From November 26-28, the BEPROACT team gathered in Dublin for an important Partner meeting, taking stock of progress and laying out plans for the next steps. It was a great opportunity to share updates on new asset management services and see some exciting pilot projects in action. Here’s a look at what happened in Dublin and what’s on the horizon for BEPROACT.
Pilot Projects Making Strides
A major highlight of the meeting was seeing how far some pilot cases have come, with a few already reaching the minimal viable product stage. These pilots are geared up for more refinement next year, aiming to improve efficiency, reliability, and productivity across the different asset types.
One particularly impressive pilot, led by the Vlaamse Milieu Maatschappij (VMM,) Geosparc, and Lille University, focuses on Water Management. By using real-time monitoring and machine learning, this project can predict when oxygen levels in water might drop too low. When that happens, an automatic alert helps VMM take quick action to keep water quality safe. A strong example of how BEPROACT is applying technology to prevent issues before they happen.
Involving End Users with Training and Testing
With the initial pilot setups complete, the project is now involving end users to test and validate these solutions in real-world settings. During the Dublin meeting, Partners discussed customised training schemes for both operational teams, data scientists and management.
The BEPROACT Virtual Reality (VR) experience - created by Virtual Rangers (Luxembourg) – was introduced during the meeting . During a demo-movie Partners became acquainted with how immersive training could make learning new systems both engaging and effective. This tech is set to play a key role in helping the Partner organisations adapt to the new tools and processes coming out of BEPROACT and incorporate these in the development of the training modules. The full experience with a VR-headset has been demonstrated during the EU-NWE Annual Event in Dublin at the beginning of November 2024.
Aligning Pilot Projects with Big-Picture Goals
A strategic workshop connected the dots between the pilot projects and the bigger organisational goals they are aiming to support. With a portfolio of over 15 innovative solutions in the works, BEPROACT is setting up its Partners for more Data Driven Decision Making, boosting efficiency, reliability, and productivity across the board. The reason for this alignment is to ensure the “buy in” and commitment of senior executives of the organisations that own and maintain the assets, which is of crucial importance for allocating the necessary resources for implementing the new digital solutions and manage the transition to a more Data Driven management of assets.
Guidance and Support from the BEPROACT Steering Group
The project’s Steering Group reviewed and applauded BEPROACT’s progress and discussed feedback from the EU Interreg NWE Joint Secretariat. They renewed the affirmation of their strategic support to ensure that the pilot projects stay in line with the overarching goals of improving Data Driven asset management. The group was pleased with the early successes of several pilot projects and recognised is the good momentum and that all is on track in terms of scope, budget, and schedule.
In fact, some pilot cases, e.g. on water quality and bridge infrastructure, are ahead of project planning. In addition, much has already been achieved in terms of methodology development around machine learning and robotics by the academic and SME project Partners. They thus see several opportunities to bring forward the implementation phase of these pilot cases and explore synergies with other asset types (cross-domain). The initiative of LIST to organize the community of practice related to machine learning in early 2025 is also highly appreciated, as there is a need among all partners to cooperate and learn from each other during the development and implementation of the pilot cases. The BEPROACT communication with LinkedIn posts, internet page and news releases continue to pick up speed and navigate around hick-ups faced en route.
The Steering Group meeting closed with the endorsement to maintain this positive project progress.
Exploring Dublin with BEPROACT Partners
During the Steering Group Meeting, the BEPROACT Partners had the opportunity to explore Dublin City, guided by our Dublin City Council colleagues Maggie O’Donnel and Jo Martin. The tour highlighted the bustling Dublin city traffic—where the city’s ITS (Intelligent Traffic System), one of the six asset types incorporated in BEPROACT, plays a vital role—and offered glimpses of the green serenity of St. Stephen’s Park, alongside some of Dublin’s rich history.
Dublin is a city steeped in history, characterized by its narrow streets and heritage buildings that reflect its unique charm.
Transportation as a Key Service
Dublin City Council is at the helm of managing transportation, an essential service for the city. As Dublin transitions to more sustainable travel methods, maintaining smooth movement within the city is crucial to meet current and future demands.
Efficient Asset Management
The correct operation of Dublin’s transportation assets is ensured through the Asset & Fault Management System, which plays a pivotal role in keeping the city functioning efficiently.