UKCRIC - (National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
This funding, matched by the University of Cambridge, is to build a National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing at West Cambridge, which will build upon the expertise of the University's Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction. The interdisciplinary research facility, due to open in spring 2019, will be accommodated in the Department of Engineering's new Civil Engineering Building and will focus on research in the application and development of advanced sensor technologies for the monitoring of the UK's existing and future infrastructure, in order to improve resilience and extract maximum whole life value.
As well as the NRFIS, the building will accommodate related research groups' laboratories and workshops within the Civil Engineering division, including Structures, Construction and Geotechnics, to foster collaboration and allow for sensing technologies to be thoroughly tested in a range of scenarios and materials.
The major new building on the West Cambridge Campus will house:
- double and single height laboratories for rapid prototyping and open-source microcontroller platforms to produce and develop novel sensors systems at a range of scales
- vibration isolated and severe environment laboratories to test and calibrate sensors under a range of environmental conditions and temperatures
- a Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) lab
- an advanced structural dynamics and façade engineering laboratories with scaled and full-scale physical testing capabilities
- advanced geotechnic facilities, including laboratories for concrete, materials and durability testing
- advanced facilities for data analysis and smart construction computation
- a field deployment team
- a collaboration hub
- lecture and teaching space
To learn more about the United Kingdom Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure and Cities visit www.ukcric.co.uk
As well as the NRFIS, the building will accommodate related research groups' laboratories and workshops within the Civil Engineering division, including Structures, Construction and Geotechnics, to foster collaboration and allow for sensing technologies to be thoroughly tested in a range of scenarios and materials.
The major new building on the West Cambridge Campus will house:
- double and single height laboratories for rapid prototyping and open-source microcontroller platforms to produce and develop novel sensors systems at a range of scales
- vibration isolated and severe environment laboratories to test and calibrate sensors under a range of environmental conditions and temperatures
- a Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) lab
- an advanced structural dynamics and façade engineering laboratories with scaled and full-scale physical testing capabilities
- advanced geotechnic facilities, including laboratories for concrete, materials and durability testing
- advanced facilities for data analysis and smart construction computation
- a field deployment team
- a collaboration hub
- lecture and teaching space
To learn more about the United Kingdom Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure and Cities visit www.ukcric.co.uk
Planned Impact
N/a
Organisations
- University of Cambridge (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- BW Industries (Collaboration)
- EXPEDITION (Collaboration)
- Ramboll (United Kingdom) (Collaboration)
- Smith and Wallwork (Collaboration)
- ArcelorMittal (Collaboration)
- Jacobs Engineering Group (Collaboration)
- Network Rail (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Simon Guest (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Agapaki E
(2020)
CLOI-NET: Class segmentation of industrial facilities' point cloud datasets
in Advanced Engineering Informatics
Agapaki E
(2021)
CLOI: An Automated Benchmark Framework for Generating Geometric Digital Twins of Industrial Facilities
in Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Agapaki E
(2021)
Instance Segmentation of Industrial Point Cloud Data
in Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering
Alhaj K
(2020)
Water retention and characteristic curves representing tropical clay soils from Africa
in E3S Web of Conferences
Alhaj, K.M.A.
(2019)
Soil water retention curves representing tropical clay soils from Africa
| Description | The construction of the new National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing (NRFIS) was completed in May 2019 and officially opened on 24 September 2019. As a result of the funding, NRFIS is a state-of-the-art facility for industry and academic institutions.to carry out leading edge experimental research and collaboration to improve the performance of existing and future infrastructure. The funding has provided an inter-disciplinary research hub for civil engineering, infrastructure design, construction, operation and asset management. |
| Exploitation Route | The opening of NRFIS at the new Civil Engineering Building is an important step to help us design, build and maintain infrastructure which is better, resilient, adaptable and sustainable. NRFIS is a facility where academia and industry can engage in protecting and growing the country's infrastructure base and supporting the UK to be a leader in the field of smart infrastructure. UKCRIC's evolving missions are designed to facilitate the delivery of interconnected, integrated and multidisciplinary research programmes and projects. NRFIS will be used to support research in the application of advanced sensor technologies to the monitoring of the UK's existing and future infrastructure. More advanced sensors and appropriate data analysis will ensure better product quality, enhanced construction safety and smarter asset management. Investment in our infrastructure and infrastructure services, which are so important to citizens, is crucial for the economy and society. NRFIS is a facility where academia and industry can engage in protecting and growing the country's infrastructure base and supporting the UK to be a leader in the field of smart infrastructure. |
| Sectors | Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment,Transport |
| URL | https://www.nrfis.cam.ac.uk/news |
| Description | NRFIS is focussed on the research and application of advanced sensor technologies to enable the design, construction, and maintenance of the UK's existing and future infrastructure, such that it is resilient, adaptable, and sustainable for the future. The equipment and laboratory facilities at NRFIS are open and available to industry and all academic institutions and centres to support delivery of interconnected, integrated, and interdisciplinary research for UK infrastructure. Construction of the NRFIS was completed in September 2019 and research utilising the facilities and equipment is beginning to deliver impacts. Due to the wide scope of NRFIS activities, only the briefest description can be given here. For further information please see our NRFIS website https://www.nrfis.cam.ac.uk/news. Examples of Impact to date: • NRFIS robotics are currently being used as part of the Automating Concrete Construction (ACORN) project. The Automating Concrete Construction (ACORN) project is a collaboration across the Universities of Bath, Cambridge and Dundee, and a growing number of industry partners, exploring digital design and production methods to decarbonise construction by rethinking the way that concrete is used in buildings. The project which aims to drive a new industry culture to improve whole-life sustainability and productivity is exploring the fabrication of concrete shells as a sustainable design alternative for building floors. Using robotics to develop an integrated fabrication tool for the concrete shell segments, the research team based in Cambridge, led by CSIC Investigator Dr John Orr, have successfully constructed a full-sized 4.5 m x 4.5 m 'thin shell' vaulted floor slab demonstration with 60% less embodied carbon than an equivalent flat slab in the UKCRIC funded National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing (NRFIS) laboratory. • NRFIS cameras and laser sensors are being used to devise an AI-based mobile scanner to digitise the geometry of existing infrastructure assets with high accuracy and density over longer distances. It is estimated that improving digitisation in this area could significantly improve productivity, potentially creating up to $1.6 trillion of added-value - half the world's infrastructure need. • NRFIS Luna Analyser is being used to develop of an