A data hack with Northumbrian Water – Get involved

Northumbrian Water operate over £11bn in assets across the United Kingdom.  We are currently seeking to evidence the potential of investing in a new asset management systems and processes.  We are organising an exciting hackathon to bring together software developers, and entrepreneurs to demonstrate the potential value of the investment, and create new solutions to improve  asset management data insight.

The event will span a weekend and take the form of a contest.

North East based participants will compete to see who can build the best and most impactful asset data insight (through data interpretation, analysis, expression, mashup or visualization) relating to our challenge. 

Why participate?

Engage with one of the largest organisations in the North - NWL have 3000 employees  and actively seek to engage with in regional skills, expertise and innovation. 

Collaborate with other disciplines and organisations - Hackathons are a great way to meet and work with a wider range of stakeholders.  Present will be professional application developers, business leaders, academics and researchers as well as other groups.

Help to solve a scale real world challenge - We are working to ensure our future services are safe, secure and offer best value to the public.  Your involvement not only supports your local community but potentially could establish data innovations that have application across the utility or infrastructure management space.

The Challenge

This initiative is an early part of a broader project to substantially enhance asset management at Northumbrian Water Group.  Asset data and data flows are the lifeblood of the solution.

Best in class Asset Management is predicated on having great asset data. When was the valve last serviced? Which supplier replaced the pump? Is it still under warranty?

We need to be able to consistently answer these questions accurately. We want to test our data accuracy before we set off on a journey to improve our supporting systems and processes.

We want you to help us define and demonstrate the potential benefits  that could be made through this programme.

Principle goals and focus

a. To identify the state of specific asset management datasets in terms of quality and accuracy.

b. To evidence and visualise the scale of potential savings from enhanced asset management and in    particular three specific areas:

• Insight/ Tools for discerning the level and value of warranty work on assets – specifically identifying the level of work that is unnessarily undertaken

• Insight/ Tools to identify the impact of poor asset classification practice and potential for savings

• Insight/ Tools to benchmarking high value pumps in terms of predictability and casuality in maintenance requirements and failure.

Meet the sponsor

ENGIE, (formerly GDF SUEZ) is a global energy player and an expert operator in the three key sectors of electricity, natural gas and energy services. The Group provides highly efficient and innovative solutions to individuals, cities and businesses by relying on diversified gas-supply sources, flexible and low-emission power generation as well as unique expertise in: independent power production, liquefied natural gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency services. ENGIE employs 152,900 people worldwide and achieved revenues of EUR 74.7 billion in 2014

If you want to participate:

CLICK HERE

you can select to attend in-person or remotely

Once you have registered please also register on this site to joint the DEVPOST Hackathon community.  This is essential as this is where we will share news and you will submit your ideas/ solutions.

Your can also create teams here and plan for the event.

YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO SIGN THE RULES AND NDA AGREEMENT FORM - SEE RULES

Accessing the Data

Some aspects of the data will be closed and others open.

After you register, and prior to the weekend, we’ll deliver access to the open data sets and detailed information on the closed data we’ll be using along with further information.

Closed data will be provided only to those participating in the ‘in person’ hosted event at the Cloud Innovation Centre, based at the Core, Bath Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5TF.

The event will support distributed work and support from a wider community using the Universities selected platform. Participants will be invited to join the space and work in a secure way on the data.

Open data will be available via our hackathon site and GitHUB.

As well as the information provided outlining the sub systems in question, we will provide information and a briefing session on the detail of the datasets to support preparations.

The study will will be led by Newcastle University alongside a number of postgraduate volunteers with an interest in big data, data analytics and data exploration and expression.

Further NWL systems and BI specialists will be on hand during the data hack to assist with questions arising during the experiment.

Needless to say on signing up and undertaking confidentiality terms, a document outlining the problems and the competition in more detail will be released.

When will the hack take place?

The event begins on Friday 5th February with an introductory meet and greet at 17:30. There will be an initial discussion about some of the issues being faced by Northumbrian Water and its customers, illustrating the data that is available.

On Saturday 6th February the day will start with a working breakfast to finalise the teams. From then until Sunday lunchtime teams will apply their skills in order to showcase interesting and innovative solutions.

What about refreshments?

Lunch will be provided on both days and also dinner on the Saturday evening. The weekend will end with presentations and a light lunch on Sunday at 15:00.

What are we looking for?

Prototypes over ideas are encouraged - online solutions that other people can see or innovative lo-fi solutions which add value. The weekend will have a competitive element but will also foster cooperation to help everyone involved share and learn.

If you have any questions and would like to find out more, please contact Steven Caughey, Cloud Innovation Centre, part of the Digital Institute at The Core, Science Central (T: 0191 208 4147 or email: steve.caughey@arjuna.com)

You can also talk to Paul Sutherland (Innovation and Technology Consultant at NWL) if you have any specific questions about Northumbrian Water as an organisation.

• Usefulness
  Usefulness in evidencing benefits of asset management investment How does hack support effective evidence of the need to invest in new asset data management systems
• Practicality
  Practicality in application How useful is the hack in its intended real world situation.
• Completion
  Completion of evidence solution How complete or polished the hack is.
• Presentation
  How polished and impressive is the presentation of the hack.
• Data expression and usability
  How well-designed is the hack, paying attention to user experience and user interface