Engineering Matters

Every good superhero universe has its origins story. Hagerbach’s begins with Rudolf Amberg, looking to innovate and find new efficiency savings for his iron mine. So began a 50-year journey from testing equipment and explosives, to fire and tunnel safety simulations, and ever more creative uses for underground space. Ultimately the mining industry in Switzerland failed, but Hagerbach survived, and is still an iconic test site for the mining and tunnelling industries. This year it will celebrate its history and look towards its future with the NXT 50 Festival. And some of the ideas on display will push the use of underground space to greater heights than ever before. Guests Antonia Cornaro, Business Development Manager, Amberg Engineering Felix Amberg, President, Amberg Group Michael Kompatscher, CEO, Hagerbach Test Gallery Resources For more information on the Hagerbach NXT 50 Festival, click here For a previous episode of The Tunnelling Podcast that covered underground farming in Hagerbach, click here and a video explaining the concept can be found here For information about Mission Earth First click hereFor the International Tunnelling Association’s Committee for Underground Space, click here And to learn more about Edge Computing Underground, click here Supporters The Amberg Group is a unique knowledge, engineering and technology provider of logistics and infrastructures for smart cities, hubs and networks through innovative combinations of above and underground space usage. Its products and services cover in a digitalized manner the entire life cycle of the infrastructures and all engineering and technology aspects. ACO is the leading supplier for drainage solutions in the building industry. Drainage Solutions for the tunnelling industry is one of the core competencies of ACO. The combination of unique materials with the ACO safety concept for tunnels offers the optimal solution for every project. The prefabricated systems are built to the individual design of every project and ensures an easy and fast installation.The post #112 Hagerbach: The Bat Cave of Tunnelling first appeared on Engineering Matters.

When people think of digital tools to help with engineering problems, they usually think of a 3D model or a computerised image, representing something that exists in the real world. Machine learning is not that.  What it does is completely alien to your way of thinking. It operates in such a way that is totally free from human bias, and completely ignores geometric realities. Machine learning is a cold, dispassionate appraisal of past results, and will allow us to accurately predict the future. And it will do it in such a way that will change the industry forever. Guests Beth West, Senior Strategic Advisor, nPlan Dev Amratia, Chief Executive and Co-Founder, nPlan Matthew Jefferies, Digital Transformation Lead, Atkins Neil Thompson, Director of Digital, Atkins Tom Goldsmith, Structural Engineer, Atkins Resources For a list of the historical reports on the state of the construction industry, click here For more information on nPlan, click here For more information on Project 13, click hereTo listen to Episode #90 – The New Way To Plan a City, click here 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 #111 Machine Learning: Construction’s Future first appeared on Engineering Matters.

London is the world’s first national park city, with about 50% green coverage of its surface area. This is a legacy of the public and Royal parks, Victorian tree planting, and is something Londoners enjoy on a daily basis. Behind the scenes, major organisations and stakeholders are working to raise the profile of environmental sustainability.  And despite London’s heritage, more needs to be done to understand the value of the natural environment and the benefits it brings to people. A concept known as Natural Capital. Guests Jennifer Merriman, Associate Director – Natural Capital and Biodiversity, WSP Katherine Drayson, Strategy and Planning Manager – Environment, Transport for London Sam Longman, Head of Corporate Environment, Transport for London Tom Butterworth, Technical Director for Biodiversity, WSP Resources Tom Butterworth previously appeared in Episode #56 The Biodiversity Emergency To find out more about the Natural Capital Coalition, click here  Greenspace Information for Greater London provides environmental records for the UK capital. Click here  For the Dasgupta review on the economics of biodiversity, click here  Partner The partner for this episode is WSP. As one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consultancies, WSP brings clarity and vision to complex challenges. Their team of technical specialists and strategic advisers across the UK is part of a talented global family of expertise. Together, they ensure innovative solutions solve complex problems for our clients and the communities we serve, meeting both the needs of today and addressing the challenges of the future.The post #110 London: Boosting Biodiversity first appeared on Engineering Matters.

