Author(s)

N. J. Durley-Boot & J. R. Maguire

Abstract

This paper provides a snapshot of the current work of the Technical Investigation Department (TID) of Lloyd’s Register EMEA, focusing on how computer-based tools have been integrated to collect, process and analyse data. There are three main parts to the paper: (1) description of the data acquisition and processing systems – both traditional analogue and more modern digital systems; (2) discussion of the analysis techniques – categorised into spreadsheets, signal processing, and engineering design and predictive analysis; (3) example combinations on jobs – in both marine and non-marine industries. The paper concludes with a look ahead to developments foreseen in the coming years. Keywords: data, acquisition, processing, technical, investigation. 1 Introduction Since its formation in 1947, Lloyd’s Register EMEA’s Technical Investigations Department (TID) has been invited to investigate a wide range of engineering problems across the marine, land-based industrial and off-shore oil and gas industries (Carlton and Bantham [1]). The experience gained from these investigations has been used to develop new and innovative measurement and analysis techniques alongside more orthodox technologies. The department’s accumulated experience and contemporary measurement toolkit allows TID to offer services for an extensive range of investigations. This paper looks at the data acquisition and processing tools and the analysis techniques available. Through a series of case studies, the paper demonstrates how a technical investigation department can combine measurement, analysis,

Keywords

data, acquisition, processing, technical, investigation