MSc research

The Risk Centre hosts a broad portfolio of MSc individual research projects, which are completed by students as part of their taught degrees. Recently completed and current projects are listed below under some of the Centre's core research themes. For details of further student research, follow the link to our PhD research pages.

 

Strategic risk appraisal: 

Risk and evidence:

Reliability, risk and uncertainty:

 

 

Strategic risk appraisal

Application of strategic risk appraisal in pollution scenarios

Student: Michel Pfeffer
Supervisor(s): Dr Sophie Rocks, Dr George Prpich  
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2009 - 2010

The Risk Centre are developing tools to strategically assess environmental risks on behalf of Defra, using different attributes concerning environmental, social and economic impacts. This project addresses the problems encountered when comparing risk across these areas of impact in pollution scenarios.
Representative data for pollution in soil, water and air in the UK is selected and standardised to provide a basis for comparison and prioritisation between risks using the SRA tool. The results highlight the knowledge gaps and uncertainties inherent within the SRA process.

 

Strategic behaviour of stakeholders in ETS implementation in Finland

Student: Hanna Ruohonen
Supervisor(s): Dr Andrew Angus, Dr George Prpich
Funded by the Finnish Environmental Institute, 2009-2010

Recent studies have noticed an opportunity for stakeholders to strategically influence environmental regulations to reduce their own compliance (Haq et al, 2001; Bailey et al, 2002). This study will test whether stakeholders have used strategic behaviour to influence the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) implementation and emission allowance allocations in Finland. Quantitative and qualitative methods will be employed to analyse how well the Finnish installations are meeting the emission limits and whether they successfully lobbied for allocations.

 

Consequence assessment for exotic finfish disease incursions in England and Wales

Student: Marta Payno Morant
Supervisors: (Dr George Prpich), Dr Sophie Rocks
Funded by Cefas, 2008 - 2009

Consequence assessment within Aquatic Import Risk Analysis remains a relatively undeveloped process due to insufficient data and the lack of a recognized standard method. This project proposes a standardized framework that uses both quantitative and semi-quantitative analysis to assess the economic and environmental consequences of a fish disease incursion. The accuracy of the methodology will be validated against case study data for Gyrodactylus salaris incursion into England and Wales.

 

Expanding the methodology for animal disease risk assessment in the United Kingdom

Student: Tekana A. Sukubo
Supervisosr: (Dr Frank Schiller), Prof Simon Pollard
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2008 - 2009

In preparation for a public consultation, Defra is assessing an independent body for animal disease in England based on a quantitative risk assessment. The Risk Centre’s study presents a critical review of the pros and cons of qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods and explores the applicability of three quantitative risk assessment approaches to the impact assessment. In doing so it provides the first application of the concepts of Return Period (RP) and Encounter Probability (EP) to animal disease risk assessment.

 

 

Risk and evidence

Critical review of nanomaterials risk assessment

Student: Ellie Lewis
Supervisor(s): Dr Sophie Rocks, Daniel Skinner
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2009 - 2010

This review will use case study and peer-reviewed evidence as well as the information published by advisory and regulatory bodies to identify the critical criteria which must be assessed when conducting a risk assessment of nanomaterials.  These criteria will be utilised in the evaluation of existing risk assessment frameworks which have already been applied to, or developed specifically for, nanomaterials both within the UK and internationally.  The knowledge gaps and comparison of these existing risk assessment frameworks shall lead to the identification of an ideal nanomaterial risk assessment framework, constructed through the predicted, highlighted and identified risks of nanomaterials.  Some suggestions will be made for its use and application before the conclusion with some recommendations for further and future work.


The use of horizon scanning in environmental risk

Student: Ami Chandarana
Supervisor(s): Dr Sophie Rocks
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2009 - 2010

Horizon scanning is an evidence gathering, systematic process, which “scans” a variety of information resources in order to support decisions and policies.  This is important in ensuring organisations have an anticipatory ability to respond as effectively as possible to future environmental threats/uncertainties. An important aim in this project is incorporating horizon scanning effectively within environmental risk management; that is, using this process to systematically calculate risk and probability of potential threats.  Many governmental departments and organisations currently use horizon scanning in improving their anticipatory capability, but there is need to better integrate risk science into the horizon scanning process.

