Research and Development
Many policymakers and experts, including the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the European Union, believe that humanity’s priorities must evolve to strike a balance between technological progress and environmental stewardship. Innovations such as autonomous vehicles and space exploration hold great promise, but their development should align with sustainable practices that safeguard our planet.
Autonomous vehicles could improve road safety and efficiency, but they carry environmental costs, from manufacturing to resource use. Powering their computing systems, for example, may generate hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 annually. However, advancements in quantum computing and specialised AI chips could help reduce these emissions before ecological thresholds are reached.
Similarly, space exploration offers unprecedented opportunities to expand scientific knowledge and tackle pressing global issues. It could unlock new resources and provide innovative solutions to some of Earth’s most pressing environmental concerns. However, space missions also come with environmental costs, including rocket emissions and the growing problem of space debris. While autonomous vehicles and space exploration offer significant environmental benefits, their development has predominantly been motivated by commercial interests, often sidelining sustainability concerns.
The rise of digital platforms, from shopping carts and search engines to social media, has fuelled the growth of tech giants like Amazon, Google and Meta. These companies exert significant influence over consumer behaviour, often intensifying demand for products and services. As global populations grow and consumption increases, this amplified demand strains natural resources and accelerates environmental degradation.
In light of the challenges, it’s crucial to recognise the link between rising human demand and environmental impact. As technology continues to reshape our world, we must ensure that our innovations are designed with sustainability in mind. Only by prioritising both progress and environmental responsibility can we ensure a prosperous future without compromising the health of our planet.
Reports from LA media suggest that the January 2025 wildfires sweeping across Southern California could cost between $250 billion and $275 billion – surpassing September 2024’s Hurricane Helene, which was estimated at $225 billion to $250 billion. To achieve our goals, we are exploring innovations such as maritime intelligence and precision agriculture, alongside forward-thinking solutions that promote product reuse. This includes a proposed speculative waste ownership system.
Our organisation is committed to inspiring and empowering human ingenuity to navigate complex social, economic and environmental challenges. While the discussion above focuses on environmental and economic aspects, the initiative below marks a first step in exploring technology as a catalyst for societal progress. By enhancing communication and cultural understanding, this project aims to tackle some of the root causes of human conflict, fostering greater harmony and connection.
The African Language Music Translation Platform is a leading initiative that harnesses technology to promote linguistic inclusivity, cultural preservation and digital connectivity across Africa. By combining AI-driven translation, human verification and multimedia synchronisation, it facilitates accurate and seamless translation of song lyrics into multiple African languages. As digital platforms like this continue to expand, they hold immense potential to raise awareness and drive impactful action toward environmental sustainability and conservation.
Advanced Digital Transformation recently (March 2025) partnered with Lelapa AI, South Africa’s pioneers in AI-driven language models for African languages. With aligned technical and strategic goals, we are exploring ways to integrate AI-powered language processing into our projects. This collaboration will enhance automated content capture, translation and synchronisation, helping to create a more accessible and culturally inclusive digital ecosystem.
Real-Time Marine Telemetry System (Prototype Testing Phase)
Sea4Us aims to discover new marine leads for developing treatments for diseases without a cure and collaborates with the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and the Universidade do Algarve to provide systematic authoritative information on the state of the Portuguese Atlantic Ocean.
Traditional marine monitoring is typically a resource-intensive process, involving a network of sampling stations where measurements are collected manually by divers or through discrete in situ water sampling at various depths in fixed locations. This approach is limited in scope, and the results of subsequent laboratory analysis can be delayed by weeks, months or even longer.
Emerging technologies and real-time data science were harnessed to create a network capable of immediate underwater data capture. This capability is crucial as it delivers near real-time insights based on comprehensive, up-to-date measurements, enabling prompt and informed decision-making.
Pilot
On May 31, 2024, at the Sea4Us Sagres headquarters, Mr. Sheridan presented his project findings to an audience of academics and marine biologists. His presentation highlighted transformative technologies and innovative advancements in marine and biotechnology research. Professor Pedro Lima, CEO of Sea4Us, remarked, “Great presentation. Thank you for your patience and time in explaining everything. I see significant potential in this work. Congratulations”. Following this event, funding was secured for our proof-of-concept phase of development, marking a key milestone in our project.
Proof-of-Concept
This proof-of-concept marine telemetry IoT system remotely monitors environmental data using a floating platform, an onshore platform and an observation center—all deployed under controlled laboratory conditions. The floating platform collects real-time data on temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) using various sensors. This data is then transmitted via LoRa (a long range wireless communication technology) to the onshore platform for processing and further analysis, facilitating informed decision-making and environmental monitoring.
