Engineering Matters

The UK is a global leader when it comes to the development of offshore wind energy. Despite past government bans on onshore wind development, the UK was able to continue developing its wind energy portfolio by going out to sea. The UK now generates over a quarter of its electricity from wind, with a significant portfolio of offshore wind projects amounting to 80+ gigawatts.  Despite this success offshore, continuing development is now getting more complicated. With sites selected for development being in much deeper waters the industry is transitioning from fixed to floating foundations. And deployment of offshore wind will need to grow exponentially, not just in the UK and North Sea, but around the world, in order to meet Net Zero targets. Industry experts like James Faroppa from Fugro, Emily Summers from Simply Blue Group, Daniel Gumsley from Marsh and Amy Beeston from DNV share insights on the intricacies of developing offshore floating wind farms. They highlight the importance of collecting accurate seabed data, the certification process, and the evolving insurance landscape. The transition to floating wind farms necessitates a shift in traditional methods, requiring innovative approaches to data collection and certification to meet ambitious net zero goals. Collaborative efforts and standardisation across the industry are crucial to overcoming these challenges and accelerating project timelines. The Crown Estate’s proactive approach to seabed planning and data provision aims to streamline the development process, while industry stakeholders emphasise the importance of collaboration, data sharing, and innovation to achieve sustainable and efficient offshore wind energy production. Guests James Faroppa, service line director marine geoconsulting in Europe and Africa, Fugro Amy Beeston, geotechnical engineer, DNV Emily Summers, project development engineer, Simply Blue Group Daniel Gumsley, offshore wind strategic lead, Marsh Will Apps, director of offshore wind strategy, The Crown Estate. Partner Fugro is the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, collecting and analysing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Through integrated data acquisition, analysis and advice, Fugro unlocks insights from Geo-data to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner.The post #285 Delivering the Floating Offshore Wind Revolution first appeared on Engineering Matters.

When the Queensway Tunnel opened on 18th July 1934 King George V declared it a miracle. At 3.4km long and with a 13.4m internal diameter it was the world’s longest subaqueous tunnel and the largest municipal engineering project that had ever been undertaken in the UK. The project pushed the boundaries of engineering design and construction from its use of advanced grouting techniques to development of a mechanical erector for placing the cast iron segments that lined the tunnel.  “I thank all those who have achieved this miracle. I praise the imagination that foresaw, the minds that planned, the skill that fashioned, the will that drove, and the strong arms that endeavoured in the bringing of this work to completion.” King George V, 18th July 1934 Guests Colin Dever, technical services manager, Merseytravel, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Ray Langley, divisional director – north west, Mott MacDonald Guna Rajadurai, account director utility tunnels, Mott MacDonald Alison Smith, leisure and attractions officer, Merseytravel Andy Thompson, tunnel design manager – east coast, Mott MacDonald Partner Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy focussed on improving society by considering social outcomes and relentlessly focussing on excellence and digital innovation. Its predecessor firm Mott, Hay and Anderson designed the Queensway Tunnel.The post #284 Queensway Tunnel: The Miracle Under the Mersey first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In every home, ancient technologies lurk, threatening fire and ruin. While many devices—lights, TVs, and hard drives, for example—have adopted solid state technologies, power bricks still use ageing electromechanical systems. AmberSemi’s AC Direct DC Enabler is a fabless semiconductor system that replaces these bricks. At home, that means smaller, safer ways of connecting DC devices to AC main power. But the technology could also benefit industrial users and data centres. In factories, low power controls and high power motors can now be safely managed from one connection; in data centres, cascading circuit failures can be predicted and prevented before they happen. AmberSemi’s innovations have met with an enthusiastic response from semiconductor companies and electrical manufacturers. It promises to transform power systems and controls, across residential, commercial, digital and industrial applications. And, working with partners including ST Micro and Nordic Semiconductor, it is bringing its solid state ideas into commercial reality. Guests Thar Casey, CEO, AmberSemi Rob Halligan, CMO, AmberSemi Chris Casey, EVP, operations and business developmentThe post #283 Power, without the power brick: Engineering Matters Awards 2024 Net Zero Gold Champion AmberSemi first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Can an ancient technology help spin up the renewables revolution? Dumarey—formerly Punch—Flybrid is doing just that, with its flywheel-based technology. In this episode, one of a series this summer, we look at their winning entries to the Engineering Matters Awards. On construction sites, power supply must be shaped around the peak demands of heavy equipment. Waiting times for high power connections typically mean that generators are used instead, and these must be sized for the maximum power drawn. Dumarey’s flywheels can remove this need. A trickle of power from a generator a tenth of the size, or even a standard grid supply, can be enough keep a flywheel spinning, and able to hit peaks when needed. Flywheels also have a role to play at the other end of the electricity grid. On wind farms in Northern Ireland, software company Izon and maintenance business Everun are using flywheels on older turbines to meet tight power factor requirements from local network operator Northern Ireland Electricity Networks, and to smooth supply as winds rise and fall. Guests Tobias Knichel, managing director, Dumarey Flybrid Aaron Devaney, CEO, IzonThe post #282 Spinning up the renewables revolution: Engineering Matters Awards 2024 Gold Champion — Dumarey first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The adventures of astronauts have inspired the dreams of many young people. But once those dreams collide with the reality of years of demanding training and study, they often fade. Today, space is about much more than high profile crewed missions. In the UK alone, tens of thousands of workers will be needed by the space industry.  In this episode, part of a series on Engineering Matters Awards winners, we speak to Diversity and Inclusion Champions the UK Space Agency, and learn how their Space for Everyone tour has helped demonstrate the real opportunities available in space, and the wide range of skills the country will need. The tour saw a full size, 72ft (21m) replica of the first rocket to launch from the UK, crossing the country. It visited towns and cities without an existing link to the sector, and was part of a fuller programme of online and in person engagement, helping to show young people that their space dreams could become real, and the many paths they could take to join the sector.  Guests Matthew Archer, director of launch, UK Space Agency Simon Foster, outreach manager, faculty of natural sciences, Imperial College London Image credit: UK Space AgencyThe post #281 A rocket in the high street: Engineering Matters Awards 2024 Inclusion Gold Champion — Space for Everyone first appeared on Engineering Matters.