For millions of years spiders have been spinning naturally occurring proteins into an incredibly strong and durable silk. By studying the anatomy of these arachnids, scientists in the UK have cracked the code to reassembling natural proteins creating a new alternative to plastic. Pioneering research company Xampla says that its supramolecular engineered protein is fully biodegradable and can be shaped in any format, making it an ideal replacement for single use plastic and microplastics.  The timing is crucial. Policy makers are seeking new ways to stop over 8 millions of tonnes of plastic being dumped into oceans every year. Microplastics are being discovered everywhere affecting ecosystems in ways that are potentially so catastrophic that the EU is about to ban the deliberate addition of microplastics into any new products.  Guests Simon Hombersley, CEO, Xampla Professor Tuomas Knowles, Scientific Advisor and Co-Founder Xampla and Professor of Physical Chemistry and Biophysics, University of Cambridge. The post #109 Spiders Versus Plastic first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Since the end of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, humanity has focused its activities in the southern continent on science and research. To do this effectively, logistics are critical. To prepare for the arrival of its new ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, the wharf at Rothera Research Station needed to be replaced. The new wharf needed to be built in the extreme conditions of Antarctica, and able to withstand impacts from 15,000 tonne icebergs.  In this episode we speak to the people who made it happen, and find out what it’s like to work in the most desolate environment known. Guests Bruce Wulff, Project Manager, Ramboll David Seaton, Head of Construction, British Antarctic Survey Martha McGowan, Project Manager, Bam Nuttall Stewart Craigie, Technical Director, SwecoThe post #108 Antarctica: Building Rothera Wharf first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Preparation is currently underway for installation of one of the world’s longest fibre optic communications cables. Survey vessels are circumnavigating the entire coast of Africa determining the best locations for laying the cable on the seabed and bringing it onshore. At around 36,000km long it will provide connectivity to countries throughout the continent and form a critical part of meeting the African Union’s ambition to ensure internet for all by 2030. Placing it won’t be easy and just like the engineers who placed the first subsea cables in the 1800s, they have to deal with a huge range of challenges ranging from unpredictable weather, to the global COVID19 pandemic.  Guests Frédéric Cazeneuve, Project Marine Manager, Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) René d’Avezac de Moran, Service Line Manger – Hydrography, Fugro Cynthia Perret, Programme Manager – Submarine Systems, Facebook Bastian Wichand, Project Manager, Fugro Photo credit: 2AFRICA consortium Partner This episode is made in partnership with Fugro. Fugro is the world’s leading geodata 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 geodata to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner. Resources 2Africa Project Website Connecting Africa through Broadband  Submarine Cable MapThe post #107 Africa: Connecting a Continent first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Why do we build? Why develop society? And who reaps the benefit? In this episode we look at the new interest the construction industry is taking in quantifying and appreciating social value. That difficult-to-define idea that has also enjoyed the recent attention of central government, with legislation mandating that projects and tenders take it into account. Social Value is relatively new to industry. It has evolved out of earlier ideas such as Corporate Social Responsibility and there is still a lot of discussion around what it is, what it should actually involve. In this episode we will try to define what it is, learn about this new legislation, and hear from a framework provider that is putting social value at the centre of its projects. Guests Penny Anderson, Associate Director – Social Value, Atkins Peter Masonbrook, Head of Social Value, Faithful + Gould Simon Toplass, CEO, Pagabo Resources For the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, click here For the Social Profit Calculator, click here For the Construction Playbook, click here For Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/20, click here …and for Tony’s Chocolonely, click here 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 #106 A Beginner’s Guide to Social Value first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In a field a few miles southwest of the city of Lexington in Kentucky, a sheep is quietly grazing in the shade. This is a very special sheep. It has been carefully selected from a rare breed to control the vegetation at Kentucky’s largest solar farm. The practice is known as Solar Grazing, an environmentally friendly and incredibly cost effective solution to what would otherwise involve slow and back-breaking manual labour. How this sheep got to be in this place at this time is a story that began 300 years ago and thousands of miles away in Manchester, England. And it is a story that involves a religious movement known as ‘The Shakers’… Guests Aron Patrick, Manager – Technology Research and Analysis, LG&E and KU Mike Moore, Farm Manager, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill William Updike, Vice President – , Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Resources For more information on Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, click here  To listen to the Shaker song ‘Simple Gifts’, which appeared in this episode, click here For more information on the LG&E and KU Research and Analysis Department, click here  To find the utility’s own ‘EweTube’ channel, click here For the American Solar Grazing Association, click hereThe post #105 Solar Grazing at Shaker Village first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In 2019/20 an estimated 693,000 workers in Great Britain sustained a non-fatal injury at work in Great Britain. The figure, which comes from the Office of National Statistics Labour Force Survey, represents 2,160 injuries per 100,000 workers.  The rate had been steadily decreasing for decades. This self-reported rate passed just below 4,000 per 100,000 in 2000/01 but then it stopped reducing. We reached the present level about 10 years ago. Since then, the rate of injury has remained, stubbornly, where it is. In this episode we will look at how an innovation will tackle a major health and safety issue in the rail industry by addressing a hazard that is present along almost the entire length of the UK’s rail network… that’s 16,000km of track. The risk? Cable troughing. Guests Rob Mole, Programme Manager, Network Rail Stewart Wellens, CEO, Trojan Services Resources https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/ https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/index.htm Partner Trojan Services creates cable protection management systems for large infrastructure. Current industry users range from Military to National Electricity, Gas Grid and Rail. Trojan aims to considerably reduce the CO2 footprint of every project they supply for with a more cost-effective solution that can utilise the UK’s plastic waste. They intercept large volumes of selected plastics destined for landfill.The post #104 Solving Rail’s Hidden Hazard first appeared on Engineering Matters.

What is Net Zero? And how can we get there? Can we mitigate the damage of three centuries of fossil fuel-powered industrialisation, with three decades of new energy infrastructure? While Canada is rich in renewables and already produces 80% of its electricity using non greenhouse gas sources, it, like countries around the world, has a daunting task in front of it. In order to reach Net Zero, Canada will need to electrify. And based on their study and their sources, an SNC report explains that Canada will have to triple its generation capacity, from 500TWH in 2020, to 1500TWH in 2050. Guests David Cole, Director – Power Business UK and Europe, SNC Lavalin Jose Restrepo, Global Head of Engineering, SNC Lavalin Ramy Azar, Chief Techical Officer – Power Grids and Renewables, SNC Lavalin Sam Boutziouvis, Vice President – Government Relations, SNC Lavalin Sebastien Mosseau, Lead – Power Grid and Industrial Solutions, SNC Lavalin Resources For the Engineering Net Zero report executive summary, click here. For the Engineering Net Zero Canadian technical report, click here Partner SNC Lavalin’s vision is to be to be the premier engineering solutions partner for its clients, delivering complex projects from vision to reality for a sustainable lifespan. To do that, it connects people, technology and data throughout the project lifecycle to drive better outcomes across safety, sustainability and efficiency.The post #103 A Canadian Blueprint for Net Zero first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Every two years the Peak District hosts ‘Hillhead’ in a disused quarry. It is the largest event for the Quarrying, Construction and Recycling industries. It is known both for its lively equipment demonstrations and unpredictable weather. This year the coronavirus forced the event online, and the new format forced the organisers to reconsider the focus. Already an industry that strives for environmentally sound solutions, this was thrown into sharper focus with the online presentations and lack of heavy machinery. It was a chance for the industry to take stock. In this episode we report on one of the presentations, that looked at the industry as a whole, and the outsize effect construction has on the environment.The post #102 Crushing Climate Change first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Along the west coast of Scotland lies a chain of island communities where fishing and farming have been a way of life for thousands of years.  In securing the future of these islands through providing reliable electricity, engineers and archaeologists are looking to the past to ensure that the rich history is not lost.  Replacing substations and cable connections also means preserving ancient artefacts, recording local historical experiences and protecting the environment for generations to come. Guests Kevin Mooney, Principal Heritage Consultant, WSP Simon Hall, Consents and Environment Manager, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission Katy Urquhart, Subsea Projects Environmental Manager, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution Partner As one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consultancies, WSP brings clarity and vision to complex challenges. Their team of technical specialists and strategic advisers across the UK is part of a talented global family of expertise. Together, they ensure innovative solutions solve complex problems for our clients and the communities we serve, meeting both the needs of today and addressing the challenges of the future.The post #101 Powering and Protecting Scottish Heritage first appeared on Engineering Matters.

This is the third and final episode of our three-part special looking at the delivery of megaprojects. In this episode we examine the lessons learned from two of the most iconic tunnelling projects of recent times: London’s Crossrail and New York’s East Side Access. Crossrail was the largest infrastructure project in Europe. Weaving in and out of the spaghetti of existing assets under central London occupied the best efforts of the British tunnelling industry for much of the early 2010’s. The project is a new east-west link through London and will see the first new line added to the London Underground in decades: The Elizabeth Line. East Side Access in New York is another rail route that extends the Long Island Light Rail Road in Queens to a new station under Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Of particular note are the twin station caverns… each of these cathedral-like structures are 350m long, 30m high and 25m wide. If you would like to listen to the previous episodes first, the links are: For the first episode, click here. For the second episode, click here. Guests Colin Lawrence, Global Tunnel Practice Leader – Tunnelling, Mott MacDonald Mark Leggett, Key Account Leader – HS2, Mott MacDonald Resources New Dimensions to Delivery is a report from April 2020 that looks at the role the role of collaboration and technology in improving asset delivery and the performance of infrastructure in use. Partner Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy. Its purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything they do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming their clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.The post #100 Megaprojects (Part 3): Learning from Experience first appeared on Engineering Matters.

