Vakkaru Maldives’ Unmatched New Hospitality Concept Will Take the Utmost Care of You – Hospitality Net

Introducing Vakkare: From Sound Healing to Blue Hole Diving, Vakkaru Maldives' Unmatched New Hospitality Concept Will Take the Utmost Care of You

Baa Atoll, Republic of Maldives, 16 July 2020 - Proud to represent one of the world's foremost luxury resorts, the team at Vakkaru Maldives have always done everything in their power to ensure guests enjoy a holiday experience to treasure forever. But with all of the challenges that have swept across the world this year - and the time that family and friends share together more precious than ever before - it was decided that Vakkaru Mal dives should take its commitment to truly supporting guests' wellbeing even further. Launching on 1 August to coincide with the resort's reopening, Vakkare is a new standard in luxury hospitality, unmatched in the Maldives, that will place the concept of care at the core of all that Vakkaru Maldives offers.

Comprising four pillars - We Kare, Self Kare, Let's Kare and After Kare - Vakkare incorporates not just the resort's practical responses to the challenge of operating a remote private-island resort in the age of Covid-19 but also considers the physical, social and emotional needs of guests who have sought out this peaceful retreat as a timeless sanctuary in which to rest, rejuvenate and refocus following the exhaustions of the last few months.

A mantra that will guide the Vakkaru team through this new era, We Kare signifies the resort team's dedication to sincerely investing in the wellbeing of its members and everyone who visits. It is a renew ed commitment towards displaying empathy, surpassing guest expectations, and delivering happiness. It also means ensuring every possible step is taken so each new arrival can be completely confident their health and safety is fully protected. Vakkaru Maldives has always upheld the highest hygiene standards, but nonetheless various new measures have been introduced in response to the emergence of Covid-19. They include thorough medical checks for team members and health screenings for new arrivals, alongside enhanced sanitisation practices and the provision to guests of We Kare packs to include face masks and other personal items and keepsakes. While social distancing is now a consideration around the world, its implementation didn't require a drastic change to the property's infrastructure. With the protection of privacy a consideration from day one, villas, restaurant seating and the like have always allowed for exclusivity.

A portfolio that will deliver uplift ing encounters, indulgent moments and wonderful memories, Self Kare refers to the many restorative, wellness-minded experiences and services that will be available to every guest.

Among them are a range of enhanced light- and no-touch spa treatments and rituals that will complement the resort's most popular massages and facials. Those returning to Vakkaru will find a greater emphasis on visiting practitioners who specialise in meditation and yoga, alongside a range of transcendental sound therapies facilitated by the reverberations of crystal healing bowls. The ultimate new spa immersion is the resort's signature Merana Healing Journey, a day-long ritual that incorporates yoga, sound healing and a rebalancing coconut shell massage.

For those inspired to improve their physical fitness, Vakkaru's personal trainer is on hand to tailor programmes and the range of outdoor exercises on offer will include tennis, beach volleyball and family-friendly mini tr iathlons. Nourishing dining experiences will be available throughout Vakkaru's restaurants, with the Vakkare symbol in menus signifying refreshing, nutritionally balanced dishes that promote good health without ever compromising on taste or satisfaction. To learn more about healthy eating, guests can pick perfect produce themselves in the resort's flourishing organic garden, before participating in a Self Kare cooking class. Alternatively, the resort's team will take care of everything by facilitating pleasure-filled private-dining experiences that might take place within sight of the ocean on the beach or under the glow of starlight within the comfort of guests' villa. During the day, private nature walks will wind through the forest of over 2,300 coconut trees that shades Vakkaru's interior - should anyone request refreshment, the walk's guide will be happy to pluck a coconut directly from a treetop.

With the healing power of nature so fundamental to Self Kare, guests will also be encouraged to explore the majesty and truly rare beauty of the seascape that envelops the resort. Located in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve internationally recognised for the abundance of sea life drawn to its warm, crystalline waters, Vakkaru Maldives can arrange private, marine biologist-led excursions in search of graceful manta rays and awe-inspiring whale sharks, alongside access to superlative diving and snorkelling sites. They include a remarkable blue hole, so close to Vakkaru's beach that it can be reached in just a few minutes by kayak.

That abundance of natural wonders contributed significantly to Vakkare's third pillar: Let's Kare. Keenly aware of their responsibilities to this vulnerable, vital ecosystem, the team at Vakkaru Maldives already follow stringent sustainability procedures and will increasingly look to facilitate opportunities for curious guests who wish to contribute to environmental and community -based endeavours, be they participating in coral-planting programmes, assisting local conservation efforts or supporting community work on local islands. Vakkare means not just taking care of team members, guests and the resort, but making a meaningful, positive difference to the broader region and beyond.

Those tenets combined with the incredible beauty, exceptional villas and world-class facilities Vakkaru Maldives has always provided should mean every stay stands out as truly special. So that sense of good health and happiness is sustained long after their return home, Vakkare's After Kare will be a wellness-centred loyalty programme providing guests with tips from visiting practitioners and the Vakkaru team, alongside a range of exclusive offers and special surprises.

Combined, those four pillars are intended to support a guest experience that holds an unwavering, sincere sense of true hospitality at its heart. At a time when so many feel the need f or a worry-free escape more than ever, each warmly welcomed visitor to Vakkaru Maldives can count on the team's commitment to Vakkare. They will be certain to take the utmost care of absolutely everything.

Getting ThereVakkaru Maldives promises an intimate slice of paradise, designed to create timeless memories, effortlessly. Whether traveling as a couple or family, guests can book direct their long-awaited getaway with Escape Awaits Reopening Offer starting from US$900++ per room per night in the Beach Pool Villa. Available for stays between 1 August and 22 December 2020, this exceptionally generous offer includes a 40% discount on accommodation and an array of benefits including complimentary transfers for up to two adults and two children, daily breakfast, complimentary daily dinner as well as a 60-minute relaxing body massage at Merana Spa.

Originally posted here:

Vakkaru Maldives' Unmatched New Hospitality Concept Will Take the Utmost Care of You - Hospitality Net

Bridesmaid for Princess Diana was guest on Jeffrey Epstein’s island and flew in his jets – Mirror.co.uk

A bridesmaid at Princess Diana's wedding to Prince Charles was a guest on Jeffrey Epstein's island and twice flew in one of his jets.

Great-granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, Clemmie Hambro, has revealed she flew on the billionaire paedophile's Gulfstream jet after visits to his ranch in New Mexico and private island Little St James.

The now 44-year-old was just 23 at the time of the trips in 1999 and an employee at Christie's auction house in New York.

The ranch visit was for work to help the former Wall Street financier select some art, and the other was via personal invitation, she said in a statement for ongoing court proceedings.

Epstein - who took his own life prior to standing trial last August - would allegedly fly his abuse victims into Little St James, in the US Virgin Islands, and was with Miss Hambro on both flights she took, according to records.

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, 58 - accused of acting as Epstein's madam, and who is in prison in New York awaiting trial next July - was also present for one trip.

Now a writer and mum-of-four, Miss Hambro's details were also listed in the tycoon's 'little black book' of contacts.

Unearthed by the Daily Mail, the flight logs show, alongside Epstein and Maxwell, she flew from Santa Fe - where the billionaire's Zorro Ranch is located - to Teterboro, New York, on February 21, 1999.

Exactly a month later on March 21, Miss Hambro flew back to the same NY airport from St Thomas, used to access Little St James.

In her statement, she said of the second trip, she "didn't really know anyone there, didn't really enjoy myself, and never went back".

"My heart breaks for all the survivors, now I know what happened on that island," she continued.

"In the course of those two trips, I was not abused, nor did I see anyone abused, or anything untoward happen, with minors or otherwise.

"I have been completely horrified about the revelations of his conduct since then. I was clearly very lucky, my heart goes out to those who were abused by him, and I trust they get the justice they so deserve."