We delve into the critical role of the built environment in addressing the climate emergency, and how our Engineering Matters Awards Net Zero champion the Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD) is helping decarbonise the industry. Created by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), the BECD is a comprehensive initiative to collect and share data on carbon emissions from construction projects. With contributions from various professional bodies and industry experts like James Fiske of BCIS and Fabrizio Varriale from RICS, the episode explores the database’s development, purpose, and the importance of transparent carbon data sharing. The BECD consists of two key databases: the asset level database and the material database. The asset database helps developers benchmark carbon emissions of projects like buildings and bridges throughout their lifecycle, from construction to operation and maintenance. The material database aims to provide comprehensive coverage of materials used in construction, facilitating more accurate whole life carbon assessments. Experts Orlando Gibbons from Arup and James Fiske highlight the significance of consistent and transparent carbon reporting in driving the industry towards lower emissions and better practices. Despite the BECD’s potential, the episode underscores the need for government support and regulation to maximize its impact. Initiatives like the proposed Part Z regulation, which would mandate carbon calculations for construction projects, are crucial for creating a competitive and accountable landscape. The collaborative efforts of industry bodies and the development of standards like the UK net zero carbon building standard are pivotal in achieving decarbonization goals. The BECD was a gold winner at the Engineering Matters 2024 awards. Entry for next year’s awards is now open. Guests James Fiske, CEO, BCIS Orlando Gibbons, Embodied Carbon Specialist, Arup Fabrizio Varriale, Place and Space analyst, RICSThe post #280 Measuring carbon in materials and projects: Engineering Matters Awards 2024 Net Zero Champion — BCIS Built Environment Carbon Database first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The concept of intersection has given society a new way to understand identity. It has profound implications for how we understand ourselves and others in our workplaces. For engineers, it can inform how projects are designed, and how they meet the needs of diverse users. The concept was developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw, and draws on her analysis of a 1970s discrimination claim brought by Emma DeGraffenreid. DeGraffenreid’s potential employer had successfully defended the claim, by pointing out that it was not racist—it employed Black men in production—and was not sexist—it employed white women in administration. But as a Black woman, DeGraffenreid was discriminated against due to the intersection of these two aspects of her identity. Crenshaw’s work seeks to inform the justice system. But her insight that discrimination can be shaped by multiple facets of our complex identities, has much wider implications. In this episode, we consider what this view of identity means for engineering workplaces, and the work engineers deliver. Guests Claire Sarafilovic, director, project and programme services, AtkinsRéalis Rebecca Crowther, ED&I lead for the UK and Ireland, AtkinsRéalis Adam Lawrence, associate acoustician, AtkinsRéalis; chair, HSP Support Group References Kimberlé Crenshaw TED talk on The urgency of intersectionality Partner AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. Employing over 37,000 people across Canada, the US and Latin America, the UK and Ireland, and Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, AtkinsRéalis creates sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems.The post #279 Intersection, Identity, and Engineering first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Around the world, 8% of CO2 emissions come from the production of concrete, and 90% of those emissions come from the production of cement. This episode highlights the groundbreaking work of Engineering Matters Awards Gold Champion Seratech, a company pioneering the use of carbon capture technology in concrete production.  Their innovative process uses the abundant mineral olivine to capture CO2 during cement production, resulting in byproducts such as silica and magnesium carbonate. These byproducts not only reduce the carbon emissions of concrete but also serve as valuable materials for construction, making this approach a potential game-changer for the industry. Seratech materials are still in the early stage of development, however the future potential of Seratech’s technology and its impact on the construction industry’s carbon emissions could revolutionise the construction industry. Seratech received the Gold Innovation Champion Awards at the 2024 Engineering Matters Awards, and Silver Champion in the Net Zero category. Entries for next year’s awards are now open. Links Engineering Matters Awards Guests Michael Cook, Chairman, Seratech Tanya De Hoog, President, the Institution of Structural Engineers David Watson, Technical Director, AKT llThe post #278 Capturing carbon with concrete: Engineering Matters Awards 2024 Innovation Gold Champion Seratech first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The race to hit Net Zero targets will require an unprecedented surge in innovation. As Dame Laura Sandys, CBE, explains, energy systems will be reshaped, with a few hundred players in the market replaced by millions of actions and assets in a distributed system. These will necessitate not just physical changes to how we generate, use, store and distribute energy, but a new digitalisation that allows for an effective market to function. But this is just one aspect of the complex web of innovation that will be needed. In this episode, we learn about the challenges of decarbonising at pace from exhibitors and speakers at the Innovation Zero conference in London.  There is no shortage of ideas for tools that will help us reach Net Zero. The challenge for innovators is to fund the rapid scaling up of these ideas, and to understand the needs of potential customers. And those customers—governments, asset owners, engineering firms—must find ways to spot the best ideas, and to direct their investment wisely. Guests Dame Laura Sandys, CBE, chair, UK government Energy Digitalisation Taskforce, non-executive director SGN, SSE Transmission, Highview Power, Energy Systems Catapult.  Jonathan Holyoak, Global Net Zero Programme Director, AtkinsRéalis Stuart McLaren, Global Net Zero Business Development Director, AtkinsRéalis Exhibition interviewees Hermione Crease, co-founder, Purrmetrix Manuel Sanabria, project manager, SatVu Benjamin Todd, PR liaison, UnDo Partner AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. Employing over 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, AtkinsRéalis uses the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #277 The Race to Net Zero – Innovation at Pace first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Cone Penetration Testing is a conceptually simple technology first developed in the Netherlands almost a century ago, but is still a critical component in the geotechnical toolkit. Now far more accurate and capable than early cones, modern equivalents are being deployed to solve some of the most pressing challenges, within the Dutch lowlands and far overseas. In recent years a surge in research and development has transformed the traditional cone and equipped it with a range of new capabilities. New testing techniques can now be used to understand the infiltration of water into aquifers. In the Netherlands, these have been used to understand the stability of dikes and levees, with lessons learned that can be applied around the world to more efficiently build these structures. And insights from the marine sector now allow for more automated penetration testing, reducing risks associated with manual insertion of the rods used to push cones deep into the ground. Guests Edward Russell, Senior Principal Engineering Geologist, Mott MacDonald Gerry Sinjorgo, Manager Transducer Workshop, Fugro Barbara Snacken, Senior Consultant Hydrology, Fugro David Tindall, Global Product Owner – Geotechnical Equipment, Fugro Resources For the much-referenced paper, The Causes and Mechanisms of Historical Dike Failures in the Netherlands, click here  For a paper on the need to integrate flood and drought disaster reduction strategies, click here  For a blog from TU Delft on the effect of rising sea levels on the Low Countries, click here For ISO 22476-5:2023 Geotechnical investigation and testing, click here For a video on the Deep Drive system, click here  Partner Fugro is the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, collecting and analysing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Through integrated data acquisition, analysis and advice, Fugro unlocks insights from Geo-data to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner.The post #276 A Deep Understanding of the Ground Beneath Our Feet first appeared on Engineering Matters.