 

Exploring the integration of stakeholders involvement, risk perception and risk communication in environmental risk assessment

Student: Carmen Dengra
Supervisor: Dr Gill Drew
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2008 - 2009

Three aspects of environmental risk assessment have been widely studied in the literature: stakeholder involvement in decision making; the influence of socio-cultural values on risk perception; and modes of risk communication to affected parties. Surveys were sent to companies of different professional sectors and interviews took place with academics to find links between these aspects. The study found that stakeholder involvement, risk perception and risk communication form a circular loop of interdependence, where the success of one single factor relies on the success of the other two. Thus, environmental practitioners should consider all three factors when making decisions following environmental risk assessment, in order to handle public perception and stakeholders via effective communication to each party closing the ‘stakeholder involvement- risk perception – risk communication’ loop.

 

Reliability, risk and uncertainty

Human factors in warranty claims

Student: William Carl
Supervisor(s): Dr Shaomin Wu
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2009 - 2010

Warranty claims can result from product failure or other reasons (such as claims on non-failed products). When modelling warranty claims, it is important to consider the main factors causing them. This project aims to review existing publications, explore important factors impacting warranty claims, and suggest solutions to minimise the number of claims.

 

The impact of climate change on oil and gas infrastructure

Student: Esben Madsen
Supervisor(s): Dr Shaomin Wu
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2009 - 2010

This project aims to survey how climate change might impact the reliability of oil and gas infrastructure. The survey includes climate forecast models, and factors impacting the reliability. The research aims to generate models or a framework to better manage risk and uncertainty in maintenance regimes considering climate change.

 

Measurement of uncertainty in the nuclear industry

Student: Murielle Deneuville
Supervisor(s): Dr Shaomin Wu
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2009 - 2010

The study will review existing approaches for uncertainty measurement in risk management for the nuclear industry. We also explore the gap between uncertainty measurement theory and nuclear industry practice.

 

Cultural influences on risk and risk management

Student: Mairama Indimi
Supervisor(s): Dr Shaomin Wu
Funded by the Risk Centre, 2009 - 2010

Ever since the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant on 28 March 1979, the term ‘safety culture’ has been a hot topic for both researchers and organisations. Both the characteristics and causes of a poor safety culture have been the focus of numerous research projects, in addition to the consequences of culture on an organisation's safety performance.  This project focuses on understanding how culture influences risk management in Ghana.

 

Hazard classification and a framework for environmental risk based maintenance in offshore oil and gas industry

Student:  Shyam Johny Menacherry
Supervisor: Dr Shaomin Wu
Year: 2008-2009

Hazards are events that have the potential to cause harm. This is very important in the offshore oil and gas industry, which is particularly unpredictable and where the real working environment appears susceptible to risk and a resultant loss of assets. The legislative regulations on safety, health and environment and current economic situation, which focus on reduction of unnecessary expenses, invite a study in this field of uncertain risks and hazards. This paper focused on understanding different maintenance strategies implemented in the offshore oil and gas industry, and reviewed the risk based maintenance technique which is currently very common in offshore petroleum industry. Furthermore, defining the dynamic nature of hazards on offshore facilities, contributed to our understanding of dynamic risk based maintenance.

The classification of hazards into damage, deterioration and defects was made and a discussion of these classifications carried out. The damage hazard was further classified as environmental hazards and hazards due to human intervention. The detailed study on environmental hazards was made by discussing different environmental factors like hurricanes, ice-bergs and other geo hazards.

A frame-work for environmental risk based maintenance was developed and discussed. The thesis is compiled with information from literature review, case studies and information from offshore oil and gas industry by personal interview and platform visit.