early warning system to predict the early formation of sinkholes before they cause property damage or even loss of life. This would be of huge benefit to the infrastructure and construction industry. • NRFIS Resonant Column apparatus has been used to characterise partly saturated expansive clays as part of the WindAfrica project. The results will feed into the future work being undertaken by Durham University and the University of Pretoria, who will be developing advanced numerical tools to assess the response of wind turbine foundations exposed to complex loading, and changes in water table and soil moisture content. • NRFIS facilities and equipment across the Concrete Manufacturing Laboratory, the Structures Laboratory and the Smart Infrastructure and Construction Laboratory have played a key part in investigating how to optimise cement use in reinforced concrete structures by varying concrete mix design within elements. This aims to achieve a reduction in the embodied carbon of concrete infrastructure and reduce material waste. Throughout this project, collaboration and knowledge exchange with industry partners Costain, SOM and Laing O'Rourke have taken place. • Through CSIC's work in development of sensor systems, use of the resultant data to understand the behaviour of structures, and work on improving value-based asset management approaches in construction and infrastructure, NRFIS has had a had direct input to infrastructure and construction projects which has led to substantial savings and opportunities to do things differently. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Performance of polymer support fluids for piling and diaphragm walls |
| Amount | £27,800 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2109009 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Reallocation of the Imperial capital underspend |
| Amount | £2,899,800 (GBP) |
| Organisation | UKCRIC |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 10/2021 |
| Description | Structural systems beyond 2050: Strategic large-scale experimental hub |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Isaac Newton Trust |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | eur |
| Amount | € 4,999,287 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | GEOLAB 101006512 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 02/2021 |
| End | 01/2025 |
| Title | Automating Concrete Construction: NRFIS robotics support material efficiency, productivity and sustainability in construction of concrete buildings |
| Description | Using NRFIS robotic arms, the ACORN team have developed an end-to-end digital process to automate the off-site fabrication of non-prismatic building elements, capitalising on the recent proliferation of affordable robotics and bringing them into an industry ripe for a step-change in sustainability and productivity. The development of the design and fabrication tool has enabled the successful manufacture of concrete shell segments by the research team based in Cambridge, led by CSIC Investigator Dr John Orr, and the successful construction of a full-sized 4.5 m x 4.5 m 'thin shell' vaulted floor slab demonstration with 60% less embodied carbon than an equivalent flat slab. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The robot-manufactured new vaulted style of floor, which uses 75% less concrete than a traditional slab floor is featured in the RIBA Journal in an article presenting the engineering behind the project and ACORN's approach that "could be the secret to unlocking net zero buildings". In rethinking the way concrete is used in buildings, ACORN combines offsite manufacturing processes, affordable robotics and a highly-automated, quality-controlled environment to help design concrete out of construction - only using concrete where it is needed. The traditional approach to pre-casting prism-shaped concrete slabs has not changed since Roman times and while this method offers highly repeatable results it creates waste and is not carbon efficient. New approaches to concrete use and manufacture are needed and the value of them evidenced to encourage a change of culture in the construction industry and adoption at scale. "Achieving the net-zero targets recently ratified at the COP26 conference will require significant change by the construction industry, which is responsible for about half of the UK's total emissions. Since concrete is the world's most widely consumed material after water, and its production contributes more than 7% of global CO2 emissions, the easiest way for construction to begin its journey to net-zero is to use less concrete. That has been the driving force behind this project, which we hope could make a major difference to the impact of construction," said Dr Shepherd. With this demonstrator and the release of an end-to-end design and fabrication tool, the research fuses the digital and physical realms and hopes to drive the acceptance of a new culture in the construction industry, to use enough material - and no more. |
| URL | https://automated.construction/ |
| Title | Data supporting Interlayer fracture behaviour of functionally layered concrete |
| Description | Data supporting Interlayer fracture behaviour of functionally layered concrete The dataset contains the measurement of the compressive strength and density of each mixture and mixture combination as defined in the manuscript and the data of the fracture properties obtained from the Wedge-Splitting Test such splitting Force and total fracture energy. Furthermore the dataset also contains the raw measurement of the dynamic E-modulus. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The data supports the following findings reported in Maier, M and Lees JM. (2022) Interlayer fracture behaviour of functionally layered concrete, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 271, 108672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2022.108672: Functionally layered concrete can reduce material usage and the CO2 footprint of the construction industry. The Interlayer fracture properties of functionally layered concretes are investigated. Wedge splitting tests on multi-mix and single-mix combinations are performed with pour delays of up to 4 h. Results showed that the multi-mix fracture behaviour depends not only on the pour delay but also on the mix combination. Results showed that an uplift of fracture properties for functionally graded specimens is possible compared to single-mix specimens. |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/339505 |
| Title | Dataset supporting Model fitting to concrete carbonation data with non-zero initial carbonation depth |
| Description | The dataset contains the results of curve fitting two alternative models to 361 data series of carbonation depth vs carbonation exposure time. The sources of original data series are cited, and details about the initial depth, test duration and CO2 concentration are included for each series. Results from each curve fitting include the estimated carbonation coefficient, K, and the R2 and RMSE values of each of these fits. The error in K from the linear model compared to the non-linear model is reported for each series, as well as the predicted depth at the end of the test using the non-linear model. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The results support the following findings reported in: Forsdyke, J.C., Lees, J.M. Model fitting to concrete carbonation data with non-zero initial carbonation depth. Mater Struct 56, 22 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-023-02104-0 Carbonation is a key mechanism for deterioration of reinforced concrete structures. In design for resistance to carbonation, the performance of mixes is often specified and measured in laboratory carbonation tests where initial carbonation is sometimes present in specimens. The coherent interpretation of results from carbonation tests is vital as they enable a more accurate prediction of the performance of concrete structures in situ. This paper assesses two different approaches to considering the initial carbonation depth when extracting the carbonation coefficient from results of carbonation testing. Experimental data is compared to models for either approach using least squares regression. Both linear and non-linear representations of the initial carbonation depth are shown to fit the data well. The non-linear approach gives a larger estimate of carbonation coefficient than the linear approach, and is more consistent with the mathematical derivation of the carbonation equation. The ramifications of this difference will be most significant when the initial carbonation depth is large relative to the depth of the carbonation front. The accurate modelling of carbonation progression underpins performance-based design of new concrete structures and the assessment of existing concrete infrastructure. |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/344843 |
