Field of Expertise
Forecasting, statistical modelling and data science.
Expertise
The Industrial Statistics Research Unit (ISRU), School of Mathematics, Statistics & Physics (MSP), Newcastle University; and Jumping Rivers, is a University-Business partnership with primary skills in statistics and data science, developing innovative, efficient and quality solutions with a range of utility sector partners (e.g. Northern Gas Networks (NGN), Northumbrian Water). ISRU is an engagement unit that manages and delivers business and industrial projects for the School of MSP. Specialist skills include statistical forecasting and modelling, risk and reliability, data science, big data and computational statistics. The unit can utilise the resources of up to 50 mathematics and statistics researchers and consultants within MSP, on a project-by-project basis. ISRU has considerable expertise and experience of the energy challenges that lie ahead. The unit is a member of The National Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI) which brings together energy experts from around the world to help understand current and future challenges in energy supply, demand and affordability, and the complex challenges around integrating energy systems. Newcastle University is a member of InTEGReL, a fully integrated whole energy systems development and demonstration facility. InTEGReL provides space for industry, academia, SMEs and government to jointly explore and test new energy technologies, strategies and processes which bring transport, electricity and gas into one place. The University, through the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, achieved a Top 10 ranking for Research Impact in the field of Mathematical Sciences in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF). Jumping Rivers is a data analytics company whose passion is data and machine learning. They support collaborative partners in moving from data storage to data insights and informed decision making. They provide bespoke analytics and reporting solutions, consultancy, training, and application development. They have worked with Northumbrian Water, the NHS, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Government. Expertise for this Challenge can be effectively provided by the partnership between ISRU and Jumping Rivers. They have a long-term working relationship, which includes staff who work jointly for both organisations. Specific examples of expertise and skills Our specific areas of expertise are best demonstrated through examples. Recent and current projects include: - developing and implementing an innovative Bayesian statistics forecasting solution for gas demand used within real time operations at control centres for the regional distributor Northern Gas Networks (NGN). The project has enabled efficiency savings in areas such as network inspection planning, gas storage and gas capacity. Project outcomes can be extended and are flexible for use in other applications such as power-to-gas. - developing a mathematical forecasting and optimisation model to inform long-term energy planning decisions (involving wind, solar, nuclear, power) for a range of potential scenarios involving demand, supply and the market. Collaborators within this research project include Northern PowerGrid, NGN, Newcastle City Council, Ofgem and several Universities as part of the CESI initiative. - developing and implementing an online platform (including dashboard) for Northumbrian Water to allow staff to access data on water leakage (e.g. pipe type, location, weather and traffic) more efficiently and in its entirety from a central source. The solution reduced the time taken to undertake activities at an analyst level from hours to minutes. This type of work, with a focus on optimising the sharing of relevant data and creating a “one data source”, has been conducted within several projects. - exploring the currently methodology used by the gas distribution networks for the calculation and reporting of medium pressure leakage across England, Scotland and Wales. Alternative approaches were identified, varying in benefits, costs and different types of intervention. The project collaboration included NGN, Cadent, SGN and Wales and West Utilities. - developing and implementing with the Water Hub and The Environmental Agency an interactive dashboard to enable users to efficiently access data. The data science solution aggregates raw data and provides data visualisation, from multiple sources internal and external to the Environmental Agency (EA), through to bespoke Application Program Interfaces (APIs), commercial databases, and asset management systems. - currently developing a statistical model with Northumbrian Water that predicts the probability that a specific geographical area will experience an extended interruption of water supply. The project goal is to prioritise incidents to resolve situations as efficiently as possible - key areas of interest are location, travel time for engineers, weather, and connectivity. Our capacity and ability to deliver projects and provide expertise at short notice is exemplified by the following: - developing efficient statistical sampling protocols for an international manufacturer of medical products, directly supporting Covid-19 efforts - embedding statistical methodologies within an international manufacturer of safety and medical products, directly supporting Covid-19 efforts