Engineering Matters

Across the ocean there is an intricate relationship between human activity and marine biodiversity. The energy transition means a huge increase in the number of offshore wind turbines. As our oceans become increasingly intertwined with human activities, marine life faces an evolving challenge.  Extensive monitoring of biodiversity takes place during the pre-construction and construction phase, but during a wind farm’s decades long life, regular monitoring across a huge area of ocean becomes difficult. However, through the development of cutting-edge technologies such as USVs and ROVs, and AI for monitoring environmental DNA, there is a chance for more extensive monitoring to take place and for us to get a better understanding of our impact on marine life. Offshore wind may have a positive impact on biodiversity. Offshore wind farms have in some cases become structures that attract marine life. However, getting a better understanding of the long term impact of offshore wind on marine biodiversity, is crucial to both improve our design and protect all marine life.GuestsTim Stiven, Marine Senior Development Manager, the Crown Estate Dan Smith, Solution Owner Offshore Wind Site Appraisal, Fugro Paul English, Technical Director, Marine GeoConsulting, Fugro Angela Martinez Quintana, Senior Environmental Scientist, Fugro 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 #241 Wind, Waves and Wildlife: Navigating Biodiversity in Offshore Wind first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The West Kentish Town Estate provides more than 300 flats to social housing tenants. Built in the 1960s, using a panel building system, it has provided generations of Londoners an affordable home, close to the heart of one of the world’s biggest cities. But today, it is not meeting the needs of local families. Homes are too small, and problems with ventilation and insulation cause damp, unpleasant, living conditions. Local council Camden, trying to balance budgets after decades of central government austerity, has taken an option chosen by many other social housing landlords: a complete demolition and rebuild, with social homes funded through the sale of private flats in a high rise development. When local architect Alice Brown learned of the council’s plan, she wanted to see if another option was possible: retaining and retrofitting the estate, with in-fill and additional stories used to provide the larger homes needed by many families. With the help of structural engineer Allan Dunsmore, of Conisbee, she was able to show that the panel system used on the estate could be safely modified, to bring the estate up to modern standards. And, by using the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment methodology, she was able to show that retrofit would only produce a fifth of the carbon emissions of the proposed rebuild. Guests Andrew Dow, resident, West Kentish Town Estate Alice Brown, principal, AAB Architects Allan Dunsmore, director, ConisbeeThe post #240 Saving Homes, Saving the Planet first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This week, we’re bringing you a guest episode from the Planet Beyond podcast. In this episode, Planet Beyond host Jon Baston-Pitt talks to Resilience Association vice chair Peter Power, about how organisations in the public and private sectors can develop a ‘resilience mindset’. We live in a world of unparalleled complexity and risk. The structure of our societies rests upon a stack of services—utilities, communications, banking, transport, among others—that themselves rely on a mix of public services and private businesses, both large and small. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses. All face threats from bad actors, and from natural disasters, often driven by climate change. But organisations of all kinds can develop a ‘resilience mindset’, which can help them to overcome catastrophe. Smaller businesses are often more agile, but lack a depth of resources, whereas larger organisations may have the resources, but have a hierarchical structure that can reduce their flexibility. And the public sector, rightly, takes a conservative approach to risk, which can lead to slower responses in a time of crisis. Developing a resilience mindset can give organisations the ability to respond to catastrophe. But it can also bring a new attitude to risk, and making defensible decisions, which can strengthen an organisation’s overall performance.  — Planet Beyond is a conversational podcast, published by Fugro, and produced by Reby Media, publishers of Engineering Matters. The podcast takes a broad view of the world of engineering and geodata. It can be found on all good podcast services, or directly here. Host Jon Baston-Pitt, Fugro Guests Peter Power, vice chair, The Resilience AssociationThe post #239 The resilience mindset, on Planet Beyond first appeared on Engineering Matters.

For the last three summers, shire horses have been at work each Lammas Day, mowing the new wildflower meadow on the former lawn of King’s College, Cambridge. The meadow isn’t just a quaint call back to East Anglia’s past, but gives a glimpse of the future, as new regulations come into force that require measurable biodiversity net gain across all new projects in England. In this episode, we talk to Dr Cicely Marshall of King’s College, who has been tracking the impact of the meadow’s creation. The work of Dr Marshall, and other ecologists, has helped establish a metric for measuring biodiversity net gain.  This metric, BSI and ISO member—and WSP head of ecology—Tom Butterworth explains, will help nourish biodiversity across England.  And biodiversity net gain is already being used on projects like Kingsbrook, in Aylesbury, where, Helen Nyul describes, Barratt Developments has worked with the RSPB to bring nature closer to people’s homes. Guests  Dr Cicely Marshall, research fellow, plant science, King’s College, Cambridge Tom Butterworth, head of ecology, WSP Helen Nyul, group head of biodiversity, Barratt Developments Image credit Jacqueline Garget/Univeristy of CambridgeThe post #238 A Greener More Pleasant Land first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Katie Kelleher, is a trailblazer in the construction industry. Her incredible story, from a career in recruitment to becoming a crane operator, defies gender stereotypes and highlights the importance of determination in breaking new ground. In this episode we hear Katie’s experiences working on high-risk construction projects, including the Thames Tideway and Crossail. She shares her journey from the crane operator’s cab to a mentor and advocate, urging the construction industry to embrace change and create a more inclusive and flexible work environment for all. Join us for an eye-opening exploration of Katie Kelleher’s impactful journey and her call for fundamental changes in the construction industry. Guest Katie Kelleher, Technical and Development officer, Construction Plant Hire AssociationThe post #237 Climbing the Ladder to Gender Equality first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a renowned professional organization at the forefront of advancing engineering and technology. The IET plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation, knowledge sharing, and networking within the engineering community, making it a cornerstone institution for professionals dedicated to shaping the future of technology. Becoming an IET fellow can take years of work to rise to the top of your field, but Junade Ali, an exceptional engineer and cybersecurity expert, achieved this feat faster than anyone on record, aged just 27. We’ll explore some of his notable work, particularly in password breach detection, shedding light on the innovative solutions he has devised to enhance online security and protect sensitive data in the digital age. Junade’s journey and accomplishments serve as a testament to the bright future of engineering and technology, and his connection with the IET showcases the dynamic synergy between talented individuals and leading engineering institutions. Partner The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) Guests  Junade Ali Links Have I Been PwnedThe post SHORT: Junade Ali – The Youngest Fellow at the IET first appeared on Engineering Matters.

