http://eu-vri.euhttp://www.steinbeis.dehttp://europa.eu
 
30 Sep
2015
Annual Conference Building a Resilient Europe in a Globalised World
News Photo

The European Commission's Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (JRC), in cooperation with the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC) of the European Commission cordially invite you to the Annual Conference Building a Resilient Europe in a Globalised World





Annual Conference

Building a Resilient Europe in a Globalised World

 

The European Commission's Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (JRC),

in cooperation with the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC) of the European Commission cordially invite you to the Annual Conference Building a Resilient Europe in a Globalised World.       

 

The European Commission's Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (JRC), in cooperation with the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC) of the European Commission, is organising its annual conference on "Resilience".

 

Resilience determines capacity to successfully confront societal challenges and to adapt and overcome adversity. In an evolving global environment, resilience creates stability, which in turn promotes job creation, economic growth and environmental sustainability.

 

The conference will kick off discussion between experts, representatives from European Institutions and Member States, stakeholders from industry as well as academia on the continuous process of building a resilient, stable, competitive and prosperous Europe.

 

The thematic sessions will address:

  • Resilient supplies: energy, food and water security
  • Resilience to disasters: flexibility and ability to adapt existing plans
  • Resilient Europe – Tackling the financial crisis

During the conference, DG JRC's Resilience Report will be launched as well as a Knowledge Centre for Disaster Risk Management.

 

Wednesday, 30 September 2015, 09:00-18:00
f
ollowed by a networking cocktail, 18:00-19:30

 

Venue:

European Commission, Charlemagne Building, Alcide de Gasperi Room
Rue de la Loi 170, Brussels

 

 

REGISTRATION: click here.

24 Jun
2015
SafeLife-X Final Conference - Call for Papers and registration
News Photo The final conference of the SafeLife-X peoject will take place in Brussels on June 24-25, 2015.



 

SafeLife-X Final Conference

Brussels, Belgium on June 24-25, 2015

 

in conjunction with SafeLife-X education course / workshop on Resilience
to be organized on June 23-24, 2015
and with the RBi-EN meeting
to be organized on June 24, 2015


Venue:

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre

4th floor: CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre

Avenue Marnix 17

B - 1000 Brussels (Belgiium)

http://www.cencenelec.eu/aboutus/ourservices/MeetingCentre/Location/Pages/default.aspx



The SafeLife-X Final Conference is an excellent opportunity for project partners to communicate their results to the “outside world” and an opportunity for interested professionals, not participating in the project, to learn about the project and its results.

The Conference will be focused on the Strategic Research Agenda and its implementation strategy, as well as on the sustainable structure for the group. In addition to this, selected presentations from key project and outside partners covering topics related to the technologies and methodologies of aging management and business cases will be given.


Preliminary program:

 

Call for papers:

In order to ensure that the most interesting and relevant topics are included in the program of the Main Conference, we kindly invite you to communicate your interest by registering and submitting an abstract (200 words) at:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Events/apply.aspx?EventID=8598

before

May 12, 2015

Please, note that the relevance of your contribution to the topics of the conference (management of aged infrastructures networks and industrial plants) will be decisive for the peer-review based acceptance of your paper/presentation.

SafeLife-X course / workshop on resilience:

Modern society depends more and more on the effective and reliable operations of infrastructure systems (infrastructures), such as those delivering energy, water, sanitation, shelter, information, emergency response and other critical services. These, on the other side, need to be assessed on their resilience in case of large and/or cascading events. Whilst most people fully agree about the importance of resilience, common agreement about the resilience assessment approaches, methods and tools is still an issue.
The course will look at these issues primary from the engineer point of view and, after preparing the overview and information about the state-of-the-art focus on some practical examples highlighting aspects of the practical quantitative assessment of resilience.
More information

RBi-EN meeting (mandate of the National Mirror Group needed)

Information to be provided soon.

Registration:

The registration for the Main Conference is open at:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Events/apply.aspx?EventID=8189

(Deadline: May 22, 2015)

Announcement leaflet:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/filehandler.ashx?file=13699

 

For possible queries, please, feel free to contact us at SafeLifeExtension@eu-vri.eu.