Building on the successful proof-of-concept and positive outcomes from the floating platform field trials, our next phase will focus on identifying and mitigating harmful marine conditions, including potential pollution risks from the proposed desalination operation in the Algarve. However, deployment in the Atlantic Ocean is pending the approval of phase 3 development proposals for an operational prototype.
Facilitating economically viable, large-scale, strategic real-time marine data collection boosts AI’s effectiveness in maritime research. By enabling more detailed analyses, this approach improves predictive capabilities, helping to anticipate and mitigate risks, monitor ecosystems and support sustainable practices. For more information, please email our Systems Engineer at info@adt.vision.
10 km range
Facilitating economically viable, large-scale, strategic real-time marine data collection boosts AI’s effectiveness in maritime research. By enabling more detailed analyses, this approach improves predictive capabilities, helping to anticipate and mitigate risks, monitor ecosystems and support sustainable practices. For more information, please email our Systems Engineer at info@adt.vision.
CyberLotus: Urban Ecosystems (Proof of Concept Phase)
CyberLotus explores the use of technology to restore the balance between people and nature. Its goal is to bring nature back into urban spaces, such as hotels, government offices, and potentially even police stations and hospitals. The project enhances concrete and steel with green spaces (micro-parks), providing areas where people can reconnect with nature, ultimately enhancing their health and well-being.
The technology that once contributed to the disconnect from nature is now playing a crucial role in regenerating ecosystems in urban spaces. This system will be adaptable, affordable and capable of supporting life in areas where nature is scarce. With a focus on a future beyond 2.5°C of warming, CyberLotus has the potential to do more than just enhance aesthetics; it can support food production and resource management, particularly through innovations such as precision agriculture.
In summary CyberLotus offers a practical step toward addressing environmental challenges. The project represents harmony between biodiversity, technology and design, aiming to reconnect people with the environment in a way that benefits both.
The accompanying videos demonstrate the magnetic vortex mixer in action, along with a temporary tank setup and the automated environmental control dashboard, providing insight into the innovative processes driving this vision. At this stage, the arrangement of tubes and wires is provisional, as the final configuration will be determined through the identification and analysis of all relevant variables. Once these factors are fully understood, the system will be refined into a more compact and optimised design, improving efficiency and ensuring better alignment with project objectives.
CyberRecycle: Waste Ownership System (Speculative Design Phase)
The system is particularly well-suited for large-scale retail environments, where it can seamlessly integrate with payment systems and POS terminals. It is especially effective for perishable goods, as it establishes a clear, logical connection between product lifecycle stages and waste disposal requirements. By using identification tags, both the product and its packaging are linked within a unified database, tracking their journey from purchase to disposal. Waste collection points (e.g., bins or skips) can be fitted with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and NFC (Near Field Communication) readers that detect tagged waste in bulk. This connection ensures that both the product and packaging are managed as part of a comprehensive lifecycle management system.
However, the system’s extension to products with longer-term lifecycles or variable use-by dates presents additional challenges. A more sophisticated mechanism to manage disposal timelines, along with reminders or notifications for non-perishable items, would be necessary. This complexity is heightened for products that may not have immediate waste disposal urgency or clear timelines, making it harder to ensure timely and accurate disposal without significant consumer engagement.
Looking toward the future, the mandatory implementation of such waste ownership tracking and disposal systems may become an essential element in combating global waste and pollution. By combining advanced technology, supportive legislation and consumer incentives, these systems could drive a paradigm shift toward sustainable consumption and responsible disposal practices. As governments, corporations and communities work together to create a cleaner, more sustainable world, these systems will play a pivotal role in fostering a circular economy, ensuring that waste is minimised, recycled and repurposed for future generations.
Ultimately, this system holds the potential to significantly impact how we manage and think about waste. With the right technological infrastructure and policy frameworks, we can create a world where waste is not just a problem to be disposed of but a valuable resource to be managed, reclaimed and reused; driving both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
Benefits
In essence, the system supports a more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective approach to managing products and packaging throughout their lifecycle. As governments, corporations and communities collaborate to create a cleaner, more sustainable world, these systems will play a pivotal role in fostering a circular economy. By ensuring that waste is minimised, recycled and repurposed, the system helps reduce environmental impact and promotes sustainability for future generations.
Consumers
- Flexibility in Privacy: Choose between full tracking, anonymous purchases or prepaid accounts.
- Incentives for Recycling: Earn rewards for sustainable disposal practices.
- Transparent Billing: Pay only for the waste generated with an option for refundable deposits.
Municipalities
- Efficient Waste Management: Optimise routes and collection schedules using real-time data.
- Reduced Illegal Dumping: Properly tagged waste discourages improper disposal.
- Sustainability Goals: Supports tracking and reporting for environmental sustainability initiatives.
