Working with UKCRIC to accelerate R&D in infrastructure and cities
Our partner, UKCRIC ran a special event at its PEARL lab in Dagenham on 17th May to explore how working in partnership with UKCRIC’s national research capability can enable safe, resilient and sustainable living, and generate economic opportunities for the UK.
The UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC – a collaboration between 15 of the UK’s top universities) has established a joined-up national network of R&D facilities including engineering laboratories; urban observatories; and data analytics, simulation and visualisation capabilities.
Through its work with industry, academia, government and end users, UKCRIC is de-risking investments, providing world-leading research facilities and knowledge to trial design options, and is helping to prioritise and provide evidence, analysis and innovation for future infrastructure and urban investments.
As well as providing an opportunity for attendees to learn how to collaborate with UKCRIC, there was plenty of time for delegates to make new connections and explore opportunities to work together.
This event included:
An introduction to UKCRIC and its research facilities
– An introduction to the PEARL facility and opportunities to go on facility tours
– An opportunity to speak to and ask questions of the teams that run UKCRIC’s facilities
– Examples of how working with UKCRIC is transforming the design and engineering of the UK’s infrastructure and cities
– Networking opportunities
About PEARL
PEARL, the only facility of its kind in the world, is one of UKCRIC’s most impressive laboratories. It offers a unique facility to explore the ways in which people interact with their environment. It is a massive space – around 4,000m2 and 10m high – in which life-sized environments can be created, such as a railway station, high street or town square. PEARL operates under controlled conditions, so that research can examine how people interact with the environment and other people in these types of places. The facility can change the profile, type and material of the floor, simulate lighting of any colour and intensity, create sound from the tiniest bird song to the most massive explosion, and can include other senses, such as smell, and much more.