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08535_002_WAV_QBP 2020_Press Ads_Ad L_NCE_265x210_AW.indd 1 24/02/2020 11:25 New Civil Engineer CLIMATE CHANGE RISKS MUST NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED
CLAIRE SMITH EDITOR
very so often a news story halts you in your tracks and maintenance error. Unfortunately, fatalities from landslides in the UK are makes you stop for a moment – and not in a good way. less rare and, through working on NCE’s sister title Ground Engineering, I Recent ones that come to mind are the Grenfell Tower have reported on at least six people being killed in the UK in this way in E fire in 2017, the collapse of Polcevera Viaduct in 2018 the last 10 years. and the Florida International University footbridge failure, also in 2018. As we were finalising the pages for this issue, news broke of another There is strong evidence such incident – the fatal derailment of a Scotrail train near Stonehaven, in linking the increase in landslide which three people sadly lost their lives. In this issue we have news of the opening of the replacement Polcevera bridge – now named Genova San Giorgio – and in May rate with climate change, as well as we learned that planning for a new Florida International University our ageing infrastructure, and neither footbridge is in progress. The public inquiry into Grenfell continues. The civil engineering profession must learn the important lessons challenge is going away from all of these incidents and must go on learning from its mistakes not only to honour those who have lost their lives, but for engineers to “ progress as professionals. Landslides themselves seem to be growing in prevalence. As I write I describe all these events as incidents, not accidents as that implies this article, the A83 in Scotland at Rest and Be Thankful remains blocked that no one was at fault and that is rarely the case. It may not be one by a landslide following ground movement the week before. On the same simple mistake that results in a fatal infrastructure incident, it could be a day as the Stonehaven incident, emergency services had to evacuate 28 series of them that results in an unfortunate outcome, but spotting just people from a caravan site in Fife following a landslide. In the last issue one of those triggers could prevent future fatalities. of Ground Engineering I worked on in April this year, I reported on two Investigations into the Stonehaven derailment by the Rail Accident of 50 landslips Network Rail contended with between December 2019 Investigation Branch and the Office of Rail and Road are underway in and March this year in the South East alone. There have also been high partnership with British Transport Police and initial reports suggest that profile cases where trains have hit landslides in recent years too – at the train was derailed by a landslide triggered by recent heavy rainfall. Glenfinnan in Scotland in January 2018 and at Corby in 2019. Writing this just a day after the incident, it is hard to know exactly what Fortunately, there were no fatalities associated with the landslides went wrong and what could have been done differently to avoid the mentioned – but have we just been lucky? There is strong evidence outcome but we will know in time as the investigations progress. linking the increase in landslide rate with climate change, as well as our One thing we can take away right now is the risk that climate change ageing infrastructure, and neither challenge is going away. poses to infrastructure and the knowledge that this risk will continue to The government is currently urging us to “build, build, build” but I grow as the impact of climate change starts to be fully understood. would urge caution to ensure the risk of climate change over the design Fatalities from train derailments in the UK have, thankfully, been rare life of new structures is fully considered to ensure we are not exposing in the last few decades. The last I remember reporting on was Grayrigg the public to risk that could be mitigated. in Cumbria in 2007, which killed one person and injured 88 after a track l Claire Smith is New Civil Engineer’s editor
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 3 Contents NEW CIVIL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020 MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
08 News, Comment 23 Future & Analysis of Stormwater
08 The Edit: Aecom cuts 500 jobs, blaming Covid-19
09 The Edit: Polcevera viaduct replacement opens
11 Inside Track: Crossrail delayed again despite acceleration eff ort
12 Inside Track: Stonehaven train crash
14 Inside Track: No cash for Hammersmith Bridge repairs
16 Big Interview: John Corderoy, Radioactive Waste Management
18 Your View: racial equality in engineering; smart motorways; net zero; near miss reporting; transferrable aeronautics skills
47 ICE Record As the government commits more money to fl ood defences, we look at a nature-based solution on the River Soar, sustainable drainage in west London and a planned artifi cial lagoon on the Humber estuary
24 Is enough being done to stop 32 West London streets have been surface water fl ooding? remodelled to prevent fl ooding from an underground creek 28 Mimicking nature is helping 47 Council elections and bylaw vote engineers defend Leicester from 34 Engineers are proposing a lagoon result; views on levelling up agenda the River Soar as a sea defence for Hull sought; carbon reduction
4 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020 For instant updates follow us: Twitter: @ncedigital LinkedIn: new civil engineer Facebook: ncedigital
Instagram Email: newcivilengineer.com/newsletters
39 Innovative Live! EDITORIAL TEAM Thinking EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected]
Editor Claire Smith (020) 3953 2818 claire.smith
Features Editor Nadine Buddoo (020) 3953 2819 nadine.buddoo
News Editor Rob Horgan (020) 3953 2087 rob.horgan
LISTEN: THE ENGINEERS COLLECTIVE Features Reporter In the latest podcast episodes the NCE team speaks Catherine Kennedy (020) 3953 2095 catherine.kennedy to Tideway CEO Andy Mitchell about health, safety and wellbeing. They also explore pop up News Reporter Joshua Stein infrastructure to promote cycling and walking (020) 3953 2088 joshua.stein
Chief Sub Editor Andy Bolton (020) 3953 2823 | andy.bolton 40 Electronic tags are helping site Designer workers maintain social distancing James McCarthy [email protected]
Graphic Artist 44 Innovative Anthea Carter Thinker [email protected]
BOOK NOW DISPLAY ADVERTISING NCE’s transport conferences are going virtual as a Francis Barham (020) 953 2912 francis.barham result of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a week long programme of online seminars, panel debates and CUSTOMER SERVICES case studies from across the roads, rail, airport and ICE members 0203 953 2152 and press option 1 bridges sector [email protected]
Future of Bridges – 9 November Individual subscribers 0203 953 2152 and press option 2 Future of Airports – 10 November [email protected] Future of Roads – 11 November Future of Rail – 12 November Group subscribers 44 Innovative thinker: Julian Mason 0203 953 2152 and press option 3 of Engineering Innovation on the Future of Transport [email protected] virtues of very light rail https://transport.newcivilengineer.com/
