Impact case study database

(1) Economic Impact: (i) During the REF period, UoG has generated over £1.15million from over 300 license sales of SMARTFIRE and EXODUS software to organisations in over 30 countries [5.1]. (ii) Licensees included engineering consultancies e.g. Bureau Veritas, regulatory authorities e.g. China Maritime Classification Society, national laboratories e.g. DSTO Australia. The software was used in cutting-edge design to explore and improve the evacuation safety of complex structures, generating considerable consultancy income. EXODUS software was used for the Airbus A330-X, A340 and A380 projects [5.2]. FSEG and the airEXODUS software were used in the preliminary design of the multi-billion-euro A380, and to de-risk the A380 full-scale evacuation certification trial. The software, and the research underpinning it, contributed to the A380’s safety [5.2] and potentially saved the manufacturer millions of euros by identifying possible problems that might occur during the trial, which could have caused cost overruns, resulting in a higher unit cost. Through the REF period, the A380 world fleet safely carried 150 million passengers over 3.3 million flight hours. Since 2013, Airbus has delivered 131 A380s, with 228 in service (May 2020). FSEG research assisted these sales by contributing to product safety, and keeping the price down, critical considerations for airline customers [5.2]. (iii) FSEG fire modelling expertise and SMARTFIRE fire simulation software assisted three-person start-up company PLUMIS to develop and refine their innovative prototype fire suppression system into an efficient cost-effective life-saving product. In just 12 years, the start-up has grown to have a £3.2M turnover employing 43 people [5.3]. (iv) EXODUS and SMARTFIRE tools give fire engineering firms a competitive edge when bidding for projects, enabling them to win important contracts, generating significant income. Examples during the REF period include global engineering firms Arcadis and Thornton Tomasetti which used FSEG software, under license, to undertake early design assessments of the life safety and emergency management systems for major projects such as Rolls Royce Goodwood (UK), Jaguar Land-Rover Castle Bromwich (UK) [5.4], a large Data Center in the USA and a car rental facility at a major US airport [5.5]. (v) FSEG research, which lead to the development of the ADSS concept [3i] has created a new market in emergency signage technology. The ADSS concept improves signage detectability 100% enabling the sign to adapt to a changing hazard environment [3.9]. Signage manufacturers globally have adopted and adapted the concept. EVACLITE and CLEVERTRONICS are 2 companies focused on the FSEG ADSS concept. EVACLITE was set up in the UK to manufacture and sell ADSS [5.6]. CLEVERTRONICS, Australia’s leading emergency lighting company, adopted the ADSS concept and started a new business to develop and manufacture the product [5.7]. They are both founded on the FSEG concept, with many other companies globally adapting similar concepts based on FSEG fundamental research.

(2) Impact on Public Policy. (i) Security bollards have become a common feature protecting public spaces, part of the UK’s Hostile Vehicle Mitigation strategy. The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) is the government organisation reporting to the Home Office that advises on security issues related to national infrastructure. CPNI had produced guidance on the positioning of bollard arrays, but the advice did not include their impact on evacuation flow. This is an important issue because the initial evacuation safety analysis used in the design and certification of these structures did not take into consideration that a ring of security bollards would be placed outside the exits. FSEG research, sponsored by CPNI and DfT [3k], investigated the impact that security bollards have on evacuation flows using a series of full-scale experiments, which identified and quantified, for the first time, not only how bollards impact evacuation flow, but also how they could be positioned to minimise their impact [3.11]. The research resulted in a new set of DfT guidelines (written by Prof Galea), which are used internationally to optimally position security bollards around critical infrastructure [5.8]. (ii) Prof Galea, one of six experts to the Grenfell Fire Inquiry, provided a report to the Inquiry containing 42 evidence-based [3.7] interim recommendations to improve evacuation of residential high-rise buildings [5.10]. Of these, 22 were partially/fully adopted in the Chairman’s Phase 1 report. For example, recommendation 2.9 on luminous floor numbering was adopted as recommendation 15 (para 33.27); recommendation 2.11 on PEEPs was adopted as recommendation 12e (para 33.22), and recommendations 3.1–3.3 and 3.6-3.8 on full building evacuation were adopted as recommendation 12a (para 33.22) [5.11]. The recommendations aim to improve public safety through UK regulatory/policy change.

(3) Impacts on Practitioners and Professional Services. (i) The new guidelines [5.8] for optimal positioning of bollard arrays impact professional practice through the modification of the previous design practice. (ii) A restricted version of the EXODUS software has been developed for use by UK government security services to assist in planning mitigation strategies for marauding armed terrorists in crowded places [3.9]. The use of this approach has had a significant impact on how security professionals plan for and develop counter measures [5.9]. (iii) Over the REF period, FSEG software has been used by over 300 licensees in 30 countries (see 1i), becoming standard engineering design tools for safety analysis, used by fire safety engineers around the world. The software therefore has impact on engineering professional practice globally [5.4, 5.5].