RAAC, or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, enabled a boom in public building in post-war Britain. It allowed schools, hospitals and other services to be built safely and efficiently, giving working Britons services they had long been excluded from. It, and other manufactured building materials, formed the basis of what are now known as Modern Methods of Construction. But today it is in the news for all the wrong reasons. In 2018, a RAAC roofing plank collapsed at a school in Kent, damaging equipment and facilities. At the start of the UK school year this autumn, more than a hundred schools were closed, as councils and central government struggled to identify where RAAC had been used and might pose a risk. In this episode, Trevor Rushton, who literally wrote the book on engineering failures and deleterious materials, explains why RAAC was so useful, what went wrong in its installation and maintenance, and the steps needed to ensure buildings where it has been used remain safe. Guest Trevor Rushton, chairman, Watts GroupThe post #236 RAAC: The Misunderstood Material? first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Hidden in the mountainous peaks of Snowdonia’s National Park is a clean source of energy storage that has been supporting the UK’s electricity grid since it was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1963. Ffestiniog was the UK’s first ever pumped storage hydropower project and it remains a critical part of today’s energy system. Back in the 1950s engineers were tasked with ensuring that their designs protected the beauty of the landscape. They also had to solve a range of technical challenges to accomplish something that had not been done before. Episode partner Mott MacDonald was part of the original design team through its predecessor company James Williamson and Partners. Perhaps the most amazing thing about Ffestiniog is its longevity. It remains a critical part of the UK energy system and the enduring success of this and other pumped storage schemes means that organisations all over the world are now looking to use this kind of water battery to balance out intermittency and support renewable generation. Guests John Armstrong, station manager for Ffestiniog’s owner First Hydro Ajay Chaudhary, hydropower account leader, Mott MacDonald Rosa Diez, transportation tunnels account leader, Mott MacDonald Guy Doyle, chief energy economist, Mott MacDonald Brian Minhinick, global head of hydropower and pumped storage, Mott MacDonald Alan Warren, global practice leader for dams and reservoir safety, Mott MacDonald Partner  Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy focussed on improving society by considering social outcome and relentlessly focussing on excellence and digital innovation.The post #235 Ffestiniog: 60 Years of Pioneering Storage first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Around the world, engineers, project owners, and policymakers must make hard choices as they work to ensure our infrastructure is fit for the future. They must consider how climate change will impact those assets, and how those assets will help or hinder the energy transition. This week, with the UK’s political conference season in full swing and a general election due next year, infrastructure is on the front page of every newspaper. In this guest episode, from the Connected Places podcast, Prof. Greg Clark CBE, chair of the Connected Places Catapult, talks to one of the world’s leading thinkers on infrastructure, Sir John Armitt. Sir John is chair of the UK’s National Infrastructure Commission. The commission’s job is to provide the UK government with impartial, expert advice on major long term infrastructure challenges. Later this month the NIC will publish its second National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA).   Resources To learn more about the NIC and the upcoming Nation Infrastructure Assessment, due to be published on 18 October 2023, click here. To register for the inaugural Connected Places Summit, being held in London on 20-21 March 2024, click here. To find out more about the Connected Places Catapult and to hear about their latest news, events and announcements, visit cp.catapult.org.uk and sign up to their newsletter. Listeners can subscribe to the Connected Places podcast, here or by searching in all good podcast services. Partner Connected Places Catapult provides impartial ‘innovation as a service’ for public bodies, businesses, and infrastructure providers to catalyse step-change improvements in the way people live, work and travel. The Catapult connects businesses and public sector leaders to cutting-edge research to spark innovation and grow new markets. It runs technology demonstrators and SME accelerators to scale new solutions that drive growth, spread prosperity, and eliminate carbon.The post Introducing: Connected Places first appeared on Engineering Matters.

For more than a century, the UK’s Rolls-Royce have designed power systems for cars and planes, ships and submarines. Today, they are developing a novel form of nuclear reactor, which will bring reliable power to the Moon, and green energy to some of the world’s furthest frontiers. The microreactors they are developing are tiny: terrestrial versions will be the size of a shipping container, and the first, lunar, models aim to be the size of a small car. They require no external cooling, and use a novel fuel form—encapsulated pellets—to ensure safety. One day, they could bring containerised, ready-to-plug-in, power to isolated communities, military forward bases, and disaster zones. But first, Rolls-Royce plans to send them to the moon. Guests Gary Jones, head of manufacturing innovation, Rolls-Royce Katie Jarman, nuclear innovation manager, Rolls-Royce Catherine Harver, business development manager Robert Spencer, degree apprentice, Derby University/Rolls-RoyceThe post #234 Microreactors: From the Moon, to the ends of the Earth first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The Dawlish sea wall, a historic and iconic structure, has long served as a critical link connecting South Devon and Cornwall to the rest of the UK. Its rich history and importance in facilitating transportation have made it a symbol of resilience. However, after a storm in 2014 the wall collapsed and left the train line dangling over the water. A team of 300 engineers were sent to repair the train line and after just a couple of months the line was back up and running. Once the line was repaired it still required upgraded protection from the sea wall, but the beach and train line presented major obstacles to construction. Enter the WaveWalker 1, a groundbreaking engineering innovation that has taken center stage in the dramatic tale of the Dawlish sea wall’s rebirth. This eight legged jack-up platform can move itself across the water and was used to install all the piles along the new Dawlish sea wall. In this episode we hear about how the WaveWalker 1 works, why it was so successful in Dawlish and how Network Rail is building resilience into this arterial route and others in the UK by reopening lines. Guests Jack Brookes, Senior agent, BAM Nuttall Roy Hickman, Senior rail consultant, Fugro Zac Smart, Technical operations manager, Fugro Matthew Barnes, Head of strategic service development, Great Western Railway. 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 #233 Rebuilding the Dawlish Sea Wall first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Many organisations undervalue the role young employees can play, one in five UK employers outright refuse to hire from the 22-25 age group. However young employees can offer a different way of looking at problems and with an emerging skill gap across STEM industries, employing and training young people gives companies a chance to mould the next generation. Despite studies showing the next generation’s fear over AI and technology making their jobs obsolete, many entering engineering are excited by the opportunity it could provide. In this episode of Engineering Matters, we venture into the future of engineering through the eyes of young engineers. Join us as we gain unique insights from Abdulrahman AlNakkazah, Lily Harndon, Albert Adel, each offering their perspectives on the exciting challenges and opportunities that await the next generation of engineers. With technology changing the role of young engineers in the workplace we also hear from a civil engineering professor over how academic institutes are reacting to the changing demands placed on engineers. Guest Lily Harnden, AtkinsRéalis  Abdulrahman AlNakkazah, AtkinsRéalis Albert Adel, AtkinsRéalis Eric Marks, Professor of Civil Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyThe post #232 Future of Technology and Engineering first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Governments and businesses around the world have made commitments to achieve Net Zero by the middle of the century. This will require engineering innovation, and changes to practices, standards and regulations, across the generation, transmission, storage and transport segments. In this episode we explore the challenges and how they intersect. The IET’s Powering Net Zero week takes place 14 – 17 November 2023, Crowne Plaza, Glasgow, with three conferences, five content streams, an exhibition and an awards ceremony. Find out how you can take part here. Guests Keith Bell, Scottish Power Chair in Future Power Systems, University of StrathclydeClaire Miller, Independent adviser and consultant, former Director of Technology and Innovation, Octopus Electric VehiclesHuiyi Zhang Jackson Director of Clean Energy Technologies and Policy, Edison Electric Institute 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.  The post #231 Powering Net Zero first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In our increasingly complex and interconnected world, wars are fought not only on the battlefield, but within the infrastructure that supports our society. To address these challenges, engineers must adopt a ‘secure by design’ approach that identifies risks from the outset. Just as cyberattacks extend threats to a new digital domain, so too is climate change reshaping the physical landscape. Militaries must seek to eliminate their own carbon emissions—often the most significant of any government activity—while preparing for climate-driven catastrophe and conflict. The changing environment will bring new operational challenges, but the development of electric vehicles may allow for more efficient logistics. Engineers can help safeguard infrastructure through vulnerability analysis. They can support innovative start-ups, as they develop emissions-free equipment that can be used by militaries. And, they can bring new, diverse, mindsets and experiences to national security challenges, offering new ways to understand and respond to threats. Guests David Clark, Global Defence Lead and VP Aerospace & Defence, UK&E, Atkins Richard Gutsell, Programme Director, Atkins Tony Burgess, Account Director, Strategic Command, Atkins Neha Bhasin, Senior Consultant, Atkins Partner Atkins, part of the SNC-Lavalin Group, 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, Atkins utilities the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #230 National Security’s New Frontlines first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Ever since the first computer chip was created the size of transistors on chips has been getting smaller and smaller. Gordon Moore, who went on to co-found Intel, predicted the doubling of number of transistors on a chip would double every two years, over the last 60 years this has been true but only thanks to some incredible technological breakthroughs. In 2018 the most advanced chip making machine was made available for mass production by Dutch company ASML. The machine uses EUV (extreme ultraviolet light) to etch transistors just 1 nanometre wide. Many companies within the semiconductor industry have spent the last 30 years trying to crack this technology but ASML is the only company to ever do so. In this episode we find out how ASML, despite only being founded in 1985, have become Europe’s largest tech company and the process they went through developing their EUV machine and how it works. Guests Christophe Fouquet, ASML Board MemberThe post #229 Chip Manufacturing and the World’s Most Complex Machine first appeared on Engineering Matters.

