Sligo Engineering & Technology Expo 2022 Catalogue

2022 Edition Industry Folio Final Year Student Projects

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Engineering & Technology Expo

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2022

Contents 04

Floorplan

107

ATU Sligo Department of Civil Engineering

05

Exhibitors

06

Introduction from the President of ATU

149

ATU Sligo Mechatronic Engineering

07

Head of College Welcome

161

Research

08

Welcome from the Head of the Faculty of

176

Staff of the School of Engineering & Design

& Construction

Engineering & Design 09

Industry Folios

36

ATU Sligo Mechanical & Precision Engineering

52

ATU Sligo Electronic and Computer Engineering

76

ATU Sligo Computing

3

Engineering & Technology Expo

narea Arena at ITVenue: Sligo Date: il 2022 Client: aMedia Arena at IT Sligo Event: eering Expo Sligo 2022 22 dia g Expo Sligo 2022

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totalexpo totale Your Even Your Event Partner totalexpo

Knocknarea Arena at IT Sligo 28 April 2022 Ocean Media Engineering Expo Sligo 2022

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1 meter square grid

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2022

Stand

Exhibitor Name

Stand

Exhibitor Name

1

ATU Sligo Electronics

26

ABBOTT

2

ATU Sligo Electronics

27

Prior PLM Medical

3

ATU Females in Construction

28

KAON Automation

4

ATU Sligo Construction Project Management

29

Phillips Medisize, a Molex Company

5

ATU Sligo Civil and Construction dept

30

Atlantic Technological University

6

Meusburger

31

i-form & PEM

7

ATU Sligo Mechanical & Precision Engineering

32

PEM Technology Gateway

33

Avenue - A Nolato Company

8

ATU Sligo Mechanical & Precision Engineering

34

Skellig ai

35

Pharma Stainless

9

ATU Sligo Mechatronics

36

MISHE Research group

10

Gilmore Clarke Electrical Ltd T/A EMCA

37

Litec Moulding

11

ATU Sligo Mechanical & Precision Engineering

38

Easy Customs

39

Ratio Recruitment

12

ATU Marketing

40

Breedon Group

13

ATU Sligo Electronics

41

Mci Ireland

14

ATU Sligo Electronics

42

SDS engineering

15

Mercury Engineering

43

HASCO

16

Atlantic Technological University

44

Cleantech

17

ATU Sligo Computing

45

Vision Built Manufacturing

18

AbbVie

46

19

Atlantic Technological University

ATU Sligo Mechanical & Precision Engineering

20

Mannok Build

47

ATU Sligo Department of Engineering Technology

21

Atlantic Technological University

48

EIT Health i-Days

22

Advance Centre

49

ATU Sligo Mechatronics

23

Hollister

50

ATU Sligo Mechatronics

24

Arcon Recruitment Services

51

ATU Sligo Mechatronics

25

Ward Automation

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Sligo Engineering & Technology Expo 2022 28 April 2022 Dia dhaoibh a cháirde go léir agus ba mhaith liom fáilte mór a chur romhaibh go dtí Taispeántas Innealtóireachta agus Teicneolaíochta i gColáiste Sligeach in Ollscoil Teichneolaíochta an Atlantaigh!

As President of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 2022 Engineering & Technology Expo and I’m particularly delighted to see you here once again in person at the Sligo College of ATU! I am also very happy to welcome our sponsors Abbott Ireland to the Expo and thank them for their continued support for this event.

The northwest region is very active in the Engineering & Technology sector with 40% of employers in the northwest involved in some way in engineering technology and manufacturing.

This sector is hugely important to the growth and development of the region and ATU continues to work very closely with many companies. One of the benefits of becoming a Technological University is the critical mass of expertise and talent that we can deploy across the region. ATU is the third largest provider of higher education in STEM

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(Science, Engineering, Technology and Math) in Ireland, and the largest provider outside Dublin.

Maintaining a strong focus on engineering education and training will continue to be very important for us.

I am delighted to present this booklet to mark the strong collaboration between industry, educators and innovators, highlighting the work of some of the best talent and expertise across Ireland.

The Expo reflects the close working relationship between ATU and employers in all aspects of engineering and technology across the region and provides a real opportunity for forthcoming graduates to meet, discuss and engage with their future employers.

Finally, I want to wish you all an enjoyable and informative day! Go raibh maith agaibh!

Dr Orla Flynn President of Sligo College Atlantic Technological University

2022

Head of College Welcome Engineering & Technology Expo 2022 As Head of the ATU Sligo College I would like to welcome you to the 2022 IT Sligo Engineering & Technology Expo!

We are delighted to be hosting this first public event since we were designated at the Atlantic Technological University. The ATU is a momentous development for the region. With 22,000 students and staff expertise now accessible across 8 campuses, the ATU will be educating a wider range of talent to meet the needs of employers across the region. We look forward to seeing many new businesses being started by ATU graduates and for an increase in our graduates working in the region.

We are delighted that this event is back on campus after two years of delivering the exhibition virtually due to the pandemic. We welcome back our sponsors Abbott Ireland to the Expo and thank them for their support not just in this exhibition but across many collaborations over the years.

The team of the 2022 Engineering & Technology Expo have worked tirelessly to provide you an impactful experience with many interesting exhibits for you to explore. Please give yourself time to meet the presenters and learn more about their work.

The northwest region is very active in the Engineering & Technology sector with some 40% of employers in the northwest involved in some way in Engineering technology and manufacturing.

This sector is hugely important to the growth and development of the region and the ATU works very closely with many companies, supporting their growth across the region, maintaining a strong focus on engineering education and training. The ATU Sligo College is the only provider of training for toolmakers in the country.

It gives me great pleasure to present this booklet to mark the strong collaboration between industry, educators and innovators, highlighting the work of some of the best talent and expertise across Ireland. The Expo reflects the close working relationship between ATU and employers in all aspects of engineering and technology across the region and provides a real opportunity for forthcoming graduates to meet, discuss and engage with their future employers. I hope you enjoy this edition.

Dr Brendan McCormack Head of Sligo College Atlantic Technological University

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Welcome from the Head of the Faculty of Engineering & Design Welcome to the 2022 Sligo Engineering & Technology Expo at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo campus – our 8th year to run this showcase!

After two years of both virtual and blended events we are delighted to return as an in-person experience in the Knocknarea Arena and for the first time under the newly formed Atlantic Technological University.

At the Engineering & Technology Expo you will see an extensive range of activities on show that include undergraduate student projects, postgraduate and staff research projects, industry exhibits and guest speakers – all aimed to inspire future engineers, showcase our graduates, promote engineering and technology in the Northwest and to open up engineering conversations and connections. We hope this booklet portrays the breadth of talent of our students and the industries that continue to support us and are keen to attract graduates to their businesses.

In this booklet, over one hundred of our final year students showcase their projects that are the culmination of their education in ATU. We are proud that we educate students that satisfy the needs of industry across a broad range of programmes including; civil engineering & construction, mechanical engineering, precision engineering & design, mechatronics, electronic & computer engineering and a broad variety of computing programmes. The students contact details are on the posters for follow up for job opportunities etc.

This year for the first time we include posters from our postgraduate research students and abstracts

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portraying the breadth of engineering research projects currently underway in the University.

We have over twenty-five companies showcasing the leading edge in engineering and technology on the industry promotional pages. Prospective job hunters and those interested about roles in engineering and technology are invited to contact these companies. We hope that primary and secondary students along with the teachers and parents will be inspired about the potential of a career in engineering and technology. This year the booklet will also be published in book format and circulated to many schools in our catchment area.

This year we are also delighted to be in association with the AIM Centre (Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing Supply Chain) who have coordinated the Expo industry talks on ‘Supply Chain Challenges in a Digital World’. The talks include a host of speakers both from industry and Irelands leading Research Centres.

An event like this would not happen without a great team of people on board. I would like to thank everyone who contributed across many organisations and within ATU Sligo. A special thank you to our academic and technical staff who supported the student projects, our core ATU Sligo organising team, our event manager Oli Melia, our judges and our industry sponsors. We really grateful to the global healthcare company Abbott being our headline sponsor again this year.

I hope you enjoy the 2022 Sligo Engineering & Technology Expo. Úna Parsons, Chartered Engineer, FIEI, FIAE Head of Faculty of Engineering & Design Atlantic Technological University

2022

Industry Folios Final Year Student Projects

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Engineering & Technology Expo

ABBOTT IN IRELAND

Your journey begins here A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

“Abbott helps improve people’s lives and I wanted to work for a company that helps people.” – New employee, Abbott Cherrywood

Donegal Sligo

Cootehill

With a long and deep presence in Ireland, Abbott is one of the country’s largest healthcare companies with operations in all four provinces. Since 2005 Abbott has invested almost €700m in operations in Ireland. Abbott sites manufacture products that are distributed all over the globe.

Galway

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SITES INNOVATING IN IRELAND

Longford

Liffey Valley Cherrywood

Abbott in Ireland offers the opportunity to embrace city living or to move closer to a fulfilling position closer to home with locations in Cherrywood, Clonmel, Cootehill, Donegal, Galway, Liffey Valley, Longford, and Sligo. We offer immense career opportunities both within sites as well as cross-site and internationally.

Clonmel

4000 EMPLOYEES IN IRELAND

JOIN A TEAM THAT INSPIRES YOU PERSONAL CONNECTION • Recognition of performance.

• Leaders engaged in employee well-being.

CULTURE

LEADERSHIP ACUMEN

TEAM ENVIRONMENT

• Diverse teams working across functions and geographies.

• Innovative-driven teams.

• Positive & collaborative work environment.

• Dedicated to patients.

• Accountability within team.

• Collaboration & support.

GROW AND DEVELOP YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT

COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION

• Over 25 development programs across all levels and functions.

• Mentoring and coaching from fully engaged leaders.

• A variety of impactful incentive programs to recognize performance across functions and business units.

• Competitive Defined Contribution pension.

Learn more and apply now at: www.ie.abbott/careers.html Connect with us:

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STRONG BUSINESS PERFORMANCE • Making life better for more than 130 years with an extensive investment in Abbott in Ireland since 1946.

• 103,000 employees worldwide making a lasting impact on health in 160 countries.

TOP EMPLOYER 2018:

2022

Work across our wide ranging organisation

Be supported by an appointed personal mentor

ENGINEERING » Polymer | Chemical » Mechanical | Electrical | Electronic

Have a successful career with Mannok beyond the programme.

ENGINEERING

You wil...

Mechanical Electrical Electronic

...work alongside our experienced Engineers who will guide your development as you contribute practically on a daily basis and strategically in our long term plan.

...provide efficient solutions to the development of processes and products, ranging from small component designs to extremely large plant, machinery or vehicles.

...hold at least a 2:1 BEng degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Electronic Engineering.

Polymer Chemical

...work alongside our expert Engineers as you gain experience in our world class manufacturing plants and with our modern technology systems.

... be exposed to real projects and challenges in all operational and strategic aspects of the business including product, quality assurance, engineering and product development. .

...hold at least a 2:1 honours degree in Polymer/Chemical Engineering or an Engineering degree with Polymer/Chemical specialism.

Our Engineering teams are responsible for the efficient running of production as well as ensuring the high standard of products produced by our businesses.

See See mannokbuild.com/careers mannokbuild.com/careers for for details details or email hr@mannokbuild.com or email hr@mannokbuild.com

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Realise your potential Administration Accountancy & Finance Construction Sales & Marketing Human Resources Manufacturing IT Technical & Engineering www.arconrecruitment.com Tel: +353 94 902 9944 Email: info@arconrecruitment.com

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2022

World class Mould making, Moulding and Assembly www.avenue.nolato.com Avenue, a Nolato company based in Finisklin Business Park, Sligo is an award-winning mouldbuilding company, and a growing medical device precision injection moulding business that has been successfully serving Ireland and the broader European markets for over 30 years.

Avenue also brings expertise in building ultra-high-cavitation tooling for the medical device, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical markets.

For more details on the Career Opportunities available at Avenue, please contact: sonya.connolly@nolato.com

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Making a Difference in The Journey of Life

In Service to the Global Community

Who are we?

Hollister Incorporated is an independent, employee-owned company that develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products worldwide. The company develops and manufactures products for ostomy care, continence care and critical care, and also develops educational support materials for patients and healthcare professionals.

Hollister has been serving healthcare professionals and patients for more than 100 years — making a difference in the journey of life for people throughout the global community.

Hollister Ballina

Hollister Incorporated opened its Ballina manufacturing facility in 1976 on a 40-acre campus in County Mayo.

Almost 1000 Associates work at our Ballina facility. The Ballina facility manufactures products for global distribution that support our ostomy care and continence care product lines. Over the years, we have expanded our operations beyond manufacturing to include Research & Development, Global Engineering, Supply Chain Management and Finance Shared Services. Global Research & Development for our Continence Care products is based exclusively in Hollister Ballina.

Hollister Ballina is a great place to work where individuals are valued and given the opportunity to reach their potential in a challenging and enjoyable work environment. Hollister Ballina continually recruits talented professionals across all departments. Potential opportunities include the following:

Fulltime Opportunities

Work Placements*

Graduate Project Engineers

Mechatronic Systems Work Based Learning Degree

Quality Engineers (Associate & Engineer level)

Engineering (Mechanical, Biomedical, Electronic)

Project Process Engineers

Science (Pharmaceutical & Industrial Chemistry, Biopharmaceutical Chemistry)

R&D Engineers, R&D Scientists & R&D Technicians (All Levels)

IT (Summer Internships)

Log on to our Global Careers Page at https://www.hollister.ie/careers to view and apply. *Work placements are organized in conjunction with universities.

Making a Difference in The Journey of Life

for current vacancies or to register your interest in future opportunities.

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Alternatively, please scan the QR Code above to view current vacancies in Hollister Ballina.

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YOUR INNOVATION PARTNER

Litec Moulding Limited, Finisklin Business Park, Sligo LINDAL Group provides the technology inside and the design “on top” of over 3 billion aerosols per year.

Established in 1959 and never ceasing to innovate, LINDAL has become one of the global market leaders in aerosol technology. Lindal produces products that serve Personal care, Health Care, Home Care, Technical and Food Market places. Headquartered in Europe we serve our customers all over the world from our plants in Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, UK, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Turkey.

Lindal’s relationship with Sligo commenced in 2000, when a wholly owned subsidiary of Litec Moulding Ltd was created as the center of excellence for the LINDAL Group’s injection moulded technical components. By creating high value return for our customers, through the generation of innovative, technically advanced solutions Litec Moulding has continually grown year on year for every one of its’ 22 years to become a global producer of thin wall, high precision and fast cycle time products. The company now operates on a 24/7 basis, employing over 70 staff, producing over 6 Billion parts per year.

This success has been made possible by Litec Mouldings’ highly skilled specialist team dedicated to exceeding customer expectations from design concept to customer dock in an environment focused on achieving Zero defect. The company philosophy is to seek excellence through continuous improvement of all our activities, products and services. This is encouraged through employee engagement, involvement, empowerment and a process of lifelong learning. The company actively support and encourage personal development and educational advancement.

Litec provides undergraduate placement opportunities and a graduate development programme. The company is actively involved locally with Sligo IT and also further afield with University of Limerick, NUI Galway and Ulster University.

Lindal groups’ confidence in the diverse team based in Sligo has been expressed through regular ongoing investment in each of its 22 years and further planned investment in 2022 in state-of-the-art processes and equipment to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

Litec Moulding part of Lindal Group is constantly on the lookout for new talent to become part of the team to ensure the continuing future success of the company both in Sligo and globally with opportunities for significant career development and progression.

If you are interested in a position with Litec Moulding please send a Cover Letter and Curriculum Vitae to G_LIEhumanresources@lindalgroup.com

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Engineering & Technology Expo

MAKE IT HAPPEN mercuryeng.com/careers As a dynamic industry leader, we believe that there’s nothing holding you back from achieving your goals.

Talk to us today if you’re ready to make it happen Email us: Recruit@mercuryeng.com

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We enable people to reach their potential every day. We are committed to providing high-quality formal and informal learning as part our continuous investment in our people.

There is nothing ordinary about our Graduate Programme, Scholarship Programme, Trainee and Management Programmes and all other roles that challenges you every day and from day one you will be on a stellar career trajectory, working with dynamic teams who are completely invested in your personal growth.

You’ll get the opportunity to find your passion across our diverse range of business units. You’ll work in an environment where there’s genuinely no limits to what you can achieve.

2022 ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY EXPO 2022

Come visit our new Technology Gateway facility in Finisklin Business Park

The PEM Technology Gateway functions as a complimentary service to industry and all our equipment is available to businesses to produce one-off or test pieces, prototyping or on an ongoing basis.

We assist companies to avail of Enterprise Ireland funding, to create or improve products, services, or processes. It can give you access to specialist expertise in materials or tap into the research and scientific expertise available through the ATU Sligo campus.

Included in our extensive range of equipment are Tensile & Materials Testing suites Our recently commissioned Materials Testing Suite, funded by Enterprise Ireland, comprises of:

Universal 600kN Tensile Tester

Zwick Roell Zwicki Single Column 1kN Universal Tensile Testing System fitted with a 500N load cell which is used to execute low-force tensile and compression testing on small components and assemblies. Also included with the system is a 3-point bend test fixture.

Zwick Roell ZHU250CL-S Semi-Automatic Universal Hardness Testing System is used to execute a wide range of test forces (up to 250kgf) on different hardness scales including Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell and Knoop.

Zwick Roell ZHVμ-M Micro Hardness Testing system used to execute micro Vickers & Knoop hardness for values within the load range from 10gf to 2kgf.

Zwick Roell C-Flow Extrusion Plastometer melt flow index (MFI) tester used to measure the flow rate properties of different polymers.

Anton Paar Ultrapyc 5000 Gas Displacement Pycnometer is used to precisely determine the true density and true volume of solids, slurries, and powders.

PEM Technology Gateway ATU Sligo Campus Finisklin Business Park Finisklin SLIGO F91 PD65

Russell Macpherson Gateway Manager E: macpherson.russell@itsligo.ie T: 071 930 5556 www.pemcentre.ie

Mark McLoughlin R&D Engineer E: mcloughlin.mark@itsligo.ie T: 071 930 5425

For Tensile & Compression Testing

Clíodhna Carroll Business Development Lead E: carroll.cliodhna@itsligo.ie T: 071 930 5827

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Engineering & Technology Expo

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2022

CONSISTENT HIGH QUALITY

REDUCED PLATE WARPING DURING MACHINING

STANDARD PARTS FOR DIE AND MOULD MAKING

OUTSTANDING SERVICE

CONTINUOUS AVAILABILITY

SHORT LEAD TIMES

As a part of the Meusburger Group, the Meusburger company is the market leader in the field of high-precision standard parts. 21,000 customers all over the world make use of the advantages of standardisation and benefit from the company‘s over 50 years of experience in working with steel. Offering an extensive range of standard parts, combined with selected products in the field of workshop equipment, Meusburger is the reliable global partner for making dies, moulds, jigs and fixtures.

Read more at www.meusburger.com

Order now from our web shop! www.meusburger.com

Meusburger is the market leader in the field of high-precision standard parts. Customers all over the world make use of the advantages of standardisation and benefit from the company’s over 55 years of experience in working with steel. The product portfolio ranges from high-precision standard parts and selected products in the field of workshop equipment to high-quality solutions in the field of hot runner and control systems. This makes Meusburger the reliable global partner for making moulds, dies, jigs and fixtures.

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Quality Engineer at PhillipsMedisize Sligo

Engineer Your Success The Phillips-Medisize Engineering Rotational Program For more than 30 years, Phillips-Medisize, a global leader in design and manufacturing, has helped engineering graduates find their passion and accelerate their careers.

As an Engineer in the Rotational Program, you’ll try different roles to determine the best match for your strengths and interests.

Ready to start engineering your success?

Apply today at jobs.kochcareers.com - Job ID #44576 Contact: bianca.vanhamburg@molex.com

FIND YOUR PASSION & DISCOVER THE POSSIBILITIES Czech Republic • Denmark • Finland • Ireland • Poland

With Our Engineering Rotational Program Phillips-Medisize offers an Engineering Rotational Program to new Bachelor and Master-level graduates with a degree in a related technical discipline. More than 140 engineers have participated in the Rotational Program since it began in 1986. This program provides a unique opportunity to experience different facilities, technologies and learn about the company, as well as establish good working relationships across facilities. Many participants have gone on to advanced individual contributor roles, program management, engineering, plant and operations management positions within the company.

An engineer is typically in the Rotational Program for an 18-month period, involving up to three, five-month rotations at various Phillips-Medisize facilities (located in Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Poland).

International assignment opportunities may be available as well. During each rotation, the engineer works for an assigned engineering manager and is supported by a mentor who is trained to provide support and assist in their development.

At the end of the rotations, placement in the home country is based on the business need; the engineer will apply for open positions or remain in the role being supported in their last rotation assignment. These are full-time, regular positions offering a competitive salary and great benefits along with relocation assistance for each move.

“I chose the Rotational Program to broaden my engineering knowledge in an industry that helps others while experiencing and embracing different cultures around the world.”

- MICHELLE

PROJECT ENGINEER FROM IRELAND

“I know that what I’m doing now will contribute to comfortable living for many patients. I have the support of my mentor and manager, and lots of other people in Phillips-Medisize and that is so important. They encourage me to learn and they back me in the process of self-actualization.”

- MAGDALENA

PROJECT ENGINEER FROM POLAND

Hear from our alumni RPEs! Follow us on

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”Three rotations within different fields of engineering provide you with exceptional opportunities to find a suitable role for yourself based on your own personal strengths and interests while using your new degree!”

- TOMMI

TOOLING ENGINEER FROM FINLAND

“What I enjoyed most about the program was facing new challenges, new problems to solve and new learnings from each rotation. I suggest to take rotations in roles that will challenge you and step outside of your comfort zone. This is what I did with Human Factors Engineering and now I'm shaping it into a career.”

- ALEX

HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEER FROM THE U.S.

www.phillipsmedisize.com

2022

SKELLIG.AI

SKELLIG.AI EXPLORING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT THE EDGE

Intelligent Robotics Computer Vision Edge Computing

Contact us at: info@skellig.ai

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Flexible, accredited and industry relevant courses.

Software Engineering

Data Science

Digital Manufacturing

Financial Mathematics

Digital Agriculture

Data in Context

AI for Medicine

Quantum Engineering

Cyber Security

Health Data Analytics

Advanced Electronic System Design

Find out more advancecentre.ie

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2022

Professional Civil Engineering Services Cleantech Civils serves a variety of businesses, clients, and industries in Ireland and across the UK. We specialise in the provision of professional engineering services that bring our clients unique vision to life on time, up to standard, and within budget every time.

Cleantech Civils Is Waiting for You We welcome student placements and offer graduate students an opportunity to work in a mentoring a supportive environment.

Our fundamental ambition is to engage with and retain talented people within our industry. We offer a nurturing environment for you to find your feet and are committed to helping you build your career in a dynamic organisation.

Check out our website cleantechcivils.com or for further details contact us at hr@cleantech-group.com / Tel: 049 432 6322

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Engineering & Technology Expo

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2022

ATU SLIGO FEMALE CIVIL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION NETWORKING GROUP Promoting Built Environment Career Opportunities to Girls and Women

Regular networking sessions for our on campus female students where industry female guest speakers offer support through their own career stories from the Engineering and Construction industry.

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Engineering & Technology Expo

HASCO innovations at Sligo Engineering & Technology Expo 2022 As a leading manufacturer of standardised modular quality mould components and customised hot runner systems, HASCO offers innovative and economical solutions for designers, mouldmakers and injection moulders, all from a single source.

Mould base For the additive manufacture of complex geometries, HASCO now offers a new, metal powder. It is available in the steel grades 1.2709 and 1.4404 and stands out through its very high quality and ideal combination of particle size and spherical accuracy.

The proven HASCO portfolio is rounded off by numerous additions to the company’s range of cooling devices and latch locking devices, with a variety of combination possibilities, plus around 170 additional ejector sizes.

Hot runner HASCO hot runner will showcase the innovative Primezone H1281/… range of control units, together with a new 4-fold control unit of the Basezone H1250 range. Both control units stand out through their intuitive operation, precise control and maximum production reliability.

Another area of focus will be the innovative Streamrunner®. The world's first additively manufactured hot runner system on the market will in future also be available as a needle valve version.

Now gaining popularity, the HASCO Streamrunner® has been supplied in many forms including a compact, fully balanced 20drop system.

Another innovation in the portfolio of needle valve shutter technology is the flanged, pneumatic needle valve unit.

The HASCO portal www.hasco.com offers fast, simple worldwide access to all innovations and to the complete range of over 100,000 products.

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2022

ACTUATION

MIRROR ADJUSTMENT

STATE OF THE ART MANUFACTURING

MCi Ireland Ltd., Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, F91YE09 www.mirrorcontrols.com +353 71 9820040

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Committed to having a remarkable impact AbbVie combines advanced science, expertise, and passion to solve serious health issues and have a remarkable impact on people’s lives.

AbbVie is a global research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013.

It delivers world-class discovery, production and supply of critical medicines. A modern biopharmaceutical business, AbbVie has a significant footprint in Ireland that’s focused on novel and breakthrough therapies for tough-to-treat diseases and unmet medical needs, with a reputation for quality.

The company employs more than 29,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. In Ireland, AbbVie employs more than 700 people at five different manufacturing and commercial sites across the country. The company’s commercial headquarters is based at Citywest in Dublin with a separate international manufacturing and engineering services centre also located in the capital at Santry.

AbbVie has two manufacturing plants in Sligo, one of which is a global centre of excellence for medical devices. The company also has a third manufacturing centre in Cork.

AbbVie Ballytivnan

AbbVie Sligo (Manorhamilton Road)

AbbVie is committed to developing and manufacturing the cutting-edge therapies and innovations that hold the potential to improve health care worldwide. Meeting these ambitious health goals involves combining advanced science with deep knowledge of diseases and Ireland plays a central role across all stages across this process.

AbbVie has invested more than €300 million in Ireland since 2013 and each of our uniquely focused production sites here manufactures portions of AbbVie’s top 20 global products. In 2018, AbbVie announced a €113 million expansion in oncology-focused manufacturing technology at the company’s site in Ballytivnan, Sligo. The investment will create approximately 100 new jobs over the course of three years in a variety of technical and manufacturing positions.

AbbVie also believes strong local partnerships are crucial to achieving the best outcomes for patients as we seek to make a remarkable impact on people’s lives. In the company’s core areas of immunology, cancer, neurology and virology, AbbVie works with patient groups, caregivers, health providers and policymakers. This community focus is what drives AbbVie to deliver new best-in-class therapies with life-changing impact for people in Ireland and beyond and the company aspires to do this in a way that is sustainable for society.

If you would like to make a remarkable impact on people’s lives, visit

www.abbvie.ie/ careers

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2022

Please scan the QR Code above to see our current job op p ortunities

Established in 2003, SDS (Structural Design Solutions) Ltd. is a privately owned design engineering company with a team of highly motivated and ambitious staff. Our Head Office is based in Castlebar, County

Mayo where we serve the domestic market. We also have offices in Dublin, London and in Jaén, Spain.

We specialise in building design and engineering with particular expertise in civil, structural, geotechnical and water engineering. Our

professional team has extensive experience in design and build

contracts, including design services, building and construction services, groundworks, foundations, civil and structural engineering works and water engineering.

Our clients are in public and private sectors, including government

bodies, developers, main contractors and owners. Market areas in

which we currently work are commercial, residential, industrial, hotel and leisure, education, and water engineering.

HEAD OFFICE Unit 9, N5 Business Park Castlebar Co. Mayo Ireland F23 E283

DUBLIN Silverdale, Old Swords Road, Santry, Dublin 9 D09 CA24

LONDON SDS-UK Ltd. Bridge House 25-27 The Bridge Wealdstone Harrow, HA3 5AB

SPAIN Calle Virgen de Guadalupe, 44.

23400, Úbeda, Jaén.

España

+353 (0)94 9034 914 info@structuraldesign.ie

+353 (0) 1 687 7480 info@structuraldesign.ie

+44 20 3026 6724 danny@structuraldesign.ie

+34 6625 56212 jose@structuraldesign.ie

www.structuraldesign.ie

29

Engineering Technology Expo SF AbbVie& Irish Times A4 2022 v5.qxp_Layout 1

11/03/2022 12:01 Page 3

Thank you for Making Possibilities Real From day one, we’ve known that it takes teamwork, passion and a culture built on diversity and inclusion to develop the scientific breakthroughs, innovative pipelines, and therapies that change millions of patients’ lives around the world.

Thank you to our dedicated employees working at our sites across Ireland. Over the past 12 months, you have demonstrated the very best of our company culture and continue to advance our mission of making a remarkable impact in our communities and ensure these groundbreaking advancements happen. You are what makes AbbVie a great place to work.

If you would like to make a remarkable impact on people’s lives, visit

www.abbvie.ie/careers

Recognised as one of the Best Large Workplaces in Ireland for the ninth successive year.

atu.ie

Date of Preparation: March 2022 | IE-ABBV-220025

2022

WE ARE

HIRING. > Graduate Controls Engineers > Graduate Mechanical Design Engineers > Graduate Electrical Design Engineers TO APPLY: Send your C.V. to careers@kaonautomation.com

kaonautomation.com/careers

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Engineering & Technology Expo

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2022

PRIOR PLM Medical support Product Lifecycle Programmes from initial idea to end-of-life, offering bespoke services coordinated through specialist Business Divisions.

Areas of focus Prior PLM Medical in particular specialises in assisting companies develop medical device platforms for disease management solutions in the following Biological Areas: • • • •

Circulatory System Endocrine System Nervous System Respiratory System

The PLM Model Prior PLM Medical supports the Product Lifecycle Programmes from initial idea to end-of-life by offering bespoke services coordinated through specialist Company Divisions as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Biomedical Engineering Labs Product Development Injection Mould Solutions Pilot Manufacture and Test Labs Metrology Systems IPC Automation Systems MRO Support

With a skilled and diverse workforce and an extensive range of manufacturing, test and analysis equipment, the organisation prides itself on being a team of “Problem Solvers”.

PRIOR PLM Medical employ product designers, mechanical engineers, electronic engineers, automation engineers, mould designers and toolmakers.

If you are interested in joining a dynamic team and build a distinguished career, please send cover letter and CV to adoherty@priors.com or call 071 9620980.

33

Engineering & Technology Expo

OUR VISION

Our vision is to be a company that truly devotes to the needs that meets the challenges and perfectly fulfil the recruitment needs of our clients and job seekers

SHOWING OUR MISSION YOU THE WAY We create opportunities for people to reach their potential, including our TO SUCCESS… candidates, clients and employees.

CONTACT US W: www.ratiorecruitment.com

E: info@ratiorecruitment.ie P: 071 96 33649 Ratio Recruitment

WE SUPPLY THE

ABOUT US

FOLLOWING INDUSTRIES We create opportunities for people Construction

Engineering Mechanical Accountancy Administration Manufacturing Pharma

Logistics IT & HR

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to reach their potential, including our candidates, clients and employees.

Our company values revolve around passion and determination which enables us to find the best candidates who share similar values within the shortest possible time frame.

We then link these candidates to suited roles which results in expectations being exceeded.

2022

Image credit © levittbernstein.co.uk

Image credit © levittbernstein.co.uk

Image credit © levittbernstein.co.uk

Image credit © levittbernstein.co.uk

Building The Future. Offsite.

Vision Built specialise in the design, manufacture and installation of sustainable offsite steel frame building solutions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION;

EMAIL: INFO@VISION-BUILT.COM PHONE: +353 (0)91 795505

35

Engineering & Technology Expo

ATU Sligo Mechanical & Precision Engineering Final Year Student Projects

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2022

Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering The Department’s academic roots started almost 50 years ago, and today it offers a diversified educational portfolio, from L6 to L10, as well as new Apprenticeships. In addition to being Ireland’s largest provider of accredited online programmes in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Quality Management, the Department provides Manufacturing, Mechanical, and Precision engineering degrees.

Together with its state of the art laboratories, the Department follows a digital agenda that capitalises on the transformational potential of technology enhanced learning. With academic staff from a strong industrial background, generating impactful research, the Department is well aligned to the current strategic pillars of the new Atlantic Technological University, and has the capacity to further contribute to the quadruple helix model of innovation amongst academia, industry, government and society.

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Engineering & Technology Expo

BEng in Mechanical Engineering This Engineers Ireland accredited programme allows graduates to develop their ability to analyse engineering products and equipment, and to design, plan and manufacture in innovative ways. It brings together a highly qualified academic team, sophisticated computer tools, modern laboratories and workshops, to produce Mechanical Engineers who are able to design and manufacture better and more efficient solutions.

Over the three years, students develop the flair, creativity and practical knowledge needed for the design and manufacture of successful products and equipment. They use the latest solid modelling & product simulation tools to model and evaluate their designs, all of which are supported by an in-depth understanding of engineering principles. The students also develop the ability to employ various manufacturing technologies to produce working prototypes.

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2022

RC Forklift Martin Earley Contact Info

Cormac Boylan Contact Info

Ayrton Gleeson Contact Info

Micheál Burke Contact Info

Introduction/ Aim An opportunity was recognized by the group, for a machine that would aid with lifting items too heavy to be manually handled, and too light for a two-tonne forklift to be used. While one could acknowledge that technically nothing is ‘too light’ for a forklift, the work setting also plays a crucial role in the safe movement of heavy objects. A machine with the same functionality as a forklift, but at a much smaller scale, capable of lifting loads unsafe for manual operation seemed an ideal solution to the issue.

Health & Safety In the correct position the maximum lifting weight for a male is 25kg and 16kg for a female, while in 2019 forklift accidents accounted for 6% of fatal accidents involving vehicles. To make the design as safe as possible it was decided that it would be best if the forklift was to be remote control driven so that the operator would always be a safe distance away while moving a load around incase anything where to go wrong.

Design Phase/ SolidWorks SolidWorks was one of the most intensely used software in the design. Concept sketches of the design were developed, from which, detailed SolidWorks models were developed. High quality drawings were then produced and used in the manufacturing and fabrication process.

Analysis Both SolidWorks and manually calculated analysis were used to ensure the durability and sturdiness of the project.

This scrutinous work allowed the design to be modified to drastically improve different features.

Sponsorship

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Automated Training & Display Rig Introduction & Background:

BRIAN

Panasonic FP-X PLC with 32 inputs & 28 outputs • 24V DC supply with 8 chamber valve banks • Programmed using ladder logic • Just In Time model with automatic stop after three fails in succession Safety Safety is high priority on this project. All safety guidelines were followed by the Machinery directive 2006/42/EC Rev 2.2.

• The project incorporates safety features such as: • Allen and Bradley E-stop relay • Mushroom type E-stop switch with two sets of contacts • 2 x interlocking door switches • 5mm Perspex sheeting fit to frame as guard • Display beacon

Objectives:

Results:

Methodology:

How does the machine work?

• Product parts are loaded into the loading chute • Pneumatic actuator pushes parts onto Geneva wheel • Parts go down slide and are transported from the gantry gripper • The rotary gripper collects parts and carries them to the Cognex camera • An image is taken of both sides of the part • Pass parts will advance and fail parts are rejected • Conveyors carry parts to the determined container Design Intent • Industrial standard components and materials were used throughout • All parts have part numbers for maintenance of machine Different methods of manufacturing 1. Manual machining • Good design planning meant very few parts had to be manually fabricated 2. CNC machining • Cuts down production time • Allowed for intricate parts to be made 3. 3D printing • Tangible design and product testing • Creative designs and customisation freedom

Research The different processes which could be used to transport the product parts automatically: • Conveyors • Pneumatic actuators • Electro-pneumatic actuators • Indexing wheels (Geneva wheel) • Gravity – Chutes and hoppers How could these processes be controlled to work automatically?

PLC programming Design Planning The design process involved: • Selecting breed of engineering project • Developed Gantt chart • Developed initial concepts • Reviewing available resources • Design matrix & concept selection • Model design in SolidWorks Fabrication 1. Manual machining • Milling machine and lathe 2. CNC machining • Laser and plasma cutter • 3 –axis CNC Milling machine • 3D printing • Ultimaker 2+ 3. Welding • TIG (Tungsten Insert Gas) • Wire strip heater • Malleable acrylic

Conclusions: • The objective to design and manufacture a display and training was achieved • This project provided an opportunity to display skills and knowledge gained from the course in a practical way • The project was completed on time due to design planning • The automated rig best represents the skillset that the group brings as engineers • Covid-19 was the biggest challenge to overcome, which prevented team members from coming in and also increased lead time on the delivery of parts

Vision & HMI • Cognex vision system, purchasing vision view 700 • Parts accepted or rejected from QR codes • Camera reads QR codes sending a pass or a failure signal to the PLC • HMI provides user with visual interface showing past and current camera image captures Connall McGowan Tullaghan, Leitrim 0876191331

www.linkedin.com/in/brianforkin

Brianfrkn@hotmail.com

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DEAN

PLC

• Design and manufacture a user interactive training rig which showcases the potential learning capabilities of a mechanical engineering ATU student

Brian Forkin, Co. Dublin 0830251226

DAMIEN

Methodology (Continued):

Progress:

The purpose of this project is to involve as many engineering design and manufacturing techniques to enhance knowledge and skillsets.

This is an inherited project from a previous mechanical engineering group.

This project incorporated : • PLC • Vision & HMI • Pneumatics & Electro-pneumatics • The project was of infancy level with many components not working, this acted as a good foundation to change and further develop

CONNALL

Damien McLoughlin, Arigna, Roscommon 0872421572

Dean Tracey Sandyford, Co. Dublin 0857888540

linkedin.com/in/damien-mcloughlinirl

Connallmcgowan@hotmail.com

Damienmcloughlin95@gmail.Com

Dean.tracey@Hotmail.com

2022

Rebar-Robot THE AUTOMATED LANGER TIEING MACHINE

What is Steel Fixing?

When building any concrete structure, steel reinforcement must be used to give the concrete tensile strength and prevent cracking, forming one stronger composite material of steel and concrete. This steel reinforcement is almost always in the form of rebar, and these rebars are usually arranged in flat grids called mats.

The job of a steel fixer is to cut, bend and tie these lengths of rebar into wireframe structures before concrete is cast around them , securing the rebar in place.

Our Solution RebarRobot is a three axis machine used to automate the tying of rebar mats. It essentially functions like a 3d printer or CNC plasma cutter, but applies this 3-axis movement to the rebar tying gun shown below.

Fabrication & Problem Solver—Jack

Welding and Assembly -Eoin

The entire design, fabrication, testing and analysis of RebarRobot was undertaken by four Mechanical Engi-

Design & Parts Selection —Shane

www.futurecast.info www.futurecast.info

Programming and Electrical Design—Joseph

Joseph Kron Joseph Kron Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim joekron2000@gmail.com joekron2000@gmail.com Shane McGarry Shane McGarry Castlebar, Co. Mayo Castlebar, Co. Mayo shanemcgarry678@gmail.com shanemcgarry678@gmail.com

Jack Mannion Jack Mannion Castlebar, Co. Mayo Castlebar, Co. Mayo mannionjp1@gmail.com mannionjp1@gmail.com Eoin Langan Eoin Langan Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo eclangan@gmail.com eclangan@gmail.com

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Powered by 100% renewable energy

An Innovative and modern design used to harness energy from Ireland's waterways to aid Irish farmers.

Designed and fabricated by: Niall Durkin

Alan Hennigan

Luke Mulligan

Fionn O Donnell

Concept Sketches

The purpose of this design is to utilise 100% natural resources as the primary energy source to power a generator which ultimately charges a battery used to power a water pump. The above concept sketches provide a visual interpretation of the planned approach of fabricating this design with a focus on hydro and solar power.

The original design of an Archimedes screw turbine is to raise water from one level to another, our design combines this method with power harnessed through solar panels creating the first turbine of its kind to be developed in I.T.Sligo and is only the tip of the iceberg of what a larger type of this prototype can power.

This pressing and practical design is a sustainable farming prototype that takes both the energy crisis and the Climate Action Plan into consideration, seeking to cut electricity emissions from between 6281%.

Designing and fabricating our own generator for this design, it's composed of 9x0.9mm Enamelled copper wire coils, wired in sequence cast in Fibreglass.

Ferrite magnets were added to the centre shaft. The revolving motion results in the generation of energy.

Permanent magnetic generator, converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Generator Solar Panel

Screw

Pump Housing Turbine

As water passes through the Archimedes Screw, it rotates the Axial Flux Generator.

The generator and the solar panel charges the batteries, which are used to power the pump.

The next step towards sustainable living/farming.

Archimedes Screw sponsored by atu.ie

2022

Hammad Ahmed

Problem - Path to New World

Process Plan

• In order to compensate for the needs and requirements of such a large population, products need to be manufactured rapidly and consistently.

• Humans are not good at doing regular monotonous tasks; thus, leading to faulty or out of spec products.

• The world of Automation enables maximum efficiency with accurate repeatability.

Station 1: Picks the vial from the load conveyor and places it onto indexing table.

Ross Gilmartin

Design - Developing 3D Models

Project management • The project plan was proposed for 10 days; six for manufacturing and four for programming.

• Delays and unforeseen circumstances were also taken in to account.

• Tasks were divided among team members.

Manufacturing Responsibility 3%

Objective

49%

48%

To understand, design and build a prototype automation assembly machine that could be implemented into an industrial environment.

Hammad Ross Shared

Station 3: Picks the cap from the feeder and places it on the vial.

Brainstorming - Pen & Paper

• Ideas for assembling various components were brainstormed but not settled upon.

• A friend, who just had his vaccine, suggested to assemble vaccine vials. Consultations proved that vaccine vials would be difficult to tackle, so tablet vials were chosen.

• Free hand sketches were made and a circular 6-station assembly technique was selected.

Station 4: Punches the cap onto the vial to ensure that the cap is fully secured.

Resources • Due to Atlantic Technological University having the overall ownership, the available resources were optimised.

• Actuators, Material type, Electronic Components and other fabrication tools were also considered.

CAD Design: • Design For Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) was taken into account during the design phase.

• Lack of fabrication experience in the team, led to the designing of simpler parts.

• Complex parts were re-designed to enable ease in CNC Machining.

Reasons for Choosing Concept 1

Reasoning

• Assembling of minimal force.

snap

on

caps

required

• A pneumatic indexing table (DHTG-90-A) was recommended to be used in design.

Hammad Ahmed, Sligo hammadmg45@gmail.com 089 952 9322

Contact Info QR:

Programming: • State transition algorithm was designed to maintain a logical programable sequence.

• Siemens S7-300 PLC was programmed using Simatic S7 software.

• Sensors used were PNP and wired accordingly.

• I/O modules of the PLC were navigated into distribution boards for ease of wiring of sensors.

Station 6 – Position 1: Picks the capped vial from the indexing table and places it on the conveyor.

Station 6 – Position 2: This is the vial over the offload conveyor position.

• Station 2 was intended to be a filling station and station 5 was due to be a vision system.

• Because there were only two in the group sacrifices had to be made and these stations were cut.

Conclusion

• Designing and Fabrication was successfully achieved. Issues and miscommunications were resolved. The machine was wired many times, but problems accumulated and desired objectives were not accomplished.

Ross Gilmartin, Sligo

Contact Info QR:

rossgilmartin00@gmail.com 086 300 7830

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Methodology (Continued):

Introduction: There is a needed focus on sustainability.

Electric cars have come to popularity in Ireland.

However, when people get around towns and cities they may not need a large vehicle such as many electric models. Electric go karts are environmentally friendly and according to the EPA, gas-powered engines like those in go karts produce the same emissions in just an hour as a typical car driving 350 miles. Electric go karts, on the other hand, produce zero emissions for a cleaner and easier driving experience.