SEPTEMBER 2020 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 5 Lighthouse ICE VIEWPOINT
Levelling up and the economic recovery from Covid-19
he economic impact result, a further 2,053 jobs are added to While the of Covid-19 in the UK the wider economy. will be significant. Before the outbreak of the pandemic, recent T The Office for Budget the government had focused much Responsibility has energy on its “levelling up” agenda; announcement forecast that, during 2020, GDP is likely something that is seemingly focused on to fall by 12.8%, while unemployment more equitable investment in services of £589M of could increase by as much as 10%. across the UK, with an emphasis mainly The recovery from the damage BY ART WE on England. investment for the that the pandemic has inflicted on MASTER The goal of ensuring that the “TransPennine route the economy will need to be carefully WHAT WOULD recovery from the pandemic is felt planned to ensure it is as effective as MASTER US equally arguably attaches more is to be welcomed, possible. importance to plans to “level up”. Infrastructure can play a key role in But what does the levelling up it is critical that the this process. agenda mean for the infrastructure Investment in infrastructure can sector? The ICE has launched a improvements this act as a stimulus for growth in other discussion paper to examine this. economic sectors, thereby laying the The paper sets out how a more is to be spent on are foundations for UK PLC to bounce back holistic approach to regional sequenced with other from the disruption that Covid-19 has infrastructure planning and investment caused in the best way possible. is likely to lead to better outcomes for transport projects Infrastructure investment can also the public. help to create jobs, with past studies For example, while the recent having indicated that for every 1,000 announcement of £589M of investment in relation to regional infrastructure construction jobs that are created as a for the TransPennine route is to planning and delivery predominantly be welcomed, it is critical that the in England. improvements this is to be spent on Specific questions ask what levelling are sequenced with other transport up should mean in the context of Investment in projects and upgrades made in the economic infrastructure and how infrastructure North of England more widely. priorities, in terms of economic and This applies to investment made in social outcomes, have been affected by can act as a stimulus other places too, particularly as the Covid-19. economic recovery from Covid-19 The consultation also seeks input on for growth in other begins to take shape. which investment models are required to ensure infrastructure is adequately economic sectors, SUBMIT YOUR VIEWS ON ICE’S funded in all regions across England. “thereby laying the ‘LEVELLING UP’ DISCUSSION PAPER The consultation closes on The ICE’s discussion paper contains 31 August and responses can be made foundations for UK several consultation questions that to: [email protected]. the Institution is gathering views on, l Send comments about PLC to bounce back to inform the development of policy Lighthouse to [email protected]
6 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020
MORE NEWS ROADS JACOBS AND COLAS More DROPPED FROM The Edit coverage AREA 4 ROADS ESSENTIAL NEWS & INFORMATION online at NETWORK FROM NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM newcivil engineer.com Jacobs and Colas have been dropped from Highways England’s framework to deliver construction work in south east England. The two contractors have worked on Highways England’s ASC framework for Area 4, which covers Kent, Surrey and Hampshire, since June 2016. They were part of a joint venture with Costain known as A-one+. But, a notice placed on the OJEU states that the joint venture’s contract will be terminated in November, with Costain given a new one year contract worth £50M to continue the work alone. When that contract ends, the framework will end as Area 4 is to move over to Highways England’s asset delivery model. According to Highways England, the change is to accelerate implementation of its latest asset delivery model in Area 4.
Covid-19 and overseas INFRASTRUCTURE KEY STAT £5BN PROJECT outsourcing drive Aecom PIPELINE TO DRIVE 7,000 RECOVERY IN redundancy programme Civil NORTHERN ENGLAND engineering Transport for the North (TfN) has set out its initial plans for a £5bn BUSINESS compiled by NCE suggest that more job losses as Northern Infrastructure Pipeline, a 30 Aecom has confirmed that 500 of its than 7,000 jobs have been lost as a a result of year investment plan to underpin just over 4,000 staff in the UK and result of the pandemic. WYG greener growth. The announcement Ireland are facing the axe this autumn confirmed that 7% of its UK workforce Covid-19 outlines 166 projects which could as redundancy consultations get was to be cut as this issue of NCE help create around 20,000 design and underway. The restructuring comes went to press. In July Arup announced construction jobs in the North. as chief executive David Barwell and it would cut 350 UK jobs, while Atkins Projects cover rail, road, active travel chief operating officer William is cutting 280 jobs from its UK and smart ticketing. It is hoped some Quarterman stand down. The firm infrastructure division. Keltbray has will begin in the next six to 18 months announced that Barwell will be also announced that 300 workers will to help the economy after the Covid-19 replaced by Colin Wood. Quarterman’s be made redundant in “response to pandemic. Schemes range from the replacement has yet to be announced. the economic impact of coronavirus”. Warrington Western Link, Carlisle Staff were told of the job losses as Other firms to have announced cuts Relief Road and trunk road upgrades Wood’s new role was revealed. The include Bam, Carey Group, Kier, to Northern train schemes, work on consultant blamed falling workload Laing O’Rourke, Mace and Sir Robert Carlisle and Liverpool Central stations resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic McAlpine. An Arup spokesperson and electric vehicle projects. and clients reconsidering projects. said the pandemic had crystallised TfN chief executive Barry White Aecom employees have told NCE that the need to reshape the business to highlighted the importance of some support services are being reflect anticipated forward workload, rebuilding the North’s economy, relocated outside the UK to locations business size, shape and skillsets to which he said had already been at an such as Romania. Aecom is not the meet the needs of the post-pandemic economic disadvantage to the South only firm making job cuts. Figures construction market. before the pandemic.
8 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 STRUCTURES POLCEVERA VIADUCT REPLACED
The Genoa San Giorgio bridge opened in early August just weeks before the second anniversary of the fatal collapse of the original Polcevera viaduct on 14 August 2018, which killed 43 people. A joint venture of WeBuild and Fincantieri built the new bridge with Rina Consulting in just 15 months. The structure was designed by architect Renzo Piano and its 1,067m steel deck runs across 19 steel and concrete spans, which vary in length from 26m to 100m, with the majority measuring 50m.