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Bridesmaid for Princess Diana was guest on Jeffrey Epstein's island and flew in his jets - Mirror.co.uk

How to Visit Someones Island in Dreams in Animal Crossing: New Horizons – How-To Geek

The promised second summer update forAnimal Crossing: New Horizonshas been released, and it restores the ability to visit another players island in your dreams. Before you can do so, though, youll need a Nintendo Online membership.

Before you launchAnimal Crossing: New Horizonson your Nintendo Switch, be sure youre connected to the internet todownload the latest software update. Youll need to be running version 1.4.0 or higher to access the new summer update content.

RELATED: How to Update Nintendo Switch Games

If youre connected to the internet before you launch the game for the first time, the launcher will automatically notify you that a new software update is available.

If you missed the automatic update notification, navigate to theAnimal Crossing: New Horizons gamelauncher on your Nintendo Switch Home screen. Press the Plus Sign (+) button on your right Joy-Con controller to open the Options menu.

Youll see Ver. 1.4.0 or higher in the top-left corner under the game title if youre updated to the latest version. If not, select Software Update, and then choose Via the Internet to download the latest update to your Nintendo Switch.

Press the A button on your controller to submit any changes. After the game updates and launches, a prompt will inform you that your save data will be updated to the latest version release.

To begin your dream-walking journey, take a nap in any bed in your house. If you dont have a bed, check your mailbox. Nintendo has sent players Lunas Bed just for accessing the update! After dozing off, youll appear in a dream realm and be greeted by Luna.

Luna grants those who share their island a Dream Address, which players can exchange and use to visit each others islands in the dream-state. Think of it as a friend codefor dreaming.

RELATED: How to Connect With Friends in "Animal Crossing: New Horizons"

An internet connection is required and you must have a Nintendo Online membership to visit and receive visitors when accessing the new dreaming feature. Luna will remove all items from your inventory before you embark.

To invite people to your island, climb into a bed. You do this by tilting the directional analog controller next to the bed in your home. After youre in bed, select Yeah, I Want to Sleep . . . from the menu.

When you wake up, youre greeted by Luna. After a short introduction, Luna will ask if youd like to dream or share your dream.

If you want to receive visitors to your dream island, select Id Like to Share a Dream. An internet connection is required to upload the current state of your island and share it as a Dream.

Luna will give you a few warnings before you can upload your dream to the internet. First, when sharing the dream of your island, other playersincluding those you dont knowwill be able to visit a version of your island. However, they can only do so if they have your 12-digit dream address code. They can also visit your island when youre offline.

This means player-generated data about your island and its residents will be public. This data includes all of the following:

Visitors to your dream can also bring back any design on display in your Customs Designs Portal.

This is no different than inviting a friend or random players to visit your island, though. They cant make any changes to your island. However, as long as the dream address exists, anyone can visit it.

After you listen to Lunas rules and conditions, select Im Ready!

Luna will connect to the internet to save your game, and then upload the current state of your island to a dream state. A 12-digit Dream Address you can share is assigned to the uploaded dream and its also uploaded to her library. Anyone who has this 12-digit code can visit this dream state of your island.

You can talk to Luna once per day and request that she update the current state of your island to her dream library (the internet).

If youd like to visit another players dream island, asecure internet connection is required. When youre ready, repeat the steps above to locate a bed and fall asleep. Then, select I Want to Dream from Lunas list.

After the short introduction we explained above, Luna will ask if youre ready to visit another players dream island. Choose Yes, I Am! from the menu. Luna will connect to the internet to save your game, and then you must input the dream address of the island youd like to visit.

Input the 12-digit code, and then press the Plus Sign (+) button on your right Joy-Con controller to move forward.

Luna will ask you to confirm the name of the island youre visiting. If the name of the island is correct, select Yes, It Is! and Luna will connect to the internet.

When you appear on the dream island, Luna will give you a quick explanation of how things work.In dreams, nothing is permanent because nothing you do is saved, so explore to your hearts content.

When youre ready to leave, just hop back into bed and select I Want to Wake Up!

Youll wake up in your bed with your belongings returned to you.

By default, your characters dream address is set to appear on your passport and your islands map. If you dont want it displayed, you must ask Luna to change the settings.

To do so, hop into your bed to enter the dream state, and then select Yeah, I Want to Sleep.

When Luna appears, select About the Dream I Shared, and then choose Adjust Dream Address Privacy. You can also delete a dream address by selecting Delete the Dream.

Luna will present the option to change your dream address to private. Select Yes. Make It Private from her menu to do so. Shell confirm shes set your dream address to private. Press B on your right Joy-Con to exit the dream state.

You can confirm these changes once youre outside of Lunas dream realm. To confirm these changes, press the ZL shoulder-button on your left Joy-Con controller to bring up your Nook Phone menu.

Select Passport and take a look at your islands Map to make sure the dream address was removed. The image below shows what a passport looks like when the dream settings are public.

There doesnt appear to be any way to visit another island without a dream address (sorryAnimal Crossing: New Leaf fans!). With this new addition to the game, though, players can create a dream island to share creative and awe-inspiring designs and layouts with visitors.

Dreaming can be a fun way to visit a friends island and get some inspiration without arranging a Dodo Airlines visit (which also requires your friend to be online).

Sweet dreams!

RELATED: 'Animal Crossing' July 30th Update Adds Cloud Saves, Dream Addresses, Fireworks

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How to Visit Someones Island in Dreams in Animal Crossing: New Horizons - How-To Geek

Resorts reopen in Maldives as travel restrictions lift – Breaking Travel News

Following the reopening of Maldivian borders to international visitors on July 15th, Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation has announced that 146 of its 156 resorts in operation will reopen to guests by the end of October.

Each will be expected to follow health and safety measures set out by the ministry of tourism.

A total of 43 resorts have already opened in the Maldives to date.

In August, a further 28 resorts will open their doors to the public, including Joali Maldives, all four properties in Coco Collection and Centaras Maldivian portfolio of resorts.

An additional 46 resorts will open in October, including Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, Reethi Faru Resort and Niyama Private Islands Maldives.

This will mean 94 per cent of resorts in the Maldives will be open for business ahead of the key winter sun travel months when many UK holidaymakers traditionally escape to warmer climates.

In line with the comprehensive Covid-19 safe tourism guidelines and hygiene certification programme issued by the Maldivian ministry of tourism in June, all 156 resorts situated in the island nation will be required to take protective measures, ensuring the safety of tourists and also staff working in the industry.

Speaking about the reopening of resorts in the Maldives, Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation (MMPRC), said: Following the issue of detailed Covid-19 safe tourism guidelines and the reopening of our international borders on July 15th, the Maldives is now fully prepared to welcome back tourists to our island nation, with safety being the destinations top priority.

Over 40 resorts in the Maldives are already open to guests and a further 103 will reopen before the month of November, so we look forward to welcoming back UK holidaymakers to our beautiful islands.

More Information

The Maldives is currently in the running for the title of Indian Oceans Leading Beach Destination at the prestigious World Travel Awards.

Members of the hospitality industry can vote here - until August 22nd.

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Resorts reopen in Maldives as travel restrictions lift - Breaking Travel News

Paradise beaches, cocktails and hiking trails in Mauritius and you can stay at 6k-a-night hotel for 1,250 – The Irish Sun

IT is when the sun slices out from behind the angry black clouds that I finally get Mauritius.

The sea, for days a frothing grey, is suddenly a flat, sparkling turquoise.

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Beige sands dry out, at last brilliant white, soft and welcoming. And tropical vegetation, until then just a dripping mass, is once more providing dappled shade.

This is more like it.

After three days of highly unusual torrential rain, the sun is out and I can see what all the fuss is about.

And although we have just a few hours before catching the plane home, there is no better place to enjoy the Mauritius experience than on Ilot Mangenie, the private island paradise for guests of the Touessrok Resort & Spa.

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Its just a five-minute bob across from the hotels jetty.

Once there, its a case of settling on a sunbed or in a thatched cabana and sizzling in the gorgeous sunshine, pausing only to take a dip in the warm waters.

The islands little beach club serves a mean cocktail, as well as a great line in tropical salads and oven-fired pizzas.