Aims of Study: To design, build, test and analyse a prototype eco-friendly alternative to a traditional go kart.

Fabrication: • For the electric cart manufacturing will be used standard parts such as: electric motor, shock absorbers, wheels, batteries, brakes.

• Chassis: Space frame • Standard manufacture methods are to be applied: welding, milling, cutting, • Standard machines are to be used: lathe, milling machine, CNC machine, welding machine, bending methods The cart was designed around the following specifications: • • • •

Top Speed: 25-40 km/h Drive Time: 30-40 minutes Max Weight: 100kg Cost: Approx. 500 Euros

There were 3 analyses done:

Methodology (Continued): The FSAE Rules require the roll main roll hoop be made of one uncut piece of steel pipe therefore the construction process needed to work around this. The design is magnetic where the frame can be constructed in parts which are then connected together. The design of the space-frame includes four horizontal sections made from square tube that can be constructed on a flat surface where they can be clamped down. As each of these sections is in a single plane the cuts that make up the angled joints can be made accurately with a mitre saw, meaning that the weld does not have to bridge a gap in the joint due to poor cutting tolerances.

With the parts clamped to a flat surface they can be welded together to form each rectangular section as well as the more complicated top section.

• Stress & displacement in the chassis • Torsion & bending moments in the shaft • Total required deceleration

Expected Results

Methodology: Research: Following some research, the power must be calculated in order to be operated safely and equal without any hazards that can put the driver’s life in danger. Power will be transmitted to the main shaft by means of an electric motor that will make it possible to transmit power to the wheels through a chain attached to the motor sprockets and main rear shaft.

Power Specification: • An 2000 W, 48 V (motor power), 4300 RPM high speed, forward and revers rotation, will be used for the power.

• Batteries – 4 x 12 V batteries will be used to power the cart.

The key process involved in the construction of the electric cart are: • Cutting • Welding • Electrical connections Design/Planning: The design process involved: • Selecting technology • Develop project schedule • Develop initial concepts • Reviewing available resources • Assign tasks among project members • Develop detailed plans • Model design in Solidworks

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• At the current stage of this project, cannot anticipate accurate results due to supply shortages which have impacted on our project greatly. We believe this project has potential to succeed and past project deadlines we will continue to develop this further.

Safety: Safety was paramount in the design of the project. The project includes an emergency stop and is also completely enclosed for safety of the user.

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) (the Act) provides a framework to protect the health, safety and welfare of all workers and others in relation to NSW workplaces and work activities PPE rules where applied and considered during building the frame chassis in regards to cutting, machining, welding, electrical part.

Seatbelts are mandatory in cars and many moving vehicles, however it is not a legal requirement in go karts. To ensure safety on the road and prevent accidents that we will fit our kart with a seatbelt.

Contact Details Marian Rusu S00200831@mail.itsligo.ie linkedin.com/in/marian-rusu-3914a3230 Oskar Jezierski S00199065@mail.itsligo.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskarjezierski/

2022

• • • • •

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Engineering & Technology Expo

CAM STATION Pick and place machine Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering Year-3 Introduction Pick and place assembly uses cam-actuated mechanisms to maintain synchronization.

These mechanisms are typically driven by a central cam shaft with multiple cams in order to maintain synchronization.

This means that the preload force must be increased so that the induction motor's source torque can be increased, which, in turn, increases the force on the follower train and its associated parts.

The three-phase induction motor is used to power the system because of the increased friction in all the moving parts and the resulting increase in the size of the motor needed to power the system.

History of mechanism

When it comes to programmable assembly, picking and placing is one of the most important operations it’s also referred to as "collect and place" or "pick and insert.“ It was developed by Lu et al. to sort and transport chips from wafers to trays in the pick-and-place machine Optimizing PNP operations is essential for reducing Cycle Time (CT) and growing process efficiency and throughput.

It is possible to reduce CT the robot's routing between pick-up and place-up positions or the items' pick-up and place-up positions To improve the assembly productivity of printed circuit boards, heuristics were developed in the 1980s by Drezner and Not that included PNP optimization

Diagramof Cam station

Components The design brief and all the instructions based on which the cam station has to be built are shown below: • Aluminum profile frame on casters, frame to fit through standard door.

• Standard 230V electrical connection, connection wired into terminal in central electrical panel which can feed several components.

• Main isolator switches on electric panel.

• Pneumatic connection to feed a main manifold and mount a portable compressor to the frame • Operator panel with start/stop button • Visual indicator that system is powered on and ready to run • Manufacturing of transparent cover to see the working of the cam • Station should be consisting of pick and place mechanism • Design of a solution the recirculate the product from place position back to pick position so the station can run continuously • Fitting of the cover panels • Leaving enough space on the top of the station for mounting any other mechanism of component,

Electrical Analysis

The main source of cam station mechanism for pick and place purpose is 230V induction motor which transfer power generated from the electrical source ηsync = (120 ∗ fe) / P η𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑓𝑔𝑔 = is the frequancy of induction motor P = number of poles in induction motor

In the given model of cam station the number of poles is 4 pole and the operating frequency is 60HZ so the speed can be determined by using the above equation. ηsync = (120 ∗ 60) / 4 = 1800𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟

Mechanical Analysis Mechanical analysis of the cam stations components involve the force, stress, bending moment of the surface plate on which the synchronizing motor, cam assembly and electrical panel are connected The mass of the surface plate is approximately 2.5kg so the force of its own weight can easily be find out.

𝐹𝐹𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 2.5𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 × 9.81𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 2

𝐹𝐹𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 24.5 𝑁𝑁 Over a 840mm length of the surface plate 𝐹𝐹𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 24.5 𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

𝐹𝐹𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐+𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 441.45𝑁𝑁 Over the length of 840mm length 𝐹𝐹𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐+𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 441.45𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = 465.95𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

Health and safety Following health and safety measures were taken care of while designing the cam station: • Personal protective equipment had been worn all the times during the design and manufacturing of cam station.

• All the protective measure related to pressure hazards had been taken care of • All the hand tools were used properly • All the manual handling used during the making of cam station were done as per instructions of safe manual handling techniques.

• Proper fire safety was made sure during welding process of cam station • Proper hear protection kit was used to avoid any kind of noise related hazards • Instructions of keeping the area tidy were followed during the manufacturing of cam station in order to prevent slips, trips and falls.

Contact Information Rohit Tata

S00214426@mail.itsligo.ie

Poster template by ResearchPosters.co.za

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Alantic technological university (ATU)

Cell-0833996886

Ash lane

Sligo Ireland

2022

Introduction:

Methodology (Continued):

To anticipate engine torque and power at a variety of operating speeds using thermodynamic data from a two-stroke engine and a Bore/stroke ratio computer model of engine dynamics. For comparison, MATLAB • The B/S ratio affects both engine performance will be used, as well as Solid-works or Working Model. In an ideal and overall dimension for a fixed engine world, the student will create a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that displacement. A small B/S ratio tends to result in allows a designer to compare and contrast various engine designs. higher engine efficiency, while a larger B/S ratio This is a good choice for a student who excels at arithmetic. produces higher power density They can also be Analysing the dynamics of multi-cylinder engines of various configurations to identify which engine configuration has the used as power source in frame presses, stamping smoothest operation is a variation of this project (most balanced). fixtures and other industrial uses where high

• Strong in-cylinder flow movements can help the directly injected fuel and in-cylinder mixture mix more effectively, which is vital for a two-stroke engine with late injection timings. Due to the increased heat-transfer loss caused by flow movements, moderate swirl and tumble ratios are preferred for the BUSDIG engine to balance their impact on fuel/air mixing and heat-transfer loss.

pushing and pulling forces are required.

Design Brief To develop, simulate, and test a functioning model of a two-stroke engine prototype. The device/prototype will be designed to function properly.

Methodology: Research: Because there are benefits and drawbacks to this sort of engine, research was undertaken by looking into the market for present two-stroke engines.

Speaking with organizations that design and build these engines can provide insight into possible enhancements that would aid the engine's development. To have a better grasp of numerous challenges, several websites and engineering journals were reviewed, as well as speaking with outside companies.

Design/Planning: The design process involved: • Selecting the project.

• Develop project management/schedule.

• Carry out an objective tree analysis.

• Develop concepts and initial ideas.

• Analysis possible safety issues .

• Assign tasks among project members .

• Model design in Solidworks.

Design and optimization of the BUSDIG engine: • Due to the substantially longer overlap between the intake and exhaust processes in a two-stroke engine, which might contribute to the shortcircuiting problem, the scavenging process is crucial.

• Uniflow scavenging has been proven to have superior scavenging performance when compared to traditional loopflow and crossflow scavenging methods, as evidenced by both optical measurements and numerical simulations.

• The basic goal of scavenging performance improvement is to increase charging efficiency (CE) and scavenging efficiency (SE) at a fixed boost pressure. CE is computed by multiplying the delivery ratio (DR) and the trapping efficiency (TE) and defines how much intake fresh charge can be kept in the cylinder for later combustion.

Conclusions: • In this work, a revolutionary two-stroke BUSDIG engine was presented to boost engine power performance while lowering fuel consumption.

The main limiting factors of the project Included: • Availability • Difficult to produce Improvements: • External Sourcing Skills.

BUSDIG: • Boosted Uniflow Scavenged Direct-Injection Gasoline (BUSDIG) Engine with Air Hybrid Operation

Caelan Boyle | BEng in Mechanical Engineering | IT Sligo Caelan.boyle@mail.itsligo.com | 0871936888

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Introduction:

Methodology:

Methodology (Continued):

The purpose of this project is to examine why hot weather effects beer refrigeration systems. The project will look at a beer refrigeration system in a pub in Dromahair, County Leitrim after it ran into problems when ambient temperature would increase in summer months. The aim of the project is to get to the root of the problem and see what can be done to improve the refrigeration system.

Detailed View of the Problem Area: The area in which the beer cooling unit is located is in the store room of the pub. The store room is 11.64 m2 and has a door leading into the bar, a exit door and a window located above the cooling unit. The kegs are stored in the keg box which is also located in the store room. The compressor condenser and evaporator are located outside the store room on the exterior wall to the left of the keg box.

Measuring Mass Flow Rate of Air: A cowl was set up to fit around the evaporator fan and 5 holes were cut out to allow the hot wire anemometer to record air flow at 5 different areas moving out 3cm from the centre of the evaporator fan which had a diameter of 30cm.

Results:

4°C to the consumer. In hot periods throughout the summer months when temperatures reach 25+°C the refrigeration system struggles to maintain the ideal temperature for a pint, the pint will appear to have foamy or a high head on it and the taste of the beer is also affected. This leads to a loss in profits for the business as the perfect pint is not being served and customers take there business elsewhere.

Images of the Beer Refrigeration System:

Antoine 137L Cooling Unit.

Compressor, Condenser and Evaporator (left), Keg Box (right)

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Beer In & Beer Out 13 12 11

Temperature °C

In the ideal situation a pint should be severed at a nice cool temperature of 3 -

10 9 Beer In

8

Beer Out

7 6 5 4

0 20 40 60 80 100120140160180200220240260280300320340360380400420440460480500520

Time (Minutes)

Air In & Air Out 23 21 19

Temperature of Air In and Air Out: Temperatures for air in and out of the evaporator fan was obtained using a Benetch GM1312 Thermometer. Temperature probes were connected to the rear of the evaporator fan measuring air in and to the front of the evaporator fan measuring air out. Readings were recorded every 20 minutes.

Temperature °C

Problem Statement:

Temperature of Beer In and Beer Out: Temperatures for beer in and out was obtained using a Benetch GM1312 Thermometer. Temperature probes were connected to the beer lines traveling from the keg into the chiller and the beer lines coming out of the cooling unit traveling to the taps.

Readings were recorded every 20 minutes.

Beer in and out showed good temperature trends as can be seen in the chart below, air in was steady which was expected and air out fluctuated this was due to running time and down time of the fan. The problem was that a throttle valve was down.

17 15 Air In

13

Air Out

11 9 7 5

0 20 40 60 80 100120140160180200220240260280300320340360380400420440460480500520

Time (Minutes)

Conclusions: This project has provided an opportunity to give a great insight into how a beer refrigeration system works and has given great knowledge of the main feature in the system. The root of the problem was not discovered using the temperature records as the results showed that the system was preforming in the correct manner. The pressure of the refrigerant was increased to correct the system.

Shane Fowley.

Dromahair, Co. Lietrim. shanefowley99@gmail.com 086 0598922

2022

Determining Lift and Drag Forces on a Symmetrical Air foil Section through Physical measurement and Simulation Introduction: An Airfoil is an aerodynamic structure that is used to manipulate the movement of a fluid most commonly air in the case of an airfoil into its reaction forces in the vertical direction commonly referred to as the lift force and the force parallel to the direction of the relevant wind known as the drag force.

Factors that influence the amount of lift and drag force created are the relevant wind speed ,viscosity and its angle off attack which is the angle between the relevant wind and the airfoils cord line

Methodology: Lift Force Jig

Project Aim: The aim of this project is determine the lift and drag forces induced on a symmetrical airfoil at various windspeeds and angles of attack by physical measurement by means of the wind tunnel. And to simulate the airfoil using solidworks flow simulation and manual calculations to verify the accuracy of results obtained.

Research was carried out into how lift and drag is measured and how I could simplify this process down to make it small and compact. Other areas of research were on components such as : • Load cells • Power supply Components Used • 0.78 kg micro load cell • DC power supply • Multimeter • Mild steel 3 and 5mm plate All other components will be sourced from the GEW

Drag Force Jig

.

Test Apparatus Design: Simulation Results: Methodology continued: Design Research : After researching all possible methods of obtaining lift and drag forces from the airfoil. A 0.78kg micro load cell was selected to determine the forces exerted on the air foil.

Design/Planning: The process involved: • Develop concept designs • Selecting suitable load cell for testing • Reviewing concept designs • Concept selection • Manufacture of apparatus • Test apparatus in the wind tunnel • Create Solidworks flow simulation • Verify accuracy of physical testing and simulation by manual calculating the lift and drag forces.

Fabrication: • Standard components were used in the assembly.

• A CNC laser cutter was used to cut the airfoil section .

To verify if the results obtained from physical testing were accurate,solidworks flow simulation was used to determine the lift force , drag force and pressure plot.

This software allowed me to choose the type of fluid, the relevant wind speed and the angle of attack

• A 0.78kg micro load cell was used to determine the lift and drag forces exerted on the airfoil when the angle of attack is changed .

• The load cell was connected to a 5 volt DC power supply and a multimeter. This gave an output in millivolts • The test apparatus was designed and manufacture with simplicity in mind which allows the jig to be disassembled and modified to accommodate both lift and drag forces.

• Mild steel was used for the base of the jig and for the brackets holding the airfoil to the load cell.

• The airfoil section was designed using the spline feature on solidworks. The file was then converted to a DXF file and sent to the laser cutter and cut out of 5mm thick plywood sheets.

Once the required amount of sheets were cut they were glued together and sanded to create a flat uniform surface.

Conclusions:

The project gave me the opportunity to develop new and existing skills and showcase them in this project. Overall the project was successful and allowed me to learn about an area that was outside my area of expertise.

Martin Herity, Sligo

LinkedIn QR

Heritymartin16@gmail.com 087 716 3357

49

Engineering & Technology Expo

Investigation of surface profile of AM metal surfaces made by DMLS process Author: Conor Prendergast S00195898

Department of Engineering, ME4, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, Ireland Instructor: Dr Gerard Mc Granaghan

Introduction •

DMLS is a additive manufacturing method which develops metal components by laser sintering powder and binding it together layer by layer.

•

This is a new advanced procedure with many beneficial characteristics making it a popular manufacturing technique.

•

Highly controlled techniques can produce high accuracy components that may not be possible from traditional methods due to difficultly processed shapes.

Results •

The resulting analysis determined the conditions which control the surface roughness which included scan speed, build orientation and laser power. The resulting measurements also identified the characteristics of a DMLS surface quality and determined how it was fabricated.

Surface Roughness •

A characteristic which is more difficult to control is the surface quality and precisely the surface roughness developed on the outer faces of the product.

•

Surface roughness is both a desirable and undesirable characteristic based on the design specification but the ability to control this critical dimension is important.

•

Unwanted surface roughness requires post processing techniques and additional time and costs.

Methodology •

This paper aimed to analyse the presence of surface roughness in DMLS processes and develop an understanding on the cause and solution to the characteristic.

•

To identify the patterns and functional characteristics of DMLS surfaces a methodology was introduces to measure the surface profile of DMLS samples and develop an analysis strengthened by comparison with multiple samples of DMLS production and other.

Data (μm)

Ra Rsk Rku Rz Rq 14.168 -0.121 2.838 81.495 17.795

Conclusion

•

• • • • • •

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To develop the results required for this experiment the Surfcom Touch 50 measuring device by Accretech will be used to determine the following: Surface profile Ra Rq Rz Rsk Rku

• It is important to consider these design conditions when developing DMLS components. Although Ra values and surface profiles may be unpredictable, they can be controlled and values such as Ra and Rz can be increased or decreased by understanding the important conditions and trialling or researching the correct selection to achieve the required surface quality.

2022

Coefficient of Lift vs Angle of Attack on an Aerofoil Section Conor Sherry

Supervisor: Sean Dalton

Atlantic Technological University Sligo

Introduction

Conor Sherry

Objective

An Aerofoil is any surface that has the capacity to produce more lift force than drag forces.

The objective of this project is to measure the lift force generated on an Aerofoil section

To produce a Lift force a fluid is required such as air and water. Essentially lift is generated

by use of the low-speed wind tunnel and then compare the results obtained from psychical

from the pressure difference between the upper surface of the Aerofoil and lower surface

Measurement to that of CFD Simulation and Mathematical analysis. Another objective is to

of the Aerofoil where the velocity in faster at the upper surface than the lower surface.

study the relationship between the coefficient of lift an angle of attack on an Aerofoil section.

In relation to this project the lift forces generated from psychical testing is going to be compared to that of manual Calculation and Computational fluid Dynamics (CFD Simulation).

Results CFD Simulation/Mathematical Analysis

Discussion

In relation to the results obtained from Simulation and mathematical analysis there is a trend

In relation to the results obtained from CFD Simulation and mathematical analysis, there is

of the lift force increasing as the velocity increases. The graph below illustrates this point

very little deviation between Both results so these results can be taken for as face value. In

further. The angle of attack (AOA) is 10 degrees.

Relation to the psychical testing results these results have not been obtained yet so a comparison Cannot be made as of now. Ask on day of expo if interested as the psychical experimentation will be Completed by then. Referring to the graph below the Lift force gets greater as the angle of attack increases, this is the result that is expected because this refers to the basic principle, the greater the angle of attack the greater the lift force will be .

The max lift force can be mathematically analyzed by using the lift force equation from Bernoulli’s principle. The lift force equation is as follows 𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹 = 𝐶𝐶𝑙𝑙 × Were

𝜌𝜌𝑣𝑣 2 × 𝐴𝐴 2

𝐿𝐿𝐹𝐹 = Lift Force (N)

𝐶𝐶𝑙𝑙 = Coefficient of lift

𝜌𝜌 = fluid density (𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚3 )

V = Fluid Velocity (m/s)

Conclusion The objectives of this project were completed. Referring to the results obtained for the CFD Simulation there is a trend were the lift force generated by the Aerofoil increases as the angle of Attack increases. Once the critical angle of attack was reached on the Aerofoil as well, the lift force Generated decreased significantly. The critical angle of attack generally occurs between the 15 to 20 Degree region.

A= Cross Sectional Area of Aerofoil (𝑚𝑚2 )

51

Engineering & Technology Expo

ATU Sligo Electronic and Computer Engineering Final Year Student Projects

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2022

Smart Toaster Student Name: Yazad Alnofeai

Abstract

• The information from these sensors will provide closed-loop feedback for the controller which will interpret this data and use it to ensure the cooking cycle ends before the toast is burned (compared to the users preferences).

• Secondary goals include conducting extensive research on all related subjects and to produce full, clear documentation.

1.

Smart Toaster Design

Assessing the requirements of the project is what I started with.

2. Started to design and simulate based on these requirements and then I did the implementation.

3. I have chosen the HDJD color sensor and connected it to the Arduino Due where I used it for programming the code.

4. The following images show the model procedure I used for doing the project and some of the requirements that been used like the color sensor and Arduino.

Testing

Introduction: The testing plan was done in stages. First of all I bought some breads and I toasted them using the toaster that I have in my Kitchen. This was done so I can get varies colours of the breads in order to teach the colour sensor all these colours.

Stages applied to toast the breads in the same temperature degree but different time as it shows in the next figure.

Aims and Objectives

• The project’s aim is to design a electric smart toaster that can sense the colour of the bread using a colour sensor.

• The smart toaster code is programmed by an embedded microcontroller-Arduino DEU, which is responsible for designing an algorithm for analyses the feedback form the colour sensor and find the optimum time determination to stop cooking the bread based on user.

Result and Evaluation

I worked out the results as I expected, Furthermore, the evaluation was good overall because my project was done as I planed and explained in the project proposal .

Some of the results:

Literature Review

Introduction: I have completed most of the literature review at the beginning of this year during Christmas break to find some related works and show how this project links to previous researches. Fortunately, I found lots of useful information that gave me the ability to understand more about toasters, and build on existing ideas and knowledge.

History of Toasters: 1909, By Frank Shailor 2013, Designed in UK

Implementation

I then started the implementation after I had all correct requirements, where I divided the work to two sections .

The first part was software and the second part was hardware.

Microcontrollers: Microcontrollers play an important role in rapid Computing and Embedded Systems. (Bruce et al, 2013) Hardware Section: Phases

Parai, M. (Types of Microcontroller) (2013)

Types of Sensors:

Types of feedback control system: Open loop (non-feedback) Temperature sensors

• • •

Thermocouples RTDs Thermistors

Closed loop (feedback) Optical Sensors

• • •

Photo detector Fibre Optics Pyrometer

Evaluation: The evolution was explained in four part: 1. Executive Summary.

2. Program Description .

3. Evaluation Methodology.

4. Result Description .

Conclusions & Future work

• The aims and objective of the project has been accomplished.

• I got a good experience that any project will succeed when the time is well managed and the work is separated in to varies stages,.

• I am glad that I won the challenge and succeed in my project Future Work: • Th plan was to use processing sketch that will be connected to the Arduino in order to make an • The time wasn’t enough for me to go further, output of sensor’s data into the background colour of processing’s canvas.

References

• Parai, M. Das, B. and Das, G. (2013) ‘Overview of Microcontroller Unit: Form Proper Selection to Specific Application’ International Journal of Soft Computing and Engineering (IJSCE) India pp. 228 -231.

• Bellis, M. (2013) ‘The history of your Toaster’ Kitchen Appliances, About.com, Inventor.

53

Engineering & Technology Expo

SMART FITNESS BAND Introduction: Many techniques and devices that are currently used to measure and assess muscle size and growth have limitations of costs, availability, accuracy and ease of use.

This project aims to address this problem by providing a tool and device for individuals who are actively attempting to build muscle size, strength and lose fat; and a potential use in the medical field to measure muscle loss and diagnose neuromuscular pathologies. The Smart Fitness Band is a cost-effective, compact and easy-to use tool which tracks the progress in achieving health and fitness goals, by using regular measurements of muscle size and strength.

Methodology :

Software:

● The Shimmer3 bridge amplifier was programmed with a configuration firmware to allow enabling sensor settings. ● Android studio IDE was used to create an Creating an operational flowchart and User Application to work with the Smart Fitness Requirement Specifications (URS) to layout Band.The App took about 5 months to create. how the software will interact with the ● Below is the proposed technical approach of hardware. how the Smart Fitness Band operates.

Designing schematics of the main components of the hardware to be used.

Creating a system interconnection diagram of the hardware used.

Developing an Android Application to be used with the hardware.

Design/Planning: The design stage involved the following steps:1.

2.

3.

4.

Schematic

The Smart Fitness Band has the potential to not only be used by gym enthusiasts, but also in the medical field for assessing muscle-related pathology. The aim is to support people in achieving their health goals conveniently.

Aims of Study: To develop a functional prototype device for muscle growth measurement, by applying all aspects of knowledge acquired throughout this course for software and hardware development.

Methodology: Research: The inspiration to develop a smart fitness band that can be used to measure muscle growth and strength, came about when I encountered a few problems during my muscle building journey: I experienced difficulty in tracking gains/losses in muscle size and strength, as size does not always equate to muscle growth, but could also be fat gain. This was coupled with an inability to compare and analyse my past and current data related to muscle gains/losses; consistent analysis could prompt changes or amendments to workout/physical therapy routines if needed.

I reviewed available at home devices that can be used to measure muscle growth in terms of size and strength, and came across many limitations.

To initiate the project, the following methods were used: ● Research of historical and current publicly available articles on devices which record muscle activity. ● Review of current devices and methods used for the measurement of muscle size and strength. ● Identification of limitations related to product availability, costs and affordability. ● Understanding of muscle anatomy and physiology; as well as diagnostic medical tools for muscle measurement. ● Review of measurable units/outcomes of muscle growth. ● Integration of measurables units with appropriate technology. ● Brendan Chapweteka, Dublin ● Brendanchapweteka@gmail.com ● 0894993051

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Android App Functionality

Build/Fabrication: Hardware components that were used were purchased from different online stores. Below is a list of the components: ● Shimmer3 Bridge Amplifier ● CFX resistance Band ● I.E.E Strain gauges ● RS Pro load cell ● 3.5mm TRRS cable The resistance band and bridge amplifier unit were branded with a customised logo that I created using photoshop software.

Testing: Two steps of testing were carried out during the design and implementation of this project.

1. Functional testing (unpowered and powered): To check voltage, continuity, resistance and polarity to verify the product functioned as intended 2. Performance testing: To check the performance of the smart fitness band with defined specifications

Results: Research: My research exposed a gap in the availability of a compact, at-home device for muscle measurement, and highlighted additional uses from gyms to clinical settings. Integrating relevant, measurable international units which could be applied to the software and hardware, and enough technical information to get a prototype working for accurate measurements both muscle strength and size.

Design/Planning: The design of the Smart band and app are simplistic and streamlined, with focus on ease of use. At the moment Smart band is suitable for bicep and tricep muscle measurements.

Testing: I have successfully been able to test the smart fitness band with the Android App, however I experienced problems with Bluetooth connectivity when pairing for the first time,this issue was resolved in software.

Conclusion:

This project enabled me to create a wireless compact fitness band that is simple & reliable to use whilst addressing the need of such a device in the fitness and healthcare sector. I have gained vast knowledge in Android application programming, while implementing a project idea from concept to execution.

There is a clear gap and need for the smart band, Safety: During the entire process of developing as well as many potential real-world uses. This is the fitness band, safety was at the core of the a commercially viable device which could be used research, design, and implementation stages.The as a supplementary health and wellness tool, in Bridge amplifier unit was chosen because it was medical research and neuromuscular diagnosis. manufactured in accordance with ISO 13485 However, this would require more time, standards and carries the FCC and CE marks, the research/clinical trials, expertise and financial resistance band and strain gauges were also input to capture accurate results and for better chosen with safety of the user in mind. appearance/product design and functionality.

2022

Classis Car Digital Dashboard

Barry Cleary Barry.Cleary@mail.itsligo.ie

Introduction: All old vintage vehicles have data acquisition and electronics from the era that they were manufactured.

Today's vehicles have much more integrated electronics for all systems of the vehicle, Thus, providing the driver with much more information therefore making the vehicle a much safer environment to be in.

Methodology: Research began by finding and dismantling the speedo cluster from a vintage VW Golf MK2 and figuring out how the components interact with the vehicle sensors, utilizing vehicle wiring schematics.

Design of what the final project would look like began with first sourcing an ARDUINO and a small TFT screen and measuring up to the vehicle OEM cluster.

After deciding on the correct components and the final design it was down to design the circuit and begin to research what the software code would look like.

For Fabrication I used two factory OEM speedo clusters one untouched and the modified one to show a before and after affect of the upgrade.

I also included all the original car sensors and parts to make the simulation as real as possible.

Results: The results of the project were very impressive.

The original cluster was fully upgraded with a digital display with all the vital information to operate the vehicle in a much safer environment.

I was able to include a fuel warning light that tells you at 10% fuel level you need to refuel.

This also displays on the phone app along with all the other vehicle warning messages.

The code for the App was built using the MIT inventor App this saved a lot of development time from this part of the project.

Conclusions: The project provided me the opportunity to integrate all the knowledge I gained over the past two years. It also made me search for knowledge I didn’t have and use the great resource of the internet to develop and build this project.

There was not much cost outlay for this project, and I think for the results achieved it was well worth the time and effort.

55

Engineering & Technology Expo

-90 degrees

INTRODUCTION

Light Ray

LIGHT RAY

Mahmood Ali Muhammad Ph.D Photonic Engg. MS & B.Sc. Electronic Engg.

low

ON

My

Reset

RESET

Software Flow Chart

on

Ph e

Project Objective To create a task lighting solution which addresses all of the issues above :· To engineer a task lighting device which illuminates a specific area only in its neutral position. · This device is a flexible solution which when activated will provide a focused light where it is required along a single axis. · It will maintain an angle of illumination sufficient for the users needs without disturbing others. · The solution will require a users mobile device to pair with it using an app with a Bluetooth connection. · The final solution will be a device that adjusts its angle of attitude along a single axis following the position of the users mobile device. · The name of this solution is Light Ray.

Light Ray Light Ray ON

RESET

ON

RESET

A Focused Illumination Solution Methodology & Implementation HC-06 Bluetooth Module

Arduino Set Up 2K

Spectrum narrow 10 degree 5W Warm White GU10

Proteus Schematic Of PIC 18F45K20 Driving a Servo Motor using PWM

1K

Conclusion

Light Ray Light Ray ON

RESET

Implementation and construction started using and Arduino Uno Microcontroller coupled with a HC-06 Bluetooth Module and an Android Mobile handset. A voltage divider was employed with the HC-06 to reduce the voltage on the Rx Line to 3.3 volts.

The Uno is used to control the PWM output to the Parrallex Servo which controls the attitude of the Adjustable Down lighter. A Spectrum narrow 10 degree 5 watt warm white beam GU10 lamp is used to provide a focused narrow beam of light on the target.

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By Pádraig Kent Email:- padraig.kent@mail.itsligo.ie Supervisor

Fol

Artificial lighting is a craft where electricians install too little or too much.

Where interior designers believe every horizontal surface above ground level is a shelf for lamp stand that takes up too much space and offers little in terms of a functional task lighting solution. The bedside locker is just one example where such lighting supplements become ornaments which flood the room with unnecessary light insufficient for the user to read without eye strain, except at an awkward angle while disturbing their partner’s much needed sleep.

-60 degrees

ON

RESET

The 2nd stage of my project involves transferring the controls and drive to the PIC 18F45K20.

Initially electronic construction will be implemented on a breadboard but completed using a bespoke circuit board. The PIC will be programmed in “C code” using MPLAB and the XC8 compiler. Code will be verified and validated using an Explorer board 8.

Components

· Light Ray has been an opportunity to utilise lessons learned in Embedded Systems and Mobile Application Programming on this level 7 journey. It has also given me the chance to explore new ideas and look for solutions that were outside of my skillset previously. · The project schedule did not roll-out as planned as some methods and skills were only realised towards the end of the Mobile Programming App module. That combined with work commitments has adjusted implementation delivery considerably. · Overall this project has been a massive learning curve for me. Firstly how to integrate a mobile device with a fixed object. · How to control a servo motor remotely using a Mobile App. · Controlling the angle of an adjustable lighting apparatus and following the position of a mobile device along a single axis. · Upon final delivery I believe there is an opportunity to develop this device further by miniaturising the package and developing it further for the domestic lighting and hospitality industry.

2022

Solar Generator Introduction: The reason I have chosen to create this project is that I believe everyone should have access to some form of electricity in emergencies, also in areas that are disadvantaged and may not have constant access to electricity. This project is a small-scale wind and solar panel project that charges a battery from renewables sources letting the user charge or use small electronic devices

Methodology (Continued): • I used resistors to create a voltage divider for the LDRs which gave the LDRs a high voltage in sunlight and a low voltage in darkness/shade.

To demonstrate the theoretical knowledge gained over the course of our study with a practical, real world application.

A the begining of the design phase a number of deliverables were to be produced for the project these inculded.

• Gantt Chart • List of components that are going to be used for the project

Also, this project could be useful in emergency situations to contact emergency services or even have a form of power to use for lighting and or starting up vehicles etc.

Aims of Study:

Design Phase/Testing:

• A solar charge controller was used which regulates voltage and current preventing overcharging of the battery whilst displaying its charge level. The controller also contains 2x USB ports allowing for device charging/powering.

When deciding what material to use for the frame I was going to try wood but it was difficult to source.

Instead I opted for PVC board which was easy to source online in my desired dimensions allowing me to mount and cut all components easily.

Results: Design/Planning: The design and planning of the project allowed for me to research how the project will work and function.

The Nano will take reading from the LDRs, this will then adjust the servos to face sunlight.

Whilst the solar panels are facing the sun parallel this will help achieve better energy generation.

The main aim of study is to have a constant supply of renewable energy which can be used at any time that is harvested with accuracy rather than being static.

Methodology: • The design of this project is using an Arduino Nano

Software: • I used C code for this project to programme both the servos and the stepper motor for the project.

• During the design phase of the project software block diagram charts were produced.

Energy that is harvested is sent to the solar controller then the battery for storage, the battery is then useable from the controller which allows for charging powering devices.

Microcontroller /Programming: Input: LDRs. Outputs: Sg90 Servos, Solar controller.

The simulation of the project was carried out using Proteus design suite which allowed for easy testing without components.

The written code was also used on Arduino and uploaded to an Arduino nano for testing.

Testing: • Testing was carried out to check that all components are functioning correctly.

▪ Components of the project were tested to make sure that the project is charging and powering devices with no overheating or damage occurring, this is also one of the reasons I used a solar controller.

• The base of the project is constructed from 3mm PVC board. I constructed a PVC box which will house all of the main components to the project and also allow for easy transportation of the device. Adding of hinges to the box has allowed for easy access to all internal components.

Conclusions:

• The solar panels are mounted to frames and move in XY planes by SG90 servo motors. By taking input from LDRs it will signal the servos to track the sun constantly throughout the day.

Jason Mc Loughlin, Sligo

• When solar energy is harvested it is then sent to a 12V battery for later use.

jasonmcl50@gmail.com 0868780964

• This project provided me an opportunity to display skills and knowledge that I have gained from my course with a practical application.

• Creating this project has been interesting working with renewable sources and how much work is used to make them function.

The difficult factors of the project: • Not having the use od a 3D printer to help making frame parts easier, the time taken to make them by hand or change or create any new ideas was time consuming • Fabricating all of the frame by hand was time consuming.

• Sourcing some components for the project took a long time to arrive.

57

Engineering & Technology Expo

Introduction: The idea of designing a Solar Charge Controller was realised from the project designer’s need to try and minimise the damage to rechargeable solar lead batteries. From growing up in the rural area without grid power, the designer saw first hand how batteries got damaged owing to overcharge when there is too much sunlight. This project therefore is about regulating the charge behaviour of the solar panels in that charging is stopped when the battery being charged is full and charging does not happen when the charge voltage from the solar panels is low.

Aim: 1. The aim of this project is regulate the charge behaviour of the solar panels 2. To minimise the damage to battery cells as a result of overcharge 3. And to develop a functional but simple charge controller

Methodology (Continued): Project Build Phase

Safety: For safety purposes, LEDs have been chosen to indicate different state of the charge process. A Yellow LED, Green LED and Red LED have been chosen for different charges levels.

An LCD or Serial Display can be used to view the voltage levels from the Battery and the Solar Panel

Results:

Methodology: • The first thing that was done after developing the idea was to carry out a research on the existing technologies with regards to solar charge controllers.

• Once this was done, a design was made to proceed with the idea and reduce in the number of components to be used.

• Components were selected and sourced.

Design and Operation Criteria • This voltage controller design uses the Arduino Uno board as the microcontroller, the brain of the project.

• Two voltage sensors are used, one senses the battery voltage while the other senses the incoming voltage from the solar panel connected to charge the battery.

• The battery threshold voltage is set at less than 1V low and 12V high.

• This means that when the solar panel is connected to charge the battery, the designed solar charge controller starts by reading the battery voltage and also the incoming voltage from the solar panel.

• If the battery voltage is less than 1V then the Arduino communicates with the solar panel to charge the battery.

• However, this only happens if the incoming voltage(charge) from the solar panel is above 5V, if it is less then charging does not happen.

• The Arduino continues checking on the battery charge level through the voltage sensor, once the voltage reaches 12V the Arduino orders for charging to stop.

• A relay has been used as the switching component it this project.

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The desired result was achieved and the below were done: 1. Sourcing of components 2. Assembling of the sourced components 3. Writing the Arduino code for the project 4. Testing the project for the intended results.

After the above processes, the solar charge controller worked as intended.

An LCD or Serial Display can be used to view the voltage levels from the Battery and the Solar Panel

Conclusion: As stated earlier, the objective of regulating the solar charge behaviour was achieved and the project was an exciting undertaking which brought with it many new skills to the designer. Skills such as programming the Arduino, project management skills as well as working with others during the consultation phase. Further, this solar charge design reduces the number of components used hence making it one of the simplest if not the simplest thus if built for the market it can easily be afford for the target market.

Mainde Mulunda Lusaka, Zambia misozimwale@gmail.com +260964116070

LinkedIn QR

2022

Security Surveillance System Introduction: The objective for this project was the provision of a smart surveillance monitoring system for security of high value digital equipment in an office laboratory environment

Methodology (Continued):

Project Schedule

➢ WiFi connectivity is via Raspberry Pi 4: 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11 ac wireless LAN. The live video can then be viewed from an android-based app as outlined in the block Diagram

Project Schedule

➢ The low-level design details the multimedia interfaces and GPIO pins utilised.

➢ Project Summary

➢ Gantt Chart

Aim of Project: Standard Security Surveillance Systems were evaluated but came with significant pricing and/or privacy concerns. The aim of the project was to address these concerns while ensuring compliance with personal data regulations

Methodology: ➢ The design involved the fit out of a dummy camera controlled by a Raspberry Pi 4 Microcontroller.

Results: Software:

➢ The fit out includes use of Raspberry Pi Camera capable of 1080p30 with a frame rate of 30 FPS

➢ Two main software components: ➢ Python was used to program the Raspberry Pi 4 & Android Studio Java programming allowed for development of the Android App ➢ The software flowchart details the Pi Camera and sensor interfaces

➢ The Pi Camera provided 5 Megapixels of still resolution and a video mode capable of 1080p30 meaning 1080 sensor pixels with a frame rate of 30 FPS. The is more than double the average security camera industry frame rate of ~15 FPS and allowed for Full High-Definition security video footage of any unauthorized intrusion with granular detail.

Storage costs of video were minimized as the system only activates when the PIR sensor is triggered

➢ The PIR Motion Sensor is used to detect movement in the monitored area, in turn triggering the Pi Camera to record ➢ The servo motor with pulse-width modulation is used to control the rotation about the camera axis when panning the camera around the monitored area ➢ The Raspberry Pi's GPIO pins are used to power and control both the PIR sensor and servo motor

Conclusions: Conclusion:

Jerome Murphy, Calgary jerome.murphy@mail.itsligo.ie 086 3640734

➢ The objective of this project was to provide an effective and inexpensive smart surveillance monitoring system ➢ This was largely delivered for a budget of just over $200. The system met all of the requirements offered by conventional security surveillance systems but at a significantly reduced cost, both in terms of equipment and ongoing operational costs.

59

Engineering & Technology Expo

Smart Ventilation William Sheehan Level 7 Project Introduction: This Smart Ventilation is designed to enable a safe, smart, and economical mode of electronic ventilation control for the end user. Utilising Bluetooth to enable the user to access the microcontroller enables safe switching of motors and continuous monitoring of room temperature and per centage humidity. Designed to work as an economical ventilation solution for school classrooms or nursing homes the purpose is to deliver as much free fresh air to a room while reducing heating and cooling costs. The Covid 19 pandemic has led to an increasing demand for quality ventilation in schools. Natural air ventilation is the process of pulling fresh air into a building from the outside. This air is either mixed with the air already present in the space to give ‘mixing’ or ‘dilution’ ventilation or is used to ‘displace air’ in the space to give ‘displacement’ or ‘piston flow’ ventilation.

Build/Fabrication: • All hardware components were sourced online and included an Arduino Uno, Temperature Humidity sensor, and stepper motors.

• The miniature room was fabricated from a rigid, lightweight foam core laminated on the sides.

Microcontroller & Programming: • The code was written in C programming language.

• The temperature/humidity sensor was connected as the only input controlling five different servo motors all connected as outputs to the Arduino.

Aim of Study:

In this project I explore the control of room temperature using a room temperature and humidity sensor to electronically control three dampers (fresh supply air damper, exhaust dump air damper and a mixing damper) driven by their respective servo motors (which will behave as damper actuators). Two additional servo motors (valve actuators) also controlled by the temperature and humidity sensor will drive a heating circuit and a cooling circuit. The air will be moved by two DC motors, one for supply air and one for return air. An android application will display the room temperature and per centage humidity and allow for safe remote on/off switching of the system.

Methodology:

• The android app was developed using Android Studio.

Testing: • Verified all hardware performs to design and simulation specifications • Completed the function testing in a controlled room environment with variable temperatures.

• Updated the software as required.

• Ensured the project worked as designed in a standard room space.

Results: The project delivered the following results: • Set up and control peripherals as inputs and outputs using software.

• Knowledge gained on how temperature and humidity can be used to manipulate semi-conductors.

• The use of the Pulse Width Modulation technique to get an average output signal from a digital input signal.

• Energy savings delivered with the smart use of software.

Research:

Research commenced with the study of temperature and humidity in a room environment and how this was affected by the introduction of new air with the displacement of the old air. This progressed to the study of PWM and its affect on actuators. The goal was to create a controlled room temperature environment utilising a microcontroller, temperature sensor and actuators and to make it easily accessible to the end user via an Android application.

• • • •

Design/Planning:

Selecting the appropriate hardware.

Develop schematics, PCB layout, and a software flowchart.

Development of an efficient software code.

Build a miniature room to act as a test environment

• Manual and safe operation delivered with the use of an Android Application.

• Successful utilisation of the HC-06 module which enabled comms between the Android application and the microcontroller.

Conclusions: • Energy savings can be delivered with intuitive software and the appropriately designed electronic hardware.

• Mobile applications can deliver a safe and easy end user experience.

Recommendations: •

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•

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•

Contact Details: William Sheehan, Clondalkin, Dublin. Ph 0857393768 williamsheehan48@yahoo.com

atu.ie

2022

Soil Quality Monitoring System

Soil Quality Monitoring System David Griffin: L7 Project S00201386 INTRODUCTION:

Methodology: •

Development:

This project is a system that will monitor soil quality and requirements for specific vegetables or plants to grow in, optimizing all aspects of growing requirements.

This soil monitoring system will maintain • and prompt a user by monitoring several key aspects for growing crops or plants.

•

The system will use an Arduino as a Logic controller programmed with multiple sensors to maintain soil conditions Sensors required in this system will be Ph, Nitrogen, Moisture or Temp/RH, Photoresistor to feed back light quality.

A NPK Sensor will monitor the nitrogen phosphorus and potassium within the soil which are key nutrients for growth of crops and plants.

Moisture levels will be monitored using a sensor and using a solenoid valve with a water supply piped up creating an automated function.

•

This system will be used to monitor crops by all • cultivating levels who grow crops or plants by quickly prompting when conditions are not correct for select crop.