For the 100th episode of Engineering Matters we bring you this three-part special looking at the delivery of a megaproject. In this second episode, we look at how a client can assess the scale of the task of delivering an impossibly complex scheme, such as a megaproject and supplement gaps in its skillset with industry support. How projects are brought from vision to reality. If you would like to listen to the previous episode, or the next episode, the links are:For the first episode, click here. For the third episode, click here. Guests Liz Baldwin, Divisional Manager – Foundations and Geotechnics – Metros and Civils, Mott MacDonald Michael Savill, Practice Leader for Tunnelling – UK and Europe, Mott MacDonald Samer Alli, Project Director – Transportation, Mott MacDonald Resources New Dimensions to Delivery is a report from April 2020 that looks at the role the role of collaboration and technology in improving asset delivery and the performance of infrastructure in use. Partner Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy. Its purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything they do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming their clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.The post #100 Megaprojects (Part 2): How to Deliver? first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Megaprojects are among the most complex and challenging of society’s undertakings. Each is grand is scope and due to the scale, none are ever built twice. Although they leverage the resources and political will of a nation, most encounter cost and schedule overruns, damaging reputations and souring public support. For the 100th episode of Engineering Matters we bring you this three-part special looking at the delivery of a megaproject. In this first episode, we look at everything that goes in to such a project before it ever breaks ground: demonstrating value and securing funding; the building blocks of sound engineering; the process for political approval; and robust programme management.For the second episode, click here. For the third episode, click here. Guests David Donald, Divisional Director – Bridges, Mott MacDonald Samer Alli, Project Director – Transportation, Mott MacDonald Mark Leggett, Key Account Leader – HS2, Mott MacDonald Michael Savill, Practice Leader for Tunnelling – UK and Europe, Mott MacDonald Resources New Dimensions to Delivery is a report from April 2020 that looks at the role The role of collaboration and technology in improving asset delivery and the performance of infrastructure in use. Partner Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy. Its purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything they do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming their clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.The post #100 Megaprojects (Part 1): What Makes a Megaproject? first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Today the world holds 33 megacities, cities that are home to over 10 million people. As these sprawling urban centres become more crowded than ever before infrastructure is under pressure to do more, last longer and respond faster. In this episode we find out why it is so important to understand exactly what is in the ground beneath our feet and how geophysical data can help us find out. We also visit Istanbul, a megacity that has invested billions in its transport network to support demand from its 15 million inhabitants and find how subsea seismic investigations have ensured that its new bridges and tunnels were built safely. Guests Rod Eddies, Global Director Land Geophysics, Fugro Jonathan Gammon, Non-Executive Director, Geotechnical Observations Limited Pawel Michalak, Global Head of Innovation, Fugro Orhan Şimşek, Country Manager, Fugro Turkey Supporter This episode is made in partnership with Fugro. Fugro is the world’s leading geodata 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 geodata to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner.The post #99 Urbanisation: Infrastructure for Growing Cities first appeared on Engineering Matters.

As projects grow ever more complex, with tighter delivery demands placed on the entire supply chain, a baseline of digitalisation has been essential for the past few years… the companies that have adapted and thrived in this environment are now looking into areas they might not have worked with before. Predictive analysis, material tracking, sensors, drones, connected tools and programme visualisation software… solutions are being developed all the time. In this episode we will speak to technology experts to learn about the current state of the art… and a simulated worksite that has been set up as a kind of futuristic construction playground, which Oracle calls its Innovation Lab. Guests Burcin Kaplanoglu, Vice President, Oracle Industries Innovation Labs, Oracle Karthik Venkatasubramanian, Vice President – Data and Analytics, Oracle Mani Golparvar-Fard, Chief Technology Officer, Reconstruct Resources https://www.oracle.com/uk/industries/construction-engineering/innovation-lab.html Partner Oracle is a multinational data and computing company headquartered in Texas, USA. In engineering and construction, it develops technology to connect teams, processes, and data across the construction project and asset lifecycle. Boost productivity, increase control, mitigate risk, and unlock insights to improve performance across your projects and programs.The post #98 The Construction Playground first appeared on Engineering Matters.

