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Microseismic Monitoring for Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Applications

Summary of the impact

Keele University has a forty year history in the theory, development and application of microseismic (small-magnitude `earthquakes') monitoring and characterisation methods for the investigation of geotechnical and geo-environmental problems, which continues to form a key aspect of its environmental and sustainability agenda, one of Keele's overarching strategic priorities.

Since 1993, Professors Young & Styles' research at Keele, within the EPSAM Environmental Engineering Group, has led to new international standards in the monitoring of ground deformation and fracturing associated with underground mining (coal, salt, gypsum), coal-bed methane extraction, high-level nuclear waste disposal and, most recently, the emission of low-frequency vibrational noise from wind turbines and the exploitation of shale gas hydrocarbon reserves.

Keele's research has been instrumental in developing new hardware, software, data acquisition, processing and visualisation technologies that are now considered de facto across the international microseismic monitoring community (both industrial and academic). Keele's research work has contributed to the significant development of new, UK on-shore gas reserves and the de-regulating of Ministry of Defence (MOD) land for long-term renewable energy development.

Submitting Institution

Keele University

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Environmental Engineering, Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy, Interdisciplinary Engineering

Environmental Outreach to Business and the Community

Summary of the impact

This case study is based around a network of activities and collaborations, that have affected over 100 companies and around 25,000 people directly (and many more indirectly). This is illustrated through 4 specific initiatives:

a) Project Green

b) Science for Sustainability

c) Resilience of land/water resources

d) Keele University Sustainability Hub

These initiatives have been developed directly from expertise in specific areas of environmental and sustainability research, with a strong focus on collaboration across the traditional disciplinary boundaries — geoscience, chemistry, engineering and social science have all been key components.

`Project Green' was launched in 2011, and was initially an 18-month project to provide sustainability training and internships for job-seeking graduates; the project (including follow-on schemes) has supported well over 200 graduates, with placements in over 100 organisations (mainly businesses), and external funding of over £1M.

`Science for Sustainability' was established in 2006, to disseminate important environmental sustainability issues to communities and the public through displays, road-shows, public talks, school outreach and partnership working with Councils and third-sector organisations; it operates locally, regionally and nationally, and has so far engaged >25,000 people from schools and the general public

The work on land/water resilience is one specific example of collaborative work that is having a major impact on drought/flood issues that are of increasing global importance, using new environmental monitoring and data analysis techniques that have been developed at Keele.

The `Keele University Sustainability Hub' comprises a £3.5M renovation of a derelict farmhouse, to create a unique `green' resource. This exemplar sustainable building houses teaching (including a new MSc programme), research on sustainable energy and community engagement, and a wide range of external engagement and outreach activities. Its underpinning principle is the cross-fertilization of these activities, and the Hub has hosted an average of >1000 users per month since opening in 2011. Developing environmental sustainability research is a key `top-level' strategic vision for Keele, and the Sustainability Hub acts as a focal point for education, outreach, widening participation and, most importantly, collaborative research and development and engagement with industry, business and the public sector and other external organisations.

Submitting Institution

Keele University

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Environmental Sciences: Environmental Science and Management
Engineering: Environmental Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering

Research on geological uncertainty informs UK Government policies on shale gas and radioactive waste disposal

Summary of the impact

Research into the quantification and reduction of geological uncertainty has directly resulted in changes to UK government policy relating to the subsurface as a geological resource. Through Prof Shipton's membership of the Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering (Joint Academies) expert working group on risks associated with shale gas extraction in the UK, her research has informed the Department of Energy and Climate Change on ways to calculate and mitigate the risk of seismicity and associated undesirable fluid flow. The Joint Academies report resulted in the lifting of the UK Government embargo on fracking in Dec 2012, allowing exploration for shale gas in the UK to resume, with associated economic and societal benefits of an enhanced UK gas resource. Prof Lunn's membership of the UK Government Committee for Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) (2008-present) has resulted in her research informing the substantial changes made to the siting policy for UK radioactive waste disposal from February 2013.

Submitting Institution

University of Strathclyde

Unit of Assessment

Civil and Construction Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geology, Geophysics

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