DIGITAL METROPOLiS - Digital METRics OPtimising Outcomes for infrastructure Life-cycle Integration Strategies
Lead Research Organisation:
Cranfield University
Department Name: School of Water, Energy and Environment
Abstract
Working with Atkins, a global cross-sector infrastructure design consultancy, this project will understand how enhanced social, economic and environmental outcomes can be achieved by the adoption of Digital Transformative Technologies and protocols. Research methods will be developed to determine where city infrastructure system integration is appropriate, how metrics and measures of benefits may be established and consequently indicate how optimal, integrated infrastructure systems management could be developed. Appropriate integrated cross-sector case studies will be developed to demonstrate the findings and provide real world context.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/R011265/1 | 02/10/2017 | 01/10/2022 | |||
| 1956201 | Studentship | NE/R011265/1 | 02/10/2017 | 01/10/2021 | Avgousta Stanitsa |
| Description | The novel contributions of this research to the topic area are reiterated: The work advances the research methods that can be applied to the study of pedestrian movement in urban environments. A quantitative data-driven, evidence-based methodological framework to evaluate the performance of decision-making processes is developed. This research offers a real impact and change in practice by demonstrating the importance of adopting data-driven innovation techniques in decision-making processes in design. The study highlights the need for new metrics, frameworks, and skillsets to improve the ability of designers to extract insights aiming at a better understanding of users' needs. A novel methodological framework to automate and assess pedestrian routing in urban environments via pedestrian behaviours classification and spatial configuration interactions to support effective operational decision-making. This research directly contributes to the existing knowledge surrounding scientific approaches for pedestrian assessment by reinforcing the importance of data-driven environments in supporting improved decision-making in the design of buildings and their surroundings. This study raises awareness of the key challenges and opportunities, priorities, and potential areas for evidence-based strategies in informing building and urban design decisions. This contributes to understanding the implementation potential of strategies that can be applied in operational decision-making, helping building and urban design companies make more informed and efficient decisions. |
| Exploitation Route | The case studies explored by this research have focussed explicitly on pedestrian movement in urban spaces and decision-making processes in the design of these spaces. However, the findings of this research can provide a robust means to assess behaviours in large-scale contexts and prepare appropriate adaptation strategies for urban spaces or additional assets, such as retail uses. Several other potential avenues for further research have also been identified. Firstly, this research evaluated the impact of spatial configuration, and more specifically spatial visibility, on pedestrian movement in only a limited capacity. In the future, these might become available, and it would be interesting to understand the impact of other spatial attributes, such as aesthetics or green spaces interaction, or additional parameters, such as the rain impact. A series of recommendations were also produced, following the findings of this research: 1. Encourage and support collaboration between scientists and decision-makers 2. Change academic curricula for scientists and decision-makers, providing training and tools 3. Support innovation Secondly, this research collected data from decision-makers globally via an online questionnaire, while it was restricted to only a UK-based company to collect qualitative information via semi-structured interviews. It would be interesting to investigate decision-making processes in more detail by a comparative assessment among organisations located in different parts of the world. Finally, although evidence-based strategies potentially have a wide range of uses in the building and urban design industry, at present, there remains a need to further develop engagement strategies for their practical implementation, clearly communicating the benefits and efficiencies to all stakeholders. Therefore, further research should explore visualisation methods or other practice-based mechanisms for collaboration and engagement among diverse stakeholders. |
| Sectors | Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Retail,Transport |
| Title | Pedestrian Movement data |
| Description | The information contained is presented in a straightforward way with the associated location data required. Valid data sets are divided in three different periods, fluctuating from 1 week to 2 weeks' time. Datasets obtained are in a CSV format, therefore no initial transformation of the datasets will be carried out. Analysis of the current datasets against the multiple research questions will be performed. Currently, under progress. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | To investigate the behaviour of pedestrians in dense urban areas, with a view to the effect that urban open spaces have on pedestrian movements. |
| Title | Qualitative data collection via interviews |
| Description | Interviews were conducted in a UK Based organisation to collect information of Data-driven Innovation techniques used in practice and their application potential. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The dataset was used for a framework validation, as this resulted from pedestrian movement data analysis. Useful insights on the implementation potential of frameworks in practice have been generated. |
| Title | Qualitative data collection via online questionnaire survey |
| Description | Survey data collection for decision- makers using online survey data collection platform. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Stakeholder engagements through structured questionnaires based on the literature review outcomes to identify the diverse roles within the decision- making process and understand their needs. |
| Description | DREAM Challenge Week |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | DREAM CDT (Centre for Doctoral Training in Data, Risk And Environmental Analytical Methods) Challenge Week - an event each year, which brings together the students from across the four member universities to address a set challenge based around the themes of the CDT - big data and environmental risk. Every year students are the students were asked to undertake a contemporary challenge and provide a solution with the use of data and new technologies. Three groups, containing a mixture of students at various stages of their PhDs, and from across the four universities, were set the challenge at lunch time on Monday, before presenting their work on the Friday morning. In between, they spent their time assessing the quality of data (and the API's!), developing tools and models, and listening to a host of speakers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | DREAM Symposium on Big Data |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | DREAM Symposium on Big Data is an opportunity for all PhD students to come together and present their findings to date. Around 50 people attended on a conference which lasted 2 days. It is a yearly event and it takes place in different university campuses every year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
| Description | Digital Environment Public dialogue, Natural Environment Research Council |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Overarching aim: To enable NERC to listen and respond to the issues and opportunities raised by members of the public as stakeholders in research, on the topic of Digital Environment. Objectives - to: · Provide an enjoyable, worthwhile public dialogue in which participants will explore emerging issues and wider possibilities associated with NERC Digital Environment activities through an interaction with NERC decision makers,environmental scientists, data managers and users and other research stakeholders; · Identify emerging issues raised by participants, alongside other relevant stakeholders, for NERC funding priorities that can be fed into the development of future NERC funding calls and events focused on the Digital Environment; · Demonstrate that NERC listens and responds to a wide range of stakeholders in research, including the public, in a participatory manner on emerging research themes; · Develop NERC staff capacity and skills to deliver high-quality and relevant public dialogue and to develop understanding of how and where dialogue can be used as a process to improve NERC science decision making; · Learn from recent, relevant, successful examples of trialled public dialogue, with consideration as to how we can contribute to best practice and become more innovative in the sphere. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Future Practice - AA SED |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The Future Practice series is a series of presentations in which practitioners and postgraduate students describe their experiences of first entering practice, their subsequent career decisions and how they define the future of the architectural sector. 20 students and their professors attended this event, which tool place in the AA School of Architecture and specifically to the Master of Science of Sustainable Environmental Design. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | RIBA Research Matters Conference, Notingham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research Matters offers early career stage researchers from academia and practice an opportunity to present their research in a setting similar to that of a peer-refereed conference but in a more constructive, supportive, and non-confrontational atmosphere. The conference is also a chance for more established researchers from academia and practice to present their current research. This year's event is co-hosted by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. The programme run over two half-days, included paper discussions and PechaKucha style presentations cutting across the discipline, including topics such as contemporary and historical urban research, global histories, technology and digital spaces, children and architecture, and the development of the profession. The topic presented was: Title: "Human movement in the urban space: Transitions in data acquisition from survey to automation" Short description: Urban environments are perceived as complex systems which are characterised by the formation of the space and the human activity within them. Datafication of the human activity and increased access to new technologies transform the design process and change the users' needs, creating a new model of space, with direct impact on human behaviour. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.architecture.com/whats-on/research-matters-2019-registration |