To alleviate the burden on its largest city Jakarta, Indonesia is going to move its capital more than 1,000km from the densely populated island of Java, to less developed Borneo. The new city will be constructed near the port city of Balikpapan, an economic boon for the region but an increased strain on its already-tested infrastructure. Balikpapan Airport has already been deteriorating, with more frequent and heavier planes taking its toll on a runway that bakes and softens in the equatorial afternoon heat. To prepare for even more demand, more flights, heavier planes, the airport needed to rethink the material used for its runway. Guests Baginda Siregar, Specialist Applications Advisor – Indonesia, Shell Bitumen Budi Wibowo, Civil Engineering Consultant, PT Isoplan Fendi Rahmadi, Facilities Manager, Balikpapan AirportTo listen to this episode in Indonesian click here Partner This podcast was produced in association with Shell Bitumen who, for over 50 years, has been supplying the specialist synthetic binder for coloured asphalts around the world. The post #97 The Gateway to Indonesia first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Dalam episode ini kami bermitra dengan Shell untuk membahas pengaspalan ulang landasan pacu (atau runway) Bandara Balikpapan – Bandara Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan. Kita akan mempelajari bagaimana peningkatan jumlah penumpang dan armada pesawat yang lebih baru dan berat telah mendorong landasan pacu yang ada melampaui batasnya. Frekuensi serta beban yang meningkat, yang dikombinasiikan dengan suhu panas wilayah Borneo dengan hutan hujannya… dan kondisi landasan pacu yang menurun dalam beberapa tahun terakhir. Solusi landasan pacu baru diperlukan agar sebutan gerbang bagi ibukota baru Indonesia sesuai dengan namanya. Tamu Baginda Siregar, Shell Bitumen Budi Wibowo, PT Isoplan Fendi Rahmadi, Bandara Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Untuk mendengarkan podcast ini dalam bahasa Inggris, klik di sini To listen to this episode in English, Click here Sponsor Shell Bitumen The post #97 (Indonesian) Bandara Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In this episode we are looking at a project being run by the UK Atomic Energy Authority which aims to build a prototype fusion power plant by the 2040s. To do that they are currently working on a concept design, choosing from a menu of international technologies. Their work needs to be complete by spring 2024 to then work on and complete a detailed design by about 2030. Called ‘STEP’, its success will be measured in one way, whether it can sustainably put electricity into the grid. This is a challenge that will push the limits of robotics, plasma science, materials science, nuclear science. But if we get it right, if all of the technologies fall into place, we have the potential to generate carbon neutral energy for millions of years.  Guests Jenny Cane, Product Area Lead for In-Vessel Components at STEP, UK Atomic Energy Authority Nick Walkden, Head of Executive Office, UK Atomic Energy Authority Supporter Support for this episode comes from Enscape. Enscape is an intuitive real-time rendering & virtual reality plugin for the built industry. Now designs can be experienced long before they are built. The real-time rendering tool plugs into your modeling software, giving you an integrated visualisation and design process. Enscape makes visualisation accessible, it is the easiest and fastest way to turn your building models into immersive 3D experiences. Resources The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s webpage on STEP can be found here. The website for the project in the south of France ITER can be found here.The post #96 Fusion: Britain Builds a Star first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The world’s oceans are in crisis. Plastic pollution, rising sea levels, warmer waters and chemical changes are degrading ocean systems and the world is at a dangerous tipping point. A point so dangerous that the United Nations has made 2021 the start of a new decade for ocean science for sustainable development. In this episode we partner with Fugro to explore how data acquisition and new technology can turn the tide from mapping the seabed to understanding ecosystems and locating missing aircraft. Guests Alison Clausen, Programme Specialist, Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO Marco Filippone, Operations Manager Hydrography and Cable Surveys, Fugro Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Director, Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 project David Millar, Geomatics Engineer and Director for Government Accounts Americas, Fugro Vladimir Ryabinin, CEO, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNSECO Supporter This episode is made in partnership with Fugro. Fugro is the world’s leading geodata 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 geodata to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner. Resources Australian Government data behind the search for MH370 ICO-UNESCO Decade of Ocean Science: Implementation Plan The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 project Norway’s MAREANO initiativeThe post #95 Saving Oceans with Science first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Construction has not always recognised the value of using data from past projects to deliver better results in the present. It often finds itself starting from scratch on new projects, when learning from earlier experiences could help solve its productivity problem. But the so-called data rich design is still sporadic, and the industry suffers for it, sometimes leading to project delays, cost-overruns and fractured relationships. In this episode we explore some of the barriers to data rich design, and what can be done to overcome them. Guests Donna Huey, Director of Client Technology, Atkins Lesley Waud, Global Head of Design Transformation, Atkins Supporter 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 #94 Barriers to Data Rich Design first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Something remarkable is happening in East Anglia. Waste heat from sewage treatment is being pumped into two enormous greenhouses creating low carbon heat for growing tomatoes. A lot of tomatoes, more than 10% of UK production. This use of waste heat is just one of the ways that water companies are using waste as a resource, as they follow a roadmap to ensure that operational greenhouse gas emissions fall to net zero in the water sector by 2030. This target is two decades ahead of the UK’s mandatory target and the results could help other industries reduce their carbon footprint too.  In this episode we have partnered with Mott MacDonald to explore the Net Zero 2030 Routemap and talk to Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water and Oasthouse Ventures about renewable energy, process emissions, waste heat and of course growing tomatoes. Guests Andrew Allen, Director and Founder, Oasthouse Ventures  Richard Buckingham, Climate Change and Carbon Manager, Anglian Water Priyesh Depala, Senior Investment Adviser for Low Carbon Infrastructure, Mott MacDonald Maria Manidaki, Global Technical Lead for Net Zero, Mott MacDonald Pete Stevens, Manager of Carbon Neutrality, Yorkshire Water Supporter Mott MacDonald: Opening opportunities with connected thinking. Mott MacDonald is a US$2bn engineering, management and development consultancy involved in: solving some of the world’s most urgent social, environmental and economic challenges; helping governments and businesses plan, deliver and sustain their strategic goals; responding to humanitarian and natural emergencies; and improving people’s lives. The post #93 Tomatoes and the Road to Net Zero first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In this episode we partnered with WSP to tell the story of Looe, a fishing port in Cornwall. The small town has the dubious accolade of ‘most flooded place in England’, and without intervention, the situation will get much worse.  With sea levels rising by as much as a metre over the next century, and the land sinking due to the retreat of the glaciers following the last glacial maximum, flood events will become simply ‘high tide’ in the future. A 1-in-1,000 year flooding event is also expected to be an annual occurrence by 2100. To stop this happening, a flood defence scheme is proposed. But to make it viable and unlock government funding, the team involved need to prove that it will regenerate the region economically, as well as pass stringent environmental hurdles. Guests Hamish Hall, Head of Profession for Water, WSP Tina Hicks, Harbourmaster, Looe Harbour Commissioners Tom Fletcher, Strategic Projects Team Manager, Environment Agency Partner As one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consultancies, WSP brings clarity and vision to complex challenges. Their team of technical specialists and strategic advisers across the UK is part of a talented global family of expertise. Together, they ensure innovative solutions solve complex problems for our clients and the communities we serve, meeting both the needs of today and addressing the challenges of the future. Resources For more information on the Looe flood defence scheme, click here.The post #92 The Most Flooded Town In England first appeared on Engineering Matters.

