The Journal of Modern Project Management, Sep 15, 2020
Like complex projects in other sectors, space projects frequently exceed cost and schedule perfor... more Like complex projects in other sectors, space projects frequently exceed cost and schedule performance targets. Reasons frequently cited for this include excessive optimism at the start of projects, political interference, technology development challenges such as design flaws and rework, changes to the work content during the project, and integration issues. Problems with progress can rarely be isolated to just one aspect of a project or system, however, and decisions taken in one part of a project to remedy a perceived problem may have unanticipated consequences later, elsewhere in the project. Based on data from a space science institute, this research presents a model of project progress to understand the effectiveness of the strategies available to managers of complex instrumentation projects. The paper focuses on the decision making around staffing when progress falls behind schedule and finds that practical challenges in expanding capacity in a team may mean that schedule slippages experienced early in the project lifecycle are unlikely ever to be reversed, even if additional resources are made available. This reinforces the importance of comprehensive risk analysis, thorough cost and schedule estimating at the start of the project, and the availability of realistic funding from the outset.
A new method of directly measuring camshaft friction has been developed, which offers both except... more A new method of directly measuring camshaft friction has been developed, which offers both exceptional accuracy and unprecedented convenience. The advantage of this methodology over previous techniques is that it can be run simultaneously with other engine ...
Abstract Future X-ray observatories in space, such as European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray evo... more Abstract Future X-ray observatories in space, such as European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray evolving universe spectroscopy (XEUS) mission, will require cooling to the region 10–100 mK to enable the utilisation of advanced cryogenic photon detectors in cryogenic spectrometer instruments. Such missions are envisaged to be completely cryogen-free, replacing the traditional superfluid liquid helium cryostat with a space worthy mechanically cooled system. As part of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory's (MSSL) adiabatic demagnetisation refrigerator (ADR) development programme, we have investigated the construction of a flight cryostat containing a 10 mK ADR (the MSSL double ADR (dADR)) that can be cooled by a single Astrium (formally Matra Marconi Space (MMS)) 4 K mechanical cooler. A proto-type dADR has been constructed and will be flight proven as part of a sounding rocket payload, where the dADR system will be used to cool an array of superconducting tunnel junction (STJ) detectors at the focus of an X-ray telescope.
The decision-making process can be biased by virtue of the role that mental shortcuts play in hum... more The decision-making process can be biased by virtue of the role that mental shortcuts play in human decision making. Although many researchers have studied this fact in form of psychological behaviours and behavioural economics, limited research has explored the role of heuristics and biases in the selection and definition of infrastructure projects. Accordingly, this paper provides a baseline for further research, presented in a “codex model”. A survey has been conducted to address the extent of people's awareness of heuristics and biases. The results show that more than 80% of the participants are not familiar with the concept of decision-making heuristics and biases. This research is important because it highlights the fact that increasing the awareness of decision-making heuristics and biases may lead to improved project decisions.
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies, 2019
Antenna-pattern measurements obtained from a double-metal supra-terahertz-frequency (supra-THz) q... more Antenna-pattern measurements obtained from a double-metal supra-terahertz-frequency (supra-THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) are presented. The QCL is mounted within a mechanically micro-machined waveguide cavity containing dual diagonal feedhorns. Operating in continuous-wave mode at 3.5 THz, and at an ambient temperature of ~60 K, QCL emission has been directed via the feedhorns to a supra-THz detector mounted on a multi-axis linear scanner. Comparison of simulated and measured far-field antenna patterns shows an excellent degree of correlation between beamwidth (full-width-half-maximum) and sidelobe content and a very substantial improvement when compared with unmounted devices. Additionally, a single output has been used to successfully illuminate and demonstrate an optical breadboard arrangement associated with a future supra-THz Earth observation space-borne payload. Our novel device has therefore provided a valuable demonstration of the effectiveness of supra-THz diagonal feed...
The UK Chapter of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE UK) commissioned resea... more The UK Chapter of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE UK) commissioned research to illustrate the variety of usage of the terms architecture and architecting in the systems engineering community. These terms, though widely used, are rarely strictly defined, and the meaning attributed to the terms is not consistent even in formal publications. Using soft systems methodology, this research has analyzed three published sources (MODAF [http://www.modaf.org.uk, 2008], The Art of Systems Architecting by Maier and Rechtin [CRC Press, 2009], and ISO/IEC 42010 [2011]), and conducted a series of interviews with systems architecting practitioners. This research was set in context by a historical review of the use of the term systems architecting. Twelve contentious questions in systems architecting are discussed, and six perspectives on systems architecting presented, including three basic worldviews of the relationship between systems engineering and systems architecting....