Its all just too perfect. Guests at Touessrok are a loyal lot one Brummie couple on our boat journey to the island tell me they have been coming annually for more than 20 years.

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And its not difficult to see why. As well as the private beach club, the hotel owns a neighbouring island complete with 18-hole golf course.

And then there are the beaches fringed by palm trees, infinity pools and tropical gardens.

Rooms have terraces or balconies right on to the white sands with floor- to-ceiling windows to soak up every last Instagrammable view of the Indian Ocean.

But paradise, it turns out, doesnt have to come at a price.

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While the resorts three exclusive beach villas, complete with their own champagne butlers, promise royalty and celebs total privacy at 6,000 per night, long-haul specialist Southall Travel has week-long stays in ocean-view rooms from 1,250 including your flights and transfers.

It was my first time in Mauritius which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence from the UK and despite the soggy start, the island was a revelation.

Setting off from Le Touessrok to discover the south of the island reveals endlessly changing landscapes, from busy colonial-era towns and centuries-old sugar- cane plantations to volcanic mountain ranges and unique geological wonders.

In the Black River Gorges National Park we are almost grateful for the deluge as we hike our way up muddy trails through the indigenous rainforest to a lookout point with far-reaching views.

Go: Mauritius

GETTING / STAYING THERE:Long-haul travel specialist Southall Travel has seven nights B&B at the 5* Shangri-La Le Touessrok Resort and Spa.

From 1,249pp including return flights with Turkish Airlines from Gatwick.

The same trip staying at the 5*H Lux Belle Mare is from 1,199pp.

Book online at southalltravel.co.uk or call 0208 705 0086.

There are 40-odd miles of hiking trails to explore and a guided tour is the best way to understand the natural wonders around every twisting turn.

Its no stroll in the park though pack decent boots, wear long trousers to keep bugs at bay and douse yourself in mosquito repellent but the views from the summit are worth every muscle-burning step.

With the rain still tipping down, we dont get to see the Seven Coloured Earths at their best but this geological phenomenon is still astonishing waving sand dunes in a riot of colours that seem to defy the downpours amid the dense tropical forest background.

And if nothing else, our next stop at the Chamarel Waterfalls proves all that rain CAN be a positive.

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We are treated to an astounding deluge of water as it crashes over the edge of a gorge, sending plumes of steam rising into the air and creating an almost prehistoric atmosphere as bats circle overhead.

We dry off and refuel at the Varangue Sur Morne restaurant in Chamarel. Originally a rustic game-keepers lodge, its lovely verandah has panoramic views and decent Mauritian food try the deer or venison curry or fish of the day. Served with simple rice and salad, it hits the spot perfectly.

Heading back to Le Touessrok on the north east of the island, we have just enough time to take in Trou aux Cerfs.

Its a dormant volcanic crater that seems to sit implausibly on the edge of a little town as well as the Grand Bassin, a crater lake some 550 metres above sea level with its calm waters and shoreline dotted with Hindu temples.

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The skies brighten as we explore the capital Port Louis the next day and with the sun comes searing heat.

After admiring the views of the city from the Victorian-era Citadel Fort Adelaide that stands guard over the city we plunge into the cool but chaotic Central Market.

Locals take their pick from stalls piled with glistening fresh fruit and veg, then queue for a dhal puri at the Ramsahye Maraz stand on the markets edge.

Wafer-thin puri pastry is stuffed with a spicy lentil mix and your pick of chutneys and extras.

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Its not delicate or easy to eat but delicious and filling.

As the clouds roll in again we stroll the manicured lawns of the Pample-mousses Botanical Garden, just a short drive from the capital.

From humble beginnings as a vegetable garden started by the islands French governor in the 1720s, it has grown to include a huge collection of tropical palms and a beautiful pond of giant water lilies.

The gardens are well worth an hour or two but do try to plan around lunch at the restaurant Tante Athalie.

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This family-owned, relaxed affair sees guests eating almost in the front yard of a modest colonial house on a former sugar-cane estate, surrounded by an eclectic collection of vintage cars, bikes and even planes.

The view may be bonkers but the food is spot on a heady mix of French and Creole delights with delicious fish and meat curries, fiery chutneys and plenty of fresh local vegetables.

Our final night sees us dashing with brollies from our rooms to the Safran restaurant back at Le Touessrok for high-end Mauritian Indian cuisine spiced grilled fish, meaty curries and delicate dahls are demolished.

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But it is next morning when I throw open the curtains and finally glimpse the sunshine bouncing off a turquoise blue sea that Mauritius finally makes sense.

My tip? Do it all embrace the rain, admire the natural delights.

Then collapse, cocktail in hand, on a white sandy beach and let the sunshine do what it does best.

Bliss.

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Paradise beaches, cocktails and hiking trails in Mauritius and you can stay at 6k-a-night hotel for 1,250 - The Irish Sun

Global Irrigation Automation Market Outlook to 2027 – Water Conservation and Increased Mechanization in Agriculture are Driving Market Growth -…

The "Irrigation Automation - Global Market Outlook (2018-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Irrigation Automation market accounted for $1.97 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $10.55 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 20.5% during the forecast period. Some of the key factors propelling the market growth are need for water conservation and increased mechanization in agriculture. However, lack of technical knowledge is the restraining factor for the growth of the market.

Irrigation automation is the use of advanced devices to operate irrigation structures more efficiently thereby providing benefits to farmers. It is being widely adopted owing to its advantages.

By irrigation type, the drip irrigation segment is expected to grow at a significant market share during the forecast period as it is widely adopted because of its higher efficiency. On the basis of geography, Asia Pacific is anticipated to hold considerable market share during the forecast period due to the increased awareness among farmers and the supportive government initiatives.

Some of the key players in Irrigation Automation Market include Valmont Industries Inc, Nelson Irrigation, The Toro Company, Ranch Systems, Hydropoint Data Systems, Rain Bird, Lindsay Corporation, Calsense, Jain Irrigation Systems, Hunter Industries, Netafim, Weathermatic, Rubicon Water, Galcon, and Growlink.

What the report offers:

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Preface

3 Market Trend Analysis

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Drivers

3.3 Restraints

3.4 Opportunities

3.5 Threats

3.6 Application Analysis

3.7 End User Analysis

3.8 Emerging Markets

3.9 Impact of Covid-19

4 Porters Five Force Analysis

4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Threat of substitutes

4.4 Threat of new entrants

4.5 Competitive rivalry

5 Global Irrigation Automation Market, By Irrigation Type

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Surface Irrigation

5.3 Drip Irrigation

5.4 Sprinkler Irrigation

6 Global Irrigation Automation Market, By Component

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Sensors

6.2.1 Soil-based

6.2.2 Weather-based

6.2.3 Fertigation Sensors

6.3 Controllers

6.4 Valves

6.5 Sprinklers

6.6 Other Components

6.6.1 Pressure Gauge

6.6.2 Monitoring Devices

6.6.3 Flow Meters

7 Global Irrigation Automation Market, By System

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Semi Automatic

7.3 Automatic

8 Global Irrigation Automation Market, By Automation Type

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Computer-based Control System

8.3 Real-time Based

8.4 Volume-based

8.5 Time-based

9 Global Irrigation Automation Market, By Application

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Flower Ornamental Garden

9.3 Agricultural Planting Base

10 Global Irrigation Automation Market, By End User

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Agricultural

10.2.1 Greenhouses

10.2.2 Open Fields

10.3 Non-agricultural

10.3.1 Lawns

10.3.2 Golf Courses

10.3.3 Sports Grounds

11 Global Irrigation Automation Market, By Geography

11.1 Introduction

11.2 North America

11.3 Europe

11.4 Asia Pacific

11.5 South America

11.6 Middle East & Africa

12 Key Developments

12.1 Agreements, Partnerships, Collaborations and Joint Ventures

12.2 Acquisitions & Mergers

12.3 New Product Launch

12.4 Expansions

12.5 Other Key Strategies

13 Company Profiling

13.1 Valmont Industries Inc

13.2 Nelson Irrigation

13.3 The Toro Company

13.4 Ranch Systems

13.5 Hydropoint Data Systems

13.6 Rain Bird

13.7 Lindsay Corporation

13.8 Calsense

13.9 Jain Irrigation Systems

13.10 Hunter Industries

13.11 Netafim

13.12 Weathermatic

13.13 Rubicon Water

13.14 Galcon

13.15 Growlink

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bwv8gu

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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The Global Industrial Automation Device Manager Software Market is expected to grow by $ 1 bn during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 6% during the…

