THE CHALLENGES OF MAJOR TANK COATING REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS FOR ON-STATION FLOATING ASSETS

The objective of this paper is to acknowledge that major tank coating refurbishment projects to FPSO’s and FSU’s are likely to be required during the life of these assets. It highlights the key challenges of achieving these major coating projects in an offshore environment, whilst the assets remain operational and in-production. As these floating assets age the original coatings applied to protect the internal (and external) hull, deteriorate. In an industry with a reluctance for extensive dry-dockings, there is an expectation that any coating refurbishment campaigns can be achieved safely and efficiently whilst the assets remain on-station and in-production, in preference to costly steel renewal’s which may be required at a future date if coatings are not maintained in good condition. With often complex, congested and hazardous topsides processing equipment and pipework directly above the hull tanks, there’s a need for systems, procedures, and specialist equipment to ensure the safety of the personnel entering confined spaces for extended periods. There’s also a need to plan and engineer the works appropriately, using best practice and emergent technologies to improve safety, reduce bedding impacts and to ensure the success of the coating campaign. This paper explores the challenges of major coating projects by discussing the importance of planning and preparation, the need to create a safe working environment within the confined space worksites, the role surface preparation plays in the success of coating projects, and finally the application of coatings and the challenges this operation can present. The key considerations are summarised in 10 specific conclusions as guidance to promote successful project outcomes.

Tech-noiR: An Exploration of Interior Spaces in an Urban context generated by Emergent Technology

<p>Poor pedestrian and transportation circulation, overpopulation, expensive cost of living—these are some of the issues inherent to any urban metropolis around the world. As cities develop and grow, more job opportunities open up for people, which leads to the increase in city population. This growth affects the city’s lifestyle, leading to overpopulation, poor circulation and expensive cost of living within the urban centre. Influenced by the concept ‘time is of the essence’, urban living has become synonymous to an autonomous service stuck within a loophole. This lifestyle, now further propelled by the presence of technology, can prove to be detrimental to the inhabitants’ comfort and well-being. In order to adapt to an impending future of the urban areas, an alternative to future urban living using technology with a minimal yet comfortable dwelling must be provided. The thesis proposes that emergent technology as a design-generating tool along with ergonomic design and depictions of visionary architecture are capable of producing an alternative to urban minimal dwellings in the future. It contends that these future urban minimal dwellings can be developed by: mapping and understanding emergent technologies potentially usable in interior architecture that can be developed into tools; collecting and analysing ergonomic principles and techniques appropriate to interior architecture; collecting and analysing literature about minimal dwelling in modern history; and analysing components and technologies used in depicted living spaces within selected filmography.</p>

Tech-noiR: An Exploration of Interior Spaces in an Urban context generated by Emergent Technology

<p>Poor pedestrian and transportation circulation, overpopulation, expensive cost of living—these are some of the issues inherent to any urban metropolis around the world. As cities develop and grow, more job opportunities open up for people, which leads to the increase in city population. This growth affects the city’s lifestyle, leading to overpopulation, poor circulation and expensive cost of living within the urban centre. Influenced by the concept ‘time is of the essence’, urban living has become synonymous to an autonomous service stuck within a loophole. This lifestyle, now further propelled by the presence of technology, can prove to be detrimental to the inhabitants’ comfort and well-being. In order to adapt to an impending future of the urban areas, an alternative to future urban living using technology with a minimal yet comfortable dwelling must be provided. The thesis proposes that emergent technology as a design-generating tool along with ergonomic design and depictions of visionary architecture are capable of producing an alternative to urban minimal dwellings in the future. It contends that these future urban minimal dwellings can be developed by: mapping and understanding emergent technologies potentially usable in interior architecture that can be developed into tools; collecting and analysing ergonomic principles and techniques appropriate to interior architecture; collecting and analysing literature about minimal dwelling in modern history; and analysing components and technologies used in depicted living spaces within selected filmography.</p>

The Acceptance of M-Heutagogical Practice in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Mobile Heutagogy (M-Heutagogy) is the teaching practice that emphasizes self-determined learning and student autonomy. Many teachers and academicians have applied M-Heutagogy in their teaching and learning in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The purpose of this study is to synthesize an empirical literature review of the M-Heutagogical practice among Higher Education students and its acceptance. The main objective of this paper is to review the literature on M-Heutagogy practice and its acceptance among Higher Education students. The researcher conducted a systematic review of 60 articles for the period 2007 to 2020. The findings indicate that M-Heutagogy has been applied in HEIs around the world with the support of emergent technologies and mobile applications. Unfortunately, only two M-Heutagogy acceptance studies have been done so far. Future research suggested that the M-Heutagogy acceptance model should be developed to be referred by researchers while doing an acceptance study.

Emotional AI, Ethics, and Japanese Spice: Contributing Community, Wholeness, Sincerity, and Heart

This paper assesses leading Japanese philosophical thought since the onset of Japan’s modernity: namely, from the Meiji Restoration (1868) onwards. It argues that there are lessons of global value for AI ethics to be found from examining leading Japanese philosophers of modernity and ethics (Yukichi Fukuzawa, Nishida Kitaro, Nishi Amane, and Watsuji Tetsurō), each of whom engaged closely with Western philosophical traditions. Turning to these philosophers allows us to advance from what are broadly individualistically and Western-oriented ethical debates regarding emergent technologies that function in relation to AI, by introducing notions of community, wholeness, sincerity, and heart. With reference to AI that pertains to profile, judge, learn, and interact with human emotion (emotional AI), this paper contends that (a) Japan itself may internally make better use of historic indigenous ethical thought, especially as it applies to question of data and relationships with technology; but also (b) that externally Western and global ethical discussion regarding emerging technologies will find valuable insights from Japan. The paper concludes by distilling from Japanese philosophers of modernity four ethical suggestions, or spices, in relation to emerging technological contexts for Japan’s national AI policies and international fora, such as standards development and global AI ethics policymaking.

Exploring the benefits of minimobility in the urban context: The case of central Stockholm

Over the past decade, there has been rapid growth in the development and infusion of new and disruptive transportation. Some of the pivotal emergent technologies range from micro-mobility and bikeshare to ridesourcing that is set to utilize automated vehicles. This paper introduces and defines minimobility that falls between a regular ridesourcing/taxi option and micromobility, and also providing critical logistics services during the era of COVID-19. In Central Stockholm the platform has provided a safe and environmentally friendly mode choice that occupies limited space and efficiently serves on the congested city network. We explore potential economic and environmental benefits of minimobility, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of deploying such a service. While we demonstrate a general increase in VMT, consistent with other work showing increased travel from new mobility, due to the electric platform this increase in customer access to mobility results in minimal GHG impacts. is informs how planners and engineers can explore minimobility platforms not only as reduced emissions solutions to urban transit issues but as tools to increase total mobility particularly for the most vulnerable.