22 Apr
2015
FIRM15 - FEHRL Infrastructure Research Meeting
News Photo The FEHRL Infrastructure Research Meeting 2015 (FIRM15) will be held on 22nd & 23rd April 2015 in Brussels.



FIRM15 - FEHRL Infrastructure Research Meeting

The FEHRL Infrastructure Research Meeting 2015 (FIRM15) will be held on 22nd & 23rd April 2015 at the Diamant Centre in Brussels, Belgium.

This key event, which will be held in English and cost 150 Euros per person (2 days conference, exhibition entrance and cocktail), will gather some 120 transport infrastructure innovation and research experts, including European and national policy makers, leading industry, standardisation agencies, SME's and the media.

With the theme  of  "Innovative maintenance of Transport Infrastructure. Faster, cheaper, more reliable, safer, greener", FIRM15 will feature multiple information sessions on the following themes.

  • Infrastructure level: Engineering and technical solutions 
  • System level: operations including monitoring inspections
  • Governance level: management and financial issues

Register now

Click here if you are a speaker for guidelines on your presentation. 

Contact isabelle.lucchini@fehrl.org to send any documents and if you need any more information about the event.

30 Mar
2015
6th European Transport Research Conference (TRA) - Call for abstract
News Photo The Call for Abstracts for the TRA 2016 Conference is open.



6th European Transport Research Conference (TRA)
Call for abstract

The Call for Abstracts for the TRA 2016 Conference is open.

All researchers working on Transport can apply.
Click here to download the 1st Announcement including the Call for Abstracts details.

The deadline of the call is March 30, 2015.

 

19 Mar
2015
SafeLife-X Workshop
News Photo

The next set of workshops of SafeLife-X will take place in Brussels, on March 19-20, 2015.





SafeLife-X Workshop

The next set of workshops of SafeLife-X will take place in Brussels, on March 19-20, 2015.

Overview of the event:

March 19, 2015

March 20, 2015

 


From 09:00 to 12:30

3rd meeting of the Implementation strategy (Deltares)



LUNCH

LUNCH

 

From 14:00 to 17:30

4th meeting for the preparation of the SRA and adoption (Tecnalia)

From 13:30 to 17:00

2nd meeting to prepare the sustainable structure (VCE)


DINNER

 

 

 

Location:

These events will be hosted by FEHRL at the following address:

FEHRL - Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories
Blvd. de la Woluwe 42 bte 3

B-1200 Brussels
Belgium

Please find here more information about the venue (including a list of hotels).

Registration for SafeLife-X events:
We kindly ask you to register by February 27 at the following link:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Events/apply.aspx?EventID=8341

Contact: SafeLifeExtension@eu-vri.eu

18 Mar
2015
SafeLife-X Final Conference - Call for Papers
News Photo
Authors wishing to present their work at the SafeLife-X conference are requested to submit an abstract no later than March 18, 2015.




SafeLife-X Final Conference

Safe Life Extension management of aged infrastructures networks and industrial plants

Brussels, Belgium on June 24-25, 2015

in conjunction with SafeLife-X education courses on Resilience
to be organized on June 23-24, 2015
and with the RBi-EN meeting
to be organized on June 24, 2015



Venue:

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre


4th floor: CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre

Avenue Marnix 17

B - 1000 Brussels

http://www.cencenelec.eu/aboutus/ourservices/MeetingCentre/Location/Pages/default.aspx


The SafeLife-X Final Conference is an excellent opportunity for project partners to communicate their results to the “outside world” and an opportunity for interested professionals, not participating in the project, to learn about the project and its results.

The Conference will be focused on the Strategic Research Agenda and its implementation strategy, as well as on the sustainable structure for the group. In addition to this, selected presentations from key project and outside partners covering topics related to the technologies and methodologies of aging management and business cases will be given

Preliminary program:

 


 

Call for papers:

In order to ensure that the most interesting and relevant topics are included in the program of the Main Conference, we kindly invite you to communicate your interest by registering and submitting an abstract (200 words) at:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Events/apply.aspx?EventID=8598

before

March 18, 2015

Please, note that the relevance of your contribution to the topics of the conference (management of aged infrastructures networks and industrial plants) will be decisive for the peer-review based acceptance of your paper/presentation.