With the weight of the built environment exceeding that of the total biomass for the first time, the human impact on the planet has passed a symbolic but significant milestone. What we do matters, and such a society needs to be run as effectively as possible. Every year the World Economic Forum publishes its Global Risks Report. This document details the perceived greatest risks to human civilisation. The 2021 edition is published as we begin to see a way out of the Covid-19 pandemic and refocus on the more familiar threats of anthropogenic climate change. The 2021 report is also significant for its focus on the risks stemming from digital inequality and societal schisms. We speak to a selection of experts about these risks and the actions that can be taken by engineers to mitigate them. We also address the changes in thinking that we might need to adopt along the way. Guests Amanda Sturgeon, Regenerative Design Lead, Mott MacDonald Anthony, Huszar, Global Health Security Lead, Mott MacDonald John Carstensen, Climate Resilience Lead, Mott MacDonald Mark Enzer, Chief Technology Officer, Mott MacDonald Tom O’Rourke, Thomas R. Briggs Professor in Engineering Emeritus, Cornell University Partner Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy. Their purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything they do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming their clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities. Resources For the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2021, visit: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/global-risks-report-2021 For the paper detailing human-made mass exceeding the biomass, visit: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-3010-5 For some of the work being undertaken at Cornell to increase infrastructure resilience, visit: https://lifelines.cee.cornell.edu/The post #91 Global Risks and Shapeshifting Infrastructure first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The data quality in the planning and development sector is appalling. Whether supplied in this form accidentally, negligently, or recklessly does not matter – much of it is wrong. Yet over the years, this data has been used to form some of our most important decisions for the built environment. Now a new system will make sense of this data, rationalise it so that different sectors and different boroughs will be able to be compared, and display information such that planners will be able to see the impacts of their decisions before they make them. Supply of housing, infrastructure strain, non-compliance… all of these will become part of an irrefutable baseline of facts once the new Planning London Datahub goes live. Resources The Digital Twin Fan Club podcast can be found here. For further information on the Planning London Datahub, click here.  Guests Neil Thompson, Programme Lead for the Construction Innovation Hub, Centre for Digital Built Britain Peter Kemp, Head of Change and Delivery, The Greater London Authority Will Squires, Associate Director for Digital, Atkins Supporter 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 #90 The New Way to Plan a City first appeared on Engineering Matters.

A revolution is happening in the UK, and it is happening quietly. Inspired by the Copenhagen Bicycle Account, Bike Life is the biggest assessment of cycling in cities and urban areas across the UK and Ireland. Started in Birmingham, but now in 12 cities across the country, Bike Life has informed policy decisions, justified investment and enabled cities to develop more ambitious action plans for cycling. In this episode we look at the city that started it all, and which has invested in the gold standard for cycling lanes. We also look at new government guidelines for safe cycle routes, and the asphalt that helps make it all possible.Guests Brian Kent, National Technical Director, Tarmac Martin Philpot, Regional Design Engineering Lead, Sustrans Waseem Zaffar, Councillor, Birmingham City Council Supporter This podcast was produced in association with Shell Bitumen who, for over 50 years, has been supplying the specialist synthetic binder for coloured asphalts around the world.  Resources Councillor Zaffar learning to ride:  A journey along the A38 Super Cycle Highway:  Cycle Infrastructure Design guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/906344/cycle-infrastructure-design-ltn-1-20.pdf Summary of the guidance by Mayer Brown: https://mayerbrown.co.uk/keep-up-to-date/blog/posts/ltn-120-the-new-cycling-infrastructure-standards/#:~:text=Designers%20should%20aim%20to%20provide,the%20density%20of%20land%20use.The post #89 Blue Lanes in the Black Country first appeared on Engineering Matters.

It is tree planting season in the UK. With their amazing carbon storage ability, flood alleviation capacity and biodiversity boosting potential, trees are fast becoming a critical part of plans to reduce net carbon emissions and mitigate against global warming. But with only 13 percent tree cover the UK lags behind Europe when it comes forest density, a fact the Committee on Climate Change and The Woodland Trust want to change. These and other organisations are calling on Government to plant over 90 million trees per year as part of plans to change land use to reduce emissions and reverse the decline in biodiversity. In this episode we find that ensuring that trees deliver the benefits that they are capable of requires careful design and long-term management especially for carbon storage which peaks when trees reach maturity decades into the future. This presents a challenge for organisations seeking to reduce their carbon footprints by planting trees today and experts warn that planting trees should not be a deterrent to reducing the creation of greenhouse gas emissions. Guests Rob Gazzard, Adviser, Contingency Planning, Technical Guidance and Wildfire, The Forestry Commission Peter Leeson, Woodland Creation Advisor, The Woodland Trust Maria Manidaki, Water Investment Planning Advisor, Mott MacDonald Duncan McLaren, Professor in Practice and Research Fellow, Lancaster University Helen Neave, Founder, Make it Wild Resources Emergency Tree Plan for the UK, The Woodland Trust England Tree Strategy Consultation Towards a UK Fire Danger Rating System, Manchester University Forestry Commission Statistics 2020 The Secret Life of Trees, Colin TudgeThe post #88 Engineering Trees first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Welcome to the very last Engineering Matters of 2020!  In this episode we go back to some of the biggest stories that we covered over the past year and find out what happened next.  We also give listeners a peak behind the curtain at how we put the episodes together and introduce you to some members of the team that you don’t usually hear from. So sit back, enjoy, and we will see you in the new year. Guests Gemma Ball, Business Manager for Intelligent Transport Infrastructure, The Satellite Applications Catapult  Judy Anderson, Global Sector Lead – Water, Mott MacDonald Nav Sawhney, Founder, The Washing Machine Project Tony Thompson, Engineering and Electrical Assessor, Northampton College Resources Listeners may be interested in our other podcasts: The Brewers Journal podcast: https://brewerspodcast.reby.media/ Meat Talk: https://meattalk.reby.media/ The Tunnelling Podcast: https://tunnelling.reby.media/ Supporters Groundforce Shorco – For over 40 years, Groundforce Shorco has been one of the UK’s leading construction industry supplier of Trenching and Shoring equipment systems. Our range includes; Site Safety, Trench Boxes, Trench Sheets and Piles, light and heavy duty hydraulic bracing and strutting systems and other related products. Universal Robots – Since 2005, Universal Robots has worked to make a difference in its customers’ lives in ways that matter most to them. More than simply automation, Universal Robots changes how people work and live around the globe by empowering their ideas and dreams – whether it’s helping a non-profit improve people’s vision in the poorest countries or allowing a manufacturer to reduce the strain of repetitive tasks.The post #87 So That Was 2020 first appeared on Engineering Matters.