New York, Aug. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Industrial Automation Device Manager Software Market 2020-2024" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05387043/?utm_source=GNW Our reports on industrial automation device manager software market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the increase in need for data analytics, demand for integrated asset management services and growing demand for integrated asset management services. In addition, increase in need for data analytics is anticipated to boost the growth of the market as well. The industrial automation device manager software market analysis includes end-user segment and geographic landscapes

The industrial automation device manager software market is segmented as below: By End-user Oil and gas Power Chemical and petrochemical Automotive Others

By Geographic Landscapess APAC North America Europe South America MEA

This study identifies the integration of information and operational technologies as one of the prime reasons driving the industrial automation device manager software market growth during the next few years. Also, evolution of global device managers with integrated functionalities and emergence of smart factories will lead to sizable demand in the market. The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. Our industrial automation device manager software market covers the following areas: Industrial automation device manager software market sizing Industrial automation device manager software market forecast Industrial automation device manager software market industry analysis

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05387043/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The Global Industrial Automation Device Manager Software Market is expected to grow by $ 1 bn during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 6% during the...

NATS – The challenges of fully automating air traffic management – sUAS News

Louisa Smith

This week I spokeatThe Journey Towards Autonomy in Civil Aerospaceevent organised by theAerospace TechnologyInstitute,addressingthe challengesoffully automating ATM.

We tend to thinkof autonomous things as beingabout self-driving cars or machines doing things withoutanyhuman input, but automationis somethingwe arenow becoming used to in our everyday lives. Fromour phones making suggestions for us,to ourTVs automatically recording shows it knows weve watched before.

Automationfor the aviation industryoffershugeopportunities,andhas the potential to open the skies to new airspace users and allow us to be more flexible and agile in the servicesweprovide.Italso poses somechallenges, and there are three that I think will needto be considered above allothers.

The firstis safety. Safety for NATSis what we do,every second of every day.Our role is to safelymove aircraft from one place to anotheras efficiently as we can. The safety of thousands of flightscarrying hundreds of thousands of peopleevery single day lies with us. To ensure that safety,layersupon layers of mechanisms and proceduresareembedded intowhat we do.

Automation can bring with it the opportunity tofurtherimprove safety levels. And its alreadyin our operation. The big jumpfor the futurewill befrom controllersmaking the decisions withtools to support them.to the technologymaking the decision withouta human tocheck and thenaccept the solution.

A lot of time we compare the automation of the aviation industry with that of autonomous cars,but in reality, thesafety levels within the two industries are not comparable.We needeven more stringent acceptance criteria.Approximately27,000 people are killed or seriously injured in car related accidents every year in the UK alone thatsthe same number of people it would take to fill 180 AirbusA320s.In2019, there wereapprox. 257 commercial aviation fatalitiesanywhere inthe world.The level of safety assurance that will be required to implement any automation will need to reflect that additional safety level.

This leads onto the second challenge:complexity. Airspace is complex and the way we manage itrequires skill and judgement.It takes aroundthreeyears to train as an air traffic controller, after ataxingselection process. The reason the human brain is so good at problem solving in this environment is because it can process a lot of information, butimportantly, it canalsodeal withambiguity.A machinecanmanagea lot more information, butnotambiguity. How do we ensure it can deal with a new scenarioit has never seen before?How does a machine ensure the answer it createsis safe and efficient?It needs to be correct,100%of the time.

Another complexity is our neighbours,weareworkingwithEuropean partnersto harmonise air traffic managementbutif the UK had a fully autonomousATMsystem,andour neighbouring ANSPs didntit wouldmake the interface more than a bit tricky.

Thethird challenge is the human acceptance of automation whether thatsthe travelling passengers, pilots or regulators. If the human doesnttrust the technology, then we may never see it reach its full potential.Acceptancebythepassenger is important, but as we progress along the automation journey in the ATM environment, the trust between controllers and technology is essential, and that is why they are integral to the development of these technology and systems.

The hit ofCOVID-19hasreally demonstrated the impact on the industryofexternal factors, and how we must remain adaptable and flexible.Atechnical solution today may be obsolete in a few years.Butwe know automation does and will play an increasing role in supporting our controllers in providing the safest and most efficient service to aircraft flying through our airspace.

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NATS - The challenges of fully automating air traffic management - sUAS News

How does automation affect our lives and should it be reduced? – Electropages

The introduction of AI could end life as we know it, but maybe not in the way that you would think. Should the use of automation be reduced, and why is this industrial revolution significantly different to all others in the past?

The world has seen many different industrial revolutions ranging from agriculture to conquering the power of steam. Each revolution has helped to bring technological advances while also improving the lives of all people affected. For example, the agricultural revolution saw a massive increase in food production, and better use of land, which resulted in significantly fewer hungry people. The agricultural revolution also led to fewer people needing to work the land, thus freeing up time for people to think and ponder on problems. This thinking leads to the industrial revolution, which saw the introduction of steam power.

Each revolution the world faces has seen the quality of life improve, reduce the effort needed to complete tasks, and increase the number of available jobs via new technologies. However, the current revolution, Industry 4.0, is unlike any other of its kind, and it could potentially do more harm than good if not dealt with correctly. So, what is Industry 4.0, and what makes it different from other industrial revolutions?

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Industry 4.0 is the current industrial revolution that is taking place and is essentially the widespread use of robotics, automation, and AI in everyday industrial processes. The inclusion of such technologies not only helps to make processes more automated; it also provides a level of intelligence that can make decisions on how to improve the process. For example, an AI monitoring system can be fed sensory data from a motor drive system, and from that information, determine if the system is close to failure. From there, it can then instruct the maintenance crew to repair the motor drive while also altering the entire production line to account for the out-of-service motor drive. Network technologies (such as 5G), are what make Industry 4.0 possible, with all aspects of a processing generating data and transmitting this data to a control system.

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One of the most significant differences between Industry 4.0 and its predecessors is the amount of automation introduced, the few additional jobs created, and the skill set needed for the new jobs created. Modern automation systems are utilising robotics to perform most production line tasks done by people, including packaging of items into boxes, moving items around factory floors, and even inspections of final products. The use of robotics in every step in a production line reduces the number of workers needed, and the result is far fewer jobs available.

Automation of the past has solved this problem by replacing old jobs with new jobs. For example, the introduction of automated drilling and milling systems saw a need for operators to monitor the work as well as provide maintenance. The introduction of automation in the past also allowed those on production lines to explore other areas of work, and the growing service industry provided excellent alternatives. However, the current technological revolution is not helping to generate enough jobs for those being replaced with highly automated systems. This lack of job creation is worsened when considering the types of jobs being created through Industry 4.0. While automation of the past lead to the production of new sectors which all required low skilled workers, Industry 4.0 is creating jobs that require a high level of education, including software and hardware engineering. These subjects, not easily taught to many, means that only those with appropriate experience and degrees can benefit from the job creation, leaving those who lack the skill sets in the dark. This problem is amplified when retraining low skill workers are next to impossible due to the complexity of automation systems. For example, teaching a factory floor operator how to perform maintenance (such as timing belt replacement), is significantly easier than trying to teach how PID systems provide error correction, and how AI neural nets learn.

Many economists look towards history and conclude that automation will create more jobs that everyone can do. However, the nature of automation, and the jobs created, means that there will be a large portion of the population who will never be able to work in the field due to the high entry requirements. It is similar to expecting every doctor to become a surgeon if doctors were replaced with AI systems; many lack the dexterity and concentration needed. So, should we ban automation, or should we consider other methods?

