DNV and NASA seek experts to quantify the unknown
DNV and NASA are inviting experts to solve a mathematical challenge that seeks to optimize decision-making under uncertainty.
The practice of Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) is often used when operating in harsh and uncertain environments. For example, UQ is used when assessing how offshore structures will cope with variable weather and ocean conditions or calculating the stresses on a spacecraft during launch.
UQ is the science of quantifying, characterizing, and mitigating uncertainties in computational models, including both data-driven and physics-based simulations. This is an important aspect of risk management in projects that are pushing the limits of engineering. DNV and NASA have teamed up to advance methodologies in UQ that are broadly applicable, enhancing safety and reliability in critical systems across various industries.
“Both NASA and DNV deal with high consequence and safety-critical systems for which quantitative data is either very sparse or prohibitively expensive to collect. Limited heritage data may exist, but is also usually sparse and may not be directly applicable to the system of interest, making UQ extremely challenging,” said Luis G. Crespo, Senior Research Engineer at NASA Langley Research Center.
Participants entering the challenge will gain access to a simulation model of a physical system to optimize. The specific physical system will remain unknown to ensure the challenge is truly discipline independent. Teams can generate synthetic data using an online solution running on DNV’s simulation platform, the Simulation Trust Center (STC), to represent real-world data.
The challenge will run from January 6th to March 31st, 2025, and accepted responses will be part of a special session ESREL 2025 conference in Stavanger, Norway, from June 15th to 19th.
“With this initiative we aim to unite a global community of researchers towards a shared goal. And given the close relationship between Uncertainty Quantification and Machine Learning, it will be interesting to see whether the recent breakthroughs in AI can be leveraged in this space where we target high-risk and safety-critical applications.” said Christian Agrell, Lead AI Scientist and Head of Risk and Modelling Technologies at DNV
About DNV
DNV is an independent assurance and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry standards, and inspires and invents solutions.
Whether assessing a new ship design, qualifying technology for a floating wind farm, analysing sensor data from a gas pipeline or certifying a food company's supply chain, DNV enables its customers and their stakeholders to manage technological and regulatory complexity with confidence.
Driven by its purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, DNV helps its customers seize opportunities and tackle the risks arising from global transformations. DNV is a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful and forward-thinking companies.
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Register for the 2025 UQ Challenge
Each participating group should first register by sending an email to uqchallenge@dnv.com including the name of all participants, their email address, and affiliation. Furthermore, please let us know who the point of contact for the group will be.
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