System risks in information-rich environments: monitoring for safe and cost-effective operation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Research and Knowledge Exchange Services
Abstract
The overall theme of this proposal is System risks in information-rich environments: monitoring for safe and cost-effective operation. Research in this area aims to support the design, manufacture and operation of new engineered systems in energy, transport, civil applications and elsewhere. Rapid advances in monitoring technologies and data processing techniques offer huge potential for improving safety and increasing cost-effectiveness in such modern engineered systems. The combination of such monitoring and data processing methods provides an information-rich environment - almost a new world existing alongside the real physical environment in which the systems are operated. However, in order to use such methods effectively for safe and cost-effective systems operation we have to know how frequently different extreme conditions occur, how humans will interact with the information being provided, and what the impacts on safety and cost are. By taking this broader context we aim to provide good decision support models in the design, manufacture and operation phases of new engineered systems, to support safety and cost-effectiveness. It is important to consider these issues now because of a number of technical, economical and political factors. The basic technical change taking place is the dramatic increase in the amount and quality of information available about technological systems during their operation, coming from monitors and sensors and processed through IT systems. These give the potential for completely different ways of using and interacting with systems that could potentially save costs and improve safety if used correctly. The current rapid economic change occurring globally has increased competition for UK PLC, and this implies that we have to be more aware than ever of the possibility of technological advantages gained through superior information. However, without proper consideration of risks there may be unexpected safety or cost problems. Our modern society with its 24 hour media places great emphasis on risk avoidance, thus bringing in the political dimension. It is widely recognized that risk problems require multidisciplinary approaches, involving engineering, mathematics, computer science and even need to reach out further by integrating other disciplines such as psychology. Strathclyde aims, with this proposal to bring together these researchers to create innovative new approaches to incorporate risk into design manufacturing and operation phases for new systems. In doing so it will broaden out some existing collaborations, thus giving new directions to their work, and will create new collaborations. The programme will use the expertise available in the university in the area of collaboration / it is a highly important part of the research of the Business School / in order to direct its efforts as efficiently as possible. As a result the University hopes not only to establish Strathclyde as a world leading centre on multi-disciplinary approaches to technological risk problems, but also to find and apply those methods of stimulating collaboration that work best at Strathclyde, so that these can be used more widely in support of the university's aim of being a place of useful learning .
Publications
Hibbert P
(2016)
The Role of Interpretation in Learning Practices in the Context of Collaboration
in Academy of Management Learning & Education
Dawson N
(2014)
Sustained NMDA receptor hypofunction induces compromised neural systems integration and schizophrenia-like alterations in functional brain networks.
in Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
Dawson N
(2014)
Subanesthetic ketamine treatment promotes abnormal interactions between neural subsystems and alters the properties of functional brain networks.
in Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Zante R
(2011)
Microflow valve control system design
in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part I: Journal of Systems and Control Engineering
Siedlok F
(2015)
From practice to collaborative community in interdisciplinary research contexts
in Research Policy
N Dawson
(2010)
Alterations in functional brain network structure induced by subchronic phencyclidine (PCP) treatment parallel those seen in schizophrenia
in Schizophrenia Research
Xia Q
(2010)
A Bayesian nonlinearity test for threshold moving average models BAYESIAN NONLINEARITY TEST
in Journal of Time Series Analysis
Description | One event that the Bridging the Gaps instigated and has run for the last 4 years is the University of Strathclyde Research Day. This annual event is open to researchers across all five faculties of the university and attracts more than 500 participants each year, many of whom are external guests from government, industry and commerce. The event provides an opportunity for the interdisciplinary sharing of good practice in research, and a vehicle for promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. It allows researchers to present their work to each other, to share good research practices, to forge new research collaborations and to develop cross-disciplinary presentation skills. As one of the key objectives is to enhance the careers and employability of early stage career researchers (ESCRs) the event has been co-funded by Roberts Skills Training awards totalling £70K over the 4 years. The ESCRs are involved in the organisation of the event and this allows them to see a representative selection of the research that is present within the University, talk to the people concerned and generate ideas for collaboration across department boundaries, learn about best practice in research management, and gain a wide range of skills associated with the organisation of this event and with presenting to a multi-disciplinary audience. In addition they will gain an appreciation of the wider applicability of their research to other disciplines and beyond into the work environment. Undergraduate students are also represented at the event as part of Strathclyde's summer research internship scheme which is co-funded by the Bridging the Gaps project. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Other |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Automated Modelling and Reformulation in Planning |
Amount | £336,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/G023360/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Bug-free prostheses: Reducing infection risk and improving reliability |
Amount | £202,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H024603/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Account |
Amount | £2,641,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H50009X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | KTP Project "A mechatronic testing and validation for mechatronic eSystem marketing and product promotion" |
Amount | £136,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | KTP007948 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Nostalgia in the 21st Century |
Amount | £27,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ES/H00100X/1 |
Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Scoping workshop (health) |
Amount | £54,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | SpeCL: An Early Mission Concept for a Spaceborne Multispectral Canopy Lidar |
Amount | £190,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/I000801/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Technology Transfer Opportunity Mechanism (TTOM) award with Gilden photonics |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Government of the UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | University of Strathclyde |
Organisation | University of Strathclyde |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
Start Year | 2007 |