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If one statement holds, its that I hate tax more than anything. However, it is hard to deny the importance of tax when driving on roads paid for by the government, the free education provided to children, or the military that defends the country from foreign interests. Banning automation could, in theory, help to provide jobs to low skilled workers, but stopping technological automation is something that simply cannot be done. To start, banning technological advancement means that someone else will quickly overtake you, and thus put you in a worse position (whether economically, technologically, or militarily). Banning technological advancements also impact scientific research which could be used to improve the quality of life, make critical discoveries that could help with global issues, and contribute towards the betterment of humanity as a whole.

However, that doesn't mean that advancements in technology can be allowed to go unchallenged. One example would be unethical medical testing on prisoners; sure, it would allow for much faster medical testing of crucial drugs, but common decency tells us that the means justify the end (i.e. testing on prisoners is not moral, and better not to make technological advances through cruelty). The same applies to the introduction of automation; it can be hugely beneficial to society, but that doesn't mean it should be a free-for-all with no consequences.

One method to help reduce the impacts of industrial automation is with the use of tax; instead of taxing a company solely based on its profits and number of employees, tax its human hours' work output instead. A specific formula and method of calculation would be needed to determine the amount of tax correctly, but in general, if a piece of machinery can replace a worker's job, then it should contribute towards tax as if it was a person. But, instead of being a 1 to 1, the tax formula for such machinery should be scaled to match the economic output of the process better. Thus, a machine may replace three people on a production line, but if it is capable of outputting the equivalent of 20 employees, the tax rate should be higher than that generated from 3 people.

Another aspect that production lines can disregard when replacing employees with machines is environmental conditions. By law, most working environments need to be kept within a temperature for the comfort of employees, but an entirely automated process can do without environmental controls. In such situations, a worksite should not wholly benefit from the cost savings; a portion of those environmental control savings should be taxed. While automation tax is not currently in widespread use, it does exist in some places, including South Korea.

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Some may think that taxing automated processes is anti-capitalist, or market interference, but the truth is that everything costs. No matter how automated a process is, it is still reliant on infrastructure provided for by taxpayers. Roads that bring goods to the factory to be turned into products, the railway that transport materials from one side of the country to the other, the warships that patrol the borders, and the education provided to all, are but a few life's necessities that make those automated processes possible. If too many jobs are replaced with automated systems, then there is a real possibility that countries around the world will turn to universal basic income (UBI). Such a system will require large amounts of funding, and that is something that automated systems will have to pay for. Replacing workers without growing demand for services and new jobs only leads to increasing unemployment, and increasing the complexity of new jobs limits how many people can work.

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How does automation affect our lives and should it be reduced? - Electropages

Robot Process Automation (RPA) Market Overview with Detailed Analysis, Competitive landscape, Forecast to 2025 – AlgosOnline

The latest research at Market Study Report on Robot Process Automation (RPA) Market provides a comprehensive analysis of the Robot Process Automation (RPA) market segments, including their dynamics, size, growth, regulatory requirements, technological trends, competitive landscape, and emerging opportunities of global industry. This report also provides market landscape and market share information in the Robot Process Automation (RPA) industry.

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Robot Process Automation (RPA) Market Overview with Detailed Analysis, Competitive landscape, Forecast to 2025 - AlgosOnline

Preserve Innovation And Empathy As You Automate – Forbes

A Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. two-armed duAro robot serves a cup of coffee during a media preview ... [+] of the human-less cafe inside Nestle SA's Nescafe coffee shop in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The staff-less cafe will open for 10 days from today. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

When I read about how COVID-19 could accelerate the robot takeover of human jobs, I wondered: Is the acceleration of automation detrimental to innovation and customer experience in the long run? Are we going to see a repeat of mistakes weve made in the past?

First, automation is unstoppable. It starts by replacing dangerous, mundane and undesirable jobs. Eventually AI replaces human roles that it can outperform. Once it could only compete for manual labor, but now it can assume decision-making roles. As that decision-making capability becomes more robust, it will replace more humans at work. Its inevitable that many human jobs will be eliminated. The technology exists to replace many more humans than we currently have. Recessions typically drive automation. This one may leave fewer jobs available as businesses rush to cut costs and stand up operations that dont stop when humans get sick. But were a long way from a future where the only jobs left are for faith leaders. We still rely on humans to be creative and compassionate for now. Given these limits, will innovation and empathy suffer in the next wave of automation?

Consider the fate that befell Elon Musk when he rushed to fulfill his dream of a fully automated factory in 2018. Tesla met only half its goal to produce 5,000 cars that year. When asked about the cause of the shortfall, he said Excessive automation was a mistake Humans are underrated. Humans are still the undisputed masters of context, creative problem solving and intuitive leaps. Too much automation too fast deprives a company of an army of observers who do so much more than tighten widgets or answer customers questions. Im reminded of this 2006 gem from Gary Hamel:

Unlike its Western rivals, Toyota has long believed that first-line employees can be more than cogs in a soulless manufacturing machine; they can be problem solvers, innovators and change agents. While American companies relied on staff experts to come up with process improvements, Toyota gave every employee the skills, the tools and the permission to solve problems as they arose and to head off new problems before they occurred. The result: Year after year, Toyota has been able to get more out of its people than its competitors have been able to get out of theirs.

Consider the manager who has risen from the ranks of execution to inspiring those who execute. A good manager relies on her team to stay informed, surface ideas, identify problems or target efficiency improvements. She may drive what innovations follow, but she does this with their help. Imagine if she wasnt allowed to talk to her front-line team or do anything but observe them quietly working away? If her job still existed, how much innovation could she continue to drive? This is the reality when your team consists of robots and process-automation software.

Consider call centers. The goal of an inbound call center is to resolve customer issues and ensure good experiences and satisfaction for them. Were automating many aspects of customer touch points: automated call routing, chat, simple issue resolution and more. Businesses use such automation to reduce costs and improve efficiencies by minimizing human-customer contact. This may work in the near term but in the long run, without humans in the loop observing these interactions firsthand, can we still drive innovation? How do we spot opportunities for new product development or enhancements to current products?

Its not just innovation that suffers. Automation can put an empathy wall between your company and the humans who support it. Without humans present for interactions, how can we better understand customer preferences? How can we learn more about the quality of user adoption or market preferences? What about the intangible insights, hunches and revelations derived from human-to-human communication? When we automate customer touch points, are we ready to lose loyal customers? A Vonage study recently indicated that 61% of customers who speak with interactive virtual assistants report a negative experience. Even worse, 51% report having abandoned a business because of such an experience. Some businesses can differentiate by avoiding automation where consumers expect it. When a company replaces a typically automated touch point with an AI-assisted, high-performing human, it can be a pleasant and brand-affirming surprise for consumers. Rushing to automation means missing out on these opportunities.

So what should we do? Do we avoid automation? We could no less do this than avoid the march of time. But we can move toward automation at a pace that does more good than harm to our business and customers. While we automate roles, we can think twice before letting the humans who occupied them go. We can reskill and upskill some employees so that they can use their familiarity with the business in new, more strategic or customer-facing ways.

We often forget that the ultimate objective of all business effort is to serve human beings. As we remove humans from business processes, we remove the human touch from them as well. When we start expecting human beings to conform to what AI drives as opposed to having AI adapt to what humans want, customers, employees and profits can suffer. Automation is inevitable. It cant and shouldnt be stifled. But those who drive decisions need to be aware of the costnot just in human workers, but in the empathy and ingenuity theyll take with them.

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Preserve Innovation And Empathy As You Automate - Forbes

THE FUTURIST: Taking stock with national and global forecasts – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By David Houle| Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Last column I looked back at the forecasts I had made for the Sarasota-Bradenton area. This column I will take stock of the forecasts I have made for the U.S. and the world. In addition, I suggest some altered and new forecasts for 2020-2021 for the country.

(Readers, please understand that my responsibility is to be correct when looking into the future. I do not in any way like the fact that the economic forecasts below are truly some of the worst any of us have ever experienced.)

