Latest Posts:
B-Ventures
Archive

September 2021

Browsing
In Featured

The Advantages of Using HDD Method For Installing Offshore Pipelines 

No Comments

Conventional offshore pipeline installation methods have become more difficult because of the growing demand for bigger diameter pipelines with longer installation runs, deeper water depths and greater bottom-hole pressures. Therefore, there is a need to develop unconventional methods in order to allow its use in deeper waters.

The HDD method was developed by the geotechnical engineers for installation of the pipeline in place of conventional methods by using an open-trench excavation method. 

A number of research studies have shown that it is more environmentally-friendly compared to conventional open-trench methods. This is due to the fact that HDD method can be designed in a way which limits environmental impact during pipeline installation process by using specialised drilling fluids and minimising damage to surface.

Horizontal directional drilling is also gradually being used for installation of offshore pipelines. Researchers have identified that the environmental risks associated with HDD pipeline installation are low compared to other open-trench methods. It has been also noted that soil conditions can affect the outcome of this type of installation technique and site specific evaluation needs to be carried out before design of HDD method is finalised.

What are the Advantages of the HDD Method?

The horizontal directional drilling method allows for installation of pipelines in environmentally sensitive areas where the soil conditions are unstable. This method requires that the soil conditions are stable enough to support the pipeline wall against pressure by means of bearing on the bottom of the trench. 

It also makes it possible to install pipelines under bodies of water or marshland, where traditional installation methods would be impossible because long conventional open-trench crossings require that the trench needs to be empty before excavation. With this conventional method, crossings cannot be dug through water or marshland because the trench will immediately fill up with water and construction of crossing will turn into a major engineering project. 

HDD allows for installation of pipelines in environmentally sensitive areas where the soil conditions could not support heavy machinery involved in conventional methods.

Moreover, this method is the most promising technology for installing pipelines in deep, soft soils especially when there are environmental concerns. However, it may become more challenging with increasing depth and longer crossing because of the complicated geotechnical engineering problems. 

HDD design has to be carried out by taking into account various factors affecting pipe stability during installation. This includes soil properties, fluid pressure in the trench, potential caving or burying of the pipe

A typical HDD installation is done by excavating a trench in the seabed, laying the pipe inside the trench and filling up the hole with backfill material. The design criteria for  horizontal directional drilling method include proper site evaluation, covering soil conditions, depth of water, current flow, selection of pipe and backfill materials, and pipe installation.

What About Risks?

The main issues that need to be considered in HDD design include: soil properties, pipe sticking during installation, caving or burying of the trench walls, leakage from broken pipes and fluid pressure inside the trench. The geotechnical engineering challenges include accurate evaluation of soil strata stability such as sedimentary sequence, water content, geotechnical investigation to determine soil strata properties which are contained in the final design.

During drilling of the hole into the seabed, piping can get stuck if they are not rigid enough or large enough. Also when the pipe is installed in partially fluid-saturated ground it may collapse due to liquefaction, which means that the material loses its strength and behaves like a fluid. This can be prevented by adopting appropriate excavation and grouting procedures which ensure that the soil is sound enough to support pipe walls without problem.

Broken or damaged pipelines during HDD installation result not only in damage of pipes but also can contaminate ground water with oil and other chemicals, which can harm the environment. This risk can be minimised by adopting appropriate construction procedures which ensure that the pipe is properly supported during drilling and grouting phases.

As fluids inside HDD pipes are under pressure it may cause leakage into surrounding soils. If there are any defects in the welds or other structural parts of tubing this may result in breakage. This can be prevented by adhering to the construction specification and obeying the pressure limitations.

The main purpose of HDD is to reduce environmental impact during pipeline installation process. However, in some cases HDD may damage the environment due to unknown soil conditions which are not discovered until excavation starts. If there are any hazardous materials hidden under the ground there is high risk of contamination.

If the installation process goes wrong or if drilling fluid enters into ground water then this will contaminate the surrounding ecosystem due to oil spillage. If the pipe fails during operation then leakage may occur which can be hazardous for aquatic life and other forms of marine life. It has been recommended that HDD methods be used when conventional open-trench methods are not feasible.

https://www.boretherockies.com/2018/09/12/advantages-using-horizontal-directional-drilling-for-utility-placement/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267607371_Pipeline_Shore_Approach_Installation_by_Horizontal_Directional_Drilling

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313545963_Project_for_Offshore_Horizontal_Directional_Drilling_HDD_for_Pipeline_Crossing_in_Bukit_Tua_Indonesia

by
Read More
In Business

HR trends for Employee performance management

No Comments

2021 has created a new wave of springing back to the previous economic structure. The boost has begun from the corporates who have strategized new marketing techniques and adapted to the dynamics of the novel business ideas. Corporates and businesses have tackled challenging situations in the last year and have come up with solutions and made incredible designs for Employee management, corporate hierarchy, work culture, innovative business solutions and most importantly digitization. Every company has evolved an employee company performance management system for better output enhancing employee performance. 