• This project will aid with the maintaining soil quality in an area using central controller to monitor and report multiple conditions within the • soil using sensors controlling moisture levels and notifying when certain setpoints are not met and need attention.

•

Research

The interface for these values and monitoring is VIA Bluetooth connection to a mobile app deigned to give feed backs and prompts from to and from the Phone and Logic controller.

•

The logic controller to be used is an Arduino Uno: This board has the requirements both analogue and digital signal ports for the sensors and outputs to maintain this system.

There are 7 inputs to the Arduino logic controller which report values.

PH Sensor Light Sensor NPK Sensor reading Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium.

Soil Moisture Sensor.

Temperature Sensor.

Solenoid Valve to control the moisture level if lowers below recommended moisture level.

Bread board used for all connections.

• • •

Arduino IDE Android Studio.

MIT App Inventor

• • • • • •

• The Coding used:

NPK Nutrient Cycle PHOSPHORUS

Phosphorus is a major component in plant DNA and RNA. Phosphorus is also critical in root development, crop maturity and seed production

Design Building

POTASSIUM

From this all the data compiled from the sensors are fed to a Bluetooth app Soil Monitoring System.

All Components and Sensors are wired back to a breads board junction.

The role of potassium in the plant is indirect, meaning that it does not make up any plant part.

The HC-06 Bluetooth transceiver will be used to Potassium is required for the activation of over 80 communicate between Arduino and Mobile App. enzymes throughout the plant. It's important for a plant's ability to withstand extreme cold and hot HC-06: temperatures, drought and pests. Potassium increases water use efficiency and transforms Project Objectives sugars to starch in the grain-filling process.

The Idea of this project is to monitor and automate aspects of the growing of crops NITROGEN and flowers.

Nitrogen is primarily responsible for vegetative Using knowledge and skills gained while growth. Nitrogen assimilation into amino acids is studying at IT Sligo. the building block for protein in the plant. It is a What gave me the idea for this project was I component of chlorophyll and is required for recently I grew a crop of vegetables this year several enzyme reactions. with no success Later I found the conditions not to be correct for the crops planted which had an impact on the standard and quality of the crops produced.

Conclusion:

This project utilised the skills and knowledge I have gained while studying at Sligo IT using the mobile app development and Logic controller programming.

I believe this project has a lot of potential as the functions that can be applied to this system with multiple operations and monitoring also trending data obtained to adapt growing conditions to suit certain crops of plants.

61

Engineering & Technology Expo

Cooling Unit Controlled

By Temperature Methodology

Introduction

Aims of Study The aim of the project is for the system to try to reduce the temperature in the server's room which created a large amount of hot air and keep it on the setpoint.

The project is to create a temperature control environment suitable for production equipment of in-room 24 hours a day which meet specific application. The system is cooling with continuous cold air and chilled water.

Build / Fabrication: The whole project (Figure 2.) is on a plywood tab. The cooling unit was made of a galvanized steel plate.

For cable termination 22 American Wire Gauge (AWG). Solid Wire which has different colours. The cables were given a core and a jacket label for good mapping.

Separation of data usage and higher voltage cables.

The control panel is integrated into the plastic home, with easy access with quick openings for future service, and future equipment.

Warm Return air from room Chilled water coil

Air way

The server sounds familiar to everyone.

For the servers to function properly, the appropriate temperature conditions must be created, the heat generated by the devices must be dissipated, and lower-temperature air must be supplied to the server rooms for optimal operation.

Results

Water outlet Water inlet

• Learning programming skills with Arduino UNO R3.

Analog inputs, digital inputs/outputs.

• Using an alphanumeric display, display of data, messages and warnings.

Application of wireless communication (Bluetooth) (Figure 6.), sending / receiving data.

• Discovering Serial communication • Application of pulse-width modulation for fan control.

• Use of relay module for multiple devices with high voltage power supply.

• Automatic mode (Figure 4.):

Displaying temperature in°Celsius and possible warning

12V Fan Temperature controlled supply air to room

Methodology Design/Planning: The project divided into 4 main parts:

can

be

First stage: hardware assembly to cool the extracted area. The server rooms need to be run, and the components for cooling had to be assembled.

Second stage: Software development (Figure 1.) takes into account the selected parts and the characteristics of the area to be cooled.

Fig. 2: Cooling Unit

Turn on Blue LED Fan 50% Water valve close

Yes

Turn on Green LED Fan 60% Water Valve open

Yes

Turn on Green LED Fan 75% Water Valve open

Yes

Turn on Red LED Fan 90% Water Valve open

Yes

if Temperature under 20 °C No if Temperature between 21 °C and 24°C No if Temperature between 25 °C and 27°C No if Temperature over 28 °C

Fig. 4: Automatic mode block diagram part 2.

• Manual mode:

Microcontroller / Programming: the cooling unit is controlled by an Arduino UNO R3 microcontroller. The software was created in the Arduino IDE 1.8.19 open-source software. For wireless communication, the Android Studio application has been used.

With the created application, it is possible to choose between auto and manual modes.

Fan On 90%

Fan Off 0%

Water valve open

Water valve close

Fig. 5: Manual mode block diagram part 3.

Third stage: Assembling the hardware, cabling, using the appropriate sockets, and fixing the water pipes.

Fourth stage: Testing of the integrated unit under different temperature conditions, oneto-one analysis of components, fixing software bugs, and setup design setpoint temperature.

5V Power supply

Initialize the Arduino Uno R3 Configure LM335 A0 Read the voltage Run Android APP Via Bluetooth

Conclusions The goal is to further develop the cooling technology with wireless technologies. The integration of the Bluetooth is successful for the first time, in the further development phase the Wi-Fi module can be used, as the devices can be controlled from more distant, locations.

Furthermore, using better performance equipment for higher cooling capacity.

I gained knowledge in the programming of both electrical devices and microcontrollers.

Contact details Manual mode

Fig. 1.: Block diagram part 1.

atu.ie

Fig. 6: Android application screenshot.

Test Testing every connected device (Figure 3.): • Liquid Crystal Display ( LCD 16X2) • Fan (12V) • Solenoid Valve (12V) • HC-06 Bluetooth Module • Temperature Sensor (LM335) with calibrated temperature device for accuracy • Automatic mode testing at various temperature points with calibrated te.

• Testing the available options in manual mode.

Initialize the LCD

Auto Mode

Fig. 3.: Testing

Project Designer: Andras Takacs Mobile: 087 348 1788 Linkedin: Email: Andras.Takacs@mail.itsligo.ie

Supervisor: Muhammad Mahmood Ali Mobile: 089 965 8858 Email: Ali.MuhammadMahmood@itsligo.ie

2022

Electronic guide dog Introduction:

Methodology (continue ):

When many blind people want to travel freely, but considering the high price of artificially bred guide dogs, this project was born. In addition to price considerations, electronic guide dogs are even safer and more efficient than ordinary guide dogs in some aspects. For example, when executing the command.

• Algorithm OpenCV cooperates with Raspberry Pi to perform various computer vision development such as face recognition, edge detection, semantic segmentation, automatic driving, image recognition and so on by reading Camera video

Background: Vision is one of the most senses abilities for people to obtain information from the outside world. I refer to some of the latest reports from the World Health Organization WTO that at least 2.2 billion people have a visual impairment or blindness. Although there are many blind people in the world, the current situation of blind people travelling alone is not optimistic.

Results: After reviewing existing solutions, a concept was developed for a guide dog solution.

• Mainly rely on the program of the Raspberry Pi • The navigation function is also very important.

The entire electronic dog must be turned, obstacle avoidance, etc. under the complete path that has been set.

Configuring the Operating System of the Raspberry Pi

Install OpenCV

Invoke the Raspberry Pi camera

• visual tracking

Aims of Study: Demonstrate the theoretical knowledge acquired in the learning process in practical applications and use modern science and technology to serve the disabled more efficiently and conveniently.

Methodology:

Conclusions:

Research:

The research started by observing the working process of a common guide dog, then using software and hardware to intelligent and automate it. The process is divided into three main parts: 1. Image Identification 2. Intelligent judgment 3. start to act

Design/Planning:

The design process involved: • Selecting technology • Develop project schedule • Develop initial concepts • Reviewing available resources • Build a hardware model • Develop detailed plans for three main sections outlined above • to debug

Fabrication:

• Most of the parts are selected in the smart car provided by the tutor

Software:

• Computer Vision: Computer vision is the field of computer science that focuses on replicating parts of the complexity of the human vision system and enabling computers to identify and process objects in images and videos in the same way that humans do.

• coding tool python

Hardware: • Camera • (120 wide-angle USB Camera)

• Microcontrollers • (raspberry pi) • Motors • (DC Gear Motors)

• Software flow chart

The project provides an opportunity to demonstrate in a practical way the skills and knowledge gained from the course. Overall, the program was a success and an excellent learning experience.

• Project progress according to plan • learned a lot • Learned a bit about how to use the Raspberry Pi Major constraints on the project include: • required manufacturing time • Difficult code work for me I made a working prototype of an electronic guide dog. My designs incorporate sustainable technology and take ethical considerations into account.

References: [1] https://www.autopi.io/blog/build-a-raspberry-pi -touch-screen-car-computer/ [2]https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/projects/buil d-a-buggy [3]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNLpBRq5 Gvo

Acknowledgements: My supervisor:Saritha Unnikrishnan

Correspondence to: Name: Runyu Jin E-mail address: jinslijo21@gmail.com

63

Engineering & Technology Expo

Social Distance Detector

BEng in Electronic & Computing Engineering

Introduction With COVID-19 still present and people still slowly readjusting to this new lifestyle, we must remember to keep at a safe distance between ourselves at all time.

Methodology This schematic here is a small representation of what the intended system is supposed to look like.

Aims of Study

Raspberry Pi 3 B+: A single-board computer that is used to simulate the program.

18/01/2022

PROJECT ASSEMBLY

18/01/2022

LITERATURE REVIEW PROJECT PROPOSAL

I chose this area of topic basically because COVID is the most talked about subject in the last two years.

Hardware

FINAL REPORT

TECHNICAL REVIEW

This project will help demonstrate the skills I have acquired over the years. To learn code, to adapt to the situation, to overcome problems and make the most of what I have got.

This section represents the target hardware originally considered for the project.

Planning

02/12/2021 18/10/2021

126 80 46

44

20/09/2021 28

Results Software Python: The entire program is written using the computer language known as Python. By utilizing a few libraries, mostly in the OpenCV sector, I was able to write a program that can detect when two people are 2 metres apart or not and how many are violating that distance.

The flowchart below demonstrates the functionality of the program.

The program runs without errors, but it’s efficiency depends of the processing power of the device that is being used to run it. On a normal laptop or webcam, it runs at a framerate of one frame every 4 seconds, but it keeps up with the current event being captured.

Whereas on the Pi, with fewer processors and RAM, the framerate is 10 times slower. Running at one frame per 40 seconds.

The program can also analyse any video for humans and determine if they are in social distance or not. The below images are frames of a video of walking pedestrians being analysed.

PiCamera: The PiCamera is the camera module specifically designed to interface with the Pi.

Speaker: A speaker is connected to the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ via a 3.5mm auxiliary cable to produced the alert sound when detecting distance violations.

Conclusions

LinkedIn QR Enda McNabola Carrick-on-Shannon endamcnabola@gmail.com 0867357701

atu.ie

This project was an opportunity to test focus and planning skills.

There had been some issues to install the OpenCV library onto the Pi, turns out what was needed to be done was to uninstall and reinstall the Numpy library.

Further optimizations was be necessary to obtain the real-time speed of video feed necessary.

Running the program on a virtual computer may also be another possibility of optimization.

2022

FALL DETECTION FOR ELDERLY INTROUDUCTION:

Hongye Chen S00191668 B Eng(Hons) in Electronic and Computer Engineering 1545757778@qq.com 0872391971

METHODOLOGY:

As the global pandemic spreads, the elderly population is affected by this and they are spending more time alone at home, which increases the risk of falls.

The elderly are unable to move after a fall， and because they live alone， no one is able to detect the situation and call emergency services in time， resulting in secondary injuries. In this project, the aim is to build a fall detection system to collect data from the person detected and send a warning text message afterward by determining whether it is a fall or not.

AIMS OF STUDY: The main objectives of this project are to : • Search through existing technologies and products that have been used in fall detection systems.

Technology: The methodology of the system can be As part of machine learning, datasets are an important part of helping machine learning. In my project, my datasets are collected by wearing the assembled sensor devices on myself. Once the data collected by the MPU6050 using gyroscope and accelerometer was divided into three levels of risk: low risk, medium risk, high risk; the data is shown in the figure, which is the dataset created as a machine learning classification technique.

• Demonstrate the knowledge I have gained in the project of my research into technology and machine learning systems to provide fall detection systems for older people.

Use MPU6050 collect data Converting the collected data into python readable files to create datasets

Machine Learning Classification technique on the dataset using Logistic Regression

JIUPU NO

• Search through existing technologies and products that have been used in fall detection systems.

• To be able to practice what I have learned, to enable me to learn new theories and apply them to my own projects. And to get the ideal grade in this course.

StartProcess

visualized as a flow chart that is shown in Figure.

Is it a high risk of falls detected?

YES

Implementation: The system is best worn around the waist in order to measure the test subject's body data. Therefore, I have designed the whole item to be worn on the body in the form of a belt, which allows for casual movement and the recording of data.

Send an alarm message through GSM module

[图片]

METHODOLOGY:

Research: A large amount of research was done as part of this project when

the initial study was conducted. For example, how non-wearable and wearable sensors work in a fall detection system; what role the accelerometer and gyroscope occupy in a wearable fall detector; and how machine learning is implemented in most fall detection systems.

Design and Build: Hardware: The selection and application of sensors determine the collection of different levels of falls data.

• Arduino Uno: It is a microcontroller board, that contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to the PC or battery to get started.

• MPU6050: It is the most convenient and inexpensive choice as a sensor with an accelerometer and gyroscope and with low energy consumption.

• GSM: GSM module sends an alarm message to the specified mobile phone number.

RESULTS: After reviewing the available methods, the fall monitoring system achieves its function in the following steps: • After selecting the appropriate hardware, the circuit diagram is designed and the entire hardware system part is assembled.

• After writing the code and running it successfully, the MPU6050 was run to collect data on different levels of risk.

• Write a python program with logistic regression to divide it into training and test parts and predict whether the test backup will be a fall.

• The results were imported into the 女JIUPU confusion matrix and the results were given as follows.

Arduino UNO

Reasearch

Software: For this project, as it involves the collection of human posture data and the requirement to use machine learning to determine the posture data. Due to the programming required, I used Arduino to collect the mpu6050 data, it includes the accelerometer and gyroscope to collect the angle X, Y, and Z data.

MPU6050

Once the data has been collected for the different levels of risk, it needs to be turned into a ‘.csv’ format, this file uses excel for easy reading by the python program in the next step.

Python was used as the main tool to train and test the different risk levels of the movements using machine learning.

GSM

CONCLUSIONS and FUTURE PERSPECTIVES: Conclusion: • The project provided an opportunity to practice what I had learned in real life.

Overall this project has achieved most of the ideas I had envisaged in the early stages.

• The objective was to monitor and collect data on the movement of older people and to classify the data collected as a fall, in this case 'high risk'; this was achieved in part.

• JIUPU • I worked on this project to learn the machine learning technique of classification using logistic regression and implemented it into the program to achieve training and testing three different levels of risk.

• The project's shortcoming is that it can’t send an alarm message to a specific mobile phone number.

Future Perspectives: • In future practice it is expected that the data will be successfully implemented to determine in real-time if a fall is to be recognized and an alarm message sent.

65

Engineering & Technology Expo Bartley Walsh B. Eng Computer & Electronic Engineering L8 Project Supervisor: Muhammad Mahmood Ali

Golf Launch Monitor Introduction A Golf Launch Monitor is a device which predicts the outcome of a golf swing by measuring aspects of the swing.

Methodology (cont.)

Results

•

Find centroid of detected object (x, y coordinates)

•

Take timestamp when object passes 1st speed gate, log x, y coordinates.

The objective for this project is to develop a cost-effective launch monitor which will provide the user with data to help them to improve their golfing performance.

Research

Fig 4 – Min Enclosing Circle and Centroid

Research was carried out by investigating the technology currently available on the market and the different techniques used to measure the golf swing and golf ball parameters.

Following research, it was decided that a Camera Based solution would be selected for the Launch Monitor.

Fig 9 – Program Output Example

Discussion Fig 5 – Centroid past 1st Speed Gate

•

Achievements:

Take timestamp when object passes 2nd speed gate, log x, y coordinates.

Hardware The Hardware used for this project is a Raspberry Pi Model 3B+ which boasts a 64-bit quadcore processor running at 1.4GHz coupled with a Raspberry Pi HQ camera with a Sony IMX477R sensor.

•

Program successfully detects golf ball and golf club using colour masks.

•

Program successfully tracks club and ball throughout video frames

•

Program successfully measures object travel through video frames to calculate ball speed, club speed, launch angle, spin rate and carry distance

Fig 6 – Centroid past 2nd Speed Gate

•

Convert Pixel distance to Actual distance

•

Divide horizontal distance (Δx) by the timestamp difference (Δt) to calculate speed.

•

Take the inverse tan of the vertical distance (Δy) over horizontal distance (Δx) to find the launch angle.

•

Calculate the carry distance using the algorithm found by plotting the data compiled by the PGA Tour for Carry Distance vs Ball Speed.

Fig 1 – Raspberry Pi 3B+ with Raspberry Pi HQ Camera

Drawbacks/Limitations: •

Due to the processing limitations of the Raspberry Pi and Camera the program can only process approx 5 frames per second which equates to a maximum measurable speed of approx 15mph.

•

When the program is run on a Dell Latitude 7480 laptop with a core i7 2.8GHz GPU, the maximum measurable speed is closer to 100mph

300

Methodology

Carry (yards)

250

y = 0.2697x1.347 R² = 0.9951

200 150

Conclusions

100 50 0

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Ball Speed (mph)

Fig 7 – PGA Tour data for Carry Distance as a function of Ball Speed

•

Fig 2 – Software Flowchart

•

Detect object in video frame using colour mask

Calculate Spin Rate by first calculating the velocity vector parallel to the club face using the club speed, club loft and launch angle.

The spin rate is then the ratio of the velocity vector and the circumference of the compressed ball at impact.

This project has been a great avenue with which to display the skills and knowledge gained throughout the duration this course. The objective of the project was to provide useful information about a golf swing to a user and the objective has been met, however not with the hardware originally intended. The low spec hardware used wasn’t capable of the processing speeds required to capture and process images of objects moving at high speeds.

Future Work:

Fig 3 – Video Frame

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Fig 4 – Masked Video Frame

•

Find contours of object in frame

•

Draw the minimum enclosing circle that encapsulates all object contours.

Fig 8 – Spin Rate Calculation

•

Display measured parameters for user.

•

Increase processing power of Raspberry Pi with external GPU.

•

Add additional camera to triangulate ball position and reduce errors due to perspective

•

Measure horizontal launch angle to estimate golf balls direction of travel.

2022

REAL-TIME IOT BASED ENERGY MONITORING SOLUTION

Alan Cuddy

BENG HONS COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

Introduction Internet of Things (IoT) devices have quicky risen to prominence in everyday life, bringing with them new capabilities for streamlining a wide range of operations. Delivering new possibilities for enhanced productivity and societal advantages. ​ ​

Project Features​ 1. Real Time consumption patterns.​ 2. Historical overviews.​ 3. Future predications using machine learning model​.

4. Monitors to detect any safety concerns in the installation. ​ 5. Termination of power via an actuator will occur when a safety concern is detected. ​ 6. Provides data to help consumers reduce energy consumption.​

Methodology Research and Planning I. Extensive literature review.

II. Developed Gantt chart and detailed project timeline.

III. Ordered Materials.

IV. Procured project components.

V. Identified key components.

Tech Stack

Results • Real Time user friendly cross platform application.

• Safety generated push alerts.

• Created and debugged restful API to manage Http Requests.

• Integration with Azure Platform and SQL Server.

• Machine Learning with Azure Platform • Thermal Safety Actuator.

This contributes towards the current climate action plan and will also assist in achieving the goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Global Architecture of the system

I. II. III. IV. V.

Email@: S00215962@mail.itsligo.ie https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-cuddy-188a9954/

3D Print & Consumer Unit with Sensors

Build Circuit Build and implementation.

Consumer Unit build.

Servo Bracket Design/3D Print.

Platform Configuration/Setup.

Prototyping PCB Build.

Cross-platform Application with Push Notifications

Conclusions & Future Perspective • A consumer unit was successfully developed to monitor household energy usage in real time. A system was designed with the Raspberry Pi to gather and transmit data to the Cloud.

• A user friendly cross-platform application with push alerts was created in order to provide historical and real-time energy usage data to the consumer. This gives the user the ability to access their data remotely and adds a safety factor of temperature monitoring.

Appliance Histogram and Current Plots

• Future improvements would include additional updates to the software to improve ML models and incorporate new technologies like BLE.

67

Engineering & Technology Expo

Lone Worker Protection Using Vision System Introduction

Methodology continued

This project is a vision system that will detect humans and based on their behaviour determine if they need assistance. This project is aimed at protecting lone workers. Lone workers are at a higher risk of fatal or more severe accidents due to the time taken to react. There is also the possibility of accidents going unnoticed for a long period of time. This project aims to reduce the time taken to respond to an accident involving lone workers.

Components • Raspberry Pi 4 Model B • Intel Neural Compute Stick 2 • Raspberry Pi camera Module • 32GB SD card

Methodology Research There are many devices design to protect lone workers including wearable technology and GPS tracking mobile phones. These devices can be cumbersome and not always fit for purpose.

Vision systems have been used in the homes of elderly people in order to detect if they have fallen.

Visions system have also been used to detected suspicious behaviour such as fighting or falling down. These projects used human pose estimation to determine the humans behaviour and in turn decide if that behaviour was suspicious or not.

Software Raspian – This is the operating system that was used for the raspberry pi.

This is used to control the camera and provides a good platform to develop the more complex vision systems functions.

OpenCV – This software was used to analyse the incoming images from the camera. Each frame is analysed and the 18 key points on the human body are searched for. This software can be used to show the captured image with the pose estimation drawn on the live camera feed. This software was essential to this project as pose estimation is used to determine the behaviour of the detected human.

Results and Conclusions • This was a complex project and it was difficult to complete all objectives within the given time frame.

• The Raspberry pi worked well for this project • The Intel Neural Compute stick worked well to increase the frames per second • OpenCV made human detection and tracking easy.

Gordon Hegarty 10 The Clarion Village Clarion Road Sligo Co. Sligo

atu.ie

Mobile Number: 0857229553 Gmail: gordonhegarty@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-hegarty-750345207/

2022

Obstacle Avoidance Car based on Vision System Introduction Autonomous driving technology is one of the popular technologies nowadays, which can capture environmental information and digital information to precisely sense what is around and react in time.

Autonomous driving technology requires the use of cameras as an input to information.

Achieving lane following and obstacle location require cameras to read the road environment and information in real-time.

Aim Detect and follow lanes, locate and avoid obstacles on lane based on Raspberry Pi 3B camera-equipped vehicle.

Methodology Components: 1. Robot HATS 2. PCA9865 3. Motor Driver Module 4. USB Webcam 5. SunFounder SF006C Servo 6. DC Gear Motor Lane-following: • Image processing: 1. Blurring images by normalising box filters that can reduce the information system need to process. It can improve efficiency of processing image.

2. The image usually consists of three colour channels, namely red, green and blue. After blurring the image, the processor splits the colour image into separate some single-channel images.

The separated red channel performed the best in the test environment because the test environment is simple and the road is white. Therefore, in the subsequent image analysis, the program will extract the red channel and ignore the other channels.

3. By setting a threshold to 255 for pixel values above the threshold and 0 for pixel values below the threshold that obtain an only black and white image.

4. Using the determination of pixel point coordinates, divide the camera capture image into the left area and right area.

Identify the coordinate on the lane to calculate the distance from the xcoordinate to the image centre.

• Movement decision: 1. If both lane lines are detected, go straight ahead 2. If only one side of the lane line is detected and the coordinates on the lane line are near the centre of the screen, then turn to the other side and vice versa.

Methodology(Continued) Obstacle avoidance: The project uses a single camera to create a deep stereo image instead of a conventional binocular camera or a stereo RGB camera to create the world coordinates. Using a single camera is lower expenses than buying a powerful camera.

Procedure: • Image processing: 1. Initialise the camera's position so that it is facing straight ahead. Subsequently, it deflected slightly to simulate human eyes.

The camera builds a deep stereo image on the principle of mimicking the human eye.

2. The critical step is to calibrate the camera parameters. The checkerboard offers a real-world coordinate of 3D points in calibration because of its known size and a square grid with distinctive colours. The pixel coordinates will be more accurate for more images captured and analysed.

Then we can receive the internal parameters and external parameters of the camera. Simultaneously, we need to be aware of lens distortion, or distortion effect, in the camera. Distortion can be effectively removed by rotating the matrix and by some linear algebraic methods.

3. Combining two images of the simulated left eye and the eye with it to form a disparity map and transform it into depth map. OpenCV's Srereo_SBGM algorithm can efficiently process this step by improving visual disparity constraints by increasing the cost for wrong matches.

This way can be analogous to the search method of least-cost estimation in artificial intelligence.

4. In the case of two images establishing a pixel coordinate system corresponding to the real world, the real-world coordinates of the camera form a ray with the coordinates of the object on the pixel coordinate system. When the camera captures the same object, the rays formed by two different camera angles through different pixel coordinate systems intersect at a point. Therefore, the known pixel coordinates of the object and the already calibrated camera parameters can find the object's depth.

• Obstacle avoidance system: 1. Build depth map after processing images.

2. Identify a threshold which means safe distance. It will give an alarm if it detect the distance between camera and object.

3. Create a mask for range of interest to reduce the influence from corrupted environment.

Haohan Zhu

Result The smart video car can follow the designed lane automatically and it's not just limited to following a straight lane. As the picture shows, there are two points on the lane which means the camera can detect both of lanes.

In the obstacle avoidance section, the internal parameters and external parameters of the single-camera was calibrated and rectified by analysing the checkerboard and it can print the distance and execute the decision for avoidance. The pictures show that the undistorted image and disparity image.

Conclusion This project is generally complete and can be run successfully. Pixel dots are used in the lane following section to detect edge areas rather than the traditional Hough's theorem to detect straight lines. The reason for this is that Hough's theorem can detect lane lines very quickly and unambiguously when both lane lines are present, but when one of the lane lines disappears Hough's theorem cannot be calculated. The polar coordinates cannot be calculated because the coordinates of one of the lines are missing.

For the obstacle avoidance system, it used a lot of linear algebra and was difficult to understand, but thanks to the advice of my supervisor I was able to reduce the cost of the project by replacing the stereo camera with a single camera.

Future Perspective Regarding work on the future, I need to continue to update the lane following section to make it follow the lanes more smoothly.

For the obstacle avoidance part, I would like to adopt a target detection algorithm to make the obstacle avoidance system more widely applicable and intelligent.

Contact • Haohan Zhu • Email: JeremyHan99Z@gmail.com • (087) 239 0807 LinkedIn QR:

69

Engineering & Technology Expo

Computer vision in cars Introduction： ：

The need for this project is to facilitate the driving of car drivers, to reduce their distraction during driving in order to focus on driving and to make driving smarter. Instead of drivers having to pay attention to road signs at all times while driving, computer vision will help you to recognise information and broadcast it as a voice.

Aim:

Installing opencv and webcams for computers so that they can recognise pedestrians and road signs through the camera. to help drivers drive more safely

atu.ie

Method: Design:

I was inspired by the Raspberry Pi cart and designed this project based on my driving experience and my learning of python

Results & Discussion • Using python on the computer side to open the camera • Set a name for the window • Use the mouse to drag and drop to create target events

Fabrication:

The camera analyses the image after capturing it, comparing it with the library file to see if it contains pedestrians and road signs When the comparison is completed the result is obtained and the driver is alerted if it is a pedestrian or road sign

（Create a tracking target for this phone）

• Start tracker, assuming tracking status • Loop through the video and get each frame, if the coordinates of the tracking target are obtained, draw the rectangular box

Conclusions

This project is a good practice for the DSP (Digital Signal Processing) course and is based on python and opencv library function calls. Overall it was a very successful project. The project was planned to go according to plan. There are still some limitations to the development of this project, such as time and resource calls, and with a higher definition camera and an infrared camera I think the night functions could be developed a bit

Yiyang Shi(S00191623) Atlantic Technology University Clarion Road, Sligo, County Sligo,

2022

Francis Rouse Level 8 Electronic & Computer Engineering Atlantic Technological University Sligo

rouse.francis@yahoo.com 0851595543

Real - Time Object Recognition System Introduction The aim of this project is to build an computer vision system that will be able to identify objects and people with a video feed from a camera and will be processed real-time. The camera feed will be displayed and if the object recognition system detects an object within the camera footage, it will highlight the object within the scene by drawing a box around the object and label the object.

Methodology The hardware for this project includes a Raspberry Pi 4 computer, connected to the Raspberry Pi is a five megapixel camera that can record up to 1920x1080 and 60 frames per second, this will be used to provide the Object Recognition System with the video feed for detecting objects. Another hardware component that will be used is the Intel Movidius

Neural Compute Stick. This is a small USB stick that is inserted into the Raspberry Pi 4 that acts as a hardware accelerator that aids with processing the AI and Machine Learning workload as it can be very demanding on the Pi’s CPU and GPU. Once the camera is activated the Machine Learning Live Object Detection - Towards Data Science algorithm can detect the scene for objects it can identify and display them on a screen (similarly to the image above) by marking where they are and naming the object.

Conclusion This Project hs provided me with an opportunity to demonstrate my technical skills and abilities that I have learned at Atlantic Technological University Sligo.

It encompasses aspects from multiple modules that I have studied like Digital Signal Processing and Artificial Intelligence. This project provided a deeper understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning

Raspberry Pi 4 with Labists case

71

Engineering & Technology Expo

LinkedIn QR Joaquin Colodras Delgado Dunmore East, Co Waterford jcolodras@yahoo.es 087-933-1205 B. Eng Mechatronics Adv. Dip. Industrial Electronics

Introduction:

Methodology (Continued):

Results (Continued):

The goal of this project is to build an artificial vision system able to automate night inspections of road public lighting, to increase the safety of the operator, and to reduce time, and costs. Currently, these manual inspections involve having to stop in the hard shoulder of the road to record the defects found, which is dangerous. The goal of this project is to explore the proof of concept for an automated inspection, which will eliminate these dangers.

Planning: The plan was divided into the following tasks: 1. Using a sample video find the best computer vision technique to detect lights in the images. Being accurate but fast were the main goals due to real time computing limitations (vehicle is travelling on a road) 2. Connect to the GPS antenna, record coordinates and generate maps (USB-COM port) 3. Connect remotely to the static GPS antenna (USB-Virtual serial port-Ethernet) 4. Measure the error of both GPS antennas 5. Design bracket to install the camera on top of vehicle and find the best settings and position to survey the road lights (Risk Assesment) 6. Take more videos, adjust and refine CAMERA DETAIL Improve program to detect road lights, analyse results, and calculate best settings and accuracy of results

The camera used is a specialised camera to record vehicle number plates, which does not have a wide angle lens, hence it is only good to capture road lights in one side of the road.

Aim: To build a prototype that can be used in a real life situation to reduce staff risks, which with very little modifications can be expanded to inspect automatically other road elements too.

Methodology: Research: Research was divided into several parts: 1. Contract Requirements 1. Road Lights 2. Other Road Elements 2. Artificial Vision Systems 3. Global Navigation Satellite Systems 4. Computer Vision Techniques

Design: The original design was comprised of the following elements: • Digital ethernet camera mounted on vehicle • Matlab running on laptop to analyse the images obtained and detect the faulty lights • GPS antenna mounted on vehicle to record the geographical coordinates of the faulty lights • GPS antenna in a base station to enhance the accuracy of the GPS system • Map of the lights based on road documentation allowing the proper identification of the faulty lights (coordinates/ID)

7.

LIGHT DETECTED – GPS DATA 7. Create map of lights with coordinates based on documentation and map tools like Google Maps 8. Assign GPS coordinates to lights detected in the images 9. Final version of program with all elements working at together: 1. Computer vision 2. GPS 3. Map/Results 10. Record all results and write final reports 11. Examine points for improvement 12. Find ways to modify prototype for automated survey of other road elements

Results: The first camera used (HIK Vision) did not work.

It was an old model camera and Matlab could not connect to it.

BLOCK DIAGRAM

atu.ie

Freeway camera from ARH was used, this is a spare camera I had at my workplace

Roundabouts are more challenging than straight sections of the road, with more lights in the frame at a given time, and fast changes of direction.

It was found that the accuracy of one GPS antenna only without working in differential mode was enough to locate the road lights in a map. The option of the second antenna is still available in case accuracy needs to be improved in the future.

The GPS antenna connection is done through a USB port but it works like a virtual serial port.

Multivariable analysis of the variables in the Matlab program carried out to find the best settings The program assigns GPS coordinates to the detected lights in the video frame.

A results file will be generated to record the results of the inspection, but it will also alert the driver in real time with sound so the driver will now the lights are being detected and recorded properly.

Findings shown in map Results: TOTAL LIGHTS

233

100.00%

ACCURACY

229

98.28%

FALSE FAILURES

3

1.29%

FALSE WORKING

1

0.43%

224 lights detected working 9 Detected failures but only 6 were real 1 Faulty light missed

Conclusions: The project’s goal, to detect faulty road lights was achieved.

The future now is to modify the prototype to inspect other road elements, to improve accuracy and reduce costs.

The program could be improved by using the Matlab app builder to make the interface easier to use.

2022

The effect of noise on the quality of CAN-BUS and DC-BUS Signals in a High EMI Environment Low Pass Filter Cut Off Frequency 10KHz.

10110010

C2

0

C4

1.0u

1.0u

U1:A R1 10k

3

4k7

1

2

U1:B R4

R3

10k

4k7

8

R2

5

7

6

C1

MCP602

C3

2.2u

1

Introduction:

This project aimed at building a prototype of a CAN_BUS and DC_BUS network. The network consists of microcontroller-based ECUs that communicate with each other via data-bus lines. Communication bus lines and electronic components themselves are exposed to periodic, odd, external, and internal sources of noise that can lead to a data exchange failure, increased data-bus idle time, and corrupted data frames that hugely impact the performance.

560pF

4

0

enhance signal noise

1

8

0

1

4

1

PROCESS

MCP602

Software:

 Project The device Designer drivers for the microcontrollers are developed in embedded C with:

 Software for the laptop that analyses data frames and Signal to Ratio SNR developed in:

Aims:  Develop an operational prototype  Investigation of oscilloscope waveforms  Analysis of noise removing algorithms  Analysis of signal-to-noise ratio  Carry out data analysis to determine the influence of EMI on data frame correctness

Research: The research began with identifying sources of noise that influence data communication.

Identified sources of noise include:  electromagnetic noise  cross talk noise  thermal noise  mechanical/vibrations noise  electronic noise

Methodology:

Design This stage involved:  Designing methods of removing noise components from the signal.  Specifying filter requirements  Calculating transfer functions for the filters  Implementing analog and digital filters and algorithms  Prototyping and evaluating analog filters performance

Hardware / Prototype:

Data Analysis: Data send and received by microcontroller based ECU’s are analysed to determine patterns or trends of root cause problems influencing data frame quality, errors and Signal to Noise Ratio. Trends in location of EMI root cause problem could increase safety of data transfer and speed, reducing redundant bits in protocols and influence wiring loom and ECU design.

Results:  A prototype of ECU based CAN BUS and DC BUS data network  Analogue filters to remove DC component and high frequency component from the signal. h[n] x[n]

y[n]

input

impulse response system

 Discrete Fourier Transform Algorithm to scan for unwanted signal frequencies

Conclusion:  There is a field for further development that could include an additional analog notch filter tuned from the microcontroller to remove odd unwanted frequencies.  Further research and experiments could lead to sending multiple messages simultaneously at various frequencies to reduce redundant bits that are common in CAN BUS communication.  Doubling the communication lines could improve the safety and reliability in case of one line failure.  The project was an excellent learning experience. It helped to apply theoretical knowledge practically.

Pavet Ianas

S00184325@mail.itsligo.ie

73

Engineering & Technology Expo

Chaoyue Liu BEng Computer and Electronic Engineering – Level 8 Mail: liucy991207@gmail.com

Introduction:

Methodology (Continued):

Methodology (Continued):

This project designs a smart home with Raspberry Pi, real-time human detection, smoke detection, temperature and humidity detection and light detection capabilities. And the detected data can be consolidated and sent to the display to communicate information to the user. This project designs a smart home with Raspberry Pi, real-time human detection, smoke detection, temperature and humidity detection and light detection capabilities. And the detected data can be consolidated and sent to the display to communicate information to the user.

Opencv: First of all, in order to use the camera to identify the movement of objects to achieve the purpose of intrusion detection, you need to download Opencv to the Raspberry Pi. I choose PUTTY to connect and operate the Raspberry Pi.

Therefore, the login module here will obtain the user's input password and then go to the password storage file to compare the stored password, and then verify whether it matches and whether it can log in to the main control interface.

The user main control interface is designed to be concise, intuitive and rigorous. The main control interface mainly includes the switch control buttons of each module. After clicking the button, you can view the information data of the related modules for easy management.

Design principles: 1) Safety.

2) Reliable.

3) Comfort.

4) Convenience.

5) Aesthetics.

Aims of Study: 1. Have a comprehensive understanding of the hardware composition and GPIO composition of the Raspberry Pi, and complete the installation of the operating system of the Raspberry Pi to achieve normal use.

2. Understand how sensors work and be able to use them correctly to achieve the effect we need them to achieve. And have a general understanding of some protocols, such as serial, UART, SPI, I2C, etc.

3. Master the data types and syntax of Python.

4. Effectively control the motor-driven connection and control motor and other modules. And to be able to make a linkage effect based on the information collected by the sensor.

5. How to achieve a parallel effect for different functions without being restricted by the order of code execution.

6. Use cloud technology to integrate and transfer data, to be convenient and fast.

Methodology: Overview: This project mainly uses the Raspberry Pi to control each sensor to detect the environment in the room.

The project uses the Raspberry Pi camera, smoke sensor, temperature and humidity sensor, buzzer, rotor motor and Raspberry Pi for the overall construction.

I need to increase the swap space first before installing to avoid compilation failures due to memory issues. Enter sudo nano /etc/dphys-swapfile to change the default. Then build OpenCV sequentially. The first step is to update the package index and install the build tools and required dependencies; the next step is to create a temporary build directory after cloning the repository; use cmake to set the OpenCV build configuration; run make -j4 to start the compilation process.

The complete system flow chart and physical map are shown below:

Module integration： ： Use the Python IDE that comes with the Raspberry Pi to write some codes, including but not limited to: • Intrusion detection module (monitoring the activities of people in the designated location when passing through the camera, and when someone is detected, the owner or the camera module can be notified by SMS. Capture images to achieve effective security purposes.

• Temperature and humidity detection module (using DHT11 detection module as a basis, according to real-time acquisition of environmental temperature and humidity values, and then return the value).

• Stepper motor part.

• Light control switch module (detected by camera The intensity of the light source controls the light bulb on and off).

Asynchronous events and performance: When these four modules are integrated together, we cannot make these four modules work by timesharing, because this is a waste of time and cannot meet our needs and performance, so we need to use the functions in a certain module to Achieving something like parallel processing allows our different modules to alert when they should. Use functions in certain modules to achieve parallel effects on these modules.

Client: Smart home systems need a convenient and beautiful client to consolidate all the data and make it more intuitive. And the client needs some security, only the client can control the smart home. I choose to use cloud technology, because it is convenient.

Developers only need to simply add diagrams and connections to complete software development.

atu.ie

Results:

Conclusions: After several months of study and practice, the graduation thesis and design were finally completed as scheduled. The smart home system has finally achieved the expected basic functions as a system that can operate normally. Although the system is relatively simple, it may not be considered a medium-sized system, but in the whole process of graduation design, I learned a lot of knowledge of software and hardware , especially deepened the knowledge and related operations of Linux programming, sensor use and embedded development process, and learned the entire process of analysis, design and development as a specific project.

I believe this process will be of great help in future work, study and life. At the same time, in this process, I learned a lot of practical skills and knowledge through various channels, and benefited a lot. Of course, the smart home system also has many shortcomings and needs to be strengthened and improved. I hope that I can modify and improve it through my own efforts in the later stage, so that it can play a better role.

2022

Brian Quane - 0879697143 BEng Electronic Engineering Year 4 Project 2022

Introduction Today when it comes to traceability paper-based systems are currently utilized in many moulding shops across the country. This is an old-fashioned way of collecting/tracing data or information, and it has been eliminated in many multinational companies. Within “smaller” contract moulding shops it is still largely intact. This is typically due to expense of what some market systems can cost.

The purpose of this project is to deliver a basic, functioning, model of a tool traceability system to supersede this older “paper trail” technology promoting a more eco friendly system whilst retaining and securing critical data that is vital to the company manufacturing regulations.

This system application will perform complete traceability of tool’s lifespan within a manufacturing platform while incorporating the elements of Industry 4.0 within the system.

Project Software /Hardware Controls HTML and CSS : used to design the tool trace web page layout.

PHP and JavaScript/Apache 2 is the programming/server to drive the hardware controls integrated from the RPI3.

MySQL was utilized for the database storing.

Arduino Uno/Python utilized to provide a live cycle count to the system mimicking a moulding machine operation.

Hardware : Raspberry PI3, Polycam webcam, Barcode Scanner, RC522 RFID, LCD, reader/tag yellow/green led’s, wire joining connectors, HP monitor, keyboard, mouse.

Tool Trace

Traceability in Medical Device Mould Tools Method

Tool Trace operates under a combination of hardware and software features which provide a simple solution to trace steel tooling within a mould shop.

.

The system homepage will present a menu to enable the user go through a process of steps to ensure the tooling's lifecycle can be tracked and traced from the start to end of life.

•

Tooling is laser marked with a QR code and assigned to a mould tool @ Incoming Tool Inspect.

•

Critical dimension are measured @ Tool Metrology.

•

Assigned tooling for each mould can be viewed or updated, and the mould tool cycle count is visible @ Mould Tool Life Cycle.

•

All new tooling records, tool updates and mould lists where tooling can be removed or added to a tool is located and displayed @Tool List/Update Log.

Result This prototype model runs and functions as desired, there was no issues reading the laser etched QR codes samples marked by the Keyence laser.

Tool trace demonstrated and supported the capability that tool traceability can be achieved through this system.

Conclusion As an experienced moulding engineer of 15 years, I believe with even further development and equipment add-ons within an industry, this system would provide many benefits to a mould shop and to a quality system if utilized within a moulding process or manufacturing facility.

75

Engineering & Technology Expo

ATU Sligo Computing Final Year Student Projects

atu.ie

2022

TEAM MEMBERS • • • •

Cian Tivnan – S00198481 Niall Sheerin – S00200760 Eric Leonard – S00196446 Keanan McDonald – S00199994

OVERVIEW • Mental Wealth Our web application allows users to track their mental health every day. Our main feature of the app was for the user to be able to interact with the app through their voice. This was implemented by converting their speech into text, then it was passed through our sentiment analysis API to retrieve the sentiment score.

We also wished for the user to be able undertake certain activities that day to link correlations between bad moods and certain activities. Giving users an insight into what activities may be causing their bad mood.

• Meet the Team We are a group of four software development students that see a crisis within young people's mental health and have set out to create a web application that would be able to help with this.

Sign-In Page

ARCHETICTURE & TECHNOLOGIES

• • • • •

The web application was built using the Angular framework.