SafeLife-X course on resilience:

Information to be sent soon.

RBi-EN meeting (mandate of the National Mirror Group needed)

Information to be sent soon.

Registration:

The registration for the Main Conference is open at:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Events/apply.aspx?EventID=8189

(Deadline: May 22, 2015)

Announcement leaflet:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/filehandler.ashx?file=13699

 

For possible queries, please, feel free to contact us at SafeLifeExtension@eu-vri.eu

02 Dec
2014
SafeLife-X Workshops
News Photo The next SafeLife-X workshops will take place on December 2-3, 2014, in Stuttgart (Germany).
The event will focus on the Strategic Research Agenda and its roadmap.



Next thematic Workshops of SafeLife-X

We would like to invite to the next thematic Workshops of SafeLife-X that will take place in Stuttgart on December 2-3, 2014.

Overview of the event:

December 2ND, 2014

December 3RD, 2014

From 11:00 to 13:00

Steering Committee Meeting
(for consortium members only)

From 09:00 to 12:00

2nd meeting of the Implementation strategy (Deltares)

LUNCH

LUNCH

From 14:00 to 18:00

3rd meeting for the preparation of the SRA (Tecnalia)

From 13:00 to 16:00

1st meeting to prepare the sustainable structure (VCE)

DINNER


 

Objectives of the 3rd meeting for the preparation of the SRA (Tecnalia)
Define the scope of the SRA. Validate the Structure of the SRA.
Truly reflect and prioritise stakeholders strategic research needs.

Objectives of the 2nd meeting of the Implementation strategy (Deltares)
The work on the business cases in Task 6.1 and the planning for the tasks and deliverables in WP6 will be presented.
The work on the modelling of the economy of investments in aging management will be detailed.

Objectives of the 1st meeting to prepare the sustainable structure (VCE)
This workshop will aim at:

· Discussing on the criticality of infrastructures and their ranking

· Discussing on the options for a programme within Horizon 2020

· Assessing of the currently available instruments (Calls, PPP, JPI)

· Discussing the connection to the SRA and roadmap

· Discussing and deciding about priorities and next activities

Location:

These events will be hosted by EU-VRi at the following address:

Steinbeis-Stiftung
Kienestrasse 35
70174 STUTTGART (GERMANY)

Please find here more information about the venue (including list of hotels). 

Registration for SafeLife-X events:
We kindly ask you to register by November 21, 2014 at the following link:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Events/apply.aspx?EventID=8059

 

Don’t hesitate to contact us (SafeLifeExtension@eu-vri.eu) if you have any question.

14 Nov
2014
SafeLife-X public reports
News Photo The reports produced by the SafeLife-X consortium during the first year of the project have been published.



SafeLife-X public reports

The reports produced by the SafeLife-X consortium during the first year of the project have been published and can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/home.aspx?lan=230&tab=2614&pag=1548

Public reports:

  • D1.1 Identification of the needs to improve aging management (link)
  • D1.2 Mapping of the existing standard and regulations (link)
  • D1.3 Proceedings of the workshop “Expression of the needs to improve aging management” (link)
  • D2.1 A report for the aging concerns (link)
  • D2.2 Proceedings of the workshop on aging technologies (link)
  • D2.3 Proceedings of the workshop on aging methodologies 
  • D3.1 Note describing the test cases, the elements to be compared and the approach (link)
  • D3.2 Report on the data collection, including a guide & recommendations concerning collection of operation feedback on structures and collection of monitoring data (link1, link2, link3)
  • D3.3 Report on the analysis of the degradation laws and kinetics (link)
  • D3.4 Report on the benchmark with a guide for implementing a probabilistic / deterministic study devoted to structural safety analysis concerning the monitoring data and their treatment (link)
  • D3.5 Guide on prevention & mitigation, and integration for aging management
  • D4.1 First draft of 2 guidance documents, ready for review by the experts involved in the project (link)
  • D4.2 EN Risk based inspection as an example of future standards to be developed
  • D5.1 Strategic Research Agenda for a safe life extension of the infrastructures
  • D5.2 Research Priorities
  • D6.1 Note describing the business cases and their components
  • D6.2 Report on social, economical and technical barriers
  • D6.3 Report with roadmap, business cases and recommendation future research
01 Oct
2014
ENQUIRY in support of a review of identified corrosion issues pertaining to biorefining
News Photo The ECORBIO project has launched an enquiry in support of a review of identified corrosion issues pertaining to biorefining.



