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Zero waste initiative for plastics generated from a new build residential construction site
No full textIn Auckland, 50% of the total waste stream is derived from construction and demolition waste, estimated at 568,935 tonnes in 2019. In comparison to other countries, the plastic proportion of NZ construction and demolition (C&D) waste is relatively large at approximately 4%. This amounts to approximately 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste sent to Auckland’s landfills every year, despite its potential economic value.
The concept of zero waste can be summarised as a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, which guides people to lifestyle changes so that all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use. Zero waste is a target which looks beyond short-term improvements and focuses on radical and long-term change.
One construction company trialed a zero-waste project for a new-build residential construction site, with an aim of 90% diversion of all construction waste from landfill. This case study provided a unique opportunity to investigate the sources of various plastics resulting from construction waste and how they can be diverted from landfill via reuse and recycling. The collaborative efforts of Benton Ltd, Junk Run, Auckland Council, Environmental Solutions Research Centre (ESRC), saveBOARD, Marley NZ, DIVERT NZ and Polymer Processing NZ Ltd enabled plastic construction waste to be diverted, reused and recycled into new products.
All plastic waste was collected, audited and analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Preliminary results show that the dominant plastic materials were polyethylene - PE (42.5% by mass), followed by expanded polystyrene - EPS (30.9%) and PVC pipes (13.2%). Of the waste audited so far, 60% of plastic waste has been recycled or reused, and diverted from landfill; however, it is estimated that 80% of plastic waste materials from this site can be easily recycled. Soft plastics (PE), EPS, polypropylene (PP) and PVC can be recycled into new components providing contamination is limited and/or removable.
Preliminary findings have identified reuse and recycling options for various plastic materials, and the requirements of plastics for such recycling. This research discusses options, tactics and barriers for separating plastic waste on site and identifies materials which cannot easily be recycled
Medicalised Ketogenic Therapy Practice
No full textI have embarked on the Doctorate of Professional Practice (DProfPrac) program through Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, New Zealand. My aspirational professional practice statement is to be a change agent bringing necessary disruption to medicalised ketogenic therapy delivery practice, nationally and internationally. The impact I want is the opportunity for practitioners to change to an individualised patient care model by applying technology and associated artificial intelligence. My purpose for this disruption is to impact the challenges to the practice of ketogenics in a positive way.
Children with refractory epilepsy can suffer hundreds of seizures daily and do not respond to antiepileptic drugs. As of early 2023, in New Zealand, access to therapy is restricted to paediatrics by geographical location, capacity and ketogenic diet type. Comparable OECD countries experience similar challenges. Accessibility and adherence to the ketogenic diet are affected by the available digital tools. The first-generation manual calculators do not mitigate the time and effort overhead of the therapy's algorithmic requirements.
The Doctorate of Professional Practice differs from a traditional doctorate in considering every component of the clinician's practice. The result is personal and professional transformation through autoethnographic action research projects. I developed a Herea (weaving together) model of people, process and technology while establishing the new South Island service. The aim was to intentionally design the service suited to our geographically spread regional population. I provide technical information for how ketogenic meal and recipe auto-balancing technology developed while addressing accuracy, time-saving, variety of foods and custom food choice exchange blocks. In the primary action research, I identify the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability comprising seven component constructs and apply it to the KetoSuiteTM auto-balancing suite of applications through qualitative and quantitative interviewing of patient carers.
Apart from obtaining a unitary and multi-faceted acceptability measure, fundamental and controversial topics regarding the challenges of delivering medicalised ketogenic therapy emerged as themes through reflective practice. This analysis includes the origins of ratios, prescription labels and targets, methodologies and application of technology. Other chapters covered hub and spoke service establishment and a medicalised ketogenic therapy human lactation case study. The final chapter presents the professional practice of learning outcomes, aspirational professional practice and grande reflection.