Corporations
- End-to-End Tracking: Monitor the lifecycle of products and improve sustainability
- Waste Reduction Goals: Align packaging and product design with sustainable disposal practices.
African Language Music Translation System (Model Demonstration Phase)
Project Overview
The African Language Music Translation system is designed to enhance cross-cultural listening and learning experiences by leveraging the deep connection between music and language processing. The system integrates human and AI-generated content to provide accurate and synchronised translations of song lyrics into various African languages, supporting verbal learning and communication.
By harnessing melody, harmony, rhythm, lyric translation, biographies and visualisation, this platform aims to improve verbal learning and communication across Africa. Designed to entertain, educate and address misunderstandings, this innovative format fosters deeper connections through music.
The platform translates lyrics into the user’s preferred African language, synchronises them with the original audio and creates video outputs displaying both original and translated lyrics in perfect sync with the music. This approach enriches the listening and learning experience, tapping into the timeless connection between music and language.
Advanced Digital Transformation (Prototype Evaluation Phase)
Advanced Digital Transformation aligns with the principles of good governance, as defined by the United Nations, and is implemented through the systematic application of advanced information systems engineering.
The concept challenges biases in the status quo and critically assesses high-risk alternatives, uncovering flaws that, if ignored, can lead to project overruns, misalignment, cancellations and serious failures, as seen in the UK Post Office scandal, the CrowdStrike incident and many others.
By challenging conventional norms, the concept redefines computerised creative change by optimising the evaluation and management of digital transformations and innovation investments. It introduces an integrated control framework that delivers real-time insights, significantly improving critical decision-making.
Full Stack Foundation Course (Operational)
Software engineering is a primary skill needed to bring about systems innovation. It’s an effective way for us to make changes and improve the way people do things. Here, we explore web-based software engineering to provide insight and practical know-how, fostering innovation and creativity in a fun yet absorbing way.
The online course is available in English and Portuguese. It is representative of internet architecture and appropriate for beginners. Once assimilated, it makes it easier to choose the technical variations that best suit you.
Full Stack Foundation Course
See also AI for Beginners and the Interactive Guide to Human Resources
Search Engine WrapTool (Postponed)
Enter a mentorship with a Christ College, Cambridge Mathematician, and collaborate to create Wraptool, enabling a simple choice of multiple search engines categorised by discipline, industry or subject.
Registered users have more options, invaluable tools and personalisation accessed via different machines.
Consultancy Assignments
British Telecommunications
Undertake a leading role in engineering one of the world’s most advanced technical infrastructure performance assessment facilities. Part of a team of leading specialists rigorously testing the Spine infrastructure for two years under typical and extreme healthcare workloads. The co-author of BT Spine’s technical performance specification[1], defining and clarifying detailed success criteria, while also delineating the comprehensive scope of the associated test effort.
Spine handles up to 47 million electronic messages, between 28,000 IT systems across 21,000 care organisations daily. It provides access to 65 million summary care records and over 90 million demographic records. It securely sends 750,000 e-referral messages and 2 million electronic prescriptions per day and is used by 500,000 NHS health professionals with near 100% availability. Health and care IT systems that can integrate with Spine continue to be developed.
Thomson Reuters
Take on two groundbreaking assignments for Reuters. The first was to evaluate real-time financial intelligence at the Global Technology Centre in Geneva. This project modelled market trading and calibrated supporting technology performance under emulated load conditions. Having the most up-to-date information about the state of the global economy enabled Reuters to keep its clients ahead of the curve.
At their Media Centre, London, the second modelled worldwide journalist activity and incrementally re-engineered technical architectures to establish a global competitive advantage when breaking the latest worldwide news.
Tesco Bank and UK Government Home Office
1. Develop an innovative strategy to evaluate corporate system performance, scalability and reliability for Tesco Personal Finance. This pioneering solution was presented to development and executive staff in the Royal Bank of Scotland boardroom. The approach, later adopted throughout Tesco, earned Gartner-ranked world leaders in automated service assurance their most significant and most lucrative account in Europe. A Channel Alliance Partnership with this Silicon Valley corporation was awarded to Advanced Digital Transformation.
2. Introduce cutting-edge automated performance technology for the UK Government’s initiative for a modern, fairer, faster and firmer approach to immigration and asylum at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon, South London. Engineer a service evaluation assurance capability and develop its associated user training course.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Calibrate the Search Administration Module of the company’s technical architecture hosted at Colorado, Tampa and London. The existing Global Alliance Portal content and applications were brought to the business-to-consumer portal space to create a single market-facing PC portal. Three levels of search are available through the Portal search facility. Essential is textual only; Advanced is a textual search that some critical field parameters can filter, and Enhanced is where the power of the more extensive tagging can be exploited.
The performance, scalability and reliability evaluation was conducted under emulated search patterns to identify and resolve technical performance issues, and this was achieved within the planned timescale.
