RGU DePict Brochure

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dePICT

Robert Gordon University plays an integral role in the knowledge and innovation supply chain to business. We encourage and facilitate this exchange through projects like dePICT. 2

Knowledge is the most important element that enables firms to enhance their innovation and technological capability and Universities are the primary generators and repositories of knowledge in our society. As we continue to grow our knowledge economy the exchange of knowledge between these two organisations has become vital. Never before has there been a greater need for constant innovation in product and service development. The creation, dissemination and application of knowledge stimulates innovation, disrupts industries and impacts on our global competitiveness.

Robert Gordon University plays an integral role in the knowledge and innovation supply chain to business. We encourage and facilitate this exchange through

an agent

projects like dePICT. Their continued success has led to the development of new ICT products and services, assisted in the growth of Scottish companies and created jobs. Our university is committed to supporting business – university collaborations in generating the wealth that is necessary for a healthy and prosperous society.

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, B.A., LL.B., Ph.D., MRIA

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for change

The project has acted as a major catalyst for new, innovative Research & Development. The collaborative network has fostered and promoted new and innovative research 4

The aim of the dePICT (developing the ICT business base) project is to establish a new long-term collaboration between the Joint Research Institute for Computational Systems (JRIcs) and SMEs in the North East of Scotland, Highlands and Lowlands.

The project has acted as a major catalyst for new

long-term

innovative Research & Development. The collaborative network has fostered and promoted new and innovative research, which has resulted resulted in new and improved products with increased marketability, greater flexibility and a route to global exploitation.

This brochure highlights a small sample of the successful

collaborations that have taken place during the projects first two years.

Professor Patrik O’Brian Holt – Director of dePICT and Research Professor at RGU

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collaboration

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DO YOU WANT TO...

Grow your business?

Enhance your product portfolio?

Create new products for new customers?

Move into new markets? dePICT is an Robert Gordon University led initiative to support businesses in their ICT product research and development.

We can connect you with experts from three major universities in areas such as • Mobile applications

product research

• Cloud computing

& development

• Data modelling • Human computer interaction • Artificial Intelligence We will work closely with innovative SMEs to undertake initial feasibility studies leading to further R&D funding opportunities.

dePICT is an RGU led initiative to support businesses in their ICT product research and development.

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The activities carried out in this feasibility study and the proposed functional requirement specifications created a basis for further work that has started as a follow-up Knowledge Transfer Partnership project 8

VIPER SUBSEA TECHNOLOGIES Viper Subsea has extensive experience in dealing with subsea production systems and specialise in control and distribution equipment.

THE CHALLENGE Viper Subsea was interested in enhancing their capabilities and functionality of subsea control systems using intelligent data analysis. The inaccessibility of hardware comprising subsea production control systems, in particular HIPPS barrier valves, makes pro-active monitoring and effective equipment maintenance of high practical importance. Improving the timelines and efficiency of logged data analysis can yield substantial cost savings for the operator by enabling a subsea intervention in controlled circumstances.

SOLUTION “RGU have a wealth of expertise in the area of computational intelligence that can be used in the area of computer-assisted fault diagnosis – but we needed to gain a better understanding of the context - so during the dePICT project two members

computational

of RGU staff underwent training in subsea control systems organised and delivered by Viper Subsea Technologies. The course was extremely informative and helpful in terms of highlighting the relevant knowledge, standard approaches and practices currently adopted in the field of subsea control engineering. The information obtained during the course was used to effectively complete this specific project.”

Andrei Petrovski, Lecturer, School of Computing, RGU

“The activities carried out in this feasibility study and the proposed functional requirement specifications created a basis for further work that has started as a follow-up Knowledge Transfer Partnership project (partially funded by the Technology Transfer Board) between ourselves and Robert Gordon University, with a KT Associate being employed to develop a novel diagnostic fault analysis tool in-house under the supervision of RGU staff.”

Jeremy Edwards, Director, Viper Subsea Technologies

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intelligence

Working with Gordon through the dePICT project enabled Giglets to tap into application expertise to carry out some exploratory technical work in the area of animation in ePublishing platforms

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GIGLETS Giglets Media Limited writes, illustrates and publishes its own children’s e-books.

It aims to create a series of innovative software products that will enable the stories to be accessed via different media platforms, primarily through a computer applet.

The company aims to produce a suite of software products that are simple, compelling and user-friendly, aimed at children.

THE CHALLENGE Giglets wanted to launch a number of enhanced eBooks, which can run on a multitude of operating systems like Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Google’s Android and Windows mobile operating system. The company were looking to e-publish a number of illustrated books and wished to animate elements embedded within the eBooks – for example a barking dog, a creaking door, a boiling kettle.

The study, which tapped into RGU’s expertise in mobile application design and development (primarily for iOS), was to investigate the feasibility of creating simple animated elements within an eBook.

app design SOLUTION “We researched the ePub formatting regulations to see if there were any programming tools available that would allow us to insert animated gif files into an ePub format file. Several different software packages were used but we were unable to produce the level of animation required due to file size. We achieved some success in developing for the iPad and produced a small prototype which demonstrated the size of file and format of the files that could achieve animation within an eBook. Giglets took these recommendations on the structure and format of the files to support their continued development.”

Gordon Eccleston, Senior Lecturer, School of Computing, RGU

“Working with Gordon through the dePICT project enabled Giglets to tap into application expertise to carry out some exploratory technical work in the area of animation in ePublishing platforms. This engagement helped accelerate our product development and we have now launched five titles under our SmartReads brand which are one of the world’s first enhanced eBooks available.”