ROADS HIGH SPEED 2 BRIDGES PROCUREMENT OF SUPPORT FOR HIGH KEY STAT ARIZONA BRIDGE £1BN NORTHERN SPEED 2 EASTERN BLAZE TRIGGERS FIRE TRANS-PENNINE SPUR GATHERS 166 GUIDANCE CALLS ROAD BEGINS MOMENTUM Number of FROM ENGINEERS Highways England has begun its High Speed 2 (HS2) promoter HS2 Ltd projects in Work on clear fire safety design search for design and build is coming under increasing pressure Northern guidance for bridges must be contractors to deliver its £1bn A66 to alter the eastern leg of HS2 phase accelerated after the collapse of a Northern Trans-Pennine upgrade. The 2b. Expedition Engineering is the Infra- railway bridge in Arizona, according national roads body has kicked off a latest firm to question what are structure to leading bridge engineer Ian Firth. A supplier engagement process as it described as “major shortcomings” in section of the 390m long Salt River begins procurement. The upgrade plans for the eastern spur connecting pipeline Union Pacific Bridge collapsed in project includes five new bypasses, London and Birmingham to Leeds. It Tempe, south east Phoenix in July, key junction improvements and an comes after infrastructure think after a freight train which was underpass at the congested Kemplay tank Greengauge21 published a report crossing it derailed and caught fire. Bank roundabout near Penrith. A questioning the purpose of the route. Nobody was seriously injured in the prior information notice published in In particular, Greengauge21 and incident. Firth – a bridge consultant at the OJEU reveals that Highways Expedition are calling for a direct link Cowi – told NCE that the collapse England plans to split the design and to Nottingham and/or Derby. Both highlights a gap in current design build project into four packages. have submitted alternative designs for guidance. “There is a lot of discussion These range in value from £94M to inclusion in the National about design guidance for bridges in £361M. The overall value of the design Infrastructure Commission’s relation to fire safety,” Firth said. “I and build contract is estimated at Integrated Rail Plan. Expedition think this collapse will accelerate the £771M. Highways England wants to director Alistair Lenczner said: “The conversations as there is currently no work with suppliers to inform the fact that it [phase 2b] allows neither widely accepted official guidance that approach to the procurement of the Nottingham or Derby to be directly outlines best practice when it comes scheme. Interested parties must served by HS2 trains at their existing to fire resistance.” The National complete a supplier engagement city centre stations is a major Transportation Safety Board said it questionnaire by September. shortcoming.” would investigate the derailment.
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3133 Mabey SAM ad 265 x 210 artwork.indd 1 17/07/2020 11:24 Inside Track THE BIGGEST ISSUES OF THE MONTH EXPLORED
along with Covid-19 have impacted the programme and time has been lost. Further work is being undertaken to finalise our detailed recovery plan which resequences the remaining work. “We are striving to commence intensive trial running for the Elizabeth line at the earliest opportunity. Our focus right now is on completing the remaining infrastructure works so that we can fully test the railway. “Crossrail will undertake a period of intensive construction activity starting this August across the tunnels, portals and shafts to help recover lost time and complete the remaining construction works for trial running as we progress towards this next important phase.” The delays are not just down to the impact of Covid-19. Just released Crossrail Ltd board minutes from April reveal CROSSRAIL that a lack of urgency to get the project completed on time and to budget emerged Crossrail opening date slips again despite in the month before the country went into efforts to speed up programme lockdown. The board minutes reveal that “poor performance” was recorded in March, in the weeks leading up to the nationwide Covid-19 impact blamed for delay, but board minutes reveal “lack of urgency” Covid-19 lockdown. The April board minutes state that “there did not seem to be sufficient BY CLAIRE SMITH AND ROB HORGAN sense of urgency with regard to getting works completed and managing costs”. rossrail’s board has revealed that “A programme of this scale and In particular, the board expressed a major section of London’s complexity was already challenging. The disappointment with the “inability to Elizabeth line will start impact of Covid-19 has clearly made the maintain the schedule including the Coperating even later than the already existing pressures more acute. Due to a fundamental issue of planning and delayed summer 2021 opening date. pause of physical activity on sites and continued slippage, with ineffective The section concerned runs between significant constraints on ongoing work – interventions”. Paddington in west London and Abbey time has been lost, only some of which can The board also suggested that the Wood in the south east of the capital. be recovered.” project’s integrated delivery teams The summer 2021 date was announced The board said that further work on the demonstrated a “lack of effectiveness” earlier this year before the full impact of recovery plan was needed to resequence and pointed out “the need for clarity in coronavirus was realised. The pandemic the remaining work to complete the their remit”. has slowed progress on site. railway and to fully assess the financial The minutes add that “the importance The announcement contrasts with implications of the delays. Crossrail Ltd of functionality and safety over perfection papers presented to the Transport for said that further announcements regarding needed to be re-emphasised across the London (TfL) programmes and investment the length of the delay and any additional programme”. committee on 20 July. They state that all costs will be made in a board meeting at “Currently, there did not appear to central section stations, with the exception the end of August after this issue of NCE be clarity on the delivery priorities, and of Bond Street, are certified as ready for went to press. the board agreed that it was necessary trial running. Crossrail Ltd chief executive Mark Wild to ensure a clear articulation of delivery In a statement in July, Crossrail Ltd said: said: “Everyone working on the Crossrail priorities which would hold the whole “Delivery of the Elizabeth line is now in its project knows London needs the Elizabeth team to account,” the minutes state. complex final stages with a comprehensive line more than ever and we are doing “While there appeared to be good plan to complete the railway focused on everything possible to deliver the railway progress being made in areas such as completing the remaining construction as safely and as quickly as we can. We software testing, signalling and train and systems integration followed by have a comprehensive plan to complete systems, the board remained concerned intensive operational testing. the railway but existing schedule pressure about the safe completion of the
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 11 Inside Track
