Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • The Whole System: Rail - Key points on Systems Engineering and Rail

    The Whole System: Rail - Key points on Systems Engineering and Rail

    Rail transport is already a complex system, pivotal to integrating our transport network into a larger system engineering whole What is rail transport? Urban and inter-urban rail is a high-speed solution for the transport of people and goods. While roads are mainly focused on individual transport solutions, rail is mass transit with similarities to air and sea transportation; it is organised as a network, centred on major hubs. The rail network connects interchange points (for example, passenger stations or freight terminals) and other transport modes. Rail Systems Engineering (SE) is inherently a “system of systems.” Why does rail matter? Railways connect goods and people through mass transit operational models. In the year to March 2022, UK railways accommodated 990 million passenger…

  • The Whole System: Aerospace - The magic of flight

    The Whole System: Aerospace - The magic of flight

    It could be said Systems Engineering and Aviation were made for each other The invention of heavier-than-air flight has made the world smaller, easier to reach, particularly after 1950. As aircraft capability has grown, the machines themselves have become, as we shall see, vastly more complex. The aerospace sector manufactures products that can be used in a variety of different contexts: Civil aerospace sector using aircraft and helicopters to transport passengers and goods Defence Aerospace sector extending from Civil Aerospace use case to include military applications (weapons and defence uses) Commercial Aerospace where aircraft and helicopters act as couriers In addition to these products, multiple related infrastructures, subsystems, and personnel provide key support for…

  • The Whole System: Maritime Transport - Dangerous cargoes – Systems Engineering can make it safer

    The Whole System: Maritime Transport - Dangerous cargoes – Systems Engineering can make it safer

    Systems Engineering can make for safer seas Marine transportation has always been a popular choice when moving hazardous goods around the world. Carrying very large inventories in a controlled setting, with access to centralised on-loading and off-loading facilities, connected to geographically distant locations - all present advantages rail and road are unable to achieve. This brings numerous challenges in, for example, managing interfaces with other transportation methods, for example, road, pipelines, and rail. Safety doesn’t come last Waste similar to this is transported by sea for disposal in third countries. Domestic appliances being recycled, SW London Source: John Cameron on Unsplash Implementing a safe, secure, and efficient transportation system network is key to achieving…

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Latest IET EngX News

  • Topic Focus: The Crucial Role of Systems Engineering in Modern Transport

    Topic Focus: The Crucial Role of Systems Engineering in Modern Transport

    As the backbone of modern infrastructure, transportation systems are increasingly complex, integrating diverse technologies and processes to ensure efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Systems engineering provides a holistic approach to designing, managing, and optimising these intricate systems, addressing challenges such as urban congestion, environmental impact, and the seamless integration of new technologies. For the next two weeks on IET EngX, we’ll be deep diving into the topic of Systems Engineering in Transport. If you're a seasoned professional, a student, or just curious about how systems engineering is applied within the transport sector, we have curated a lineup of insightful content to engage, educate, and inspire. Read and comment on blog posts and take part in some…

  • Exploring the future of energy: Key highlights from our Energy Storage Week

    Exploring the future of energy: Key highlights from our Energy Storage Week

    As our world transitions toward cleaner energy sources, the need for effective energy storage becomes increasingly critical. While batteries have been the go-to solution, there are other innovative methods worth exploring. Energy storage isn’t just about storing excess electricity; it’s a linchpin for our sustainable future. Whether it’s harnessing solar energy during the day or ensuring a stable grid during peak demand, energy storage solutions play a vital role. Lets recap on this week’s activities for Energy Storage Week: Insights from the Community Challenges, compromise and creativity in energy storage described some of the innovative ideas engineers are currently exploring and we read about the work of Professor Yulong Ding in Leading the charge into the future…the man finding…

  • Unlocking the Future: A Week-Long Dive into Energy Storage

    Unlocking the Future: A Week-Long Dive into Energy Storage

    Energy storage is the linchpin that holds the promise of a reliable, renewable energy future. It enables us to harness energy from intermittent sources like solar and wind, ensuring a steady and dependable power supply even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. From grid-scale batteries and pumped hydro storage to cutting-edge technologies like flow batteries and thermal storage, the innovations in this field are transforming the way we generate, store, and consume energy. As the world shifts towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which are inherently intermittent, the ability to store energy efficiently and economically becomes crucial. From improving grid reliability to enabling electric vehicles and powering remote areas, energy storage technologies are integral…