For consumers, and for many businesses, the road to Net Zero is simple: replace fossil fuels with electricity, source the electricity from renewable sources, and use it as efficiently as possible, But this isn’t a road every business can follow. Some have energy requirements so intense, that they cannot be easily powered from the grid. Others produce significant amounts of carbon, not through their fuel use, but through the process itself. That’s the challenge faced by the minerals processing sector. Facilities like lime kilns burn natural gas to maintain constant temperatures of 850C or more, in a continuous process. They heat lime, or calcium carbonate (CaCO3), to produce quicklime, or calcium oxide (CaO), releasing large volumes of CO2.  As Tarmac develops its own road map for Net Zero, it is working alongside the Mineral Products Association and the UK government to address these emissions. At Tunstead, it has recently completed a demonstration of hydrogen fuelled lime kilns. And it is helping to develop systems to capture and store carbon dioxide. Along with other innovations across the business, this will help Tarmac and its parent, CRH, reach its Net Zero goals. Guests Andy Flanagan, Lime Plant Manager, Tarmac Diana Casey, Executive Director, Energy and Climate Change, Cement and Lime, Mineral Products Association Erusa Adizie, Net Zero manager, Tarmac Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director, Infrastructure, Construction & Rail, UK Department for Business & Trade (DBT) Resources Tarmac’s Net Zero Roadmap UK Concrete and Cement Industry Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero UK Hydrogen Net Zero Investment roadmap UK Hydrogen Strategy Industrial Fuel Switching competition phase 3: Successful projects 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 #228 Hydrogen, and the road to Net Zero building materials first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The De Havilland Beaver is a single pilot, seven passenger piston airplane that’s an icon of Canadian aviation. It has been out of production for over 50 years but is still a popular plane for short flights to Canada’s most remote areas. The De Havilland Beaver now finds itself on the cutting edge of aviation. Harbour Air, a trailblazing regional airline from Canada is on a mission to become the world’s first carbon-zero airline by retrofitting their iconic de Havilland Beavers with MagniX’s cutting-edge electric engines.  In this episode we hear how Harbour Air and MagniX retrofit a Beaver that in 2022 completed its first point to point test flight and the challenges surrounding electric flight. Guests Erica Holtz, Harbour Air Miguel Marmol, Vice President of engineering, MagniXThe post #227 Electrifying the Skies: Harbour Air’s Green Revolution first appeared on Engineering Matters.

What can an engineer or town planner learn from a computer game Viking? In this episode, we look at how one design team is using real time simulations, or gaming engines, to develop accessible ways of communicating engineering proposal to the public. Games such as Valheim challenge players to survive in a world of richly detailed physics; others, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 present realistic natural environments. Engineers can use these tools to show how flood prevention measures might work, or to help decide whether a line of trees is a suitable acoustic barrier for a new road. Cutting edge technologies like AR/VR and AI promise even more engineering uses. Gaming engines can allow planners to model complex crowd behaviour in public spaces; they can be used to practise safety procedures in the most hazardous environments; and they may even allow the public to view planning proposals, in digital form, in their real world setting. Guests Thomas Greener, principal realtime developer, Atkins Jack Strongitharm, solutions engineer, Unity Mike Dunlop, senior immersive producer, Atkins Partner Atkins, part of the SNC-Lavalin Group, 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, Atkins utilities the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.The post #226 Gaming: A New Engine for Engagement first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Saudi Arabia has set out on a journey. This historic land is today home to a young country: a quarter of the population are under 15; more than 40% are younger than 25; and 90% are under 55 years old. The country aims to build a diversified economy that will provide new opportunities for this young population. To achieve this goal, Saudi Arabia is looking to the past, as well as the future. Called Saudi Vision 2030, the plan draws on the country’s position at the heart of the Arab and Islamic world. It seeks to use its investment power to create a more diverse and sustainable economy. And it is using its strategic location on major trade routes to build its role as an integral driver of international trade, connecting Europe, Africa and Asia. The country’s leadership is committed to driving the country’s socio-economic diversification. A new green, smart, economy is being built, which aims to drive long-term sustainable growth.  But historic sites in Saudi Arabia are a vital part of this new vision. The UNESCO world heritage sites like Hegra in Al Ula, Historic Jeddah, and Diriyah’s At-Turaif District will draw visitors to the country, and drive internal tourism. Their careful restoration and development will bring new jobs, and kick start wider growth in the local economy. Guests Vasushree Mohta, Regional Director, Urban Design and Landscape, Middle East & Africa, Atkins Simon Millman, Head of Cost Management, Middle East and Africa, Faithful+Gould.  Dr Ehab Abdo, Head of Project Management Consultancy Services, western region, Saudi Arabia, Faithful+Gould Partner Atkins and Faithful+Gould, members of the SNC-Lavalin GroupThe post #225 Saudi Arabia: Preserving the past, building the future first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Power companies like National Grid Electricity Distribution, have used helicopters to monitor power lines for decades. Once, an inspector would check each component visually from the helicopter. Today, they are backed up by a data specialist, who manages the acquisition of LIDAR and other data. The ability of these companies to acquire detailed data over their network poses a new challenge: how can it be processed and analysed, to guide efficient maintenance programmes and vegetation management? The solution, Roames® dynamic 3D model of the network and powerful analytics. A potential game-changer for vegetation managers that will only become more important, as climate change increases the risk of wildfires, and of extreme weather that can damage transmission lines. Guests Chris Boreland, Global Lead, Power, Fugro Robin Tutcher, Director and Accountable Manager, National Grid Helicopters Shelby Coder, Solution Manager – Geospatial, Fugro 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 #224 Power lines, helicopters, and data analysis first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The operations and maintenance (O&M) sector has changed significantly since the inception of the 3P, or public private partnership, model in the 1990s. Once, these contracts merely assigned O&M responsibilities. Today, clients want suppliers to help them implement specific social and environmental values.  