Centrica British Gas
In anticipation of the deregulation of the supply industry, British Gas developed a tailored Electricity Billing System designed to handle up to 4 million customers. However, after the initial deployment for 1.5 million customers in 1998, Accenture began addressing outstanding issues and planning the volume upgrade. To ensure these changes were effectively implemented, British Gas commissioned a purpose-designed service assurance strategy. This strategy involved creating an advanced process for generating a comprehensive report that encompassed all application and platform changes, ensuring an objective assessment of operational readiness.
The £40 million,[2] 16-month upgrade, for the high-volume platform and associated business change requests was thoroughly audited between February and July 1999 under the newly developed procedure. Risks were identified and mitigated, leading to a recommendation to go live, which was presented to the implementation board. Our architect declared the volume upgrade platform[1] fit for purpose, with an ‘amber’ caution for the first month of operation. While the initial, 1998 rollout may have faced a few setbacks the 1999 rollout marked a year of progress and improvement.
DSS and Energy Supply Deregulation
1. Following a successful functional testing engagement at the DSS, our architect predicted that a reactive IT Services Agency (ITSA) approach to a complex integration test would probably fail. One of PA Consulting Group’s leading government consultants arranged for him to propose his suggested proactive methodology focused on efficiency and control.
His proposed structured testing method, developed in July 1996, used a relational database, which integrated seamlessly with progress reporting software. This ensured that the testing efforts remained under control and strategically aligned with the specified entry and exit criteria for each test component. The proposal, along with the associated software, was submitted for approval in August 1996.
Despite this and a fundamental project reset, the DSS ultimately chose to proceed with the original in-house ITSA method. However, in May 1999, it was announced that the entire DSS project would be cancelled due to persistent delays and contractual issues. The decision underscored a staggering level of bureaucratic incompetence and administrative negligence, deeply disappointing for a department entrusted with the public’s welfare.
2. Nevertheless, between September 1996 and July 1999, our architect successfully implemented his methodology, integrating business processes for energy supply deregulation at Yorkshire Electricity and ensuring service assurance for a £40 million[2] platform upgrade for Centrica British Gas.
Eurostar
Britain, France and Belgium set up an International Project Group to specify a train to provide an international high-speed passenger service through the tunnel.The required Eurostar booking system was based on an enhanced version of SABRE, a system developed to automate how American Airlines booked reservations. Our company collaborated with PwC and agreed on a strategy to re-align development and ensure timely delivery for the Eurostar Launch.
Advanced Digital Transformation took responsibility for the structured testing of software developed by British Rail in Nottingham and formally declared the completion of testing at a Quality Assurance sign-off.
GiroBank Santander
A project was commissioned to document Britain’s sixth-largest bank’s data assets. Advanced Digital Transformation’s Systems Architect was assigned to engineer and present the detailed data model for GiroBank’s £42 million[2] Retail Banking development. A model was created to represent and better understand the conceptual nature of the bank’s data flow by describing related entities, relationships and attributes. In turn, this was resolved against a physical data model.
A thorough analysis of Retail Banking data structures to define the associative tables that illustrate the relationships among entities and the primary and foreign keys used to maintain those relationships made this possible. Within a few months, the UK government announced plans for privatisation, and GiroBank was ultimately subsumed by Santander, one of the world’s top twenty-rated banks.
Berlin Fire Brigade and Scottish Home and Health Department
1. Assigned to the Berliner Feuerwehr Notdienst (Emergency Services) to troubleshoot and rectify root cause project non-conformance. Overcome serious communication issues at a board room meeting in Spandau. Instruct development staff in Nürnberg and Berlin and work as a team to design and develop detailed process and data models.
2. Undertake a strategic alignment exercise to assess how closely potential systems met Scotland’s breast screening requirements. Having reported to St Andrew’s House, the policy committee decided that a high-level design should be prepared. Advanced Digital Transformation’s architect designed the detailed process and data models and delivered the system specification, satisfying the Scottish Home and Health Department’s requirements.
Bankers' Automated Clearing Services and Kiwibank
1. Review, amend and endorse the project management consultant’s testing strategy for the NEFT (New Electronic Fund Transfer) system. Collaborate with technical engineers to evolve the operational environment needed to evaluate an innovative Client and Server architecture. Steer four test teams to prove cutting-edge, automatic money transfer without the direct intervention of bank staff. This work was conducted at the UK Bankers’ Automated Clearing Service research center in Dunstable during 1984 and 1985.
2. Facilitate KiwiBank’s acceptance testing of BANKMASTER at Auckland, New Zealand, a fully integrated accounting and management reporting system that reflects the need of all types of financial institutions. Articulate functionality gaps and assist in planning the additional activity needed to reconcile them.
