Data Analysis Tools and Techniques

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Near-field modelling of Sydney's three deepwater ocean outfalls. The PLOOM3 model is run hourly and provides estimates of the location, height of rise and dilution of the wastewater discharges. Results are also used to estimate the sedimentation of particles contained within the discharges. 

Wingecarribee Shire Council were upgrading their sewage treatment plants at Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale. Three treatment processes were under consideration. We designed and executed a monitoring program to quantify existing, putative environmental impacts and used these data in a Monte Carlo simulation to project likely future impacts for each treatment option. 

The Tomakin sewage treatment plant was being upgraded. Our component of the work required the tracing of the effluent as it entered the ocean to validate a near-field numerical model. The model was then run using a Monte Carlo approach to estimate the concentrations of contaminants in the ocean waters under several sets of anticipated populations - under both peak and non-peak periods. 

The main focus of this project was the collection of high quality data in real-time. The data were used to help calibrate and validate a hydrodynamic and water quality model of a section of the Parramatta River. Unusual features in the data were highlighted and linked to physical process, such as the tides, seiching and rainfall. 

Dr Peter Tate co-authored a book detailing data analysis techniques based on Fourier theory. Included are: auto, cross and rotary spectral analysis, harmonic analysis and wavelet analysis. The book details the theory behind the different analyses. Copious examples are provided. 

It is free to download (but it is about 20 MB). 

Dr Peter Tate co-authored a book chapter on Marine Outfalls. It forms part of the Springer Handbook of Ocean Engineering. Work covers summaries of the hydraulic design, near-field modelling, outfall construction and environmental monitoring.