 ENQUIRY in support of a review of identified corrosion issues pertaining to biorefining

The ECORBIO project has launched an enquiry in support of a review of identified corrosion issues pertaining to biorefining.

You are kindly invited to fill in the form and forward it to wassila.benaissa@ineris.fr and guy.marlair@ineris.fr.

04 Sep
2014
Maintenance Performance Measurement and Management Conference (MPMM 2014)
News Photo The Maintenance Performance Measurement and Management Conference (MPMM 2014) will take place on September 4-5, 2014, in Coimbra (Portugal).




Maintenance Performance Measurement and Management Conference (MPMM 2014)

The Maintenance Performance Measurement and Management Conference (MPMM 2014) will take place on September 4-5, 2014, in Coimbra (Portugal).

The conference will focus on the following topics:

  • Maintenance performance and measurement
  • Maintenance technology and management
  • Maintenance management systems
  • Maintenance trends

Everyone is invited to submit a paper for consideration. All accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings and the best ones will be selected for publication in special issues of International Journal of Strategic Engineering Asset Management (published by Inderscience) and Journal of Industrial Engineering International (published by Springer).

The important dates and deadlines concerning the submission of papers are:

  • 19th April 2014 – Submission of Abstract
  • 1st May 2014 – Notification of Abstract Acceptance
  • 1st June 2014 – Deadline for Full Paper Submission
  • 12th July 2014 – Notification of Paper Acceptance
  • 19th July 2014 – Deadline for Early Bird Registration
  • 12th August 2014 – Deadline for Camera Ready Manuscript Submission
  • 1st August 2014 – Deadline for Conference Registration

More information at https://cemuc.dem.uc.pt/MPMM2014/.

02 Sep
2014
SafeLife-X Workshops on September 2-4, 2014, in Vienna
News Photo

The next thematic Workshops of SafeLife-X will take place in Vienna (Austria) on September 2-4, 2014:

- Workshop on “Strategic Research Agenda and Implementation Strategy”
- Workshop “Methodologies of aging analysis and management”
- Workshop “analysis of the degradation laws and kinetics, and the implementation of probabilistic / deterministic approaches”
- Kick of meeting of the WP4 (development of guidance documents and standards)





SafeLife-X Workshops

The next thematic Workshops of SafeLife-X will take place in Vienna (Austria) on September 2-4, 2014.

 

Overview of the event (draft agendas available here):

SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2014

SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2014

SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2014

From 09:00 to 12:30

1st workshop on the Strategic Research Agenda and Implementation Strategy 

From 09:00 to 11:00

2nd workshop on Strategic Research Agenda and Implementation Strategy

From 10:00 to 12:30

RIBF meeting (1/2)

Independent registration procedure (see below)

From 11:00 to 12:45

Kick of meeting of the WP4 (development of guidance documents and standards)

LUNCH

LUNCH

LUNCH

From 13:30 to 17:00

Workshop on methodologies of aging analysis and management

From 14:00 to 17:30

Workshop on the analysis of the degradation laws and kinetics, and the implementation of probabilistic / deterministic approaches

From 14:00 to 17:30

RIBF meeting (2/2)

DINNER (offered by VCE)

DINNER (at your own cost)

 

 A dinner will be also organized on September 1st

Objectives of the 1st workshop on “Strategic Research Agenda and Implementation Strategy ”:
The first workshop aims at determining Key Performance Indicators for the multi-criteria analyses which will be used for identifying main topics of the SRA.

Objectives of the 2nd workshop on “Strategic Research Agenda and Implementation Strategy ”:
The second workshop aims at determining cross sectorial most interesting topics for the SRA. Different groups according to sectors will be created and results of the MCAs will be merged to determine average weights for each criteria and the main cross-sectorial topics.

