Feedback control in project-based management

Project management is a well-known management technique that has gained success because it encourages better organization and good engineering practice. This technique is also being used at CERN where projects are managed by engineers. They usually find themselves not at ease with a methodology and a jargon that are typical of an economical context. This paper presents a different approach to the project-based management. The notion of feedback control theory is introduced to help engineers in the organization and the supervision of the project, as well as to provide a context that is more familiar to them. This new approach is illustrated for the Antiproton Deceleration Access Control project

A test bed for the future access control system: the AD Project

This paper describes the design, management and development of the new access control system for the Antiproton Deceleration experimental area, called the AD Project. As this project includes all the elements for the industrial evolution of the present access control system it is an ideal test bed for future access systems. The adoption of new technologies and techniques are described, and the benefits and the shortfalls are highlighted. The open redundant architecture solution, based on a PROFIBUS network and standard industrial components (HP-UNIX, Siemens S7 PLC, Siemens Industrial PC, door locks), guarantees reliability, safety and optimal integration. The project team took advantage of the Goal Directed Project Management technique and managed to define a clear and effective strategy

Achieving a "SIL 1" TCR Monitoring System

SIL 1 (Safety Integrity Level 1) refers to the quantification and measurement of the availability, reliability, maintenance and safety of the monitoring system. In the last few years the computer infrastructure used to acquire and to diffuse data to the TCR has evolved very rapidly. A number of measures in hardware, software and management have been introduced to cope with this situation. These include: the Multipurpose Monitoring Device (MMD), a standard data acquisition platform used in the renovation of old front end monitoring equipment, the Smart Equipment Controller (Dsec), a driver that reduces the layers in the data diffusion pyramid, the multiplatform monitoring software to integrate the different SCADA systems, a software configuration tool (RAZOR) for problem tracking and version control, and a complete development environment reproducing a real installation for thorough testing of any changes. To achieve SIL 1 objectives, while mastering the evolution of our systems will be the challenge for the computer team

Summary of ST-MA deliverables for LHC

The ST/MA group is responsible for the monitoring of the CERN Technical Infrastructure as well as the design, installation and maintenance of personnel protection system such as access control system, fire and gas leak detection, safety alarm monitoring systems and radiation monitoring systems (in collaboration with TIS). This paper provides an overview of the main projects and services managed in the group and outlines the scope, the organisation and the planning of the main deliverables for LHC

Application of Risk Management for Control and Monitoring Systems

This paper presents an application of the state of the art and new trends for risk management of safety-related control and monitoring systems, currently applied in the industry. These techniques not only enable to manage safety and reliability issues but they also help in the control of quality and economic factors affected by the availability and maintenance of the system. The method includes an unambiguous definition of the system in terms of functions and a systematic analysis of hazardous situations, undesired events and possible malfunctions. It also includes the identification and quantification of the risk associated to the system. The required risk reduction is specified in terms of safety integrity levels. The safety integrity level results in requirements, preventive measures, possible improvements and recommendations to assure the satisfactory management of the risk

CERN Safety Alarm Monitoring Project

The CERN Safety Alarm Monitoring (CSAM) system is the alarm transmission and supervision system for all CERN premises in the LHC era. Its objective is to help safeguard human life, property and the environment. The CSAM system consists of the acquisition, transmission, supervision and management of alarm-related data using state-of-the-art technology. It also includes some automatic safety actions to reduce hazardous events. As this is a large and multidisciplinary project a strategy based on three main issues was defined. First, the safety standards provide us with a technical framework for dealing systematically with safety-related activities in order to minimize system failures, optimize performance and obtain homogeneity with LHC site installations, maintenance and operation. Second, a rapid prototyping methodology leads to the best technical solutions; and, finally, we consider the commercial aspects required for a tendering procedure

Distribué fibre optique des infrastructures du CERN dans la région des molasse

The European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) is a large underground laboratory and it is home to two large particle accelerators, including the «Large Hadron Collider» (LHC). The particles travel at the speed of light through a series of tunnels which must comply with the high serviceability requirements. However, the underground facilities have expanded over a period of 40 years with new tunnels, shafts and caverns. Structural ageing and deterioration of the infrastructure can alter the drainage conditions around tunnels and this can cause, in turn, excess deformation of the tunnels and serviceability issue for the particle accelerators. A remote monitoring system based on distributed fibre-optic strain sensing technology has been implemented in some of the concrete-lined tunnels in order to gain insight in the long-term mechanical behaviour of the underground system. This paper presents the results of the monitoring programme and the results show a slow development of ovalisation of the tunnel over a period of three years.Le Centre Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN) est un grand laboratoire souterrain qui héberge deux accélérateurs de particules dont le « Large Hadron Collider » (LHC). Les particules se déplacent à la vitesse de la lumière à travers un réseau de tunnels qui doivent répondre à des exigences élevées de service. L’infrastructure souterraine du CERN s’est étendue sur une période de 40 ans avec la construction de nouveaux tunnels, puits et cavernes. Le vieillissement des matériaux et la détérioration structurelles des ouvrages peuvent altérer les conditions de drainage autour des tunnels ce qui peut engendrer, à son tour, des déformations excessives et atteindre la limite de service des accélérateurs de particules. Un système de monitoring à distance avec des câbles en fibre optique a été mis en place dans certains tunnels afin d’étudier le comportement à long terme. Cet article présente les résultats de la compagne de monitoring et démontre une ovalisation des tunnels sur une période de trois ans