For any military operation the objectives of the mission are absolutely paramount. Failure is not an option. The team is motivated to achieve a common goal, often working under extreme pressure, pulling together to overcome challenges, paying attention to detail and always prioritising the objectives of the mission. In this way veterans have a lot to offer construction and infrastructure projects.  In this podcast we explore how veterans are using their military skills in new ways from serving their country to serving communities. We find that their experience of working in a dynamic and demanding environment enables a very unique understanding of the objectives of a major project and a skills set that is primed for successful delivery. Guests John Buck, program manager, Mott MacDonald Jan Kozlowski, director operating capital projects and work equipment, Metro North Railroad (MNR) Heather “M” McCray, structural engineer, Mott MacDonald Frank Townsend, president, Patriot Shotcrete  Partner Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy focussed on improving society by considering social outcomes and relentlessly focussing on excellence and digital innovation. The post #275 Serving Countries to Serving Communities first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Dar es Salaam is one of the world’s fastest growing cities. In the 1970s, it was home to less than one million people. Today, it has a population of more than five million people, and by 2035 it is projected to have more than 13 million residents. The city sits on a natural harbour, the Zanzibar channel, and is crossed by a series of short rivers and tributaries. These supported the population, and helped build its position as one of Africa’s most important ports. But as climate change takes effect they bring risks: of flood, and of disease. And, like other cities, Dar es Salaam also faces intolerable heat, with the urban heat island effect adding to global temperature rises. As the Tanzanian government starts a second tranche of development in the city, with the support of the World Bank, it wanted to consider the impact of using more nature-based engineering techniques. In this episode, we learn how engineers from Arup made use of flood mapping from Fathom, as they calculated the impact of urban greening on the city. Guests Caroline Ray, regional director, East Africa, Arup Gavin Lewis, head of engineering markets, Fathom Dr Natalie Lord, principal climate scientist, Fathom Anthony Cooper, hydraulic modeller, Fathom Partner Fathom gives risk management professionals the most scientifically robust intelligence to understand the climate’s effects on water risk. By publishing cutting-edge peer-reviewed academic research and applying it to real-world challenges, Fathom enables stronger decision-making for (re)insurance, civil engineering, corporate risk, financial services, disaster response and government.The post #274 Seeing the Future of a City first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In this episode, we delve into the dynamic world of Power Electronics, Machines, and Drives (PEMD), exploring its pivotal role in shaping the future of energy systems and sustainability efforts.  PEMD technology plays a critical role in advancing electrification and decarbonisation efforts worldwide. With PEMD technology enabling the integration of renewable energy sources, improving energy conversion efficiency, and driving advancements in electric mobility, the industry is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable energy future.  But creating an industry from diverse sectors that include academics, government organisations and the commercial side of the industry, requires commitment and vision. Conferences like PEMD 2024 are crucial platforms for fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and driving innovation within the PEMD community. The conference, organised by the IET, will shed light on the diverse range of topics, from integrated motor drives to advanced control techniques for high-frequency power electronics, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of PEMD research. Guests Daisy Deng, NUAcT Fellow in Electrical Power Research Group, Newcastle University Jon King, Midlands regional lead, DER-IC. Nigel Jakeman, engineering and business development director, Turbo Power Systems Partner The Institution of Engineering and Technology inspires, informs and influences the global engineering community to engineer a better world. As a diverse home across engineering and technology,  the IET shares knowledge that helps make better sense of the world in order to solve the challenges that matter. PEMD 2024 takes place at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham, from June 10–13 2024.The post #273 The Core Technologies of a New Power System first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In late 1973 the UK’s Central Electricity Generating Board gained parliamentary approval to build the largest and most difficult pumped storage hydroelectric power station in its history. It was the largest civil engineering contract ever awarded by the government and became the biggest construction project in Europe. Engineering teams had to burrow 750m deep into the Cambrian slate of Elidir Fawr mountain at Dinorwig, North Wales to create the underground power station and a 16km labyrinth of tunnels up to 10.5m in diameter linking upper and lower reservoirs.  It’s scale and complexity pushed the limits of design and construction with engineers developing state of the art practices for rock reinforcement and concrete design and pioneering new construction methods. As the station celebrates 40 years of operation and looks ahead to a bright future as a battery for renewable energy, we speak with the people that planned, designed and constructed electric mountain hearing stories that have never been told before. Guests Kin Almond, supervising civil engineer, James Williamson & Partners John Armstrong, station manager Dinorwig and Ffestiniog, First Hydro James Arthur – senior engineer, James Williamson & Partners John Cowie – associate, James Williamson & Partners  Chris Roberts, commissioning engineer, Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) Dyfrig Roberts – assistant engineer, James Williamson & Partners Robin Thomas – civil engineering technician, James Williamson & Partners  Ian Waite – project surveyor, James Williamson & Partners  Musical recording of “Tydi a Roddaist” used with the permission of the Caernarfon male voice choir who performed in the excavated machine hall in 1979. Partner Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy focussed on improving society by considering social outcomes and relentlessly focussing on excellence and digital innovation. James Williamson & Partners became part of Mott MacDonald in 1990.The post #272 Designing Dinorwig: Inside Electric Mountain first appeared on Engineering Matters.

On the receiving end of among of the worst natural disasters in modern history, while being blessed with some of the most abundant natural resource reserves, and a developed economy, Australia sits in a unique position with regards to climate change. Many eyes are on the country as it looks to maintain the grid resilience of its traditional coal-fuelled economy, while undertaking one of the most dramatic shifts to renewables in the developed world. The southern continent walks an uncharted path, with enormous challenges, but with every advantage. A realistic route to renewable energy is possible if it embraces established technology. Guests Vinod Batta, Global Lead for Hydro and Pumped Hydro, AtkinsRéalis Tom Hasker, CEO – Australia and New Zealand, AtkinsRéalis Sebastien Mousseau, Global Lead for Power and Renewables, AtkinsRéalis Resources For the WWF Australia report, Restoring habitat for fire-impacted species’ across degraded Australian landscapes, click here For the International Energy Agency’s review of Australia’s climate policies, click here Partner AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. Employing over 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, AtkinsRéalis uses the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #271 Pumped Storage: Australia tackles Intermittency first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In the UK, over a quarter of a million kilometers of road have been laid. From motorways and A-roads to small country lanes, every kilometer of construction comes with a big carbon cost, emitting up to 2,600 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per kilometer. Over the last decade investment into new material technology and machinery has produced an array of tools for the road construction industry to use which can reduce carbon emissions. We’ve previously explored some of these individual innovations, such as warm mix asphalt and the UK’s first ever eMixer. However, decarbonising road construction can’t be achieved with one or two innovations, it requires careful planning and commitment to decarbonisation, every step of the way. Carbon emissions are found at every stage of the process, from quarries to asphalt plants, to the road construction site, and the transport in between. In 2023 Stockton-on-Tees council and Hartlepool council, together with Tarmac completed three ambitious road projects. With help from across the supply chain, they aimed to reduce the carbon emissions at every stage as much as possible. By electrifying quarry equipment, using Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as a fuel source and using groundbreaking material technology, together these efforts reduced their carbon emissions by 84%. Now, Tarmac is joining forces with National Highways to take that blueprint for low carbon roads across the strategic road network. Guests Chris Wright, general manager of paving in the Northeast of England and Scotland, Tarmac Stephen Elderkin, director of environmental sustainability, National Highways. Partner Tarmac is the UK’s leading sustainable construction materials, road contracting and building products business. It leads in the supply of construction material comprising aggregates, asphalt, cement, lime, concrete, road contracting, building products and recycling services.The post #270 A Blueprint for Low Carbon Roads first appeared on Engineering Matters.

It will be just as important to upgrade pipeline networks for the energy transition, as it is the electric grid. These will carry carbon dioxide and hydrogen, along with ammonia and biogas. They will enable carbon capture, local hydrogen for fuel intensive industry and transport, and for export. Governments around the world have struggled to develop these networks. The UK’s strategy is to create clusters of carbon emitters to make use of offshore carbon storage. These can take advantage of legacy pipeline infrastructure in historic industrial regions, and bring new opportunities to struggling economies. In this episode, we speak to pipeline and energy experts about the technical and project management challenges of building these new networks. Guests Laura Hughes, energy sector director, Costain Sean Gleeson, project manager, PX  Niku Nobakhti, project manager, Costain Ewan Brodie, consultancy and advisory manager, CostainThe post #269 The Pipeline to Net Zero first appeared on Engineering Matters.