infrastructure and associated assurance RAIL documentation to support the agreed milestones leading up to trial running.” Fatal Stonehaven Crossrail construction work halted in March as the UK went into lockdown. derailment probed Crossrail Ltd says it has been possible Extreme weather plans expected to resume work at a reduced rate, but the impact has been that it will miss the to come under the spotlight revised summer 2021 opening date. In June, Skanska Costain JV agreed to BY CLAIRE SMITH leave the Bond Street station contract, handing responsibility for overseeing s investigations into the fatal remaining work to Crossrail Ltd. derailment of a Scotrail train near Part of the resequencing programme Stonehaven in Scotland on 12 includes a five week blockade during AugustA get underway, Network Rail’s plans which no train testing will take place in the for dealing with extreme weather incidents tunnels, portals and shafts. This started in are expected to face close scrutiny. August and Crossrail Ltd has said that it The train, which was travelling from will help recover lost time and will enable Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street, is it to complete the outstanding tasks ahead believed to have hit landslide debris of trial running. before the lead engine and three of the During the blockade, construction work four carriages fell down an embankment will take place 24 hours a day, seven days a and caught fire. week until the middle of September. The driver Brett McCullough, the Further integration testing of the conductor Donald Dinnie and one routeway will also be undertaken and must passenger died at the scene. Six others be completed for trial running. were injured, although none of them Twenty five different scenarios must sustained serious injuries. be fully tested and completed, ranging The incident comes just a month after UK’s ageing rail infrastructure, and its from a reboot of the central section a report from the Office of Rail & Road deterioration during the later years of signalling system to simulating a high (ORR) highlighted the fact that there were British Rail and the “disastrous years of voltage power outage. six times more flooding events on Britain’s the privatised Railtrack”. He said that Nonetheless, Crossrail Ltd has said rail network in 2019/2020 than the previous during this period many earthworks were that it is making good progress with the year, and there had been a “spike” in neglected and the slopes deteriorated and completion of remaining construction work. landslides, which it said demonstrated a have led to long term stability problems. According to the TfL papers published vulnerability. The ORR has warned that “Network Rail has worked hard to put in July, six of the 10 shafts and portals Network Rail’s plans to deal with extreme this right. It has sophisticated methods for have now been handed over and Crossrail weather events and the climate emergency identifying and monitoring problematic Ltd has carried out a series of independent were “not keeping up with the frequency slopes, and an admirable reputation for shaft and portal status reviews so it can and severity of these events”. re-engineering high risk or failing agree the remaining handover dates As NCE went to press the Rail Accident earthworks. But the legacy of those years with the delivery, technical and operator Investigation Branch said it had sent a of neglect remains,” he explained. organisations. team of inspectors to the site and they “Of course there is an additional The papers also state that the Limmo were expected to publish initial findings problem – climate change. The slopes were shaft in east London achieved “staged within days. designed for conditions that differ from completion for familiarisation” on 9 June Landslide specialist Dave Petley, who the modern situation. In particular, these with only minor work and assurance is also Sheffield University vice-president slopes are now subject to long, very dry documentation left to complete. for innovation, said that while it is still spells in which they desiccate and crack, In terms of the track, the Crossrail speculation that a landslide triggered the followed by periods of intense rainfall that papers say that the first component of derailment, he said the incident still raised exceed their drainage capacity. the routeway has achieved “readiness for questions about railway safety in the UK “The days before the incident have seen handover”, which is described as a crucial and, in particular, the risk of landslides. record-breaking heat followed by extreme step towards trial running. Petley said: “As usual there is a subtext convective rainfall. We also see prolonged The paper also indicated that dynamic that in some way the operator of the periods of wet conditions, as was the case testing of the railway recommenced tracks, Network Rail, is failing to discharge earlier this year, caused by successions on 30 May and is “progressing towards its responsibilities. I think that is unfair – in of low pressure systems that result from having the baseline software configuration my view Network Rail is a highly effective forcing by the displaced jet stream. Some completed for trial running”. manager of its geotechnical assets – but slopes simply cannot cope with these The additional delays come in the same that there are reasons to be concerned changed conditions.” week as Network Rail revealed that it will about the future state of slopes on our Petley said that the UK had to recognise need a further £140M to complete the railway system.” that its railways have legacy and modern integration of Crossrail with its network. Petley pointed to the problems of the problems with slopes that will present
12 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 MORE NEWS NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM
ROADS cannot be used as a precedent as “no The train is thought similar obligation” to consider the Paris to have hit a landslip £27bn roads challenge Climate Agreement existed when ministers approved RIS2 funding. gets court date The DfT’s response to Transport Action DfT uses High Speed 2 Network’s claim adds: “It is not arguable precedent as spending defence that the Paris Agreement, carbon budgets and the net zero target were so ‘obviously material’ to the decision to set RIS2 that BY ROB HORGAN the defendant [DfT] was legally obliged to take them into account. […] High Court challenge of the “The ground is narrowly focused, and government’s £27bn road asserts that there was a failure to take investment plan will get its day in into account these matters as mandatory court,A after a judge ruled that there were considerations. significant grounds for it to be heard. “But if they are not mandatory, as the The Transport Action Network claims defendant submits, the alleged error that transport secretary Grant Shapps simply does not arise.” “unlawfully failed to take account of the Furthermore, the DfT response adds impact of RIS2 [Road Investment Strategy that environmental impact assessments 2] on achieving specific climate change of RIS2 come under forthcoming objectives”, when he gave the plan the government policies such as the Transport go ahead. Decarbonisation Plan, the Clean Air It claims the Court of Appeal’s Strategy and the Clean Growth Strategy. decision to block Heathrow expansion It adds that any of the schemes due to as a precedent. In that case, the Court be built under the RIS2 programme would of Appeal overturned the government’s also have to secure relevant planning Airports National Policy Statement, ruling consents and would therefore undergo an increased level of risk which must be that it had failed to consider the need to further environmental scrutiny. managed. comply with the Paris Climate Agreement. It adds: “The decision to set RIS2 and the Network Rail chief executive Andrew This effectively ended Heathrow’s policy context in which it