ACADEMIC CAPABILITIES

Brunel University

Brunel Innovation Centre

Overview

The Brunel Innovation Centre (BIC) is a world class research and technology centre that sits between the knowledge base and industry offering high quality research in an innovative environment focused on non-destructive testing, condition and structural health monitoring, power ultrasonics and allied technologies covering a range of materials, sensors, electronics and software systems supporting partners in industry to transfer academic research into industrial application.

UKRRIN status

UKRRIN member

Member of the Centre of Excellence in Rolling Stock (CERS)

Research themes

Topic: State-of-the-art power ultrasonic systems for inspection and cleaning
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Topic: Smart non-destructive testing
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Topic: Condition and structural health monitoring
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Topic: Advanced signal and image processing algorithms including machine learning
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Topic: Numerical modelling and fluid structure interaction
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Topic: Novel and robust sensing for harsh environment (e.g high temp transducers up to 600 °C)
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Topic: Digital twin technology
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Topic: IoT and data analytics
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Capability matrix

CAPABILITY
CAPABILITY LEVEL
Easy to use for all
Accurate, accessible and understandable real-time information
Smart fare collection
Accessible to all
Multi-modal integrated journeys
Reliable and fast on-board connectivity
Freight friendly
Increased network access for freight
Safer freight operations and better asset management
Enable greater intermodality and access for freight customers
Greater asset utilisation and reduced freight journey times
Low carbon freight and On Track machines
Low emissions
Efficient new electrificaiton
Zero carbon self-powered vehicles
Low carbon freight and On Track machines
Intelligent energy management
Cleaner air
Quieter railway
Lowering embodied carbon of key material
Optimised train operations
Infrastructure and train capabilities to overcome capacity constraints
Simpler and safer real-time operations and decisions
Improved recovery from incidents and disruptions
Reliable and flexible train planning
More affordable solutions for lower-use lines
Efficient and reliable - infrastructure
“Right-time” actionable insights on infrastructure conditions
Efficient, effective and safe infrastructure maintenance
Improved resilience of infrastructure to climate change and extreme weather events
Speed up and de-risk introduction of infrastructure assets
Proactive management of infrastructure obsolescence
Efficient and reliable - rolling stock
“Right-time” actionable insights on rolling stock conditions
Efficient, effective and safe rolling stock maintenance
Improved resilience of rolling stock to climate change and extreme weather events
Speed up and de-risk introduction of rolling stock assets
Proactive management of rolling stock obsolescence
Efficient and reliable - interfaces
Improved vehicle/track interaction
Improved pantograph/overhead line interaction
Improved utilisation of constrained space
Improved whole system resilience
Data driven
Advanced computing
Advanced data analytics techniques
Data governance and standardisation
Data integration
Effective innovation culture
System and network models
Pro-innovation legal and regulatory frameworks
Testing, homologation, cross acceptance
Technically talented workforce
Job design and human performance
Workforce development and training
Safety and health
Safety assessment and evaluation
Cyber security
Fitness for duty and health assessment
Competitiveness
Demand forecasting
Cost modelling
Social value

Research Group key contacts

Name: Hitesh Patel, Senior Business Development Manager
Email: hitesh.patel@brunel.ac.uk

Website

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TESTING AND TRIALING FACILITIES

Facilities