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Latest Partner News

  • Green technologies raise voltage challenges for DNOs

    Green technologies raise voltage challenges for DNOs

    The new era of intermittent generation and fast-changing customer demand is raising fresh challenges across the grid, says Dr Jon Hiscock, CEO of voltage experts Fundamentals. The connection of wind and solar generators to the grid, plus the rise of heat pumps of electrical vehicles, are increasingly affecting network voltages. The results include bad experiences for consumers, and growing concern among operators about maintaining compliance. For example, one of our DNO clients called us recently to tackle the problem of a customer who could not charge their electric car. The voltage they supplied was too high, tripping out the EV charger safety circuits. Our motorist’s problem was that they live in a housing development with a lot of rooftop solar panels, causing voltage surges in their…

  • The Future of Engineering: Opportunities in the Data Centre Industry

    The Future of Engineering: Opportunities in the Data Centre Industry

    By Erin Roche, Talent Acquisition Specialist at IET Enterprise Partner VIRTUS Data Centres The data centre industry stands at the forefront of technological advancement, representing one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving sectors in the world. These critical infrastructures are the backbone of the internet, supporting everything from cloud computing and streaming services to essential research and artificial intelligence (AI). For mechanical and electrical engineers, the data centre industry offers a wealth of opportunities and a promising career path. A Crucial Growth Sector Data centres are crucial for keeping online services and technology running smoothly. In recent years, there has been a huge surge in demand for data processing and storage, driving significant growth in the…

  • 6G Terahertz Communications for Future Heterogeneous Wireless Network (6G-TERAFIT)

    6G Terahertz Communications for Future Heterogeneous Wireless Network (6G-TERAFIT)

    By University of Bradford et al. This work is supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under grant EP/Y035135/1, and HORIZON-MSCA-2022-SE-01-01-ID: 101131501, MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE ACTIONS Staff Exchanges (SE) University of Bradford, United Kingdom: Raed A Abd-Alhameed, Viktor Doychinov, Vuong Mai, Ifiok Otung The Instituto de Telecomunicações, Campus Universitário de Santiago 3810-193 Aveiro: Issa T. E. Elfergani, Jonathan Rodriguez Paderborn University, Germen: Jens Förstner, Christian Hedayat SARAS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, United Kingdom: Ashwain Rayit THINGENIOUS LIMITED, Greece: Aristidis Konstantas, Dimitris Uzunidis Summary and objectives of the project: Numerous new applications, such as big data analysis, artificial intelligence…

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Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Japanese spacecraft gets up close with bus-sized piece of floating space junk

    Japanese spacecraft gets up close with bus-sized piece of floating space junk

    Astroscale’s active debris removal spacecraft, ADRAS-J, has sent images back to Earth of a close encounter with space debris in Earth’s orbit. Headquartered in Japan and with subsidiaries in the UK, US, France and Israel, Astroscale is a satellite servicing and space debris removal company. In February 2024, it launched ADRAS-J into orbit. Its mission is to test safe methods of approaching and surveying large pieces of space debris in orbit – what Astroscale calls rendezvous and proximity operations. To test its capabilities, ADRAS-J was aimed at a piece of floating space junk – the discarded upper stage of a Japanese H-2A rocket launched in 2009. This bus-sized piece of debris measures 11 metres by four metres, and weighs approximately three tons. In June 2024, ADRAS-J managed to get…

  • Traffic pollution exposure reduces the ability to live independently in later life, study finds

    Traffic pollution exposure reduces the ability to live independently in later life, study finds

    Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that prolonged traffic pollution is a strong risk factor for older adults losing their ability to live independently without the need for care. Internal combustion engines in petrol and diesel vehicles release fine particulate matter and gases like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) into the air that can harm the lungs, heart, brain and other parts of the body. The Michigan team conducted their research over a 10-year period. They started by looking at the lives of 25,314 older people in the US from 1996 to 2016. Dr Boya Zhang, lead author of the study and research fellow at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, said: “Air pollution is linked to worse health – more lung disease, more heart disease, shorter life expectancies and more likelihood…

  • ZeroAvia slashes cost of hydrogen production using AI

    ZeroAvia slashes cost of hydrogen production using AI

    The cost of producing hydrogen has been cut by 20% thanks to an AI programme developed by aviation start-up ZeroAvia. The firm, which is developing hydrogen-fuelled aircraft, said that real-world testing of its Smart Hydrogen AI Production Software (SHAIPS) can achieve the reduction in the cost of green hydrogen production compared to an electrolyser that generates based on the average electricity wholesale price. Green hydrogen, as opposed to blue hydrogen, is produced through electrolysis using a highly energy-intensive process from renewable sources such as wind, solar or hydropower. It results in minimal carbon emissions, making it sustainable and environmentally friendly. However, it is currently more expensive due to high costs associated with renewable energy and electrolysis technology…

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