sits are firmly Haines offered his condolences to the expansion plans. in the broad macro-political field […] families affected by the incident during a The Department for Transport (DfT) has Moreover, none of the individual grounds visit to the site. He vowed to “understand dismissed the challenge as “wrong […] are arguable.” the cause and put immediate additional misconceived and wholly unarguable”. The DfT also argues that environmental safety measures in place”. In its official response to the Planning impact assessments were carried out as Haines added: “Questions are Court – obtained by NCE – the DfT uses a matter of good practice when officials inevitably being asked as to how this TV presenter Chris Packham’s recent drew up the RIS2 programme. could happen and I am determined failed High Court court challenge to High “Even if, contrary to the defendant’s that we understand the circumstances Speed 2 (HS2) as precedent for refusing principal submission, all or some of the that led to this devastating event. It’s the Transport Action Network’s claim for a matters relied upon by the claimant were too early to draw conclusions, but it is judicial review of RIS2. mandatory considerations, the claimant’s critical that we investigate thoroughly Packham lost his High Court challenge ground is nonetheless bound to fail and with care, and work closely with rail to HS2 after a judge rejected his claim that because they were taken into account by safety authorities, to make sure this can’t it was mandatory for the DfT to take into the Secretary of State in setting RIS2,” the happen again. account the Paris Climate Agreement when document states. “I will not pre-empt the outcome of the approving the project. “It is impossible […] to say that regard investigation... but it is clear the weather The Court of Appeal has also dismissed has not been given to the potential was appalling and there were floods and Packham’s application for appeal, carbon emissions-based effects on the landslips in the area,” said Haines. “I have bolstering the DfT’s position. environment of RIS2. asked my teams to put extra measures RIS2 was approved in March and “To the contrary, clear and in place, from immediate, heightened includes £14.7bn worth of road route comprehensive consideration has been inspections, to medium-term work with upgrades between 2020 and 2025. given to how the carbon impacts of RIS2 meteorologists to improve information The Lower Thames Crossing and the will be tackled as part of a wide set of and forecasting. controversial Stonehenge Tunnel are policy initiatives.” “Our climate is changing and it among the major projects which will get It adds that analysis of RIS2 revealed is increasingly challenging the underway by 2025. that the road building programme would performance and reliability of the railway, The DfT refutes all four claims which account for less than 0.2% of all vehicle but incidents like this devastating relate to environmental concerns and emissions once the roads were in place. accident are incredibly rare, and our air quality assessments relating to the A court date has yet to be set, railway remains the safest major railway RIS2 programme. although a hearing is expected in the in Europe.” It claims that the Heathrow ruling autumn.
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 13 Inside Track
discussions with ministers about the short and long-term funding that will be available to TfL and London boroughs to complete projects of this nature in the future.” A government spokesperson added: “The Hammersmith bridge project was initially considered by the Local Enterprise Partnership and the Mayoral Combined Authority locally, however the £38M of funding required [for preparatpory work] was significantly higher than London’s £22.1M Getting Building Fund allocation. Allocations are based on population data at the local authority level. This has been adjusted based on measures of an area’s relative economic resilience and its relative economic exposure to coronavirus.” The funding that has been allocated covers a wide range of infrastructure schemes from road and rail upgrades to the roll out of fibre optic broadband. The Riding Sunbeams Solar Railways project between green tech company Community Energy South and Network Rail is among the Snubbed: Hammersmith Bridge projects to receive funding. The project is needs £120M for repairs to develop and supply clean energy from solar sources to the country’s rail network. Coventry’s VLR scheme has also been INFRASTRUCTURE awarded funding “to support the creation of zero emission very light rail solutions No funds for Hammersmith Bridge in £1.2bn which will be cheaper, greener, and quicker to deliver than conventional tram systems”. ‘shovel ready’ Covid-19 spending boost pot Additional funding was also made available for the creation of a Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley. A railway station in Thanet, Kent, has Solar rail and Coventry Very Light Rail among 300 projects to win funding also won investment and will connect to the High Speed 1 route. Meanwhile, a new BY ROB HORGAN single platform railway station in Portway, Bristol, has won funding and will be served inisters have released Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to by the Severn Beach Line. Upgrades to £1.3bn to fund more than 300 traffic since April 2019 after critical faults Middlesbrough Station, Taunton Station and “shovel-ready” projects to restart were found in its ageing cast iron structure. Birmingham University Station have also Mthe economy following the Covid-19 As this issue of NCE went to press the been given funding. lockdown. They include the development structure was closed to pedestrians, cyclists Funding has also been secured for early of solar-powered railways, Coventry’s and river traffic as the August heatwave work on the Port Salford rail terminal and a Very Light Rail (VLR) scheme and new triggered further deterioration of cracks. 11ha rail freight terminal. stations in Kent and Bristol. The total repair cost is estimated at £120M. Road upgrades in Carlisle, Mansfield, But the government shunned London Richmond Council transport committee Loughborough and Rochdale are also mayor Sadiq Khan’s pleas for money to chair Alexander Ehmann slammed the to go ahead. There is also funding for repair Hammersmith Bridge which crosses decision to snub Hammersmith Bridge. cycling schemes including two investment the Thames. It was included on a list Ehmann said: “You asked for shovel ready programmes in Greater Lincolnshire, of shovel-ready projects in London he projects, Mr Johnson, well here’s one which schemes in Hull and East Yorkshire, and submitted to the government. is practically on your doorstep. Given your Leicester city centre. The funding was announced by housing, well documented enthusiasm for bridges, Funding has also been made available communities and local government whether across the Thames or the Irish Sea, to address construction skills shortages, secretary Robert Jenrick who wrote to surely restoring Hammersmith Bridge is including the Transport & Logistics mayors and local business leaders in June something which ticks all of your boxes.” Institute in Thurrock; the Modern Methods asking for information about shovel-ready A mayor of London spokesperson added: of Construction college in Bedford; and the projects to restart the UK economy after the “Government funding is critical for this national Green Construction Skills Centre in Covid-19 lockdown. project to proceed. We will continue our Gloucestershire.