(4) Impacts on Social Welfare. (i) The main impact of FSEG research on society is public safety: safer aircraft, buildings and passenger ships through more effective safety standards and policy, and safer designs. Examples: ensuring that security bollards around infrastructure have minimum impact during emergency evacuation (see 2i); through the introduction of novel concepts in emergency signage, making them more effective, and buildings safer (see 1v); through recommendations to improve safety of residential high-rise buildings (see 2ii); through assisting in the development of cost-effective water mist fire suppression systems for domestic environments, now installed in over 5000 UK properties (incl. 350 sheltered scheme flats), to protect the most vulnerable from fire (see 1iii). (ii) Members of the public make an important contribution to their personal safety, safety of families and of society. Engagement to improve public understanding of safety and how to minimise risks associated with fire and evacuation is therefore critical, and a further societal impact of FSEG. FSEG promotes public understanding of science via the media, helping to build resilience to science scepticism, which the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted as a growing issue. This is achieved through media coverage of FSEG research and interviews with Prof Galea on evacuation and pedestrian dynamics. It has also informed future industrial partners and policy makers. Examples: FSEG research on pedestrian interaction with autonomous vehicles: BBC Radio 4 ‘All in the Mind’, 08/05/18 ( https://bbc.in/2yBjxxZ). Importance of standing on London Underground escalators in rush hour: BBC Radio 4 Today, 10/03/16 (audience 1.2m); BBC Radio 5 Breakfast Programme, 07:25, 18/01/16 (audience 444k); BBC World Service Weekend Programme 07:50 16/04/16. FSEG EU Horizon2020 project AUGGMED, developing VR training environments for security services: BBC CLICK 28/04/17 ( https://bbc.in/3qdBuLW). Prof Galea interviews on Grenfell Tower Fire: BBC Radio 4 Inside Science 15/06/17 ( https://bbc.in/3uVOmdg);NYTimes, (4.7m digital subscription) 24/06/17 ( https://nyti.ms/3qiPeFh), The Economist, (24/07/17) (1.7m global print and digital circulation), ( https://econ.st/2yFZXR9).

Underpinning research work, “ presented to a wide range of payment professionals and officials informed and, to an extent, influenced that subsequent work – both in government and in the payments industry – on data sharing for the combatting of public sector fraud and money laundering” [5.2]. Specifically, the impact of the underpinning research is visible across commercial and public policy, through (1) informing the UK Financial Services industry strategy for electronic payments, (2) influencing policy discussions on countering fraud and money laundering practices, which shaped the Payment Regulators’ position, and; (3) informing the perception of government stakeholders and policymakers on how data sharing strategies, especially pertaining to financial fraud and money laundering practices, can improve Civil Service operation, via direct advisory contribution with the HMG Cabinet Office. Further societal impact materialised through (4) motivating the public debate on counter-fraud among beneficiaries, including the citizen as end-user of financial services.

The underpinning work, carried out from 2012 to 2020, focused on enhancing the performance of counter-fraud and Anti-Money Laundering regimes through collaborative models grounded on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics. The impact of this has primarily taken the form of influence on UK public policy and regulation, informing the public and industry debate on technologies and approaches for counter fraud and anti-money laundering in the UK, [5.5 – 5.9] and informing the introduction of policies which, in turn had an impact on economic growth.

The research came at a time (2013) well-predating UK regulators’ efforts to encourage or support such models, which later became mainstream, as also witnessed by the relevant New Payment Systems Operator (NPSO, later Pay.UK) strategies which were only released in 2016. More specifically, the analytical model delivered in [3.2], branded under the concept ‘Collective Intelligence Hub’ (CIH) “was seen at the time to offer a realistic and usable approach to how data sharing for counter-fraud purposes in the public sector (e.g. for Universal Credit) could be automated to provide additional protection for public money.” [5.2] and was presented in December 2014 to a panel of financial services executives and payments industry stakeholders, coordinated by CIFAS (Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance Scheme) and advising the Government Coordination Committee, as outlined in (2) below. While the proposal was not adopted at the time, the Collective Intelligence Hub was later presented in the form of a technological framework and solution in March 2016 to the Payments Strategy Forum (PSF; established Feb 2015), at the early stages of deliberations in the Financial Crime Data and Security Working Group, whose “remit was to identify initiatives, where the industry could collaborate and work with Government, to deliver step-change capabilities to tackle fraud and financial crime risk in payments” [5.3]. The CIH proposal was formally recognised to be commensurate with the strategic vision of the PSF.

