Harry Clive Minnett 1917 - 2003

In April 1940, Harry Minnett joined the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR, renamed CSIRO in May 1949), soon after the establishment of the Radiophysics Laboratory for research into advanced radar systems. He remained with the organization until his retirement in 1981. Harry's ability as a meticulous engineer with a thorough understanding of the related underlying scientific principles was recognized by his being appointed to leading roles in a number of significant projects. These were to have a long-term impact on Australian science and technology. Among the most important was his role in guiding the design of the Parkes 64-m radio telescope to successful completion, and the establishment of a world-recognized research group on antenna design to support radio telescope design and upgrades. He also had considerable impact on the construction of the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian optical telescope at Siding Spring Mountain, New South Wales, and the 'Interscan' aircraft Microwave Landing System being developed by the Division of Radiophysics in collaboration with industry. He was Chief of the Division from 1978 to 1981. Harry died on 20 December 2003 after a short period of illness.

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Radar Observations of Comet Nuclei and Comae

Highlights of Astronomy ◽

10.1017/s1539299600017081 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 763-763

Author(s):

Donald B. Campbell ◽

John K. Harmon ◽

Micael C. Nolan ◽

Steven J. Ostro

Keyword(s):

Cross Sections ◽

Cometary Nucleus ◽

Size Distributions ◽

Radar Systems ◽

The Earth ◽

Radar Cross Sections ◽

Short Period ◽

Grain Size Distributions ◽

Resolution Imaging

Nine comets have been detected with either the Arecibo (12.6 cm wavelength) or Goldstone (3.5 cm) radar systems. Included are six nucleus detections and five detections of echoes from coma grains. The radar backscatter cross sections measured for the nuclei correlate well with independent estimates of their sizes and are indicative of surface densities in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 g cm-3. Like most asteroids, comets appear to have surfaces that are very rough at scales much larger than the radar wavelength. Coma echo models can explain the radar cross sections using grain size distributions that include a substantial population of cm-sized grains. A long term goal of the cometary radar program has been the high resolution imaging of a cometary nucleus. Eleven short period comets are potentially detectable over the next two decades a few of which may be suitable for imaging. We are always waiting for the arrival of a new comet with an orbit that brings it within 0.1 AU of the earth.

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The long‐term impact of flooding on residential property values

Property Management ◽

10.1108/02637470210444259 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 214-227 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Chris Eves

Keyword(s):

Housing Prices ◽

Flood Plain ◽

Residential Property ◽

Residential Housing ◽

River Flooding ◽

South Wales ◽

Residential House ◽

Major Floods ◽

Long Term Impact

Current planning schemes in Australia identify areas that are potentially liable to flooding. This identification of flood‐liable land is based on flood height levels over time. Throughout New South Wales (NSW) this measure of flood affectivity is determined by three classifications. These classifications also influence the development of residential property within these flood areas. Prospective purchasers are advised of this flood zoning, when a full title search is carried out. However, as these properties are often located on the flood plain, but not within sight of the river, flooding can appear visually remote to the uninformed buyer. This study analyses residential house sales in flood‐prone areas and compares price movements of these houses with similar houses in immediate adjoining areas that are not affected by flooding. The analysis covers the period 1984 to 2000, which includes the last major floods in Sydney during 1990. This study period determines what impact a major flood has on residential housing prices and whether this effect is ongoing or decreases, the longer the area is free from flood affectivity.

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Alley-gates and domestic burglary

The Police Journal Theory Practice and Principles ◽

10.1177/0032258x16683696 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 91 (1) ◽

pp. 5-21

Author(s):

Colin Rogers

Keyword(s):

Local Community ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Public Confidence ◽

Policy Makers ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

South Wales ◽

Domestic Burglary ◽

Long Term Impact

The introduction of Crime Prevention Through Environmental design (CPTED) initiatives such as alley-gating is now widespread across the United Kingdom (UK), and has become part of the urban landscape. For practitioners and policy makers alike, erecting steel gates at entrances to alleys is seen as a major initiative for reducing domestic burglary. In particular, in the current climate of economic austerity, such apparently cost-effective measures may seem more attractive to policy makers and planners alike as they struggle to maintain public confidence in the criminal justice system and reduce levels of criminality. This paper examines one such alley-gate initiative at Cadoc, Barry, South Wales, based on 10 years of data collection, and considers the long-term impact upon recorded domestic burglary. It also probes local community perceptions of the gates in tackling the problem of crime.

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Crisis Phones - Suicide Prevention Versus Suggestion/Contagion Effects

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000313 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 220-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Steven Stack

Keyword(s):

Suicide Prevention ◽

Contagion Effects ◽

Long Term Impact

Abstract. Background: There has been no systematic work on the short- or long-term impact of the installation of crisis phones on suicides from bridges. The present study addresses this issue. Method: Data refer to 219 suicides from 1954 through 2013 on the Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. Six crisis phones with signs were installed in July 1999. Results: In the first decade after installation, the phones were used by 27 suicidal persons and credited with preventing 26 or 2.6 suicides a year. However, the net suicide count increased from 48 in the 13 years before installation of phones to 106 the following 13 years or by 4.5 additional suicides/year (t =3.512, p < .001). Conclusion: Although the phones prevented some suicides, there was a net increase after installation. The findings are interpreted with reference to suggestion/contagion effects including the emergence of a controversial bridge suicide blog.

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