 

A comparison of approaches to sustainable development in the UK and in Poland

Student: Kamil Lipinski
Supervisor: Dr Shaomin Wu
Year: 2008-2009

The renewed European Union Strategy from 2006 makes sustainable development an unquestionable policy priority that binds both the UK and Poland. Each country recognises the significance of this question and presents individual capacity for introduction of a new growth paradigm. In question of approaching this condition however, there are important differences in potentials, opportunities, contextual backgrounds and relevant conditionings, which imply characteristic – yet quite divergent – visions and aspirations. At the EU and national level, reports on progress in achieving sustainable development are quite common. However, a comparison of approaches towards this conception in the UK and Poland has not yet been carried out. An important incentive for this research was the assumption that recognition of good practice and an awareness of important elements for implementation of the principles of sustainability in the UK and in Poland, would create an opportunity for mutual learning and a more effective approach.

The study attempted to give a comprehensive insight into British and Polish approaches towards sustainable development, with reference to the EU operational framework. Investigation of national backgrounds revealed the main features affecting the idea of sustainability in each country, and helped to indicate some of the significant convergences and divergences. On the quantitative side, application of relevant indices and indicators allowed for confrontation of the UK’s and Poland’s profiles. The research showed that the main differences demonstrate in wealth and in economic conditionings, while most social and environmental aspects are similar. Also, the review of impacting factors showed that this conception can derive from innovative solutions and trusty traditional patterns alike. Hence, affluence is not a key determinant for realisation of sustainable development agenda and it is rather an accurate proportion of tradition and modernity that proves vital.

 

Detailed evaluation of options for the reduction of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions for the total LOR refinery installation

Student: Ignacio Martinez
Supervisor: Dr Shaomin Wu
Year: 2007-2008

The aims of this project are to identify the influence of the factors that affect NOx emissions of the furnaces, suggest operation changes to be included in the NOx Emissions Reduction Plan, and to identify the most suitable Low NOx technology to implement at LOR furnaces.

Two different statistical methods (Correlation and Lineal Regression Model) were carried out in order to look into the relevance of each factor in the NOx emissions. The results show that LOR is burning fuel at excess air levels superior to 3% in all furnaces. At these levels the oxygen does not have a big impact on NOx emissions and the furnaces do not operate at their maximum efficiency.

 

Park and ride, encouragement of commuter use by employers

Student: Vivien Bray
Supervisor: Dr Shaomin Wu
Year: 2007-2008

Increased traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, which contribute to global warming, have presented a need for UK government and local authorities to implement integrated public transport systems. Park and Ride (P&R) schemes have been developed by local authorities as part of their local transport plans.  It has been found that shoppers and visitors to towns and cities are attracted to use P&R facilities more than commuters.  Little research has been found for the commuter use of P&R services for towns and cities, although there is much research of commuter habits. This thesis aimed to investigate how the commuter use of P&R may be increased with the support of employers.

This research may assist policy making, by environmental experts and decision makers, by anticipating and communicating public responses to P&R. Bedford P&R was chosen as a typical service for a town, with a population of 80,000, to carry out a survey of employers’ views. A number of techniques have been used to analyse data collected from three sources.   

 

Asset integrity management in the offshore industry

Student: Farouk Azzaz
Supervisor: Dr Shaomin Wu
Year: 2007-2008

Asset integrity management (AIM) is becoming very important in the offshore oil and gas industry. From a company’s perspective, it is one of many focuses as it can improve availability, business and operational efficiency and increase reliability. AIM ensures the fitness for purpose of assets from a whole life cycle point of view, and at the same time ensures the safety of the environment and copes with the compliance. The thesis aims at developing an integrated asset management framework for the offshore oil and gas sector that is based on life cycle.

There are two main strategies to ensure the integrity of an asset. One, which has a holistic view of integrity management, is based on life cycle approach. The other is based on maintenance policies and strategies as part of a global integrity management that uses different techniques and process based either on risk or on reliability. The approach based on maintenance has been investigated and some pros and cons of generic maintenance strategies were highlighted. In addition, data was retrieved from the literature to investigate the special characteristics of physical assets in the offshore context that should be considered when applying any of these to an AIM strategy. 

The main approach to AIM in the offshore oil and gas sector has been investigated by means of a questionnaire survey and the research shows this approach appears to be maintenance driven and mainly risk-based. A model is developed based on a consideration of lifecycle performance that integrates various offshore oil and gas assets. Finally a discussion about the identified AIM strategy highlights the important role of information assets, which can take the form of operator’s experience, knowledge of the assets, management of change and decision-making process.