Dr Karsten Karcher Chairman,Giglets Ltd 11

& development

RGU has a wealth of expertise, particularly in the areas of scheduling and resource allocation, linking to the prior work on modelling and solving distributed resource allocation problems that we brought to bear on this project

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RAMCO TUBULAR SERVICES Ramco Tubular Services is the industry leader in the care and maintenance of tubular goods and linepipe. They provide the Oil & Gas industry with services such as descaling, coating, storage and logistics facilities.

THE CHALLENGE Due to their continued expansion Ramco required a new web-based tube tracking system to replace the existing spreadsheet system.

The proposed new system would be more robust whilst offering all the benefits of a modern database, have an interface that eases and minimises data entry by staff, and allows integration with existing Ramco SQL-based applications.

SOLUTION

a wealth

“RGU has a wealth of expertise, particularly in the areas of scheduling and resource allocation, linking to the prior work on modelling and solving distributed resource allocation problems that we brought to bear on this project. We worked with Andrew and his team during our feasibility study and delivered a specification document that identified both the functional and non-functional requirements of the proposed system and outlined its potential benefits.”

Hatem Ahriz , RGU Lecturer, MSc Information Engineering / IT Management Route Leader “We wanted a new product that would provide a pipe “history” from the time of its arrival at the yard, through our servicing of the pipe, to the eventual disposal at the end of its useful life. It would enable our clients to monitor the status of their orders or run their own customised reports.”

Andrew Nicholson, Logistics Manger, Ramco Tubular Services

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of expertise

Working with Chris at RGU has transformed our business. Our e-learning solution offers a flexible platform to deliver the course material and make it more accessible to a wider population

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BABYGURUS LIMITED Baby Gurus Limited offer training, education and advice to women, men and employers during pregnancy, maternity leave and the returning to work phase.

The company, run by business partners Emma Thomson and Sonya Murray, was established in 2006, to provide expert advice and services through consultancy and seminars.

THE CHALLENGE In response to the growing business and changing customers needs BabyGurus wanted to explore programme delivery via a bespoke e-learning solution through a mobile web application. This would enable the business to diversify their delivery, reshape their business model and grow their market.

SOLUTION

e-learning

“In order to fully understand the type of content which would be present in the mobile web application, an analysis of the current Baby Gurus content was required. I initially set up a Business Hosting account and then used Wordpress as a framework that is primarily used to create blogs and is also used as a content management system. I provided BabyGurus with video recorded instructions on how to populate the pre-agreed categories with data content. They then used these videos to gain expertise in populating and maintaining the mobile web application.”

Chris Young, RGU e-learning technologist

“Working with Chris at RGU has transformed our business. Our e-learning solution offers a flexible platform to deliver the course material and make it more accessible to a wider population. We can now target individuals as well as the corporate market. In addition it allows us to support programme delivery to disparate workforces.”

Emma Thomson and Sonya Murray, Directors, BabyGurus

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solutions

dePICT was an ideal platform for us to review our software project, getting the benefit of academic expertise from RGU to compare our own thinking in line with cutting edge developments

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eSAVE eSAVE are independent energy, environmental and communications consultants based in Inverness, providing consultancy to non-domestic organisations on managing their energy costs and energy consumption, carbon management programmes and environmental impacts.

THE CHALLENGE In 2010 to drive efficiencies and present a new product eSAVE commissioned a new bespoke application. With 50% complete they required a comprehensive review of their software product, taking into account the system architecture and its performance in both the online and desktop variances. It was anticipated that the review would inform the continued phased development of the product.

SOLUTION “WML has ambitious plans to take advantage of the increasing drive towards

cutting edge

reducing energy use and carbon generation across all industries. This was hampered by their increasingly frustrated attempts to develop suitable software products. Through the dePICT project we addressed their project management and development processes and have been successful in winning a KTP award to develop ground-breaking, cloud-based software to fuel their plans. Using a rulebased engine and innovative data visualisation techniques, the project will provide a platform for the company to add value to their current offerings and also tackle new environmentally significant areas, such as waste management.”

Dave McKay, Lecturer, School of Computing, RGU

“dePict was an ideal platform for us to review our software project, getting the benefit of academic expertise from RGU to compare with our own thinking in line with cutting edge developments. The knowledge transferred to the business from our academic link also came with a high level of recent commercial experience, which made it even more valuable. As a result of the dePict project, we are now exploring previously unforeseen opportunities to take our project further.”

Neil Watson, Director, eSave

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developments

leading edge thinking and technology 18

“The academic vaults are full of undiscovered treasure. The problem is that often there is a significant gap between having the leading edge thinking and technology that is developed in the lab and having the business relationships, acumen, resources and investment to realise this wealth.

That’s where projects such as dePICT are vital.

They help companies to learn what is possible, discover new technologies, explore new revenue opportunities, and receive funding for innovation. They can be the key to unlock the vault.”

Steve Harrison, Project Manager at Scottish Enterprise

knowledge “We actively support and encourage Knowledge Exchange through a range of funding streams and projects. Our objective is to deliver easy access for businesses, including SMEs, to the knowledge, expertise, facilities and services of universities.

Knowledge Exchange activities are designed to promote economic growth and help to translate the world class expertise within the Scottish research base into innovation for business - leading to economic prosperity through the development of new and improved products and through the creation of new jobs.”

Paul Hagan, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council

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exchange

D e s i gn e d an d Pr in t e d b y Th e G a t e h o u s e - D e s ig n & Pri nt C o n s u l t a n cy at R o b e rt Go rdo n U ni ve r s i t y

If you are interested in accelerating your product

Research and Development contact: depict@rgu.ac.uk

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contact email

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