The underpinning work has addressed solutions applicable in both public and private sectors; the academic research, outlined in Section 2, concentrated on the use of AI approaches for combatting fraud in electronic payments networks and on developing Anti-Money Laundering models and solutions. Throughout the impact period (2012-2020), the research contributed directly on the recommendation of appropriate tools, techniques and infrastructure for future deployment, in both the UK financial services and public sector. In the impact period, the contribution trajectory took the form outlined here:

1. The underpinning research has attracted attention in the commerce field, and led to invited disseminations of research propositions in industry conferences and sector discussion panels. These events [5.5 - 5.9] thematically focused on operational and economic significance of intelligent techniques against fraud and money laundering. The resulting visibility of underpinning research attracted further attention by stakeholders in public policy (DWP) and regulation (FCA, CIFAS), subsequently leading to his direct involvement in activities outlined in (2), (3) and (4) immediately below.

2. On 17 December 2014, Samakovitis’ proposal for a UK-wide data sharing collaborative model was formally presented to a panel of banking professionals, (including representatives of the Bank of England and Financial Fraud Action (FFA UK)) advising the UK Government Coordination Committee. Termed Collective Intelligence Hub (CIH), the proposed model was “ one of the very few approaches at the time that suggested leveraging anonymous transaction data sharing between financial institutions” [5.2], as discussed later in this section. Although the legal challenges associated with such data sharing, both in the public and private sectors were such as to prevent practical actions being taken at the time, the “ *CIH approach added value by making explicit the potential benefits that could be realised if financial institutions could find a way to share data in order to counter money laundering and fraud, through **[*the CIH ] specific model for doing so” [5.2]. This involvement further motivated his recommended introduction to the then newly-founded Payments Strategy Forum (PSF).

3. From April 2015 (and until the completion of its objectives in December 2017) Samakovitis was a member and direct participant of the UK Payments Strategy Forum (PSF), a body commissioned by the new Payment Systems Regulator ( https://www.psr.org.uk/about-psr) as the main industry and policy forum on the UK’s future payments strategy for the next 20 years ( https://www.psr.org.uk/developing-payments-strategy-forum). Throughout that period (2015-17) “ the contributions by Dr. Samakovitis had continued presence and hence materially influenced the direction of the Working Group, particularly with reference to infrastructure and governance for anti-money laundering data sharing and utilisation” [5.3]. His distinct material contribution concentrated on the outputs of the Financial Crime Data and Security Working Group ( https://consultation.paymentsforum.uk/workinggroups/financial-crime), primarily under two Strategic Solutions: (i) Trusted KYC Data Sharing; a solution framework for a central shared repository to support financial services providers in their Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures and; (ii) Payments Transaction Data Sharing & Data Analytics; a solution framework that involves a centralised transaction storage facility and analytical capability, residing with a public body. Both solutions formed part of PSF’s “ recommended development of a transaction data analytics capability to be built for Faster Payments and BACS, the UK’s retail payments market infrastructure..[..]..Subsequent to the Forum’s work, this solution was implemented for Faster Payments in 2018, called MITS (Mule Insights Tactical Solution), and will be incorporated and enhanced in the new NPA [New Payments Architecture] infrastructure” [5.3]. In both Strategic Solution spaces, the operational principles and technological architecture proposed by Samakovitis were “ recognised as commensurate with the strategic vision of the PSF, and considered as supporting elements of the solutions that the Working Group later submitted to the Payment Systems Regulator” [5.3]. Collaboration with UK Government stakeholders and PSF Working Group participants has catalysed Dr. Samakovitis’ direct membership in the Counter Fraud Data Analytics Advisory Group of the HMG Cabinet Office (Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise), “..an established group of industry leaders, academics and third sector representative, …[which]…provides a forum for ongoing consultation, challenge and support for the development of the Profession” ( https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/730050/Annex_B_-_GCFP_Brochure.pdf). Within the remit of the Advisory Group, “ his underpinning research contribution has directly and materially supported clearer understanding of the technological solution space for identifying and mitigating fraud in the public sector” [5.4]. Along the same lines, the insights grounded on Dr. Samakovitis’ underpinning research “have had distinct and material contribution to informing the Counter Fraud Data Analytics Standard and, in so doing, supporting the establishment of role and education specifications for the Counter Fraud Profession in Government” [5.4]. In his capacity as academic advisor, he has directly supported the Cabinet Office Ministerial Thought Paper on fraud in the government sector [5.1] through a named contribution (pp. 64-67) proposing four core themes along which Government should pursue data sharing strategies. According to the Programme Director, Counter Fraud Centre of Expertise, “ research input by Dr. Samakovitis, introduced via his participation in the Advisory Group has materially informed and, to an extent, influenced the Centre’s position on how data sharing strategies can improve Civil Service operation, and contributes to its work in shaping the direction of the Counter Fraud function in Government” [5.4]