This is changing the way O&M contractors work. They must collaborate closely with clients, making sure they understand the client’s aims, and that they can fulfil these. To do that, they must have a deep understanding of an asset. A digital twin built alongside a project, can enable this understanding at the O&M contractor. But even on contracts where there is not a direct line between delivery and O&M,clients often generate a wealth of data. By using these to shape their O&M programme, and by engaging in a collaborative relationship with their O&M provider, they efficiently achieve complex goals, that make their projects resilient, and align them with broader values. Guests Philippe Jean, Senior Vice President of Operations for O&M, SNC Lavalin Canada Jason Pavey, Managing Director – O&M UK and Europe, Atkins Partner Atkins, part of the SNC-Lavalin Group, 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, Atkins utilities the latest technology to deliver major capital projects, and provide expert consultancy for clients across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors. The post #223 Data and collaboration, operations and maintenance first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In episode #221, Engineering Matters looked at a new way of manufacturing feedstocks for plastics. This approach will eliminate the use for oil products, instead making use of plant-based materials, which will also help remove carbon from the atmosphere. But eliminating the use of finite oil resources is only one part of the circular economy. This week, we wanted to take a dip into the archive, to look at a technology that could help close the loop in the plastics supply chain: 3D printing. Back in 2019, we looked at a device called the Refabricator. This was developed for use in space, allowing plastics to be melted and reused, even in the difficult environment of a space station. It doesn’t just have applications in space though, but can recycle plastic on earth too. We also consider how additive manufacturing is making the move from being a prototyping technology to becoming a complementary technique in the production chain and look at how newer methods—like material jetting—could prove disruptive in pharmaceuticals and electronics. GUESTS Dr Robert Hoyt, Tethers Unlimited Ben Redwood, 3D Hubs Professor Richard Hague, Centre for Additive Manufacturing, University of Nottingham.The post #222 Revisited: The future of 3D printing first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The world consumes 4.25 billion tonnes of oil every year. Over half of the oil drilled out of the ground goes towards transport, but the entire sector is moving to decarbonise. However even if the transport sector no longer requires oil, many industries across the economy will still be reliant on extracting fossil fuels. In order for the world to stop drilling for oil we need to find replacements for all its uses, not just in transportation. The amount of oil used to produce materials is equivalent to what goes towards the automotive industry. Oil is used to produce all sorts of materials, like plastics, beauty products, carpets, clothing, car parts, tyres, toys and much more. Origin Materials is a company founded by John  Bissell and Ryan Smith, two undergraduate chemical engineers back in 2008, and now they have created a process of turning wood chips into carbon negative versions of commonly used materials that previously required petroleum to produce. Their process has been proven at a small scale, but with orders already coming in from major users of plastics and other materials, Origin Materials are in the process of trying to scale up to meet what they see as a $1 trillion addressable market. GuestsJohn Bissell , co-founder & CEO, Origin MaterialsThe post #221 Turning plants into plastics first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Buildings and the construction industry account for 39% of global carbon emissions: 28% from materials and operational emissions, and 11% from construction operations. One of the main sources of those emissions during building works, is the use of diesel generators to power heavy equipment, such as tower cranes. But this equipment only needs high levels of power for a fraction of its working day. If equipment users can smooth these peaks of demand, they could work from much lower power electrical sources: the grid, or even local renewables. In this episode, we look at two technologies—flywheels and high power output battery packs—that can supply the peak power needed by tower cranes and other heavy equipment, while only needing a trickle of electrical power to recharge them. By using these technologies, contractors and equipment suppliers in the UK and Hong Kong have been able to slash their carbon emissions by well over 90%, and to work without the use of diesel generators. Guests Steve Bradby, technical and engineering leader, lifting solutions, Select Plant Hire Tobias Knichel, managing director, Punch Flybrid Ltd Hayley Arckless, country manager (UK), AMPd Energy Dave Shooter, group crane manager, Bowmer + KirklandThe post #220 The End of the Diesel Generator? first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Can engineers help to build peace? Can the solutions engineers develop in places of conflict, contribute to the development of low carbon? They can. And Engineering Matters listeners can help with this important work. Over the past decade, many of Syria’s urban areas have been ravaged by aerial bombardment and shelling by artillery. It is a land of lives lost and cities destroyed. But in the country’s northwest, an engineer is working among the rubble to establish an independent university that will allow internally displaced teenagers and post grads to continue their studies.  With the help of Cara, the Council for At-Risk Academics, he has collaborated with researchers at Sheffield and Middle East Technical University to study ways to use post-conflict rubble as aggregate. In a country that has seen 135,000 buildings destroyed, this may speed reconstruction, while cutting carbon costs. With small mobile equipment local Syrians will also be able to separate smaller particles, for re-activation and use as binder. Techniques like this could be used around the world to produce new concrete from demolished buildings. Guests Abdulkader Rashwani — Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Sham University, Aleppo, Syria Theodore Hanein — UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, UK Kate Robertson — consultant (Middle East/Syria Programme Adviser), Cara Resources Rebuilding Syria from the Rubble: Recycled Concrete Aggregate from War-Destroyed BuildingsThe post #219 Syria: Rising from the rubble first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. From jobs and skills to Learning Legacy case studies, the HS2 project continues to provide good practice, innovation and lessons learned. HS2 isn’t just about building a new piece of infrastructure, it’s an opportunity to connect communities, regenerate the economy and leave a lasting legacy of jobs and skills. This episode of How to build a railway, ‘Leaving a legacy’, explores explores how HS2 is supporting the communities along the line of route and adopting lessons learned from past mega-projects. Featuring Natalie Penrose, Head of Legacy, explains how we’re creating a workforce that’s fit for both now and the future, developing programmes to inspire young people into the industry as well as those previously out of work. Dyan Crowther, CEO HS1, recalls her 35 years of experience in the rail industry and talks combating skills gaps and the shift in community views on projects like the Crossrail and HS1. Cathy Elliott, Chair of Funds, Ground Works, takes us through the CEF and BLEF funding programmes and the support to get projects like Britain in Bloom and Warwickshire Arts Centre up and running. Jonathan Bretherton, MD Urban Growth Company, explains the mission of the UGC and its development project of Arden Cross, an area near HS2’s Interchange Station that will include thousands of new homes, six million square feet of commercial development and brand new transport links. And Alex Couchman and Sam Harris, HS2 Project Manager Apprentices, describe how the freedom and support from the programme has allowed them to explore the project, deepen their knowledge and ultimately find an area of work they’re most excited about. The post Episode Twelve, How to build a Railway: Leaving a legacy first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. With any project, health and safety plays an important role. From working at height to operating heavy machinery, there is always a risk towards the health and wellbeing of workers, and possibly the public. How do workers identify and mitigate hazards? How do they make use of decades of progress