Crack detection technology for high-rise buildings is among 21 Queensland innovations sharing $2.4 million in Palaszczuk Government Ignite Ideas funding.
Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Ignite Ideas program had invested $100,000 in the technology of Clontarf-based Concrete Data Sensors.
“Ignite Ideas and innovators like Concrete Data Sensors are a significant part of our Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Concrete Data Sensors has developed instruments embedded in concrete foundations, soil and walls to monitor movement of high-rise buildings, tunnels, and bridges in real time.
“A rock-solid partnership with the Palaszczuk Government’s Ignite Ideas is helping Concrete Data Sensors grow their business.
“The company has already put on four new staff to help generate millions of dollars for Queensland’s innovation led economic recovery.”
Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath said it was wonderful to see a Peninsula business launching home-grown technology internationally.
“This early warning system has many global applications and tremendous potential to save lives,” Ms D’Ath said.
“Innovation is important for the Moreton Bay Region’s jobs of the future, and this is one Redcliffe Peninsula business off to a flying start.”
Concrete Data Sensors Director Andrew Cathcart said owners and tenants can be notified of their building’s safety anywhere in the world.
“This system provides peace-of-mind that structural elements are performing safely as designed and not showing signs of fatigue,” Mr Cathcart said.
“Our technology is way ahead of anything else on the market and are the world’s only sensors that can be cast into concrete, rock or soil.
“Fully wireless and blast resistant, the sensors run at least seven years without a continuous electricity connection.”
Edge Engineers Chair Tim Peters said the technology’s ability to present real-time data was a potential life saver.
“If this technology had been embedded in the 12-storey Miami Tower, last year’s collapse might have been prevented,” Mr Peters said.
Advance Queensland’s Ignite Ideas Fund supports small-to-medium Queensland businesses to launch nationally and internationally to create new jobs.
Mr Hinchliffe said the latest round of Ignite Ideas was predicted to generate up to 100 jobs.
“Ignite Ideas supports Queenslanders to take their innovations to the next level by tapping into new markets and helping to attract investment,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“This round also includes funding for a sea rescue marine drone, AI technology for mine and major infrastructure inspections and a robot system that picks and packs fruit and vegetables.”
Round eight Ignite Ideas recipients include:
- Embrayse, Wishart $97,000 Aged care meal management app
- Ops (Australia), Longreach $99,560 Smart remote water monitoring and control system
- Brancher, Newstead $100,000 Virtual mentoring and career development platform
- Aeromech, Brisbane $100,000 Autonomous marine search and rescue device
- World’s Biggest Garage Sale, Morningside $100,000 Retail returns recycling platform
- Span Engineering, Emerald $100,000 Scalable, app-connected agricultural equipment
- Lyro Robotics, Eight Mile Plains $100,000 Intelligent pick and pack robots for fruit and vegetables
- Earthoffset, Newstead $100,000 Organic waste recycling technology
- Spatial Innovation, Brighton $78,000 Local Government flood information portal
- Hero Software, Maleny $100,000 Home energy rating and optimisation software
- Jennifer McKee, Etty Bay $92,000 Horticultural compliance management software
- Sendfx, Southport $99,990 Foreign exchange payments platform
- Kova Australia, Fortitude Valley $100,000 Cryptocurrency tax reporting and portfolio management software
- Simulation Training, Bardon $100,000 Virtual firearms training platform and smartphone mount for military and law enforcement applications
- Hoops CRM, Warana $100,000 Business management software for print, promotion and decorated apparel
- Geobotica, Wilston $99,996 3D cognitive mapping for mining and major infrastructure asset inspection
- Lixia, Townsville $200,000 Power pole sensor monitoring for grid safety and extended asset life
- Urpla Software, Southport $195,000 AI technology to simplify building and development applications
- Tomkat Global Solutions, Kurrimine Beach $150,000 Packing solution for cold chain shipments
- Nu Flow Technologies 2000, Molendinar $200,000 Water main rehabilitation and repair technology