BIZARRE: Rmit - You Need To See This

Could AI Spot Road Damage Before It Becomes a Pothole? Australian Trial Detects 300 Defects

An RMIT University and RACV trial is using the RoughSense AI system to identify early road damage, track its progression and help Victorian authorities target repairs.

International Business Times UK · 15h ago

Friday essay: AI is devastating higher education, but the system was already broken

If you work at a university today, you talk a lot with the dead. I don’t mean that as a metaphor – or, at least, not entirely.

The Conversation · Oct 22

Insider Trading: From $10 Op Shop Fits To The Runway: How Ebony Noire Made It To Melbourne Fashion Week

Arrernte and Māori designer Ebony Noire talks Melbourne Fashion Week, finding her people and being told she was “too sensitive” for the industry.

Pedestrian.tv · Oct 20

In 2021, Australia's RMIT helped Coles put 900,000 pieces of soft plastic into concrete. 1 year later, another Coles development was set to reuse 6.5 million pieces through Polyrok

RMIT University developed Polyrok, a plastic aggregate from recycled soft plastics. This innovative material was first used commercially at a Coles car park in Horsham. A larger application was announced for a Coles supermarket development at Cobblebank. This project recycled over 6.5 million pieces of soft plastic through Polyrok.

The Economic Times · Sep 9

Australia’s first fashion library’s rule for borrowers? No stylists allowed

Being able to touch and examine garments in person can be a vital source of inspiration for designers. Now a collection which does just that has relocated from Europe to Melbourne

The Guardian - AU · Sep 5

RMIT engineers mixed 1% recycled cigarette butts into fired-clay bricks, and the bricks matched standard strength while cutting firing energy by 10%

In Melbourne, engineers are pioneering a groundbreaking technique to integrate discarded cigarette butts into building bricks. This eco-friendly innovation looks to recycle billions of cigarette filters each year, creating bricks that are not only structurally sound but also require less energy to produce. By firing the bricks at high temperatures,…

The Economic Times · Sep 2

In 2019, RMIT researchers fired clay bricks mixed with treated sewage sludge; a 25% biosolids batch cut firing energy by 48.6% while passing strength tests

Researchers are exploring ways to recycle sewage sludge into building materials. Mixing biosolids into clay significantly cuts the energy needed for brick firing. This process helps reduce landfill waste and the environmental impact of construction. Studies show sludge can either maintain or improve brick strength depending on conditions. These innovations…

The Economic Times · Aug 30

In 2022, RMIT tested shredded masks, rubber gloves and isolation gowns in concrete; gloves raised strength by up to 22% and masks by up to 17%

RMIT University researchers discovered shredded personal protective equipment strengthens concrete. Rubber gloves increased concrete strength by twenty-two percent in early studies. Face masks also boosted compressive strength by up to seventeen percent. This innovation offers a circular economy solution for discarded healthcare waste. The findings could lead to stronger building…

The Economic Times · Aug 28

In 2021, RMIT tested shredded face masks with recycled concrete for road bases; 1 kilometer could use 3 million masks and divert 93 tonnes from landfill

Engineers from Australia have introduced an innovative strategy for converting used face masks into construction materials for roads. This forward-thinking approach aims to tackle the substantial landfill waste created by disposable masks during the pandemic, with a single kilometer of pavement needing nearly three million masks. Nonetheless, ongoing research is…

The Economic Times · Aug 28

Earlier this year, RMIT engineers tested kestrel-inspired robots against turbulent winds in 2 studies. Today, their findings show that pairing wing and tail movements can boost lift and reduce instability in small aircraft

Inspired by the remarkable aerial skills of Australian falcons, scientists are developing innovative robotic designs for aircraft. These birds are adept at navigating strong winds, leading researchers to construct kestrel-like robots aimed at testing stability and wing adjustments. This initiative promises to enhance the safety and reliability of small unmanned…

The Economic Times · Aug 19