in health and safety? And how do they build upon that knowledge to help improve industry best practice and beyond? This episode of How to build a railway, ‘Safe at Heart’, explores why nothing on this project is more important than the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone working on HS2. Featuring: Emma Head – HS2 Technical Services Delivery Director Fiona King – HS2 Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing Dame Judith Hackitt – HS2 Non-Executive Director Ben Bryant – Align TBM Engineer Sasan Ghavami – BBV Deputy Project Director SL7 Emma outlines HS2’s Health and Safety Strategy along with how the organisation works with its supply chain to drive the performance of Health and Safety. Fiona dives into the importance of Occupational Health and viewing the long-term risks to individuals that may only become present 20+ years later. She also talks through “Health by Design”. An approach of identifying and mitigating risks to health and wellbeing before construction even starts. Dame Judith discusses the learning from other projects when it comes to health and safety along with having a project this scale to use as an opportunity to set new standards for the industry. Ben explains the use of robotics on TBM “Cecilia”, and how it benefits the workers’ health and safety by removing risks of working from height and exposure to materials in the ground being excavated. Sasan describes the Marston Box push and how actions taken not only benefited health and safety for the workforce, but also the local community.The post Episode Eleven, How to build a Railway: Safe at Heart first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. Climate change presents unprecedented challenges; the actions we take today will fundamentally affect our lives and the lives of future generations. How we travel – and how we build our infrastructure – are critical to our response to this global emergency. It’s why we’re building HS2: to be both a catalyst for growth and the most sustainable railway of its type in the world. HS2 trains will be powered by zero carbon energy from day one of operation, offering a cleaner, greener future. This commitment plays a key part in driving our goal to make the project net zero carbon from 2035, with targets of diesel free construction sites and reducing the carbon content of steel and concrete. In Episode ten we explore the work towards cleaner construction. From our Net Zero Carbon Plan to working closely with the supply chain and research organisations to pilot and implement low carbon materials, alternative fuels, renewable energy and new construction methods. Featuring Emma Head, Technical Services Delivery Director, outlines HS2’s environmental sustainability vision and our commitments around carbon, diesel free construction sites and enhancing biodiversity. Andrea Davidson, Air Quality Manager, dives into the decisions taken to reduce carbon on site, adopting lessons learned from across the industry to demonstrate that it isn’t just what, but how we build. Daniel Marsh and Carl Desouza from Imperial College London’s Centre for Low Emission Construction talk about the support the university provides to HS2 to find out what works, what doesn’t and some of the projects they’ve collaborated on, including a retrofit project where an older part of machinery is fitted with the latest emissions reduction technology. And Steve Bradby, Technical and Engineering Leader at Select Plant Hire, invites us into the world of tower cranes. The post Episode Ten, How to build a Railway: Keeping things clean – our journey to net zero first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. In this episode, we explore how it all fits together – how we integrate our rail systems. Rail travel has come a long way over the years. Now, with advances in technology, demands of a growing population and faster, greener trains, we’re already underway with the complicated procedure of systems integration to ensure every aspect of the railway works together – from day one of operation. From the inner workings of the Washwood Heath Control Centre to the complex world of integration, this next episode explores the many layers of rail systems needed to ensure our trains operate safely, efficiently and on time. Featuring: Chris Rayner, Stations and Systems Delivery Director, describing the layers of various systems in place to make HS2 possible and how it differs to modern rail – from tunnel evacuation procedures to giving passengers broadband levels of Wi-Fi. Kathryn Montgomery, Senior Manager – Train Service Delivery, takes us through the Washwood Heath Control Centre and how learning from outside the industry has influenced its construction. Nassar Majothi, Director of Systems Integration, explains how the different systems communicate with each other along with challenges like cyber security. And Professor Clive Roberts, Director for UK Railway Research and Innovation Network, gives a history of rail systems internationally, along with the research being undertaken to assure the future of high-speed rail systems for years to come. The post Episode Nine, How to build a Railway: From Track to The Cloud – the Layers of Railway first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. This episode of the HS2 podcast series is all about the journey, and the destination. Stations sit at the heart of any railway system. They receive passenger flows from the railway network and provide interchange for other forms of transport. Their design must enable this flow to be efficient and pleasant, along with connections to other modes of transport must be smooth and easily navigable. Stations must also support the communities that host them, creating new opportunities for economic growth in and around their footprint. Everything stations Episode eight explores everything stations. From concept design, to using the best technologies and methods to ensure all features work in the practical scenario. Featuring: Laura Kidd – HS2 Head of Architecture – Laura starts the episode by documenting her experience designing stations for the passenger experience, and how each station being built the HS2 project is completely different based on location, design, and how the design will translate in operation. Hala Lloyd – Former HS2 Lead Architect (Curzon) – Hala dives into detail of the structure of Curzon and Interchange including the use of BREEAM to ensue all stations are designed with the most sustainable technologies. Adrian Hooper – HS2 Head of Engineering and Environment (Old Oak Common) – Adrian explains the use of the digital twin and headsets to walk around and test parts of the design within the practical scenario and making changes if needed. David Lunts – CEO of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) – David gives an overview of the role of the OPDC, its mission in maximising the investment and regeneration opportunities around the OOC station site, and the importance of working closely with local residents and business community. The post Episode Eight, How to build a Railway: Our next stop is… first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. This episode of the HS2 podcast series goes back above ground to explore the design and construction of bridges, with a specific focus on HS2’s iconic Colne Valley Viaduct. Good infrastructure will impact minimally on the surrounding environment. For some stretches of the HS2 route, the diverse landscape and ground conditions are not suitable for tunnels. Where elevated sections of the line are needed – like over lakes and waterways – it brings opportunity for the engineers and architects working on the project to construct a modern and complementary design for the railway, reflective of its natural surroundings. Episode seven features Billy Ahluwalia, HS2’s Senior Project Manager working on the UK’s longest railway bridge, the Colne Valley Viaduct. Taking us back to the Victorian era, Billy sets the scene exploring the evolution of bridge building. Focusing on HS2’s iconic viaduct, we also hear from David Smith, Lead Civil Structures Engineer, and Laura Kidd, Lead Architect, about the design vision for the bridge and how it will stand the test of time. And Ludovic Vergne, Align JV’s Construction Project Manager for the viaduct’s deck segment precast factory, tells us about the 160-metre long launching girder ‘Dominique’, the enormous bridge-building machine that’s lifting the giant concrete deck segments of the viaduct’s arches into position.The post Episode Seven, How to build a Railway: Building Bridges first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. The latest instalment of HS2’s podcast delves into the fascinating world of tunnelling.  