HS2 is one of the most complex and challenging railway scheme the UK has ever undertaken. As such, it has been generating vast amounts of data across the board. Every geological survey, every design, every site, every environmental survey, all generating more and more data. So with all this data, what do you do with it? The final episode of the Learning Legacy Podcast looks at how HS2 has been using their data to build more detailed models, advance approaches to work and better equipment that can provide greater insights into the world of construction engineering. Featuring: Roberto Alberola – TYPSA, Head of BIM and Digital Peter Ruff – SCS, Head of BIM Jonny Neville – Mott Macdonald, Engineering Geologist and Information Manager Idarousse Mouhtar – BBV, Senior Materials Engineer Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE – Social Entrepreneur and Computer Scientist Roberto and Peter dive into the creation of a digital version of the project using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and ensuring there is a single point of truth so all designers and contractors along the length of the project are on the same page. Jonny and Idarousse talk through the process of earthworks excavation by using a new 3D GeoBIM model which allows for more advanced ground investigation surveys. Further pushing the importance of the planning process before putting a spade in the ground.  Dr Anne-Marie closes out the series with an extract from her speech given at HS2’s Learning Legacy Live event. Highlighting having a growing mindset, experimenting along with learning from our actions and asking “how” we do things. “Recognise and use that influence you are owning, up to something you are able to share, you are re-sharing and building based on the lesson that’s come from someone else. There’s something magical actually in being able to do that.” – Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon To find out more about HS2’s Learning Legacy Programme, click the link below Homepage – HS2 Learning Legacy Papers Featured in this episode Towards a Digital Blueprint:  data, technology and collaboration at the core of HS2  – HS2 Learning Legacy Driving efficiency and sustainability in material reuse through GeoBIM – HS2 Learning LegacyThe post Learning Legacy Podcast – Episode 5: How to Swim in a Sea of Data first appeared on Engineering Matters.

HS2 is focused not only on safety, but on overall health and wellbeing on all employees and contractors. Identifying long term risks to wellbeing is a challenge within any industry. It’s a particular problem on construction sites, where people often move between projects and sites. Episode 4 dives into some of the innovations and technology being implemented across the project. From monitoring site workers exposure to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, to understanding the approach in place at BBV to ensure teams are establishing an inclusive and safe culture for all employees. Featuring: Fiona King – HS2, Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing Timothy Callow – EKFB, SHW Advisor Alison Crawley – EKFB, Head of Occupational Health Bill Strachan – EKFB, Health Safety and Wellbeing Manager Chloe Chand – Diversifying Group, Lead Diversity and Inclusion Trainer (Former BBV, EDI Partner) Ben Hickman – BBV, EDI Partner Fiona outlines the importance of occupational health. Monitoring a workers’ health from the design stages onwards allows teams to take action against signs of long-term health issues at the earliest moment. Tim, Alison and Bill explain the journey of improving the problem of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome of workers putting together a concrete batching plant, and the use of a React Tech vibration monitor device allowing managers to rethink their approach on the job. Chloe and Ben walk us through BBV’s approach to ensure an equal and inclusive environment is achieved. From the 4 Golden Rules to ensuring any lack of understanding or awareness is addressed in a civil and respectful way.  Inclusion of all when monitoring health and safety is critical to help continue to push the industry. “The concept of Learning Legacy is understanding what legacy you want to have or be known as, but also the whole point about learning is it’s continuous. We’re always learning.”  – Ben Hickman To find out more about HS2’s Learning Legacy Programme, click the link below Homepage – HS2 Learning Legacy Papers Featured in this episode Control of hand and arm vibrations on HS2 and beyond – HS2 Learning Legacy Safe at Heart: establishing an inclusive and safe culture for our employees – HS2 Learning LegacyThe post Learning Legacy Podcast – Episode 4: Being Safe and Inclusive Every Step of the Way first appeared on Engineering Matters.

HS2’s place within the current climate and environment has always been its top priority. Once operational, the British-built bullet trains will provide zero-carbon journeys between the UK’s two largest cities, Birmingham and London. Episode 3 explores how HS2’s railway assets have been designed from the start with climate change resilience in mind, as well as utilising waste clay from tunnelling, and how it can be transformed into low carbon concrete. Featuring: Kay Hughes – HS2 Design Director Alison Walker – HS2 Climate Change Manager Dr Rachel Allison – HS2 Climate Change Specialist Nick Podevyn – Align Innovation Manager Athina Papakosta – SCS Sustainability and Carbon Lead Dr Fragkoulis Kanavaris – ARUP Concrete Materials Lead Apostolos Tsoumelekas – SCS Materials Engineer Tom Burr-Hersey – HS2 Senior Environmental Manager Kay sets the scene with how the project is being delivered with the future in mind, achieving sustainability from as early as the design stage and maintaining it through strong communication. Alison and Rachel take us through all things climate when it comes to construction of the project. ‘The 4R’s of resilience’, the planning towards weather conditions by using multiple climate models, and how much climate adaption is front and centre from design all the way through to operation.  Nick focuses on the construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct with Align’s giant launch girder. Combating issues with wind, rain and heat to ensure the construction schedule isn’t affected and the use of MetSwift weather models. Athina, Fragkoulis, Apostolos and Tom dive into the reuse of London Clay to reducing climate impact by cutting transport emissions related to removing the material. The possibility of excavated London Clay being turned into local concrete, it could also reduce the embodied carbon emissions. ‘l think a project of this scale has so many different aspects and things that need to be thought about. And I think as Allison said, it was no one person can do all of this. So having it all set out, make sure that it is considered and it doesn’t get lost in the scale of the project.’  – Dr Rachel Allison To find out more about HS2’s Learning Legacy Programme, click the link below Homepage – HS2 Learning Legacy Papers featured in this epsiode Delivering a climate change resilient railway – HS2 Learning Legacy Transformation of London clay into construction resources: Supplementary cementitious material and lightweight aggregate – HS2 Learning LegacyThe post Learning Legacy Podcast – Episode 3: Reducing and Reusing first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Design not only encapsulates the creativity and innovation of new products, but is the main source of information for construction to take place.  Episode 2 of the Learning Legacy Podcast takes a look at the design stages of stations and tunnel portals and encapsulating the importance of finding new methods of work and finding the opportunity to answer questions when there isn’t much existing research out there. Featuring: Giles Thomas – HS2 Integration Director Kim Quazi – ARUP Lead Architect Fernando Ruiz-Barberan – ARUP Building Envelope Team Associate  José Marquez Santoyo – ARUP Architecture Lead William George – Jacobs Senior Engineer Darren Carter – Jacobs Senior Associate Director Lee Canning – Jacobs Senior Associate Director Giles describes his role in connecting the teams creating 140-miles of track, 4 state-of-the art stations, two depots and 32 miles of tunnel together, and what HS2 has taken on board from London 2012 and Crossrail to make its Learning Legacy programme most beneficial for the industry. Kim, Fernando and José take a deep dive into the new Interchange Station, and how cloud-based data sharing allowed for a new way of sharing revisions for major infrastructures gave a new meaning to ‘going back to the drawing board’. William, Darren and Lee talk through the design process for the largest porous portal in the UK and documenting the challenges and collaboration with external experts in a paper will give other designers a head start when new tunnel portals are built.  “It is really important to tell the world the extraordinary things that are happening. Not only in our project, but throughout the line and the thousands of people who are working on the project. And they’ve all been given the opportunity to innovate and drive things forward.”  – Kim Quazi To find out more about HS2’s Learning Legacy Programme, click the link below Homepage – HS2 Learning Legacy Papers Featured in this episode  HS2 Interchange Station – Innovative Roof Design: An exemplary project on Integrated Design Team collaboration and the use of advanced Digital Workflows – HS2 Learning Legacy Design of Chiltern Tunnel South Portal – HS2 Learning LegacyThe post Learning Legacy Podcast – Episode 2: The Blueprint and the Real Thing first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The concept of the Learning Legacy programme has been around for longer than you might think. Starting at London 2012, collating and sharing knowledge, innovation, good practice and lessons learned from major projects has developed in a number of ways to get to where we currently reside. In this first episode we’ll take a look back at other major projects and their approach to knowledge sharing, and we’ll explore how HS2 has gone about creating the most comprehensive Learning Legacy programme of any major UK project to date. Featuring: Bridget Badoe McQuick – HS2, Learning Legacy Manager Karen Elson – Co Cre8, Learning Legacy Manager Simon Bennett – Crossrail International, Associate Director for stakeholder engagement and Learning Legacy Andy Murray – Major Project Association, Executive Director Clive Roberts – University of Birmingham, Professor of Railway Systems Martin Sherlock – National Highways Knowledge Management Lead Bridget gives an overview of HS2’s Learning Legacy programme and its open challenges. Karen takes us back to London 2012 with the start of Learning Legacy and the journey of the programmes over the years that brought us to where we are now. Simon and Andy describe the setup of Crossrail’s Learning Legacy and the MPA’s Knowledge Hub. Their collective experience and support made each programme better than the previous and to have it all in one place within the Knowledge Hub. Clive and Martin give their thoughts on the importance of HS2’s Learning Legacy Programme for the wider industry. “Obviously, the main focus of any big major project is to deliver that project. But the legacy is important as well, because that is what shifts the industry on. It’s what we learn from.”  – Clive Roberts To find out more about HS2’s Learning Legacy Programme, click the link below Homepage – HS2 Learning LegacyThe post Learning Legacy Podcast – Episode 1: Building a Learning Legacy first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Timekeeping has been a pursuit fraught with challenges throughout history. From ancient sundials to mechanical clocks, humanity has continuously sought methods to measure time with greater accuracy. Technology has given us new ways to measure time, but also demands more accurate synchronisation. Time synchronisation stands as a linchpin in modern technology, ensuring coherence and accuracy across systems and applications. From financial transactions to global communication networks, synchronised time is indispensable. The advent of global communication networks and the need for precise coordination across vast distances amplified the importance of accurate timekeeping. When GPS timekeeping emerged it was immensely valuable. However it was not without its challenges. One notable issue is the vulnerability to signal interference or jamming, which can disrupt the transmission of timing signals from satellites to receivers. This interference can result from both natural phenomena, such as solar flares, and intentional malicious activities. Amidst these challenges, Fugro’s AtomiChron® emerges as a revolutionary solution, representing a leap in timekeeping precision. By harnessing the inherent stability of atomic physics, AtomiChron® offers unparalleled accuracy, surpassing the limitations of traditional clock mechanisms. In a world where nanoseconds can make a difference, AtomiChron® stands as a testament to humanity’s relentless pursuit of precision.  Guests Roel de Vries, business development manager, Fugro Ahmad Byagowi, research scientist, Meta & project lead, Time Appliance project Harold Hauglin, head of timekeeping, Justervesenet Heiko Gerstung, managing director, Meinberg Partner FugroThe post #268 Mastering Time: The Challenge of Time Synchronisation first appeared on Engineering Matters.

With the launch of ChatGPT, the power of generative AI has captured public attention. Systems like this can not only work through millions of options, like earlier chess-playing supercomputers, but develop original ideas that might not occur to humans, used to working within proven traditional approaches. New techniques of advanced information processing like this, promise to do much of the same work as humans in the blink of an eye. The challenge society now faces is to decide which tasks can be performed by machines, and which should be left to humans. For professional services firms, that will mean a change in working practices and billing.  Darren Martin has spent his career bringing data-based solutions to complex problems. As an intern in clinical psychology at Toronto General Hospital, he used meta-analyses to identify the most effective therapies for patients with complex needs. In roles for the NHS and Child Support Agency, he implemented technological changes, but also focussed on reshaping working practices around the needs of service users. Today, as well as being the newly appointed CDO of AtkinsRéalis, he is a member of the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance. He believes that we can make the best use of AI, when we focus on outcomes, not technology. AI might change the ways we work, and the ways professional services firms bill their clients. The use of AI, combined with human expert oversight, should allow these firms to share in outcomes, rather than billing by the hour. And by looking at outcomes, we can address the digital divide, and find new ways for AI to benefit all of humanity. Guest Darren Martin, CDO, AtkinsRéalis Partner AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. Employing over 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, AtkinsRéalis uses the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #267 AI and Humanity, with Darren Martin first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Cities around the world face a housing crisis. In countries like the UK, local authorities struggle to finance projects and to find space for development. In faster growing and younger cities, it can be a challenge to ensure services and infrastructure are developed at the same pace as new housing. Urban development requires a clear spatial plan that considers all forms of capital that a city generates: natural and social, human and cultural, as well as financial. By building this multi-dimensional picture of a city, local authorities can ensure that developments meet their Net Zero goals. A well designed urban plan can present opportunities for investors, and the construction supply chain. Satellite factories can be set up to supply the modules and components required by modern methods of construction. Institutional investors can assess the long term, steady, returns offered by real estate, and consider how these investments will align with their ESG and Net Zero aims. Guests Zoe Metcalfe, Client Director, Local and Central Government UK, AtkinsRéalis John Rayson, MD, Northern Transformation, AtkinsRéalis Johanna Staples, Strategy & Advisory Regional Director, AtkinsRéalis Partner AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. Employing over 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, AtkinsRéalis uses the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #266 Building Communities Together first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Sixty years ago a civil engineer called John Bartlett of Mott, Hay & Anderson had a revolutionary idea. He noticed that bentonite clay could be used in a slurry to stabilise the face of tunnels during excavation. This could prevent non-cohesive, water bearing soils from collapsing inwards making excavation safer and cheaper.   The first prototype of his bentonite tunnel boring machine was tested in 1971 at New Cross in East London and in this episode we explore the ways in which this success led to the development of pressurised face tunnel boring machines and opened new possibilities for underground connections all over the world.  