January 2020:"There will be a Democratic landslide in November."This was made before COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd and the lack of national leadershipin the U.S. about the virus. So, an even stronger forecast now.

March 2020: Due to COVID-19 the Dow will drop to under 20,000 and the global GDP will shrink 2-3% in 2020.Well, the Dow did drop below 20,000 before bouncing back up again. I think it may well go down again once the depth of the depression and the failure of America to stem the first wave of the virus is more apparent. (Note to active investors: when the major indices go down by 3-5%, liquidate short-term positions as a downturn from current levels might be well into double digits.UPDATE: The 2-3% prediction was before it was clear that the Federal government had no plan. New estimate is GDP down 10% in 2020.

April 2020: We have entered the first depression of the 21st century.No question about it. 2nd quarter GDP was down 33% from last year. I had forecast 30-40%. This collapse erased all the economic growth and employment gains from the last five years. The last time there was a decline like this was during the Great Depression. Same with the 20-30% total unemployment numbers, once all categories are factored in. The unemployment rate was never more than 10.6% in the Great Recession. It will continue to deepen in 2020, stay flat through 2021 and only see an end in 2022-2023 when collapsed structures and legacy thinking give way to the new.

April 2020: "Any inability to successfully contain the virus either first wave or second wave, or opening up state economies too soon, will only result in deeper economic damage."Clearly this is true based on all current data.

May 2020: "Global and U.S. GDP will decline by double digits, 2020 over 2019. Globally down close to $10 trillion." Updated forecast:U.S. GDP 2020 versus 2019 will be down 10% or some $2 trillion. Globally the same $10 trillion forecast, resulting in the global GDP being below $80 trillion.

June 2020:"The U.S. economy will have parts that will come back by 2021 and other that will take years to come back, if then."Given the COVID-19 spikes all across the U.S., I am not sure what will come back. An important distinction must be made between the politically oriented hype of how much has bounced back from April/May. The only comparablesare the month in 2020 compared with the same month in 2019. The annual GDP shrinkage is based upon that. Readers beware of politicians saying the economy is bouncing back."Ask anyone saying that how the 2020 quarters and 2020 months compare to same in 2019.

New Forecasts

COVID-19 deaths are now around 160,000. They will be around 250,000 on November 3 and more than 300,000 on January 20, 2021.The obvious tragedy here is that the number of deaths is accelerating. Back in March and April, the federal government could have taken drastic steps to mobilize and at the same time bring Americans together to fight a common enemy, something we have always done well. We all self-quarantined assuming our governmental leaders would do what they were supposed to do. They didnt.

There will be gubernatorial recall efforts in such states as Florida, Texas and Arizona.Highly likely given the above forecast.

The rest of August and all of September will have widespread coverage of the inability of colleges and schools to open.It is hard to think of a tougher job right now than that of being either a college president or a school superintendent. The rest of August and all of September will have widespread coverage of the inability of colleges and schools to open. That will closely be followed by rapid rises in COVID-19 cases at all levels and the resulting shutdowns and even lawsuits around openings. Politicians demanding that schools open are not really thinking of the potential for children to die and/or infect families and teachers. This is a social, economic and political crisis that is about to unfold across the country.

Office and commercial real estate markets will crash now through 2021 and possibly longer. Manufacturing real estate might well be strong.The office collapse is already starting. Numerous companies have already stated that all, the majority, or significant percentages of employees will be working from homepermanently. In the several conversations I have had with companies that have largely white-collar work forces, I have yet to find one that has more than 10% of employees wanting to come back to office work. This will lead to lease negotiations, cancellations, and non-renewals. The demand for office space has collapsed and this market therefore will have far more supply than demand. Look for dark office buildings in urban centers. There will be no leveling off until the majority of Americans have been vaccinated. However, the new habits, productivity and huge cost savings of enterprise working from home will have been made by then.

Commercial and retail real estate will be the same. Along with other forecasters I have stated that more than 25-30% of all restaurants, bars and coffee shops open in January of this year will close in the U.S. In addition, there will be almost the same percentages of non-restaurant retail stores closing. This means that it will be hard to walk down any shopping street or visit any mall in the US and not see lots of vacant retail spaces. A real tragedy to small business owners, but large chains will close and declare bankruptcy as well.

Industrial real estate will be strong. This is because of the embarrassing realization by the U.S. that so much of our critical manufacturing products such as PPE for medical workers and citizens is made overseas, largely in China. Now that we are in an escalating economic war with China, it is necessary to bring manufacturing back.

Residential real estate will be a mixed bag. By the end of summer, all the pent-up demand from lock-down will have run its course and nationally this market will be flat. Low interest rates aside, too much loss of wealth, unemployment and exhausted savings will be a big drag. The default on mortgages will increase and the evictions of renters will increase.Right now, there is a flight from urban areas due to perceptions of higher probability of infection due to density. I dont think this will last past 2021, but I dont really know.

I conclude by saying that our local, national and global economies are all depressed and unfortunately some parts of them may never fully come back to the way they were last year. Hug the ones you love and readjust what is important in your lives.

Sarasota resident David Houle is a globally recognized futurist. He has given speeches on six continents, written seven books and is futurist in residence at the Ringling College of Art + Design. His website is davidhoule.com. Email him at david@davidhoule.com.

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THE FUTURIST: Taking stock with national and global forecasts - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Fortescue to bring automation expertise to Curtin University WASM curriculum – International Mining

A new partnership between Fortescue Metals Group and Curtin Universitys WA School of Mines (WASM) will, FMG says, help shape the future of Australias mining workforce through a new forward-looking curriculum that meets the needs of the modern resources sector.

Fortescue Operations Improvement Manager, Dr Rob Solomon (pictured), has been appointed to the newly created role of Professor of Practice in Mining Automation and Data Analysis at WASM, leading a range of research initiatives and shaping undergraduate curriculum to drive the application of data science in mining, according to Fortescue.

In his current role with Fortescue, Dr Solomon leads a team looking into the operational efficiency of the companys autonomous mining operations using data sets and advanced analytics.

Fortescue Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines, said: At Fortescue, we have a proud history of embracing technology and innovation which has been fundamental to driving sustained productivity, cost savings and improvements in safety across our business.

The Australian resources sector is already among the most innovative in the world and through this partnership with Curtin University, we look forward to building a pipeline of job-ready graduates who are ready to challenge the status quo and help guarantee the long-term success of our industry.

Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor, John Cordery, said the Mining Automation Professor of Practice will be integral to embedding WASMs new future-focused curriculum.

Dr Solomon brings a wealth of practical experience in operations, impressive academic credentials and a passion for ensuring that new technologies deliver a sustainable industry future, Professor Cordery said. His appointment will see us better able to deliver both content and teaching in mining automation and data analytics.

The schools mining and mining engineering courses are already considered among the worlds very best (ranking second in the world by subject) and we are confident Dr Solomons input as Professor of Practice in Mining Automation and Data Analysis will see us continue to be global leaders in those fields.

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Fortescue to bring automation expertise to Curtin University WASM curriculum - International Mining

Automation Council Announces a New Initiative for Automation as a Service – GlobeNewswire

NEW YORK, Aug. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robotic Process Automation (RPA)provides many benefits to organizations including cost savings, data accuracy, customer satisfaction, compliance and improved employee satisfaction. Companies have an opportunity to experience great benefits with RPA when projects are planned and managed properly. To date, organizations have found success with in-house development and working with external partners for their automation initiatives.

For a variety of reasons, companies may choose to not invest infrastructure, resources, or a large upfront budget for their automation projects. Automation Council announces an alternative so companies can still benefit from RPA: Automation as a Service.

Automation as a Service (AaaS) provides end-to-end solutions from process discovery to bot development, delivery and hosting. Additionally, AaaS encompasses security, governance, audit, compliance and training. Automation Council is receiving a lot of positive feedback with AaaS clients. Clients are very excited about having a Set It and Forget It model of RPA.