With a £100bn capital spending plan, the biggest ever investment in new transport infrastructure and a ten-point plan for climate change, the UK is determined to build its way to post COVID19 economic recovery. The bad news is that major projects have a terrible track record for not being built on time and going over budget. In this episode we partner with consultant Mott MacDonald to find out how projects should be structured to make sure that taxpayers get better value from infrastructure investments and explore how a mysterious movement, Project 13, could hold all of the answers. Guests Dale Evans, Chair, Project 13 and executive advisor to Mott MacDonald Liz Baldwin, Divisional Manager, Mott MacDonald Resources New Dimensions for Delivery Project 13 Handbook Partner Mott MacDonald: Opening opportunities with connected thinking. Mott MacDonald is an engineering, management and development consultancy involved in: solving some of the world’s most urgent social, environmental and economic challenges; helping governments and businesses plan, deliver and sustain their strategic goals; responding to humanitarian and natural emergencies; and improving people’s lives. The post #86 Enterprise Delivery: A Model for Recovery first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Contributing around 8% of global climate emissions, concrete is a major source of carbon. It is also essential, and no major project is feasible without thousands of tonnes of concrete. As the world looks to decrease its impact on the environment, with a reduction of carbon emissions forming a major focus within that effort, every sector has to play its part. In this episode we look at concrete, and some innovations that just might tip the balance in our climate struggle. Guests Stuart Norman, Managing Director (Piling), Keltbray Tim Lohmann, Director, Wentworth House Partnership Supporter Keltbray is a leading construction engineering specialist. It offers fully integrated delivery of complex projects featuring innovative engineering solutions across key building and infrastructure sectors. Resources PAS 8820:2016, Construction materials. Alkali-activated cementitious material and concrete can be found hereThe post #85 Concrete’s Role in the Climate War first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Have you ever walked past a newly surfaced road, perhaps around the corner from your house… and wondered when it will next be resurfaced? Side roads often seem to be in poor condition, and if you live in England, you probably will not see it resurfaced again in your lifetime. The average interval is 119 years. In this episode we have partnered with Shell to learn about a new trial project that could revolutionise the durability of the UK’s deteriorating roads, where maintenance budgets comprise ‘a smaller bite of a smaller slice of a smaller cake’ of government spending. New technology being tested in 2021 could extend the life of roads significantly, and go some way toward mitigating spending shortfalls. Guests Brian Kent, National Technical Director, Tarmac David Giles, UK Manager, Eurobitume Richard Taylor, Global Technology Development Manager, Shell Bitumen Partner With over 100 years’ experience, Shell Bitumen is the world’s leading supplier of bitumen. Their wide range of innovative bitumen products is designed to help meet the challenges of road, roofing and airport sectors, alongside specialty and industrial applications.  Resources To download the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s ALARM report on the state of the road network, click here The post #84 Asphalt of the Future first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In this episode we look at how the demands of the industry are becoming increasingly diverse, resulting in a similar change in the people carrying out the work.  We look at how the industry can adapt to use new tools at its disposal to take advantage of new skills, improve productivity, and make construction a better place to work…for everyone. This is a story not just about the industry as a whole, it is about careers, and as with a career, this story begins with education… Guests Avril Behan, Technological University Dublin Karen Blay, Loughborough University Philipp Mueller, Autodesk Construction Solutions Supporter Autodesk Construction Solutions is the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry’s partner in the future of design and construction.The post #83 Digitisation and the road to diversity first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Set in the West Midlands county of Staffordshire is a former Royal Forest called Cannock Chase. It is part misty, secluded woodland and part undulating moorland. As you head up to the north of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the landscape becomes tame and you enter the Shugborough Estate, some 10km to the east of the town of Stafford. Beneath the garden landscape, dotted by picnickers, joggers and dog-walkers, lies the 700m Shugborough Tunnel. Built in the mid-1800s, the construction works left eight unlined and unfilled shafts. Now, safety concerns and water inflows have led Network Rail to decide to secure these voids, but works on the heritage structure must have minimal impact on the railway and the surroundings. Guests Anthony St John, Geobear Joe Redman, Story Contracting Colin Eddie, CECL Supporter Geobear is a ground engineering company. It specialises in injecting a polymer into the ground that’s become unstable. It lifts buildings, fixes cracked concrete and uneven floors, and makes the ground stronger. Geobear are 10 times faster than the normal way to repair subsidence, which involves building work and often closing the business or moving out of your house. The post #82 Securing the Shugborough Tunnel first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The adoption of healthy or unhealthy behaviours at project reviews can have an enormous impact on the overall project and even the wider industry.  Going down the wrong path can have a multiplier effect over the course of the project, and with growing project complexities, you need to be able to rely on your team. In this episode a group of experts in the field examines the good and the bad of project culture, as well as sharing some of the best ways to avoid a negative outcome. Guests Claire Fryer, Director of Behavioural Management, Costain Gordon Masterton, Chair of Future Infrastructure, the University of Edinburgh Pete Mill, Discipline Lead Programme and Project Management Consultancy, Costain Sue Kershaw, President, Association for Project Management Supporter Costain transforms business performance and infrastructure intelligence through the development and integration of leading-edge digital technology solutions built on deep client insight. Resources https://www.costain.com/media/599099/costain-culture-and-leadership-behaviour_tl-august-2020.pdf https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees/index.php?r=site/view&edition=2020&id=994The post #81 Zen and the Art of Programme Management first appeared on Engineering Matters.

It is by now a topic that sadly needs little introduction. It has impacted everyone in the last year. Changed lives and livelihoods, overturned entire sectors, and altered the global balance of power Our way of living and working has changed, and only in the last couple of weeks has hope appeared in the distance, as two vaccines appear potentially viable… offering protection in up to 95% of people who receive them. While this offers us hope that the coming years will be brighter, we are still very much living with the virus. And like every other industry, construction has been affected. Some have been hit worse than others, and this episode we will be looking at the results of some research into how the industry has been coping. In this episode we have partnered with Autodesk Construction Solutions and will be looking at how construction firms have coped with Covid-19 and how it has exacerbated problems that have been around for longer than the current crisis. Guests Amanda Fennell, Head of EMEA Marketing, Autodesk Construction Solutions Paul Hagan, Director, Churchill Construction Simon Raddings, Director, Radd Constructions Supporter Autodesk is the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry’s partner in the future of design and construction. Resources To access the research discussed in this episode (“Connected Procurement: The Foundation of Construction Success”), click this link. To visit the Building Connected site, click here.The post #80 Covid 19: Construction Copes with the Pandemic first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In this episode we look at the Circuit Zandvoort, the iconic post-WW2 racetrack in the Netherlands. Beloved by fans of all flavours of motorsport, it recently had cause to redesign and resurface its track in the hopes of hosting the first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985. To do this required the design of some of the steepest banked corners in the world, the construction of which pushed the supply chain and the equipment to the limits. We will learn that although a racetrack may look like an ordinary road at first glance, in reality, its capabilities are far beyond what we are familiar with on our daily commute… and every track is completely unique, with different aggregates, polymers and additives going into every asphalt mix. Guests Jarno Zaffelli, Studio Dromo Jean-Nicolas Desprez, Shell Bitumen Niek Oude Luttikhuis, Circuit Zandvoort Supporter With over 100 years’ experience, Shell Bitumen is the world’s leading supplier of bitumen. Their wide range of innovative bitumen products is designed to help meet the challenges of road, roofing and airport sectors, alongside specialty and industrial applications. The post #79 Rebuilding Zandvoort’s Rollercoaster Racetrack first appeared on Engineering Matters.