We also talk with John Bartlett’s son Mike to find out more about the man who revolutionised soft ground tunnelling, before looking to the future at  projects that continue to push the boundaries of underground design and construction in soft soils. Guests Mike Bartlett, son of bentonite shield inventor John Bartlett Emily Farmer, tunnelling engineer, Mott MacDonald Sam Lo Grasso, principal structural engineer tunnelling, Mott MacDonald Mike Savill, global practice leader for tunnelling, Mott MacDonald Andy Thompson, head of tunnel design, US East Coast, Mott MacDonald Partner Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy focussed on improving society by considering social outcomes and relentlessly focussing on excellence and digital innovation.The post #265 Tunnelling Innovation: Inventing the Bentonite Shield first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Social Value is a term that has been used to mean the additional benefits a company can provide to wider society beyond their business as usual. In the built environment, where infrastructure projects can already lead to negative consequences for local communities, considering how a company or project can provide real opportunities and benefits to locals is hugely important. There is a shifting landscape of work, where individuals, particularly from younger generations, are increasingly seeking roles that align with their values, emphasising the transformative power of integrating purpose into one’s career. Social Value has evolved from practices like corporate social responsibility or community engagement. It’s a growing sector of industry but most professionals in the area have taken very different routes to get where they are today. Formalised roles and career paths are just starting to emerge in this area, making now the perfect time to explore a career in social value. To mark National Careers Week from March 4, we spoke to a group of social value practitioners at varying stages of their careers to talk about their own journeys, from young professionals to experienced sector leaders. Guests Kieran Ronnie, head of social value, AECOM Olivia Sutcliffe, social value associate, Savilles Laura O’Leary, social value consultant, Arup Harry Walsh, social value apprentice, AtkinsRéalis Partner AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. Employing over 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, AtkinsRéalis uses the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #264 Finding Career Pathways into Social Value first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Digitalisation is changing every part of the economy. Modern mobile cranes have been developed based on some of the most fundamental concepts in engineering, many of which were first described by Archimedes. But here too, advances in sensors, computing power, and data transfer have been transformational. What can this meeting of modern and ancient tell us about how we design complex, safety critical, machines and assets? Operating a crane was once a seat of the pants experience. A crane operator would feel the machine’s performance and stability, in their hands and feet as they worked levers and pedals. When the crane began to tip, they would feel that too.  Modern control systems aim to retain that intuitive feel for the machine, while removing the sole reliance on the operator to maintain its safe working. But they do a lot more. They integrate with crane planning tools, in the office and in the cab. They control the complex steering and driving of these multi-axle machines, allowing the operator to concentrate on the task at hand. And they open the door to precise monitoring of carbon emissions on site, and sophisticated analysis of fleet performance. Guests Dave Rees, strategic accounts manager, Emerson Crane Hire Florian Brunner, product manager, Liebherr Daniel Rössner, field test engineer, Liebherr  Partner The Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a broadly diversified product portfolio, which includes a total of 13 product segments. It is the global market leader for mobile and crawler cranes. The post #263 The Tipping Point first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over two weeks of episodes, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode is the last of three focussing on shortlisted entries in the Net Zero category, and the last in this awards mini-series. We’ll be abc next Thursday with one of our regular episodes. We’ll find out about a new, global, tool for measuring the cradle to grave carbon costs of any asset. We’ll discover a new, efficient, way to build floating offshore wind turbines. We’ll learn how a conversation in a university lab, has led to the development of a new way to capture carbon and turn it into buildings. And we’ll meet a Formula One champion who is on track to revolutionise liquid fuels Guests Amit Patel, head of professional practice, construction, RICS David Carrascosa, COO, Saitec Michael Cook, chairman, Seratech Paddy Lowe, founder, Zero PetroleumThe post #262 The Engineering Matters Awards – Net Zero, part 3 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over two weeks of episodes, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode is the second of three focussing on shortlisted entries in the Net Zero category. We’ll find out how a new link between the UK and Ireland could help Europe balance the energy trilemma. We’ll learn about new zero emissions trucks that could one day be delivering groceries across the UK. And, we’ll discover a way to drastically reduce emissions from the construction sector. Guests Paul O’Rourke, construction director, Greenlink Daniel Musenga-Grant,  Head of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Hydrogen Vehicle Systems.  Tobias Knichel, MD, Dumarey FlybridThe post #261 The Engineering Matters Awards – Net Zero, part 2 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over two weeks of episodes, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode is the first of three focussing on shortlisted entries in the Net Zero category. We’ll find out how just parking your car at work could one day help eliminate fossil fuel use. We’ll discover a database of assets and building materials that can help architects and engineers meet their net zero goals. And we’ll learn how a new approach to e-scooter safety could help people travel without carbon emissions. Guests Tim Evans, CEO, 3ti James Fiske, CEO, BCIS Oscar Morgan, CEO, BoThe post #260 The Engineering Matters Awards – Net Zero, part 1 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over two weeks of episodes, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode is the last of three focussing on shortlisted entries in the Innovation category. We’ll find out how a new way of monitoring battery health could reduce fire risks and make electric vehicles more sustainable. We’ll discover how flywheels are helping smooth delivery of power from wind turbines. We’ll learn how test-based machine learning is helping speed up vehicle development. And we’ll explore how physicists, biologists, and design engineers may one day be able to access particle accelerators, at their local university. Guests Joe Holdsworth, MD, Metis Engineering Tobias Knichel, MD, Dumarey Flybrid (formerly Punch Flybrid) John Pasquarette, VP, product marketing, Monolith AI Catalin Neacsu,VP, business development, TAU SystemsThe post #259 The Engineering Matters Awards – Innovation, part 3 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over two weeks of episodes, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode is the second of three focussing on shortlisted entries in the Innovation category. We’ll find out how one heavy tool manufacturer is transforming quarrying with a move from hydraulics to fully electric power. We’ll learn about a new model for local manufacture of electric vehicles, delivered with the same speed and reliability as a hamburger. We’ll discover a neutron detector that has been designed for use in parts of Fukushima so radioactive that they are inaccessible even to robots. And we’ll explore how smart and precise control of furnace firing is helping some galvanising plants cut their energy use by almost 25%. Guests Angela Curtis, CEO, Hasco Thermic Steve Pegg, CEO, Helixx Victoria Anderson Matthew, Director of business development and administration, Innovative Physics Antti Anttila, CEO, LekatechThe post #258 The Engineering Matters Awards – Innovation, part 2 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over two weeks of episodes, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode is the first of three focussing on shortlisted entries in the Innovation category. We’ll learn about a new solid state approach to the design of power bricks and circuit breakers. We’ll find out how a new global flood map will help boost resilience in tidal communities around the world. And we’ll discover how a new way of subsea drilling will offer the pace needed to meet Net Zero goals. Guests Thar Casey, president and CEO, AmberSemi Dr Andrew Smith, COO, Fathom Mark Stevens, business development manager, FugroThe post #257 The Engineering Matters Awards – Innovation, part 1 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over two weeks of episodes, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode focuses on shortlisted entries in the Environment category. We’ll learn how data on gas flaring can be used to cut emissions through the energy transition. We’ll find out how a community of naturalists have developed a geomodel that can be used to track wildlife around the world. And we’ll discover how satellite data and modelling is being used to help farmers cut their use of nitrogen fertilisers. Guests Mark Davis, CEO, Capterio Scott Loarie, executive director, iNaturalist Kelly Price, CEO and co-founder, Agreed EarthThe post #256 The Engineering Matters Awards – Environment first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over two weeks of episodes, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode is the second of two looking at the sustainability category. We’ll discover how landfill methane can be captured and used, for energy and to produce graphene. We’ll learn how researchers are developing ways to harvest rice straw, reducing climate changing emissions and supporting local communities. We’ll find out about a campaign to make better use of electronic components. And we’ll see how one EV manufacturer is focusing on long term reliability for robust