Reflection on every component of my practice made me question and investigate fundamental assertions of medicalised ketogenic delivery. I do not intend for these chapters to point the finger or denigrate any particular practice but rather facilitate conversation to encourage deeper appreciation amongst practitioners and to work collaboratively on solutions to help improve the outcomes for a vulnerable group of health care consumers. These reflections and action research have culminated in my identification of the Ketogenic Algorithmic Challenge, the fundamental core of every medicalised ketogenic challenge
Techno-economic modelling of hydrogen’s role in the New Zealand energy system: A system dynamics approach
No full textHydrogen could play a variety of roles in an energy system
PhD objectives and methodology
Modeling approach: system dynamics
System dynamics model of NZ’s energy system: UniSyD_NZ
UniSyD_NZ: programmers, stages and statistics
UniSyD_NZvs TIMES-NZ
UniSyD_NZ short run times
UniSyD Sectors
Current progress
Next step
Pilot bioengineered treatment processes for hazardous waste
No full textThe dilemma: hazardous waste disposal
Current landfill design
Current landfill alternatives
C & D waste
Asbestos
Degradation timeline
A novel approach: bioengineered treatment process
Theory of asbestos bioremediation
Design of bioengineered treatment process
Pilot plant design
Environmental conditions
Environmental stages
Process optimisation
Conclusions
Reference
Managing disasters in New Zealand from a civil/structural engineering perspective
No full textIntroduction: types of disasters
Earthquake
Earthquake in New Zealand
- seismic assessment of existing buildings
- effects of earthquake on existing buildings
- damage pinched hysteretic behavior of mails
- backbone curve of fastener through wood
- hysteric behavior modelled by single link element
- elements are implemented in walls
- good match between numerical and experimental
- energy dissipation comparison
- the behavior of a wall wlth many links can be captured by a single link
Christchurch, Feb, 2011
Christchurch: numerical comparison between actual and design level (previous) events, single storey wall
Other applications: combined with passive energy friction dissipaters modelled numerically
Earthquake – San Fernando
Conclusion
'Cuboid', 'Horizon' [kiln cast lead crystal glass sculptures]
No full textPresented by Perpetual Guardian in association with Te Motu Vineyard and the Waiheke Community Art Gallery, the Small Sculpture Prize is a national award for an original free standing or wall sculpture up to 800mm in any direction
Designing neighbourhoods to facilitate intercultural encounters: Negotiating between self, society and place
No full textGlobalisation, and the consequent migratory processes, have radically transformed many countries across the world. A greater number of people with diverse backgrounds have been travelling to more places for numerous reasons. Consequently, immigrants have become an intrinsic part of most societies across the globe. When an individual travels from one place to another, they carry unique cultural information about specific areas. As such, immigrants inadvertently influence the spatial environment they interact with. Consequently, the built context of destination areas can be interpreted as the physical manifestation of accumulated information over time. Thus, immigrants effectively serve as catalysts for increasing levels of cultural flow between the place they have come from and the place they choose to resettle
What are the current rehabilitative approaches to ACL recovery post reconstruction surgery that osteopaths may implement? : A scoping review
No full textPREFACE
Rehabilitation from anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) surgery is a crucial health factor across the world with secondary surgery rates being high. Reducing this rate would take a significant burden off the health system and allow other crucial time sensitive surgeries to be completed in a more timely manner.
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the current literature that reports on the osteopathic approaches to rehabilitation after ACLR. This information could then be used to inform the management of patients rehabilitation after ACLR for practitioners. The aim is to collate the information within this topic for the first time to understand the current success rates of implemented approaches as well as identifying areas of future research
Bandhan: To bind, to tie
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION
How can vernacular traditions and contemporary fabrication integrate to enhance the cultural identity of the New Zealand Gujarati community?
ABSTRACT
Indians in Aotearoa arrived with temporary intentions of living but emerged as pioneers who significantly shaped contemporary Aotearoa. They faced substantial challenges and racial prejudice within a foreign land and responded by forming organisations and establishing communal spaces to preserve their rich cultural identity and collectively advocate for their rights. The spaces were often existing homes or commercial buildings repurposed to meet their needs. However, some Indian communities, like the Athia Samaj Society, struggle to convey their identity within these adapted spaces.
This project aims to represent and acknowledge the Hindu practices, knowledge, and languages of the Athia Samaj Society, a Hindu Gujarati community in Aotearoa.
Guided by interviews that outlined the community’s needs and concerns to revitalise the existing Athia Samaj Hall, the project addresses the research question: How can vernacular traditions and contemporary fabrication integrate to enhance the cultural identity of the New Zealand Gujarati community?
The project integrates cultural traditions by drawing inspiration from the dōrō. It is a sacred thread that defines spatial experiences as embodying protection, prosperity, purity, and a connection with nature. Architectural Hindu design mythologies like Vāstu Śāstra are applied to transfer knowledge to second-generation Gujaratis in Tāmaki Makaurau, creating a meaningful space for connection and reinforcing their identity.
Craft plays an essential role in art and architecture, serving as a medium for expressing identity, as seen in Māori and Hindu cultures, where buildings are an extension of themselves.
The project explores how traditional Gujarati craft elements can be integrated using contemporary methods like computer numerical control machines. Introducing technology to cultures embedded within traditional practices may pose challenges due to the fear of losing the cultural essence. However, technology may become the necessary tool to convey cultural art and facilitate communication, appreciation and understanding between cultures
Brownfield land redevelopment strategies in urban areas: Criteria contributing to the decision-making process
Get PDFUrban intensification seems to be a growing trend, especially in the context of severe land scarcity. Brownfields offer great potential in meeting the increasing demand for housing in major cities worldwide. Redevelopment projects appear to provide immediate solutions to housing shortages that are being experienced due to population pressures in large metropolitan areas. The paper explores the range of factors that property developers need to consider in their decision-making process when assessing the viability of brownfield redevelopments. This research, which employed a comparative case study approach, and examined two brownfield redevelopments in Auckland, focused on the economic, social, and environmental criteria that were utilised in the decision-making process. Document analysis of the two case studies, site observations, and semi-structured interviews with the property developers were the main data collection methods. The results suggested that the economic aspects of a brownfield redevelopment are the most important criteria that developers consider during the feasibility assessment of proposed projects. Projects that offer the potential for quick investment returns for all stakeholders are the preferred choice for developers. Brownfield redevelopments offer significant potential for invigorating local areas through urban intensification which boosts local businesses and encourages community revitalisation. The environmental concerns appear to be the lowest priority and little consideration is given to reducing the environmental impacts or incorporating green building practices in the new developments. A major shift from a purely economic focus toward a comprehensive environmental approach to new developments is needed to ensure the sustainable development of cities