As Phase One of the railway winds its way from Birmingham to London, it passes through an ever-changing landscape. Shaped by towns, cities and countryside, HS2 has been designed to minimise the impact on communities and the environment. This episode of How to build a railway, ‘Going underground’, explores one the most powerful tools in the project’s arsenal as we go underground to meet those who are calving the 64 miles of tunnels on the first phase of the project. Featuring: Martin Herrenknecht, Herrenknecht CEO Anders Danielsson, Skanska President and Global CEO Martyn Noak, HS2 Head of Tunnel Engineering Eddie Woods, HS2 Civil Engineering Support Daniel Worsley, SCS TBM Tunnelling Manager Michael Greiner, SCS Lead tunnel Manager The episode kicks off with Martin Herrenknecht, CEO of world leading TBM manufacturer Herrenknecht. Martin shares an interesting career journey and how HS2 stacks up against other major projects. We also hear from HS2’s own Martyn Noak, Head of Tunnel Engineering, and Eddie Woods, Civil Engineering Support, about the unique challenges of tunnelling under motorways, rivers and the Euston throat – already having the largest underground spaces created for transportation in Britain. The episode also features tunnelling experts from main works contractor SCS, Daniel Worsley and Michael Greiner, as well as Anders Danielsson, Skanska President and Global CEO, who describes some of the key takeaways the HS2 project has already given to the industry worldwide.The post Episode Six, How to build a Railway: Going underground first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. We are always looking towards new methods and technologies to help us work smarter, safer and more efficiently. Construction and engineering is no different. This episode of How to build a railway, ‘Opportunity for Innovation’, dives into some of the ways High Speed Two is working to create collaborative innovation partnerships using new technology and processes. This will enable a better and safer way of working for its staff during construction and ensure the best experience possible for all passengers once the railway is operational, leaving a lasting legacy for the construction and rail industries. Featuring: Howard Mitchell, HS2 Head of Innovation Charlotte Hills, HS2 Senior Innovation Manager Heather Donald, HS2 Senior Innovation Manager Ed McCann, ICE President Charlotte describes the benefits of working close with the supply chain and how the use of Lean production allows site teams to watch themselves at work. Giving them the opportunity to collaboratively ask the question “How can we do it better?” Ed outlines the background of ICE and how HS2 intersects within its three main points: Qualifying members Connections to clients The political space Howard explains the strategy behind innovation. Driving the themes and the topics that have the biggest impact to HS2 as a programme, and also the maximum benefit to the UK from this huge investment in the UK infrastructure landscape. Heather talks through The Euston Living Lab project. Using LIDAR sensors to monitor the trends of the current Euston station to make better decisions for the future passenger experience. Displaying that the innovations are not just for the construction of the railway, but also when it’s operational.The post Episode Five, How to build a Railway: Opportunity for Innovation first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. As the largest single environmental project in the UK, protecting and enhancing the environment has always been an integral part of the HS2 programme. Since 2009, every metre of the design has been carefully considered in navigating sites of natural significance. Episode four, ‘Creating the Green Corridor’, explores our endeavours to protect, replace and improve the green spaces that will run alongside the railway – creating the equivalent of 23 new Hyde Parks lining the spine of the country. We have already started planting new woodlands and creating new wetlands, grasslands and meadows which are already thriving homes for wildlife. Featuring Kathleen Covill, Natural England’s Principal Advisor, Simon Mackrell, director at Thomson Environmental Consultants and HS2’s David Prys-Jones and Kat Stanhope, we learn about the opportunities to minimise the environmental impact throughout the construction and operation of HS2 and how we’re creating new ecological sites for protected species.The post Episode Four, How to build a Railway: Creating the Green Corridor first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. Over 250 miles of new high speed railway is planned, with trains capable of speeds up to 225mph (360km/h), and linking the biggest cities in Scotland with Manchester, Birmingham and London. This episode of How to build a railway, ‘Preparing the ground’, takes a look at the early construction works that needed to be done on HS2, before building the stations, bridges, tunnels and track that will form the operational railway. Guests Jonathan Gammon – Geotechnical Observations Limited Advisor/ Non Exec Director Danny Allen – HS2 Euston Senior Project Manager Richard Crathern – SCS Civils Senior Project Manager Carl Ainley – SCS Utilities Jaione Echeveste – SCS Utilities Laura Hughes – Fugro Country Director Dave Thomas – Fugro Site Services Director Jonathan explains the design and implementation of the Ground Investigations programme for Phase One in 2014. Laura and Dave talk about the wide range of techniques used to understand one of the most complicated areas of the project – Euston Station. From simple cone penetration to using AR to view the layers of ground beneath their feet. Danny and Richard describe the challenges of dismantling the various structures for the Euston Station area including secret building basements and robustly built rooms. Carl talks through the complex process of replacing old power cables and how this grows to fully understanding the area bit by bit using radar surveys and as-built records. Jaione explains the preparation of the London power grid to support the operation of the Tunnel Boring Machines when main tunnelling in the area commences. They require an enormous 45MW of power to operate. The equivalent of 45,000 homes.The post Episode Three, How to build a Railway: Preparing the ground first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. This episode, ‘Unearthing History’, explores everything archaeology. HS2’s archaeology programme is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will allow us to reveal over 10,000 years of British history. As Europe’s biggest dig, HS2’s archaeology programme has provided fascinating insight and discoveries into the lives of the people and communities who made modern Britain. Guests Helen Wass, HS2 Head of Historic Environment Mike Court, HS2 Lead of Historic Environment Dr Rachel Wood, Former Archaeological Manager on HS2 Mike explains the Historic Environmental Research Delivery Strategy (HERDS) plan which developed the focus of the field work and asking the big landscape questions. Rachel describes the 20 sites she was responsible for including St Mary’s Church and the whole host incredible discoveries. Helen looks at the future of the sites with the post excavation process and how the focus will shift to a wider picture. Why the discoveries were there? What were the Romans doing? How has the landscape changed through to the Victorian time?The post Episode Two, How to build a Railway: Unearthing History first appeared on Engineering Matters.