 The trendsetters in 2021 for Employee performance management are:

 Diverse workplace scenario

 Organizations have regulated the key priority by modifying and adding new practices that involve equality and uplift diverse cultures in the workplace. Companies have reflected on a commitment to make changes on age, race, and gender in the organization. 

 Opportunities to reskill

 Employee performance management has seen a unique trend of reskilling the employees. This new factor has become prevalent in the corporates due to the challenges that came at the onset of 2020. Reskilling the employees have elevated the performance levels because it equipped them with new techniques. Learning new technologies has created confidence in the employees along with building trust with the company. 

 Digitization

 Since most companies are working remotely there is a push for Digital Reliance. New software Strategies and tools have shown better performance and increased productivity of employees. The performance evaluation tools have created transparency, increased the morale of the employees and enabled them to fulfill responsibilities while working remotely.

New hire and employee retention

Expectations of the new hires change with the work environment. Although the previous parameters for hiring are still in place the priority in the metrics today is remote work and employee engagement. A candidate who can communicate and fulfill the needs of the company with minimum supervision and still be connected with the company is crucial. The tools help to quickly take a glance at the work in progress, work accomplished, and tasks that are abandoned. The managers can make a quick resolution to these issues and fix them with the employees.

Evaluation

Evaluation becomes critical and sensitive in a remote working environment as the management can’t console an employee after a feedback session. The tools keep the employees also updated on their performance and enable them to change their working style to fit the company’s goals.

 Globally the workforce has settled for remote work all the things seemed to be functioning smoothly yet there was a need to design a new organizational structure with a new approach for employee management. From the HR point of view, there is a whole new requirement to fulfill the need of employee performance which requires companies to innovate, adapt, and build new formats that promote team collaboration, improve productivity, maintain employee relations, focus on employees mental health, include new parameters which go beyond working in one place and more. The new change considers visualization of quality in employee performance which has a fresh approach of evaluation by keeping the key performance indicators unchanged.  New mind-sets evolved the corporate work culture with many strategies being designed to get tangible results. With the evolution of employee performance management factors like team collaboration, reduction of micromanagement, reduction of salary cut off and lay off and increased efficiency in time management, money management and energy utilization have grown.

To Sum Up: The cloud-based employee performance management tools are robust and highly beneficial for the company in the office, remote, and hybrid workspaces also. These tools collect the feedback of the employees automatically and create analysis. Imagine the amount of reduction in workload for the managers who can collect the insights and make necessary changes to improve the work. Adapting to the new trends lends real-time information, instant feedback, fixes issues, and deals with thousands of employee data without hassle.

by
Read More
In Tech

How to Make Advertising More Stimulating Through Virtual Reality?

No Comments

The world of advertising in recent years has been changing rapidly. Consumers are becoming more aware of the practices used by companies, so it is no longer enough to show a beautiful woman or man using specific products. The goal of every advertising agency is, at least in part, to influence consumer behaviour so that they can get people’s attention through any means possible.

One of the most interesting ways to do so is virtual reality (VR), which has been around for years but didn’t see much use until recently when it became more widely available to the public.

What is Virtual Reality?

It is a computer-generated simulation of an environment, or a situation, that simulates a user’s physical presence in that world. When the simulation is convincing enough, users are immersed into it to such an extent that they feel and believe they are actually in it.

VR offers the unique opportunity for advertisers to place customers directly into their products— to really show them what’s on offer. For example, using technology like 360° videos, users are able to look in any direction they please — experiencing each moment with total awareness.

As the user continues to interact with the virtual environment, they are presented with different ads that are specifically targeted to their preferences.

Virtual Reality and Its Effect on Targeted Advertising

I think we can all agree that ads are an inevitable part of our society. But what if there was a way they could be more than just invasive and annoying? What if we could actually look forward to watching advertisements?

Well, there’s good news: with the evolution of virtual reality, this is becoming a possibility.

The most valuable aspect of virtual reality to any advertising agency is that it allows them to focus on their target market like never before.

For example, in the past, when shopping online for a new pair of shoes, you might have searched for “shoes” on your favourite online retailer. On the website, there are numerous products available, with large images showing off each individual shoe. However, you find yourself wondering if someone who is more of an outdoor clothing fan than a fashionista would prefer this certain shoe even though it is one of your favourite pairs.