Objectives of the workshop “Methodologies of aging analysis and management”:
The workshop is aimed to provide best practices of aging methodologies and management to answer the needs  identified during the first part of the SafeLife-X project. Workgroups will discuss of their practices over 3 different subjects of aging methodologies and management.

Objectives of the workshop “analysis of the degradation laws and kinetics, and the implementation of probabilistic / deterministic approaches”:
The objective of this workshop is to discuss the degradation laws and kinetics and the most relevant probabilistic methods.

Objectives of the Kick of meeting of the WP4 (development of guidance documents and standards):
The purpose of this meeting is to launch the standardization activities. It is intended to develop an EN standard for Risk-Based Inspection (RBi) and to start a new CWA on aging that will prepare the ground for the future norms in this field.

Location:

These events will be hosted by VCE at the following address:

VCE Vienna Consulting Engineers ZT GmbH
Diesterweggasse 3,
1140 Vienna, Austria

Please find here more information about the venue. 
The list of suggested hotels is avaialble here.

Registration for SafeLife-X events:
We kindly ask you to register at the following link by August 10, 2014:
http://safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Events/apply.aspx?EventID=7691

Registration for RBIF event:
Please send the
registration form to Mr. Carlebur at Arthur.Carlebur@nen.nl.
Since we are obliged to have in the RBIF meetings only registered members and, only exceptionally guests,  we encourage to the partners who are not yet register in the CEN TC Working Group 12  to kindly register as soon as possible with the National Standard bodies (contact list available
here). It would be highly appreciated that  Mr. Carlebur is informed about the action once the application is in course.

For more information, please contact SafeLifeExtension@eu-vri.eu.

01 Sep
2014
Summer Academy 2014
News Photo VCE, in collaboration with IRIS and SafeLife-X projects, will organize in September 2014 the Summer Academy "Integrated European Industrial Risk Reduction System".



Summer Academy 2014 "Integrated European Industrial Risk Reduction System"

VCE, in collaboration with IRIS and SafeLife-X projects, will organize in September 2014 the Summer Academy "Integrated European Industrial Risk Reduction System".

More information will be released as soon as possible.

Draft agenda: http://www.safelife.eu-vri.eu/filehandler.ashx?file=12647

In order to received newsletter about SafeLife-X activities and events, we kindly invite you to register on our platform.

06 Jun
2014
SafeLife-X in FEHRL Infrastructure Research Magazine (FIRM)
News Photo SafeLife-X has published an article in the fourth issue of FEHRL Infrastructure Research Magazine (FIRM) focusing on international collaboration and implementation of results.



FEHRL Infrastructure Research Magazine (FIRM)

SafeLife-X has published an article in the fourth issue of FEHRL Infrastructure Research Magazine (FIRM) focusing on international collaboration and implementation of results.

Click here or on the link below to take a look at the fourth issue of the FEHRL Infrastructure Research magazine (FIRM), which is in the process of being printed and will shortly be distributed in hard copy to FEHRL members and key transport infrastructure stakeholders. This fourth issue focuses on international collaboration and implementation of results, as well as the FEHRL highlights of TRA2014.

This issue also has a particular focus on the following selected key projects:

 

Contact Catherine Birkner, FEHRL Communications Officer, at catherine.birkner@fehrl.org with any feedback on FIRM and if you would like to request a printed copy of the FIRM magazine.

20 May
2014
2nd thematic workshops of SafeLife-X
News Photo

The 2nd thematic workshop from SafeLife-X is organized by INERIS and will take in Paris city center on May 21st, 2014 (from 9:00 to 17:30).





2nd SafeLife-X thematic workshop

The 2nd thematic workshop from SafeLife-X is organized by INERIS and will take in Paris city center on May 21st, 2014 (from 9:00 to 17:30).

Workshops:

  • WS02-1: Workshop on technologies of data acquisition and modeling (led by Tecnalia)
  • WS02-2: Workshop on definition of the test cases, the approach for the benchmark and the data collection” (led by Steinbeis R-Tech)

Location:
Centre d’Hébergement Maurice Ravel
6 avenue Maurice Ravel
75012 Paris (FRANCE)
www.cisp.fr

Registration:
We kindly invite you to register at the following link by May 13th, 2014:

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Events/apply.aspx?EventID=7089

(Please note that the number of participants is limited).

