The Cooperative Research Centre for Integrated Engineering Asset Management (CIEAM), of which CQU is a member, has organised its research program around four technical thematic areas and a fifth to address the human resources area.

One of its key focus areas is the sustainability of major infrastructure assets such as defence systems, power generation/distribution, water and transportation systems.

According to Engineers Australia magazine, the CIEAM research areas include:.

Models and decision systems for managing physical assets.

Advanced sensor applications including fibre-optic and piezoelectric sensors and actuators and sensors to assess thickness degradation.

Intelligent diagnostics and life prediction techniques.

Systems integration and IT.

Strategic human-based systems to develop procedural models, protocols and tools for work performance and occupational health and safety enhancement.

The CIEAM has been financed by cash and in-kind contributions from industry of $86 million over seven years (starting last September). The federal government has also provided $17.5 million to fund the establishment of the CIEAM, which is headquartered at QUT.