How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line. This episode focusses on why HS2 is needed, the historical context of our country’s railways, project progress so far and upcoming goals. Guests Bob Gwynne, National Railway Museum Associate Curator. Andrew McNaughton, Former HS2 Chief Engineer. Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor. Mark Thurston, HS2 Chief Executive. Starting back in the 1830’s, Bob sets the scene of the original Victorian Railway and its importance both for the time as well as now. Andrew talks through the early days of the project with designing the first stage back in 2009. Andy describes what HS2 will do for the region of Birmingham as well as the rest of the country and Mark gives his thoughts on not just the future of the project, but the space in which those who work on HS2 have created.The post Episode One, How to build a Railway: The What and the Why of HS2 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Engineering Matters is celebrating its fifth anniversary this week. Podcast founders Bernadette Ballantyne and Jon Young, along with the rest of the Engineering Matters team, tell the story of the show’s creation and rapid growth, and share a behind-the-scenes look at how some of our favourite and most popular episodes have been put together. Engineering Matters launched at a time when few had heard of podcasts. We were soon seeing thousands of listeners for each episode. Today, every episode is downloaded by over 40,000 people, and many have achieved double those download rates. Our success has been recognised by the publishing industry, with the show winning ‘Best Technology Podcast’ three years in a row; a ‘Podcasting Hero’ award for our sound engineer, Ross MacPherson; and a special award for our unique commercial model. The entire run of the show—218 episodes so far—can be listened to without adverts, with every episode available for free. Our partnered episodes, supported by leading engineering firms, are produced with the same editorial standards as our independent episodes. We’ll be doing more over the coming year to promote innovation in the engineering sector, as we launch the first Engineering Matters awards. Hosts Bernadette Ballantyne, co-founder, Engineering Matters Jon Young, co-founder, series supervisor, Engineering Matters Contributors Ross MacPherson, sound engineer, Engineering Matters Alex Conacher, producer, Engineering Matters Johnnie Dowling, producer, Engineering Matters Will North, producer, Engineering Matters.The post #218 Origin stories first appeared on Engineering Matters.

More and more of the economy is being powered by the grid and that trend will continue over the next few decades. At the same time countries are looking to reduce their reliance on coal and gas and use more renewables like solar and wind. Managing the transition to a green grid will require extensive planning and investment to ensure grids can remain reliable. A renewables powered grid will still need baseload power sources that can provide large amounts of power reliably. But many renewable sources are intermittent, when the sun doesn’t shine you can’t get solar power. To manage this transition countries will need to identify baseload power options dependent on their geography, and investment must continue into storage options, both for long term and short term and grid upgrades.  For countries to reach 2035 net zero goals, requires action now and countries need a clear plan of what the makeup of the electrical grid will look like in 20 years time. Guests Alasatir Perry, vice president of renewables, SNC Lavalin Sarah Long, market director for net zero, AtkinsThe post #217 Managing the Energy Transition first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The next decade will see an unprecedented level of offshore energy construction. In order to achieve the 2035 emissions targets adopted by many governments, the offshore industry will need to build thousands of turbines. Each of these must be secured by appropriate foundations and anchors, often in unmapped areas of the seabed, much deeper than those that have been used before. Achieving the pace of construction needed will strain a sector with some hard limits on its capacity. New surveying vessels, and more expert surveyors, would take years to build or train. Instead, new tools and techniques are needed that can each contribute to cutting construction and surveying time. In this episode, we will learn about some of the physical and digital tools that are being used by wind farm developers to speed up their work. These include a new drilling system, similar to a tunnel boring machine, that can be used to efficiently prepare the seabed for foundations; vision technology, which can help ensure work is conducted with precision; and new digital platforms that can help project stakeholders make sense of the massive amount of historical and near real time data they hold of sites and gain early insights, anywhere, anytime, on land and at sea. Guests Peter Richards, Designer and Chief Engineer, Fugro Sjoerd Butter, Product Owner, Vision Technologies, Fugro Jason Smith, Global Director, Geo-Data Analysis & Geoconsulting, Fugro Kathryn Rovang, Senior Geoscientist and Global Product Owner VirGeo, Fugro Partner FugroThe post #216 Accelerating Offshore Wind Construction first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Waste is an integral part of the circular economy. It is, in many cases, simply a resource that is in the wrong place. But it can also be a nuisance, an eyesore or even a risk to health. In the UK, new regulations, and changes to ways some waste handling is allowed to take place, will both open up opportunities, and impose new liabilities. The industry still makes heavy use of paper waste transfer notices. These limit the ability of regulators to spot waste crime, and of industry participants to ensure that their obligations are being met. A new digital waste tracking system, currently under development, will make enforcement easier, and improve the sector’s ability to identify profitable opportunities for re-use and recycling. At the same time, some of the exemptions used to allow waste operations without a permit are being removed. And, the Environment Agency has taken a tough approach to enforcement, successfully holding directors personally liable for waste crime in court. In this episode, we learn more about these changes, and the steps companies should take—even if they don’t think of themselves as being in the waste business—to make sure that they are ready for a new way of tracking waste. Guests Sharon Palmer, head of environment – assurance, The Clancy Group Craig Burman, partner, Schofield Sweeney Jessica Morgan Smith, principal consultant, MPG Hannah Haeffner, national recycling and recovery manager, Tarmac Partner TarmacThe post #215 Waste Goes Digital first appeared on Engineering Matters.

When a major public infrastructure project is announced often a brand new organisation is set up that is tasked with delivering the project. These organisations can be very small and not have the experience delivering a major project that only a few people have. In the past organisations like these have hired a programme or project manager, who takes over the delivery of the project. However this model cuts out the owner organisation from making key decisions on the project’s delivery. Now a new model for megaprojects delivery is emerging. One that has successfully delivered major projects across Europe and focuses on collaboration between the client and delivery organisation. In this episode we hear from three experienced project managers about the new delivery partner model that has been used on major projects like the London 2012 Olympics, Crossrail and HS2. Guests Peter Zuk, project executive, Atkins Richard Robinson, CEO of Atkins in UK and Europe Kurt Goddard, head of rail and transit, Atkins USThe post #214 Delivering a Megaproject first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Just over a week ago, SpaceX successfully launched one of the largest rockets ever, a key step in humanity’s journey beyond the earth. While the rocket underwent a ‘rapid unplanned disassembly’ shortly after launch, it gave the company’s engineers a wealth of data for future launches. The same company also owns the world’s largest constellation of more than 4,000 satellites, StarLink. Constellations like this have great potential. StarLink will provide internet service in the parts of the world that other telecommunication services just don’t reach, and has shown its worth in war-ravaged Ukraine. Other constellations address a range of commercial, academic, and defence applications. But these two ways of exploring and exploiting space are in tension. Without proper tracking, we face the risk that collisions between small satellites will create a chain reaction, surrounding our planet with an impenetrable cloud of debris. That is the doomsday scenario predicted by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978. But new technologies are being developed that enable companies and agencies to know precisely where their assets are in real time. Not only protecting against collisions, but improving outcomes and enabling new applications for Earth monitoring.   So this week, we have delved into the archive to find you an episode of Engineering Matters, that addresses this problem: How can we make the most use of space, without trapping ourselves on Earth? Guests Ane Aanesland, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ThrustMe Mark Heine, Chief Executive Officer, Fugro Javier Tegedor, Global Navigation Satellite System Scientist, Fugro Pieter van Duijn, Chief Technology Officer, Loft Orbital Tyler Jones, Senior Advisor – National Infrastructure, Norwegian Space Agency Partner This episode is produced in partnership with Fugro. 