 

05 May
2014
EuroMaintenance 2014
News Photo In EuroMaintenance 2014 Congress more than 100 experts from 30 countries will give their presentations on the latest findings and experience on physical asset management and maintenance.



EUROMAINTENANCE 2014

In EuroMaintenance 2014 Congress more than 100 experts from 30 countries will give their presentations on the latest findings and experience on physical asset management and maintenance.

EuroMaintenance Congress offers a massive information package on maintenance with case studies. Top business leaders share their success stories and key speakers from international universities present their educational programs and latest research developments.

The Congress is complemented by The 6th World Congress on Maintenance and Asset Management with presentations of physical asset management – currently the hottest topic in maintenance!

The SafeLife-X project initiated by ETPIS and reFINE will be presented during this event.

More information at www.euromaintenance2014.org

 

12 Mar
2014
6th International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security
News Photo The Call for Papers for the 6th International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security (ISTSS 2014), to be held in Marseille (France) on March 12-14, 2014, is open.



6th International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security

The Call for Papers for the 6th International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security (ISTSS 2014), to be held in Marseille (France) on March 12-14, 2014, is open.

The 6th International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security (ISTSS 2014) will take place at World Trade Centre (WTC) in Marseille, France, on March 12-14, 2014.
This event will bring together expertise in the field of safety and security for 3 days of presentations and exhibits. The previous symposium in New York in March 2012 was a great success with more than 280 delegates.

If you are interested in taking part in ISTSS 2014, you are welcome to submit a manuscript or poster for presentation. Manuscripts and posters will be reviewed on the basis of an extended abstract of not more than two pages.

Manuscript abstracts should be submitted to the Secretariat by email (istss@sp.se) by 31st May 2013, poster abstracts by the 30th August 2013.

For more information see Call for Papers or visit the Symposium website where you can find Author instructions.
03 Mar
2014
Infravation 2014 call and brokerage/information day on March 20, 2014
News Photo Infravation call has been launched on 3rd March 2014



INFRAVATION CALL

Infravation call has been launched on 3rd March 2014

The Infravation 2014 Call aims to support the development of advanced systems, materials and techniques for road infrastructure. The topics being covered have been specified in a Scoping Study and are drawn from the following challenges:

  • Advanced predictive infrastructure performance processes.
  • Enhanced durability and life-time extension.
  • Rapid and non-destructive methods for routine quality and performance checks of materials and construction.
  • Keeping freight routes open through zero-intrusive maintenance.
  • Ensuring infrastructure performance under all weather conditions.
  • Resource and energy efficiency in road construction and maintenance (Eco-design).
  • Virgin material reduction by substitution or recycling.

The Infravation 2014 Call focusses on the development of innovative technologies for road operations, either on the European, national, regional or urban networks. For construction and maintenance technology, aspects such as advanced robotics could be developed. The exact details, including the funding scheme for specific stakeholders, will be published in the Infravation 2014 Call Guide for Applicants, which will be available at the launch on 3rd March 2014.

More information on the Infravation 2014 Call here.

Infravation 2014 Call joint information and brokerage day, 20 March, Brussels.

 
Join information and Brokerage event day on Match 20, 2014

Register by 12th March 2014 for the Infravation 2014 Call joint information and brokerage day being held on 20th March 2014. Participation in the event is free of charge. For logistical reasons, all participants are required to register for the event using the online registration system.

More information here.