In the past, you would have to take a chance on this purchase, but with virtual reality, advertisers can now use targeted ads that will appeal to those searching for outdoor gear rather than those relishing in the latest catwalk trend. This is just one example of how virtual reality is going to allow advertisers to hyper-target their audience.

Here’s how virtual reality can be used to make your next advertisement more interesting and engaging:

  1. Get customers involved with interactive content.

Buildings, products, and people are all interesting, but there’s nothing like immersing a customer in an experience that they can truly immerse themselves in. VR advertising can be interactive, allowing the user to explore and learn more about a product or service on their own terms.

  1. Make your advertisement memorable through an emotional experience.

There’s nothing like making someone laugh or cry to leave an impression on them. That’s why you should give people an experience that they will never forget with the power of VR. This could be anything from an incredible action scene to an emotional roller coaster ride, depending on what you’re selling.

  1. Make your advertisement relatable through a personalized experience.

Many people will relate easily to something if it seems like it was created specifically for them. For example, one of the most popular games at the moment, Pokemon Go!, allows players to design their own avatars and play as themselves in the game. The player is, therefore, able to create a more personalized experience.

The same concept can be applied to advertisements as well (especially those on trade shows). People like seeing things that remind them of themselves, so make your VR advertisement relatable by allowing people to create their own version of it.

  1. Give people a preview of what’s to come.

You don’t have to go all out with your VR advertising for people to be impressed by it. You can include teasers or previews at the end of regular advertisements, which will make your customers want to try out the full-length version even more.

  1. Bring your advertisement to life.

One of the unique aspects of VR is its ability to place people in a completely new world that they can experience with all five senses. While advertisements are usually flat and only involve the visual sense, VR elevates them into something more immersive that can be truly thrilling for those watching it unfold right before their eyes.

Takeaway

Marketers are using virtual reality to increase awareness, enhance bottom lines and radically change the way people are targeted. Its potential for financial profit has made it an important topic of discussion among brand managers, marketers, advertising agencies, and consumer psychologists around the world.

Given that it’s still in its very early stages, ways to successfully implement VR into marketing campaigns are under much debate. What is clear is that the potential for VR to be used as an advertising medium has the power to revolutionize the world of advertising once it is fully realized.

by
Read More
In Tech

3 Windows Apps for students To Help Them Ace This Semester

No Comments

Since the pandemic, almost all educational institutes have shifted to online teaching. This has caused people to rely on media that can be shared online. Whether you have to do assignments or take notes while attending a class, it can be really overwhelming if you are not cautious and organized. If you are looking for some utility apps that can help you in an online school, then you are at the right place. Here are 3 Windows apps for students to help you ace this semester.

PDFSimpli

If you need to write or present something in your class, then it will probably be done using a PDF document. PDF, which stands for Portable Document Format, is widely used when you have a finished document on your hand. However, in a lot of cases, you may need to edit some things out. And to do that, you need a PDF editor. While Adobe has provided Acrobat Reader to edit PDFs, it has very limited features.

PDFSimpli contains a lot of features that come in handy when editing PDFS. You can easily convert your document into PDFs and vice versa very easily. To convert PDF to Word document, you just need to upload your file and click on convert; it’s that simple. Features like compressing PDFs into smaller sizes, adding watermarks, and merging PDFs make it so you won’t have to worry about editing PDFs ever.

myHomework

With classes of multiple subjects, due assignments, and upcoming deadlines scheduling your time becomes really important. Not only scheduling but even remembering all of it can prove to be a hassle. There are many scheduling apps out there, but myHomework is our recommendation, and here’s why.

This study planner app helps you organize anything from homework to projects to basically any activity that you need to keep track of. After filling the systems with details of your classes, schedule, homework, etc., you will have yourself a complete summary automatically. It also gives you details about classes you attend, project progress, etc.

You have multiple options for specific kinds of activities. The homework option is quite useful with its Kanban-style layout. It offers a layout with three lists that help you keep track of if you have completed it on time or if it’s late, or if something is upcoming so you can schedule your time.

Wolfram Alpha

As a student, you are always on the prowl for more useful information. Now, you do have Google for that, but it isn’t very efficient when it comes to learning something new. You can’t verify the source of information on most google websites. Now Google is the best search engine, but for this specific purpose, Wolfram Alpha can really help you out.

Wolfram Alpha is a computational search engine. It can answer just about any question with the help of a built-in knowledge base and AI, that is, artificial intelligence. You can research any topic of your interest and get results that are backed up by true facts and figures. You can even practice scientific and mathematical skills by taking part in quizzes and puzzles to get you an edge over others.

by
Read More