| Title | Source code, simulation and data analysis scripts, and relevant data for "Power-efficient piezoelectric fatigue measurement using long-range wireless sensor networks" |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/294063 |
| Description | CENTRIFUGE MODELLING OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF STEEL SHEET PILE WALLS UNDER SEISMIC ACTIONS |
| Organisation | ArcelorMittal |
| Country | Luxembourg |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Carried out experimental work to validate analytical and computational methods for the seismic design of tied back SSP walls in port facilities and to develop guidelines to be included in codes and regulations. In particular, developed equipment and carried out centrifuge tests to: (i) investigate the influence of different subsoil conditions and structural configurations on the seismic behaviour of SSP walls, (ii) identify the plastic mechanisms actually occurring in the soil-wall-anchor system, and the critical acceleration associated to each mechanism and (iii) provide benchmark data for validation of theoretical methods for computing the critical acceleration of the wall, based on limit analysis and/or limit equilibrium approaches, and numerical modelling. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided background information on steel production and characterization, results from internal research project on numerical modelling of Seismic Behaviour of Anchored Steel Sheet Pile (A-SSP) Quay Walls, and on Effects of Steel Grade Properties on Seismic Resistance of Steel Sheet Piles. All related real projects documents and information (i.e.: tender documents, drawings, soil conditions ) |
| Impact | Caputo, G.V., Conti, R., Viggiani, G.M.B., Prüm, C. (2021) Improved Method for the Seismic Design of Anchored Steel Sheet Pile Walls. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 147 (2), DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002429 Morigi, M., Conti, R., Viggiani, G.M.B., Tamagnini, C. (2019) A numerical study on the seismic behaviour of cantilever embedded retaining walls in saturated sand. Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering for Protection and Development of Environment and Constructions - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, 2019, pp. 4030-4037. Caputo, V.G., Conti, R., Viggiani, G.M.B., Prüm, C.(2019) Theoretical framework for the seismic design of anchored steel sheet pile walls. Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering for Protection and Development of Environment and Constructions- Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, 2019, pp. 1604-1611. Fusco, A., Viggiani, G.M.B., Madabhushi, S.P.G., Caputo, G., Conti, R., Prüm, C.(2019). Physical modelling of anchored steel sheet pile walls under seismic actions. Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering for Protection and Development of Environment and Constructions- Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, 2019, pp. 2502-2509. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Compressive Test on Chalk Samples |
| Organisation | Smith and Wallwork |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The experimental programme consisted of compressive tests performed on five chalk stone samples. On each of the test specimens, a compressive test was performed according to the principles of "BS EN 12390-3 - Testing hardened concrete. Compressive strength of test specimens". During the experiments, the applied load and displacement/strain was recorded. A brief statement which presented a description of the test procedure, test series and any anomalies encountered during the tests was provided. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Delivery of test specimens to our facilities arranged by the client |
| Impact | A brief statement which presented a description of the test procedure, test series and any anomalies encountered during the tests was provided. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Durability tests on SLC Panels |
| Organisation | Ramboll UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | imple shear tests · Development and prototype testing of test setup for simple shear experiments, including trial run on client supplied specimen: - Initial design of the shear box, including production of design drawings, manufacturing of required components and instrumentation of the test setup (displacement and load sensors) in compliance with the University H&S guidelines -Verification of the performance of the test setup and, if required, provide a second optimised design. -Trial run on a client provided specimen, with recording of the water pressure, vertical and horizontal movement and horizontal (shear) force applied to the test sample. · Production of second simple shear test setup · Saw client provided specimen to dimensions and perform simple shear test with recording of the water pressure, vertical and horizontal movement and horizontal (shear) force applied to the test sample over a period of 4 weeks. Deliverables -Provision of a factual test report on the development of the simple shear test setup including the final design and prototype test results -Provision of a factual test report on the results of the simple shear tests |
| Collaborator Contribution | The specimens for the trail run of the simple shear test setup were provided by Ramboll. |
| Impact | Factual test report on the development of the simple shear test setup including the final design and prototype test results. Provision of a factual test report on the results of the simple shear tests. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Earth Wire Clamps |
| Organisation | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | • Development of a test setup for cyclic load testing of earth wire clamps under controlled environmental conditions. • Performance of cyclic (sine) load tests on earth wire clamps under controlled environmental conditions. The tests will be performed in a climate chamber with a temperature range of -25 degrees C to 200 degrees C. The clamp will be mounted to a maximum free length of the wire of 350mm (in between mounting clamps) or on a 21.1mm mandrill. The 'vertical plane' or 'right angle' loads applied on the earth wire clamps can vary between 0 and 4kN (client to advise) at a frequency of 0.25Hz to 2Hz (client to advise). During the test, the load applied by the test machine and corresponding actuator displacement will be recorded, as well as the number of cycles applied or cycles up to failure (whichever comes first). After the test, the clamps will be visually inspected for damage. The distance from the bottom of each bolt to the base of the clamp body will be measured before and after each test and recorded. The bolts will be re-torqued to see if there has been any loss of holding force. |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Cable and clamps to be provided by the client. |
| Impact | Deliverables • Test report describing the test procedure and inspection results |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Freeze-thaw testing with de-icing salts on concrete specimens |
| Organisation | Expedition |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Freeze-thaw testing with de-icing salts on concrete specimens as part of the product development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of test specimens |
| Impact | Provision of test report |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Freeze-thaw testing with de-icing salts on concrete specimens |
| Organisation | Network Rail Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Freeze-thaw testing with de-icing salts on concrete specimens as part of the product development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of test specimens |
