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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.
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.
Brunel researchers assisted practitioners within the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to develop and explore a range of climate change policy scenarios in agriculture as part of the UK government's climate change strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) CO2 emissions by 3 million tonnes to 2020. This led to:
Environmental and Policy Impact through:
- the novel application of the Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) technique, to enable effective scenario modelling at DEFRA in pursuit of improved management of environmental risks;
- enhanced capacity and capability within and across climate change mitigation project teams and experts, allowing DEFRA practitioners to add the FCM technique to their repertoire of futures modelling.
Practitioner Impact through:
- Improved professional standards, guidelines and training — along with the development of DEFRA resources to enhance their professional practice.
The impact derives from research and development which led to the creation of i) a system and ii) methodology used for strategic problem solving, strategy making, and developing effective collaboration. Specifically, the impact results from the application of the developed Group Decision Support System (GDSS) and accompanying methodology that improves group negotiation and the quality of agreements in organisational settings. The GDSS is innovative computer software (`Group Explorer') reflecting a multi-disciplinary approach that enables effective parallel and anonymous communication between group members to construct a visual interactive model. Direct, and anonymous, communication with the model facilitates the management of messy and complex qualitative views. Use of the GDSS has improved the effectiveness of collaboration, strategic problem solving and strategy making by senior teams in the NHS, DECC, Balfour Beatty, EdF, Land Engineering, Strathclyde Police, and Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), Scottish and Southern Energy, among others within and outside the UK.
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.
Payment card fraud is a significant cost to business, as well as being a route to funding of organised crime, drug smuggling and terrorism. Detection of fraud requires a technique that is both transparent and adaptive. We have used the Department of Computing's expertise in machine learning and rule induction to develop a scalable method of automated fraud detection that meets the industry's needs. This technique is now being commercialised by AI Corporation, with a contract for its use having been placed by the world's largest retailer. Contracts with major banks are currently under negotiation.