The Journal of Modern Project Management, Sep 15, 2020
Like complex projects in other sectors, space projects frequently exceed cost and schedule perfor... more Like complex projects in other sectors, space projects frequently exceed cost and schedule performance targets. Reasons frequently cited for this include excessive optimism at the start of projects, political interference, technology development challenges such as design flaws and rework, changes to the work content during the project, and integration issues. Problems with progress can rarely be isolated to just one aspect of a project or system, however, and decisions taken in one part of a project to remedy a perceived problem may have unanticipated consequences later, elsewhere in the project. Based on data from a space science institute, this research presents a model of project progress to understand the effectiveness of the strategies available to managers of complex instrumentation projects. The paper focuses on the decision making around staffing when progress falls behind schedule and finds that practical challenges in expanding capacity in a team may mean that schedule slippages experienced early in the project lifecycle are unlikely ever to be reversed, even if additional resources are made available. This reinforces the importance of comprehensive risk analysis, thorough cost and schedule estimating at the start of the project, and the availability of realistic funding from the outset.
A new method of directly measuring camshaft friction has been developed, which offers both except... more A new method of directly measuring camshaft friction has been developed, which offers both exceptional accuracy and unprecedented convenience. The advantage of this methodology over previous techniques is that it can be run simultaneously with other engine ...
Abstract Future X-ray observatories in space, such as European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray evo... more Abstract Future X-ray observatories in space, such as European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray evolving universe spectroscopy (XEUS) mission, will require cooling to the region 10–100 mK to enable the utilisation of advanced cryogenic photon detectors in cryogenic spectrometer instruments. Such missions are envisaged to be completely cryogen-free, replacing the traditional superfluid liquid helium cryostat with a space worthy mechanically cooled system. As part of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory's (MSSL) adiabatic demagnetisation refrigerator (ADR) development programme, we have investigated the construction of a flight cryostat containing a 10 mK ADR (the MSSL double ADR (dADR)) that can be cooled by a single Astrium (formally Matra Marconi Space (MMS)) 4 K mechanical cooler. A proto-type dADR has been constructed and will be flight proven as part of a sounding rocket payload, where the dADR system will be used to cool an array of superconducting tunnel junction (STJ) detectors at the focus of an X-ray telescope.
The decision-making process can be biased by virtue of the role that mental shortcuts play in hum... more The decision-making process can be biased by virtue of the role that mental shortcuts play in human decision making. Although many researchers have studied this fact in form of psychological behaviours and behavioural economics, limited research has explored the role of heuristics and biases in the selection and definition of infrastructure projects. Accordingly, this paper provides a baseline for further research, presented in a “codex model”. A survey has been conducted to address the extent of people's awareness of heuristics and biases. The results show that more than 80% of the participants are not familiar with the concept of decision-making heuristics and biases. This research is important because it highlights the fact that increasing the awareness of decision-making heuristics and biases may lead to improved project decisions.
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies, 2019
Antenna-pattern measurements obtained from a double-metal supra-terahertz-frequency (supra-THz) q... more Antenna-pattern measurements obtained from a double-metal supra-terahertz-frequency (supra-THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) are presented. The QCL is mounted within a mechanically micro-machined waveguide cavity containing dual diagonal feedhorns. Operating in continuous-wave mode at 3.5 THz, and at an ambient temperature of ~60 K, QCL emission has been directed via the feedhorns to a supra-THz detector mounted on a multi-axis linear scanner. Comparison of simulated and measured far-field antenna patterns shows an excellent degree of correlation between beamwidth (full-width-half-maximum) and sidelobe content and a very substantial improvement when compared with unmounted devices. Additionally, a single output has been used to successfully illuminate and demonstrate an optical breadboard arrangement associated with a future supra-THz Earth observation space-borne payload. Our novel device has therefore provided a valuable demonstration of the effectiveness of supra-THz diagonal feed...
The UK Chapter of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE UK) commissioned resea... more The UK Chapter of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE UK) commissioned research to illustrate the variety of usage of the terms architecture and architecting in the systems engineering community. These terms, though widely used, are rarely strictly defined, and the meaning attributed to the terms is not consistent even in formal publications. Using soft systems methodology, this research has analyzed three published sources (MODAF [http://www.modaf.org.uk, 2008], The Art of Systems Architecting by Maier and Rechtin [CRC Press, 2009], and ISO/IEC 42010 [2011]), and conducted a series of interviews with systems architecting practitioners. This research was set in context by a historical review of the use of the term systems architecting. Twelve contentious questions in systems architecting are discussed, and six perspectives on systems architecting presented, including three basic worldviews of the relationship between systems engineering and systems architecting....
Uploads