Automation Council is a group of IT professionals who believe in the value of automation and digital transformation. With decades of experience in audit & compliance, security, process mapping & discovery, security, on-prem & cloud infrastructure allow the Automation Council to streamline the entire RPA journey with fully customized end-to-end solutions.

For organizations that have dipped their toe into the RPA pond with varying levels of success, Automation Council also offers education, training & development in all major RPA platforms including, UiPath, Blue Prism, Automation Anywhere, Helpsystems, Microsoft Power Automate, Softomotive, Kofax and others.

The Automation Council empowers professionals and their companies to begin and perfect their Robotic Process Automation (RPA) journey.

RPA Officer specializes in helping clients build out an automation strategy, identifying process candidates and process mapping for Business Process Management (BPM). RPA Officer also provides business process education for analysts, project managers and developers to enable teams in their RPA business case development.

BHFE Solutions has guided hundreds of organizations of all sizes in their Robotic Process Automation journeys. BHFE consultants & technical experts bring decades of combined experience navigating vendor selection, standardizing & optimizing business processes, developing software robots, training and forming centers of excellence. Being platform agnostic & having professionals on all major platforms, BHFE is unrestricted & fully capable of guiding clients at any stage, from those who are on the first steps of their RPA journey to organizations with solutions already in place that just need assistance unleashing their full capabilities.

Fluid Solutions Group (FSG) represents a continuous change in the world of technology. FSG brings organizations a comprehensive set of solutions in Cloud, End-User Computing, and Business Automation. Our solutions carve the path for you to transform your infrastructure, boost efficiency, enhance security, and allow scalability for future business growth... All these benefits help you deliver the best User Experience possible.

Contact:Info@AutomationCouncil.org

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Automation Council Announces a New Initiative for Automation as a Service - GlobeNewswire

Be More Da Vinci: Why Data Scientists Should Be Working with Designers, Futurists and Business Executives – insideBIGDATA

In this special guest feature, Michael Kanazawa, EY Global Innovation Realized Leader and EY Americas Advisory Growth Strategy Leader, discusses why data scientists and engineers should be working with designers, futurists, and business executives. With over 20 years of strategy and innovation experience, Michael is seasoned in developing corporate strategy and transformation as well as in building businesses both within global corporations and as an entrepreneur. He earned an MBA from the University of Southern California, and BA in Economics and Mathematics from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Mathematician or artist? Right now, weve built a way of living, educating and working that says youre either one or the other. Yet, in fact, this way of viewing the world is both myopic and inaccurate. After all, look at Leonardo Da Vinci, not only among historys greatest artists but one of its foremost scientific thinkers and inventors too.

As a business, viewing your workforce in these black and white terms is also increasingly dangerous. Sure, not many of us are a Da Vinci but we all have skills that straddle both art and science individually and, perhaps more importantly, collectively. For organizations, maximizing these diverse capabilities by combining human-centered designers, data scientists, futurists, and business executives is the way to lead the future. Failing to do so risks being consigned to the past.

Deterministic thinking

Before we consider why, lets remind ourselves of two of big datas most common misconceptions. First, that its a vast sea, with information disparately spread out just below the surface. Its not, its a well. A deep pool, the further down which we go, the richer the patterns, connections and insights we uncover. Second, the more data we have, the more insightful well be. Not necessarily. Often, having a vast amount of information can be overwhelming, making it harder, not easier to find the answers were looking for.

Yet theres a third, more systemic issue at play here too. Currently, organizations tend to forecast using a deterministic mathematical model developed by ancient Greek philosophers. This essentially involves making precise predictions based on historical information and known relationships before searching the data for evidence that confirms them.

The problem is, this leaves no room for random variation or finding unanticipated futures. No opportunity to uncover deeper shifts in underlying patterns within the surface patterns we can see or identify connections that werent previously apparent. As a result, a whole heap of possible insights go to waste.

See what youre not seeing

The real state-of-the-art, therefore, comes in employing tools such as AI, neural networks and deep learning to go further, faster. To show us what were not seeing, rather than confirm what were expecting to see. To take information from inside and outside our organization. And do it all in real time.

By doing so, businesses can get to know consumers as individuals then use that knowledge to generate new value and better outcomes for customers. Imagine, for example, an online retailer combining what it already knows about a customers buying patterns perhaps theyve previously paid a premium for more sustainable products with external data that tells it that same customer is about to give birth to their first child. Armed with this previously unknown connection, the retailer can target them with relevant marketing around sustainable baby wipes and diapers. The offer and products are introduced just at the right time, in the right way, to the exact right customer.

Beyond technology

But wheres the employee and talent story for companies here? After all, the potential of these technologies in helping them make better, more data-driven decisions, has long been clear. Why does it mean business leaders should be teaming up data scientists, designers and futurists?

Answer: Da Vinci.

As the scientific part of your teams collective brain, data science engineers can find the quickest route into the data. Meanwhile, the designers are the artists; the creators of new products and services that deliver what customers want. Yet Da Vincis success was not just down to his brilliance as a polymath or skill with a paintbrush; it hinged on his ability to view problems differently. To follow paths that no-one had thought to follow before. Thats where futurists come in.

They have the ability to look at things in new ways and, as result, find new things. Rather than simply consider an historical datasets picture of the past, they will consider what human behavior, life and business is going to be like further down the line then take cues from the data to see patterns unfolding that dont exist yet and build a more accurate profiles of individuals habits in the future. This diversity of thought and problem solving that was within Da Vincis personal experience is what we need to build as individual leaders and across blended teams in this new world.

Personalized and profitable

The value of this is considerable. It enables firms to take their understanding of customers to the next level and create products and services that are personalized to their future needs, not just their current ones.

Already, were seeing a new breed of businesses who understand this, pairing up their data scientists, designers and business decision-makers with the free-thinking approach of futurists. This, in turn, is letting them get ahead of competitors in forecasting and meeting the evolving requirements of customers and, ultimately, boost profitability.

COVID-19 has simply served to accelerate our progress along this curve, showing us how quickly things can change and providing a real existential threat to firms who continue to rely on more traditional operating models. Having the right data and technology is no longer enough; you must also have a team diverse enough to interpret and act upon it. Its time to be more Da Vinci.

The views reflected in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organization or its member firms.

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Be More Da Vinci: Why Data Scientists Should Be Working with Designers, Futurists and Business Executives - insideBIGDATA

IoT automation trend rides the next wave of machine learning, Big Data – Urgent Communications

An array of new methods along with unexpected new pressures cast todays IoT automation efforts in an utterly new light.

Progress today in IoT automation is based on fresh methods employing big data, machine learning, asset intelligence and edge computing architecture. It is also enabled by emerging approaches to service orchestration and workflow, and by ITOps efforts that stress better links between IT and operations.

On one end, advances in IoT automation includerobotic process automation(RPA) tools that use sensor data to inform backroom and clerical tasks. On the other end are true robots that maintain the flow of goods onfactory floors.

Meanwhile, nothing has focused business leaders on automation like COVID-19. Automation technologies have gained priority in light of 2020s pandemic, which is spurring use of IoT sensors, robots and software to enable additional remote monitoring. Still, this work was well underway before COVID-19 emerged.

Cybersecurity Drives Advances in IoT Automation

In particular, automated discovery of IoT environments for cybersecurity purposes has been an ongoing driver of IoT automation. That is simply because there istoo much machine information to manually track,according to Lerry Wilson, senior director for innovation and digital ecosystems at Splunk. The target is anomalies found in data stream patterns.

Anomalous behavior starts to trickle into the environment, and theres too much for humans to do, Wilson said. And, while much of this still requires a human somewhere in the loop, the role of automation continues to grow.

Wilson said Splunk, which focuses on integrating a breadth of machine data, has worked with partners to ensure incoming data can now kick off useful functions in real time. These kinds of efforts are central to emerging information technology/operations technology (IT/OT) integration. This, along with machine learning (ML), promises increased automation of business workflows.

