UK: Scientists to Showcase Cutting-Edge Sensor Technology

Academics from the Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen working together as part of the Scottish Sensor Systems Centre (S3C), funded by the Scottish Funding Council, will host an Open Laboratory Day for Subsea Sensor Technologies on Tuesday May 22.

The event will offer professionals working in sectors which use sensor applications in marine environments, the chance to view the laboratory facilities and innovative technologies being developed at the institutions, which are allowing them to make advances in this area of research.
They will also have the opportunity to discover more about potential collaborative opportunities with experts from the two universities.

The technological innovations which will be showcased at the event include:

• Ground-breaking technology used in space exploration which is being developed for use subsea to detect potential oil fields and pipeline faults
• A 3D holographic camera which can generate images and data of subsea infrastructures
• A highly mouldable foam which can be used to detect chemicals such as gas at low concentration
• The applications of acoustic emissions monitoring
• Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for identification and quantification of elemental composition of subsea structures

Dr Richard Neilson from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Engineering who spearheads the S3C’s subsea work with colleagues from Dundee and Robert Gordon universities said: “The Open Laboratory Day will provide a unique opportunity for representatives from industry to gain an insight into the cutting-edge work into sensor technology which is ongoing at both the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University under the umbrella of the Scottish Sensor Systems Centre (S3C).

“The focus of the subsea strand of the centre is the development of innovative subsea technologies which will help deliver new, or enhance the existing, sensor-based products being employed by industry.

“The event is a chance for attendees to find out what facilities, technologies and facilities Aberdeen University and Robert Gordon University can offer locally, and a chance for us to understand what industry is looking for and needs.  This knowledge exchange activity between industry and academia will help us achieve these aims.”

Professor Pat Pollard from Robert Gordon University added:

“This will be an excellent opportunity for industry representatives to see a wide range of laboratory facilities that are being used to solve industry problems and could be employed to help develop new subsea sensor technologies.”

The Open Laboratory Day for Subsea Sensor Technologies takes place on Tuesday 22 May 2012 from 10am at the University of Aberdeen’s School of Engineering on its King’s College Campus and at the Robert Gordon University’s Schoolhill campus.

Transport between the two venues and lunch is provided as part of the event.

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Offshore WIND staff, April 30, 2012; Image: Robert Gordon University