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Space Weather Awareness – Policy and Operations

Summary of the impact

Space weather can adversely affect the performance of many communication and navigation systems. Research into space weather events and their mapping through our Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS) algorithms have highlighted the vulnerability of Global Satellite Navigation Systems (including GPS). The impact of our research has occurred in three main ways. Firstly, it has impacted on the global satellite and communications industry by enabling space-weather effects to be included in a sophisticated commercial GPS simulator. Secondly, it has impacted on UK government [text removed for publication]. Thirdly, it has engaged and informed the public about GPS and space weather.

Submitting Institution

University of Bath

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Astronomical and Space Sciences
Earth Sciences: Geophysics
Engineering: Geomatic Engineering

Cambridge Positioning Systems

Summary of the impact

An entirely new radio location technology developed at the University of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory underpinned developments within silicon and software company Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) of "Enhanced GPS" (eGPS) which has been incorporated into mobile phones, other mobile devices, and server technology. The server technology is now a central strategic element in CSR's "Location as a Service" business and by 2009 was powering 40 per cent of the available market worldwide.

Submitting Institution

University of Cambridge

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Geomatic Engineering
Technology: Communications Technologies

Ubisense

Summary of the impact

University of Cambridge research on the principles of `sentient computing' led to the foundation of spin-out company Ubisense, which has grown into a leading location solutions company. By the end of 2011, Ubisense had 170 employees and was floated on AIM with a valuation of £38.6million. It serves customers such as BMW, Airbus, Aston Martin and the US Army. Deployment of the Ubisense Real Time Location System has improved production line accuracy and efficiency by up to 10%.

Submitting Institution

University of Cambridge

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Computation Theory and Mathematics
Engineering: Geomatic Engineering

Research advances in Participatory Cyber-physical Computing resulting in innovative applications in Monitoring Biodiversity, Healthcare, Urban Development, Transportation and Art

Summary of the impact

Research undertaken between 2002 and 2012 at Birkbeck has helped establish a participatory approach to cyber-physical computing as the predominant methodology for the construction of mobile and pervasive computing systems. Cyber-physical systems intimately interlink material entities and their information representations as existing on the Internet. Our specific research contributions in systems architecture, privacy protection and human dynamics have demonstrated how the user's activity can be exploited as the core ingredient in building such systems. Our research has resulted in the implementation of applications that are used to monitor biodiversity across the globe, to assess and support Parkinson's disease patients in the UK, to improve the well-being of office workers in London, to engage the public in a debate about the costs and benefits of pervasive computing, and to inform legislatures in the UK and the US.

Submitting Institution

Birkbeck College

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Mathematical Sciences: Applied Mathematics
Information and Computing Sciences: Distributed Computing, Information Systems

Mobile applications and technologies making economic impact

Summary of the impact

Mobile technologies and in particular mobile applications have become key drivers of the economy in many countries especially those that lack established communications infrastructures. Since 2003, the research team led by Professor Al-Begain has created both significant infrastructure and know-how that became the base for the creation of the £6.4million Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services (CEMAS) that is providing research and development to SMEs in Wales to increase their competitiveness. In the first three years since its inception 28 projects have been completed and 66 companies have received services.

Submitting Institution

University of South Wales

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Data Format, Information Systems
Technology: Communications Technologies

Classification within forensic datasets

Summary of the impact

This Keele University research into advanced signal processing and classification methods has led to novel algorithms capable of isolating subtle patterns in complex data. This has been applied in two highly significant application areas: first to the problem of image source identification and second to the problem of unobtrusive but highly secure authentication methods. In the first case this has enabled images captured by mobile phone cameras to be reliably and evidentially linked to source devices. This has huge applicability to those fighting terrorism, paedophile rings and civil unrest by extending detection capabilities to mobile phones in an era in which they are rapidly replacing dedicated cameras. It helps to prove, for example, that a photograph entered as evidence was captured by a specific mobile phone. As most phones can be tied to their user or owner this is extremely important to the successful detection and prosecution of offenders.

In the second case it has enabled criminal record checks to be carried out securely online where previous paper-based systems were both too slow for purpose (taking weeks or months) and inherently insecure, leaving key posts unfilled in the health care industries and education sector; so benefitting the public by solving a problem that was having a negative impact on the running of these public services.

Submitting Institution

Keele University

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Case Study 1 - Securing Networked Systems

Summary of the impact

The Network & Information Security Technology Lab (NISTL) at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) conducts research in securing networked systems against the growing threat of cyber crime. The research has generated a correlated set of new security protocols, novel system composition methods and efficient digital forensic analysis schemes for more effective layered security protection. Their main impacts for the period 01/2008 - 07/2013 are highlighted below:

  • [text removed for publication]
  • Thales (engaging in commercial secure system development) has continued collaboration with us to exploit our findings on system composition since 2008. This enabled Thales to deliver three invention disclosures and one security-enhanced commercial solution. The open source software version produced was downloaded 14,323 times since 04/2009.
  • [text removed for publication]
  • Our research in forensic analysis led to the generation of a patent in 2009, which was later implemented by the lab into a software tool. Merseyside Police used the tool to enhance its efficiency in digital forensic analysis by 8.5 times.

In addition to the above direct impacts, our work is also beneficial to other organisations and even the general public, as they all require security techniques for information protection.

Submitting Institution

Liverpool John Moores University

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Data Format, Distributed Computing

Synchronised Protection of Electrical Power Transmission Networks

Summary of the impact

Manchester research on differential protection, synchronised using the global positioning system (GPS), has opened up a radically new approach to protection and integrity of electrical transmission networks. The research has led to updating of international technical guides and international standards. In the UK, National Grid has implemented policies based on the research, which will save about £0.5m per annum in substation upgrade costs. The market for GPS synchronised differential protection products is £400m pa globally. This figure represents the "insurance premium" against the avoided cost of a power system failure, estimated in a report on the North-East USA blackout to be $6bn in economic cost and 11 directly attributable deaths.

Submitting Institution

University of Manchester

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Information Systems
Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Geomatic Engineering

Enhanced products and services through low-cost wireless solutions

Summary of the impact

Low-cost wireless solutions beyond the technologies available previously and developed at Loughborough University since 2005 are used by IDC, and Sure, who integrate these technologies in several products and services so generating impacts in terms of:

  • Increased awareness of industry and service providers of new wireless monitoring and control technologies
  • Development of new products and services which have improved operational efficiency
  • Economic benefits downstream of the products and services.

The technologies have been deployed in a logistics distribution centre (ToysRUs), an automotive manufacturing process (Toyota), and a safety and security system (Sure).

Submitting Institution

Loughborough University

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Computer Software, Distributed Computing
Technology: Communications Technologies

3) GRANIT

Summary of the impact

The GRANIT system is a non-destructive technique for assessing the condition of rock bolts and ground anchors used to support structures such as tunnels. It applies a small impulse to the bolt and interprets the resulting vibration response to provide estimates of load and unbonded length. Initial development of the system was based on the findings of EPSRC projects in tunnels undertaken by the Universities of Aberdeen and Bradford from 1989-1997, resulting in an empirically based method. However, research undertaken at the University of Aberdeen since 1998 has provided the understanding of the process and developed the fundamental engineering science needed to underpin the development of a full commercial system. The GRANIT system is patented, and has been subject to worldwide licence to Halcrow who have undertaken testing and provided a method of ensuring the safety of mines, tunnels and similar structures. Halcrow received the NCE award for Technical Innovation Award for GRANIT in December 2010. The impact of the research has been in part economic, but largely on practitioners and professional services.

Submitting Institution

University of Aberdeen

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Engineering: Materials Engineering, Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

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