14 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020
John Corderoy PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT BY NADINE BUDDOO Nuclear waste is going underground
ecommissioning In addition, each store is a relatively some of the UK’s short-term and costly solution. oldest nuclear power “If we carried on with just storage D sites is one of the as a strategy, each future generation largest environmental would be paying to rebuild stores and restoration programmes in Europe. packages,” explains Corderoy. The Nuclear Decommissioning “This starts to draw in one of the Authority (NDA) is tasked with main reasons for the GDF programme:
The Interview The delivering safe and sustainable there’s a higher level issue of solutions to the challenge of nuclear intergenerational equity and fairness. clean-up and waste management. We’re trying to develop a solution that One way to do this is to construct will dispose of the waste and end that a geological disposal facility (GDF) to liability for future generations.” contain the UK’s most radioactive waste So, while the UK’s current storage in underground vaults and tunnels. policy requires active management John Corderoy is responsible Dounreay. Corderoy explains that of radioactive waste, the GDF would for delivering this new facility. This these surface-based stores are allow “passive” management. means identifying a suitable location relatively simple structures, built to “Essentially, with storage there and obtaining planning permission, as contain the waste for at least 100 years. is a requirement to look after the well as procuring the necessary civil The challenge around the current site,” Corderoy says. “However, with engineering work. storage set up is that each store disposal you build the facility, close it Corderoy is programme director requires its own permissions regime, and remediate it. You then remove all at the NDA’s Radioactive Waste including the relevant local authority’s of the surface facilities, then seal and Management (RWM) subsidiary. He planning permission as well as close the site forever. joined RWM in 2016, after 30 years independent regulatory approvals. “Over thousands of years, [the in the Royal Navy and the Ministry waste] decays away to harmless of Defence, where he was involved material, but it remains locked away with nuclear power for the Navy’s for that period.” submarines. The complexities of his naval career have undoubtedly Probably ENGINEERING provided a good foundation for him to EXPERTISE deliver the GDF. the greatest Corderoy understands that design and construction of the GDF will STORAGE VERSUS area of expertise will require close engagement with the DISPOSAL be in state-of-the- civil engineering sector and the wider Currently the country’s higher activity supply chain. radioactive waste is contained art underground “Probably the greatest area of in surface stores at various sites, expertise will be in state-of-the-art including Sellafield, Magnox and “ underground engineering techniques, engineering techniques
16 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL FACILITY
Underground disposal tunnels and vaults Transfer tunnel 200m minimum depth
£12bn 200-1000m depth Estimated whole life cost 1km1km22 Optimum surface Higher strength rock footprint Excavation of around 10M.m3
Not to scale bringing in real innovation,” he has generated to date, and allow for says. “Working in the underground There will be waste from proposed new build power environment is a pretty fast moving stations. “A broad estimate would be area, so I think that’s the bit where we a growing role about 750,000m3 of packaged waste that will look to the supply chain. we have to dispose of in a geological “I also think there will be a growing for the supply chain sense,” says Corderoy. role for the supply chain to support us to support us with the with the overall integration of effort and SITE CONSIDERATIONS risk management.” overall integration As well as building the underground Corderoy explains that a 1km2 site facility, the project will also involve the would be ideal for the project, allowing “ construction of vital links to surface of effort and risk all surface facilities like car parks and infrastructure for utilities and services. admin blocks to be grouped together. management “For example, we could need links to “However, it would be possible to the road and rail infrastructure, and if develop a GDF with a much smaller it’s a coastal region we could need links surface site than that and, indeed, all of Constructing the underground facility to a port,” Corderoy explains. the elements of the surface site don’t will require the excavation of around While the location and geology of the need to be co-located on the same plot,” 10M.m3 of material. “Essentially, we’re GDF site remains uncertain, it is difficult he says. “Unlike other infrastructure, excavating a series of tunnels and vaults for Corderoy to confidently provide an we will build an initial capability for the that the radioactive material can then overall project cost. Initial estimates GDF and then we can start to deposit be placed into,” Corderoy says. “Then put whole life cost of the GDF at around the waste. we backfill it to restore the sealing £12bn, but it is early days and as with “But there’s parallel construction qualities of the geology.” any major infrastructure programme, activity that runs alongside this facility The GDF will feature a multi-barrier this figure is likely to be adjusted as for potentially around 100 years. We will approach, including engineered barriers work progresses. be constructing the initial capability and natural barriers. Radioactive waste And until a site has been confirmed, and then, like a mine, it evolves will be solidified into either a glass, RWM is unable to move on to the underground over a very long period resin or cement-type material, before it detailed design phase of the project. of time.” is placed in a protective canister. The “You can’t do that until you The facility will be constructed at canisters, typically made of copper, understand the detail of the rock a depth of between 200m and 1,000m steel or iron, will then be overcoated that you’re going to be working in,” below surface level. Corderoy explains with concrete. The containers will Corderoy says. “But with the current that the minimum depth of 200m will then be placed in the GDF’s vaults and phase of community engagement, we’re provide protection against potential tunnels and surrounded with a buffer hoping that we will have a number of changes to the surface level. material, which could be bentonite, communities in the process within the “We have to think about cycles of and backfilled with bedrock previously next year or two. glaciation and events that are not excavated from the site. “That will then help us narrow down predicted to happen for maybe tens of RWM’s current plans for the GDF a lot of these big parameters that, thousands of years,” he says. would store all the legacy waste the UK currently, are still open. N
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 17 been cautious around lagoons, tailings dams, sludge ponds etcetera ever since. I would be interested to hear from others who have learned key lessons in similar circumstances. Phil Wilson (F), Your View [email protected] LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NET ZERO AND COMMENTS ONLINE JOINED UP THINKING NEEDED