commercial vehicles. Guests Robbie Kirk, CSO, Zero Carbon Ventures Craig Jamieson, CEO and founder, Straw Innovations Willian Santos, sales manager, ABI Electronics Russell Peterson, co-founder, Munro VehiclesThe post #255 The Engineering Matters Awards – Sustainability, part 2 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  This episode is the first of two looking at the sustainability category. We’ll find out how drones can be used to ensure the efficiency of solar arrays. We’ll hear how Dutch engineers have tested levees to failure, to demonstrate how they can be built with efficient use of materials. We’ll learn how buildings can be made reusable, and can incorporate sustainable materials. And we’ll discover how cities can make space for efficient agriculture. Guests Will Hitchcock, founder and CEO, Above Surveying Leo Zwang, commercial director, water, Fugro Andrew Tindale, associate, Hawkins Brown Georgia Lea, head of communications, Intelligent Growth SolutionsThe post #254 The Engineering Matters Awards – Sustainability first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  In this third episode, we are looking at the community category. We’ll find out how engineers working on one of the world’s biggest transport projects, turned their skills to helping vulnerable youngsters. We’ll hear how a new space port is trying to promote re-skilling for this new industry. We’ll learn how off grid technology is giving time back to women in displaced communities. And we’ll see how a rocket is helping launch children’s careers in space. Guests Issy Greenfield, social value and legacy manager, EKFB Bryden Priest, community projects officer, SaxaVord Spaceport Nav Sawhney, founder, The Washing Machine Project Matthew Archer, director of launch, UK Space AgencyThe post #253 The Engineering Matters Awards – Community first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  In this second episode, we are looking at the health and safety category. We’ll find out how design changes to hydraulic wrenches used on oil rigs and wind turbines can reduce dropped tool hazards. We’ll learn how the condition of pantographs, used to power electric trains, can be monitored automatically. And we’ll discover how the rail companies can survey entire national networks, quickly and accurately, without putting workers at risk.  Guests Rhodri Williams, global product manager, AtlasCopco Murven Wan, mechanical design engineer, Transmission Dynamics Adam Carlin, business developer, FugroThe post #252 The Engineering Matters Awards – Health and Safety first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This March, the industry will gather at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, for the inaugural Engineering Matters Awards. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be introducing all of the shortlisted entries. The Awards will demonstrate why engineering matters. We’ll be sharing some exciting innovations. And we will be looking at a range of ways engineers and those in related fields can have a wider impact on the world.  In this first episode, we are looking at the diversity and inclusion category. We’ll learn how a building materials supplier in Africa is working with local communities to develop new uses for an ancient material. We’ll see how a supplier to one of the world’s biggest transport projects, is working to make its workplaces more welcoming to those with hidden disabilities. And we’ll see how advances in remote operations are opening up a career in the offshore sector, to those who can’t go to sea for long periods. Guests James Mitchell, CEO and co-founder, BuildX Studios Victoria Hingley, Skills, Employment & Education Coordinator, Eiffage Kier Ferrovial BAM (EKFB) Ross Macfarlane, Remote Operation Centre Manager, FugroThe post #251 The Engineering Matters Awards – Diversity and Inclusion first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The use of “The Observational Method” could be one of the best kept secrets of the engineering world. Time and time again it has been used to deliver world leading projects safely and cost effectively. In some cases it has been the only way forward when other methods have failed. The powerful methodology has been used for several decades to minimise risk and maximise efficiency on some of the world’s biggest projects including the Channel Tunnel, Boston’s Central Artery, Heathrow Airport, Wembley’s iconic arch, The Queen Elizabeth Line and HS2.  In this podcast we examine how this understated yet deeply effective method can be used to deliver better projects and how the evolution of design and technology using new machine learning software called Daarwin is elevating its potential. GUESTS Tony O’Brien, global practice lead for geotechnics, Mott MacDonald Alistair Hitchcock, head of engineering phase 2, HS2 Hock Liong Liew, technical principal, Mott MacDonald Alan Powderham, former director of transportation, Mott MacDonald Sophie Smith, graduate civil engineer, Mott MacDonald Rob Talby, geotechnical director, Mott MacDonald PARTNER Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy focussed on improving society by considering social outcomes and relentlessly focussing on excellence and digital innovation. REFERENCES Ralph Peck’s 1969 Rankine lecture, Advantages and limitations of the observational method in applied soil mechanics The Observational Method in Civil Engineering: Minimising Risk, Maximising Economy, by Alan Powderham and Anthony O’BrienThe post #250 The Observational Method – Engineering’s Best Kept Secret first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The modern world is bound together with cables. As our economy moves to the cloud, the vast majority of data traffic passes through subsea cables. As we transition to renewable energy, hundreds of kilometres of cabling are needed within each wind farm, and to connect wind farms to the shore. When the first cables were laid, in the 19th century, we learned that the seabed was not geologically and biologically featureless, but complex, dynamic, and full of life. Today, scientists are using cable-based sensing to track climate change in granular detail, and to listen to the calls of individual whales. But the complexity of the seabed threatens these networks. Sand and silt are as mobile under the sea, as they are in the dunes of the desert. Human actions, from dropped anchors and scallop dredging, through to deep sea mining and pipe laying, pose their own challenges. And the awesome power of nature, of vast subsea landslides, earthquakes, and volcanoes, can sever these links in an instant. Guests Dr Michael Clare, Principal Researcher, Ocean BioGeoscience, National Oceanography Centre; Marine Environmental Advisor to the International Cable Protection Committee Matthew Henderson, Technical Asset Manager, Substructure and Asset Lifecycle, SSE Renewables Brian Bell, Global Director, Offshore Wind, Fugro Bastian Wichand, Permitting Manager, Fugro Partner FugroThe post #249 The Cables That Bind Our World Together first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Are there really bodies buried in the Hoover Dam? Was the hard hat really invented here in 1931? And why was it originally called Boulder Dam? In this episode, first aired in 2019, we explore and uncover the secrets of one of the greatest engineering projects ever built. The unique and formidable Hoover Dam. Learn about the “Double Ugly”, “Hurry Up Crowe” and a cast of other characters that brought this formidable piece of engineering life. And find out why over 200 people were killed during its five year construction period. At 221m tall, arching across the mouth of the Colorado River, resisting a water pressure of 2,150KN/m2 at its base, the Hoover Dam was the largest structure of its kind when it was completed in 1936. A sophisticated technique for concrete cooling was needed to ensure that the final structure did not have shrinkage cracks that would have led to catastrophic failure. Yet curing continues and though it has been operational for more than eighty years, the Hoover Dam gets stronger every day. GUESTS Mike Franklin, US Bureau of Reclamation Alan Warren, Mott MacDonald Pekka Nieminen, SandvikThe post #248 Revisited: Secrets of the Hoover Dam first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In this podcast we go back in time to the invention of cathodic protection 200 years ago by President of the Royal Society Sir Humphry Davy. Initially applied to ships and pipelines, Mott MacDonald has spent decades pioneering its use on civil infrastructure designing systems for bridges and buildings around the world. This innovative thinking is preserving and protecting structures saving asset owners millions of pounds in reconstruction costs and preventing additional carbon generation. Through case studies such as the UK’s magnificent Silver Jubilee Bridge we explore the evolution of cathodic protection systems and consider its future potential as we face growing demand to make infrastructure more sustainable. Guests Paul Lambert, head of materials and corrosion technology, Mott MacDonald Ray Langley, divisional director, Mott MacDonald Rudi Merola, senior associate for materials, Mott MacDonald Sairah Qureshi, graduate materials engineer, Mott MacDonaldThe post #247 Saving Structures with Cathodic Protection first appeared on Engineering Matters.