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 #213 Revisited: Positioning Satellites in New Space first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The brewing industry has become a testing ground for the energy transition. Many drinkers want to drink responsibly: not just to protect their own health, but the health of the planet. Brewers large and small are taking innovative approaches to their energy use. In Samlesbury, AB InBev has started working with Protium, who will fund, build, and operate a green hydrogen facility that will provide renewable energy, heat for brewing operations, and fuel for their distribution vehicles. Hepworth & Co, a much smaller brewery, based in Horsham, has been taking an incremental approach, using solar panel, and careful recovery of heat from its systems, to cut its use of fuel oil. And the company is now looking to use methane, produced on site in a containerised anaerobic digestor, to replace some of its fuel use. The next step for the brewery will be to store heat produced over the weekend, and use it in its small batch brewing through the week. One day, brewing consultant Tim O’Rourke says, brewers may be able to source agricultural raw materials from farmers who use techniques that actually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, meaning that every pint drinkers enjoy, will help heal the planet. Guests Tim O’Rourke – The Brilliant Beer Company Andy Hepworth – Hepworth & Co Chris Jackson – ProtiumThe post #212 Turning beer green first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Britains biodiversity has been declining sharply over the last 50 years. We are now one of the most nature depleted nations in the world. Despite legislation and efforts to stem the tide of wildlife population decline, nothing has worked. Some Wildlife Trusts and organisations now support a more nature based approach to wildlife and land management. Rewilding is the process of helping nature return to its natural state and one of the best ways of doing that is by letting big animals do the job of wildlife managers. In Kent, in the Summer of 2022, a family of European Bison, the first to roam wildly in the UK for thousands of years, were released into the Blean Woods. The hope is as they move through the woods, they will interact with the environment around them creating better, more livable habitats for the entire ecosystem. It’s also not just Bison, across the UK species that once lived here are being returned to see if they can play a role in managing and improving this island’s depleted wildlife. Guests Paul Hadaway, Kent Wildlife Trust Sara King, Rewilding Manager, Rewilding Britain Resources For more on the Bison reintroduction project, click here For more on Rewilding Britain, click here The post #211 Rewilding the UK first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Last week the UK government announced plan to ban the sale of wet wipes to deal with the problem of fatbergs in sewers. This week we’re rerunning an episode from 2019 where we venture down into the sewer system to see the largest fatberg in Europe. Underneath cities all over the UK subterranean mountains of calcified fat are gathering in our sewers as fat, oil and grease stick to baby wipes and harden to form a blubbery bacterial blockage. Removing them is dangerous, manual work, putting people and the infrastructure itself at risk. Special projects manager Andy Howard, who is clearing Europe’s biggest fatberg in Blackfriars, London with Lanes Group, explains that removing a fatberg is not necessarily the end of the story. Unless people change their habits, fatbergs will come back. At Whitechapel, in east London they have already witnessed the return of the fatberg. Hear Andy describe in detail how fatbergs are hacked, drilled and dug out as well as describe a new phenomenon plaguing the sewers – concretebergs.GUEST Andy Howard, special projects manager, Lanes Group A new report from Lanes shows that public awareness of fatbergs is increasing with 77 percent of people knowing what they. However 85 percent of people had never heard of concretebergs! Full survey here. SPECIAL THANKSLanes Group Thames Water Water UKThe post #210 Revisited: Return of the Fatbergs first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In a world of complex supply chains, how can owners secure their assets against risks like climate change and disease lockdowns? By using the concept of resilience, owners can form strategic asset management plans, which balance the level of service required, against the cost of that service, while paying attention to all the risks faced: both by the asset itself, and by the supply chains it is part of. In this episode, Shiv Iyer and Donna Huey explore how asset management experts can help owners methodically break down each of the risks they face. This approach can be used to bring together large groups of stakeholders, to understand how assets connect to the world around them. These can be modelled over decades, using simulation software from Atkins. Owners can use resilience to inform their decisions about the location and design of new assets. It can also allow them to update their existing maintenance programmes to respond to new and changing risks, And it can help them win the confidence of insurers and bond ratings agencies. Guests Donna Huey, chief digital officer, SVP, Atkins US Shiv Iyer, technical director, asset management, Atkins USThe post #209 Asset Management, Resilience, and Climate Change first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The first edition of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment, published in 2017, is a professional statement that establishes a methodology for calculating the carbon cost of buildings, and now infrastructure, from construction, through use, to end-of-life. The guidelines already allow users to make finely tuned carbon cost/benefit calculations. For example, do the energy savings of added insulation justify the embodied carbon cost of the insulating material? Or, has a building truly reached the end of its life, or could it be more efficiently re-used or retrofitted? If it cannot, can any carbon costs be saved through salvaging materials? The professional statement is now being revised, and a public consultation is taking place until 18 April 2023. In this episode, Simon Sturgis, who has led the development of the guidance, explains its origins, and the ideas behind it, and the RICS’s Matthew Collins explains how it is being used, and why it is being revised. Guests Simon Sturgis, founder, Targeting Zero LLP Matthew Collins, senior specialist, construction and infrastructure management, RICS Resources Simon Sturgis’s paper Redefining Zero, which helped spur debate on the carbon costs of buildings. The UK House of Commons environmental audit select committee report Building to net zero: costing carbon in construction. The Bath University Inventory of Carbon and Energy (Bath ICE) database.The post #208 Counting Carbon Costs in the Built Environment first appeared on Engineering Matters.

For 50 years the North Sea has been critical to European energy. Technology and skills developed over decades enabled the extraction of oil and gas in some of the most extreme and hazardous conditions on the planet.  As the world transitions away from oil and gas, the North Sea will again be a critical source of energy. In time it will play host to thousands of wind turbines, generating unlimited clean power.  The UK is targeting 50GW of offshore wind power by 2030. To realise this dream, and future growth, will mean drawing on the experience of the offshore drilling and production industry, as well as new technologies and approaches, as  energy companies look to site and maintain more assets than anyone had ever imagined.  From anchors styled like spider legs to inspection robots mimicking octopuses; design, technology and robotics advances will be continue the North Sea’s tradition as the offshore energy sector’s incubator.  This episode was recorded live in Edinburgh.  Guests James Faroppa, Director, Marine Geoconsultancy Europe and Africa, Fugro Pawel Michalak, Global Innovation Director, Fugro Laura Aldren, Digital and Data Manager, Total Energies Yvan Petillot, Professor of Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles, Heriot Watt University Francesco Giorgio-Serchi, Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems, University of EdinburghThe post #207 Revolution in the North Sea first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The Swedish city of Gothenburg is celebrating its 400 year anniversary in 2023 and as part of the celebrations the city is undergoing a construction boom. For much of the city’s 400 year history, major construction projects have been very limited by the wet and weak ground conditions beneath the city. This means that Gothenburg, unlike most comparable European cities, doesn’t have an underground metro network or any skyscrapers. But now thanks to new innovation in construction, particularly in the ground shoring sector, digging deep underground and building up to the sky, can take place on Gothenburg’s weak clay.  This is the story of how Gothenburg is building its first underground metro line and Scandinavia’s tallest skyscraper, when only a few years ago these projects may have been impossible. Guests Sam Oldroyd, European sales manager, Groundforce Richard Dawson, Senior Operations Manager at Groundforce Olaf Buerger, Project Manager, NCCThe post #206 The Giant Props of Gothenburg first appeared on Engineering Matters.