ROADS quality and the local UK supply I would like to see more examples of will be not be sustainable. Not how we are going to overcome the SMARTER WAZE OF much benefit in using this type of challenges of reaching zero carbon WORKING @ geopolymer concrete here if the by 2050 (Big Interview, last month). main components of the binder had Let me suggest a couple. In response to the Inside Track to be transported from afar. Not On the basis that new houses on smart motorways (NCE last worth listing it as an innovation that will have a design life of at least month), the seven bullet points will transform our projects. 30 years, houses built now should [for improving safety on smart Peter JM Bartos (M), be zero carbon or as nearly so as motorways] are all desirable [email protected] possible and this should be part of actions. However, it will take time the planning requirements. to implement them and further PROFESSIONALISM accidents will happen in the interim. Notification of stationary vehicles on LEARNING FROM hard shoulders is already provided EXPERIENCE by traffic app Waze to users of the app. It ought to be possible to feed As a civil engineer and private pilot I this information to the traffic control read NCE and Pilot magazine. centres to enable it to be posted Pilot runs a monthly feature of onto gantry signs. submissions from pilots “near Waze or an alternative app might misses/near hits” under the title be developed to transmit a signal I learned about flying from that when emergency hazard lights are (Ilafft). There is rarely much activated. These features would actual laughter involved, but a offer a significant improvement lot of learning and sharing best in safety and avoid accidents in practice with others to avoid similar Aeronautics skills could help wind sector the short term even if they do incidents. not satisfy all of the long term I am collating Ilafft-type However, if a planning authority requirements. incidents for civil engineering as demanded this the developer Tony Barber (F), an aid to young and mature civil would go to appeal and, I gather, [email protected] engineers alike and would be the planning department would grateful to receive any design or generally lose. Surely this is a site “incidents”, whether amusing contradiction in government which CONCRETE or otherwise to aid learning. should be addressed and perhaps Project names and details will be the ICE could apply some pressure. TRANSPORT anonymised to protect the innocent Rolls Royce and others in the CONSIDERATIONS and avoid embarrassment. aircraft industry are losing business, ESSENTIAL Early in my career, we were and we should be glad of the requested to investigate the cause reduction in flying in our quest for Geopolymer concrete is not a of leakage from a small impounding zero carbon, but are not the skills new innovation at all (Innovation reservoir. I was supervising the in manufacturing jet engines and News last month), only the recently investigation, which involved aircraft wings very dissimilar to heightened emphasis on emissions The Editor, excavations to reveal a pipe wind turbines and turbine blades? has brought it up again. New Civil which had been left in place after Might not government aid be One may assume that in the diverting water during construction. helping these companies re-skill to Engineer, case reported, the fly ash will come The offending pipe had not been develop much needed renewable Telephone from Australia and the slag from treated adequately and I removed energy technologies. China, as in the UK the polluting House, it and reconstructed the earth I have put both these matters to coal-fired power stations have been 69-77 Paul embankment dam. Upon re-filling, my MP but with sadly no meaningful practically eliminated and few blast Street, London, the dam continued to leak, much response. furnaces remain. EC2A 4NQ to my embarrassment and it was Keith Hitchcock (F), Slag from old heaps and fly Email: nceedit@ necessary to install an HDPE liner as [email protected] ash from old deposits are of poor emap.com an additional measure. I have always (Continued on p20)
18 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 MAIN POINT CHALLENGINGYOUR VIEWS ANDTHE OPINIONS STATUS QUO
I found Claire Smith’s leader (NCE, last month) very seriously, and as a profession we wish to be taken seriously, interesting, but I have a few remarks I’d like to share. then that must be reflected in our publications as well as in our I’m a civil engineer originally from Algeria, and have been practice. Or does it show, in fact, that we have not yet grasped working in the sector for a few years. During this time I have the nettle on this important issue? Have there been any tried hard to understand the collective mental schism we have surveys to determine the extent, or otherwise, of the number in our society, the crisis of perceptions we have on a daily of BAME members in our profession? And if not, then should basis, but it appears the issue is complex or, in other it not be something the Institution should consider words, we may need to think in a more complex undertaking at the earliest opportunity? And what way, far from the binary type of judgement steps should be taken to redress the balance, rightly pointed out in the article. should that prove necessary? From my own experience (sometimes Keith Rowbottom (M) painful) I realised that I would probably [email protected] always be the “exotic” one at work. No matter how hard I try, the fact that my I found Claire Smith’s leader on diversity look, name and religion are not to be and inclusivity especially relevant to assimilated to the existing collective many of the sensitive political issues that societal values will remain a black dot currently surround us (NCE last month). in the landscape. This is a fact. Now In some ways I can see how the choice of there is a difference between a fact and Lord (Earl) Kitchener, seen by many as the what we feel when experiencing the fact, epitome of imperialism, for the front as a it varies from one person to another. stimulus in the way intended but I do feel his I probably sound decisive about what I image may be injurious to some. have called “fact”, however there is a point For me the debate should be had and the slate of which seems ambiguous when it comes to semantics. history remain and that the truth be available to all to Some believe the word “racism” is no longer descriptive of construct their own conclusions. what we experience in 2020. The word means a race feeling Martin Cleary (M), [email protected] superior to another, which I believe is part of historical eugenics theories. In my view the right word describing the I am aghast. Why did you use this clichéd image of an old present social problems is “culturalism” – the form of dualism white paternalistic militaristic empire building male person? where “my culture is superior”. Surely you could have updated it to be more 21st century and The solution in my opinion is in three sectors – pedagogy, actually relevant to the environmental message. in other words at school; mediatic, as the media shapes the On the matter of engineers being in the vanguard of this collective perception of the “other”; and political – initiative, believe me we push hard. But clients (often old the unfortunate situation where our prime minister white male and rich) don’t want to know as it affects their caricatured women wearing burqa as letter boxes, to cite “bottom line”. only one example. Martin Redston (M), [email protected] Although I’m 36, I have ended my permanent career and switched to freelancing despite having ambitions to get on the Editor’s comment: The choice of cover for the August issue management ladder. Freelancing is temporary and that is what was made based on the imagery being an iconic call to it feels like to be a minority at work, unfortunately. action which related to the responsibility of all engineers I hope my kids will live a different experience…but I’m to act on the ICE’s State of the Nation report on reaching not sure. net zero by 2050. It was not meant to relate to my leader Sofiane Merdaci (M), in the same issue on the challenge of achieving diversity [email protected] and inclusivity but I now recognise how the cover may be perceived. Last month’s issue of NCE had much to say about diversity I have to hold my hands up and confess that my knowledge and inclusivity. Indeed, the editor’s opening article began of history concerning Lord Kitchener was lacking and I with those words and the Black Lives Matter movement was would like to thank those who took the time to educate me mentioned on more than one occasion. Yet I couldn’t help but on that. notice that there was not one single black person featured in One of the points I was making in my leader was that we any of the considerable number of photos printed in the issue cannot be all knowing and should not be afraid to point out (where it was possible to determine the colour of a person’s the errors of others so that we can learn and move on in skin) including those in adverts. a better way. I would like to apologise to anyone who took If as civil engineers we are going to take this matter offence at the artwork and assure you that this was not