Today, we and our partners are creating machine learning that will automatically set up a work order people dont have to [manually] enter that anymore, he said, adding that what once took the form of analytical reports now is correlated with historic data for immediate execution.

We moved past reporting to action, Wilson said.

Notable use cases Splunk has encountered include systems that collect signals to monitor and optimize factory floor and campus activity as well as to correlate asset information, Wilson indicated.

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IoT automation trend rides the next wave of machine learning, Big Data - Urgent Communications

Volvo CE Engages Futurists to Explore Ideas and Possible New Directions – Rental Equipment Register

Volvo CE has unveiled a new project that furthers its efforts in Building Tomorrow. The company has partnered with professional futurists to gather their forecasts for the industries that Volvo CEs customers work in, including construction, agriculture, mining and infrastructure. The company has also partnered with students from the Columbia College of Hollywood to animate these visions of the future.

Futurists forecast the coming trends in science, technology and business. They help companies understand how the innovations of today will impact the industries of the future. Volvo CE recently engaged David Zach and Glen Hiemstra known for their work with dozens of innovative fortune 500 companies to provide expert forecasts on where various industries may be headed.

In order to build tomorrow, that means having a good sense of what tomorrow may look like, said Stephen Roy, senior vice president for the Americas, Volvo CE. While no one can be 100-percent certain about what the future has in store, these professional futurists can give us an educated guess based on the research, science and economic trends we see today. We asked students from the Columbia College of Hollywood to animate some of these forecasts so that we have a vision of the possible future from those young persons who will soon inhabit it.

Presented below are a sample of the forecasts for each industry:

Road Infrastructure

Nanotechnology will enable roadways to be built from more resilient glass-like materials.

Photogenic cells along roadways will capture solar energy for transporting to local power grids.

Self-healing epoxies will enable bridges and other metal structures to heal themselves from damage.

Roadways will have embedded censors that provide road, weather and traffic conditions.

Autonomous equipment that is fully electric and emissions free will handle duty-cycle work.

Sensors in construction equipment will provide data for predictive analytics and increase uptime.

Construction

Buildings of all sizes will be increasingly modular, utilizing more prefabricated elements.

Entire rooms and their furnishings will be built in a specialized location, then installed at the job.

Flying drones will monitor construction on job sites, reporting critical data and visualizations.

Rolling drones will travel up and down building shafts and behind walls to take readings.

New paint polymers will improve air quality while wall sensors monitor for chemicals, smoke and fire.

Entire neighborhoods will be 3D printed, then completed with prefabricated elements.

Waste management and recycling

Companies will have more responsibility over the entire lifecycles of their products and the materials used to make them, creating a more circular economy.

Vehicles that collect waste and recycling will be fully electric, reducing emissions and noise.

Waste and recycling bins will become autonomous, driving themselves to collection points.

Robots will use artificial intelligence to separate materials, eating some of them for energy.

The gamification of the industry will lead the work to become more scientific and videogame like.

Machines that accept recyclables will show what those materials will be used for in the future.

Agriculture

Vertical skyfarms near cities will boost the amount of food that can be grown on a single piece of land.

These indoor farms with multiple stories give the ability to control weather, irrigation and pests.

Plants on all farms will be tagged with RFID and sensors to control nutrient and water intake.

Autonomous electric construction equipment will help prepare lands and transport harvests.

Robots that use artificial intelligence will pick crops and sort them for either human use or composting.

Halophytes, crops grown in saltwater, will help tackle freshwater shortages around the globe.

Mining

Autonomous and remote-controlled equipment will remove humans from dangerous situations.

Humans will control mining equipment from remote locations via simulators that give tactile feedback.

Automated, fully electric machines will handle repetitive duty-cycle work with no emissions.

With programmed, autonomous machines, mining operations will work around the clock.

Robots will move in to pick materials from mine shafts and use artificial intelligence to sort them.

We will increasingly extract materials from the ocean, asteroids and other planets.

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Volvo CE Engages Futurists to Explore Ideas and Possible New Directions - Rental Equipment Register

Astronomers May Have Found a Star That’s Just 33 Years Old – Futurism

A team of astronomers have observed what they believe to be a neutron star being born following a supernova first detected in 1987, in a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way 170,000 light-years from Earth, dubbed SN 1987A.

Until now, astronomers werent sure if the neutron star survived the powerful event and didnt just collapse in on itself to form a black hole but a new paper published last week in The Astrophysical Journal suggests that it may have survived after all.

That means the neutron star would bea millennial, no older than 33.

If confirmed, it would be the youngest neutron star known to mankind, as Astronomy reports. To date, the youngest supernova remnant is the 330 years old Cassiopeia A, about 11,000 light-years away from Earth inside the Milky Way.

Analyzing high-resolution imagery from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, a team of astronomers was able to get a closer look at what was left behind following SN 1987A.

They found a hot blob inside the core of the supernova, likely a gas cloud shrouding the neutron star. The star itselfwould be far too small to be detected directly, as its extremely small and dense the mass of 1.4 times the Sun inside a sphere thats only 15 miles across.

We were very surprised to see this warm blob made by a thick cloud of dust in the supernova remnant, Mikako Matsuura from Cardiff University who made the discovery with ALMA, said in a statement.

The discovery by the ALMA team supports the new theoretical study published last week.

There has to be something in the cloud that has heated up the dust and which makes it shine. Thats why we suggested that there is a neutron star hiding inside the dust cloud, Matsuura added.

In spite of the supreme complexity of a supernova explosion and the extreme conditions reigning in the interior of a neutron star, the detection of a warm blob of dust is a confirmation of several predictions, lead author Dany Page, astrophysicist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, explained in the statement.

According to computer models, the neutron star would have been sent screaming through space at hundreds of kilometers per second. The location where the ALMA team found it is exactly where it would be today, according to the models.

The theoretical star was also found to be extremely bright, in large part thanks to its hypothesized temperature of around five million degrees Celsius.

It will take time until the existence of the star can be confirmed. The dust and gas around the supernova need to subside further for astronomers to say with any certainty that the extremely young star really exists.

READ MORE: Hot blob points to a neutron star lurking in Supernova 1987A [Astronomy]

More on neutron stars: Astronomers Watch Neutron Star Charge Up Before Huge X-Ray Blast

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Astronomers May Have Found a Star That's Just 33 Years Old - Futurism

Air Force One’s Successor Could Go 5x the Speed of Sound – Futurism

Nyoom!

A coming iteration of Air Force One, the high tech plane reserved for shuttling the President of the United States around the world, may be able to reach nauseatingly-fast speeds up to Mach 5.

The U.S. Air Force just awarded a contract to the aerospace startup Hermeus, Business Insider reports, which calls for the first hypersonic version of Air Force One. The company already has a prototype engine built and tested, and now its just a matter of building the rest of the plane.

Hermeus has been working on its hypersonic engine for over a year and completed tests in March, Business Insider reports. But now that it has this Air Force contract, it will need to make sure that its Mach 5 plane also meets certain rigorous standards.

Hermeus thinks it can all be done with existing technology.

We want to do engineering, not science, COO Skyler Shuford told Ars Technica last year.

For better or worse, Hermeus hypersonic Air Force One is at least ten years down the road, Business Insider reports. Boeing is already set to deliver the next Air Force One in 2021, and Hermeus model would serve as that planes eventual replacement.

That means that unless American democracy utterly collapses, well never get to see what Mach 5 would do to President Trumps notoriously unusual hairstyle.

READ MORE: An aerospace startup just won a contract to develop an Air Force One jet that can travel at Mach 5. Heres an early look at the engine that could rocket from New York to Paris in 90 minutes. [Business Insider]

More on Hermeus: Blazing Supersonic Plane Could Zoom From NY to Paris in 90 Min

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Air Force One's Successor Could Go 5x the Speed of Sound - Futurism

Intelligent Process Automation Market 2020 | In-Depth Study On The Current State Of The Industry And Key Insights Of The Business Scenario By 2026 -…

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End Users (Revenue, USD Billion; 20162026)

Regional Outlook: (Revenue, USD Billion; 20162026)

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