Introduction to the UK Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium

(ITRC)

Mr David AldersonNewcastle University

19th July 2013

ITRC Aim and Ambition

Aim: To develop and demonstrate a new generation of simulation models and tools to inform the analysis, planning and design of national infrastructure

Challenges:• Analysing the long term state of NI systems• Uncertainties e.g. in demand, economic

conditions, costs, performance• The complexity of multiple governance

arrangements and projects• The capacity of UK industry to compete in

globalised markets for infrastructure services

www.itrc.org.uk

Over 40 partners in industry and government:• Government departments, agencies

and local authorities• Utility companies• Engineering and multi-disciplinary

consultants• Contractors• Insurers• Research organisations and data

providers• Engineering institutions• NGOs

www.itrc.org.uk

Partners and stakeholders

• Colin Harris (Chair – independent)• Rosemary Albinson (BP)• Garry Bowditch (SMART Infrastructure Facility)• Theresa Brown (Sandia National Laboratories)• Stephane Hallegatte (WorldBank, CIRED)• Geoffrey Hewings (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)• Margot Weijnen (TU Delft)• Marie-Pierre Whaley (Northumbrian Water)• Christopher White (EPSRC, LWEC)

Expert Advisory Group (EAG)

ITRC Work Streams

www.itrc.org.uk

• Fast Track Analysis release – January 2013 (cycle 1)• Mid-Term Review – July 2013 (cycle 2 to be delivered

January 2014)• Final report – Autumn 2015 (cycle 3)

www.itrc.org.uk

National Infrastructure Database - Newcastle

ITRCPopulation

ITRCEconomics

ITRCEnergy

ITRCHazards

ITRCWater

ITRCTransport

ITRCWaste

ITRC spatial database comprises of 100’s

layers organised into separate databases by

sector.

www.itrc.org.uk

Network Database Schema

• Store, model, represent and analyse various regional and national-scale spatial networks– Robust storage solution for multi-scale data and networks– Attributed networks– Represent dependencies – Access to graph-theory based analyses and tools– Failure analysis

Python wrapper

Spatial database

nx_pg nx_pgnet

NetworkXOrdnance Survey Meridian Rail Network3941 Nodes, 4434 Edges

www.itrc.org.uk

Some network visualisation tools…

Geographic view linked to topological view on the web (above)

View complex networks and their behaviour as failure models are applied, in real-time (above and right)

Work Stream 1 and 4 Integration Newcastle

www.itrc.org.uk

Some WS1/4 tools…WS1 Demographics Data Viewer:• view data from multiple scenarios

- different levels of attractors/detractors

• view UK-wide or disaggregated population pyramids

- disaggregated to government office regions / local area districts

• projections extend to 2100

WS1 Economics Data Viewer:• view data from multiple scenarios

- 72 scenarios, different levels of population, world economic growth, fossil fuel price

• view maps, charts/plots, time series