A revolution is approaching manufacturing, one that will see costs and time to market cut by as much as 50%. The digitalisation of engineering will reduce the need to churn out prototypes as a product goes back and forth between design and manufacturing departments. In a rapidly changing world, this revolution cannot come soon enough, with major companies currently struggling to keep up with dynamic markets and customer demands. Now, there is a new initiative called Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation, or ‘DETI’. It is a two-year research and development programme funded by the West of England Combined Authority and delivered by the National Composites Centre, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Guests Bradley Yorke-Biggs, CEO and Professor of Practice, Institute of Digital Engineering Gareth Jones, Engineering and Technology Director – Defence, Rolls Royce Marc Funnell, Head of Digital and Director of DETI, National Composites Centre Supporter The National Composites Centre is a world-class research centre, where companies of any size and across industry sectors, can access cutting-edge technology and specialist engineers, to drive innovation in the design and manufacture of composites. Resources For more information on the DETI project, visit the website here.  The DETI project brochure can be accessed here.The post #78 Reinventing invention first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Until a few years ago the offshore wind industry was constrained by the seabed characteristics of countries seeking to harness the generating capacity of the wind. Only those with shallow waters of around 40m or less could implement fixed offshore arrays. But in just a few years the game has changed. Floating offshore turbines are entering commercial production and opening up vast swathes of ocean, where the seabed is deep and the wind resources are powerful to generate low carbon energy. No-one seems more convinced than UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson who made history in October 2020 by setting a world leading target for his country of 1GW of floating offshore wind power by 2030. In this episode we find out how the game is changing and what challenges lie ahead for this fast-growing industry. GUESTS Cian Conroy, Senior Business Development Manager, Principle Power Alastair Dutton, Chair of GWECS global offshore wind taskforce and lead consultant to World Bank Group’s offshore wind program Stuart Killbourn, Principal Engineer for Structural Monitoring, Fugro Alastair McKie, Director Construction and Positioning Support, Fugro Julia Roope, Global Business Development Manager for Offshore Wind, Fugro Sam Strivens, Senior Associate – Offshore Wind, Carbon Trust PARTNER: This episode is made 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. RESOURCES https://www.deepwind.eu/the-deepwind-project https://www.carbontrust.com/resources (Photo courtesy of Principle Power. Artist: DOCK90)The post #77 Floating Turbines: Offshore Wind’s Game Changer first appeared on Engineering Matters.

In this episode we have partnered with Autodesk Construction Solutions to look at a new approach to housing construction in Kenya.  We take a look at how a local architecture, engineering and construction firm, BuildX, is working with modern methods of construction – manufacturing modular units offsite – to produce housing on a scale, and at a price, that will help ease the deficit and hopefully provide homes for tens of thousands of Kenyans.  And we learn how a return to more traditional materials – especially timber, coupled with modern engineering – will help make the housing sector more sustainable…in more ways than one.Guests: Etta Madete, Architect at BuildX Studio and Lecturer, University of Nairobi James Mitchell, Co-founder of BuildX Studio Nathan King, Senior Industry Engagement Manager for the Autodesk Technology Centres focusing on Architecture, Engineering and Construction Supporter: Autodesk Construction Solutions combines advanced technology, a unique builders network and predictive insights to connect people and data across the entire building lifecycle. The powerful portfolio of software and services in the Autodesk Construction Cloud brings together Assemble, BIM 360, BuildingConnected and PlanGrid.The post #76 Building with Biomaterials first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The Vulcan is one of the most iconic aircraft ever flown by the Royal Air Force. Although not quite the household name that the Spitfire has been, it has always been a crowd favourite at air shows.  As well as the immense noise generated by its four Rolls Royce Olympus engines, which has thrilled children up and down the country, it was incredibly agile in the air for an aircraft that is 30m long, 8m high on the ground, and has a 30m wingspan. This is because its revolutionary delta wing design allowing its bat-shaped frame to bank (meaning, to turn) incredibly sharply, bringing the aircraft back round to fly back over the crowds once again. Capable of exceeding 600mph, flying above 60,000ft and with a 3,000-mile range… although it was a bomber, it could out-turn fighters at altitude, straining at the limits of their capability. The powerful yet acrobatic Vulcan was to form Britain’s entire nuclear deterrent.  Now grounded for perhaps the last time, the charity that originally restored the Vulcan to flight is hoping to use it to inspire the next generation into STEM. Guest Dr Robert Pleming, Vulcan to the Sky Trust Resources To donate to the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, click here.The post #75 Last Howl of the Vulcan first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Imagine a world where Alexa can tell you the latest, greenest, safest and most cost-effective way to design, deliver or operate something. Advice on decision-making that takes into account whole life costing, and tell you where best to spend money, to save more money in future. We all understand this concept in our own lives; spending more money on a boiler to get lower maintenance costs, for example. For infrastructure construction, this has, until now, been lacking,  In this episode we are looking at a major programme being spearheaded by the UK’s infrastructure sector: the Transport Infrastructure Efficiency Strategy Living Lab and its technological enabler: the Intelligent Infrastructure Control Centre.  Guests Neil Robertson, Chief Executive, National Skills Academy for Rail Stuart Harvey, Director of Major Projects, Transport for London Tim Embley, Research and Innovation Director, Costain Zoe Rogers, Digital Sustainability Lead, Costain Supporter Costain transforms business performance and infrastructure intelligence through the development and integration of leading-edge digital technology solutions built on deep client insight.The post #74 Weaving a New Data Fabric for Infrastructure first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Anglian Water currently enjoys a daily surplus of 150 million litres of water, but this is forecast to become a 150 million litre deficit by 2045. To help mitigate this shortfall it is constructing hundreds of kilometres of large diameter pipeline, as well as pumping stations and storage points to divert water from areas with abundant supply to areas that are more at risk of shortages. This network will be planned, delivered, managed and maintained by the latest in advanced digital technology. It will employ a digital twin. Anglian Water is an early adopter of cutting-edge technology, and this episode looks at some of the lessons that have been learned along the way, and some of the pitfalls to avoid. Guests Carolina Toczycka, Doctoral Researcher, The University of Edinburgh Guy Gregory, Digital Twin and Asset Data Lead, Strategic Pipeline Alliance  Kevin Reeves, Director for the Internet of Things and Digital Twins, Costain Supporter Costain transforms business performance and infrastructure intelligence through the development and integration of leading-edge digital technology solutions built on deep client insight.Resources https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Water-supply-and-demand-management-Summary.pdf https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/siteassets/household/about-us/wrmp-report-2019.pdf https://www.theiet.org/media/4719/digital-twins-for-the-built-environment.pdfThe post #73 How to Build a Digital Twin first appeared on Engineering Matters.

