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UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics

Scoil na nEolaĆ­ochtaĆ­ Matamaitice UCD

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A perfect brainstorm (Posted 01/08/2014)

Between 30 June and 4 July 2014, the UCD School of Mathematical Sciences hosted the European Study group with Industry (ESGI). The workshop brought together mathematicians, statisticians, and applied and computational scientists from a wide range of backgrounds to work on real-world problems posed by industrial partners.

Originating in Oxford in 1968, ESGI have since been held several times a year across Europe, and were first brought to Ireland by the Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry (MACSI) at the University of Limerick in 2008. Thanks to the active participation of UCD scientists in the previous study groups, the European Consortium for Mathematics in Industry awarded UCD a right to organise this event in 2014.

 

Prof. Orla Feely (UCD Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact) inaugurated the workshop and introduced the companies, which challenged the workshop participants with problems that required not only knowledge and expertise, but also thinking outside the box and non-standard approach to their solution. The five working groups led by the UCD mathematicians and statisticians applied their brainpower to solve the problems coming from different industries and various companies ranging from the start-up to the multinational corporation.

 

  • Geological Survey of Ireland proposed a problem of analysis and interpretation of data collected in aerial electromagnetic survey.

The group succeeded in showing that the survey data is consistent and sensitive to the changes in geological structures. The scientists came up with a simple but effective and robust mathematical model for data interpretation and have demonstrated its accuracy by validation against ground measurements.  

 

  • Rusal Aughinish came with the problem of control and optimisation of automatic mud filtration process used to extract Alumina from Bauxite.

The group developed and validated a first-of-its-kind model of mud accumulation on a drum filter. The model is dynamical and predicts the behaviour in time of liquid levels and wash fluxes. By using this model, the company will be able to maximise average wash per filter operation while keeping the liquid levels within reasonable limits.

 

  • Bord Gáis Energy asked the study group to explore the connection between wind forecasts, energy demand and energy prices in the Irish Single Electricity Market.     

The group analysed the data provided by the company using several methods. The group concluded that generalised non-linear regression models were required and that the effect of wind was statistically significant, but more data on outliers (spikes) is needed. The group came up with a model formulated in terms of differential equations, whose solution can be used to improve on current market predictions.

 

  • The NovaUCD startup Corlytics was interested in analysing the common patterns of failed financial transactions in order to minimise their impact on banks.

The working group examined data for trends in transaction failures and combinations of high failure value intensity. The scientists working on this problem demonstrated the number of strategies and proposed new tools for predicting the "cost of failed transaction" and "fine for failed transaction” on examples based on historical data.

 

  • International Research Institute of Stavanger, Norway collaborates with oil companies on various aspects of oil and gas exploration.  For the study group, the institute prepared a problem concerning the prevention of oil-well clogging during the drilling process.

Cuttings produced by the drilling bit and transported to the surface by the drilling fluid were modelled. The group came up with a mathematical model to describe cuttings transport and explains the clogging effect. Using the open source Computational Fluid Dynamics software package the group simulated the processes of cutting transport up the pipe and creation of cutting beds leading to the oil-well clogging.

 

 

The workshop was supported by a grant from the SFI Conferences & Workshops Scheme, by UCD School of Mathematical Sciences and by UCD Online. Study group participants included graduate students, postdocs and senior faculty members. UCD and University of Limerick – two Irish universities with a long tradition of research in applied and computational mathematics and statistics – were represented in all working groups. International participants represented leading universities from many European countries (UK, Switzerland, Italy to name a few). The keynote speaker, Dr Winston Sweatman, President of the New Zealand Mathematical Society and moderator of the Australia/New Zealand mathematics-in-industry study groups presented an overview of the problems approached by the study groups in that part of the world. 

 

The workshop was a great success. The participating companies gave their approval to the solutions proposed by the working groups.

 

 

“The ESGI workshop allowed us to develop the mathematical equations behind our process, leading to an improved understanding of key process parameters.”

Eoin Keane
Senior Process Engineer

RUSAL Aughinish, Ireland

 

 

“Thank you very much for the material.  I am impressed that it was possible to perform simulations to this extent in one week. I also like the suggested further experiments and development.” 

Fionn Iversen
Research Advisor
Drilling and well modelling
International Research Institute of Stavanger, Norway

 

“The group attacked the problem with such enthusiasm that within a very short time a potential route to a solution was developed.  Working along this path with great diligence soon confirmed the chosen route.  A feature of the group was the speed with which they understood the problem in an area that was obviously not within their normal sphere. I would endorse the whole concept of the Mathematics Study Group with Industry. If you have a problem with a mathematical element to it, give it a try.”

Gerry Stanley B.Sc., M.Sc., M.C.S.M.
Senior Geologist (Head of Section)
Geological Survey of Ireland

 

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