of the family Microlaimidae in having projecting, club-shaped corpora gelata and somatic setae positioned on peduncles.

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