Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_WWU_2_71 | |
| Title | Situational Awareness | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research 100%; Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 0%; |
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| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact Wales and West Utilities |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 December 2024 | |
| End Date | 30 September 2025 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £212,634 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy | |
| Region | Wales | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Network (NGN) North East Project Contact , SGN - Southern England Project Contact , SGN - Scotland |
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| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_WWU_2_71 |
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| Objectives | The NIA project - Gas Control System Impact Assessment (Future requirements) NIA_WWU_02_27 identified risks including:Our systems dont adequately enable visualisation of the current state of the network and its configuration in a rapidly changing environment.The pace and magnitude of change may lead to an increase in errors in operation because the relevance and value of local knowledge and experience diminishes.There is likely to be an impact on the fatigue of control room engineers because of additional complexities in managing and keeping up to date with changes attributed to the transition.This project will research the latest developments in Human Machine Interface (HMI) theory and human factors (HF) to ensure any new process and systems design, relating to the use of control room systems through the net zero transition, is done in a way that best supports the users of the system.Whilst we do have clear positions on human factors and have done for some years, we now need to account for this new dynamic of rapid change to the physical system, potential commercial distractions and changing relationships between volume and energy content of green gasses. All of this could lead to distraction and a loss of connectedness to whats happening in real time. This is a new dynamic for our control centre, and gas control centres in general and may not be considered in current industry control centre guidance documents.This project will cover HMI and situational awareness guidance for systems including views on the impact new technology opportunities, e.g., automation, could bring.The project will:Define the current and future operating contexts, aligned with the adoption scenarios outlined in the Gas Control System: H2 Impact Assessment project.Consolidate current theoretical and best practice human factors (including lessons learned in analogous contexts) in areas including Human Factors Engineering (HFE), control room design and operations, controllers cognition (e.g. situational awareness), HMI and Management of Operational Change (MoOC).Define overarching conceptual framework, recommend best practice approaches based on existing practices, and identify and prioritise any gaps in the existing knowledge base.Undertake interviews with external stakeholders who have experienced changes to operating contexts and systems, to understand their perspectiveDevelop novel approaches to address the gaps and validate recommendations with networks to ensure that they are operationally practicable and appropriate.Report project outputs, including method, findings, recommendations and guidance, in both full report and executive summary formats.Measurement & Data Quality StatementOur Data Quality Plan will mirror best practice as outlined in Ofgems Data Best Practice Guidance and Ofgems Data Assurance Guidance, to ensure that the risks associated with data are identified and managed; that data assurance activities are in place, and that the reporting requirements are met for submissions.Fully agreed project methodology will be reviewed and agreed at the Kick off Meeting, including methodology, systems, responsibilities, timings, and milestones in the project where data sources need to be created / obtained, associated, merged or consumed. Risks associated with data assets (including final reports) will be identified, discussed and mitigated.Frazer-Nash will capture the steps that we will take to ensure that data (raw and processed) are of sufficient completeness, accuracy and integrity, not only for this current project, but for future projects and users that might benefit from data reuse. For example, they will:Draw solely on quality, reliable data sources (e.g. reputable sources), ideally collaborated or validated wherever possible.Record supporting information relating to the data (e.g. its provenance or point of contact), as accurately as possible while preserving any information that could be confidential or commercially sensitive.Prepare templates for data capture and project submissions that ensure data are easily accessible, consumable and usable (interoperable) for all stakeholders who might find data access useful.The deliverables will be recorded, and Frazer-Nash will also appoint a suitably qualified and experienced independent verifier and an independent approver for both the model and report. Each deliverable will be subject to aDeliverable Verification and Approval Record (DVAR), which will record the agreementThe project is rated low in the common assessment framework detailed in the ENIP document after assessing the total project value, the progression through the TRL levels, the number of project delivery partners and the high level of data assumptions. No additional peer review is required for this project. WP1 - FamiliariseObjective: Define the current and the future operating scenarios to form the basis of the review.T1.1 Project Commencement:)T1.2 Familiarisation ActivitiesT1.3 Define Gas Distribution Network Current and Future practices and systems:Outputs:Sociotechnical models (1 current, 6 future) (Milestone 1).Human Factors Issues Register (HFIR)WP2 Literature and Industry ReviewObjective: Review a body of research and industry practice to Identify key themes, issues/considerations, methodologies, and best practices relating to the areas of interest (AOI) identified in WP1.T2.1 Review relevant peer-reviewed HF body of researchT2.2 Review relevant Industry practiceOutputs:Review Summary spreadsheet summarising key HF themes and their relevance to current and future operational contexts (Milestone 2).Updated HFIR.WP3 Review and AssessObjectives:Develop a conceptual GDN HF transition management framework to illustrate the key HF AOI and associated recommendations relating to each operating context.Develop recommendations to address the issues in the HFIR.Identify, risk assess, and prioritise gaps (issues in the HFIR that have no recommendations against them).T3.1 Develop a GDN HF Transition Framework:T3.2: Develop recommendationsT3.3: Identify gapsOutputs:GDN HF Transition Framework (Milestone 3).Updated HFIR.WP4 Develop and ValidateObjective: Develop novel approaches to manage outstanding risks, and validate recommendations with stakeholders.T4.1 Develop novel approachesT4.2 Validate recommendationsOutputs:Final HFIR including novel approaches for any outstanding gaps (Milestone 4).WP5 - ReportObjective: Detail the project method, findings and recommendations in a Full report and Executive Summary.T5.1 Full reportT5.2 Executive SummaryOutputs:Full report and Executive Summary.This project builds on previous work (NIA_WWU_02_27) and we anticipate that further phases will be needed before we can understand the true benefits that the project can bring.There is a lot of ongoing work to identify the most effective route to meet net zero in the UK and this project is one of many projects which will assist in this area. Repurposing the UK gas networks with hydrogen to support the challenge of the climate change act has the potential to save millions of pounds with minimal gas customer disruption verses alternative decarbonisation solutions. To review and assess existing human factors guidance and best practice and to develop recommendations on how this, and any new techniques developed through the project, would support our new gas control room requirements for managing a rapidly changing environment as we transition to a net zero network. | |
| Abstract | This project will research the latest developments in Human Machine Interface (HMI) theory and human factors (HF) to ensure any new process and systems design, relating to the use of control room systems through the net zero transition, is done in a way that best supports the users of the system. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 09/04/25 | |