Location: Diamant Centre Brussels (BE)
28 Feb
2014
Consultation - Identify the needs related to safe lifetime extension and aging management of infrastructures networks and industrial plants
News Photo (SURVEY - 2nd round) You are invited to participate to the identification of the needs related to safe lifetime extension and aging management of infrastructures networks and industrial plants - Deadline: February 28, 2014



CONSULTATION

In relation with the initiative developed by the EU FP7 project SafeLife-X coordinated by EU-VRi, you are invited to take part in the second round of the survey to provide information to identify the needs related to safe life extension management of aged infrastructures networks and industrial plants, as expressed by the various stakeholders involved in the project, i.e. the industry from various sectors (construction, transport, energy, industrial plants, pipeline networks…), from service to industry companies dealing with inspection and certification, from public authorities and from research organizations.

http://www.safelife-x.eu-vri.eu/Survey_Run.aspx?ID=557

We draw your attention on the "Suggestion" columns that are the most important aspect of this survey.
We kindly ask you to provide your inputs by February 28, 2014.

Don't hesitate to contact us at SafeLifeExtension@eu-vri.eu if you have any question.

09 Jan
2014
SafeLife-X workshop: Identification of the needs on aging of infrastructures and industrial plants
News Photo The proceedings of the 1st SafeLife-X thematic workshop are available online.



SafeLife-X workshop: Identification of the needs on aging of infrastructures and industrial plants

The proceedings of the 1st SafeLife-X thematic workshop are available online.

To watch the chaptered video of the workshop, please click here.

This 1st thematic workshop aimed at collecting feedback from the experts and to agree on a shared vision on the needs that will structure the other workpackages.
During the workshop, the experts have identified a serie of needs:

Energy / Power plants including renewables

Life(time) extension
For example, the rules and practices are not always clear for recalculating margins or safety factors to deal with uncertainties in loads that aging structures are subjected to . Similarly, significant uncertainties appear in the response to these loads by aging structures, and in the predicted life, when aiming for life extension.   

Change of operational mode
For example, the increasing share of unrestricted wind and solar power tends to make the overall electricity supply more fluctuating and increases the fatigue type loading to the rest of the plants in the system, if not fully balanced by e.g. fast responding hydro capacity and spinning reserves. This results in increasing fatigue-related aging in thermal plants, and can also make the previous inspection data and experience (e.g. for RBI) largely redundant.  

Dealing with fatigue and creep (more than one mechanisms), and predicting aging for new structures
In general, prediction of aging under the action of single damage (and failure) mechanism is better accommodated in the existing methods, guidelines and standards than with combined action of two or more mechanisms, and this can greatly add to the overall uncertainty of the prediction. The challenge is exacerbated by lacking data from real operation/inspections for new processes/structures/materials at the stage of design and also later until such information has been accumulated.   

Improved methods for inspections and monitoring of critical structures/locations
For example, challenges appear for NDT in offshore windmills to inspect deep subsea structures covered with biomass crust and no inspection access from inside. More generally, there is a challenge to link inspection and monitoring data to the governing damage and failure mechanisms for critical structures and locations. Improved (health) monitoring methods and sensors are also needed for critical components that operate under severe environments. 

 

Civil structures (bridges, ports…)

Improve methodologies for assessing the remaining loading capacities of structures and lifetime prediction

Infrastructures are aging; the effective remaining loading capacity is unknown and there are not satisfactory methodologies that allow to assess it. The need to investigate in that direction is considered as primary in this sector. Assessing the remaining loading capabilities will also enable an accurate lifetime prediction.

Methodologies for assessing aging of structure (monitoring tools and guidelines)

Innovative monitoring tools (as early warning monitoring systems, new smart sensing and communication technologies, data collection, processing and aggregation systems) must be developed. Guidelines that, in accordance with the standards, define what are the procedures for assessing the ageing of structures must be defined. The idea is to produce a flow diagram that defines the actions to be taken accordingly to structure performances and deficiencies.

Risk framework to assess structural performances

Ageing of an infrastructure can cause relevant economic (and not only) consequences. This threat must be addressed in a global scale by formulating a complete risk framework.

Innovative and low cost solutions to extend lifetime of structures and related monitoring

Due to cuts on funding, the aging problem must be addressed with innovative and low cost solutions capable to extend the lifetime of the aged structures. Since these solutions are new, their performances must be monitored in order to fully define their behaviour.