On a bright morning in April, people in the city of Jalandhar in the state of Punjab stood out in the streets and saw something breath-taking… something that many of them had never seen before. The skies were so clear that for the first time in decades the soaring peaks of the Himalayas standing almost 200km away to the north east were visible to the naked eye. But these were not the only people to see something incredible. As the world locked down to stop the spread of COVID-19, cities all over the world from Beijing to London, reported clearer skies and better air quality.  These examples show how quickly Planet Earth can recover when the use of fossil fuels falls drops and is being seen by many as an opportunity to strengthen global resolve towards reducing carbon emissions and transitioning towards a net zero carbon world. But to meet our Net Zero targets, keep our skies clear, and to reverse climate change will require strong leadership from government, commitment from society, and the harnessing of every tool at our disposal. Guests Chris Ball, Managing Director for Nuclear, Atkins Tony Meehan, Transport Consultancy Lead, Atkins Vicky Hutchinson, Environmental Practice Director, Atkins Supporter 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 Resources https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4647/covid-19_recovery_choices_shape_future_climate https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/index.php/copernicus-tracks-no-clear-sign-yet-increase-pollutants-across-europe-good-news https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/drop-in-air-pollution-over-northeast https://theicct.org/publications/charging-gap-UK-2020 http://explore.atkinsglobal.com/engineeringnetzero/The post #72 Seeing the Himalayas: Kickstarting Net Zero first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Historically civilisations have sprung up wherever the land was most fertile, soils that supported good crop productivity to meet the food requirements of highly concentrated groups of people. Now with the global population close to 8 billion, and all arable land already committed to food production, we are turning to technology to help fertilise soils and increase yields beyond what would have been possible in the past. But farmers are having to get cleverer all the time and ensure that every possible plant nutrient is catered for if they are to meet the ever-growing demand. Guests Amit Rastogi, Executive Vice President – Technology, Coromandel Fertilisers India Rafael Garcia, Technical Services Engineer, Shell Thiogro Ron Olson, Agronomist Consultant, The Sulphur Institute Shamie Zingore, Director for Research, African Plant Nutrition Institute Upendra Singh, Deputy Director Research, International Fertilizer Development Center Supporter Shell Thiogro technologies are being used around the world to create innovative and custom sulphur-enhanced fertilizers. We help producers stand out in a competitive market with differentiated products spanning phosphate, urea and speciality sulphur fertilizersThe post #71 Stewards of the Soil first appeared on Engineering Matters.

The railway network in the UK is old and vast and home to the first public railway to use steam locomotives in the world. The Stockton and Darlington Railway opened in 1825 and connected coal mines in the northeast of England. It was the metal track, the coal-fired furnace, and the shrill whistle of the industrial steam engine that truly signalled the birth of the age of rail. But in the present day, asset owners such as Network Rail face an immense challenge to keep track of and maintain this massive array of ancient assets, but new surveying techniques are allowing them to gather enormous amounts of data and unlock new options for predictive maintenance as we move into the future of railway management. Guests Andrew Bartlett, Route Asset Manager – Wales Route, Network RailJasper Hellemons, Business Development Manager, FugroJohn Edgley, Interim Chief Engineer, Network RailJos Berkers, Consultant – Rail, FugroMark Thomas, Rail Business Manager, Fugro Supporter 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. Resources https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1532/rail-infrastructure-assets-2018-19.pdf https://www.fugro.com/our-services/asset-integrity/raildata/rila-track-rila-360The post #70 On Track for a Rail Revolution first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Maintaining a tunnel requires many hours of dedicated work by highly skilled engineers. And as our network of tunnels expands, so does the maintenance demand. Asset owners and local authorities have been under pressure for years to find a cost-effective way of monitoring and maintaining their underground infrastructure. And now, engineers in Switzerland have turned to the complex structure of the human brain to find the solution. GUEST Alžběta Prokopová, Amberg Technologies View Alžběta’s presentation to the International Tunnelling Association hereThe post #69 Artificial Intelligence in Infrastructure first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Changes to the way we do design are coming; construction is languishing at the bottom of the productivity rankings, now below hunting and fishing.  Decision-making is happening late in the project lifecycle, meaning that design work has to be repeated unnecessarily, and a reward culture based on price rather than outcomes builds in more inefficiency. In this episode we look at the problems facing construction, the technological enablers that have been developed to help, and a massive culture shift that is underway.  We also learn about a seven-point plan to lead to the future of design. Guests Donna Huey, Director of Client Technology, Atkins Lesley Waud, Global Programme Lead for Design Transformation, Atkins Richard Robinson, CEO – UK and Europe, Atkins Supporter 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 sectorsThe post #68 The Future of Design first appeared on Engineering Matters.

Remotely operated vehicles, uncrewed surface vessels and ever-increasing autonomy are removing personnel from dangerous work offshore in the North Sea and elsewhere. Inspection of maritime assets is now being controlled from onshore operations centres. We look at one of these command and control centres, the Fugro facility in Aberdeen. With a robust regulatory framework and growing technological know-how, the offshore industry looks set to enjoy huge sustainability and safety benefits. GuestsAlastair McKie, Director for Remote Operations – Europe Africa, Fugro Greg Dixon, Remote Operations Superintendent, Fugro Ivar de Josselin de Jong, Global Director for Remote Inspection Solutions, Fugro Katrina Kemp, Smart Ships and Automation Policy Officer, Maritime and Coastguard Agency Ross MacFarlane, Engineering Superintendent, Fugro Supporter 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 #67 The Future is Remote and Autonomous first appeared on Engineering Matters.

As a small island trading nation, Britain risks killing its economy and losing millions of jobs, unless it can allow people to get back to work in as normal a way as possible. So said John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow Airport, who wants to see a more sophisticated way of opening our borders. He was referring to the need to adapt to and live with Covid-19 for the foreseeable future. And part of the strategy being explored by airports, worksites and offices is elevated body temperature screening through the use of camera systems. It is not a Covid detector, but it allows a large number of people to be screened with confidence for signs that they might be febrile. Guests Fiona O’Shea, Key Account Director – Aviation, Costain Rob Middleton, Proposition Lead – Surveillance and Situational Awareness, Costain Supporter Costain transforms business performance and infrastructure intelligence through the development and integration of leading-edge digital technology solutions built on deep client insight.The post #66 Fever Screening in Airports first appeared on Engineering Matters.