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 19 Your View
(Continued from p18) in the winter to about 28°C in the Bunhill district As a logical extension of these summer; similarly, it indicates on heating system: observations, extracting heat from GEOTHERMAL the Jubilee Line the temperatures Is harnessing the tunnels in winter seems to me to BUNHILL CASE FLAWED range generally from about 18°C to Tube heat really be a fool’s errand and it is necessary 26°C between winter and summer. practical? to examine the myth that the Tube However, it should be noted is always hot. I was intrigued to read “Harnessing that this seasonal data for tunnel It seems to me that, because heat from the Tube” (NCE, June). temperatures clearly proves it of a perverse, ongoing lack of I happened on the root cause of cannot be the brakes nor indeed understanding of the temperatures London Underground’s (LU’s) any other operational heat causing underground in London’s Tube overheating several years ago and the overheating in the tunnels, as Network, there is a fundamental flaw went on to develop a hypothesis these happen year-round. in the Bunhill 2 concept. that clearly fits the evidence as to Moreover, if operational heat At the time the system requires the seasonal nature of the problem. does not cause overheating in the most waste heat, it has the least; LU’s official temperature underground-only networks like the yet when there is little or no demand monitoring indicates that the Warsaw’s metro system, then why for heat, there is masses available. Northern Line’s below ground would it cause overheating in mixed Calvin Barrows (M), temperatures vary from about 20°C networks like LU’s? [email protected]
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As the government commits more money to fl ood defences, we look at the nature-based solution being trialled on the River Soar, sustainable drainage in west London and an artifi cial lagoon proposed for the Humber estuary
SPENDING TO REDUCE STORMWATER FLOOD RISK / PAGE 24 MIMICKING NATURE ON THE RIVER SOAR / PAGE 28 COUNTERS CREEK FLOOD PREVENTION / PAGE 32 LAGOON HULL SEA DEFENCE / PAGE 34
SEPTEMBER 2020 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 23 BUILDING OUT OF TROUBLE As the government commits to “build back better” and pledges £5.2bn to improve flood resilience, is enough being done to tackle the scourge of surface water flooding? Nadine Buddoo reports.
Future 2027, alongside support to help that communities at high risk are households and businesses recover more resilient. KEY FACTS of Stormwater from flooding more quickly. “Working closely with the Following the announcement, Environment Agency, local £5.2bn environment secretary George authorities, business and the urface water flooding Eustice said: “The devastating third sector we will create a better continues to be a major Amount impacts of last winter’s flooding were protected and prepared nation.” challenge for the UK. government an important reminder of the need Environment Agency chair Last winter, severe to continue to invest and accelerate Emma Howard Boyd welcomed flooding across the has allocated action to reduce the impact of the strategy, highlighting the country dominated for flood flooding on our communities. importance of helping to make media coverage for months with cars and coastal “Our record investment and communities more resilient stranded, railway services disrupted ambitious policies will better protect by delivering better and more S defence work and many homes and businesses homes, schools, hospitals and sustainable flood defence schemes. destroyed. between now businesses, but we also recognise “For every £1 spent improving Following the impact of storms that we cannot prevent flooding protection from flooding and coastal Ciara and Dennis earlier this year, the and 2027 entirely, which is why we will ensure erosion, we avoid around £5 of government was vociferously urged property damage,” she said. to do more to protect communities 2,000 Howard Boyd added that the long at risk. term commitments that had been In July it set out its long term Number of announced would make homes, ambition to create a nation more planned flood We cannot businesses and infrastructure more resilient to flood risk. Plans outlined resilient to the accelerating impacts in its flood and coastal erosion and coastal prevent flooding of the climate crisis. risk management policy statement defence entirely, which is why “Many communities are all too include funding of £5.2bn to create projects familiar with flooding, and now the around 2,000 new flood and coastal we will ensure that risk is increasing for others too,” she defences. This investment is aimed added. “The Environment Agency is at providing better protection for communities at high champing at the bit to deliver on the 336,000 properties in England by “risk are more resilient government’s investment with better, 24 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 For every £1 spent improving protection from flooding and coastal “erosion, we avoid around £5 of property damage
promote the uptake of sustainable drainage systems in a bid to reduce flood risk, reduce sewage spills into rivers and streams, and reduce the volume of pollutants washed directly into water bodies following heavy rainfall. Commenting on the new strategy, prime minister Boris Johnson said: “Last winter I saw for myself the misery and upheaval that flooding can bring to lives and livelihoods and I said we would do more to help people. “This long-term plan will help push back the flood waters and protect hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and livelihoods. “Our record investment will also stimulate economic growth across the UK as we build back better.” But despite the prime minister’s enthusiasm, questions have already and greener, flood schemes.” l Managing the flow of water to Floods earlier been raised about how much of the The government’s proposals reduce flood risk and manage drought this year proposed funding will actually deliver include £200M for innovative projects l Harnessing nature to reduce flood triggered the better solutions that alleviate flood such as sustainable drainage systems risk and deliver benefits for the spending push risks and provide more sustainable and nature-based solutions like environment, nature and communities stormwater management. temporary or permanent water l Better preparing communities for Industry guidance organisation storage areas which also boost when flooding and erosion does occur Ciria’s water management associate wildlife. The Innovative Resilience l Ensuring every area of England Paul Shaffer wonders how much of Programme will support 25 areas has a comprehensive local plan for the government’s proposals will come at risk of flooding to test and tackling flooding and coastal erosion. to fruition, especially while public demonstrate these innovative Back in April, the government also budgets are stretched. solutions (see box overleaf). revealed changes to the way funding “Overall, I think it is great that flood An additional investment of up is allocated to surface water flood resilience is being integrated within to £170M has been earmarked to defence projects. a broader policy of ