There are several active research and development projects in the Department, centered on
problems of special interest in Papua New Guinea, including the development of low-cost
solar heating systems, and solar-powered systems for water pumping and space cooling.
Other projects include structural vibration analysis, vibration monitoring in machine
maintenance, applications to transport and farm machinery, and the development of low-cost
water wheels for hydropower.
The staffs of the department are willing to offer services to the industry in the form of
consultancy, personnel training, and short courses on selected topics. The areas of
involvement may comprise rural development including the mechanization of agricultural
production, materials testing, solar energy applications, alternative fuels, and renewable
energy sources, including charcoal and pyrolytic liquid fuels, wind power, hydropower,
production systems including manufacturing processes, plant layout, materials handling,
warehouse design and operations, production planning and control, and computer-aided
design and drafting.