| Impact | Provision of test report |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Knowledge exchange between University of Cambridge, University of Southampton, and University of Oxford |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration draws on University of Southampton expertise in fibre-optic sensor development and fibre-optic sensor analysis, University of Oxford knowledge of embedded sensing systems in smart pipe tunnel segments, and world leading University of Cambridge infrastructure sensing and concrete material research. One planned outcome of this collaboration is to use experimental tests on fundamental concrete behaviour, currently being performed at Cambridge, as a testbed for novel embedded fibre-optic sensors that are being developed at Southampton. This will allow for detailed evaluation of the new sensors themselves, against established sensing methods. The data recorded by these new sensors are expected to be of higher quality and will be used to develop improved models of concrete material behaviour. These tests are ongoing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Regular knowledge exchange is underway and joint projects planned. Most recently, in December 2022, Martynas Beresna (Southampton) and research students from Southampton and Oxford visited labs at the National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing (NRFIS), University of Cambridge. Fibre-optic analysers at Cambridge were used to conduct initial trials of the novel sensors developed by Southampton. Further work is now underway to prepare these sensors for embedment in concrete material tests. |
| Impact | The collaboration is multi-disciplinary. Beresna (Southampton) research interests include fiber optic sensors, distributed sensing systems, miniature optical imaging and spectrometry systems. Sheil (Oxford) has experimental geotechnics expertise and keen interests in intelligent monitoring to inform underground construction processes. Lees (Cambridge) contributes deep insight into concrete material and structural behaviour. The collaboration also draws upon Cambridge's strong position as a National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Knowledge exchange between University of Cambridge, University of Southampton, and University of Oxford |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration draws on University of Southampton expertise in fibre-optic sensor development and fibre-optic sensor analysis, University of Oxford knowledge of embedded sensing systems in smart pipe tunnel segments, and world leading University of Cambridge infrastructure sensing and concrete material research. One planned outcome of this collaboration is to use experimental tests on fundamental concrete behaviour, currently being performed at Cambridge, as a testbed for novel embedded fibre-optic sensors that are being developed at Southampton. This will allow for detailed evaluation of the new sensors themselves, against established sensing methods. The data recorded by these new sensors are expected to be of higher quality and will be used to develop improved models of concrete material behaviour. These tests are ongoing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Regular knowledge exchange is underway and joint projects planned. Most recently, in December 2022, Martynas Beresna (Southampton) and research students from Southampton and Oxford visited labs at the National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing (NRFIS), University of Cambridge. Fibre-optic analysers at Cambridge were used to conduct initial trials of the novel sensors developed by Southampton. Further work is now underway to prepare these sensors for embedment in concrete material tests. |
| Impact | The collaboration is multi-disciplinary. Beresna (Southampton) research interests include fiber optic sensors, distributed sensing systems, miniature optical imaging and spectrometry systems. Sheil (Oxford) has experimental geotechnics expertise and keen interests in intelligent monitoring to inform underground construction processes. Lees (Cambridge) contributes deep insight into concrete material and structural behaviour. The collaboration also draws upon Cambridge's strong position as a National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Load tests on an extended cleat plate connection |
| Organisation | BW Industries |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | • The experimental programme consisted of: · Coupon tests to determine the material properties of the channel beams, SHS columns and flag plate · Shear lap tests including manufacturing of specimens · Column with flange plate load testing · Full-scale tests on single-beam connections |
| Collaborator Contribution | • The test specimens (channels and connection plate) delivered by the client to NRFIS |
| Impact | Deliverables • Provision of raw data files recorded during the experiments. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Material characterisation of lap-joint connections and terracotta |
| Organisation | Smith and Wallwork |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Perform structural performance tests on steel lap-joint specimens using an electro-mechanical UTS machine. Perform material characterisation test on terracotta samples. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of the test specimens |
| Impact | Provision of test reports for the benefit of the company. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Testing of chalk stone under uniaxial load |
| Organisation | Smith and Wallwork |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Execution of tests and provision of test report |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of test specimens, assistance during the tests |
| Impact | Test report provided to the client |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Testing of railway gantry structure under lateral wind loads |
| Organisation | Network Rail Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Execution of tests and provision of test report |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of materials, assembly of structure, assistance during the tests. |
| Impact | Test report provided to the client. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | Real-Time Monitoring System for Civil Engineering Building |
| Description | The web-based application allows the monitoring of sensor packages installed in the Civil Engineering Building, through data processing and visualisation in real-time. It is a flexible system with a back-end (server-side) engine that enables data processing on the fly and handles communications with remote users. The server side is written in NodeJS and enhanced by Python, both open-source programming languages. The client-side is fully scripted in Javascript powered by 3D open-source visualisation libraries. At the moment it serves the purpose of processing and visualising mostly data from fibre-optics sensors, nonetheless, it was devised from the inception to be the engine of next-generation Digital Twins. In consequence, it is already powering other projects, such as the Digital Twins for the bridges in the Staffordshire Project, shared by CSIC and the Laing O'rourke Centre. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | In April 2021 it will be launched at the Cambridge Festival, as part of the CSIC outreach programme on smart sensing. |
| URL | https://csic-web.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/science_festival_master/index.html |
| Company Name | DEEPFORM LIMITED |
| Description | DeepForm ® sheet forming technology was developed at the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering under the UK FIRES project, motivated by reducing the large volumes of sheet metal scrap from the automotive industry. DeepForm Limited provide a drop-in solution to the high levels of sheet metal waste in the automotive industry using a patent-pending tool design approach. This can reduce cost and CO2 emissions in your manufacturing process. DeepForm Limited offer novel press tool designs for automotive and other high volume customers. We use the novel DeepForm® fold-shear process to replace the draw stage in a conventional press tool lineup. In one tool, regions of the part are folded whilst soaking up material in customised 3-D blankholders, before completing the operation. We are worldwide exclusive License holder to DeepForm® technology, and offer custom support packages to deliver the technology in partnership with your supply chain, including feasibility simulation, process design and Licensing. |
| Year Established | 2022 |