From tireless assembly lines in bustling factories to the delicate precision of diamond cutting, robots are transforming industries by becoming superhuman coworkers. But what if we shrunk these tireless partners down to the size of a grain of rice? Enter the realm of microrobots, where the boundaries of automation shrink to the scale of a pinhead, opening up a universe of possibilities. Starting with surveying and mapping disasters leading to possible unmanned search and rescue disposable squads.  Imagine a microrobot defying the limitations of bulky batteries. This is the masterpiece of miniaturisation of Cameron Aubin and his team at Cornell, a micro-machine powered by controlled combustion, its nimble movements driven by tiny explosions.  Guests Cameron Aubin – Assistant Professor of Robotics at the University of Michigan Elizabeth Farrell Helbling – Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell Ronald Heisser – Postdoctoral researcher, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyThe post #246 Tiny Robots, Big Moves: The Basics of Microrobot Actuation first appeared on Engineering Matters.

What would it mean to be able to look at a bag of concrete, and see its embodied carbon? That’s the goal of the new benchmark rating scheme for concrete, developed by the UK Low Carbon Concrete Group. It will allow suppliers, contractors and developers to consider the carbon footprint of projects, alongside cost and performance. Novel material types—including ternary concretes and alkali-activated cementitious materials—promise to eliminate many, if not all, of the process emissions associated with producing clinker. But before customers will specify them, they need assurance of their performance. A new approach to concrete standards, BSI Flex Standard 350, provides methods for demonstrating the performance of novel materials, not covered by the traditional standard for concrete types, BS 8500. The Flex Standard allows industry to develop real world testing, and that has been underway at the Environment Agency’s flood alleviation scheme in Hexham. Here, the agency has partnered with contractor BAM Nuttall and supplier Tarmac to trial low carbon materials, and has seen impressive results. Guests Andy Powell, innovation manager, UK Environment Agency Ruth Young, national framework manager, BAM Nuttall Robert Gossling, ​​head of commercial engineering solutions, Tarmac Partner TarmacThe post #245 Transparent Concrete first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Post the industrial revolution the UK’s waterways became very polluted, but the last 30 years have seen a massive turnaround in the UK’s water quality. Since the pandemic wild swimming has had a boom in popularity, with the UK’s beaches, lakes and rivers becoming popular destinations for being in nature and going for a dip. Today, the issue of water quality has become a very prominent issue, with campaigns and organisations protesting the releasing of untreated sewage into waterways. However water quality is not defined just by it being safe for wild swimming. There are many different sources and types of pollutants that reach the UKs rivers and beaches, including chemical, pharmaceutical and biological. To monitor the quality of water across the UK is a monumental task with the industry reliant on citizen science to help understand the level of pollution and its impacts. New technology, improved regulation and more funding for the Environment Agency is needed for us to understand the water quality across the country and put in place measures to improve it. Guests Vera Jones, Global technical authority for water quality, AtkinsRéalis Stuart Colville, Director for strategy, Water UK Tessa Wardely, Director of communications and advocacy, Rivers Trust Partner AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. Employing over 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, AtkinsRéalis uses the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #244 Water Quality: Navigating Challenges in UK’s Wild Waters first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Virtual Reality has been steadily growing in the gaming market over the past few years, but now it could be about to change not how people play but how they work.  From the imaginative realms of science fiction to the cutting-edge developments of the 21st century, we explore the roots of VR, paying homage to pioneers like Stanley G. Weinbaum, who, in his 1935 short story ‘Pygmalion’s Spectacles,’ laid the conceptual groundwork for a reality-bending experience. Fast forward to today, where VR has transcended the realm of fiction, revolutionizing industries and offering immersive experiences that were once only dreams.. Virtual Reality has the potential to be a game-changer in the construction industry.  We delve into the ways VR is reshaping construction processes, we highlight its invaluable contributions to design visualization, project planning, and safety training. Imagine architects, engineers, and stakeholders stepping into a virtual blueprint, gaining a firsthand sense of scale and spatial relationships. Visualizing construction projects in a VR environment enhances collaboration, reduces errors, and accelerates decision-making. As we explore the multifaceted applications of VR in construction, we witness how this technology is not merely a tool but a transformative catalyst, propelling the industry into a new era of efficiency, precision, and safety. Guests Johan Germishuys, director of digital solutions, AtkinsRéalis Gabe Paez, head of product for XR, Autodesk Partner AtkinsRéalisThe post #243 Virtual Reality: A New Vision for Construction first appeared on Engineering Matters.

It can seem, at times, as if we are drowning in a sea of waste, a great ocean of paper and tin, glass and plastic, all mixed together, and resistant to recycling and re-use. AMP Robotics build systems that cut through this complexity. Trained using millions upon millions of images, their robots can identify, pick, and sort individual waste items, splitting them into streams that can then be recycled. But while their work is helping reduce the world’s waste problems, they are creating their own form of waste. It is not physical waste that plagues them, but wasted time, resources, and effort, caused by legacy systems in their engineering, manufacturing and procurement departments. These make it harder to track changes to designs, to source materials efficiently, and to ensure that finished goods leave the factory with all the documentation they need. To sort though that operational waste, they turned to Arena, a cloud-based product lifecycle management (PLM) tool, from PTC, and solutions architect Scott Moisan. In this short episode, Scott joins us to explain the challenges manufacturers face when using legacy systems, and how PLM systems can streamline their processes, from the engineer’s first idea in CAD, all the way through to a finished good leaving the factory gate. Partner With over 1,400 customers around the world, Arena is designed to help modern manufacturers speed product development and get innovative products to market fast. With Arena’s product lifecycle management (PLM) and quality management system (QMS) solutions, manufacturers can confidently create, control, and collaborate anytime and anywhere.  Guest Scott Moisan, Senior Solutions Architect, Arena Resources  AMP Arena case study Improving design engineering efficiency with ArenaThe post SHORT: Recycling, Without Waste first appeared on Engineering Matters.

It is vital that we limit the impact of climate change, through decarbonisation. But communities around the world are already experiencing harm, through floods, wildfires, and other climate-related catastrophes. We must also address these harms, mitigating them through increased resilience. Building better resilience cannot be left just to the state, or private sector industries like engineering or insurance. Instead, we must build partnerships, bringing the public and private sector together with local communities, to identify risks, and to share successes. Sid Miller and Philip Hoare are—alongside more than thirty other experts—members of the UK government’s Business of Resilience Taskforce. In this episode, they discuss the work of the taskforce, their own experience of working with communities affected by climate change, and the case for investing in resilience, before disaster strikes. Guests Philip Hoare, President of Engineering, AtkinsRéalis; subgroup chair, Infrastructure Investments and Resilience, Business of Resilience Taskforce Sid Miller, Programme Director, ClimateWise, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership; former Chief Executive, New Zealand Earthquake Commission; subgroup member, Climate Risk and Disaster Finance, Business of Resilience Taskforce Resources The first summary report of the Business of Resilience Taskforce Partner AtkinsRéalis is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. Employing over 37,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe, AtkinsRéalis uses the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #242 Partnerships and Resilience first appeared on Engineering Matters.