Streamlining Digital Modeling and Building Information Modelling (BIM) Uses for the Oil and Gas Projects

The oil and gas industry is a technology-driven industry. Over the last two decades, it has heavily made use of digital modeling and associated technologies (DMAT) to enhance its commercial capability. Meanwhile, the Building Information Modelling (BIM) has grown at an exponential rate in the built environment sector. It is not only a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility, but it has also made an impact on the management processes of building project lifecycle. It is apparent that there are many similarities between BIM and DMAT usability in the aspect of physical modeling and functionality. The aim of this study is to streamline the usage of both DMAT and BIM whilst discovering valuable practices for performance improvement in the oil and gas projects. To achieve this, 28 BIM guidelines, 83 DMAT academic publications and 101 DMAT vendor case studies were selected for review. The findings uncover (a) 38 BIM uses; (b) 32 DMAT uses and; (c) 36 both DMAT and BIM uses. The synergy between DMAT and BIM uses would render insightful references into managing efficient oil and gas’s projects. It also helps project stakeholders to recognise future investment or potential development areas of BIM and DMAT uses in their projects

Assistive Technology in Further Education Organisations

This report synthesises and analyses the results of a questionnaire carried out at the beginning of the Dart2 project. Dart2, a JISC funded project led by Beaumont College, is seeking to develop the use of assistive technology for disabled students in further education. As an initial part of the project a questionnaire was sent out to all General Further Education and Independent Specialist Colleges in England, Wales and Scotland. The purpose of this questionnaire was in part to find out training needs of colleges but also to gain more understanding of the state of assistive technology within further education. Questionnaire findings were supplemented by a small number of telephone interviews.