Skip to main content

DAFNI tests UK road infrastructure resilience

A new computer system is said to offer huge benefits for maintaining transport infrastructure. This is the product of a world-leading computing project and is called Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure, DAFNI. The project commenced in 2017 to provide world-leading research capabilities to help improve the UK’s infrastructure systems, by making them more resilient and effective. DAFNI can help ensure the UK’s infrastructure is sustainable by running detailed simulations that show a range
June 10, 2019 Read time: 3 mins

A new computer system is said to offer huge benefits for maintaining transport infrastructure. This is the product of a world-leading computing project and is called Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure, DAFNI. The project commenced in 2017 to provide world-leading research capabilities to help improve the UK’s infrastructure systems, by making them more resilient and effective.

DAFNI can help ensure the UK’s infrastructure is sustainable by running detailed simulations that show a range of scenarios and outcomes, which allows key decisions to be made.

DAFNI is a national computational resource available to academia and industry, allowing this essential research to be undertaken to ensure stability for the UK’s long-term planning and investment in transport for example.

DAFNI is being designed and developed by STFC’s Scientific Computing Department, the UK facility that provides large scale high performance computing facilities, computing data services and infrastructure.

After two years of development, the DAFNI team are ready to start making a difference to the resilience of UK infrastructure in the face of catastrophic events, with a host of successful pilot schemes already in place.

4035 SCD’s Sam Chorlton, project lead for DAFNI, said: “DAFNI has come so far in the two years since its inception, and it is already having a huge impact in making the country’s infrastructure more resilient and sustainable – as we can see with the already successful pilot projects.

“DAFNI is the tool that the infrastructure industry has been waiting for and it has the power to make a real difference to people’s everyday lives. The team and I are looking forward to working with some of the country’s top planners and policy-makers to ensure we are getting the best systems in place for the future of the UK.”

The powerful computing resource will be able to simulate and plan for the infrastructure demand for services for every household in the UK. It offers innovative software which will allow researchers across academia, UK Government and related industries to study complex infrastructure systems in cities and in the UK as a whole.

DAFNI is funded through an £8 million investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, as part of the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC).

%$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external https://www.dafni.ac.uk/ false https://www.dafni.ac.uk/ false false%>
 

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • IRF Examiner launched as industry resource to boost efficiency
    May 19, 2014
    Volume 1 highlights life-saving role of new methods and proven technologies around the world Since the IRF’s establishment in 1948, knowledge transfer has been the core of what the IRF does best. As industry tools and procedures evolve to meet societies’ needs, the availability of global knowledge resources is now more important than ever.
  • Brake to hold seminar on in-vehicle technology for improving driver safety
    April 12, 2013
    UK Road safety charity Brake is holding an essential seminar on using in-vehicle technology to improve driver safety. Selected and used appropriately, Brake says in-vehicle technology can offer huge benefits to fleets by providing valuable data on drivers, vehicles and journeys which can be used to help prevent crashes and reduce costs. In light of this, the charity is offering fleet professionals the opportunity to hear from academic experts and experienced practitioners on the options available, features
  • RIA airport in Liberia announces major renovation project as Rwanda unveils a $5.9m upgrade of Kamembe airport
    September 30, 2014
    Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) is inviting expressions of interest in the expansion and renovation of the current Roberts International Airport (RIA). The Liberian government wants to create a “state-of-the-art airport facility.” This will help the facility to handle at least 450, 000 per annum in the near future and become a key hub for air transport in West Africa region. The construction works will entail setting up of cargo handling facility, cargo storage and processing facilities. According to Afric
  • EU construction machinery sector needs resolve as Brexit looms
    February 14, 2019
    German construction machinery manufacturers are concerned about a no-deal Brexit – UK exiting the European Union - and the possible disintegration of the EU. Rising global economic challenges can be mastered only with a strong, united Europe, according to the VDMA - Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinery Association. VDMA represents more than 3,200 mostly medium-sized companies in Germany’s mechanical and plant engineering sector. This was the view by attendees at the VDMA’s constructi