Similar case studies

REF impact found 18 Case Studies

Currently displayed text from case study:

Sustainability Assessment and Visualisation Enhancement, SAVE

Summary of the impact

This study brings together 2 strands of research in: (1) environmental sustainability and decision taking (Gilmour and Blackwood), and (2) novel computer games technology for efficient 3D real time and interactive visualisation of complex model outcomes (Isaacs and Falconer). This research and knowledge exchange both defined sustainability indicators which informed planning of the £1 bln Dundee waterfront development (one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK) and changed practice in project design and construction processes. The application of our research has also changed how information is displayed to stakeholders, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions.

Submitting Institution

University of Abertay Dundee

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Information Systems
Economics: Applied Economics

Informing Debate and Improving Preparedness to Extreme Events

Summary of the impact

In the wake of a series of terrorist attacks (e.g. 9/11, the London bombings of 2005), there has been an increased awareness of the importance of governmental, organisational and civil society's preparedness for responding to major catastrophic events. Dr Sullivan-Taylor's research examines risk and resilience management of extreme events by taking a practice-based point of view that seeks to integrate private and public sector management. As a result of the research, policy-makers have a more robust evidence base to draw on and individual organisations are better placed to ensure their own resilience through improved business planning.

Submitting Institution

University of Warwick

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Information Systems
Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Business and Management

Interactive Visualisation of Sustainability Indicators for Urban Planning

Summary of the impact

This case study concerns S-City VT, a Simulated-City Visualisation Toolkit. S-City VT is an urban planning tool based on computer games technology and computational modeling for efficient 3D real-time and interactive visualisation of complex data sets. S-City VT is founded on computational models that assess environmental, societal and financial measures of buildings and their functions. We have researched methodologies to enable stakeholders to explore city spaces, change construction properties and locations of buildings, and observe the consequences of those changes through intuitive 3D representations. SAVE has contributed to the £1B development of the Dundee Waterfront, one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK. Stakeholders impacted were local government organisations, the public, water companies and their regulators. The application of the research has changed not only public policy and services, but also how information is displayed to stakeholders, and in so doing has enabled sustainability assessment, supporting stakeholders in making informed decisions.

Submitting Institution

University of Abertay Dundee

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Information Systems
Economics: Applied Economics

Development and deployment of a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) for inward investors to London

Summary of the impact

The development of a decision support system in close partnership with London's Inward Investment agency (Think London) enabled the latter to win strategic high-value and competitive inward investment projects to the city. The technologies developed played a key role in building the business case for London as a destination for inward investors and were estimated to have contributed towards 45% of 600+ successful completions, leading to the creation or retention of over 18,000 new jobs and the contribution of £2 billion to London's economy. Among the hundreds of successful outcomes was the establishment of Microsoft's Search Technology Centre in London.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Information Systems
Economics: Applied Economics

An integrated decision-making framework for improving European air traffic management

Summary of the impact

An integrated decision-making framework developed by Professor Bert De Reyck for Eurocontrol, the European air traffic management organisation, was instrumental in reaching an agreement on the changes and technologies required to integrate Europe's air traffic management systems. This is as part of the European Commission's Single European Sky initiative, a multi-year redesign of the European air traffic network by 2020, to eventually handle 20 million flights with fuel savings of €6 billion per year. During the census period, the framework enabled key decisions on traffic synchronisation to be implemented, which facilitated a substantial increase in air traffic control efficiency, and increased air space capacity by 20%. The benefits of the research to the client organisation was recognised by multiple nominations for INFORMS awards.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Information Systems
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Shaping Land Policy and Management: Embedding the Ecosystems Approach and Improving Agri-environmental Schemes

Summary of the impact

Appropriate land policy is vital to ensure sustainable food supplies, economic development and environmental protection. Research by the Centre for Rural Policy Research (CRPR) has developed the policy and management implications of the ecosystems services approach to valuing and protecting the environment, which stresses integrated and equitable management of land, water and living resources. The research has contributed to major shifts in policy and practice by national government bodies and changes in the attitudes and behaviour of farming communities. The main impacts have been:

  • Contributing to the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs' (Defra) development of national guidelines embedding the ecosystems services approach in policy and helping make the case for the first ever UK National Ecosystems Assessment;
  • Informing the Commission for Rural Communities' major review of rural uplands policy and changing policy through the review to improve environmental stewardship in upland farming;
  • Improving Defra and Natural England's agri-environmental policies to better communicate the scientific rationale of policies to farmers through training and advice to bring about more pro-environmental attitudes and farming practices.

Submitting Institution

University of Exeter

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Environmental Sciences: Environmental Science and Management
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

2 Recognising and supporting front-line managers in delivering effective people management

Summary of the impact

UWE research has informed the implementation of HR policy to support front-line managers more effectively in their role as people managers in diverse organisations (e.g. Selfridges, the Royal United Hospital, Bath, and the MOD). This research has provided empirical evidence that front-line managers (such as team leaders) are critical to organisational effectiveness and makes recommendations on the supportive conditions necessary to improve their behaviour in people management. It has also directly influenced the policies and learning materials of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, as well as advisory materials produced by ACAS, and a variety of public policy documents that have informed organisations' HR practice in supporting and developing front-line managers.

Submitting Institution

University of the West of England, Bristol

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Business and Management
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

Changing industrial practice through lifecycle modelling

Summary of the impact

Developing sustainable consumption and production policies and practices in industry requires analysis of technical, environmental, economic and social performance of supply chains delivering goods and services. In a programme covering the 20 years since its foundation, the University of Surrey's Centre for Environmental Strategy (CES) has played a major role in developing a systematic "whole system" approach to assessing and managing supply chains, starting from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Management (LCM) and progressing to sustainability analysis.

This approach underpins current national and international standards and policy and is embodied in the corporate strategies of a number of major companies (for example Unilever and M&S); the approach is also starting to be adopted in guiding the development of new consumer products.

Submitting Institution

University of Surrey

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Business and Management
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Improving the Sustainability of Micro-financial Institutions

Summary of the impact

Through Community Finance Solutions (CFS), an award winning research and development unit of the University of Salford, which addresses financial and social exclusion, Improving the Sustainability of Micro-financial Institutions is focused on providing leadership in increasing the sustainability of micro-financial institutions (MFIs) that provide credit or loans to the financially excluded, demonstrating the following impact:

  • Increasing access to finance for excluded groups, reducing unmanageable debt and improving the quality of life;
  • Supporting public authorities in developing financial inclusion policies;
  • Changing EU policy, developing a model of sustainability and transparency for MFIs through the European Code of Conduct for Microcredit providers.

Submitting Institution

University of Salford

Unit of Assessment

Social Work and Social Policy

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Business and Management
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Influencing Co-Production in Management Research and Policy-making

Summary of the impact

Research undertaken by Starkey and colleagues has informed the development of a particular philosophy and practice of research. This has informed policy debates about the nature of effective management research for engaging with practice — now widely referred to as co-production — and led to new insights into the practice of policymaking in government. The research informed (1) the development of a new approach to policymaking adopted by the previous administration in work conducted for and with the Cabinet Office with senior civil servants and representation from the House of Lords; (2) collaborative work on the development of low carbon communities which was conducted with the Department of The Environment and Climate Change.

Submitting Institution

University of Nottingham

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Information Systems
Education: Specialist Studies In Education
Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Business and Management

Filter Impact Case Studies

Download Impact Case Studies