“Pattern-type” assessing of structures

Many structures have common characteristics and due to that it is reasonable to assume that they behave similarly. For this reason, the feasibility to define “pattern-type” behaviour must be evaluated. This would allow simplifying monitoring procedures for all the structures that belong to a common “pattern-type”

“Intelligent” design of new structures taking into account future ageing

Ageing occurs to any type of structures and requires upgrade of the structure by means of retrofitting techniques. New structures should be designed in a way to efficiently allow retrofitting that at some point will be necessary due to structural ageing.

 

Chemical/process plants

Minimal data needed
How to get a reliable, usable and minimal set of data ? Important cost for collecting data : can we reduce information and be reliable ?

Probability of failure developed by causes
not only by equipment…

Combination of failure modes
How to integrate multiples damage mechanisms?

Data sharing
decision methods... ?

Avoid double work done by full integration of ageing management in safety management.

Common risk assessment

Ageing of new structure

 

Networks and horizontal issues (economics, costs, decision making and management, resilience, standardization…)

Integrated approach

Data/info/systems: €, design, operation, maintenance…

Indicators and benchmarking

Unclear ownership

Who owns risks, profits, benefits, savings… who is motivated?

Broader view on assets

PAS 55 and ISO 55000; aging just one of the factors, aged plants just as “special case” of optimized (4)

“Bucket principle”

Should vs. Can


The public report on the identification of the needs on aging of infrastructures and industrial plants will be released soon.

24 Oct
2013
Future Safety and Security Research in the Europe
News Photo CZTPIS and ETPIS organise the conference SASECO2013 in Prague (CZ), on October 24-25, 2013.



Future Safety and Security
Research in the Europe

The conference called FUTURE SAFETY AND SECURITY RESEARCH IN EUROPE is focused on the direction of the safety and security research in Europe and organised by the Czech Technology Platform on Industrial Safety in close cooperation with the European Technology Platform on Industrial Safety will take place in Prague (Czech Republic), on October 24-25, 2013.

The aim of the conference is to present and discuss trends, strategies and objectives concerning preparation of HORIZON 2020 in the field of safety and security. The conference is financed from the Safety AGENT project, funded by the European Social Fund through the Operational Programme Education for Competitiveness and the state budget.

The conference programme is divided into two days during which the participants can take part at different thematicaly focused sessions:

  • Nanosafety Design,
  • Safe Energy,
  • Safe Product & Production,
  • Collaborative tools for Risk Management,
  • Etc.

The programme also includes SAF€RA Brokerage Event and a meeting of National Platforms on Industrial Safety (NTPIS).

More information on the programme, registration, accommodation on the conference website: www.saseco2013.eu

   

    Abstract brochure: http://www.industrialsafety-tp.org/filehandler.ashx?file=12688

    Programme: http://www.industrialsafety-tp.org/filehandler.ashx?file=12687

    Leaflet: http://www.industrialsafety-tp.org/filehandler.ashx?file=12467

    24 Sep
    2013
    Conference: Nuclear Long Term Operations & Ageing Management Europe
    News Photo A conference on "Nuclear Long Term Operations & Ageing Management Europe will take place on September 24-25, 2013, in Brussels.



    Conference: Nuclear Long Term Operations & Ageing Management Europe

    "Nuclear Energy Insider" organizes a conference on "Nuclear Long Term Operations & Ageing Management Europe: Ensure safe long term operation and improved performance by executing definitive ageing management strategies" that will take place on September 24-25, 2013, in Brussels.

    As the majority of European NPPs approach the end of their original design life and costs for new reactors rise dramatically, investment in the long term operation (LTO) of existing fleets is more essential than ever. With life after 40 costing over €30bn for the French fleet alone (WNA), it is critical to strengthen the European supply chain and share knowledge, best practice and innovation.

    • Review lessons learnt from recent LTO and PLEX programmes to achieve a swift and cost efficient delivery on your projects
    • Evaluate post-Fukushima costs for operators to understand how this has increased the size of the LTO market
    • Discover the latest innovations in addressing physical ageing and obsolescence to improve plant performance and ensure operation past original design life
    • Hear updates from a panel of key European regulatory bodies to understand their expectations for life after 40
    • Profit from expert knowledge on I&C analogue to digital upgrades, fatigue analysis and concrete degradation, enabling you to construct a comprehensive ageing management programme

    Further information (agenda, registration...) is available here.