| Impact | November 2021: Coming up against stiff competition across the University of Cambridge, DeepForm CEO Chris Cleaver wins a prize in the Chris Abell Postdoc Business Plan Competition. The 4th annual #21toWatch Top21 list of standout individuals, companies and innovations: Dr Chris Cleaver has been recognised as a standout scientist in his field in a prestigious award ceremony. Dr Cleaver, the CEO of DeepForm, was awarded for his work in developing the DeepForm innovative sheet metal forming process which will enable the automotive industry to produce better car body parts with half the metal and reach zero manufacturing emissions. in Sep 2022, DeepForm Limited were awarded a £50k Innovate UK Fast Start grant. The six month project beginning Nov 2022 will develop DeepForm Limited's first prototype product: a novel die-set for stamping a car body structural part with less waste, cost and embodied emissions. In this we will design and evaluate a mid-size production-ready die set to manufacture multiple parts in current production at an automotive OEM. Fabrication work will begin at UK-based SME and die manufacturer, Whiston Industries. This project will kickstart DeepForm Limited as a UK business aiming to reduce the embodied emissions of car production. January 2023: 2 months into our I-UK Fast Start project, we've already identified a key demonstrator part from a high volume auto producer and shown how the DeepForm method can be applied, saving almost 40% on material. DeepForm is working with technical partner Whiston Industries on the project. Whiston are a major UK toolmaker with capacity to design, fabricate and try out large auto toolsets. Together with Whiston, we have developed a full 3-D process and Autoform simulation for this part and will soon kick off detailed CAD design. After four years of tweaking, two patent applications, held by Cambridge Enterprise, and two key papers, Chris Cleaver and Julian Allwood established DeepForm Limited as a company in March 2022. |
| Website | http://deepform.co.uk |
| Description | A visit by the University of Cambridge Vice Chancellor to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The University's VC visit to NRFIS offered an opportunity to showcase he 12 world-class laboratories located in the new facility and introduce the groups and centres housed in the Civil Engineering Building. The visit included a walk of the new building with tours of the following facilities/areas: • The Structures laboratory - Ground Floor, Room G17 • Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) laboratory - Ground Floor, Room G24 • Collaborative spaces - available throughout the building The tour introduced: • the capability of the laboratories, • the research that can be accommodated with the new facilities, • the current research projects being undertaken, and • instrumentation that has been installed throughout the building |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | An article introducing NRFIS in the CSIC Annual Review |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A one page article introducing the National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing was included in the Centre for Smart Infrastructure 2020 Annual Review. The article introduced how academic and industry partners can collaborate with NRFIS and use the facilities on offer. The NRFIS team was introduced for external partners to make contact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://issuu.com/csic_cambridge_uni/docs/csic_ar_19062020_2_final |
| Description | Braceworks Custom Orthotics visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and meeting at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. During the site visit, NRFIS was able to provide technical advice to the visiting company |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Braceworks Custom Orthotics visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and meeting at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. During the site visit, NRFIS was able to provide technical advice to the visiting company |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Brunel University visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and exploration of opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | C-Dice networking workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | During the conference there was the opportunity to participate in a facilities/lab/research group speed networking workshop with the aim of developing new, and expanding existing, collaboration across the ERA, UKCRIC and C-DICE networks. Benefits of taking part in this event included: • Potential funding to help train people on NRFIS equipment or area/s of expertise. • Promotion of the NRFIS facility and its equipment. • Access to a dynamic network of doctoral and post-doctoral researchers that will be primed to co-create a C-DICE and/or ERA funded project with your facility, lab, or research group. • Greater collaboration across the partnerships. NRFIS provided a presentation and held a stand at the event. Post doctoral students interested in applying for C-Dive funding for their research discussed the opportunities for working with NRFIS to carry out their research project. There was much discussion and increased interest in NRFIS from the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | CSIC Advisory Board visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 10 members of the CSIC international Advisory Board visited NRFIS, which initiated questions and discussion afterwards. CSIC Director reported an increased interest in the experimental research being undertaken at the University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | CSIC Annual Review Case Study (2020) - New use for existing technology to identify potential sinkholes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A two page case study article was drafted into the CSIC 2020 Annual Review. The work discussed in the case study explores the possibility of using distributed fibre optic sensing as a solution for early warning detection of sinkhole formation. The work was made possible using the newly acquired NRFIS Luna ODiSI (Optical Distributed Sensor Interrogator) 6100 which allows for the monitoring of fibre optic cables with an incredibly high spatial resolution of less than 2.6mm. The CSIC Annual Review is advertised on the CSIC website and is pushed out through social media channels. Furthermore the Annual review is distributed out to CSIC partners and collaborators and is available at all CSIC events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www-smartinfrastructure.eng.cam.ac.uk/files/csic_02072020.pdf |
| Description | CSIC Annual Review Case Study (2020): Making sense: instrumentation and monitoring to support performance-based design |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A two page case study article was drafted into the CSIC 2020 Annual Review. The CSIC Annual Review is advertised on the CSIC website and is pushed out through social media channels. Furthermore the Annual review is distributed out to CSIC partners and collaborators and is available at all CSIC events. Background to the case study: The new Civil Engineering Building, located on the West Site of the University of Cambridge, which is home to CSIC and houses the UKCRIC National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing (NRFIS), has been instrumented with five sensor packages to monitor the whole-life performance of the asset. The sensor packages within the modular building create a live learning and research tool. CSIC investigators and researchers are developing technologies to store, interpret and visualise the data streams resulting from the sensor systems. This information will be used to monitor and understand the performance of the building components, assess performance against predictions made during design, and inform future design and modification to improve efficient use of materials and reduce embedded and operational carbon |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www-smartinfrastructure.eng.cam.ac.uk/files/csic_02072020.pdf |
| Description | CSIC International Advisory Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The annual meeting of the permanent CSIC International Advisory Group, where CSIC benefits from the expertise and guidance of world-leading academics and leaders in the industry. I presented the progress on the data analysis and visualisation system for the sensor packages installed in the Civil Engineering Building. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www-smartinfrastructure.eng.cam.ac.uk/who_we_are/our-people/CSIC-International-advisory-grou... |
