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DIGITALISATION AND NANO CHARACTERISATION: KEY ENABLERS OCAS’ ambition is to carry out our research effectively, according to the highest quality standards and with maximum scientific profoundness. That is why, several years ago, “Digitalisation” and “nano characterisation” were defined as key enablers for the research centre. Both axes achieved a next level of maturity and this from multiple perspectives: — First, the human competencies — Second, the further update of our lab Information management system (LIMS) towards JobManager© 4.5 — Third, high-tech analytical equipment to characterise material’s structure down to the nanometer level
MEET DICE AND NICE Concerning our skilled staff, two transversal teams have been put in place to ensure high efficiency and structural integration in our research projects: the DIgital CEll (DICE) and the Nano Investigation CEll (NICE). The DICE team is active in all digital fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, etc. Impressive progress has been made on plant database analysis, computer vision and digital image analysis in the fields of martensitic steels, electrical steels and high strength low alloy steels. Some examples are presented in this chapter. In particular, an important VLAIO funded project was approved on the latter steel family, targeting the synergy between high-throughput combinatorial research and modern digital techniques.