The front-end was styled using Bootstrap.

User data was stored using AWS DynamoDB. Code progress was uploaded to GitHub for version control.

The web application is hosted using AWS S3 static hosting and cached globally using AWS CloudFront.

• Google's Speech Recognition API was used to convert a user's speech into text for analysis and storage.

• Twinword's Sentiment and Emotion Analysis APIs were used to analyse the user's daily recordings.

Recording Page

Correlations Page

• Twinword allowed us to analyse the positive or negative sentiment and find the percentages of emotions displayed within a piece of text.

• This was done by converting speech provided by the user into a string of text and passed to our Twinword endpoint.

• The sentiment analysis endpoint allowed us to plot the positivity or negativity of a user's day on a line graph, to quickly and intuitively view their overall mood over several days.

• The emotion analyis endpoint allowed us to find the strengths of 6 different emotions present within the text. This was then converted to a percentage value and displayed on an animated pie chart when a day is selected.

FUTURE PLANS • Further Development We plan to use AWS SageMaker machine learning to gain deeper insights into the habits and patterns of users' daily activities and the impact it has on their mental health.

• Bringing our Product to Market We feel that our product could provide a valuable service which would allow people to better understand their mental health. This could be utilised by doctors to help improve their patients' wellbeing.

CONCLUSION Mental Wealth is an intuitive, easy to use application that can offer a user invaluable insight into their mental health on a day-to-day basis and may even assist them in identifying particular habits that may affect their emotional state and thus take steps to correct them.

Scan here to try → RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION TEMPLATE © 2019

www.PosterPresentations.com

77

Engineering & Technology Expo

Open Coin Team members: - Illia Shakin – SG_KSODV_H08 - Bashar Al Hatmi – SG_KSODV_H07 - Omar Al Shuaili – SG_KSODV_H07 - Ahmed Al Naaamani – SG_KSODV_H08

Cryptocurrency Wallet

What is Next

Overview - The Project is a cryptocurrency wallet that allows customers to transfer and manage their cryptocurrency, basically we aim to let the user exchange money online in an easy secure way.

- Allow the user to request from users that have wallets in other platforms.

- User would be able to sell or buy cryptocurrency.

- Adding a customer service. For example, live chat.

- Creating a quick add scan code.

- To transfer, the wallet would have to be stored on our platform.

- There are prices and charts featuring important data to the user, which will lead to a better understanding of the market.

Implementation - Visual Studio Code - IDE - Angular: Front End Web Framework - Node.JS: Back-end Javascript runtime environment - Express.JS: Back end Web Framework - Amazon Web service (AWS) - MongoDB: NoSQL Database - Github: Used for version control

Conclusion - Open Coin is made to suit everyone with its unique and easy way to use.

- Teamwork was the key to the project success.

- Expanding our platform.

atu.ie

Architecture

2022

Vexus Meet The Team

Project Overview

We Last Few  Jake Beecham | S00197638 | Year 3 | Games Development

Project Aim

 Andrew Casey | S00999999 | Year 3 | Games Development

• Produce FPS | RP | Adventure Game • Unreal Engine 4.26 • Offer a Fantasy style shooter

 Adam Hoffman | S00999999 | Year 3 | Games Development  Colin Labelle | S00999999 | Year 3 | Games Development

Research

About Us

Features that would be included: • Enemies • Unique Levels • Weapons • Collectables • Checkpoints • Engaging UI • Unlockable Barriers

• We are a small team of programmers, whose love for gaming led us down a path of understanding and learning into Games Development.

• We hope to have achieved a high-quality game that has tested our skills and delivers a quality experience to the player.

Architecture

Design • Looking at current FPS | RP | Adventure Games, we gathered a base.

• We planned out structures for how our Design and Features would set.

• • • •

Unreal Engine 4.26 PC Mouse & Keyboard Controller

• We planned out structures for Game Mechanics.

Development Process • Test Driven Development • Focus on Features over Assets • Emphasis on User Experience

z

Technologies Used • • • • • • •

Unreal Engine Microsoft Teams GitHub Trello Visual Studio 2019 Unreal Marketplace Mixamo

Future of the Project Vexus Future Plans • • • • • • • • • •

Full In-Depth Story Full Range of Levels Full Range of Enemies Unique Enemies Single Player Type Extensive Arsenal of Weapons Full Content UI Environmental Hazards & Traps Steam Release Other Platform Releases

Conclusion • Cooperation is an important part of the development process since the game relies on a lot of separate components that are individually and cooperatively worked upon.

• Each member found an area that they found interesting and with the consent of the rest of the group, proceeded in pursuing this path. Each person was challenged but was aided by the rest of the group when in difficulty.

• Project management played a huge part throughout the project, where the workloads were set in priority, and each would choose a workload to take on.

• Communication between colleges would play a big part when moving into making commits and pushing branches to merge work into main branch.

79

Engineering & Technology Expo

atu.ie

2022

Product Finder Supervisor: Saritha Unnikrishnan

Overview Product Finder is a mobile application that allows users to search for products in several online stores using either the product name, product barcode, or an image of the product.

The user can then visit these online stores to purchase the product if they wish.

Main Features • Users can search online stores for a product using several methods: • Scanning the product barcode.

• Typing the name of the product in the text search.

• Taking a picture of the product, which is scanned by the AI model to determine the product.

• Taking an existing picture from the users' gallery to scan.

• Users can filter the results given to them to further assist them in searching for products, such as sorting them by name alphabetically, or by price ascending or descending.

• Users can view some details about the product on the product page, where they can also click the link to go to the sellers' website to buy the product.

• Users can view all their previous searches, which are logged by the app and stored in the app database.

Future Work

• Users can delete searches if they wish.

Technologies Implemented

• Implement the original project idea if/when the resources to do so become available.

• Implement a login system to save user data on a per account basis rather than a per device basis.

• Replace the APIs with web scraping and implement proxies to ensure more accurate data – higher budget needed for this idea.

• Expand the TensorFlow AI Model to include more products

Learning Outcomes • Team improved on existing skills such as communication skills and time management skills

Architecture

• Team learned new technologies e.g., TensorFlow and Volley • Team experienced a simulated real-life project and agile methodologies • Team gained more experience in the area of Mobile App Development

Team Members Ethan De Guzman James Carberry Shayaan Khan Matthew Murphy

- S00199053 - S00197582 - S00199152 - S00201014

- Software Development Level 8 - Software Development Level 8 - Software Development Level 8 - Software Development Level 8

• • • • •

User opens the app on their android phone Android app is built using Android Studio and Java SQLite stores search history of the user Volley handles the HTTP Request and Response The APIs receive their respective parameters such as product name e.g., TensorFlow Model passes product name • The response is received by the app and displayed on screen • Picasso loads the image URLS onto the screen • All code stored in online repository using GitHub

81

Engineering & Technology Expo

Trypto.ie Cryptocurrency trading with all the fun and none of the risk Overview

Tech-Stack

Trypto allows users to use play money to invest in cryptocurrency at the current live prices. It is a practice platform for people who might not know a lot about cryptocurrency but have an interest in learning more about trading without any risk involved.

Client Side: For the frontend of the web application, React.js alongside Twitter Bootstrap were used. We wanted to introduce a new technology, one that we didn't learn in our course, so we decided on React.js. React.js is a JavaScript library used for developing interactive single page websites. The library was developed by Facebook and is one of the most popular JavaScript Libraries today. Bootstrap is a CSS library created

by Twitter. We decided to use this as it provides a predefined grid system which makes it easy to create a responsive website.

Server Side:

Key Features •

Dashboard Users spending balance, investment worth, a portfolio of all the assets the user currently possesses and a list of transactions the user has made. There is a buy and sell feature where the user can select a coin as well as how much value of that coin and buy or sell as they please.

•

Leaderboard Brings a gaming aspect for the user. It will show a leaderboard ranking system based on the current balance. The user can see their rank, the over all leader, how many members there are altogether and how many are actually in play.

•

Top 100 Coins

Admin Dashboard Total transactions made and the total users signed up.

There is also a feature for the admin to create a new user and select the role of that user.

Team - The Misfits

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Future Features •

Current live prices of the top 100 cryptocurrencies. It shows the name, symbol, price, market cap, volume of the last 24hrs and also the price change for the last 24hrs of each coin as well as ranking them.

•

For the backend, we used an AWS hosted MySQL database for storing information. We chose this database format for its high speeds since it would be pulling a lot of data. We went with creating express APIs for the CRUD operations.

This proved simpler to use than PHP, involving less code and we were all familiar with express APIs from our college work. For analysing and configuring the database, we used MySQL Workbench due to its wide variety of tools.

Dean Clancy

Geoffery Yakub

Corey McCrann

Dale Duncan

•

•

Graph the value of each individual asset.

Follow other users, e.g track their progress and investments Have a private leaderboard section where users can add only who they wish

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OVERVIEW

Our app is a student planner, time-management tool that assists students in organizing all of their assignment responsibilities at school during the week, semester, and academic year. It helps keep things simple to plan your work and keep organized with it. Allowing you to excel.

Team: THE MISFITS As programming students, who understand the needs and wants of our classmates, we decided we needed to create, design, and implement a student planner app • • • •

Aisling Mc Loughlin Kian Waters Luke Sweeney Zoe Conroy

MODULE SCREEN

W I R E F R A M E S

Features

Details on the Wireframe

As a student I'd like to: • Add assignments to be done.

• Get notifications on upcoming assignments.

• View all my upcoming assignments.

• set an assignment as complete.

Module Screen: • Here you can add and display modules.

Assignment Screen: • Displays Assignments. Here you can add or delete assignments while marking them as complete.

• Traffic light colour system is used.

Add Assignment Screen: • Displays assignment details that can be edited. This includes a calendar feature.

• •

More experience with full-stack development.

Increased knowledge in open-source databases for data modeling, (SQLite).

Self-teaching and research experience.

ADD ASSIGNMENT SCREEN

Methodology The system of approaches employed in this field of research is known as Agile Development.

• This strategy has allowed us to provide value to clients faster and with fewer issues.

• Weekly sprints were used, and stand-up meetings were held to discuss work on a regular basis.

Future Work

Learning Outcomes •

ASSIGNMENT SCREEN

• • • •

Upkeep and maintenance on the project while Implementing new ideas.

Automatic function to aid in the improvement of the model based on user comments.

Deploy the app to the Apple Store and the Google PlayStore Allow students to sync up their college accounts from the college system, this allows access to timetables, exam results, etc.

Technologies used: Project300 * Designed by Aisling Mc Loughlin

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Blackjack Teams Member JMRQ Jack Malone

S00199917

Software Development L7 (Year 3)

Mah Noor

S00199547

Software Development L7 (Year 3)

Ryan Mc Donald

S00199690

Software Development L7 (Year 3)

Quentin Quaile

S00199608

Software Development L7 (Year 3)

Overview: The aim of our project was to develop a Card game where players can login using valid login details and play against each other and also can contact to each other by messaging.

Research: For the development of our game project, we took a look into the real time strategy genre and the different aspects of this genre. Some of the aspects we looked at in regards to our project are as follows: •

•

•





Unity Firebase/Fire store Resource Gathering React Visual Studio

Design: After thinking and looking about so many ideas about the game, we decided then what kind of features, styling and functionality would involve our game.

Development/Working: The development process is to make sure all game systems worked together correctly. Our project which is a blackjack game is where players can login with valid detail and paly against each other ,players scores saved in database and players can contact each other by message in the game and these messages saved in NoSQL database in firebase. Overall project is working on unity.

Architecture User can use the website itch to download the game which is blackjack so then user with login and start to play. when player will play their scores will save in firebase and also their users details plus users messages as well.

Tools/Technologies: The tools and technologies we used in our projects are below with brief explanation: •

•

•

•

Unity: is best known for the development of Unity, a licensed game engine used to create video games and other applications. (Our project is working with unity) React: React. js is an open-source JavaScript library that is used for building user interfaces specifically for single-page applications. React allows developers to create large web applications that can change data, without reloading the page. (Social side for players/users is working using this and also with unity) Firebase: Google Firebase is a Google-backed application development software that enables developers to develop iOS, Android and Web apps. (In our project using for storing data from game to NoSQL database ) Visual Studio: The Visual Studio IDE is a creative launching pad that you can use to edit, debug, and build code, and then publish an app.

Languages: C#

Initial Tool/Technologies for creating black jack game project: OUR teams initial plan about the project was that we will use unity, game lift, mirror and DynamoDB but because of lack of code and also have not much information about these tools we did not get the project working using these because of that we change our decision and use the tools and technologies I mentioned above for the project.

•

Game lift: Amazon Game Lift is a managed service for deploying, operating, and scaling dedicated game servers for session-based multiplayer games.

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Mirror: Mirror is a high level Networking library for Unity 2019/2020 LTS, compatible with different low level Transports. Mirror is for indie games & small MMOs, made by the developers of uMMORPG and Cubica

•

DynamoDB: Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed, serverless, key-value NoSQL database designed to run high-performance applications at any scale.

Description of work completed: Our project is about a game and its blackjack where the player/users can login with valid authentications and that user detail will save in NoSQL database in fire store, After login in player can play the game and what ever score the player have will save in the database most importantly high score will save and other players then play against it. The other feature in our project is that the plyers can talk to each other using chat box which is in the game and that messages will save in database. The project is working using unity ,react, firebase. We try our best to get the game working but have few litte issues which we will do more research and get it done in future .

Results/Conclusions/Learnings: •

At the end we get our project working with full functionality and all features designed very well.

•

Learn how to work with a team and also how to mange and become responsible as well.

•

Learn about how the database storing data +Authentication/Authorization part and how client side server side working together.

•

We did not know about unity and how it will work so we learn the differ aspects of that as well.

It was a good experience working as team and individually leant lots of skills and knowledge about different stuff and explore new technologies and tools.

Future work: In future, our aim is to add more functionality about where multiplayers can play also add more different games options so the users who will use our website have more option of game for playing ,Also trying to figuring out the issues we had in this project and try to improve it as well.

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2022

Student Room Student room is aimed at students to help them find accommodation near their college

Overview Student Room is a web based application that aims to assist college students in finding potential accommodation in their respective college area.

This web application gives students the opportunity to find accommodation in the area they wish, it gives them the ability to be able to view the property in greater detail. They also have the ability to login/register this then gives them access to the dashboard. Landlords are able to upload property, view property, and delete property.

Back End

•

Firebase was used as our database, we used it to store all user

Front End

•

details, and to store all accommodation information •

•

Firebase authentication was used to store users information we used mail and password authentication.

When a property is uploaded it is stored in a bucket that is linked to the Realtime database where the application retrieves the properties and displays them back to the user

•

•

The Student Room web application was built in Angular using TypeScript Bootstrap 5 was used for the design aspect of the web application Angular Materials was also used for the design for the web application

Reflection

Learning Outcomes

Looking back on a lot of the work we had done we can all agree that we struggled with the backend. Firebase caused a lot of issues for us as a group and we all struggled with using it and finding resources on it. A better option for us would have been Amazon Web Services as we had more experience with it. We all worked well with angular as at the time of doing the project we had angular modules so it helped us out a lot. Our time management could have been better we all made the mistake of spending too much time trying to figure out or solve problems when our time could have been spent more effectively elsewhere.

Going into this project we had previous experience with angular and firebase but we wanted to improve our skills. We all learned a lot about how to use angular and typescript and also how to setup and use firebase. Working in a group throughout the year was also very good experience and we all learned how to work in a group together. We learned good research skills as we had to research most of the work we were doing as it was new to us.

Architecture

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Behaviour Trees

VS

GOAP

Overview

Features

The aim of this project is to compare the use of Behaviour Trees and Goal-Oriented Action Planning in the creation of videogame A.I. NPCs (Non-Player Characters).

In the end two scenarios were made in Unity with the help of pro builder to build out simple scene assets that simulated 3 NPCs simulating workers performing different jobs.

It is very difficult to find a fair comparison between the two methods as games can vary wildly from each other.

The first 2 NPCs are the miner and the lumberjack that harvest resources until their tools break then deposit the resources at the storage and get a new tool from their station if there is one.

The project will try to provide a fair comparison by creating two identical scenarios in the Unity game engine with the only difference between them being the NPCs in those scenarios being made with the two methods.

The last NPC is the Blacksmith which takes the resources deposited in the storage, craft new tools with these resources and deposits them at the other NPCs stations when they are empty.

Technologies

Behaviour Trees

GOAP

Behaviour Trees use a hierarchy of nodes that get executed from left-to-right and top-to-bottom that start from a root node and expand downwards that when visualised resemble the roots of a tree. A custom Behaviour Tree editor was made in the project to be able to make and visualise the Behaviour Trees inside Unity.

Below is an image of the Behaviour Tree used by the Lumberjack and Miner NPCs in the project inside the Behaviour Tree editor.

Goal-Oriented Action Planning also known as GOAP allows NPCs to given a set of actions and goals that get sorted via a planner for the NPC to figure the goals it wants to do and what action it wants to perform to fulfil that goal making the NPCs made with GOAP a act very unpredictably and simulate intelligence. Below is the GOAP planner, goals and actions for the Blacksmith NPC.

Scene Layout Here is the layout of one of the scenes. Both Scenes are the same with the only difference being the NPC logic and the positioning of assets.

Each Scene contains one of each A.I. NPC, a flat green plane for the ground, a storage that has a wood, iron deposit and two tool stations attached to it. There is a tree and a iron deposit in the word for the harvesting NPCs to do their work and anvil for the Blacksmith to craft tools.

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2022

Multiplayer & Networking

by David Coleman

Overviiew

Implementation

The goal of this project was to develop a functional multiplayer experience with the use of Unity technologies for players to connect into a game session for entertainment purposes.

This project is more of a proof of concept to test Relay and Lobby that is Unity’s new network over the cloud.

This project have had had many features designed and developed some of these features are still under development and others are successfully working.

The game has scenes where a player is required to use join codes to join a game session and syncronized animations with attacks.

2. Syncronized animations of a network

The project is still a work in progress with much testing still needed.

1. Joining via join codes

3. player attacks register on hit against other players. pl 4. Unity Gaming Services shows analytics of player logins 5. Logins works through an anonymous sign in feature

Architechure The project was built using Unity Gaming Services that are in beta and for use of these services packages were installed along with netcode packages to work. Authentication was implemented where the user is assigned an ID that is randomly generated and each player communicates with the relay server that then sends messages to the host like shown below.

Conclusion The main goal of this project was to discover how multiplayer works for games and to explore the development process that uses a new type of enviroment for production.

Some of these goals were acomplished through a large amount of research and discovery. A lot of what was achived was only possible through the samples that were given by Unity and the documentation being extremely helpful.

Given the difficult timelimit that is given there are certain Gi features that are still under development and will remain under development for the foreseeable future and will continue with discovering on how to better understand these processes.

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DeepSocial

Abstract What is RNN? Recurrent Neural Networks are a type of network deep learning model.

The intention of RNN is to predict the future by understanding recurrent patterns.

Overview •

Aim of The Project The aim of my project was to create a mobile application for Tweet Generation as well as a Tweet Sentiment Classifier, to allow for people new to social media to create engaging, positive social media posts on the go.

•

AI Models For Tweet generation a Gated Recurrent Units model was created that was trained using a data-set of the most popular, liked and re-tweeted tweets.

For classifying the Tweets sentiment so that no users would post negative tweets a Logistic Regression model was used which was trained on a data-set of tweets that had been classified on being either positive, negative or neutral.

•

Mobile Application A mobile application was created because social media users tend to post social media updates on the go. I chose to create the mobile application using the Kivy and KivyMD Python libraries.

Technologies

Architecture Diagram Learning Outcomes • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

User opens the DeepSocial Mobile Application.

A user logs into the application through firebase.

A user then creates the start of a tweet.

The application then generates a tweet using the Gated Recurrent Units Model, that was trained off of a CSV data-set.

The application then detects the sentiment of the generated tweet using the Logistic Regression model, that was also trained off of a CSV data-set.

A user can then view a preview of the tweet, with the details of the username and full name for the preview being gotten from firebase.

A user then posts the tweet using the Twitter API, and the DeepSocial Twitter Account will like and retweet using Tweepy API.

Student: Pierce Connaughton | S00185812

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• • • • • •

Use of machine learning and implementing AI models within a project.

Understanding how to conduct data analysis and preprocessing data.

Using a new programming language in Python Understanding how to use a notebook in programming such as Jupyter Notebook Self teaching and research Implementing UX in full stack development cycle How to use Kivy to create a mobile interface

Future Work

Collect quality data on tweets in own time.

Integration within Twitter.

Allow login with Twitter API. Deploying the application on iOS. Upkeep and maintenance on project.

Expanding to other social media platforms.

Project Supervisor: Saritha Unnikrishnan

What is Gated Recurrent Units?

Gated Recurrent Units is a type of RNN model that involves setting how much of the past outputs to be passed into the future input.

It is extensively used in the fields of natural language processing.

What is Logistic Regression?

Logistic Regression is a widely used machine learning classification technique.

Defined by the following function:

What is Kivy?

Kivy is a Python library that is used as a framework to create and design mobile interfaces.

As Kivy interfaces are designed using Python it allows us to easily present Python applications on a mobile interface.

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Overview Roadcall is an infrastructure reporting tool that allows users to report problems in their areas such as potholes or broken street lamps. This information is then passed to the local council which gives them better knowledge about what the local community wants to see fixed by its council.

Technoloies Used

Why use Roadcall?

Empowers communities to feel heard Increase tourism Improve Infrastructure

React - Frontend of the application used due to its speed, flexibility and performance.

GCP - Using the Google Maps API, along with Places and Geolocation API's

AWS - Chosen due to its reliable cost-effective capabilities.

Lambda - Used for the backend logic of the application. Chosen for best in class speeds and easy integration with other services.

DynamoDB - Selected for its performance, scalability and costs.

Learning outcomes Strong understanding of React Knowledge gained in Serverless tooling Greater exposure to Cloud Development solutions Further experience in UX and UI design More competent with Cloud Infastructure

Future Work Report Feed: A social media style feed whereby users can upvote other reports. This information will help Councils see what people most want seen to.

Council Updating: Developing a facility where the council can report back to the users of the progress on their reports. Making the users believe more in the service.

Jamie Donohoe

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Supervisor: Donny Hurley

2022

Work Week Tech Stack

Overview Work Week is HR web application that aims to eliminate the issues and frustrations around managing employee rotas within the service industry.

Both employees and managers can benefit from migrating from pen & paper rotas to Work Week.

Unlike other HR management tools, Work Week aims to target small to medium business with a sleek and simplistic design.

Front-End

Developed using the Visual Studio IDE in Angular. The front-end consists of multiple components consisting of HTML, CSS and TypeScript. CSS plugins Bootstrap and Tailwind were used to assist with the UI design.

Back-End

A Restful API developed in Spring Boot using the InteliJ IDE. The Spring Boot application relies of multiple dependencies that are built using Apache Maven.

Cloud

The Work Week application is hosted on AWS using Elastic Beanstalk. Additonal AWS services are also used in the application, such as S3 buckets and Cognito.

Database

Work Week connects to an Aurora Database in the cloud. This is a relational database and is compatible with PostreSQL.

Features

Rota

The Rota page allows users to create and edit a work rota for the week that can be accessed by all employees who are registered with Work Week.

Employees Page

Here users can see a detailed list of each employee registered with Work Week. Users can also delete employees from the Work Week database from this page.

Registration

Users can create new employees to the Work Week database as well as the cognito user pool for login functionality.

Logins

Work Week is only accessible to employees who have been registered. New employee details are sent to both the database as well as the cognito user pool which is used to allow authorized users to log into Work Week.

Future Development Experiment with additional cloud services, such as Lambda.

Add more features for both employees and managers.

Implement Data Analytics to review employee statistics Make Work Week more mobile friendly.

Architecture

Gain more user feedback to direct development of Work Week.

Learning Outcomes Develop using a new technology and programming language stack not taught at IT Sligo.

Gain experience working as a full-stack developer.

Improve my project management skills using Agile.

Rely on my skills as an individual to solve problems.

Implement good UX/UI design principle.

Developed By Harry Flanagan

Gain confidence working with cloud services.

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S00184337 - JONATHAN LOGUE

GENERAL PURPOSE BINARY CLASSIFIER

Project

The goal of this project was to create an online tool that would allow a wide variety of people to interact, research and explore their own datasets using machine learning.

We endevoured to create a dynamic yet straightforward tool that can be implemented without having an IT background. From students, researchers, medical professionals etc to empower them to model and analyise their data in real time.

Tech Stack

This project combined many different technologies namely, 1.

Python 2.

JavaScript 3.

HTML 4.

CSS 5.

Google Firebase 6.

Scikit-learn

Project Designer Jonathan Logue ATU BScSoftware Development Jonnylogue93@gmail.com

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Dropoff Carpool App Oisin Lynch(S00189006)

The Goal > My aim for project 400 was to create an easy-touse mobile application for any third level students around the country. > My goal was to create an app that allowed for students to receive and provide lifts for fellow students to and from college, allowing for students to save money and have a greater environmental and social impact.

App Screenshots

Agile Methodology

KEY FEATURES

Implementation

> Agile development was vital to the success of this project.

> Ability to create an account either as a passenger or a driver through email and password.

There were many different software solutions available to create the app

> I implemented testing throughout the project to make sure each feature was of high quality.

> Passengers can request lifts from drivers that are available sorted by shortest distance to the passenger.

> I held weekly meetings with my project supervisor to review the work that had been carried out during the previous week and prepare for the upcoming week.

> Upon receiving a request, a driver can see all the passengers' details including name, phone number and location.

> We produced a list of priorities for the apps key features and each week I would tackle tasks from the priorities list.

> Minutes were kept during these meetings, so I knew the key tasks for the upcoming week.

> After matching with a driver, the passenger can see the driver's location as they arrive to the pickup location. > A route will be drawn on the map from the pickup location to the dropoff location. > Both passengers and drivers can set their details after registration including profile image, name, number etc. > After finishing the journey, passengers can pay though the app using the Stripe API or make use of other apps that may be downloaded on their phone such as PayPal or Revolut > After paying the driver, a passenger can give their driver a rating and submit some feedback.

> I used android studio and Java for the front-end development > Firebase Storage, Authentication, Realtime Database and Firestore Database was used for the back-end > I decided to use Java/Firebase as I were familiar with them though our previous modules over the past 3 years > Storing the data on Firebase also allows for the implementation of a web interface but with the same data that the mobile application uses, such as users who have registered on the app

Learning Outcomes > Greater knowledge of Android mobile application development. > More experience with back-end development using Firebase. > Greater experience with self teaching and research. > Further skill with front-end UI/UX design.

Weekly Meeting Minutes

Simplified Architecture Diagram

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GardenEye

Gardening on the Go Overview GardenEye is a gardening system made up of a mobile app and microprocessor that allows you to monitor and care for your plants while you are away.

It can automatically: Water plants when they are dry Draw cool air into a greenhouse Show live images and environment data Produce time-lapse footage of your plant's growth

Technologies

Learning Outcomes Better understanding of Python and threading More experience in mobile app development More experience in cloud data storage Basic knowledge of electronics Knowledge on maintaining healthy plants

Architecture

Future Multiple systems controlled by one mobile app Artificial light for plant growth Nutrient sensor (N-P-K) Detect leaf disease with computer vision Predict plant health with logistic regression Gardening tips pages for gardening topics

Supervisor: Saritha Unnikrishnan

Paul McDonagh

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Student: Tara McDonagh Supervisor: Edmund Gray

Service 4 U Bringing services near you to you

OVERVIEW

ARCHITECTURE

Service 4 u is a web-based application that allows users to find service providers such as plumbers in their area and book their services.

The application uses endpoints from the backend to filter the providers by county and then further by sector to only show the providers that are best for the job. All providers have different services that they offer which are displayed by finding all services for a specific provider from the back end.

These services can be easily booked and all the user has to do is pick the date, time and location as the rest is automatically filled in. An email is then sent to the user and provider so everyone's aware of the booking.

There is also a review system that shows reviews for different providers. This is implemented using a endpont that shows reviews for the selected provider and is in place in order to keep everyone safe and to let others know the type of company they are.

BACKEND

Java was the programming language for the backend Spring Boot was the framework used to code

FRONTEND

INFRESTRUCTURE Google Cloud PostgreSQL is the database used in this project to store all the data that's shown in the frontend.

The backend is hosted on Elastic Beanstalk and the endpoint created is used in the frontend.

Firebase Authorisation and Firebase Database are both used to login and store users data.

Netlify is used to host the frontend

FUTURE WORK In the future i plan to add a few things to this project as it is nowhere near its capabilities.

I will add a providers side to everything so a provider can register their business and add, edit and delete services..

I will add a profile page for a user so all their bookings reviews show up so they can view everything.

I will set up a calender for providers where it shows all their upcoming bookings.

Lastly, I would add the ability to filterthe reviews by rating so you can see the worst to best comments and visa versa

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This application was made by using spring-boot java backend to call a PostgreSQL database deploy to elastic beanstalk.

The elastic endpoint is used in the react frontend as an rest API in order to call the data seen.

Firebase is used to authorise users and Netlify hosts the application so it is accessible to everyone.

Javascript was the programming language used in this project.

React is the library I used to create the web application.

I used both Bootstrap and Material-UI to add different components to the frontend as i liked aspects of both

TECHNOLOGIES

LEARNING OUTCOMES Some of the learning outcomes from this project include: Having better time management skills inorder to get what needs to be done, done on time.

Not to rely on one service provider for one thing as if it doesn't work the whole project is screwed.

And learning how to push myself to get the most out of the project and tobe my own motivator

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ATU Sligo Department of Civil Engineering & Construction Final Year Student Projects

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Department of Civil Engineering & Construction The Department of Civil Engineering and Construction has a strong track record of research and teaching in civil engineering and have programmes from Higher Certificate to Masters level. Through the development of the MEng in Road and Transport Engineering in partnership with the Department of Transport and the Local Authorities, it was the first institute in Ireland to gain full chartered engineering accreditation from Engineers Ireland for an online masters.

In addition, the department has developed programmes, which will allow you to work in key emerging areas such as our Advanced Wood and Sustainable Building Technology degree which teaches you how to use sustainable materials and methods to produce low energy, low carbon designs. Other full time programmes include:

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Quantity Surveying, Construction Economics, Construction Project Management and Applied Technology and Advanced Wood and Sustainable Building Technology.

Construction Project Management is a professional field that focuses on each part of the construction process of any built environment.

The course at ATU Sligo equips graduates with skills and knowledge in project management as well as an understanding of the business process and environment. Armed with such expertise, graduates will be prepared for decision making and undertaking executive responsibilities within a number of industries, such as; construction, energy, utilities, telecommunications, architecture, production, design and service industries.

At ATU Sligo in the Yeats Academy of Arts Design and Architecture (YAADA), there are also programmes in Architecture, which are undergoing accreditation by the RIAI.

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ANALYSING THE MANAGEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN TO ALTERNATIVE SOLOUTIONS TO LANDFILL. Macaulay Carr - S00207857

Introduction

Research Methodology

Analysis

C&D Waste Management practices are used to minimise and manage all forms of C&D Waste.

Waste Management is one of the most challenging problems of the 21st century.

From 2010 – 2018 560.3 million tonnes of waste was generated. Of this over 91% was recovered.

Mixed Methods – Multi strategy approach combines both qualitative and quantitative data within a single study.

- Government efforts made C&D Waste Management a heavily regulated field which is key to its success.

- Questionnaires Interviews and Case Studies revealed a good understanding of C&D Waste Management.

Objectives 1. Developing an understanding of how C&D waste management.

2. Investigate measures currently in place.

Develop An Understanding Governing Bodies

C&D Industry

Investigate Current Practice Regulations

Currant Practice

Determine Effectiveness of Currant Policies Standards & Publications

Waste Management Strategies

3. Determine how effective current measures are in relation to the amount of materials recycled and alternative solutions to landfill.

Qualitative – Qualitative methods where used to develop an understanding of information, discover and pose a means of describing findings.

Quantitative – Quantitative research provided a means of determining numerical data and statistics.

Results 1. Research shows there is a clear pathway established to achieve NET ZERO within the industry. This process is well underway.

2. Site visits revealed positive measures in place regarding the management, handling and overall understanding of construction waste.

3. Research suggests that currant measures in place are effective and the recycling process is the main strategy used when establishing alternative solutions to landfill.

-Conclusion Recycling methods are greatly reducing the amount of material waste going to landfill.

Discussion Points

1. How effective is the recycling process ?

2. How is the recycling of materials measured in terms of positive returns ?

3. There is a gap in the research in relation to the carbon emissions caused by recycling.

Conclusion

- A detailed understanding of CDWM has been established.

- Current practices have been observed in action and have been found to be satisfactory.

- Recycling has been determined as the most effective alternative solution to landfill.

- Gaps in the research material suggest recycling process may also have negative features in relation to carbon emissions.

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ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OFFSITE MODULAR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION COLM O CLEIRIGH S00157487 INTRODUCTION

AIM

The planning/design process and then the overall construction works of a dwelling can be a long and tedious process, and can be quite costly depending on many factors such as location, materials and services provided throughout. With prefabricated modular construction, the construction of dwellings can be advantageous. Although planning can be just as long in modular construction the build time can be greatly reduced as its constructed offsite. Modular homes are commonly confused with Mobile homes and there will always be doubts regarding the quality and lifespan of these structures. The research in this dissertation provides the adequate evidence that the use of this form of construction can be a viable replacement to traditional residential construction.

METHODOLOGY

LITERATURE REVIEW In the literature review, the advantages and benefits of prefabricated construction were researched along with the background of modular construction and technologies involved. Two case studies were researched in two different countries. Both studies were residential, one being modular constructed apartments blocks and the other, a standardised constructed modular house. The different technologies are analysed between them. Conventional construction is researched about as a comparison.

QUANTITATIVE

QUALITATIVE

With the use of Survey Monkey and Google forms, surveys, were made and sent out. These surveys were mainly directed to construction professionals and students. Multiple choice questions were issued and responded to, whilst there were some multiple choice questions allowing the respondent to write their opinions.

The use of pie charts were then used to show the opinions and results of respondents.

Three interviews were carried out from two Modular construction companies and One engineering consultants including a site visit. The interviews consisted of questions that couldn't be answered in the literature review, and then were analysed in comparison to each other as different companies provided a different service, there were variances between the answers collected.

FINDINGS AND RESULTS From the surveys, 54.2% of respondents chose quality as being the most important quality during a house build.

With the following question, 75% of people collectively agreed that prefabricated modular units can be higher quality than traditional construction. From interviews carried out, the standard of quality is high as building in a factory setting proves to be more advantageous, safer, and easier to work,

81.3% of respondents agreed that the faster construction time of a modular home can sway their decision in buying a prefabricated home. Interviews conducted provided different times in construction, but it was still much shorter than of traditional.

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The aim of this dissertation is to provide enough evidence and information, showing that standardised prefabricated modular housing can be more cost efficient, sustainable and less time consuming than that of traditionally built houses.

OBJECTIVES To provide research in: Cost analysis in the construction, due to a different building environment and planning process.

The involvement of quality control in the each factory constructed unit.

Production efficiency and construction timeline.

The lifespan and incorporation of sustainable technologies into housing units.

CONCLUSION The conclusion that has been discovered in this dissertation, is that prefabricated modular housing, is capable of being a solution to build quickly and cost efficiently, whist maintaining a high quality.

Incorporation of sustainable technologies into modular homes can result in energy efficiency to the standard or better than that of a timber framed dwelling.

Construction in a factory environment is advantageous than that of onsite as quality of these "products" are of a high standard, as factories have building regulations to follow as well as their own certificates and controls. Some companies offer a turnkey product to be delivered, whilst others provide external works and services. This allows for a better procurement strategy as contractors and design teams work together in one company. Modular construction has been around for years and is becoming increasingly popular. Building standardised construction can provide a more cost efficient build as economies of scale would be in effect, but as most modular companies are working with bespoke projects, costs can vary.

2022

The influence of Relationships between Main Contractors and Subcontractors on successful project outcomes B.Sc. Honours Degree in Construction Project Management

Project supervisor: Mairead Lynam

Conclusions

- Subcontracting is a common practice in the modern construction industry. The

previous show that subcontractors execute approximately 80-90% of the work.

- The project's outcomes highly depend on the subcontractor's performance and the PM's ability to manage them effectively.

- Consequently, the relationships between main contractors and subcontractors are becoming more and more critical to the success of construction projects.

- Also, good relationships with the subcontractors are positively and advantageously associated with main contractor competitiveness.

Aims and Objectives - Conduct the analysis to identify the types of relationships between MC and SCs and their impact on the company's competitiveness in the Irish construction sector.

- To compare and analyse the procurement strategies that enable a collaborative environment between project participants.

- To indicate advantages for the main contractor involving subcontractors in the planning process.

- To highlight the benefits for the main contractors in establishing long-term relationships with their subcontractors.

- Analise the communication processes and tools between project participants during the construction stage.

- To identify the common issues in subcontracting practice that impact the projects.

- Characterise the current nature of the industry in transforming the adversarial approach to partnering relationships.

Methodology Mixed method

1. Literature review 70+ academic journals were reviewed

Qualitative

3. Online questionnaire 47 respondents

- Traditional and D&B procurement systems - Subcontracting practice - Reasons of subcontracting - Subcontractor performance and success - Subcontracting issues - Win-win strategy - Involvement of SC's in the design stage

Based on interview replies and a comprehensive questionnaire survey, this research examined the relationship between the main contractor and subcontractors and the impact on main contractor competitiveness in the Irish construction industry.

During an extensive review of academic publications related to subcontracting practice was recognised that project success is heavily dependent on the contractorsubcontractor relationship.

The results show that good relationships contribute entirely to main contractors' competitiveness. The critical factors affecting the relationship between the main contractor and subcontractor were also identified:

Four types of relationships were identified:

Adversarial - focus on self-interest Cooperative - short-term relations Collaborative - short-term with a

-

focus on common goals

Partnering - long-term relations

with sharing resources enabling a Win-Win strategy

Accordingly, questionnaire results show that most respondents characterise the relationships between main and subcontractors in the Irish construction sector:

For project success, main contractors need to maintain collaborative/partnering relationships with subcontractors responsible for completing most construction work. Although each party has its own interest in a project, a good relationship should be established based on mutual trust and respect, and it will create mutual benefits.

collaborative- 23 (48.94%), cooperative- 19 (40,43%), partnering- 1 (2.13%), adversarial relationships- 2 (4.26%).

establish a Win-Win strategy to stay competitive in an adversarial environment. 6 (12,77%)

20 No. Multiple-choice questions

Mutual fairness and trust Timeliness of progress payments High communication level Ability in solving conflicts Fair allocation of risk and profit Commitment to quality

Results

32 (68.09%) respondents agree, and 8 (17.02%) strongly agree that collaborative or partnering relations enable the project participants to

2. Semi-structured interviews

- The questionnaire contains 18 openended questions, which were adopted to the MCs and SC.s.

- Six face to face interviews with industry professionals was completed.

Student No: S00207837

Analyses

Introduction

Quantitative

Student’s name: Artem Korolko

Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

respondents neither agree nor disagree and 1 (2.13%)- disagree.

References Lee, C. W. (2007) ‘Strategic alliances influence on small and medium firm performance’, Journal of Business Research [Online], 60, (7), pp. 731-741. Available DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2007.02.018 [Accessed 2 January 2022].

Tan, Y., Xue, B. and Cheung, Y.T. (2017) ‘Relationships between Main Contractors and Subcontractors and Their Impacts on Main Contractor Competitiveness: An Empirical Study in Hong Kong’, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, [Online], 143, (7). Available DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001311 [Accessed 9 January 2022].

111

Engineering & Technology Expo

The advantages and disadvantages of pipe modularization vs traditional piping methods.

Tim McSweeney BSc Honours in Construction Project Management.

Atlantic Technological University

Introduction

Aim & Objectives

• Traditional pipe install methods such as stick build are outdated and in need of innovation.

• Pipe modularization is an avenue through which this industry may be modernized and improved upon.

• Stick build pipe install dates to approximately 3,500 B.C. • Pipe modularization install is not a novel idea, 1st Gen pipe modules have been active since the ‘90’s.

• Modern 3rd Gen pipe modules are fair more incorporating for modern day projects and timelines.

The main aim of the dissertation was to gain a deeper understanding of the following; 1. Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of pipe modularisation methods 2. To propose pipe modularisation as an avenue to mitigate the effect of skilled labour shortages in Ireland.

3. To investigate the potential for improved safety and quality using pipe modularization.

4. To gain a deeper understanding of people’s perception of pipe modularization vs traditional stick build methods.

Results

Methodology Stage 1: literature review.

A detailed literature review was conducted on this topic, whereby I reviewed and analysed hundred of paper, journals, books, articles etc.

In doing so I gained a significant background on the topic and so my research broadened to stages 2 & 3.

Stage 2: the pilot study A semi-structured interview was carried out with 3 subject matter specialists who are widely cited and highly regarded within the industry. This insight gave me an in-depth understanding of the topic which was instrumental in developing my main survey in step 3.

Stage 3: the main study Upon completion of the pilot study, I gained a broader understanding of people’s experience with pipe modularization and using this, the study questionnaire was issued. Feedback was gathered from a multidisciplinary pool of industry workers, with 80% of respondents possessing ≥10 years of experience in their chosen field.

• 45% of respondents observed an overall project saving of ≤20% when utilizing pipe modularisation.

• 85% and 90% of respondents agreed that safety and quality of works, respectively, are improved by using modularisation methods.

Furthermore, the majority (95% and 65%, respectively) cited a controlled environment as being the main contributing factor for these enhancements.

• There is an 80% reduction in construction accidents when work is carried out in a controlled workshop environment.

• 90% of respondents agree with this hypothesis that proposes pipe modularisation as an avenue to mitigate the effect of skilled labour shortages in Ireland. Furthermore, from earlier research, there is a 70% in on-site personnel.

• 80% of respondents agree that there is a negative public perception of utilising modularisation methods. This can largely be attributed to issues including a; lack of understanding of modularisation methods, a belief that there will be less jobs required and difficulties convincing clients of large upfront costs.

Conclusion • The advantages of pipe modularisation vastly outweigh the disadvantages of the same.

• Effective implementation may mitigate skilled labour shortages in Ireland.

• Negative public perception, Perhaps unfairly so?

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2022

A Critical Analysis of The Recovery Strategies Utilized by The Irish and UK Construction Industries During Periods of Economic Downturn and Unforeseen Events.

Atlantic Technological University

Author: Patrick Coll – S00126774

BSc. Honours Construction Project Management School of Engineering and Design, Atlantic Technological University Dissertation Supervisor: Daniel Clarke-Hagan

Introduction

Results

• 2007 Economic Recession severely affected both Ireland and the United Kingdoms industries to a level which had not been experienced since before the second world war. Cribb and Johnson (2018) • Irelands economic growth fell from 5.2 % in 2007 to -4.6 % in 2009. (Central Statistics Office, 2016) • The United Kingdom economic growth dropped from 2.4% in 2007 to -4.2% in 2009. (Barton, 2021) • Recovery strategies were critical to contractors within the construction industry to return to pre downturn levels.

• Current environmental jolt has come in the form of a global pandemic which has affected the construction industry in Ireland and the UK. • Brexit has also influenced contractors within Ireland and the UK which asks the question of how do these contractors recover?

Research Aim’s and Objectives

UK Contractor

• No awareness of the severity of the environmental jolt

• No awareness of decline

Objectives

• Wind down business units • Restructure senior management

• Restructure senior management

• Redundancies

• Redundancies

• Government subsidy schemes

• Internationalization not considered

• Shortage of skilled workers due to Brexit

• Brexit affected supply chain

• Supply chain affected

• 53 Participants within survey - 30 from Ireland and 23 from UK Building and Infrastructure most

• Retrenchment was the first action 98% of

4. Evaluate recovery strategies presently being utilised in the recovery from Covid 19 and assess their initial success since implementation.

• Asset retrenchment not widely utilized.

Quantitative Analysis

Mixed Methods

wage subsidy schemes to recover.

5 0

Exceeded Expectations

Satisfactory

markets and joint ventures.

• Differentiation strategies – improving • Both Irish and UK governments provided

No change in performance

Ireland

• Similar strategies utilized during this environmental jolt as the 2007 economic recession which were previously successful.

• Contractors leaned on government support rather than internationalization to survive which was successful.

• Retrenchment was the most used strategy however differentiation was preferred to focus strategies.

30

• Contractors rebounded quickly with government support compared to the 2007 economic recession.

25 20 15

• Irish industry recovered slightly better only due to the fact Brexit had a direct impact on the UK market.

10 5 0

Ireland UK

Conclusions and Recommendations

Poorly

UK

Cost Retrenchment Strategies Utilized by Irish and UK Contractors During the Environmental Jolt & Economic Decline 2019 - Present

Contractor No's.

exception to entry into new domestic

relationships with clients most popular.

Mixed Methods • Qualitative and Quantitative methods were used in combination to obtain information from personal feelings towards the subject to a wide-ranging consensus.

internationalization to recoverConclusions however this time contractors employed minor retrenchment, differentiation and focus strategies along with governmental

Performance Indicators

most popular options.

• Focus strategies not widely utilized with

the other.

10

contractors utilized.

• Redundancies and cutting bonuses the

are different and what works to recover from one doesn’t necessarily work for • In 2007 contractors typically employed retrenchment actions followed by

15

• Resources Audit was the most used strategic tool.

3. Compare and Contrast between Irish and UK Construction industries and outline which industry rebounded more successfully in order to establish a framework of growth and sustainability.

Quantitative Analysis • A questionnaire was developed from the data obtained from the literature review and the qualitative analysis and sent out to contractors from SME firms through to large firms across Ireland and the UK.

with shortages of skilled labor and procurement issues.

• Public works contracts in Ireland are sub standard and need to be reviewed.

20

• Civil Engineering, Utilities and House

2. Analyse Government involvement in the recovery of the construction industry and assess if their involvement was beneficial to recovery and growth.

Qualitative Analysis • A literature review was carried out on previous research on the topic • A semi structured interview was carried out with an Irish and UK contractor

during this time.

• Brexit affected contractors more in the United Kingdom than it did in Ireland

• Financially driven environmental jolts and restriction driven environmental jolts

popular markets.

Methodology

• Contractors employed minor retrenchment, differentiation and focus strategies

Irish and UK Contractor Performance During Environmental Jolt & Economic Downturn 2019 - Present

• Majority of Contractors performed satisfactorily

6. Formulate a recovery framework which allows for sustainability and growth Methodology during periods of economic downturn and unforeseen events.

environmental jolt due to the fact government supports where not available.

• Utilized government subsidy schemes

1. Review recovery strategies utilised by construction contractors during previous economic downturns and evaluate their success or failings in terms of stabilising and growth.

5. Outline the effects Brexit has had on both industries and whether contingencies had been put in place prior to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

• 2007 economic recession affected companies more than the current

• Environmental jolt was a reality check

Contractor No's.

To explore recovery strategies utilised by the Irish and UK Construction industries during previous periods of economic downturns and evaluate whether the same strategies are applicable to the current environment jolts in the industry such as the global Coronavirus Pandemic and Brexit.

during a period of decline.

Irish Contractor

Quantitative Analysis Results

Aim

Qualitative Analysis

Key Findings • Governmental supports in the form of wage subsidy can sustain an industry

Qualitative Analysis Results

Redundancies

Salary Cuts

28 23

2 9

Removing Company Cars 13 11

Cut Bonuses 22 18

Restructure Senior Management 17 15

None

wage subsidy schemes to sustain industry.

• Governments supported industry sufficiently during this time.

Ireland

• Recovery consisted of Government Supports + Minor retrenchment, differentiation & focus strategies to recover from the environmental jolt.

Recommendations • Detailed research into Brexit's impact on the industry is required.

Cost Retrenchment Strategies

• Brexit affected ability to recruit skilled labour mostly in UK.

2 0

• The lack of contingencies put in place by UK contractors due to Brexit was surprising due to it being discussed for many years prior.

• Investigation into the Public Works Contracts situation in Ireland also required.

UK

References

• Brexit affected supply chains in both countries.

•

Cribb, J. and Johnson, P. (2018). 10 years on – Have we recovered from the financial crisis?

Institute for Fiscal Studies. (Online). Available from: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/13302.

Government Supports

Minor Retrenchment, Differentiation & Focus Strategies

Acknowledgments

(Accessed 13 October 2021)

Contractor Recovery

•

Central Statistics Office. (2016). Measuring Irelands Progress 2016 (Online) Available from: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-mip/mip2016/ef/.

(Accessed

13

October 2021)

•

Barton, C. (2021). It could take over 5 years for the UK to recover from the coronavirus recession.

GDP

Statistics

and

the

UK

economy.

Available

from:

https://www.finder.com/uk/gdp-statistics. (Accessed 25 October 2021)

113

Engineering & Technology Expo

The benefits Internet of Things can have on the future of Project Management and its Supply Chain. .

Author : Philip Holland Student no. – S00207840 Supervisor : Daniel Clarke Hagan Dissertation – B.Sc. (Hons) in Construction Project Management – Atlantic Technological University

Introduction • The Internet of Things, or IoT, is a relatively new connectivity of technologies that has been hyped as the next industrial revolution, meaning drastic change, disruption, and a completely new paradigm for the globe.

• The Internet of Things is a digitally connected "thing" that extends the existing links between humans and computers.

• The term ”Internet of Things “ was invented by Kevin Ashton in 1999 to refer to a system in which the Internet is connected to the physical world via ubiquitous sensors.

• The use of digital technologies in construction methods can be seen as being beneficial to construction to increase productivity, safety and quality and future facilities maintenance (FM) and improve supply chain monitoring.

• Supply chain management is undergoing a change to more data collection methods to use the new technologies and phase out inefficient and expensive methods.

• The use of more cost-effective product to maximise revenue reduce costs and accelerate production systems with the use of BIM, sensing devices to monitor, track real time location of the product.

Aims and Objectives

• • • •

The research questions of the dissertation are To ascertain how prevalent IoT is used in Construction and supply chain.

The advantages and impact of using IoT in Construction and supply chain.

The disadvantages of using IoT in Construction & supply chain.

The impact that IoT will have on the Construction and supply Chain industry.

Methodology

• Methodology approach commenced with the literature review of the research on IoT. • Qualitative research -According to (Creswell, 2012), qualitative research is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social human problem.

• The author employed semi structured interviews of 4 professionals to collect the participants perspectives and to gain any useful information that can be added to the quantitative research survey.

• Quantitative research involves the collection of data so that information can be quantified and subjected to statistical treatment in order to support or refute “alternate knowledge claims” (Creswell, 2003).

• The author chose to carry out a survey questionnaire as part of the research. It was developed on Google forms and distributed on to LinkedIn and sent to various professionals by email and direct message on LinkedIn. • The questions where multiple choice and based on the Likert scale of 1-5 Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree.

• A mixed methods approach was used which employs both quantitative and qualitative techniques, including interviews and surveys/questionnaires.

• • • • •

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Literature Review Literature Review research consisted of below topics of IoT use • IoT in FM – (Subbarao, et al., 2019) The heart of intelligent buildings is a collection of IoT-enabled technological components that enable control and data generation for user services. HVAC and smart lighting control systems, using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to manage inventory and improve building security of material so they can be tracked.

• Safety- using IoT tags and sensor to alert construction vehicles coming to close contact to operatives. The use of smart hard hat monitoring software.

• Energy management and building sustainability, using daylight sensors, temperature sensor to provide information to control the efficiency and energy management of the building.

• (Abdellah Daissaouia, 2020) discusses occupancy location and tracking for understanding behaviour and prediction of occupants, this allows to view how the building is being used and how it can be managed for an area of not much use to be re assigned for better value.

• RFID in supply chain allows automatic identification of inventory or containers with out having to scan a QR code or barcode (Welbourne, et al., 2009).

Results & Findings 1. Literature review highlights how prevalent IoT can be used in construction and supply chain. The interviews indicate there is not a clear understanding of IoT in the industries. The term IoT has been heard of, but the participant don't seem to be aware of some of the systems they would use fall into the category of IoT to Big data, such as VR, QR scanning or occupancy tracking. Survey suggests IoT is used but not widely.

2. The main advantages from research efficiencies, energy management, productivity, inventory management, RFID tags for tracking & tracing.

3. The main disadvantages from research security & privacy, GDPR, connectivity, loss of lesser jobs and cost of implementing and compatibility of systems 4. Cost savings, increased efficiencies, more streamline and efficient supply chain processes, increased use in FM are some of the impacts for the future

Conclusion • There will be no escaping IoT in the coming years with potential increase to 30.9 billion IoT devices in 2025, a big increase from 13.8 billion units that were expected in 2021 (Statistica, 2022) . It will be in everyone's daily work and home life.

• Its time to harness IoT and use to its potential by increased use within the industry. The advantages has been shown in the research.

• If the disadvantages highlighted can be mostly resolved, it will help some sectors to increase the use if IoT. In safety management for one.

• The impact for the future can be positive when used correctly and if systems can be made compatible between different stakeholders.

Creswell, ,. J., 2003. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Creswell, J., 2012. Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ:: Pearson Education Subbarao, V., Srinivas, K. & Pavithr, ,. R. S., 2019. A survey of IoT based smart, digital green and intelligent campus.”. 4th International Conference on Internet of Things: Smart Innovation and Usages (IoT-SIU), pp. 1-6 Abdellah Daissaouia, b. A. B. L. K. a. A. L., 2020. IoT and Big Data Analytics for Smart Buildings: A Survey Welbourne, E. et al., 2009. Building the Internet of Things using RFID The RFID ecosystem experience. IEEE Internet Computing, Volume 13, pp. 28-56Statistica, 2022. Internet of Things (IoT) and non-IoT active device connections worldwide from 2010 to 2025. [Online]

2022

Who sins the most! Errors in Construction

White Collar vs Blue Collar B.Sc. (Hons)

C o n s t r uc t i o n P r o j e c t M a n a ge m e nt QUSU08023 M i c h a e l C u n n i ng ha m S00167145 Introduction The title “White Collar” covers the Architect/Various Engineers/Surveyors/Project Managers being the professionals on the job (Upton Sinclair, 1930) and “Blue Collar” the manual or physical aspect of the project (Alden Newspaper Iowa, 1924). After spending 25yrs plus in the construction operating at different levels in various positions in General Contracting work. The world I worked in was fast paced, we delivered quality projects and on time from what I could see. Upon my return to academia through online courses at ATU, I noted that a lot of Lecturers seemed to stress that a lot of problems in the industry relates to what happens on site, and with this in mind I looked at this as though, is this knowledge based on their own career experiences or mainly from reports conducted within the industry.

Aims and objective The purpose of this paper is to look at the various levels of the construction industry from the Architect through to the sub-contractor at the bottom of the line who physically completes the work. I will try to formulate a view by looking at project failures through buildability in plans, delays, cost overruns (Berthelsen, 2002). This paper will help me formulate a view as to how I will see the industry in my new position of Construction Project Manager, from conducting project meetings to walking trenches prior to a concrete pour .

Mixed Method Methodology research Literature review of all academic papers, journals, organizational publications and related w ebsites. Qualitative Methods used w ere conducting semi structured interviews w ith sub -contractors. There w as also a focussed questionnaire. Quantitative Methods used w ere review s of academic papers, journals, professional body reports a n d a c a s e s t u d y o n H K A C R U X 2 0 1 8 - 2 0 2 1 I n s i g h t r e p o r t s o n C a u s a t i o n s i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n d u s t r y.

Conclusions A review in the Case study yielded top Causations or disputes which lead to arbitrations/claims/litigation. The case study was based on real world analysis projects globally over a 3yr period (2019-21) pre and during covid. The chart displayed shows 11 causations linked to White Collared workers, 4 linked to blue with two could be attributed to either.

2019-2021 Top Claims/Causations 25 20 15 10 5 0

2019

2020

2021

Analysis: ➢ Covid had an impact on the movement of goods and people, designers could not meet as a result the industry digitised more rapidly. ➢ There is a severe shortage of skills across all levels in the construction industry. ➢ BIM issues have been highlighted in the case study, as human errors continue to be seen in design related issues, its only as good as the data being imputed. ➢ Fast track approach to capital projects by governments to stimulate the economy by getting projects up and running without finalising design, leading to changes in scope. ➢ Covid now Ukraine has had a major impact on material prices and the availability of raw materials.

Reference list Agyekum-Mensah, G. and Knight, A.D. (2017). The professionals’ perspective on the causes of project delay in the construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 24(5), pp.828–841.

H., E. and E., O. (2014). PROJECT FAILURE FACTORS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: A LITERATURE REVIEW. The International Conference on Civil and Architecture Engineering, 10(10), pp.1–20.

HKA. (2021). Rebounding construction risks rising toll of lost time and cash. [online] Available at: https://www.hka.com/2021-crux-insight-operating-in-uncertain-times/ [Accessed 14 Apr. 2022].

115

Engineering & Technology Expo

Methods to Improve Energy Efficiency in Cleanrooms

Diarmuid Aylward, BSc Construction Project Management Abstract

The cleanroom sector is estimated to reach close to $9 billion by 2026 due to global demand for vaccination development, testing and research. Cleanrooms are 30 to 50 times more energy intensive than commercial buildings due to the strict environmental controls required. With the global surge in demand for energy resulting in increased costs, and companies world wide looking to reduce their carbon footprint in the face of an environmental catastrophe, more efficient design methods must be used to reduce energy consumption of cleanrooms.

Project Aim

Findings and Results

Project Overview

The desk stop research highlighted four key methods that can be implemented in cleanroom design to reduce energy demand. These methods are available for immediate integration in cleanrooms if pharmaceutical companies are willing deviate from their current standard designs.

This thesis will investigate various methods to lower energy demands in cleanrooms.

Despite the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions, the pharmaceutical industry has received little attention from the sustainability community.

Emissions from this sector are masked in overall manufacturing emission data and accurate carbon emissions for the sector alone are not available.

However, the energy intensive nature of cleanrooms is well documented as well as the growing demand for more facilities to research and produce vaccines for Covid 19. There is technology available to reduce the energy demand of cleanrooms and design techniques that can be incorporated.

Literature Review

What is a cleanroom?

Cleanrooms are a type of controlled environment with extremely stringent requirements. Temperature and pressure control, as well as separation from the outside environment and other processes, are all required in cleanrooms and must all be managed to strict standards. Cleanrooms may require more energy, air, and complex technology to keep the cleanroom conditions consistent than in other regulated environments. Cleanrooms are classed into different grades depending on the number of particles allowed per cubic metre.

Case Study

The case study looked at a number of different options to reduce HVAC energy consumption. Fan powered HEPA filters were found to significantly reduce energy requirements. The learning from this case study could be brought into a standard for energy efficient design of cleanrooms.

Industry Interviews “Modular construction for the pharmaceutical business is a game changer.”

Methodology Literature Review

In depth literature review summarises the main research to date on cleanrooms and various energy intensive elements that can be addressed. The research also highlights key methods that can be incorporated into design of modern cleanrooms.

Case Study

A case study was carried out on a recent cleanroom design project and how energy efficient elements were incorporated into the project.

Industry Interviews

Four semi-structured interviews with industry experts were conducted to learn more about their experiences with energy efficient designs. The interviews uncovered barriers to efficient design as well as areas where they believe the most progress can be made in terms of lowering energy consumption.

“Government regulation is needed to make compliance mandatory rather than leaving it up to each individual pharmaceutical company to decide.”

“Pharmaceutical businesses are hesitant to modify design due to the financial risks involved.”

Conclusion This project found that clearer standards and more government regulation is required around the design of cleanrooms in order to make pharma companies adapt to more energy efficient designs. Pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to implement change due to perceived risks of changing from the current status quo.

Improvements have been made in HVAC and other elements in cleanrooms however these are still costly and will not be widely adopted until costs come down or companies are forced to reduce their carbon footprint.

Breferences: Belkhir, L. & Elmeligi, A., 2019. Carbon footprint of the global pharmaceutical industry and relative. Journal of cleaner production, Volume 214, pp. 185-194.

Chaudhari, G. A. & H Sarje, D. S., 2015. Cleanroom Classification for Pharmaceutical. International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research, 3(4).

ISO, 2015. Cleanrooms and associated controlled environmentds part 1 ISO 14644-1:2015, s.l.: International Standard Organisation.

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“50% of cleanroom energy usage is by the HVAC systems.”

2022

The Planning and Scheduling of River and Coastal Engineering Works in Ireland David McParland Dissertation for the Degree of BSc (Hons) in Construction Project Management Atlantic Technological University

4. Results and Discussion

1. Introduction and Background • Construction projects in the marine environment such as coastal defence, flood prevention or beach nourishment works are just as susceptible to the risk of delay and spiralling costs from poor planning and substandard project management as a ‘dry’ project located inland (Simm and Cruickshank 1998).

• When these deficiencies are present on a marine or coastal project, their effects can be greatly magnified due to the heightened risk from the project environment: storms, wind, currents, and waves.

• Inadequate planning on marine projects leads not just to spiralling costs and project delays, but also to the potential for damage or even destruction of partially completed works and intolerable health and safety risk. The absence, or ignorance, of an understanding of, or realistic contingency for, storms and high winds during construction works will almost certainly lead to delay, disruption, and increased costs (BallesterosPérez et al., 2018).

• Extreme events also need to be considered. International research on climate change (IPCC, 2022) demonstrates that the frequency and intensity of weather events that cause construction delays will increase in the coming years.

• The justification for this study arises from the scarcity of previous research dealing specifically with the planning and scheduling of construction works in the marine environment in Ireland.

Annual MSL at 3 tide gauges around Irish coastal waters AVERAGE MEAN SEA LEVEL (MM)

7300 7200 7100 7000 R² = 0.7718

6900 6800 6700 6600

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1924

1921

1918

1915

1912

1909

1906

6500 YEAR North Shields MSL (mm)

Newlyn MSL (mm)

Dublin MSL (mm)

Average

Linear (Average)

2. Aims and Objectives • To identify current methods and tools for the planning and scheduling of engineering and construction works in coastal and river environments, assessing their efficacy and level of use.

• To identify and assess the most common forms of contract used in river and coastal engineering projects, and understand what contribution contracts play in successful project delivery.

• To identify risks from a changing climate and assess how prepared the industry is for the potential consequences of climate change on construction projects.

• Most of the studies identified in the literature review on the subject of planning and scheduling for weather events and sea conditions focused on the issue as being one of claims, disputes and contractual issues, with a lack of studies focused on pre-construction planning and/or scheduling.

• There was a consensus amongst the interviewees that whilst it would be desirable for accurate planning and scheduling to provide contingency for weather and storm events to be undertaken, the construction contracts commonly used, and the manner in which risk is managed between contracting parties, means that there is usually no incentive for contractors to undertake this level of planning.

• Contractors, clients and consultants tend to agree that contractors do take weather and workability factors into consideration at the planning stage of coastal / river projects.

• All three groups tend to agree that clients do not take these factors into consideration.

• Both contractors and consultants tend to agree that consultants do not take these factors into consideration, with clients believing that they do.

• An unexpected finding is that whilst clients tend to agree that both contractors and consultants are taking these factors into consideration, both contractors and consultants themselves do not agree that this is the case.

• Most respondents agreed that planning for workability and weather factors was important, but action in actually doing so is uncommon in Ireland – very common in Netherlands.

• In Ireland, the most popular form of contract used is the Public Works Contract • Outside Ireland, FIDIC contracts dominate • Unexpected finding: Level of use of bespoke contracts in Ireland & elsewhere – very common • A weather event under the Irish Public Works Contracts is an event that allows the contractor to avoid liquidated damages being deducted where weather conditions have delayed the works.

The 90th percentile weather thresholds for each month of the year are based on historical data from Met Éireann for weather events. However, the data is only available at selected weather stations. Whilst temperature and precipitation records are available for most of the country, there are 21 weather station locations used for wind records, covering 14 counties.

• Only 3 out of 58 respondents had used the FIDIC Blue-Green Book (Dredging & Reclamation Contract), which has a specific clause dealing with climatological events.

Importance of planning for workability and weather downtime factors 100% 90%

90%

83%

80% 70% 60% 50%

3. Methodology

40% 30%

• The research methodology comprised a mixed methods approach. Qualitative research was undertaken with a literature review, case studies and interviews. A detailed questionnaire was then used as part of the quantitative data gathering exercise.

• The literature review identified that a significant body of research exists in construction planning and scheduling, however the research tends to focus on construction claims and disputes arising once projects are on site or completed.

• The literature review identified a smaller body of research on pre-construction planning and scheduling of coastal and river works and project workability studies. Climate change research is plentiful, however research on the potential effects of a changing climate on construction works was lacking.

• The literature review included analysis of studies published in a variety of jurisdictions with a significant number identified in the UK, Netherlands and the United States.

• Case studies were reviewed of coastal, river and nearshore projects where weather events and sea or river levels represented a key planning and scheduling constraint.

• As part of the qualitative research analysis, interviews were undertaken with a number of people experienced in civil engineering and coastal/river construction works.

• A key quantitative research tool used in the study was the research questionnaire which was completed by fifty-eight participants. The questionnaire was undertaken using Google Forms and distributed to all previous interview participants, and to a wider audience of construction and civil engineering professionals across the world.

Countries of experience of interview participants United States 6%

UK 29%

Australia 24%

Canada 6% Netherlands 6%

UK

Ireland

Ireland 29% Netherlands

Canada

Australia

United States

17%

20%

17%

10% 0%

5. Conclusions

4% Important

Important on marine and coastal projects only All other respondents

0%

"Not that important" or of secondary importance

Netherlands-based respondents

• The planning and scheduling of coastal, river and nearshore construction works in Ireland does not take the effects of weather, storms, water level or sea state into consideration with sufficient detail for accurate construction schedules to be prepared.

• Contractors claim to take these factors into consideration, and consider them important, but they do not include it in their planning, as they contend that including contingency for workability, weather, storms, water level or sea state into tenders will reduce their chances of being successful. Contractors in Ireland do not use such information for internal planning and assessment of tender opportunities, and few have altered project plans or withdrawn from tender opportunities on the basis of weather and workability assessment.

• Collaborative project approaches and actions taken in planning and scheduling of river and coastal engineering projects in The Netherlands are more in line with the importance placed on it by the industry. This is certainly the case amongst Dutch dredging and marine contractors.

• Clients and consultants do not take considerations of workability, weather, storms, water level or sea state into consideration at the planning stage. However, many clients believe erroneously that these factors are taken into consideration by their consultants. This suggests a clear disconnect around the identification of risk and consequently its management.

• There is a clear disconnect between the importance the industry apparently places on planning for weather and workability issues, and the actions it takes in actually doing so. The Irish construction industry should make fundamental changes to the way that river and coastal engineering projects are procured, planned and executed. Clients should ensure that their consultants provide detailed meteorological, tidal and sea state information within the tender documents for projects. A collaborative approach based on the early involvement of contractors should be introduced.

• The research suggests that an early stage, collaborative approach between parties to a project which involves detailed, project-specific planning for weather and workability factors can increase the probability of successful project outcomes. Similar approaches evident in The Netherlands and elsewhere provide examples of good practice.

• The Irish Public Works Contracts are not fit for purpose in terms of fair administration of coastal engineering projects, or any project subject to delays from weather, storm or river/sea conditions.

• Where possible, consideration should be made to using forms of contract with adequate clauses around climatological conditions, such as the FIDIC Dredging Contract (‘the blue-green book’).

• Sea level rise and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events represent a key risk to the planning and scheduling of river and coastal engineering projects. The industry is aware of these risks but has not taken steps to deal with them.

• The quality of data around tidal gauges and coastal weather is poor. The industry should therefore pursue collaboration with academic institutions and Met Éireann to develop better infrastructure for the measurement and monitoring of climate-change effects such as sea level rise and increased extreme weather event frequency.

117

Engineering & Technology Expo

ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY — SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING — B.SC. HONS DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT — DISSERTATION PRESENTATION BOARD —

STUDENT NAME: Bongani Mdumiseni Gulwako - STUDENT NO: S00207880 PROPOSED WORKING TITLE OF DISSERTATION - AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW LEAN CONSTRUCTION CAN BENEFIT THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER TO ELIMINATE WASTE

KEYWORDS:

Lean, construction, project manager, and waste OBJECTIVES OF THE DISSERTATION •First and foremost, look for ways to include construction project management in all of the region's construction projects.

•To raise awareness of the need for a construction project manager and the function that this expert plays.

•Investigate methods for eradicating wastes in regional initiatives.

•To strive to steer industry players toward a lean project execution methodology.

•To discuss the advantages of hiring a qualified construction project manager, as well as the use of lean-to reduce project waste.

LEAN CONSTRUCTION Lean constructionan end-to-end design and construction process that combines operational research and practical development in design and construction with the application of lean manufacturing ideas and practices. It is a project-based procedure, unlike manufacturing. Lean Construction is concerned with synchronizing and holistically pursuing concurrent and ongoing improvements in all parts of the built and natural environment, including design, construction, activation, maintenance, salvage, and recycling.

(Abdelhamid 2007, Abdelhamid et al. 2008). This strategy strives to manage and improve construction processes at the lowest feasible cost while giving customers the most value. (Koskela et al. 2002)

WHAT IS BIM? Building Information Modelling (BIM) or Building Information Management (BIM) is an abbreviation that stands for "Building Information Modelling" or "Building Information Management." It's a highly collaborative method that enables architects, engineers, real estate developers, contractors, manufacturers, and other construction professionals to plan, design, and construct a structure or building using a single 3D model. (Sarah Lorek, 2022)

atu.ie

INTRODUCTION Since the beginning of time, humans have required dwellings for practically every daily chore. Since the dawn of time, architecture has been the backbone of human life, if not life itself. In essence, construction is the origin and end of existence. There has been an immense demand for accommodation as human life evolves from the stone age to civilization, which includes, but is not limited to, housing, hospitality, office buildings, shopping malls, and infrastructure development, to mention a few. (Snyder and Kline, 1987)

WHAT IS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT? Construction project management necessitates an understanding of both modern management and the design and construction process. Construction projects are defined by a set of goals and limits, such as a deadline for completion. While the essential technology, institutional arrangements, or methods may differ, the administration of such initiatives shares many similarities with the management of similar projects in other specialist or technological fields such as aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and energy development. (Jose Maria Delos Santos 2019)

WHAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? Construction is a broad industry that includes a variety of construction and civil engineering jobs. Construction jobs include carpentry, road construction, bridge construction, and home design. This industry is one of the largest in the world because it is in charge of constructing infrastructure for cities, towns, and countries. There are three components to the construction business. Among them are general contractors, specialty trade contractors, and civil engineering contractors. Within the industry as a whole, each segment performs a certain purpose.

WASTE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Construction waste is defined as fairly clean, heterogenous building materials which are produced from the various construction activities, as peral., 1993. Waste is produced as a result of construction, remodelling, and demolition activities. Construction waste is extremely hazardous to the environment. This has put pressure on the construction industry to examine appropriate environmental protection strategies across all industries, including buildings. (Tchobanoglousal., 1993)

Ferrous Metal

Paper and Cardboard Wastes

Recycling Plastics

Recycling Timber

METHODOLOGY It is critical to examine how things were done or projects were managed before construction project management was established as a separate profession, how it has changed the way projects are approached, and how it can best equip all industry stakeholders to continue improving so that projects are delivered to the satisfaction of all clients. Successful project delivery includes, but is not limited to, a method in which lean and waste are thoroughly evaluated ahead of time, assisting in planning efficiency and waste reduction in building projects.

Construction activities; the demolition, rehabilitation, and renovation activities also produce considerable construction wastes.

CONCLUSION The analysis shows that most industry professionals, even they had never used or applied the core Lean, construction, project manager, and waste principles, they have at some point in time heard about it. This therefore translates to that the above mentioned still need to be sensitised in the industry so as to shun away from the myth that Project Managers always burden project.

THE END

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

2022

Floating Offshore Wind Turbines Ireland B.Sc. (Hons) in Construction Project Management Samuel Wray - Atlantic Technological University - Sligo

119

Engineering & Technology Expo

EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF PROJECT DELIVERY DELAYS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OLATUNJI EMMANUEL ARAYOMBO Atlantic Technological University Module Code : QUSU08023 B.Sc (Hons) Construction Project Management

1

Construction delays have become a typical challenge for the industry all over the world. With the growth of the global construction industry, delay has become the most significant issues confronting the construction industry. Project delays are major concern and can have a

The methodology compares several data analysis strategies and the data

Methodologies

gathering methods and analytical techniques adopted. Data collection

Semi-structured Interview

Questionnaire

negative impact on economic development by impeding economic

techniques such as the primary data

growth and causing cost overruns through significant capital outlay,

collection which mainly comprises of semi-structured interviews

litigation, abandoned projects, and leaving a negative impression on

and questionnaires. Accordingly, the research limitations were

foreign investors due to poor management and organizational practices.

determined.

5

Findings and Result

Because construction projects are very complicated and have a lot of embedded risks. Effective project management is very important to the

The impact of delays on Qatar's construction projects was investigated through

timely completion of projects.

semi-structured interviews and questionnaire, the respondents were selected

2

from the construction industry’s expertise. Interviewees and the questionnaire

Aims & Objectives

respondents were chosen from a wide range of company profiles, industries,

The aims and objectives of the study is to assess the impact and effects of

professions, and job titles (Contractor, Consultant, and Client). While the

project delivery delays that could threaten project objectives in construction

interviews were conducted in a semi-structured manner to allow for flexibility,

projects in the construction industry, using Qatar as a case study, the objective

all topics were covered in each interview to ensure that responses were

of the study is collect data from industry professionals at the corporate, senior,

compared properly. This study was driven by the delays observed in the Qatar

intermediate, and field management levels in order to determine the reasons for

construction industry, which have been viewed as a critical issue in the

delays in the construction sector, to evaluate, identify the existing delay

industry. Based on the survey conducted, the most common causes of delays in

analysis techniques and tools with the aim of developing a strategy to reduce

Qatar construction projects were external-related and contractor-related, and

the impact of delays in the construction industry.

the most common significant delays based on findings were time overrun and cost overrun.

Literature Review

The most significant impact of delays due to the delay effects

Based on the project you have executed, who is responsible for the construction delay.

6.45%

50.00%

24.19%

43.55%

Contractor

Cost Overrun

Quality

Disputes

50%

45%

40%

35%

30%

construction project delays, delay causes are categorized into two; internal

Time Overrun

29.03% 25%

Owner

20%

construction industry in the State of Qatar. After reviewing the literature on

8.06%

15%

Consultant

0%

construction delays worldwide before narrowing its focus to the

5%

The literature review will begin with a critical assessment of the causes of

11.29% 4.84% 3.23%

19.35%

Sub-contractor

10%

3

Conclusion & Recommendation

factors such as delay caused by client, contractor, or consultant. While

6

delays such as force majeure, material shortage and Covid-19 are

Based on the study's findings, the following suggestions are made to reduce

categorised as external factor.

the likelihood of delays.

Delay Factors

Internal Factors

Contractor Related

Consultant Related

 Changes in design should be avoided after the design has been frozen.

External Factors

Client Related

Acts of God, Government Laws, Economic Conditions, etc.

Figure 1 : Classification of Delay Factors, (Tumi et al., 2009 p. 3)

It was also observed that various researchers have classified the delay causes

 Effective communication and coordination  Proper planning and scheduling  A proactive and cooperative approach  A good communication plan should be in place.

according to their points of view. Some of them have concentrated on the most responsible parties rather than the nature of the cause, while some researchers have looked for commonalities in the nature of the cause rather than pointing to a specific party. This section also list and discuss the project management knowledge areas

References

6

Aibinu, A. A. and Jagboro, G. O. (2002). "The Effects of Construction Delays on Project Delivery in Nigerian Construction Industry." International Journal of Project Management, vol. 20, no. 8, pp. 593-599.

that are most useful for dealing with delays. Efforts must be made to keep losses as

Assaf, S., and Al-Hejji, S., (2006). Causes of delay in large construction projects.

low as possible. Delays can be prevented by implementing measures from the outset

International Journal of Project Management, 24(4), 349–357.

of the project, such as strategic planning and problem identification. This chapter

Dinakar, A. (2014). Delay Analysis in construction project, international journal of Emerging

summarizes the findings of a comprehensive literature review performed to better

technology and Advanced Engineering, 4(5)

understand the challenges associated with construction delays.

Zack, J. G., (2003). Schedule delay analysis; Proceedings of PMI-CPM College of Performance Spring Conference, Project Management Institute, New Orleans, USA.

OLATUNJI EMMANUEL ARAYOMBO

atu.ie

4

Methodology

Introduction

Student Number : S00207877

2022

The Impact of an Ongoing Preventative Maintenance Programme and Site Welfare Provision for Irish Lighthouse Property

Author : Colin Ball Supervisor: Anthony Fagan B.Sc. (Hons) in Construction Project Management 2022

Results and Findings

Introduction Advancement in lighthouse technology (LED lights powered by renewable energy sources) has allowed for short trips to lighthouses for maintenance work to operations equipment.

Offshore dwellings previously used as overnight accommodation are no longer required, and due to their locations have no alternative use (such as tourism leases) and have started to dilapidate due to lack of financial available to maintain them.

Can a regular preventative and systematic maintenance programme help prevent lighthouse dwelling structures from rapidly degrading?

• •

•

•

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this study is to research how a continuous construction and maintenance programme can prolong the life of historic buildings.

Understand if a preventative and planned maintenance programme, with minimal intervention, can result in long lasting protection for lighthouse structures Investigate if re-establishing offshore welfare facilities and accommodation in the dwellings is financially viable and environmentally sustainable (use of diesel generators?)

Where can cost savings be made in order to finance an ongoing maintenance programme for lighthouse structures

Literature Review • Maintenance is recognised as the best way to protect our historic buildings but using the correct type of maintenance is key.

(Goodall, 2017) • Preventative maintenance of historic buildings is most beneficial as it can prevent failures occurring or damages escalating by indicating when maintenance work need to be performed.

(Au-Yong, 2014) • There needs to be proper procedures for systematic preventative maintenance. This will include the recording of planned inspections, condition surveys and planned maintenance trips.

(NPS, 2017) • Barriers to a preventative maintenance programme can include financial reason, motivation, or if the building is undervalued.

(Forster, 2009) Interview • Policy is in place for offshore lighthouse dwellings where minimal repairs and maintenance should be carried out to protect the structures.

• Buildings require appropriate drainage systems to prevent ingress of water that leads to rot and corrosion. Building needs to be kept watertight with regular action to roofs, walls windows and doors.

• Buildings not in use should still maintain a heating and ventilation system to prevent moisture build-up internally. Renewable energy systems could be installed to prevent fuel usage.

• Accommodation provision should not be provided as no overnights are required, however welfare facilities will be provided (Shelter, wc, food prep. areas etc..)

• Overall the system for planning and programming of work could be improved to action dilapidation earlier, especially for hard to reach properties

Survey

Literature Review and Methodology Literature Review A literature review was carried out and is based on academic material available looking at preservation and conservation of both lighthouse properties and historic buildings in general. The following areas where included; • Define what building maintenance actually is • Is there any benefits of preventative maintenance over a reactive maintenance programme?

• Uses of durable and like-for-like building materials • Energy management and renewable energy use • Barriers to a preventive maintenance programme Qualitative - Interviews • Three structured interviews were arranged - Two with those working for Irish lights in an engineering capacity and one other in Dublin City Council who has previous building preservation experience. Interviews took place on zoom for an average duration of 45 minutes each and were recorded for transcribing and analysis purposes Quantitative - Survey • A survey was compiled using Google Forms to further seek clarification on data gained from literature reviews and interviews. The survey was circulated amongst professionals in the construction industry

•

•

•

Conclusion and Recommendations

Lighthouse are situated in exposed marine locations where large storm damage can occur without warning. However a planned and preventive maintenance programme is a good protective measure.

Prevent ingress of water by maintaining the external fabric of the building (slates, walls, windows, painting etc.). It is always beneficial to have good ventilation and heating through a renewable source, to reduce moisture levels internally.

Reintroduction of accommodation is not financially viable at this moment. There would be no savings made from decreased helicopter trips. But dwellings should be maintained to a standard where accommodation can be easily be reinstated into the future

121

Engineering & Technology Expo

Carl Bermingham SOO207894 IN B.Sc (Hons) Construction Project Management Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

Background: Productivity is a common problem which impacts all stakeholders within the construction sector. Poor planning, unrealistic programmes and skills shortages are just some of the major factors reported to be affecting productivity (Table 1) , prior to the impact of Covid-19.There remains to be a vast amount of research pertaining to productivity and much of its dialogue outlines many of the factors currently affecting it. The purpose of this research is to review some of these factors and critically assess whether the industry is doing enough to tackle them whilst trying to understand whether the impact of the pandemic has contributed further to these issues. The research will attempt to identify solutions to improve the current issues and identify gaps in the current literature which can be investigated and reviewed further as productivity impacts all involved.

A mixed methods approach, involving the combination of qualitative and quantitative research was implemented in order to collect comprehensive and reliable data. Punch (2014) offers clear distinctions between qualitative and quantitative methods, describing qualitative research as being primarily concerned with gaining a holistic overview of a phenomenon under study and focuses on “its logic, its arrangements, its explicit and implicit rules” (p. 119).Creswell,(2018).

The researcher opted to select the “Triangulation Design” method. This method (Fig 1.) attempts to collect complementary yet diverse data on the same subject, which may subsequently be combined for analysis and interpretation. Allan (n.d., Slide 24) highlights the model's advantages as its sensibility. For this study it makes logical sense to collect data using this method from a range of sources using a variety of ways that operate in a coordinated way to create an efficient design

•

• •

Fig 1, (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2007)

As productivity impacts all stakeholders differently it was vital to get opinions from different perspectives .Therefore for the qualitative study the researcher carried out 4 semi-structured interviews with 4 Directors of Irelands largest contractors, sub-contractors and consultants all with over 20 years experience in the industry.

The quantitative research in this case comprised of a questionnaire including 25 questions. There was 50 respond ants to the questionnaire comprising of individuals working within the sectors as detailed below.

Fig 2. Demographic pie chart of questionnaire responses

•

•

•

Fig 3. Surveyed responses to factors affecting productivity

Table 1.Turner & Townsend International construction survey 2021(Factors affecting productivity).

• Research-Gap: Whilst research has been undertaken locally and internationally on the factors impacting productivity within construction sector, there lies little research on the impact the global pandemic has had on the sector.

Research Question: Is the sector doing enough to tackle the pertaining issues affecting productivity and have the issues been improved or compounded by the impact of the lockdown

Aim : To review the current literature and identify what the factors are impacting productivity within the construction sector, to understand how have these been impacted by the lockdown and attempt to establish links between all stakeholders and pose solutions to overcome the current problems.

Objectives • To understand and discuss the factors which affect productivity in the construction industry prior to the impact of Covid-19.

• To research and understand if these issues have been compounded by the global pandemic.

• To establish potential solutions to the factors impacting productivity now and, in the future.

RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2019

www.PosterPresentations.com

atu.ie

•

•

•

Fig 4:Cognitive Map of interviewees response to semi structured interviews around the factors and solutions surrounding productivity.

10.00%

74.00%

6.00%

10.00%

0.00%

0.00%

24.49%

26.53%

44.90%

4.08%

There has been a decline in the uptake of apprenticeships due to a pretentiousness existing within our society since the Recession.

18.00%

56.00%

14.00%

12.00%

0.00%

The cyclical nature of the construction sector and lack of foresight into future works deter firms from investing in apprentices?

16.33%

44.90%

10.20%

28.57%

0.00%

30.00%

60.00%

6.00%

4.00%

0.00%

16.00%

40.00%

26.00%

16.00%

2.00%

20.00%

54.00%

12.00%

14.00%

0.00%

40.00%

56.00%

4.00%

0.00%

0.00%

14.00%

60.00%

14.00%

10.00%

2.00%

32.00%

60.00%

8.00%

0.00%

0.00%

14.00%

58.00%

16.00%

12.00%

0.00%

The construction industry was performing productively prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The construction industry is preforming better since the reopning of sites post lockdown.

The Government has recently amended the public works contracts and introduced mechanisms for contractors to recover costs due to dramatic price inflation in materials whilst allowing value to be credited if material deflates. Do you see this as a positive step to protect contractors and should this be adopted by the private sector also?

The construction sector relies too heavily on small to medium size contractors.

Clients need to take more responsibility and risk when it comes to procurement of long-lead items.

Modular and off-site fabrication can improve productivity and reduce labour levels on-site.

The introduction of BIM has improved productivity.

• • •

Do you believe contractors need to now stipulate an expiry date on tenders to protect themselves from inflation?

On completion of a project, a financial reward (contingency) should be awarded to all stakeholders- subject to working collaboratively throughout the process, in order to combat the lack of trust within the industry. The approach would require each stakeholder to "look out" for each other interests as if any party failed the overall reward would fail.

•

Table 1: Factors identified through literature review and interviews to be impacting productivity and potential solutions queried.

• • • •

The current research indicates that skills shortages, poor planning, risk transfer and cyclical nature of the industry are the main factors which were impacting the industry prior to the impact of Covid-19 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, 2020; McKinsey, 2017) Despite this knowledge 74% respondents & all of the interviewees felt the sector was performing productively.

Throughout the research the skills shortage can be attributed to the last recession.

The collateral damage and legacy from the recession linked with the sectors cylical nature has resulted in large construction companies failing to invest in apprenticeships. This issue has now led to large companies utilising multiple SME to complete large complex projects.

Poor project planning can be attributed to insufficient pre-construction periods, risk transfer weighted to heavily on contractor, lack of trust and collaboration.

Since the impact of Covid-19 the sector has reported somewhat of a perfect storm as all projects re-open and commence together resulting in lack of material and labour which contributed to unprecedented inflation rises.

The analyses indicates a nervousness around the future as the issues which were impacting the sector prior to the pandemic have now been compounded and accelerated.

The researcher believes that there is a lack of understanding of actual productivity and therefore if the market is buoyant their seems to be a missconception that this indication must result in good productivity.

The main factor which links all stakeholders is lack of trust, this can be attributed to over zealous risk transfer in contracts. Conglomerates and finical incentives for teamwork on projects can lead to a more trusting enjoinments In the short term a review of entry qualifications for foreign skilled personal is required to deal with the current crisis.

More publicity is required for schoolleavers and current routes to thirds level education.

Dialogue between all stakeholders and Client needs to be improved to foster a greater understanding of project requirements and inherit risks Contractors need to diversify into multiple sectors to protect themselves from economic jolts and allowing greater foresight into future works and allowing the possibility for upskilling and investment.

Department of Public Expenditure and Refrom. (2020). Pre-Covid-19 Productivity Research in Construction Sector. Ireland: Goverment of Ireland . Retrieved 02 08, 2022, from https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/94929-pre- covid-19-productivity-research-in-construction-sector/ Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Los Angeles, California: SAGE Publications, Inc. Creswell, John (2009). Research Design; Qualitative and Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. London: SAGE Publications.

McKinsey. (2017). Reinventing Construction: A Route to Higher Productivity. Retrieved 02 09, 2022, from https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/improving-constructionproductivity Punch, K. F. (2014). Introduction to social research: Quantitative and qualitative approaches (2nd ed.).

London, England: SAGE Publications Ltd. Allan, A. (n.d.). Mixed Methods Research. Client supplied.

Turner & Townsend. (2021). International construction market survey. Retrieved 02 12, 2022, from https://turntowncomms.com/1OQJ-7FJ8RC356D8EA6BC421F58P8B8591E5D8AEB985AF29/cr.aspx

2022

Constraints and advances required to further progress the use of Precast concrete in the Rapid Build Schools Building Programme.

Name:Na Thomas Brennan Student No: 00207847 BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management

Results

Introduction This study is being undertaken to ascertain whether Precast construction in the School Building Programme can be escalated to another level by investigating how BCAR can be achieved on the offsite elements and if further advances can be made to precast to further develop the concept for both quality and speed of build.

As per the DoE Technical Guidance Documents, there are very clear standards that need to be adhered to within the Schools Building Programme regarding Thermal performance, Fire strategy and general BCAR regulations.

Trying to achieve this on offsite elements has been one of the constraints of developing OSC, as all elements need to meet BCAR and assigned certifiers have not been able to satisfy their requirements for elements of design.

Aims and Objectives The aims of this study are to ascertain and develop the knowledge in the area in the following ways: • Is the DoE preference for Precast buildings the correct path for the Schools Building Programme?

• What are the constraints from a BCAR perspective of using this method of construction and developing it further?

• What changes to the certification process are required to enable an Assigned Certifier to certify more elements of work before the product leaves the factory?

Methodology This study was carried out using Qualitive approach by interviewing several industry professionals that have had direct involvement with both the Schools Building Programme and also the BCAR process. All interviewees have many years’ experience in the construction industry The interviews were carried out to a predetermined set of questions, which all interviewees were asked. Alongside these questions, there was an opportunity for the interviewees to elaborate and expand on any point that they deemed important and relevant.

Changes required to Assigned Certifier Role

Advantages of Precast 7

4

7

5 3 6

Benchmarking

Earlier Engagement More inspections at Design Stage

ROBUSTNESS

SPEED

FIRE INTEGRITY

Analysis and Discussion All interviewees were given the same questions to answer and in general they agreed in most areas regarding advantages and disadvantages of Precast construction which would be similar to the results found when carrying the Literature Review.

Looking at how precast can be developed further for the schools building programme was not as definitive, in that some respondents felt there was many barriers to taking the development of precast to another level while others maintained that it can be achieved with a lot of upfront design collaboration.

The views of those taking part are restricted to the experience they have with the subject matter. No view from stakeholders outside the subject matter were sought.

Conclusion In conclusion, there is a big emphasis coming within the industry on furthering the use of OSC in order to meet current demand and also to counteract the shortage of skilled labour within the industry.

One of the main barriers to developing OSC use would be how the BCAR process can be satisfied and how Assigned Certifiers can carry out their role in an offsite project. From this study it is apparent that those within the system agree that certification can be carried out offsite. However further development of strategies, inspection plans, early engagement at design stage and quality control from the manufacturer need to be investigated and in place before this will happen.

From the interviews carried out, there is a culture within the precast sector that Assigned Certifiers are nervous and somewhat sceptical of which will also need to be addressed and rectified before any further design developments will be successful.

Further study is required in this area to ascertain strategies, benchmarks and quality controls in order to advance the use of precast in the schools building programme and other sectors which require a rapid build approach.

References

(Subramanya1, 2020) Modular Construction vs. Traditional Construction: Advantages and Limitations: A Comparative Study Advantages and Disadvantages of Modular Construction, including Environmental Impacts (Dita Hoínková 2021)

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Employee Empowerment and Construction Project Success Paul Cahalin S00207858 Supervisor: Ian Thornton Introduction

Traditionally, construction project success has been measured against the Iron Triangle criteria of time, cost and quality. However, a broader range of measures may be more appropriate, helping provide a more holistic appraisal of project success. Are factors such as safety, client satisfaction, end-user functionality, employee satisfaction and learning and development appropriate criteria when measuring construction project success?

In an industry where even the smallest gains are sought, measuring and evaluating project success over expanded, broader criteria may highlight opportunities for development and increased profitability.

Empowerment is one of the strategies most lauded recently which purports to improve outcomes by fostering innovation, productivity and employee commitment. Developing, what is arguably the industry’s most important asset; it’s people.

The industry has traditionally held a poor reputation for how it treats its workers, this research will attempt to show that redressing this imbalance has the potential to have a transformative effect on the industry, benefitting both employers and employees.

B.Sc. (Hons) Construction Project Management 2022 Results – Qualitative

Cognitive Maps

Semi-structured interviews with experienced and successful professionals in the field allowed for a comprehensive investigation of themes outlined in the literature review in the industry context and in terms of the research question. All interviewees considered project success in more complex terms than the traditional Iron Triangle criteria for measuring success. Concepts ranging from meeting objectives to participant satisfaction and organisational and personal development were articulated.

Although some interviewees did not have a sophisticated understanding of employee empowerment they did display appreciation of the main concepts and most actively tried to implement empowerment initiatives in their workplace, conscious of the benefits it can engender.

Some discussed the detrimental effects of not empowering employees.

Cognitive maps were used to create visual representations of each interview.

Research Hypothesis

Results – Quantitative

Employee empowerment is linked to construction project success through both structural and psychological empowerment and itself can be considered a critical success factor, potentially even a measure of project success.

Research Methodology

Defined by Huey Chen in Johnson et al (2007, p.119) “Mixed methods research is a systematic integration of quantitative and qualitative methods in a single study for purposes of obtaining a fuller picture and deeper understanding of a phenomenon.

Mixed methods can be integrated in such a way that qualitative and quantitative methods retain their original structures and procedures (pure form mixed methods).

Alternatively, these two methods can be adapted, altered, or synthesized to fit the research and cost situations of the study (modified form mixed methods).”

An exploratory sequential design was chosen (Johnson et al, 2007; Creswell et al, 2008) which allowed themes emerging from the literature to be explored in the interview, and subsequently themes from the literature review and the interviews to be explored in the questionnaire.

Comprehensive Literature Review

5 SemiStructured Qualitative Interviews

Mixed Methods

Quantitative Questionnaire (87 valid responses)

Analysis and Discussion

Traditional Iron Triangle criteria appear to still hold prominence. However, more holistic and longer term success criteria, such as reputation and organisational development have significant representation in the data, both in the interviews and though the questionnaire. Critical success factors associated with empowered behaviours such as commitment, collaboration and communication are found to be extremely important in achieving construction project success. The majority of the respondents (70.1%) display high levels of empowerment using Spreitzer’s (1995) four cognitions of impact, competency, meaning and self-determination. Structural empowerment initiatives such power dissemination, information availability and supervisor support are related directly to levels of psychological empowerment. Psychological empowerment in turn is related to reduced turnover intention and knowledge sharing both crucial in continued success.

Interestingly, increased psychological empowerment appears to be linked to increased perception of the importance of holistic criteria when measuring construction project success.

Conclusion

Construction is at a cross-roads, a more educated population demand meaning and respect. Shown to be related strongly to critical success factors, employee empowerment appears to be the veritable win/win scenario. It is true, that fundamental structural changes may need to take place, such as employing more direct staff (Price et al, 2004) but the benefits are both to the organisation and to the employee, with increased commitment and performance on one hand and increased well-being and self-worth on the other.

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References:

Johnson, R.B., Onwuegbuzie, A.J. and Turner, L.A., 2007. Toward a definition of mixed methods research. Journal of mixed methods research, 1(2), pp.112-133.

Spreitzer, G.M., 1995. Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of management Journal, 38(5), pp.1442-1465.

Price, A.D., Bryman, A. and Dainty, A.R., 2004. Empowerment as a strategy for improving construction performance. Leadership and Management in Engineering, 4(1), pp.27-37.

Creswell, J.W., Plano Clark, V.L. and Garrett, A.L., 2008. Methodological issues in conducting mixed methods research designs. Advances in mixed methods research, 1(1), pp.66-83.

2022

Modular Construction and the role it can play in the Irish Housing Crisis James Carley S00208846 BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management Atlantic Technological University Introduction •

The current housing crisis within Ireland shows no sign of easing. Instead the demand for housing increases year on year and the supply is unable to meet this demand. Modular construction is an innovative method of construction which is undervalued within Ireland. Traditional methods are favoured in Ireland.

•

The Government’s ‘Housing for All’ plan projects 300,000 houses to be constructed by the year 2040.

Annual housing output needs to reach 20,000 units per annum to meet this target.

Labour shortage in the construction sector will make this target difficult to achieve unless innovative and less labour intensive practices are introduced.

• •

•

Annual state spending on housing is projected at €4 Billion until 2030 in an attempt to solve the housing crisis.

Aims and Objectives •

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of modular construction.

•

Compare modular construction methods to the traditional construction methods and establish how a developer’s choice is determined.

•

Identify the barriers that are effecting the slow implementation of modular construction in the Irish construction industry by collecting information from industry professionals.

•

Results and Findings •

90% of survey respondents have used a modular element on their project in the past or are current using it

•

60% of respondents believe that the Governments proposed 300,000 new homes by 2040 is possible without modular construction

•

93% of respondents believed the benefits outweigh its barriers.

•

69% of respondents believe initial setup costs are a deterrent for clients/contractors.

•

The design opportunities of modular are endless but a design freeze is essential to ensure no onsite alterations are necessary on modular element as alterations can prove costly .

Analysis/Discussion •

The overall research strongly agrees with the literature review in terms of time and cost saving.

•

Industry professionals are failing to see past initial costs and the long terms savings produced.

•

The current labour shortages are resulting in a lack of skilled workers who have experience working with off site construction techniques.

•

All interviewees agreed that Project durations are reduced when off site construction takes place.

•

limitations of the research was the lack of modular case studies available specifically related to Ireland.

Identify the value modular construction brings to the Irish construction industry, its role at present within the industry and identify the future opportunities it presents in improving housing productivity.

Conclusion Methodology - Literature Review •

Hearne(2020) outlines "we are in the midst of an unprecedented housing and homelessness crisis

•

Literature review findings provided the basis for the Quantitative and Qualitative research methods.

•

Burns (2000) states not “thinking up questions for a questionnaire is not a problem; coming up with the right question is”

•

Interview conducted in a semi structured format.

•

Mixed method approach was used which include Quantitative and Qualitative data

•

Qualitative + Quantitative research conducted in the form of 3 semi structured interviews and questionnaire published using MS forms

•

Triangulation of data Literature review + Questionnaire + Interviews

•

Modular construction techniques are best suited to large scale residential schemes with repetition of design.

•

Waste reduction and sustainable building methods are achieved in the use of modular construction.

•

A safer working environment is achieved when off site construction takes place.

•

Client/ Contractors fear the unknown and do not want to step out comfort zone.

•

Future studies may looks at comparing energy rating of modular vs traditional block built home.

References •

Burns, R.B. (2000) Introduction to Research Methods, 4th edition. London. SAGE Publications.

•

Hearne, R. (2020) Housing Shock: The Irish Crisis and how to solve it. United Kingdom: Bristol University Press.

•

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. (2021) Housing for All – a New Housing Plan for Ireland. Available online: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-newhousing-plan-for-ireland/#view-the-plan [Accessed 10/10/21].

•

Cresswell, J. W. (2009) Research Design. Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed method approaches.

California: SAGE Publications.

125

Engineering & Technology Expo

How to improve productivity within the home construction sector

• Introduction

• Results

• The purpose of this paper is to identify the problem areas within the home construction sector

• The interviewees are experienced professionals within the industry

• This is been at a macro level

• There was 30 responses received from the questionnaire

• There is a general acceptance that there is a need for 33,000 houses per year

• Below is a typical response from on the of the questions, as we can see the answers are represents in pir chart format

• We have identified two distinct stages • pre-construction stage • Construction stage

• what causes the most delays in bringing a project through to construction stage • Planning • Zoning

• Aims and objectives • Identify the problem areas within the different stages • Pre-construction stage • Zoning • Design • Planning • Construction stage

• Methology • The tools used for the research were • Research of journals • Interviews • questionnaire

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• Design stage

• Conclusions • There was general agreement that a tiered approach to land zoning • The local authorities and An Bord Pleanála need more time restraints applied to how they process a planning application • There is a labour shortage within the industry

• More modular construction is needed

• references • A transformative five to tenfold increase in productivity would be possible if construction were to move to manufacturing-like system of mass production with a much greater degree of standardization and modularization and the bulk of construction work taking place in factories off site (nick Bertram & steffen fuchs & jan Mischke & Robert palter & Gernot strub & Jonathan woetzel 2019, modular construction; from projects to projects, s.l; mc kinsey & company

2022

Introduction

Background: In recent years, there has been a great deal of discussion about work-life balance. Each week, an employee's time spent at work far outweighs their time spent on non-work-related activities. Work takes precedence over family and recreational activities. Employees, according to some studies, would prefer to work fewer days per week in order to spend more time with family and pursue personal interests (Davidescu et al., 2020). There is also evidence of mental and physical health issues associated with working long hours (45+). The possibility of increasing free time using a compressed workweek (CWW) rather than the traditional five-day workweek (TWW) is one method of reducing these issues Research-gap: The dearth of peer-reviewed research available on working hours in the Irish construction industry, which encompasses both labor-intensive and management-type roles is a reflection on the research into the working conditions of persons in that industry

Title: The Compressed Workweek In The Irish Construction Industry.

Course: BSc. (Hons) Construction Project Management Student: Ciarán Fitzpatrick – S00208847 Supervisor: Michael Curran Methodology

Mixed methods research was used for this research. It entails the simultaneous collection of qualitative and quantitative data in a single study. It is a novel methodological approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research methods, allowing researchers to delve deeply into complex research questions (Halcomb and Hickman, 2015). Creswell and Clark (2017) summed up these advantages of mixed methods research, stating that it adds more evidence to the study of a research problem than quantitative or qualitative research alone.

Research question: (A) Is there a correlation between extended work hours in the construction industry, decreased production, and increased negative mental and physical health issues? (B) If a correlation exists, could the introduction of a compressed workweek (CWW) in place of a traditional workweek (TWW), reduce employee exposure to negative health issues while also maintaining current production rates?

Aim This study will employ research and analysis techniques to investigate the theory that a compressed workweek is achievable in the construction industry.

Objectives • To establish the background of the TWW and the CWW. • To show the advantages, and disadvantages of CWW. • To substantiate whether the loss of one workday per week will not lengthen the duration of construction projects or excessively increase project costs.

Key findings: An Irish Times article in 2015 stated that men working in the construction industry made up 50% of all national suicides.

Alfonso et al. (2017), Spurgeon et al. (1997), Chan et al. (2020) found a strong correlation between long working hours (45+) and physical and mental health issues such as: Mental fatigue , Physical fatigue, Mental health problems, Stress. Brunies and Amir, (2001); Kodz et al, (2003); agreed that overworked employess are more likey to be less productive, be absent from work and have accidents.

Eurofound (2020) reported that 50% of people in the construction tend to work over 48 hours per week when compared to other industires.

Qualitative Results

The qualitative findings indicate the following:

• All agreed that extended work hours regularly exceed 45+ hours and are both common and consistent within the industry.

• Five out of six respondents believed that a CWW would boost output and quality. The majority believed that while a CWW could extend the duration of a project when appropriately done, it would have the opposite effect.

• That working long hours on a consistent basis can result in mental and physical fatigue, stress, depression, absenteeism, and physical health problems such as strokes and heart attacks.

• All agreed that the issues identified are common in the industry.

Two interviewees reported personal experiences of severe stress caused by working long hours due to heavy workloads.

• All interviewees agreed on the premise that a CWW could aid in the reduction of adverse health issues and improve work-life balance.

• The feasibility of a CWW was debated. Two respondents said a CWW would be impossible to implement, while four others said it would require government legislation.

Analysis and Discussion

Figure 1 Mixed Methods Triangulation Design (Clark, 2008) Six semi-structured interviews with experienced construction management professionals were conducted to elicit and expand on their perspectives on the CWW. Quantitative data were gathered using a questionnaire comprised of twenty-two questions. There were fifty-six respondents to the questionnaire.

Quantitative Results Strongly Disagree 1. You do not have a good balance between your work and personal life 7.00% 2. You feel physically fatigued at the end of your workweek 1.80% 3. You feel mentally fatigued at the end of your workweek 3.50% 4. Your work is stressful 1.80% 5. You exercise regularly 7.00% 6. Mental health problems are prominent in the Irish construction Industry 1.80% 7. You maintain a healthy and varied diet 3.50% 8. Physical health problems are prominent in the Irish construction Industry 1.80% 9. You do not have sufficient time during the week to devote to personal activities 3.50%/ 10. A CWW workweek would be positive for you 3.50% 11. You would be more productive at work following a three-day weekend 3.50% Question

Disagree Neutral Agree 22.80% 15.80% 12.30% 5.30% 26.30% 3.50% 24.60% 5.30% 22.80% 5.30% 8.80%

31.60% 15.80% 10.50% 22.70% 21.10% 19.20% 22.70% 26.30% 17.50% 3.40% 12.20%

31.60% 40.40% 47.40% 50.90% 35.10% 54.40% 43.90% 36.80% 43.90% 24.60% 24.60%

Strongly Agree 7.00% 26.30% 26.30% 19.30% 10.50% 21.10% 5.30% 29.80% 12.30% 63.20% 50.90%

There is a strong correlation between the qualitative and quantitative data and the research conducted during the literature review on mental and physical health. With 59% of respondents working 45+ hours per week, 66.7 and 73.7% of respondents report feeling physically and mentally exhausted after the TWW. 75.5% believe that the construction industry has mental health issues, while 66.6% believe the same about physical health. Again, these figures bolster the findings of the literature review.

87.8 % believe that a CWW would benefit them and their work-life balance, while 75.5 % believe that a CWW would increase their productivity during the WW due to their increased rest.

Conclusion

There is ample evidence that extended working hours have a detrimental effect on workers' physical and mental health, which has a negative effect on production. The general workers feel they are overworked and with little time for personal pursuits. The majority believe that implementing a CWW would help mitigate the negative impact and increase productivity. According to some, establishing a CWW would require government legislation before the industry would consider it a viable work arrangement.

Additional research is needed on the financial implications and longterm cost of the CWW on a business. Additional research should be conducted on the environmental impact of a CWW to determine whether it reduces waste and carbon emissions.

Table 1: Work life balance, mental health, and physical health References Afonso, P., Fonseca, M., & Pires, J. F. (2017). Impact of working hours on sleep and mental health. Occupational Medicine, 67(5), 377–382. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqx054 Brunies, R. and Emir, Z., 2001. Calculating loss of productivity due to overtime using published charts—Fact or fiction. The Revay Report, 20(3), pp.1-7.

Chan, A.P., Nwaogu, J.M. and Naslund, J.A., 2020. Mental ill-health risk factors in the construction industry: systematic review. Journal of construction engineering and management, 146(3), p.04020004.

Creswell, J.W. and Clark, V.L.P., 2017. Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Sage publications.

Davidescu, A., Apostu, S., Paul, A. and Casuneanu, I., 2020. Work Flexibility, Job Satisfaction, and Job Performance among Romanian Employees—Implications for Sustainable Human Resource Management. Sustainability, 12(15), pp.43-44.

Eurofound, 2020. Revisions to the European working time directive: Recent Eurofound Research. [online] Dublin: The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, pp.3-19. Available at: <Revisions to the European working time directive: recent .... https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=6474&langId=en> [Accessed 24 January 2022].

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Causes and Effects

Employee Turnover

of to a

Construction Project's Success Introduction

Employee Turnover is High in Construction!

What are the Causes of Employee Turnover?

What are the Effects on Construction Project Success?

Aims & Objectives Define Project Success!

Identify how it is measured

Identify Retention Methods used, and any other Factors.

Identify if Turnover Effects Project Success!

Identity what Causes Turnover.

Methodology Qualitative Sequence

No. 1

Literature Review Projects Success Turnover Effects Causes of Turnover Influential Factors Motivation Leadership Employee Shortages Employee Retention Remote Projects

Employee Turnover Effects on Project Success

No. 2

Quantitative Sequence

No. 3

Interviews Semi-Structured 5 No. Industry Professionals 52 No. Questions Client & Main Contractors

Survey Survey Monkey 151 Responses 91% Completion Rate 8m:45s to Complete Main Responses from Project Managers, Engineers, Supervisors, Package Managers, Commercial Managers

Results & Findings

Domino Effect

What makes Employees Leave!

When an Employee leaves a team it creates a chain reaction Increased Workload for Team

Employee Leaves

Increases Likelihood of Others Leaving

Valuable Knowledge Lost Increased Stress

Conclusion Employees are Vital to Project Success Employee Turnover Directly Affects Success Retention Massive Skilled Employee Shortage Methods Employees do not Want to Leave When one Employee Leaves, More Follow Companies need Employees to be Successful Better Retention Methods to be Rolled Out Mental Health Awareness Wanted & Needed

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2022

Programme Management Limitations with specific emphasis on the use of Last Planner System within an Irish Construction Setting Introduction The research sought to respond to the issues of inefficiencies in current construction projects, with a focus on project success and the apparent gap in the transition from planning to on-site project management.

The research has investigated the Last Planner System to assess its viability to address the inefficiencies in the construction industry.

Recommendations on how to improve the gap between planning and project management to successfully achieve project deliverables in an Irish Construction setting are outlined in this research.

The Purpose of the Research

Methodology

Literature

1

An investigation into the limitations surrounding programme management in the construction industry, with specific emphasis and study into the use of the Last Planner System and its benefits.

Research

2

Research project success factors.

Investigate

3

Research project teams and supply chain integration in a construction project, and the impact of collaborative working environments.

Analyse

4

Establish if the Last Planner System is a worthwhile investment in terms of project resources and time by undertaking critical analysis of qualitative and quantitative research collected from industry representatives in Ireland.

Results

Director Contracts Manager

10

15

20

30

1.04

26.04

Technical Manager/…

11.46

Planner/ Programmer

13.54

Quantity Surveyor

7.29

Engineer

19.79

Site Manager/ Foreman Other [please specify]

25

8.33

Construction Manager/…

11.46

1.04

1

LPS Positive Findings

 Improved collaboration with project team and supply chain  Enhanced project success  Identifies sequencing imbalances to then create an established workflow  Continuity of work for all trades  Achieved commitments with respect to milestones and project deliverables

2

LPS Negative Findings

 Cost and time of resources.

Approx. 20% of a PM’s working week to manage LPS efficiently  Availability of training (lack of)  Difficulty in gaining top management support. Must show dedication to the process  Cultural change - industry can be slow to accept LPS

Recommendations

92 Quantitative survey responses shown by industry role 5

Quantitative Analysis and Results  Survey created with 21 questions sent to industry representatives for anonymous feedback

Conclusion

 The Construction Industry has been criticised for its fragmented approach to project delivery and failure to establish effective teams, based on industry study and experience (Price, et al, 2005)  Various research sources have cited trust, mutuality, information exchange, openness and communication as key factors to successful collaboration. Which in turn are critical aspects to project success.  The findings from data gathered in both quantitative and qualitative surveys demonstrates that by implementing the Last Planner System generates a more collaborative working environment which in turn was found to be a key contributory factor to project success.  The study has demonstrated that project success can be achieved by ensuring project milestones and deliverables are monitored and controlled by the project manager through consistent application of the Last Planner System.

0

Qualitative Analysis and Results  Interviews carried out with Industry representatives  Survey Questions

 The findings from the study can be used to inform the organisation about improved processes and programme management.  The Last Planner System will benefit the industry in facilitating the current housing crisis and the Project Ireland 2040 plan by improving the efficiency of construction projects on site.  To ensure the Last Planner System operates efficiently one of the recommendations from the study is that every sizeable construction site should include a dedicated location designated for LPS, utilising interactive whiteboards and a BIM model where available, so that collaboration extends from the planner’s office to the site.  Recommendations for further study including additional research and data collection from live projects, from start to finish, to capture the unique variances of project failures and successes in order to comprehend and document lessons learned, as well as to highlight areas for improvement that will bring project success.

129

Engineering & Technology Expo

BSc Hons Construction and Project Management Understanding the Real Impact of Technologies on Canadian Construction Productivity Researcher: Marc Milton SN: 00207844

INTRODUCTION •

The introduction provides an overview of the Canadian construction industry and the need for research that analyzes the real impact technology is having on it.

•

Industry onlookers characterize construction as having stagnant productivity, low technology adoption rates, and a general lack of tech savvy (Barbosa, 2017).

•

This research explores the factors that affect some of the perceptions of those who critique the industry, and sets out to find the true status of construction firms technological maturity levels, and the impact it is having on productivity.

•

•

•

•

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Increase the body of knowledge relating to the impact of technology on construction projects.

Establish known advantages and disadvantages to the adoption of technologies, and rationale for adoptions.

Determine technologies having the greatest net impact on productivity.

Seek truth to the actual level of technology and digitization in the Canadian construction industry.

•

Understand the impact of company culture on implementing tech.

•

Understand barriers to adoption

•

Lack of Standards Bluebeam, BIM Field360, 360 Cameras

Respondents were experienced industry veterans.

•

Technology saves 60% of respondents 1-2 hours or more compared with 5 years ago, and 89% 30 minutes or more.

•

85% of respondents reported Bluebeam in use on their projects.

•

Only 18% of respondents use all of the technology available to them within their company

•

Lack of skilled workers was the highest ranking barrier to improving site productivity, improving technology advancement, and further digitization on site.

•

Only 28% of on-site trades use BIM or a derivative (for example, BIM Field360).

•

72% of respondents believe that improving productivity is not best done using technology, rather through effective site management and leadership.

Inconsistent Data Collection

Inconsistent Productivity Calculation

Impacts Of Technology On Productivity In Canada

Lack of Leadership Soft Skills Lack of Skilled Labour

RESULTS AND FINDINGS

•

Low BIM Prevalence Relative to Peers

Clients Demands For Quality and Safety

METHODOLOGY

A mixed methods approach was used to conduct this research.

This is where multiple methods of research are utilized (Clark et al, 2018).

Technology is in use in on Canadian construction projects, with 70% of respondents indicating a significant quantity of technology used by themselves each day.

•

The research finds technology is having an impact and allowing workers to complete their work in less time, therefore being more productive. This is supported by the work of Barbosa (2017), Delarue et al (2021), Kamal (2015).

•

Companies in general support technology, through financial measures and positive culture, but struggle with adoption due to a lack of time provided to their workers for training, a lack of interest by trades, and older workers in their teams, who stagnate the implementation of it.

•

The research found that technology has limitations on how much it can improve productivity, and that soft skills, and strong management principles, are required to dramatically improve it. This is further supported by the work of Dozzi and Abourizk (1993), and Thomas and Ellis (2017).

•

This research establishes that technology is a good investment that generates positive return on investment for companies that implement it.

Tech Adoption Rates

Lack of Time For Training

Tech Invest = Positive ROI

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

•

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

•

There is major inconsistency across the industry around how productivity is monitored, controlled, and calculated, both by the industry itself, and outsiders critiquing it.

•

There is a severe technology skills gap of the modern day on-site construction worker, that is impeding the industry’s ability to further digitize and embrace technologies.

•

Mixed methods research combines elements of qualitative and quantitative research approaches in a single study, which may occur simultaneously, or after one another (Creswell, et al., 2008).

•

Using this approach, results from both research paradigms can triangulate and support each other (Clark et al, 2018).

•

Clients and Project Owner’s are more focused on maintaining high levels of quality and safety, which is slowing down productivity rates relative to how projects were built prior.

•

A literature review was conducted first, focusing on how productivity is calculated and monitored on sites, as well as all of the technology and innovations currently available and in use in the industry.

•

A nationwide skills training program should be developed to attract, retain, and develop skilled workers on an ongoing basis, ensuring new workers are capable of using modern technologies on-site. A nationwide technology and/or BIM standard should be developed, similar to the UK.

•

Three semi-structured interviews were carried out with industry veterans to, forming the basis of the subsequent questionnaire.

•

Bluebeam, BIM Field360, and 360 cameras, are the best technologies to invest in and implement on projects.

•

A questionnaire was distributed to the industry, with 61 respondents completing it.

•

Further research should be conducted investigating each of the urban centres across Canada.

REFERENCES Barbosa, F., Mischke, J., Parsons, M.,(2017b) Improving Construction Productivity. McKinsey & Company Capital Projects & Infrastructure. Accessed December 28, 2022. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/capital-projects-and-infrastructure/our-insights/improving-construction-productivity Clarke, D., Spillane, J., Curran, M., (2018). ‘Mixed Methods Research: A methodology in social sciences research for the construction manager’. RICS Cobra 2018 - The Construction, Building, and Real Estate Research Conference of the Royal Institution of Charter Surveyors. London, UK, April 23-24, 2018. Accessed March 18, 2022.

Creswell, J.W., Plano Clark, V.L. and Garrett, A.L. (2008). Methodological issues in conducting mixed methods research designs, In: Bergman, M.M. (Ed.), Advances in Mixed Methods Research: Theories and Applications, Thousand Oaks, Sage: CA, pp. 66-83.

Delarue, C., Poirer, E., Forgues, D. (2021) ‘Construction Innovation in the Province of Quebec: Barriers, Drivers, Enablers, and Impact’, CSCE 2021 Annual Conference: Inspired by Nature, Online, 26-29 May 2021. Accessed October 21, 2021: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/ErikPoirier/publication/352260552_CONSTRUCTION_INNOVATION_IN_THE_PROVINCE_OF_QUEBEC_BARRIERS_DRIVERS_ENABLERS_AND_IMPACT/links/60c0f519a6fdcc2e612be72f/CONSTRUCTION-INNOVATION-IN-THE-PROVINCE-OF-QUEBEC-BARRIERS-DRIVERS-ENABLERS-AND-IMPACT.pdf Dozzi, S.P., AbouRizk, S.M. (1993), ‘Productivity in Construction’. Institute for Research in Construction. National Research Council of Canada. Accessed December 28, 2021. https://web.mit.edu/parmstr/Public/NRCan/nrcc37001.pdf Kamal, E., Yusof, N., Iranmanesh, M., (2015), “Innovation creation, innovation adoption, and firm characteristics in the construction industry”, Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, Vol. 7 No. 1, pp. 43-57. Accessed December 31, 2021. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JSTPM-03-20150011/full/pdf?title=innovation-creation-innovation-adoption-and-firm-characteristics-in-the-construction-industry Thomas, R., Ellis, R., (2017), ‘Construction Site Management and Labor Productivity Improvement: How to Improve the Bottom Line and Shorten Project Schedules’. American Society of Civil Engineering Press. Reston, Virginia, USA. Accessed December 28, 2021. https://construccion.uv.cl/docs/textos/TEXTO.19.pdf

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2022

Ethics in Irish Construction

Can the Irish construction industry improve output through the further implementation of ethics?

Introduction

Recommendations

(Netscher, 2017) states that being ethical sets the tone of the contractual parties' relationship.

When one person engages in unethical behaviour, the relationships suffer, and the project suffers.

The Purpose of the Research Is there a culture of lies and deceit within the Irish construction Industry? Professional codes of conduct have evolved to reflect the normative behaviour within which members of professions should function (Paul Bowen, 2007).

Research by Jim Mason ( 2009) indicates that a single industry-wide code can help improve the industry's ethical standards of behaviour.

Justification for the Research

Conclusions

(Oladinrin, 2016) states that the existence of codes of ethics in most organisations does not appear to have curbed unethical behaviour, particularly in the construction industry.

According to (Sutherland, 1983), unethical behaviour occurs as a result of learning practical business or being inducted into the profession.

Findings She asserts that if an organisation properly instructs its employees on ethics, the employees will work harder, faster, and smarter, hence boosting the organisation's overall revenues.

Aims and Objectives

Methodology

Improvements in construction must meet the changing attitudes of a modern society through CSR by implementing, upholding, and improving ethics. (Bordoli, 2014)

. (Hagan et al, 2018) reported that

quantitative and qua can be combined for comparable aims.

Mixed methods research, with its many philosophies, produces highquality research.

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Title: A critical analysis of different leadership styles used within the Irish construction industry, its understanding and weather it’s a factor in the education and hiring of project managers Autor: Darragh 0’ Keeffe Dissertation for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Construction Project Management 2022 (Poster Presentation) Research Mentors: Daniel Clark Hagan & Michael Curran

Introduction

j

Project managers in Ireland today lead in some of the most complex projects ever undertaken. One undeniable factor for this is its highly skilled workforce. Focusing on the construction industry who are these project managers and how they lead is the topic of this research dissertation.

Establishing the five main leadership styles in construction as described by research scholars across the world. The research sets out to analyse these styles and understand how project managers in Ireland utilize them and understand them.

Key Findings •

Low understanding of leadership in the Irish construction industry.

•

Low training in relation to leadership styles.

•

Disconnect exists between scholarly research on leadership and its practical application in real time in the Irish construction industry.

Methods •

The dissertation uses a mixed method methodology (qualitative + quantitative) research.

•

It is used to be both inductive and deductive in nature collecting both numerical and textual data through questionnaires and interviews.

•

Analyses • The quantitative analysis provided excellent feedback and data to both back up the qualitative data and the literature review. Democratic came out as the most preferred leadership style along with Charismatic but a good selection of styles where mentioned.

• What can be seen clearly from qualitive analysis is that project managers are leaders, just not diagnosed but after an explanation of the different styles they could describe themselves with styles.

• Project Managers showed great interest in leadership and felt that training around the subject was missing.

Results

• Are project managers in the Irish construction industry aware of the different leadership styles used? The short answer is no, while some project managers have heard of them. Their understanding is very limited. This does not mean bad leadership they are well capable and actively think about it but would not recognize any theory behind it.

Conclusions • After analysis of the results of interviews and surveys the disconnect between project managers and leadership was clear. Minimum understand and training of the subject was noted. After identifying the five main leadership styles that research provided as the best styles used by project managers to deliver projects. It was a surprise to note that most project managers could not describe their style.

• Experience garnered through years of employment in leadership roles is the main educator and facilitator of leadership styles and skills used in the Irish construction industry.

• This topic would benefit greatly from further research in areas such as leadership within companies (case study’s).

Leadership and managing people how our education system is incorporating this into our future leaders.

• Companies do not employ people in relation to certain styles • To fully conclude the research all aims were achieved, but the surface only scratched. More research is warranted around leadership in the Irish construction industry.

• Are companies procuring project managers with thought to their style of leadership? No, they are not this research has shown that its very rare in the Irish construction industry to be asked about your leadership styles. Experience seems to be the driver.

• Are project managers in Ireland aware of their style of leadership? Unfortunately, not, while most would attempt to name same, they could not describe or differentiate between different styles. They are leading some are democratic, some are transformational others are a mixture of both, but most project managers in Ireland could which one they are.

References 1. Study aid, (2022) Sample dissertations, The Mixed Method in Research Design, [Accessed 8th of April 2022].

2. Indeed editorial, (2021), 10 Common Leadership Styles (Plus How To Find Your Own), [Accessed 10th of April 2022].

Acknowledgments

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1.

I would like to thank my research mentors Daniel Clark Hagan & Michael Curran.

2.

I would also like to thank my family for all the support and patience as I completed my research paper.

2022

The Importance of Lean Construction Tools and Techniques on a Data Center Project BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management Prepared by Paulo Pereira – S00207853

INTRODUCTION

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Data Centers projects are currently one of the most important sectors in the principal European construction markets such as Ireland, Denmark, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

A literature review of books and scientific articles was carried out to assist the elaboration of this dissertation and also to understand the most important Lean Construction concepts, tools and techniques.

On the other hand, the construction industry is suffering from a lack of skilled labour, excess of waste and poor productivity, which leads to a much lower productive time and nearly 5 times more waste generated when compared to other industries.

The second stage of my dissertation was carried out through qualitative and quantitative research to understand the importance of Lean Construction tools and techniques for industry professionals work and also the company performance. These two types of research were carried out through:

http://www.leanuk.leanconstruction.org/whatis.htm>, 2004

Lean Production created by Toyota Production System (TPS), is a management methodology that has the main objective of reducing all sources of waste through the most efficient methods to increase productivity.

• Structured interviews with Senior Project Managers and also company's Director, to understand their experiences with the Lean Construction methodology and also understand their opinions about the main benefits and barriers in adopting the Lean Construction methodology across the industry to reduce waste and maximize productivity.

• Survey questionnaire conducted to professionals in the sector about their opinion on the main benefits and barriers of Lean methodology and also to understand if in their current jobs they are using Lean tools and techniques

Lean Construction is an adaptation of Lean Production System Tools & Techniques and is a new and more efficient methodology to manage construction projects when compared with the Conventional Construction Methods.

Despite the numerous benefits of this new method, there are still several barriers to full and effective implementation across all construction industry.

AIM OF RESEARCH The main objectives of this dissertation are:

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

• Explain the main benefits of Lean Construction Tools & Techniques, and identify which are the most efficient for a Data Center project.

The present dissertation intended to transpose the theoretical analysis to a practical application of the benefits of Lean Construction methodology during the construction stage of a Data Center project

• Understand what are the main barriers across the industry to implementing Lean Construction tools & Techniques.

Demonstrate examples of lean Construction methodology best practices to make a contribution to waste reduction in the industry.

• Using the data collected through qualitative and quantitative research, understand the level of knowledge of the construction professionals regarding Lean tools and techniques • Presenting two case studies of successful use of Lean tools and techniques to reduce waste and improve productivity, such:  Off-site construction  Use of QR codes & google forms to eliminate the use of paper for site inspections.

• The importance of benchmarking to improve quality standards and maximize collaboration among all parties in a Data Center Project.

SCAN ME . we can conclude that the implementation of the lean methodology in a complex project as an hyperscale Data Center project, is essential to achieve a significant productivity improvement, eliminate non-valueadded activities and also give a positive impact on the balance of the Project Management Triangle: Time, Budget and Quality

REFERENCES 1 - Howell, G. & Ballard, G., 1998. Implementing Lean Construction Understanding and Action 2 - Abdulmouti, Hassan 2018 - Benefits of Kaizen to Business Excellence: Evidence from a Case Study 3 - Salem-e-al.-2005-Site-implementation-and-assessment-of-lean-construction-techniques

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The Impact of Applying Lean Construction on the Planning & Implementation Phase of a Construction Project

Kevin Reilly (S00175025) – BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management - Atlantic Technological University

Findings and Results

Introduction •Lean Construction is a philosophy evolved from the lean production systems in the manufacturing sector e.g. Toyota Production Line •Initially the philosophy was raised by Womack in 1996 and then again in the Egan Report “Rethinking Construction” in 1998 •Lean is “the endless transformation of waste into value from the customers perspective”.

Aims & Objectives

Barriers to Implementing Lean Construction Lack of Awareness from Senior Management to Tradesmen

Design & Construction Dichotomy

User interface for online lean management tools

Fragmentation and Subcontractors

Problems in Construction to be addressed Waste

Health & Safety

Quality

Material Management

Identify the barriers to Lean Construction Identify the problems in construction that need to be addressed How Lean Construction can help resolve these issues

Methodology

•An extensive literature review of academic articles, published papers and journals.

•Quantitative Research in the form of a Linkert Scale survey (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree) •Qualitative Research in the form of one to one, semi structured interviews with industry professionals

Conclusions & Recommendations • • • • • • •

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A well executed lean management plan will help increase value and minimise wastes such as costs and time Requires 100% commitment from all project parties Awareness should be raised throughout the industry and companies – use incentives to engage tradesmen.

Work with Clients at the early stages of the project to allow for the implementation of Lean Tools.

Stay committed throughout the project to maximise the impact of Lean Keep it simple, over complicating things will drive people away from the processes – use user friendly online tools.

All project stakeholders and Subcontractors must work together.

2022

An Analysis of the Implementation of Project Management Information Systems within the Construction Industry BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT- ACADEMIC POSTER LORCAN TYRRELL - S00207870

INTRODUCTION Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.

Project Management Information Systems or (PMIS) are electronic systems used to provide decision support to project managers during the planning, organization, and control phases of a project.

As their use becomes more common on construction projects globally this study sets out to find if their implementation brings value to projects.

AIM OF RESEARCH To examine the origin of PMIS within the construction industry.

To explore how these systems have developed.

To investigate if their implementation within construction projects benefits the project.

To analyse the existing literature previously published on these systems within the construction industry.

To complete the dissertation by analysing the research findings and making recommendations.

METHODOLOGY - MIXED METHODOLOGY APPROACH

Research can be either qualitative or quantitative Each method provides a unique perspective on the subject A mixed method approach incorporates elements of qualitative and quantitative research methods into a single study Qualitative research method - Five semi structured interviews were carried out with working professionals within the construction industry Quantitative research method - Online survey distributed to working professionals within the construction industry

INTERVIEW RESULTS AND FINDINGS Age

Yrs Experience

Job Title

Construction Sector

1

34-44

15

Project Mgr

Pharma/ Data Center

2

25-34

6

Project Mgr

Data Center

3

34-33

14

CX Manager

Data Center

4

34-33

20

Elec Engineer

Rail

5

25-34

9

Project Mgr

Data Center

Aware of PMIS

Use PMIS in their role

PMIS Benefits a Project

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Area PMIS benefits most Program Mgmt Program Mgmt Project Documentation Construction Quality Cost Control

SURVEY RESULTS AND FINDINGS PMIS Functions Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Adequate training provided on PMIS

PMIS Benefits Scheduling 15

PMIS benefits construction projects Improves programme management

Cost control 18

Improves productivity on projects Improves project documentation Project Documentation 15

Improves construction quality Improves collaboration Helps with cost control 0

25

50

75

CONCLUSIONS The use of PMIS within the construction industry is widespread The implementation of PMIS improves collaboration between team members on projects It allows for the sharing of project information in a secure way Its functionality benefits the team

Construction Quality 6 Collaboration 7

100

RECOMMENDATIONS PMIS to be customized for each organization to accurately capture needs of specific businesses Future research to recruit a larger sample size to generate more reliable findings and to focus on demonstrating how PMIS improve project management in practice

References (Raymond and Bergeron, 2008, Delone and Mclean, 2003 & Teixeira et al, 2016)

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Power Demands of Data Centres in Ireland

Bsc Hons in Construction Project Management Paul Warnock S00207469

Introduction

Findings

• Increased demand for cloud services has driven growth in Data Centre Construction.

Data Centre Growth

• Data Centres in Ireland currently use 11% of grid capacity, the scale of growth suggests 70% by 2030

• Data Centre expansion has been driven by cloud computing online IT and streaming services.

• Threats of power cuts has led to calls for restriction on Data Centers.

• Growth has been accelerated by the Covid-19 Pandemic and remote working.

Energy Demands

• Power Constraints has led to a focus on energy efficiency and design changes.

• Power capacity limitations has forced operators to review designs, practices and energy usage to continue to respond to customer demands.

• This paper investigates the power demands on the national grid and the efforts to reduce consumption.

• Strong Focus on reducing energy & energy management • Implementation of energy efficiency programs.

• PUE leading metric for data centre power usage, however 40% of those surveyed were unaware of metric.

Construction

• Cooling identified as largest consumer of power prompted move to free cooling technology using fresh air to cool data centres.

• Electrical Design improvements to power supplies and server equipment.

• District Heating scheme implemented to use expelled air to heat local offices and buildings.

Aims and Objectives • To identify the purpose of Data Centres

National Grid / Government

• To analyse Energy demands and Growth Forecasts

• Moratorium / Restrictions and calls for ban on data centre construction.

• To review the Evolution of construction methods.

• To illustrate demand on Grid Capacity and Government Regulation • To forecast future growth of Data Centres.

• Operators have engaged with grid and participate in DSM / MDC programs to support grid when at capacity.

•

Drive to create more renewable energy programs and develop wind farms. Ireland has favourable climate conditions to allow free cooling for lower energy consumption.

• Poor public perception of data centres, why we need them.

Methodology

• Economic benefits to the country are significant.

Literature Review • Journals / Papers / News Articles

Quantitative Survey • 60 Participants from Data Centre Sector Qualitative Interviews •

Semi structured interviews with data centre engineers & managers.

Mixed Method Approach

Conclusion & Recommendations • Data Centre demand will continue to grow as demand for a digital economy and faster online and streaming speeds will drive this. Power demands will continue to be significant but the services have to be hosted somewhere.

• New designs and standards have significantly reduced power consumption. Free cooling technology has been a massive success in Ireland due to the climate.

• Data Centre Operators work with grid and government bodies to tackle the issue.

• Training and further education on PUE / energy efficiency and renewables is required.

• The grid will remain under pressure so power demands will need to be monitored and managed but there should be a focus on sustainable projects such as district heating and expanding wind farms in Ireland.

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2022

A STUDY INTO THE IMPACT OF BREXIT ON THE IRISH CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OISIN CASSIDY S00186924

Introduction: • This research document was created with the purpose of researching the effects of Brexit on the Irish construction industry.

• The success of the Irish economy is heavily dependent on the success of the construction industry.

• This paper is intended to highlight why Brexit occurred and the effects it is having on the Irish construction industry.

• The delays currently experienced in the construction industry will be researched.

Purpose of Research: To research and understand the effect Brexit is having on the Irish Construction Industry.

Conclusions: Respondents to the questionnaire so far varied in construction experience with just over 40% falling into the 20+ and likewise in the 0-4 years groups. The general Knowledge surrounding Brexit was also strong.

Justification of Research: • Preliminary research identified a substantial gap in knowledge on the topic.

• Given the Covid-19 pandemic, the effects of Brexit on the construction industry might have been overlooked as a result.

• Highlighting the issues faced by project managers will allow plans to be made to mitigate these effects on future projects.

FIG 1. Construction Experience

FIG 2. Brexit understanding

Aims & Objectives: The overall aim of this research document is to establish the effects Brexit has had on the Irish Construction Industry. We must first understand the following: • Information relating to Brexit.

• Research into the Irish Construction Industry’s success prior to Brexit.

• The effects of the supply, and delivery of goods to the Irish construction industry.

• Delays in the Irish Construction Industry

• While the effects of Brexit on the Irish construction industry can be seen, large world events have since occurred causing greater damages to the Irish construction industry.

• Covid-19 and the current escalations in Ukraine have all aided the decline of the Irish construction industry, and the wider Irish Economy.

• Given the above factors, none the less Brexit has put significant delays on deliveries of building materials sourced from within the UK as they await custom clearance.

Methodology:

Recommendations: Recommendations for further research include the following: • Broaden the research topic to include Covid-19 and other topical economic issues.

• Consider using other research methods to gain further data on the research topic.

• Extend the time available to allow the researcher to obtain further knowledge from the literature review and interview a larger audience involved in the construction industry.

Three different methods were used to gain data to satisfy the research topic: • A literature review was undertaken as a primary research method by the author to gain a sound base of knowledge on the research objectives.

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with industry professionals as a qualitative research method.

• A survey constructed on the back of the interviews, shared with a broader audience, to compliment the qualitative method along with the literature review to form the quantitative research method.

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A Comparative Review of Modular and Traditional Construction for the Delivery of Educational Facilities in Ireland Liam Devaney S00185379 Introduction ➢

➢

The body of research will look at modular and traditional construction to find if modular construction is the way of the future for constructing new educational facilities in Ireland compared to traditional construction which has been at the fore front of constructing educational facilities in Ireland for may years.

With there being a big demand within Ireland for new educational facilities it is important to find the best solation of dealing with this demand.

Purpose of Research The purpose of this body of research is understand both modular and traditional construction as to then compare the two construction methods to find the differences between the two and to find if modular construction is the way forward in constructing educational facilities in Ireland compared to traditional construction.

Justification of Research ➢ ➢

Research has shown that there is a great demand for newly constructed educational facilities in Ireland.

Traditional construction has been at the fore front of constructing educational facilities in Ireland for many years but in more recent times modular has started to become very popular for the constructing of educational facilities in Ireland.

References

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Aim & Objectives To give an understanding through research, what are modular construction and traditional construction, then furthermore if through research show if modular construction is the way forward in the construction of educational facilities in comparison to traditional construction in Ireland.

1. To establish what modular construction 2. To give an understanding of what traditional construction.

3. To compare, contrast and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of modular construction in compression to traditional built construction.

4. To uncover weather modular construction is the way forward in building new Educational Facilities in Ireland in comparison to traditionally built schools

Methodology To complete the body of research three methods of research were utilised: 1.

Literature review A comprehensive literature review was carried out on all published material relating to Modular and Traditional construction to give an understanding of each construction method from their building processes to the materials they used along with a review of the differences between both construction methods and the need for new educational facilities within Ireland 2. Interview A semi-structured was carried out following the completion of the literature review with an industry professional in the area of the research topic. With the questions asked throughout interview being gathered from the completed literature review.

3. Questionnaire An online questionnaire was undertaken following the completion of the semi-structured interview. The questionnaire was shared among a wide range of industry professional with the questions being gathered from the completed literature review and the semi-structured interview.

Findings & Conclusions

Fig.1. method to keep up with the demand of new educational facilities in Ireland

It can be seen from the results gathered from 52 responses to this question that 59.6 % of participants would choose modular construction going forward to keep up with the demand for new educational facilities in Ireland

With the survey having 56 respondents from a wide range of different job roles within the construction industry with the most coming from the role of project managers.

Fig. 2 role currently employed in

Recommendations From the completion of the body of research I would recommend: ➢ That modular construction is best suited construction method to keep up with the demand of new educational facilities in Ireland. ➢ It has many more advantages/ benefits over traditional construction – with having a shorter construction time, more customizable, being more sustainable along with the option of relocating the building in years to come, etc. ➢ That traditional construction is still a great option for constructing educational facilities just under certain circumstances – site location/access & ground conditions.

Limited, A., 2020. Leipzig, Germany. 21st Jan, 2020. A single-family house is built in traditional brick construction in the Leipzig area. Credit: Volkmar Heinz/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB/dpa/Alamy Live News Stock Photo - Alamy. [online] Alamy.com.

Available at: <https://www.alamy.com/leipzig-germany-21st-jan-2020-a-single-family-house-is-built-in-traditional-brick-construction-in-the-leipzig-area-credit-volkmar-heinzdpa-zentralbildzbdpaalamy-live-news-image340732239.html> (Accessed 11 April 2022).

Memery Crystal. 2018. Modular construction gains traction as an alternative to traditional construction techniques - Memery Crystal. [online] Available at: <https://www.memerycrystal.com/articles/modular-construction/> (Accessed 11 April 2022).

2022

An Analysis into the adoption of 4D Bim in the Irish Construction Industry Produced as part of the Dissertation (QUSU08023) Module at Atlantic Technological University By Garret Kearns

Introduction

Aim

For many medium to large scale construction companies, it is very important to give the client a better understanding and visualization of how their product will be finished and the process behind the construction. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is used for creating and managing data during the design, construction, and operations process. The use of BIM gives everyone that will be involved greater visibility, an opportunity for efficient decision making, more sustainable options and encourages cost efficiencies across a variety of projects.

4D BIM, the Topic of the Dissertation, is the addition of the time element or scheduling data to the 3D BIM Model of the Project. 4D BIM helps to show the timeline of the project along with errors in the plan and a optimised Critical Path.

Objectives

Methodology

1.To explore the use of 4D Building Information Modelling in Ireland and uncover any barriers that are causing a lack of usage.

After researching and reviewing different research method options, it was clear that semi-structured interviews became the most viable option. 4 specific construction professionals have be asked to participate to give different aspects on their own experiences of 4D BIM in the construction in Ireland.

3.To highlight the overall awareness of 4D BIM in the Irish Construction Industry.

"New technologies might overcomplicate construction"

40%

Following on from online research, it is evident that there are very little articles that prove Ireland is openly using 4D BIM continually in the construction sector. The Dissertation hopes to highlight some of the reasons as to why a mandate hasn’t been fast tracked, barriers that are causing this, and why Ireland is maybe left behind in the ever-growing technological age of Building Information Modelling

To clearly state the advantages and disadvantages of 4D BIM (Building Information Modelling) in Ireland and outline the barriers the technological advances are facing in the Irish Construction Industry.

2.To explore if Covid 19 has fast tracked advances like 4D BIM in the industry

The construction industry is a fast-paced , project based industry that is constantly growing (Kumar, 2015).The world of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and previous modelling techniques over the years has rapidly progressed into a vital asset for the construction sector by improving build timelines, quality, and overall construction of new projects on the island of Ireland.

Results

Justification of Topic

Following on from the semi-structured interview, it was decided that a questionnaire survey was also a viable way to get information on the dissertation topic as this would give the dissertation real life answers from an even more broad scope but also be very relevant to the dissertation topic. The Survey was emailed to construction firms along with being shared on social media platforms that had specific construction groups.

25 "Covid 19 fast tracked the use of BIM and new Technologies" 20

30%

15 20%

10

10%

ee

St

ro

ng

ly

Di sa

gr

ee gr Di sa

al tr eu N

re e Ag

re Ag ly ng

Di ng ly St ro

St ro

sa gr ee

e gr e Di sa

tr al

e Ag re

eu N

y gl ro n St

e

0

0% Ag re e

74.5% Are Aware of 4D BIM

5

Conclusion

83% Believe its beneficial to the Industry

Recommadations

As above, For 74.5% of the construction to be aware of 4D BIM and a further 83% believe it to be beneficial to the Irish Construction Industry is a huge step in the right direction for 4D to be fully adopted into the industry. In saying that, it was interesting to see a contradicting trend with 34% of participants believe it could over complicate the industry, compared to 8% who strongly disagree with that statement.

Participants also believe that Covid 19 was a factor for a faster adaptation of 4D BIM which helps to achieve one of the above objectives.

Further research recommendation would be to allow for a more extensive and comprehensive in depth study. A longer timescale for the study and interviews should be allocated along with practical research to be completed rather then limit the dissertation to a desk study. From completing this dissertation, as mentioned above, if more time was allocated, a case study would be another informative research method to see how a company has successfully adapted to and applied 4D BIM in the planning and construction phase of projects.

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Building Information Management(BIM), its advantages in Project Management delivery and economic benefit to the Client.

Adrian O Donnell S00208833 Atlantic Technological University Module Code: QUSU08023 BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management

Introduction

Results & Findings Cognitive & Mind mapping were used to summarise each interview transcripts

The Construction sector plays a large role in the socio and economic development of a Country.

Construction historically has had a poor reputation, underperformance, poor costs control, unsatisfied Clients. BIM was introduced and has been at the forefront of change within the Industry, what is BIM? The Report shall examine how has BIM been beneficial to a Construction Project Manager with integrated project delivery, it will also consider what the economic benefit are to the client for the lifecycle of the project. Finally, the report shall consider how is BIM being received and adopted into the Irish Construction Sector.

Aims & Objectives • Establish background, apparent advantages and disadvantages to implementing BIM. • To compare, contrast and evaluate what impact BIM has on the Construction Industry.

• To explore and examine how BIM can assist the Project Management in construction

• Interviews indicated there was high client dissatisfaction; 76% surveys agreed.

• Interviews stated that 3D BIM improves Clients Special Awareness;86% survey agreed • Interviews indicate BIM promotes Lean Construction; 75% Questionnaire concur.

project delivery.

• To uncover what is the cost of BIM implementation and what are the economic benefits it delivers to the client for the life cycle of the project.

• To explore and examine how is BIM being adopted within the Irish Construction Sector

Methodology

• Interviewee frustrated that BIM is not Mandatory; 71% survey believe BIM reduces costs.

• Interviews believe BIM is the future;77% of Survey state preference for Government Mandate • BIM assist statutory compliances BCARS; 68% of Survey agree strongly.

Q.28 WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT YOUR COMPANY HAS SUFFICIENT BIM EDUCATION AND UPSKILLING TO MEET THE GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR THE IRISH CONSTRUCTION SECTOR? Strongly

There are three approaches to research Qualitative, Quantitative or Mixed methods. Given the complexity of the construction

Strongly Agree 3%

industry a single research approach would make it

Agree 18%

difficult to achieve the aims and objectives set out above,

Neutral 13%

(Saunders,et al 2008) Research is like an Onion, there are

Disagree 52%

several layers of approach which need adopted to get to central

Conclusions

core data that you require for your research, so a Mixed Method approach was chosen.

Mixed Methods

Advantages of Implementing BIM

A mixed method approach is used to gain comprehensive understanding of a

Following the study, the consensus is that BIM eliminated poor quality Design, Improves

studied model and to compensate for any shortfalls in a quantitative approach

Client Satisfaction, Resolves the Data Management Issues that previously existed, which

(Tashakkori, 2010).

has been enhanced by software developments. Client do want delay in project design and

Qualitative

are reluctant to demand BIM on their Project.

Qualitative research “tries to develop a complex picture of a problem by reporting multiple

What impact BIM has on the Construction Industry

perspectives and identifying multiple factors involved”(Creswell 2009).Four semi structured

BIM is assisting with Improved Communication and collaboration, data management

interviews were carried out for the second stage of the qualitative approach using questions

through the Common Data Environment. There are improvements in Health and Safety,

formulated form the research in the Literature review.

accuracy for cost estimation and Logistics. 3D BIM is providing better visualisation for the

Quantitative

Project, reduces waste. However, the consensus is that BIM is not be implemented sufficiently in the Industry given all its benefits.

“identifying a sample population, specifying the type of design, collecting and analysing the data, presenting the results, making an interpretation and writing the research in a manner

How does BIM assist the Project Manager in Construction project delivery

consistent with the survey” (Creswell 2014). The study’s Quantitative research was

The study identified that BIM greatly assists the project Manager with Site Logistics,

completed using Google forms, it consisted of 32 closed ended research questions

Scheduling & Programming, Lean Construction, Site Productivity. It also provides

formulated from the qualitative research under the five headings. There were One hundred

assistance with Financial Management of a Project, Budgets, Claims, Progress Report, all of

respondents all of whom are professionals in the Industry.

which assist with Improved Client Satisfaction. However, it is not being fully exploited.

Literature Review

Cost of BIM implementation and what are the economic benefits for Lifecycle

• Low profit margin and significant unforeseen costs, there was poor design collaboration

BIM provides Economic value to the client for the project Lifecycle, Improved

between all team members and the clients weren’t sufficient involved in the process

communication, quality, Data for O&M, Cost savings, Compliance with statutory Regs.

which untimely resulted in client dissatisfaction (Latham, 1994).

How is BIM being adopted within the Irish Construction Sector.

• Lean construction tries to improve the construction process with minimum cost and

Poor Public Sector Implementation, Contractors & sub-Contractors not sufficiently trained,

maximum value (Koskela, et al., 2012)

Consultants not driving extra CDE work, BIM Road Map published, Educational Courses

• 3D BIM assists the client to visualize, better

established. A Government Mandate is required for Implementation (Top Down)

understand, and make decisions on the aesthetics &the functionality of the space (Hergunsel, 2011).

• Complex communication structure in projects, combined with a high amount of data generated in construction projects (Arnold & Javernick-Will,2013) • BIM increase’s profits, lowers costs, and scheduling time. (Hergunsel, 2011).

• Construction 2027 contains strong recommendations that Industry organizations promote

RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION TEMPLATE © 2019

www.PosterPresentations.com

BIM (Hore, et al.,2017), Primarily driven by Construction IT Alliance (Hore 2019)

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Disagree 14%

• • • • • • • •

References

Arnold, P. & Javernick-Will, A., 2013. Key to Effective Implementation of Construction PM Software Creswell, J., 2009. Research Design:Qualitative ,Quantatitive and Mixed Method Approaches 3rd E. Creswell, J. W., (2014). Research Design:. Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches,4 Hergunsel, 2011. Benefits of Building Information Modeling for Construction Managers Koskela, L., Howell, G., Ballard, G. & Tommelein, I., 2002. Foundations of Lean Construction.

Latham, S., 1994. Constructing The Team. Procurement and Contract Arrangements in UK Industry.

Hore, A., McAuley, B. & and West, R., 2017. BIM Innovation Capability Programme of Ireland.

Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A., 2009. Understanding your research Philosophy.

2022

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS TO THE FACTORS FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO WORK OUTSIDE ITS NORMAL BOUNDS

Aim To obtain and analyse research on the prevailing factors influencing construction companies that have cemented operations in their local area, to expand their operations into international markets.

BSc Hons Construction Project Management Atlantic Technological University Andrew Potter S00220034

Introduction

Analysis

As the world grows bigger day by day, the need for construction companies and engineering firms have been at their all time high. Due to the increase in demand for construction services from population growth, the talks of globalisations within companies have become more prevalent.

Findings have indicated that internationalisation is not a function of demographic but instead function of perceptions.

Top management play the most vital role in deciding whether or not to move into international markets Diversifications vs Specialisation are two different reasons to motivate a company to seek globalisation.

Many risk factor exist in the path to internationalisation; simalry many benefits can be yielded such as increased revenue.

In the literature review it was found that "To Diversify Risk" was a top variable in decision for internationalization. It was proved that managers consider a non internationalisation option as carrying significant risk. When asking the survey applicants "To Diversify Risk" is reasonable, close to 75% agree. when asked opinions whether non internationalisation option carried significant risk , 40% agreed and 42% staying neutral, showing that people believe going International is no harm.

When the interviewees and survey applicants were asked if a strong local work force affect your decisions. 44% agreed, the interviewees talked about stronger unionized positions that they had to adapt to.

Objective 1. To identify the influencing factors involved in the initial decision making process for construction companies in their move towards international markets 2. To highlight choices made by contractors from around the world in pursuit of globalization 3. To uncover the economic, political and risk factors that are prevalent when transitioning from domestic operation to international work 4. To determine the key considerations for contractor planning to enter international markets, and make recommendations for the optimum approach based on researched experience

Methodology

In the survey respondents were asked if they found that working with markets that are close in geographic boundaries, to be lesser perceived risk; more than 75% agreed.

This correlates to earlier research that found that contractor that worked in close proximity to there local market, saw a decreased perceived risk. This is linked to trade agreements with neighboring countries that made it easier to move specialized equipment or materials to jobs sites. One interviewee stated that they had experienced problems sending specialized products to countries that are not close geographically.

Results Detailed interviews were completed. Participants had experience in international construction and international business, they were asked question relating to their experiences with projects, regarding their risks that arose and their mitigation strategies, hurdles or barriers and how they solved the problems. interview also focused on methodology of sourcing of native resources, including contractors, specialists and sub contractors A survey was by completed by 38 recipients, ranging from a variety of different sectors in the constructions field, with 44% having experience in international markets. Questions were designed so that trends could be subsequently identified regarding the decisions making factors on internationalization. Questions pertained to risks, building regulations, material supply and revenue.

0-25% 28.9%

N/A 36.8%

75-100% 5.3%

50-75% 10.5%

25-50% 18.4%

what percentage does your company take up of the specialized area for your local market?

Dissagree 2.6% Neutral 23.7%

Highly Agree 26.3%

Highly Affects 18.4% N/A 31.6%

Agree 47.4%

Do you think foreign markets are profitable?

Doesn't Hinder 7.9%

Somewhat Affects 42.1%

When working in a foreign market, how much does the difference in workflow and different standards affect the work you do?

Conclusion Based on the findings of the research it is apparent that the factors influencing construction companies to work in international markets are: 1. When trying to understand if moving into international market is viable, seniors managements perception of the market was found to be a key consideration. A recommendation of this research is that an understanding of current political, economical and prevailing risks that are present in the country is a prerequisite to decision making.

2. The research has shown that if a company has decided to move into a new market, then project managers should do extensive research and risk Annaliese to understand partnerships with other companies that may need to be included, as well as new processes that are required, as this may be different from their local market.

3. if a company is specialized in a certain product or services, the survey analysis proved that moving out into new markets locations may broaden the amount of work available and also can diversify there portfolio with the ability to attain new clients and customers from referrals.

141

Engineering & Technology Expo

HONS Degree in Construction Project Management - Academic Poster By Sylvain Moreau

LIGHTING DESIGN IMPACTS ON OCCUPANTS, THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF LIGHTING DESIGNS INTRODUCTION

For as long as humans have occupied the Earth, there has been one constant throughout, which has been Sun light and its impact on human development and influence on human’s decisions. As time went on people were able to tame the creation of light and discovered how to simulate the Sun light through artificial illuminance utilizing fire and in today’s time various types of light fixtures. The earliest inventions of artificial lighting were simply designed to enhance sight during the low light times of day to spot dangers and to prolong workable days allowing humans to increase productivity.

Achievement criteria today now varies depending on room use through the measurement of lumens to meet new requirements like room safety, reduction of glare and light annoyance, improving public perception and mood, and total energy consumption.

RATIONALE - According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report in September 2021, the average American spends 90% of their life inside buildings - Therefore, it could be hypothesised that lighting design could be directly correlated to influencing an occupant’s overall mood, productivity and in more recent research potentially sleeping habits.

- It can also be hypothesised that the immense amount of lighting fixtures required to meet standards also means a large amount of waste is produced when fixtures are fully spent, if improperly handled directly impacts the environment we inhabit.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To identify and highlight any potential phycological and physical effects currently used lighting sources has on occupants.

2. Identify and highlight the effects current lighting sources has on the surrounding environment through waste pollution and light pollution.

3.

Identify the key drivers during lighting selection process.

STUDY CONTINUED...

15

15

10

10

5

5

0

LED

Fluorescent Incandescent

Halogen

Mixed

0

7PM or Before

What Type of Bulbs Does Your house Have?

8PM - 9PM

10PM - 11PM

12AM or Later

Average Bedtime

The literature has shown that varying light levels and light pollution caused by large cities pose both negative and positive affects to other living organisms separate to humans. Research has found that about 200 species of birds’ migration patterns are conducted during the nighttime within North America, and claim that brightly lit buildings, communication towers and other structures disrupt and generally confuse the birds. The lighting industry has been making strides to combat these issues with the manufacturing representative stating the development of fixtures 17 (81%) of 21Are Aware of Light specialized for certain situations such as to not impede migration habits.

Pollution 'Sky Glow' Very Concerned

METHODOLOGY

The study was carried out by a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative research. The first stage of the research was conducted as a literature review reviewing relevant literature and followed by semi-structured interviews with a lighting consultant and a sales representative of a major lighting manufacturer. The interviews were conducted to gain insight from the construction/designer and business perspectives. The second stage was conducted as a questionnaire to gather quantitative research from the consumer perspective.

STUDY The literature was mixed about whether lighting has a direct effect in influencing human behaviour and productivity. However, there were indications that lighting could be connected to a person's perception of their surroundings for example possibly leading to a longer time spent in store which in turns increases the probabilities of spontaneous in store purchasing choices. 15 (71%) of the 21 Questionnaire respondents preferred their work environment to be uniformly lit by cooler temperature lights, and 100% of respondents if given the choice prefer working by a window.

The literature also showed very few field studies that evaluate and demonstrate how lighting directly affects a person’s sleep schedule in terms of average hours lost and value of sleep as personal characteristics, such as light sleepers vs. heavy sleepers, can taint results. There are however scientific studies that use methods that measures a person’s brain chemical reactions that can be used to bridge the connection between lighting exposure and the circadian rhythm. As it was also found that current LED lighting systems emits blue light, a study referenced by Sleep.org states that participants exposed to blue or green light for 6.5 hours at night, Melatonin production was delayed twice as long when exposed to the 15 (72%) of 21 do not limit blue light over green light. screen usage before bed

As identified in the conducted interview 14.3% with the manufacturing rep, a downside of LED lighting can be found at the manufacturing stage as not all fixtures are produced the same potentially affecting fixture quality and efficiency. This said, modern LED fixtures are still capable of running with 20-80% less energy consumption required to operate fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescents (CFL), incandescent bulbs and halogens. Some Not Concerned research has estimated that if the entire 47.6% world switched to high-efficient LED How Concerned Are You About overnight that a total of 1,400 million The Effects of Urbanization and tonnes of carbon emissions would be Light Pollution on Local WildLife eliminated, and that the average household

Concerned 38.1%

could expect an average yearly energy savings of £40. The expected life span of a

low-end LED fixtures is around 25,000 hours of light while high-end fluorescent fixtures typically only manage 15,000 hours of light resulting in almost 2x more material waste produced over LED. Fluorescent fixtures, including CFLs contain mercury which is toxic to organic organisms and must be discarded appropriately to avoid issues to the surrounding environment, but as reported that generally only 10% of mercury is recovered and reports that in the United States, 29% industrial lamps and 2% residential actually reach recycling plants. Interviewees recommends that the lower recycling rate may be caused by a lack of knowledge and education as well as the literature also contributes the bulbs small size and convenience of general waste to the low rates.

12 (57%) of 21 Recycle Their Old Bulbs

CONCLUSION/RECOMENDATIONS In conclusion, as for influences on human behaviour and health are only slightly influenced by light design beyond the two extremes of either being too dark or too bright. The environmental impacts are apparent as all lighting contributes to some degree of material waste and energy consumption, but can be mitigated through solutions such as recycling if the world is properly educated on the subject and actively participates in the practice. Finally, as people and technology are constantly changing it is imperative that research on the subject also continues beyond this study to provide alternative design methods to maintain or improve on the occupant’s wellbeing, as well as staying cost and energy efficient. For future research on the subject, it would be suggested to have a much larger sample size as well as research into longer term effects which may not be immediately evident.

atu.ie

2022

A STUDY OF THE USE OF TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION IN MID-RISE AND HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND DETERMINE WHETHER ITS APPLICATION WILL BE AN IDEAL B.Sc.(Hons) In Construction OPTION VERSUS TRADITIONAL METHODS INTRODUCTION

METHODOLOGY

Currently, timber frame construction has fallen short when constructing for mid to high-rise buildings. To date, very few tall buildings have attempted a predominately wood structure as its prime structural component. This study aims to look at timber in relation to mid and high-rise construction and review whether it is in fact a more suitable practice over concrete or steel construction.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES i. To understand the advantages and disadvantages wood construction has on a project in comparison to the more traditionally used steel and concrete. ii. To analyse if using wood construction will save time, and will create economic benefits on the project as a whole. iii. To identify the environmental impact wood construction will have and determine whether it can be considered a more sustainable option. iv. To explore what adopting wood would mean for the modern-day construction of mid-rise and high-rise buildings. v. To investigate the impact wood construction has in the way projects are designed and managed

FINDINGS

LITERATURE REVIEW

QUALITATIVE

QUANTITATIVE

To satisfy the objectives of this study and form a conclusion to the hypothesis, numerous research methods have been undertaken.

• The initial research was a literature review which uses prior information found through journals, articles, and other studies.

• Three different case studies were examined during the literature review to test the hypothesis further. The studies included: Brock Commons in Canada, Mjøstårnet in Norway, and Oak Wood Timber Tower proposed for downtown London.

• Qualitative Data was collected through three interviews of industry professionals • Quantitative Data was collected through a questionnaire sent out to a semi controlled sample of 60 participants, consisting of industry professionals and students in related fields.

• Incorporating these three research methods satisfied the objectives and created a solidified conclusion.

Willingness to Learn New Timber Tequniques

EDUCATION • People are willing to learn these new techniques, however the resources are currently unavailable.

• Most people do not have education with these techniques and still see wood construction as it was over a century ago.

• Even technologies that have existed for decades such as Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) are fairly unknown to professionals in the industry.

• When asked questions about fire safety, large portion of respondents showed hesitancy moving into a timber building, but later showed more confidence once asked whether they would move in after given proper fire safety knowledge.

• Normalizing this in educational institutions can prove to reshape the way the construction perceives urban centres. Likelyhood to Purchase a

Project Management 2022 By: Jeffrey Robson S.N: S00220031

Would Education Lower Cost of Wood Construction

TIME & ECONOMICS • Wood meets some benefits which working professionals would look for when selecting a product. However, timber frame construction falls short in economic benefits.

• Speed was proven in the construct of Brock Commons, with it being completed in just 66 days (Acton, R. 2016). This was done by use of technologies such as VDC and CNC machinery.

• Studies done on economic aspects of timber construction found the only way to see profits is through local production (Scouse, A. 2020).

• What the research found indicated if education of wood products improved then costs would be lowered.

more Sustainable Product

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT • Timber is proven to be a much more sustainable option for construction over concrete and steel.

• Construction makes up 11% of total greenhouse emissions caused from manufacturing, transportation, and construction of building material (Architecture 2030 2021).

• Timber’s lightweight properties means more product can be loaded resulting in overall less transportation.

• Timber has the capacity for continued carbon dioxide storage even when converted into structures, which means timber buildings have the potential to contribute to better air quality.

Which Building Meathod CURRENT APPLICATIONS is Most Optimal • In order for timber framing to see more production and success in the current construction climate, a hybrid building seems to be the necessary approach.

• Timber has been proven that it can work well and Likeliness of Timber be a sufficient material in which to build, however, Construction Promoted for presently it works the most efficiently when in Construction Climate Impact tandem with a secondary material source such as concrete.

• Prime examples can be seen in Brock Commons and Mjøstårnet as they thrived implementing the technique and maximizing profits and functionality.

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

The result of these studies found that indeed wood construction is the optimal form of construction for mid and high-rise buildings.

However, it was also determined that the techniques and technologies are still in their infantile state. It is currently not feasible for timber construction to work independent or be the most costeffective option to construct.

What the results suggest was that people are more than willing to learn these new techniques and apply them within their projects.

However, at this time the most effective way to implement timber into mid and high-rise construction would be in the form of hybrid buildings.

REFERENCES

1. How can timber frame construction be constructed independent of other materials, i.e. pure timber and not hybrid construction.

As it stands, it does not seem feasible to construct in this way, and finding alternatives to gain its independence should be investigated.

2. How can this material method become as commonplace as concrete and steel when speaking in terms of mid and high-rise construction? It is evident that timber construction can very well compete with the likes of concrete and steel. However, it seems it is only a matter of public perceptions where wood construction in mid and high-rise buildings fall short.

Acton, R. (2016). Brock Commons Tallwood House UBC Hybrid Mass Timber Building. [online] Acton Ostry Architects. Available at: https://www.actonostry.ca/project/brock-commons-tallwood-house/.

Andrew, S. (2009). Mixed Methods Research for Nursing and the Health Sciences. [online] Google Books. John Wiley & Sons.

Architecture 2030 (2021). Our Mission – Architecture 2030. [online] architecture2030.org. Available at: https://architecture2030.org/our-mission/.

Scouse, A. (2020). Regional and net economic impacts of high-rise mass timber construction in Oregon. Sustainable Cities and Society, 61, pp.1–36.

143

Engineering & Technology Expo DISSERTATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT - KIRKLAND WILSON - S00220299 ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

A research study focusing on the available GPS/GIS tools and techniques in construction to better help benefit the environment and promote a sustainable industry. An in-depth comparison of cost/time savings vs. environmental benefits, along with a thorough study of the key drivers behind the implementation of these tools, and what the future holds in store for them in construction.

Aims & Objectives 1.) To explore the main uses of GPS/GIS technologies in the construction industry - researching their different functions and capabilities in order to better understand where these practices are most commonly used and for what purposes.

2.) To provide an analysis of the environmental benefits and contributions to a more sustainable industry that these practices can help to achieve within construction.

3.) To examine the key drivers behind implementing these technologies – looking at the importance of cost savings vs. environmental benefits.

4.) To examine the use of GPS/GIS techniques to provide a sustainable and environmentally-friendly industry moving forward and how this can achieved.

Methodology

Research Results/Findings As the research was conducted, the previously mentioned themes became apparent through triangulation amongst the literature review, semistructured interviews and questionnaire. The findings confirm that GPS/GIS technologies were first introduced into construction based on the notion that they would provide great time and cost savings on projects rather then environmental and sustainability factors. Upon further examination it was determined that upon these cost/time savings comes secondary effects that do however, provide great benefits to providing more sustainable construction practices and promoting a healthier environment. This was made clear by all three participants to the interviews, along with a strong correlation of agreement from the questionnaire results, as seen below.

This Research uses a mixed method approach of both qualitative and quantitative research strategies. Triangulation through a thorough literature review, series of semistructured interviews and a survey questionnaire will be analyzed and further discussed to identify any possible findings or reoccurring themes.

Themes As the research was conducted, several re-occurring themes became evident. When analyzed further, their importance can be directly related to the aim of this research.

Environmental benefits are subsequent and often an effect from cost/time savings - when looking at the drivers behind the technology and it's most common on-site uses.

Stronger rules, regulations and government incentives will likely be required to ensure that all the environmental benefits can be utilized through GPS/GIS practices when moving forward.

GPS/GIS will become more essential and is already being deemed necessary to remain competitive within the construction industry.

As the construction industry further develops, the global paradigm shift towards a cleaner environment should only continue to push these technologies as attention is brought to their many benefits provided through greener and cleaner methods of construction. With tighter regulations and project incentives these tools can be pushed within the industry to provide cleaner and more sustainable methods of construction. This along with client and stakeholder interest and reputation will also help drive these tools based off their positive environmental impact either through secondary benefits to cost and time or environmental specific projects.

As the industry continues to grow, so does it's competitive nature - and profit margins only continue to dwindle. This consistent trend throughout construction implies the need for these GPS/GIS tools moving forward in order to remain at all competitive in the industry. This comes as they provide much more efficient and sustainable methods to excecute project tasks and monitor production.

Conclusion In conclusion, although sustainability and environmental benefits may have not been the original drivers behind the implementation of the many GPS/GIS tools available in construction, they are most definitely evident through the many uses of the available practices. Moving forward in the industry, the push towards cleaner and greener construction methods will only increase, providing plentiful opportunity for these tools to only grow in popularity. This comes as they are becoming more and more necessary in order to remain competitive, and provide companies with both a cleaner reputation and cleaner projects.

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2022 Reference:

Makvandia. G. & Safiuddin. Md. (2021), Obstacles to Developing Net-Zero Energy (NZE) homes in Greater Toronto Area. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/11/3/95/htm Scammon. D L., Tomoaia-Costisel. A., Day. R L., Day. J., Kim. J., Waitzman. N J., Farrel. T Waitzman. N J. & Magil. M K. (2013). Connecting the dots and merging meaning: using mixed methods to study primary care delivery transformation. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24279836/

The Barriers Towards Achieving Net Zero Homes In Ontario, And The Steps Towards Mitigating Them.

04

01

Introduction Change is necessary if Canada wants to be Net Zero Ready by 2030. Since the residential sector plays a crucial role in the high green house gas emissions. The residential sector in Ontario consumes a significant portion of primary energy, and as a developing country, the demand for energy is anticipated to grow in the future. For this reason, more energy efficient homes are needed to save energy and reduce pollution (Makvandia. G. 2021). The study intends to identify the barriers to achieving a net zero home and investigate what steps are being taken to mitigate them. It was imperative for the research to examine if the government's plan of having all newly constructed homes Net Zero Ready by 2030 would be accomplished.

02

Aims & Objectives The barriers towards achieving a Net Zero Home are; Public and Industry Knowledge Trades & Technology Reluctant to Change Market Demand Economic Feasibility Government Involvement Cas Studies: The Past to Present The Future of Net-Zero

03

Methodology Mixed methods were used to test the hypothesis that net-zero homes will be adopted sooner than anticipated. A quantitative survey was used to obtain information from the public, while qualitative interviews were used to gather technical information from homebuilders working on net-zero homes. As a result, mixedmethod capitalizes on the strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative data to provide an integrated, comprehensive understanding of net-zero homes and the barriers that often stand in their way (Scammon.

D.L. 2013).

Net Zero homes eliminate non-renewable energy use by producing enough renewable energy to meet their annual energy consumption requirements. As a result, the homes are airtight, clean, and comfortable. A net zero ready home is 80% more energy-efficient than a traditionally built home. Net zero ready are homes without solar panels attached to the roof.

05

Results

Analysis

Knowledge Barrier:

Would a greater education of net zero homes mitigate the knowledge barrier? Results show that over half agreed (38 or 76%) , while a small portion disagreed (12 or 24%).

What are Net Zero Homes?

Knoweledge Barrier:

76%

Which energy efficient programs are the public aware of? Results show ENERGY STAR (20 or 40%), EnerGuide (4 or 8%), R-2000 Standard (2 or 4%), Net Zero or Net Zero Ready Home Label (7 or 14%), and none of them (17 or 34%) Trades & Technology In the residential construction industry, the availability of skilled professionals has been a recurring problem long before net-zero construction. All three interviews stated, "There are not enough skilled workers."

The interviewers spoke about their experience with net-zero homes. One of the interviewers used a system called ZIP Panel. In terms of construction, their framers and site supervisor stated it was an easier process to put up those boards, as well as helping them reach their R-value. New technology and construction methods always present learning curves, as one company found when dealing with some issues regarding a newer HVAC system.

Economic Feasability Over half the respondents (38 or 76%) are willing to pay more for a well-built home.

However, the public is still concerned about the 76% affordability of homes. Results show over half (32 or 64%) prioritize affordability over all other barriers, while the rest don't (18 or 36%).

One interviewee stated: "As the price of homes 64% increases, the additional $25k to $50,000 for a net zero home is a much smaller price than the million-dollar price tag for a new home."

Government Involvement Across the board, both the interviewers and survey participants agreed on the importance of more government involvement. Nearly all the respondents believe the government is not doing enough to incentivize net zero homes (46 or 92%), while a small fraction believes the government is doing a sufficient amount (6 or 12%).

According to interviewees, the incentive package would be huge for the industry. Currently, incentives are for retrofitting existing homes. Some municipalities and/or provinces have funding programs for energy-efficient homes, but they are not specific to net zero homes. All the interviewers agreed that more government funding and grants would make a drastic difference.

Future of Net Zero Homes: When asked the public if they're interested to purchasing a net zero home majority of the results were very interested (22 or 44%) or somewhat interested (19 or 38%) The future is bright, as stated by the interviewers. Many builders are keen to build better. Some think the net zero ready by 2030 plan is achievable, while others disagree. They all agreed that the code will have a crucial role to the adaptation to net zero ready homes.

According to the survey, 86% of respondents have some knowledge of net zero homes.

The interviewers all agreed that public knowledge is extremely low.

The results show that greater education will help reduce the barrier.

Trades & Technology:

There simply aren't enough trade workers in the industry to match the housing demand.

Net-Zero homes are more complex and require a greater degree of precision, resulting in trial and error.

As technology has evolved, the cost has essentially stayed the same. It's a better product that is still relatively expensive.

Economic Feasibility:

Homeowners are willing to pay the additional cost if they're satisfied with the quality of the home.

The average price for a single-family home in Ontario is a bit over one million dollars. There is also currently a seller's market where buyers are just looking for a home.

The pandemic was the industry's most pressing concern. This resulted in a shortage of numerous materials and supplies. This had a significant impact on the supply chain. However, it's gradually improving.

Government Involvment

The results show there is no government funding available for new homes. Currently, incentives are for retrofitting existing homes.

Over half of respondents were unaware of any government financing and ranked government involvement as the second most significant barrier, after economic feasibility.

The building code will play a crucial role in the adoption of Net Zero or Net-Zero Ready homes.

06

Conclusion This study depicts that the adoption of net-zero homes in Ontario can very well happen. As Ontario's building code continues to evolve, and as demand for homes increases, it will not be long before all newly constructed homes are Net Zero Ready in 2030 or shortly afterwards. Essentially, as the need for homes and hybrid working lives grows, a comfortable living experience and a healthier environment become increasingly necessary. In addition to reducing operational costs, which would help with affordability, these homes also play a critical role in mitigating climate change.

In terms of builders, they can adapt to the change and embrace this opportunity, or they can take the risk of falling behind.

SUHAYB ARIF (S00220300) DISSERTATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELORS OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FACILITY OF CIVIL ENINGEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

145

Engineering & Technology Expo

A Study of Modern Procurement Methods and Cost Management in the Construction Industry Student: Brian Healy Supervisor: Mairead Lynam BSc.(Hons) Construction Project Management Introduction In construction, procurement is defined as the process of securing the goods and services necessary to bring a project to its stages of completion and closure. In most cases a projects cost management and success is based on its overall performance through factors such as cost, quality and time, one of the deciding factors behind the procurement method will be based on what is of most important to the client in terms of these 3 primary drivers.

It is not uncommon for construction projects to encounter cost overruns and delays in schedule, resulting in unhappy clients or lack of project quality due to poor project performance. The purpose of this research is to identify the flaws in the procurement process that contribute to these short comings on overall project performance.

Methodology Mixed Methodologies

Qualitative

Quantitative

●LIT Review- Primary

and Secondary sources ●Interviews

M

●Survey Questionnaire ● 16 questions ● 40 responses

Reasons

●To get a better understanding of the aims and

objectives outlined in this research from industry professionals. ●To validate the research by using both methods

Results and Analysis

Aims and Objectives 1 To research the different methods of procurement specific to the requirements of the client.

2 To evaluate the priorities of the client when selecting the best suited procurement strategy 3 To identify the advantages and disadvantages of traditional and modern methods of procurement used in todays industry.

4 To evaluate the success of construction projects through choice of procurement in terms of cost, quality and time.

RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 209

www.PosterPresentations.com

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Data from the survey is produced in pie chart format for easy understanding and the interviews were fully transcribed. Both the qualitative and quantitative research methods produced some interesting findings. Some of which were: ● 42.5% of participants are working on projects that fall under traditional procurement method. ●87.5% of participants agree that the procurement method has a direct effect on project performance ● up to 80% agree that the majority of projects they have worked on have encountered both schedule and cost overruns. ● During one of the interviews it was found that a project had over 100 variations on the contract through the traditional method.

Conclusions and Recommendations ● As the industry progresses and projects become more complex there is a need to step away from the traditional methods of procurement on especially high-risk projects. ●There is a need for clients and contractors to collaborate more on projects to share risk, this will encourage more innovation on projects. ● It is recommended that further research may be necessary on the subject since construction is consistently adapting and changing and facing new challenges like most recently the covid-19 pandemic.

2022

Barriers to the Implementation of Sustainable Construction Methods

Cathal McHugh (S00126730) – Bsc (Hons) Construction Project Management – Atlantic Technological University

Abstract

•The Effects of the construction industry on the environment are well documented •Commitments to a more sustainable future have been made by leaders worldwide •We look at the research to see where sustainability is at now and the barriers holding it back •We carry out our own research to gauge the opinions of both the general public and those within the industry

The widespread roll out of sustainable building practices is held back by cost and performance issues Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree

Barriers Identified

Aims

•To Establish the current state of sustainable development within construction •To Identify barriers to sustainability within construction •To investigate the publics perspective and present the findings of the research

Methodology

•Extensive review of the existing literature •Quantitative Research in the form of a survey •Qualitative research in the form of one to one interviews

Economic

Performance

Financial

Education

Policy

Cost

Unproven

Funding

Lack of Education

Ambiguous

Discussion

•The current trajectory of sustainability will not achieve net Zero Carbon in Construction as per COP21 •The public are willing to pay more to be environmentally sustainable •Environmental sustainability and Financial Sustainability are separate factors •In order for true sustainability to be achieved both environmental and financial considerations must be met.

Conclusions

55.00%

What in your view is most important factor of sustainable building ?

70.00% 60.00% 50.00%

50.00%

40.00% 30.00% Responses 20.00%

45.00%

10.00%

40.00% Environmentally sustainable

Financially Sustainable

0.00%

Responses

•There is a positive attitude towards sustainability in general •Sustainability can be ambiguous •More needs to be done by all to transition to a more sustainable industry for all •There is a disparity between the way sustainable technology pays for itself and the way investors want to be repaid on investment •Government intervention is needed so developers can be competitive and environmentally sustainable •The performance of sustainable technology needs to improve to increase uplift.

147

Engineering & Technology Expo

The role energy efficiency plays in sustainable Construction in order to comply with the requirements of the corresponding regulations.

Amy Cullen – S00189145 B.Sc. (Hons) in Construction Project Management Introduction

Ai m Within this research, the role energy efficiency plays in sustainable construction in order to comply with the requirements of the corresponding regulations is discussed and defined. Sustainable construction and applying it to buildings is hugely important not only to make building better but also to help reduce the environmental impact. The role energy efficiency plays in construction is also a factor. This paper strives to deliver an understanding of sustainable construction, energy efficiency and how they interlink.

Purpose of the research

To research is to determine the role energy efficiency plays in sustainable construction in order to comply with the requirements of the corresponding regulations.

Justification of the research

Broad range of information on the chosen topic Sustainable construction is becoming more broadly used throughout the country. Energy efficiency plays a big role within sustainable construction which also is becoming more frequently used in buildings.

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The aim of this dissertation is to provide a theoretical framework of best sustainable practices for the recycling of construction materials within the construction industry.

Objectives To compare and contrast sustainable construction methods and its utilization in the construction industry. To highlight the advantages and disadvantages of differing sustainable methodologies.  To investigate best practices for energy efficiency. To demonstrate that energy efficiency is not just about reducing costs but also about improving end-user experience and comfort. To evaluate and differentiate between government policies and energy efficiency and how they impact sustainable grounds in construction.

Findings It's proven from the results that the majority of the vote use sustainable methods of construction within their company. More thank three quarters of the respondents use sustainability within the company.

Designers and architects has a strong impact on sustainable construction within the industry. This can have a huge impact on the builds appearance and most importantly the buildings performance.

Conclusion From carrying out this research, the role energy efficiency plays in sustainable construction is sizeable. From applying it to existing buildings to implying it at the design stage, sustainable construction will serve its purpose. Sustainability is all about making a difference to reducing the CO2 emissions and improving end-user experience and comfort.

Methodology Three different types of methods of gathering data was used while carrying out the dissertation research. Literature review was carried out as a primary research method to form a concrete range of date that complies with my chosen objectives. Semi structured interviews were carried out with individuals in the construction industry based on my chosen topic as a form of quantitative research. A questionnaire was released to a broad audience based on questions from interviews and the literature review as a form of qualitative research.

Recommendations  Sustainable construction is the best option within the construction industry, not only for end-user experience but also for our environment.  Energy efficiency plays a big roll in sustainable construction along side many more advantages.  There are many sustainable options to making a building more sustainable. More are being discovered and produced to help reduce the impact on the environment.

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ATU Sligo Mechatronic Engineering Final Year Student Projects

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Department of Mechatronic Engineering This is a new and emerging department whose roots started almost 20 years ago in the area of industrial automation. It has since grown and offers a diverse range of programmes from L6 to L10 in Robotics and Automation, Mechatronics, Polymer Technology and Data Centres Facilities Engineering, as well as Work Based Learning degrees. The department boasts Ireland’s largest provider of accredited online programmes in Mechatronic Engineering and the only online provider online for Data Centres Facilities Engineering with a European focus.

Together with its state-of-the-art laboratories and remotely controlled rigs, the Department employs digital learning technologies to enhance the learning experience of our students. Our staff have strong research and industrial backgrounds and generate impactful content and innovations. The Department is well aligned to the current strategic pillars of the new Atlantic Technological University.

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BEng in Mechatronic Engineering This Engineers Ireland accredited programme allows graduates to develop their ability to analyse, model and develop innovative solutions in the area of automation, robotics and control systems for the manufacturing sector. It brings together a highly qualified academic team, modern simulation tools, state of the art laboratories, to produce Mechatronic Engineers who are able to model, design and programme automated solutions.

Over the three years, students develop the flair, creativity and practical knowledge needed for the design and manufacture of successful robots and manufacturing machinery. They use the latest automation, robotic and control tools to model and evaluate their solutions, all of which are supported by an in-depth understanding of engineering principles. The students also develop the ability to employ various manufacturing technologies to produce working prototypes.

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Atlantic Technological University, Sligo.

Ash Lane, Sligo, F91 YW50 Ireland

Jackson Smith Bachelor Of Engineering, Mechatronics.

Final Year Project 2022.

Vision-Based control of a Robotic Arm Introduction For an automated pick and place system, there arises a problem if the object does not sit in a predefined location and orientation. By using a camera, the system can gather the data of both position and orientation of an object within the workspace. Using this data the system can adjust itself, finding a configuration of the arm for the picking operation regardless of the position and orientation of the object within the workspace.

Vision System The camera sensor takes in an image of the object within the robot workspace. Using the MATLAB image processing toolbox, the centroid and orientation of the object is detected.

Inverse Kinematics Using the centroid and orientation data, the inverse kinematics solver from the MATLAB robotics system toolbox computes the necessary joint positions for the desired end-effector pose.

Arduino Uno and Servo Motors The configuration solution data is accessed for each individual joint. Using the Arduino Hardware Support package for MATLAB, the respective positions are then written to the motors, via the Arduino microcontroller, to achieve the final robot configuration.

Servo Motors The internal closed-loop control of a servo motor acts as a position correction system so that the desired angle written to the motor is achieved.

ATmega328P The Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P chip from Microchip.

The ATmega328P supports six Pulse Width Modulation output channels used to control each motor of the robotic arm.

Acknowledgments Thank you to my project supervisors Jaime Roche and John Hession.

Contact Information jackson.smith@mail.itsligo.ie jacksonsmith1110@gmail.com 089-4059300

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Robotic arm with flow line car Atlantic technological university Ali ALRabaani, Salim ALFarsi, Zakariya ALMezeini, Abdullah ALSaidi

Email: S00201847@mail.itsligo.ie Mob: 0833939831 Email: S00201186@mail.itsligo.ie Mob: 0833801706 Email: S00202021@mail.itsligo.ie Mob: 0833937260 Email: S00201187@mail.itsligo.ie Mob: 0833814035

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Introduction Robotics is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world today, with many areas still to be explored. Robots are status. technology that can take the place of humans in a variety of scenarios, including as dangerous areas or production processes, while also resembling humans in terms of appearance and behavior. Robots are found in every industrial factory, fulfilling project responsibilities. It includes manufacturing items as well as process testing. Robotics will play a significant role in society's evolution in the future.

The aim of this project is to assemble a robotics arm and mount it on a turtlebot3 car. This robot will move from point A to point B to pick up an item using the robotics arm and then bring it back to point A.

Research

A lot of research was done before we started the actual project itself. After putting together, the four ideas we proposed, we started researching for the best types of robotic arms with specifications that meet our requirements.

Then we start looking for the best type of flow line car / robot that meets our requirements and the most important features that the car should have to be able to lift the arm over and be stable on the ground with no side effects such as losing its stability while the arm is doing its job.

There is other research we have done in connection with our project such as:  Materials  IR Sensors  Distance sensor  Different camera  Motors  Arduino codes  Arduino libraries

Methodology As a four-student project we knew that our project must be a little more advanced. The first concept suggested was to build a robotic manipulator, that is programmed it to be able to pick up objects from point A to point B. another concept that have been suggested is that to manufacture a flow line robot which is meant to follow a drawn line on a flat surface or a mask tape and both methods can be followed using IR sensor, an external idea has been suggested but we didn’t choose it which was a plant seeder.

After gathering the various ideas that were suggested we came up with a project that combines the robotic manipulator with the flow line car.

The first idea was to use a Pi-car, but the problem we came across was that the weight of the arm was too heavy to be mounted on the Pi-car, there won’t be any balance and the car might fall over if the arm reached down to pick something from the ground. The second solution suggested was to use a car that has a wider surface area so that the arm can set on and a strong enough car that can still maintain its balance when the arm is reaching down to pick up objects from the floor. The turtlebot3 is the car that was chosen to be used. The turtlebot3 is aesthetically better, program it to move from point A to B using a vision system, the two-vision system suggested to be used were an IR (Infrared sensor) and the second solution was to use a pixy2 camera to recognize the black line or the mask tape and follow it. The Pixy camera is the better solution to be used as it is more efficient and accurate.

Results The result was a success even though we faced many obstacles. The Arduino software is used to program the Arm, the turtlebot3 and the pixy camera.

The main idea was to use a trutlebot3 as the vehicle that will move from one point to another but the motors of the turtlebot3 didn’t seem to work. The motors are then changed, and DC motors were used because they are much simpler to program. After changing the motors, the turtlebot3 was able to move.

The Pixy camera was successfully able to recognize the black line on the board and the motors moved as they should. All six servo motors of the Robotic arm were successfully able to move. The Robotic arm was able to pick up objects and place them were needed.

Conclusion The goals of the project have been achieved since we gained a solid understanding of Arduino programming, robotics, and troubleshooting. Also, this project has given us the opportunity to learn new skills and a chance to demonstrate our abilities and knowledge gained in a practical method during the course.

Overall, we can now confidently assert that we have a thorough understanding of many aspects of Mechatronics engineering, which will serve us well as we enter the workplace.

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LV7 Plastic Sorter Introduction

Results

Many facilities are mostly automated for transportation and separation of the main groups, but plastics come in many different grades and can be hard to distinguish between each. For this job, humans are still widely used for this part of the process where they would a have a stream of different plastics pass the worker on a conveyor belt while they pick and sort through it. Recycling facilities are dangerous and unhygienic places to work and is also very labour intensive which is why robotic automation of the segregation of plastics would be of great benefit.

The result was a Delta Robot that could pick a coloured plastic off a conveyer belt and sort it into its designated area, being controlled by a Arduino MEGA that process the coordinates from the camera into Gcode.

The Arduino MEGA could also manage the operations of the conveyer belt, using the A4988 stepper motor controller at 10V and 1Amp.

Methodology

Conclusion

Looking at what robots the ATU had available, the Delta X 2 was readily available was easy to configure and use and Delta Robots are designed for high speed pick and place performance.

The pixy 2 camera was used because it was fitting to the project and offered colour detection without any extra programming.

To control the conveyer belt a Arduino Mega was used to replace the pro mini that failed.

Research Research was initially done the Delta X2 robot to learn its specifications, on what methods it can be controlled by and what means it operates. Research was carried out in order to decide the hardware and software that would be used within the project. Aspects such as the decision of what sensor would be most suitable for the project and which software was the most applicable for the project.

The main goals of the project were : • To be able to control the Delta X2 Robot.

• To be able to segregate plastics due to colour.

• To use Arduino as our main programming tool.

Programming The programming of the Delta X2 robot was done using Arduino IDE. LabView was initially used but was set aside when . The robot itself is understood G-Code commands that were sent to the robot by the microcontroller.

Delta X2 Robot The Delta X2 robot that was used for the project 'LV7 Plastic Sorter'. The Delta X2 Robot rotates and moves around three axis. It is equiped with a vacuum pump to pick up objects.

Overall the project was a success, there were many things that were learned during the course of this project.

This project gave us a more in depth look and understanding of G-Code.

There are certain things that could have been done differently, when we first visualised this project we wanted to be able to segregate plastics based on their plastic types and not their colour.

Linkdeln Profiles Marcos Thorpe Student of ATU Co. Sligo

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Nayil Guney Student of ATU Co. Sligo

Cal Wolfe Student of ATU Co . Leitrim

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Tristan Probst Bachelor of Engineering, Mechatronics.

Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) Introduction A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is useful for homes in colder areas with surplus moisture during the heating season since the machine allows it to be removed.

Results

A HRV system brings fresh air in from the outside on a continuous basis.

With the proper research and design the goal of Designing and building a cost-effective heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system has been achieved.

Before being redistributed the air throughout the room, the core of HRV unit transfers a portion of the heat from stale air vents to the incoming fresh air being vented back into the room.

The stale air in the room is being extracted and deposited outside while Fresh clean air is being sucked in from the outside back into the room.

As a result, the occupants of the room will have a constant supply of fresh air without any unpleasant drafts, as well as greater comfort.

A MQ-7 carbon monoxide sensor placed inside the HRV. The feedback from the sensor is used to control the speed of the fans using PID. E.G., if the Carbon monoxide levels are too high the speed of the fans will ramp up to try and extract that bad air and replace it with clean air at a quicker rate than set by the user.

Conclusion and Recommendations If a greater understanding on how to interface and Arduino uno with labView, a more sophisticated HRV ssystem could have been completed.

A more sophisticated system could have included more sensors like a TVOC sensor and an Ozone level sensor. The addition of these sensors would help measure the air quality within the room more accurately. In addition to the extra sensors upgrading the fans to more powerful ones than used would help with the circulation of air within the room.

Approach • Research of components and desire operation procedure.

• Design and build a Cost-effective heat recovery Ventilation system • Learn and understand how to interface an Arduino Uno with labView.

• Achieve clean quality air with the at desired room • create a user-friendly front panel within LabView

Acknowledgments • John Hession • Ray Tobin

Contact information Name: Tristan Probst Email: S00147187@mail.it sligo.ie or tristanprobst12@gmail.com Mobile No: 0879894495

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Department of Engineering Technology Head of Department – Padraig McGarry 2021 brought about the establishment of a new department in the Engineering faculty specifically dedicated to trades based apprenticeships. IT Sligo has a long history of apprenticeship programmes in Ireland since its formation in 1970, and has developed a strong reputation among industries including manufacturing engineering, toolmaking, electrical, plumbing and carpentry & joinery. Currently in the engineering faculty we run three trade apprenticeships and one consortium led apprenticeship.

ls based training

Skills based training In partnership with Solas and Employers our role at ATU Sligo is to provide Apprentices with skills based training in a Classroom, Workshop and Lab environment for phase 4 and phase 6 elements of the craft apprenticeships. This requires the apprentice to become a fulltime student of the ATU for up to 11 weeks inclusive, and on successful completion of assessments they will then return to there employer and move forward to the next phase of their apprenticeship.

Below is a short description of the trade disciplines that ATU Sligo campus provides training for.

artnership with Solas and Employers our role at A ide Apprentices with skills based training in a Cla Lab environment for phase 4 and phase 6 eleme enticeships. This requires the apprentice to beco ent of the ATU for up to 11 weeks inclusive, and o pletion of assessments they will then return to the e forward to the next phase of their apprenticeshi atu.ie

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Electrician What is an Electrician?

The Electrician is involved in the installation, commissioning, testing and maintenance of various wiring systems and services in domestic, commercial and industrial applications.

Work ranges from wiring of domestic houses and retail units to more complex systems involving process control and maintenance in industrial plants, hospitals and power stations. Electricians also service, maintain and repair electrical equipment, both domestic and industrial.

Electricians employed by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) engage in electrical power supply and distribution.

Electricians employed by electrical contractors are usually engaged in the installation of lighting, heating and power equipment and the repair of existing equipment and appliances. Those in industrial employment are generally engaged in the maintenance and repair of factory plant, machinery and generating equipment. Electricians require many skills including: • Knowledge of scientific principles • Performing general electrical installations • Interpreting technical drawings and specifications • Planning and organising the installation of electrical systems • Inspecting and testing of electrical systems and fault diagnosis • Performing routine maintenance and repairs on electrical systems • Knowledge and application of Health and Safety Procedures.

at ATU Sligo is to Classroom, Workshop ements of the craft become a fulltime and on successful o there employer and eship. Below is a short

Carpenter and Joiner What is a Carpenter and Joiner?

The Carpenter and Joiner cuts, shapes and joins wood and wood based products using a wide range of hand tools, e.g. hammer, saw, planes and chisels. They also use power tools and machines. Carpenters and Joiners use their skills to set out and construct roofs, install floors, stairs and window, builtin furniture and hang doors. They also manufacture doors, windows, stairs and shopfronts, etc.

The Carpenter and Joiner has to study drawings, perform craft calculations and select materials to meet design requirements. Site work includes the construction of buildings and houses which require first and second fixing, including roofing. The place of work may vary, depending on the type of work done could be on site, in a workshop or in a private dwelling. Carpenters and Joiners require many skills including: • Working with a variety of specialised hand and power tools • Knowledge of setting out, production and assembly of joinery, which includes stairs, doors, windows, floors, roofs and built-in furniture.

• Interpreting technical drawings and specifications • Planning and organising work schedules • Liaising with other Craftspersons • Knowledge of and working to Health and Safety requirements

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Tool Maker What is a Toolmaker?

A Toolmaker is a skilled worker who produces and maintains precision tools used in the production of metal, plastic and other materials of all shapes and sizes. The work of a toolmaker involves interpreting drawings and technical data to machine and assemble jigs, fixtures, moulding tools, dies and punches. Care and attention to detail and high precision are the hallmark of toolmaking.

Toolmakers work to high specifications and quality requirements to produce machine tools used in manufacturing. Manufacturing industries use the tools to make a diverse range of parts and products. Toolmakers also make moulds to form shapes, jigs to guide cutters or hold a part in place, and dies, which are shaped blocks that are used to cut, stamp or press materials. Toolmakers require many skills including: • Accuracy with measurements and calculations • Ability to interpret engineering drawings to plan the production of a given part or product in accordance with manufacturers specifications.

• Operating a range of milling and boring machinery, lathes and CNC equipment in the manufacture of parts and products based on the drawings specified • Assembling of manufactured parts ensuring correct and accurate assembly of finished components.

• Use of a range of hand and power tools • Testing finished product and assessing for accuracy in accordance with specified drawings. • Implementing all relevant health and safety legislation in their work practices • Use of manufacturing machinery and measuring equipment

Manufacturing Apprenticeships IT Sligo is a part of the Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeships Programme which combines excellent educational qualifications with special on the job training and ensures work-ready people graduate from this programme.

Representatives from across the manufacturing industry developed these programmes, so it is designed to meet the needs of organisations both large and small.

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Rules and Regulations around apprentices All apprentices apply through https://apprenticeship.ie/

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Research

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Name: Albert Weinert Research Title: Structural Condition Monitoring of Injection Mould Tools created by Additive Manufacturing.

Bio/Description: Injection Mould tools are used to produce products that are used in our daily life such as medical devices, toys, car parts etc. However, just like anything, Injection Mould (IM) tools experience defects that reduce the number of parts produced, causing losses to the manufacturer. This project’s aim is to deploy in-mould sensors and data analytics for in-process monitoring of the health of injection mould tools fabricated by metal additive manufacturing (AM) (3D Printing).

The introduction of metal AM brings benefits into the process such as faster cycle times thanks to conformal cooling and improved part quality due to the embedding of sensors that provide richer data for quality control.

AM tooling provides the option of placing sensors in critical locations which isn’t possible with conventional IM tooling. Metal AM Tooling is a novelty in the IM industry and the delivery of a sensorised condition monitoring system will offer inline mould monitoring.

Captured data is analysed via predictive models developed for tool wear and preventive maintenance optimisation. The capability of IM tool monitoring is of interest to mould manufacturers as it provides opportunities to develop novel business services for remote monitoring and diagnosis of their customers’ moulds and provides baseline confidence for the use of more sustainable AM tooling.

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Sligo Engineering and Technology Expo Catalogue Expanding the Deep Field Capabilities of Marine Monitoring Platforms.

Principal Investigator: Dr. David Tormey, Academic Director, PEM Research Centre, IT Sligo.

Post Doctoral Researcher: Dr. Aoife Hegarty, PEM Research Centre, IT Sligo.

Funding Agency: The Marine Institute

The key Technical and Scientific objective of the research project is to design a Communications System suitable for mounting on a remote buoy/platform, capable of providing low-cost, low latency (less than 500ms), high bandwidth, stable Communications Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS).

The purpose of this device is to substantially expand the capabilities of a remote Buoyed Observatory/Ocean Platform, stationed beyond the limits of terrestrial communications. The remote provision of un-cabled, wideband capability with reduced energy consumption will be a game changer for Ocean Observation Technologies. The facility will accommodate complex instruments capable of real-time interaction, enabling a wealth of knowledge and information to be harvested from the ocean for scientific analysis. Examples of instruments facilitated may include the transmission of live video feed from a HD camera, Audio data from a Hydrophone and Sonar data for Sea-bed Investigation.

We are currently designing a Hybrid communications system that will be built and mounted on a buoy/ platform for testing. Extensive wet testing and analysis will be conducted in collaboration with researchers and end-users/stakeholders to ensure proof of concept.

The generic system, design and test analysis/modifications will then be published and disseminated to enable a backbone of wideband Ocean Observatories to be fabricated.

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Christopher O’Hara Manufacturing R&D Project Engineer with PEM & I-Form Project Title: Sensorisation of Injection Mould Tools created by Additive Manufacturing (AM) This project is undertaken in collaboration with our industry partner, AbbVie. Their medical device components are manufactured by injection moulding.

AbbVie & I-Form are funding research into Additively Manufactured (AM) injection mould tools that facilitate conformal cooling and offer greater design flexibility for mould sensorisation. Three key areas of research are being addressed by the team: • Research into conformal cooling channels (CCCs), specifically the effects that surface roughness and channel features have on improving the efficiency of heat transfer to the coolant.

• Research into embedded sensors that provide accurate measurement of in-process data, monitoring the effect of the conformal cooling channels, achieving enhanced process optimisation and closed-loop control of the process.

• Research into embedded sensors that provide rich data that demonstrates the ability of AM produced mould tools to withstand the mechanical and thermal stresses within the injection moulding process, tool condition monitoring.

I support the team through design work, research, materials management, experimental planning, setup and execution activities. This work will offer opportunities for further process optimisation and sustainability within the medical device manufacturing industry.

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Name: Fearghus Downes Research title: Mathematical Modelling of Bovine Ovarian Hormones Bio: Hi, I am a 2nd year PhD student here at ATU (Atlantic Technological University). The goal of my PhD is to create a mathematical model which describes the interactions between hormones that take place in a cow’s ovaries. The idea is that if we can build an accurate model, then we could then compare it to data from a real cow to determine if it is healthy, ill, ovulating, or likely to become ill in the future. This will not only save farmers money by allowing them to provide the most appropriate treatment for their cattle. It will also reduce the environmental impact dairy farming has on our climate by decreasing the amount of resources being used as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Each contributing hormone is modelled using its own ordinary differential equation (ODE). The stimulatory and inhibitory effects they have on one another are modelled using Hill functions. The software being used to create this is Symbiology in MATLAB. The model will be parameterised using in-vivo and in-vitro data from our OPUS partners in Olsztyn, Poland.

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Name: Dr Kieran Hughes Role within ATU: Staff researcher Research Center Affiliation: MISHE & PEM Current Projects: Derivations of Group Algebras: Algebra can be thought of as the study of structures within Mathematics. One such structure is a group algebra. It is a vector space over a field, has a multiplication and is “well behaved” in some sense. This project investigates structural questions relating to modular group algebras over finite fields through studying a particualar class of functions defined on the group algebra, namely derivations.

Derivations are additive functions that obey the Leibniz (product) rule.

Bovine Follicular Dynamics: Applying various mathematical modelling techniques to describe the complex dynamical systems that are associated with the bovine reproductive system. This includes investigating, silent heat and twinning.

Analysis of patient (Diabetes) data and Explainable AI: Mathematical modelling of patient data with an emphasis on developing algorithms that learn and help to explain why changes are occurring.

Fusion Project: Collaboration with an Industry partner.

Using mathematical optimisation techniques to identify efficient solutions to the company’s production challenges and so reduce cost by reducing waste.

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Name: Mandana Kariminejad Research title: Sensorisation of the injection moulding process for prediction and control of part quality The primary goal of this project will be the development and deployment of embedded sensors and data analytics for real-time monitoring of the quality of injection moulded (IM) parts. This project first aims to embed novel sensors in critical locations of the IM tools to obtain precise and accurate data. Then, process trials will be conducted to generate sample products that will be characterised for dimensional stability (shrinkage, warpage) and mechanical properties. The generated data will be used to train machine learning algorithms intended to yield future predictions of part quality factors, such as shrinkage. Finally, this technique for product quality will be applied in the quality assurance process by applying real-time process controls as well as feeding back into the mould design process.

This project also studies the efficiency improvements offered by additively manufactured conformal cooling channels when compared to conventionally manufactured (drilled) cooling channels.

Besides optimisation of the process and investigation of the CCCs, this research will investigate the optimisation of the injection moulded parts processed using more sustainable materials such as recyclates and bio-based polymers.

This work will offer manufacturers a new set of tools with which they can optimise their online quality controls, reducing the overall cost of producing highquality polymer components.

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Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Intelligent Systems for Health and Environment Vision: • To conduct world-class research in mathematical modelling and intelligent systems and their applications in development of a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous society • Promote social, environmental and economic development in the region and beyond • Engage with regional stakeholders in addressing local challenges • Collaborating with excellent national and international research groups on global solutions

Current project areas include: • Novel materials for clean energy production and medical devices • Biological and agricultural sensors and modelling • Environmental monitoring and modelling • Medical Informatics and personalised medicine

Irish Mathematical Society

• Sustainable transport and tourism

Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Intelligent Systems for Health and Environment (MISHE), ATU https://www.itsligo.ie/mishe/ The development of advanced sensing systems and mathematical modelling techniques are key to tackling many urgent societal and health challenges from a local to a global scale. Sensing, data, and mathematical and computational models and analytical tools can play a huge role in effective decision making in almost every sector – from discovering new materials for a cleaner society, to designing novel medical devices and diagnostic systems, to planning a sustainable and inclusive society – including the future of our transport, land use and energy systems.

The vision of the MISHE SRC is to be a focal point for research and advancement in mathematical modelling and intelligent systems in the West/North West region of Ireland, to engage with regional stakeholders in addressing local challenges whilst collaborating with excellent national and international research groups on global solutions.

The MISHE SRC is inherently multidisciplinary, bringing together Principal Investigators from Engineering, Science and Social Science to work together on the application of modelling and intelligent systems to challenges including: sustainable transport

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and tourism in the region, coastal climate resilience, design and optimisation of novel materials for clean energy production and medical devices; and biological modelling and informatics to support faster diagnostics and improved therapeutic developments in tandem with clinicians and health researchers in the region.

2022

Postgraduate Research Training Programme (PRTP) in Modelling and Computation for Health and Society (MOCHAS)  New interdisciplinary, cohort-based research training programme across the Atlantic Technological University.  Will produce high-level, multidisciplinary research graduates who can develop, communicate, and exploit modelling tools for the solution of real-world problems relevant to societal needs.  The individual research projects have been developed in tandem with 32 external partners including hospitals, local government, industry and national and international research partners, and address problems encompassing environmental sustainability, zero-carbon transport planning, medical devices, and health technologies.

https://www.itsligo.ie/mochas/ Modelling & Computation for Health And Society (MOCHAS) Scholarships

ATU is recruiting applicants for 15 postgraduate research degrees at PhD level under its Postgraduate Research Training Program, Modelling and Computation for Health and Society (MOCHAS)

The PRTP in Modelling and Computational Technologies for Health and Society (MOCHAS) will see the production of high level, multidisciplinary research graduates who can develop, communicate, and exploit modelling tools for the solution of real-world problems relevant to societal needs in the ATU region.

Mathematical and computational models and analytical tools play a huge role in effective decision making in almost every societal and industrial sector – from discovering new materials, to designing novel medical devices, to planning a sustainable and inclusive society - including the future of our transport, land use and energy systems. The covid-19 pandemic and recent HSE cyber-security attack highlight how much we rely on mathematical models and computational tools in critical aspects of our everyday lives. But creating a

model requires far more than just raw data and technical skills: it requires a close collaboration between model commissioners, developers, and users. The vision of the MOCHAS PRTP is to develop research graduates highly trained in a range of core technical and professional skills relevant to the translation of real-world problems into solutions via a mathematical/ computational framework.

The individual research projects have been developed in tandem with CUA stakeholders including hospitals, local government and companies, and address problems encompassing environmental sustainability, zero-carbon transport planning, medical devices, and health technologies. A common core training program entails development of the technical skills but also the soft skills in communication, visualization, cost analysis and innovation processes which are key to successful exploitation and impact of modelling and computational tools. The graduates will have the ability to appraise and apply different modelling approaches to build effective models appropriate to the challenge they are designed to address.

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Name: SCORE (Smart Control of the Climate Resilience of European Coastal Cities) Headshot image:

Description: SCORE is a four-year EU-funded project aiming to increase climate resilience in European coastal cities.

The project will tackle specific challenges related to sea levels, coastal erosion and extreme weather events using an integrated solution of smart technologies and naturebased solutions. One of the key activities under SCORE is to design, implement, and evaluate a novel framework of Coastal City Living Labs (CCLL) that will enable citizens and stakeholders to co-create and co-design the solutions with scientists, researchers and engineers to make sure these are sustainable and acceptable by the society. Therefore, SCORE outlines a comprehensive strategy, developed via a network of 10 coastal city ‘living labs’, to rapidly, equitably, and sustainably enhance coastal city climate resilience through an Ecosystem-Based Approach (EBA) supported by sophisticated digital technologies. SCORE will reduce the impacts of sea-level rise and extreme events due to climate change on European coastal cities by co-design, and co-development with citizens and stakeholders, and by deploying, testing, and demonstrating innovative EBAs, smart technologies, and hybrid Nature Based Solutions.

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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101003534.

Images of the work from SCORE Sligo CCLL workshop (14-16th March 2022)

2022

Name:

robotic manipulator. The contribution of this project will be the development of a sensor network incorporating LiDAR, Zainab Saleem vision and RADAR sensors together with sensor fusion algorithms for both static and dynamic 3D object detection Research Title: within a manufacturing environment. While such sensor networks have been adopted for autonomous vehicles, the Obstacle Detection and Collision Avoidance application in cobots demands new approaches to adaptive for Autonomous Cobot Operation in Dynamic path planning for robotic manipulators. To this end, new Environments knowledge will be produced on the efficacy of different algorithms for dynamic path planning.

Bio/Description: Robots have been used in manufacturing for decades to speed production and enhance accuracy. Industrial robots traditionally operate inside cages, isolated from humans. The paradigm for robot usage has shifted in the last few years, from an idea in which robots work with complete autonomy to a scenario where robots cognitively collaborate with human beings.

Collaborative robots which work alongside workers are known as “cobots”.

While cobots have been equipped with various types of sensors for detecting obstacles, these do not cover the entire peripheral area and provide only a limited view of the dynamic 3D environment. This project will address an important gap in literature in the area of perception of the time-varying environment by the development of a sensor network which is capable of dynamically observing the entire 3D periphery of a

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Deep Learning for early diagnosis and classification of tumors from radiographic images Hamil Ayaz1, David Tormey#, Ian McLoughlin#, Saritha Unnikrishnan*# 1

PEM/HEAL, Computing and Electronics, ATU, Sligo, Ireland; #Co-Supervisor, PEM, ATU, Sligo, Galway *# Supervisor, PEM/HEAL/MISHE, ATU

Problem Definition • This study focuses on the idea of automatically segmenting head and neck tumors from advanced radiographical images. There are two important issues: 1. Standard CAD systems do not qualify to identify the unique parameters to automatically segment tumor regions.

2. Advanced machine learning techniques mostly rely on deep models and suffer the explainability because of their black-box parameters.

Designed Process Figure 2: Typical radiomics workflow. ROI is first delineated. Then extract the features from the ROI, and finally model and analyzed.

Research Objectives • The objective of our research is to propose a solution to successfully segment the necrosis part of head and neck tumors from healthy cells. This study will also overcome the limitations of the explainability of different advanced models.

1. What is the effect of different advanced MRI/CT modalities in comparison with conventional MRI/CT images?

2. Does conventional radiomics provide enough information to automatically segment the accurate boundaries of tumor region through different pre-processing methods such as min-max normalization, manual segmentation, and semi-automatic segmentation?

3. How to correctly reduce the number of MRI/CT slices to extract homogeneous information using correlation coefficient, principal component analysis (PCA), and linear discriminative analysis (LDA)?

4. What is the effect of advanced machine learning on head and neck tumors? Which model outperformed the existing one (if any)? What are their accuracy, their recall, and F1 score?

Figure 1: Research design to develop a novel technique for the CT and MR Image classification of head and neck tumors and inflammatory diseases

• In this work, we will introduce an effective segmentation technique to classify tumors, thus addressing the above questions within the given problem.

Experiment and Results

A: Most informative Slice RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015

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B: Labeled tumor.

C: Predicted tumor outcome.

Conclusions: This study focuses on the automatic segmentation of head and neck tumors from healthy cells. It provides two separate traditional and advanced artificial intelligence routes to identify necrosis regions as shown in Figure 1. This study also highlights the use of various image pre-processing techniques, radiomics feature extraction, and statistical analysis of advanced MRI/CT modalities in comparison with conventional MRI/CT images. Finally, this study also overcomes the limitation of explainability of different advanced models to minimize the knowledge gap between clinicians and machine learning scientists.

Figure 3: (A) represents the most informative FLAIR MR image slice using correlation coefficient; (B) represents the unsupervised k-mean analysis of the most informative slice marking red as tumor region blue as healthy brain and green as background; Finally (C) represents the proposed prediction made by advance machine learning models proposed in this study.

2022

Reinforcement Learning in VANET Penetration Testing Phillip Garrad

Supervisor of Research: Dr. Saritha Unnikrishnan

Department of Engineering, Institute of Technology Sligo

Introduction

Method Analyses

The goal of this research is to apply Artificial

OpenAI Gym and Q-Learning

Intelligence (AI) in penetration testing to a

• OpenAI Gym allows for custom environments to be added

Vehicular Ad-hoc NETwork (VANET). To do this:

once they maintain the core structure.

• Design & implement VANET Simulator with OpenAI Gym • Create test scenarios for a variance of road maps & apply Q-Learning.

• The reward table is carefully curated to be representative of the real-world.

• Q-Learning is a common approach for applying reinforcement

Results Two vehicle scenarios were passed into the simulator and run through Q-Learning. One scenario consisted of 2 vehicles approaching a crossroads travelling at the same speed. The second scenario was at a staggered crossroads with the rear vehicle moving faster that the lead vehicle. In both scenarios the rear vehicle was the attack vehicle. The graph below highlights how the Reward is improved with better learning.

The simulation is also run with no action (i.e., no false error messages) as a baseline.

learning to penetration testing [Hu, 2020]. It is leveraged to find the optimal reward for each scenario.

Q-Learning on OpenAI Vanet Simulation 80 60

Scenario 1 with Q-Learning Scenario 1 Baseline Scenario 2 with Q-Learning Scenario 2 Baseline

40

0

-20

0 4000 8000 12000 16000 20000 24000 28000 32000 36000 40000 44000 48000 52000 56000 60000 64000 68000 72000 76000 80000

Mean Reward

20

-40 -60 -80

The diagram shows the research design implementation.

Research Design

-100

Episode Count

Conclusions

The AI Agent sends an action to the attacker

The comparison between the Q-Learning result and the baseline of no action

vehicle. This action will instruct the vehicle

demonstrates the effectiveness of Q-Learning overtime. After 3000 episodes the results

on the type of BSM message to send. Some

are better than the baseline. With further learning the Q-Table becomes more advanced

examples are “All clear” or “Crash on route1,

with a 60-70% improvement over the baseline when 60000 episodes are run. This

redirect”. The intention of the attacker

follows expectation from the literature review. [Hanem, 2020]

vehicle is to reach its destination as quickly as possible. We apply Q-Learning to check if

Future work may include using misbehavior detection on incoming messages to the

redirecting vehicles without changing its

simulated vehicles to improve the likeness to a real-world scenario.

current speed will help.

With each episode the Q-Table will learn allowing rewards.

the

model

to

achieve

better

References

[Hu, 2020] Z. Hu, R. Beuran, Y. Tan (2020). Automated Penetration Testing using Deep Reinforcement Learning.

IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy Workshops.

[Hanem, 2020] M. C. Hanem, T. M. Chen, “Reinforcement Learning for Efficient Network Penetration Testing,” MDPI - Information 2020, vol. 11, no. 6, p. 23, 2019.

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Engineering & Technology Expo

Investigate Optimal Parameters for the Laser Transmission Welding of Polymers Foram Dave, Richard Sherlock & David Tormey

Introduction Laser Transmission welding (LTW) of polymers is a technique which is used to join polymeric components of varying thickness and configuration using laser sources such as diode, Nd:YAG, CO2, etc. Initially, LTW was used to join the thermoplastic molded articles or the sheet films. Nowadays, it has become an established process for the interconnection of the polymer products including composites. They are widely used in industries like automotive, microelectronics, aerospace, medical, packaging, optoelectronics, microsystems, etc.

This technique requires one part to be transmissive to a laser beam and the other part either absorptive to the beam as shown in the Fig.1. The two parts are put under pressure while the laser beam moves along the joining line with defined parameters such as power, scanning speed, spot diameter, etc. resulting in diffusion of the two melted surfaces.

Fig. 3. Temperature contours at joint interface (X–Y plane)

Fig.1. Schematic diagram of Laser Transmission Welding (LTW) of plastic

The key advantages of LTW considering the industrial prospective are reproducibility of the process due to no wear and tear of the tool and increase in the productivity with better quality. It is a non-contact, flexible and easily controllable process with almost no contaminations. Through laser, localized and narrow heat zone can be created. However, there are various investigations still going on in this field.

Aim

The overall aim of the project is to achieve a deep and broad understanding of the laser welding process of semicrystalline polymers (esp. Polypropylene) with a view of enabling the eventual realisation of a fully controlled manufacturing process (a)

Objectives

(b)

Fig. 4. Temperature distribution (a) along Z-direction and (b) along X-direction

o Reduce scrap rate (bottle leaks) o Reduce welding cycle time o Increase productivity

Outline of the project i. ii.

Detailed state-of-the-art literature review - focusing on the welding of semi-crystalline polymers, specifically polypropylene (PP). Investigate the impact of additive dispersion, such as carbon black, in PP and when subjected to thermal excitation.

Laser welding trials - study of laser parameter space (laser power, scanning speed, forging pressure, etc.).

iii. Characterisation and testing – systematic study of the pre- and post-welding of PP and various sample failure analysis: a.

Spectroscopic analysis – FT-IR, ATR, Raman Spectroscopy, etc.

b. Morphological study and Rheological study– spherulite study, additive dispersion, weld gap, Melt Flow Index, etc. c.

Thermal characterisation – DSC, TGA, TMA, etc.

(b)

(a) Fig. 5. Main effects plots for (a) MD and (b) MW

d. Mechanical testing – shear testing, pull testing, leakage testing, compression testing, etc. iv. Thermal modelling – develop numerical model for characterising the thermokinetics of PP at the HAZ. v. Statistical process analysis – develop data model for statistically correlating specific polymer characteristics of PP components to optimal laser processing parameters and to detect process failure modes. vi. Process monitoring and control - investigate and validate, offline, the suitability of PP and HAZ characterisation techniques for inline process monitoring and adaptive process feedback control. vii. Develop and deploy inline - test and validate for closed loop system control of PP laser welding process.

• Work done so far/Progress The objective of the work is to predict the quality characteristic (melt pool dimensions) of the laser welded polypropylene in terms of some important input parameters (laser power, scanning speed and spot diameter) using FEM-RSM hybrid approach.

The lap joint is made up of one transparent polypropylene and one opaque polypropylene sheet. The laser beam has been scanned through the middle of the overlapping length. 3 factors-5 levels experiments (central composite face-centered design including one centre point) have been planned using response surface methodology (RSM) design (a second-order model can be developed efficiently) matrix and to analyse the responses of interest by developing mathematical models based on simulation results. Also, the developed simulation model has been validated with the experimental results.

Fig. 6. Response surface plots showing the interaction effects of (a) scanning speed and power, (b) spot diameter and power and (c) spot diameter and scanning speed on the melt down, while the third parameter is at their respective centre value

Finite Element Simulations The dimensions of each plate are 17 mm × 10 mm × 2 mm considered in contour laser welding process. Due to the presence of loading and material symmetries, only one half of the overlapping area has been considered. The process parameters and their levels are given in Table 1. Simulation runs have been performed as per RSM design matrix.

Parameters

Notations

Power Scanning speed Spot diameter

P S D

Units

Levels (0)

(1)

(2)

W 3.81 4.50 5.50 mm/s 21.59 25 30 0.83 Table 1. mm Process control parameters 0.90 and their limits 1.00

(-2)

(-1)

6.50 35 1.10

7.18 38.40 1.16

Results

The transient temperature distribution computed with the developed finite element model is presented in Fig. 2 (Y-Z plane) and Fig. 3 (X-Y plane). The melt down (MD) has been calculated from Fig. 4(a), which shows the temperature distribution concerning distance along the Z-direction (depth direction). By the same procedure, MD has been calculated for each experimental model. Fig. 4(b) shows the temperature vs distance plot at any particular time in the X-direction at the joint interface. MW/2 indicates the one half of melt width (MW) for polypropylene.

Fig. 7. Response surface plots showing the interaction effects of (a) scanning speed and power, (b) spot diameter and power and (c) scanning speed and spot diameter on the melt width, while the third parameter is at their respective centre value

Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 5(b) shows the main effect plot for MD and MW respectively. The interaction effect of input parameters on MD and MW have been shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 respectively.

Conclusions and Future Work A three-dimensional FEM of the laser transmission welding process is constructed and validated with experimental results. The second order polynomial equations developed by RSM can predict the values of the responses within factor limits considered in the study. Responses decrease with the increase of scanning speed and increases with laser power.

Single and multi-objective optimization may be carried out to maximize the productivity as well as quality in terms of laser power and scanning speed by using several techniques as mentioned in the project outline; comparisons may be made among the optimum parametric combinations determined by different techniques.

Acknowledgements

Fig. 2. Temperature contours at symmetry plane (Y–Z plane)

The North West Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (NW CAM) project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The views and opinions in this document do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission or the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). If you would like further information about NW CAM please contact the lead partner, Catalyst Inc, for details.

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Staff of the School of Engineering & Design ATU Sligo Central

Kate McCarthy

Lianne Higgins

Name

Name

Name

Donal Ryan

Emma Britton

Enda Mc Tiernan

Joe Kelly

Laura O’Donnell

Lisa Brennan

Maria Holmes

Morgan Smith

Patrick Kennedy

Ruth Quinn

Sean McGagh

Trevor McSharry

Colin Birney

David Collery

Declan Gavigan

Civil & Construction

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2022

Computing & Electronic

Fiona Mitchell

Kevin Peyton

Mary Carden

Mary Giblin

Padraig Harte

Paul Flynn

Paul Powell

Saritha

Shane Gilroy

Shaun Mc Brearty

Aine Mitchell

Diane O’Brien

Drew Lang

Brian Walsh

Ciarín McCauley

David Timoney

Ivan O’Reilly

Padraig McGarry

Paul Mullaney

Ray Gillen

Sean Smith

Stephen Coleman

Engineering Technology

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Mechanical & Manufacturing

Gerard McGranaghan

John Fallon

John Donovan

Jonathan Kelly

Mary Malone

Mary Nolan

Paul Ferry

Robert Craig

Waqas Saleem

Xavier Velay

Declan Sheridan

Donal Cannon

Donal Gray

Fionnuala Farrell

Foram Dave

Brian Coll

Caroline Mullan

Conall Doran

David McMoreland

David Tormey

Brendan_Flaherty

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2022

Mechatronic

Aonghus Murphy

Conor Lawlor

Doug Marques

Eamonn Reddin

Konrad Mulrennan

Leo Creedon

Marion McAfee

Sean Smith

PEM

Chris O’Hara

Dr Russell Macpherson

Nimra Munir

Kieran Hughes

Post grads

Cliodhna Carroll

Mark Mcloughlin

Aoife Hegarty

Albert Weinert

Bahia EL Refai

Zainab Saleem

Fearghus Downes

Mandana Kariminejad

Mohammadreza Kadivar

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