| Description | CSIC Partner Gathering |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The annual CSIC Partner Gathering, where the latest research and development are presented to the Industry partners of CSIC. It involves presentations and engaging discussions. I presented one of the modules of the data analysis and visualisation platform for the sensor packages of the Civil Engineering Building. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www-smartinfrastructure.eng.cam.ac.uk/events/csic-partner-gathering-invitation |
| Description | Cambridge/Costain 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 | A series of regular online meetings with Costain and representatives from Costain's stakeholders |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
| Description | Costain visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and workshop at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | DBG Holding visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Site visit and exploration of opportunities to collaborate together in the future. The engagement activity led to the following consultancy projects: 1. Durability tests on concrete 2. Concrete cube compressive tests |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Delegation visit from the Qatari Department for Infrastructure and Planning (Ministry of Municipality and Environment of the State of Qatar) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Welcoming the visitors to the new facility, Dr Jennifer Schooling, Director at the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC), gave an introduction to the work of CSIC and NRFIS, acknowledging the valuable contribution the world-leading research and state-of-the-art facilities will make in driving the emerging digital era of civil engineering. Nicola Pearson, Head of Change and Knowledge Transfer at the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB), provided a presentation on the work underway by CDBB in developing the National Digital Twin. The visit concluded with a tour of the new NRFIS facilities, which showcased the 12 world-class, high-tech laboratories designed for a range of civil engineering disciplines including sensor development, structures, geomechanics and construction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.nrfis.cam.ac.uk/news/nrfis-hosts-delegation-visit-qatari-department-infrastructure-and-p... |
| Description | Denmark Real Estate visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and meeting at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Fletcher Construction Company Ltd visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and workshop at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Ghent University visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and meeting at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Hong Kong Institution of Engineers visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and workshop at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Hosting a visit by HRH Duke of York to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Duke of York visited the National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing (NRFIS) at the new Civil Engineering Building, on 29 October for a tour of the new facilities. HRH was accompanied by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mrs Julie Spence OBE QPM, and Lord-Lieutenant's Cadets, Cadet SSgt Eleanor Phipps and Leading Cadet Matthew Smith, and presented to Councillor Mac McGuire, Chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council, and Councillor Gerri Bird, Mayor of Cambridge. The Duke of York supports a number of science and technology organisations, including being a Patron of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). HRH promotes and raises awareness of British science, technology and engineering expertise, engaging with organisations to support initiatives which attract increased investment into UK science, technology and engineering. HRH was welcomed by Professor Lord Robert Mair, Head of CSIC, Professor John Dennis, Head of School, Dr Shui Lam, Secretary of the School, Professor Richard Prager, Head of the Department of Engineering, Professor Simon Guest, Head of Civil Engineering, and Professor Giulia Viggiani, NRFIS Academic Lead. The visit included three fast-paced and visual presentations: Sakthy Selvakumaran, Researcher at the Laing O'Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology, presented her research on the satellite monitoring of infrastructure; Dr Timea Nochta, CSIC Research Associate, presented the Smart City Project developing a city-level digital twin; and Ioanna Papanikolaou, a Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (FIBE) PhD researcher presented on nature-inspired infrastructure. A news article about HRH's visit to NRFIS was posted on the NRFIS website and shared via twitter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.nrfis.cam.ac.uk/news/his-royal-highness-duke-york-kg-visits-national-research-facility-i... |
| Description | Hosting of the UKCRIC All Hands Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The intended purpose of the event was to define the new collaboration and practice frameworks needed for the long-term, successful, operation of the UKCRIC research facilities. In this working meeting the focus was on facilities management, operation, and access and business models. The meeting included a tour of the NRFIS facility and its laboratories. This initiated a number of questions and discussion afterwards amongst the working groups. The key outcome from the day was knowledge exchange and network building amongst practitioners and management teams setting up and operating other UKCRIC research facilities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Hosting visitors to NRFIS as part of the Cambridge University Alumni Weekend |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The intended purpose of the alumni weekend was to highlight the research activities taking place across the departments, laboratories, facilities and centres, which make up the University. With the recent completion of NRFIS we offered tours around the new facility and presented current research being undertaken through posters in the foyer. Throughout the afternoon almost 60 people visited the NRFIS facility, there was lots of discussion around the capabilities of the recently installed equipment and questions surrounding the sensors installed in the building. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Industry Event: Working with UKCRIC to accelerate R&D in infrastructure and cities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | the main purpose of which is to announce to industry that we are "open for business" to encourage UKCRIC facility use and facilitate industry partnerships. The event was held at the PEARL (Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory) and was attended by industry businesses, SME looking to engage with UKCRIC and other UKCRIC personnel. The event kicked off with an introduction to UKCRIC. there were presentations on the following themes giving by UKCRIC members: 1. Data-driven solutions 2. Energy systems 3. Water and Environment 4. Built infrastructure 5. Transport and Mobility Throughout the event there was opportunity to network with industry, participate in a Q&A, tour the new PEARL facility and discuss areas for collaborations with attendees. Industry Clusters presentations, Networking and Q&A. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Mason UK visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and workshop at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Mole Architects - MSc Apprenticeship Course Sustainable Building visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 10 people visited NRFIS as part of their MSc Apprenticeship Course in Sustainable Building. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | NRFIS Launch Press Release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A Press release was drafted ahead of the NRFIS launch event, which took place in September 2019. The press release was uploaded onto the NRFIS website, twitter feed and circulated to industry trade press. The purpose of the press release was to advertise that the new facility was officially opening for business for those wishing to collaborate on infrastructure research or use the new Civil Engineering Building facilities. Its aim was to reach out to those who might be interested in attending the launch event and to advertise the facilities available within the building. The news article was covered in 'Business Weekly' and 'Cambridge Network'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | NRFIS attendance and trade stand at International Conference for Smart Infrastrastrure and Construction |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The 2019 International Conference on Smart Infrastructure and Construction (ICSIC) was held from 8 - 10 July and brought together world-leading academics and practitioners from the fields of infrastructure planning, asset management and sensing. The unique combination of fields and disciplines focused on the power of smarter information and provided opportunities to confront persistent barriers and develop novel, proactive solutions. Throughout the 3-day conference we held an exhibition stand to advertise NRFIS, and introduced the facility's capabilities and the upcoming events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | NRFIS focused social media channel: Twitter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The intended purpose of setting up a social media presence using twitter has been to: • Increase Awareness of NRFIS and the capability of the laboratories • Increase enquiries through our website • Connect with potential customers/clients who might wish to use the facility on collaborate for future infrastructure research • To stay abreast of and engaged with the wider conversation with other facilities and industry surrounding infrastructure monitoring and assessment . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | NRFIS launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The official opening of the Civil Engineering Building housing the National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing (NRFIS) by Andrew Wyllie CBE, the Institution of Civil Engineers' (ICE) president took place on the 24th September 2019. The Opening event included tours of the new facility, laboratory demonstrations and talks from the following key speakers: ? Andrew Wyllie CBE, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers' (ICE) ? Professor Lord Robert Mair CBE, Head of the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction ? Professor Richard Prager, Head of the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge The intended outcome of the event was to showcase the 12 world-class, high-tech laboratories designed for a range of civil engineering disciplines including sensor development, structures, geomechanics and construction. In addition, promote that the collaborative facilities are open and available to industry and all academic institutions and centres to support delivery of interconnected, integrated, and interdisciplinary research for UK infrastructure. The launch event received coverage in the following trade articles: • Business Weekly and • Cambridge Network |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.nrfis.cam.ac.uk/news/open-business-university-cambridge-new-civil-engineering-building-o... |
| Description | National Highways visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and meeting at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | News article about NRFIS published as a feature in: Cambridge Green: weaving sustainability into the fabric of the University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An article about the new Civil Engineering Building housing NRFIS was featured in an online paper about sustainability measures across the University of Cambridge. The paper was written by the University Office of External Affairs and Communications team and focuses on how the University of Cambridge is weaving sustainability into its very fabric. The article about NRFIS highlights how Sustainability has underpinned the design of the building from its inception. The paper was published on the University homepage and promoted via the University's and NRFIS social media channels. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Norwegian University of Science and Technology visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and workshop at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Online platform: NRFIS Website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The intended purpose of the website has been to: • Improve the credibility of NRFIS Credibility. • Build our collaboration and user base • Enhance our online presence. • Build a Strong Relationship with potential customers/clients. ... • Promote the facilities available at NRFIS • Boost our reputation as an interdisciplinary centre to develop sensors & instrumentation for infrastructure monitoring & assessment. • Create a place for collaborations to form • Showcase the research being undertaken at NRFIS • Share recent news and upcoming events Impacts that have arisen: The website has brought in external requests for further information, requests for tours and talks. Those wishing to use the facility as part of their research have used the website to contact the NRFIS management team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.nrfis.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Description | Online workshop: Bringing buildings to life |
| 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 | As part of the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) 10-year anniversary events held last month, CSIC Research Associates Dr Miguel Bravo-Haro and Dr Nicky de Battista hosted an online workshop inviting attendees to 'virtually' visit the Civil Engineering Building - home to CSIC and NRFIS. Visitors were able to to see how smart infrastructure has brought the Civil Engineering Building, instrumented with five sensor packages, to life. Through engaging with the platforms that collect and visualise the rich data streams coming from the sensors deployed across the building structure, the audience was taken on the data's journey from sensor to digital twin. The online workshop is available to view on the CSIC YouTube channel. For further details about the instrumentation of the Civil Engineering Building, visit CSIC's Project Case study: Making sense: instrumentation and monitoring to support performance-based design This research and the online event forms part of the Centre for Digital Built Britain's (CDBB) work at the University of Cambridge. It was enabled by the Construction Innovation Hub, of which CDBB is a core partner, and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://www.csiclivingbuilding.eng.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Description | Online workshop: Bringing buildings to life |
| 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 | As part of the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) 10-year anniversary events held last month, CSIC Research Associates Dr Miguel Bravo-Haro and Dr Nicky de Battista hosted an online workshop inviting attendees to 'virtually' visit the Civil Engineering Building - home to CSIC and NRFIS. Visitors were able to to see how smart infrastructure has brought the Civil Engineering Building, instrumented with five sensor packages, to life. Through engaging with the platforms that collect and visualise the rich data streams coming from the sensors deployed across the building structure, the audience was taken on the data's journey from sensor to digital twin. The online workshop is available to view on the CSIC YouTube channel. For further details about the instrumentation of the Civil Engineering Building, visit CSIC's Project Case study: Making sense: instrumentation and monitoring to support performance-based design This research and the online event forms part of the Centre for Digital Built Britain's (CDBB) work at the University of Cambridge. It was enabled by the Construction Innovation Hub, of which CDBB is a core partner, and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://www.csiclivingbuilding.eng.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Description | Open House Event for Cambridge University Departments and staff to visit NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The intended outcome of the open day was to showcase the 12 world-class, high-tech laboratories designed for a range of civil engineering disciplines including sensor development, structures, geomechanics and construction to internal colleagues within the University. The purpose was to promote that the collaborative facilities were open and available to all internal academic groups/institutions within the University as well as external institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | RIBA jury visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The University of Cambridge Civil Engineering Building housing NRFIS was visited by 10 people from the Royal Institute for British Architects jury for consideration of the building for the RIBA 2022 Regional award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Research presentations at launch of University of Cambridge Civil Engineering Building (UKCRIC NRFIS) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Lees described the facilities and examples of research activity facilitated in Cambridge's new state-of-the-art concrete manufacturing and durability laboratories. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Stone Masonry Company visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Three people attended a site visit to NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. The engagement activity has resulted in two collaborations on the following projects: 1. Column-beam connections of prestressed stone elements 2. Swanwood Project - Tests on Masonry Walls |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The long journey of data from sensor to digital twin - a case study: Civil Engineering Building |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on the above project has been uploaded onto the CSIC YouTube channel. The presentation is by Dr Miguel Bravo-Haro. The presentation was recorded during CSIC's virtual Partner Gathering event held on the 24 September 2020. It is followed by a Q&A session chaired by Professor Lord Robert Mair, Head of CSIC and Dr Jennifer Schooling OBE, Director of CSIC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp2vYAx12Vo |
| Description | UKCRIC Facility Managers meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A meeting of the facility managers across the UKCRIC network joined for a meeting to discuss lessons learned, funding approaches, how the UKCRIC roadmap fits in the priorities of the UKCRC facilities, C-Dice opportunities, operational challenges across the facilities. The meeting gave the opportunity to network with others across the UKCRIC umbrella and bring a more joined up approach to the UKCRIC facilities. It also offered to the opportunity to discuss collaboration opportunities in the pipeline and how to work together across joiny proposals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | University of Cambridge - UKCRIC workshop to explore the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation in the built environment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The University of Cambridge hosted an online workshop for UKCRIC academics and researchers to explore the challenges and research opportunities around digitalisation in the built environment. he workshop kicked off with presentations from each of the UKCRIC partner institutions who provided an overview of the digital research activities happening across their universities. The presentations featured: Prof William Powrie, University of Southampton: digital in rail infrastructure: sensors on the track and in the track bed, digital approaches to low-carbon energy transition; Dr Karen Blay and Dr Peter Demian, Loughborough University: information resilience, building occupancy modelling, design 4 energy, deep learning and computer vision for sewer pipe inspection/monitoring, block chain; Dr Mojgan Mosleh, University of Manchester: BIM Safety Risk Library, non-destructive techniques for bridge inspection; Prof Philip James, Newcastle University: urban sensor networks, urban green design and modelling, digitalization of vehicles, climate resilience programme; Tom Russell, ITRC, University of Oxford: structural sensing, household energy, demand, telecommunications, simulation for infrastructure performance, energy and power systems, climate risks to infrastructure; Marion Samler, STFC, DAFNI: data hub, model repository, high-performance computer platform, digital twin urban analytics, green finance; Prof Theo Tryfonas, University of Bristol: intelligent hot-desking, smart infrastructure monitoring, electric bike use; Prof Jennifer Whyte, Imperial College London: Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation, data-driven design under uncertainty, design and delivery of digitally integrated solutions, linked-data based constraint modelling, design change in digital twins; Dr Jennifer Schooling, University of Cambridge: Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery, CDBB (construction innovation, national digital twin programme), CSIC (smart infrastructure); Prof Liz Varga, University College London: global health and human wellbeing, sustainable cities, transformational technology; Prof Nigel Cassidy and Dr Asaad Faramarzi, University of Birmingham: digital twin and modelling of underground assets and railways; Dr Georges Kesserwani, University of Sheffield: modelling human response dynamics during flood-induced evacuation; Prof Chris Dent, University of Edinburgh: data science, AI, IoT, lean construction infrastructure, electricity security and supply, geoscience; Dr Benny Suryanto, Heriot-Watt University: monitoring and virtual testing of concrete materials, damage sensing and simulation of concrete structures, forensic assessment of structures, energy geostructures and water resilience; Dr Vasilis Sarhosis, University of Leeds: masonry infrastructure, robotics, sensing, materials and structures, cities and infrastructure, data analytics. Presentations throughout the morning were interspersed with two breakout sessions, involving small groups of delegates discussing a particular research theme with focus on the questions of 'what are the challenges/opportunities within this research area?' and 'what are the research questions which would help to address these challenges?' Research themes spanned from digital fundamentals, such as sensors & IoT, data architecture and digital twins, through to innovative application areas such as structural health monitoring, data centric engineering, infrastructure and building management, sustainable development and smart cities. Delegates from across all 15 UKCRIC institutions participated in the online event. The workshop provided the opportunity to engage with colleagues across the UKCRIC community and explore areas of collective interest and capability within the digital space. It is hoped that the opportunities identified and discussed will spark ideas for future innovation and collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | University of Cambridge Division D (Civil Engineering) Seminar: Experimental and numerical study on the use of distributed fibre optic sensing technology for sinkhole detection |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Speaker: Gianluigi Della Ragione (final year student from the University of Napels Feberico II, Italy). He was a visiting student to CSIC This seminar was open to all in the University to attend. There was a Q and A session after the talk. This talk provided an overview of the work undertaken Gianluigi Della Ragione. His work explores the possibility of using distributed fibre optic sensing as a solution for early warning detection of sinkhole formation with the main objective directed towards proving the effectiveness of this technology in reading soil induced strains. The seminar discussed the use of the NRFIS Luna Analayser which used as part of the experimental work. The seminar increased the visibility of the NRFIS Luna Analyser. There has been an increased interest to use the equipment for other projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | University of Moratuwa visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and meeting at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. The visit sparked interest in the experimental work undertaken by NRFIS. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Ward and Burke site visit to NRFIS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A site visit and meeting at NRFIS to explore opportunities to work together on projects in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Workshop: UKCRIC Roadmap project (the "UKCRIC transition decision support" project) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | The UKCRIC Roadmap project (the "UKCRIC transition decision support" project) - led by Professors Gordon Masterton, Liz Varga, and Sergio Cavalaro had been developing recommendations for transitioning UKCRIC into a sustainable venture. The workshop was an opportunity to share the progress made and gather feedback from UKCRIC institution members on the recommendations proposed. There was a presentation and an opportunity to ask questions and discuss as a group afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |