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The NERC Digital Solutions Hub

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Environment, Education and Development

Abstract

We are building a Digital Solutions Hub (Hub) as a gateway to a broad set of inter-connected toolkits that facilitate improved access and better use of NERC data. The digital platform will have especially broad impacts on the environment, society and the economy by facilitating easier access and use of NERC data in business, government and society. Working with our partners, who are the users of what we build, will help grow its use and dissemination. The Hub will be integrated with wider social, economic, health and environmental datasets, to support decision making across a range of sectors. For stakeholders, the Hub will be the user-facing entry point that allows them to explore what NERC offers, ensuring that data and toolkits are findable and accessible. Data science, and the integration it requires, are highly complex and constantly evolving. Our approach recognises that computational tools need to 'sit' in the appropriate place in the technical ecosystem, and that users, particularly those who are new, must be supported in using and accessing them.

We will be working with a range of partners in local and national government, the private sector, technology sector, infrastructure providers, health sector, transportation, urban and regional planning, environmental science and a whole range of local and national agencies we will facilitate improved decision making in a wide range of sectors.

The Hub will benefit society by improving decision makers' ability to make informed decisions through the integration of data that have potential benefits for the future prosperity of the UK. This ranges from local to national government, the NHS, utility sector, transport infrastructure, insurance industry, housing developers as well as individual members of society. Providing easier access to NERC's environmental data offers opportunities to improving peoples' health and better understanding the impacts of climate change on people, land and property across the UK.
 
Description This award was a a scoping phase which then led to the funding of the main programme, grant number NE/W001985/1. All findings and reports are attached to the other award.
Exploitation Route This is ongoing as it led to the award of the larger programme grant.
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Environment

Healthcare

Government

Democracy and Justice

Transport

URL https://www.digital-solutions.uk/
 
Description Talk data to me! Evaluating the potential for large language models to enhance data discoverability across federated data services
Amount £335,479 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/Z502947/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2024 
End 06/2025
 
Description AI UK 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Climate and environmental change: what's the cost to our health
Our health and well-being are intrinsically linked to the environment in which we live and, as our climate changes, living healthily may be increasingly more challenging. In this session, we take a deep dive into the changes in temperature and air quality that are affecting our health and that of generations to come.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Meeting to discuss the Digital Solutions Hub with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Chief Scientific Advisor and his team and civil servants within DLUHC.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Digital Planning roundtable at the Royal Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Behind closed doors discussion about digital planning, data driven decision making etc.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Engineering Digital Twins in Practice 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Presentation of the DSP in relation to Digital Twins and ideas around what is an environmental digital twin. Members of the audience included water companies and people from the UKRI Catapults.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Esri UK User Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop to explain what DSH is and introduce our two use cases: housing and climate change impacts, and health and environment.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.digital-solutions.uk/index.php/blog/
 
Description Esri User Conference, San Diego 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented the DSH and the use cases, use of AI etc.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description GMCA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Briefing to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Smart GM Places Leadership Group on what the DSH is doing. This has led to a specific workshop being held in April 2023 for GMCA and all GM LAs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Geobusiness 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation and talk about what DSH is doing and how it can support spatial decision making using geospatial data.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.geobusinessshow.com/harnessing-digital-solutions-for-sustainable-housing-expansion-a-gis...
 
Description Geospatial commission - New Towns Task Force MHCLG 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Invited to provide advice from our housing use case to MHCLG's New Towns task force.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-new-towns-for-the-future/building-new-towns-for-...
 
Description ONS Northwest Connect: cross-government collaboration conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented DSH at the NW Connect cross-government event "Data-Driven Policy Making: Strategies for Effective Decision Making" and also sat on a panel discussion and chaired a panel discussion. Attendees came from Office for National Statistics, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, The Data City, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, University of Manchester, Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Liverpool City Council, Department for Business and Trade, Department for Education, Go Science, Ministry of Justice, UK Research and Innovation, Health and Safety Executive, Department of Health and Social Care, Home Office, Information Commissioner's Office, Cabinet Office, Crown Commercial Service.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://datasciencecampus.ons.gov.uk/capability/cross-government-and-public-sector-data-science-comm...
 
Description User workshops 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact In person workshops took place across the UK, exploring user needs to shape the design and delivery of the NERC Digital Solutions Hub.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
URL https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/nerc-digital-solutions-hub-in-person-workshops-818169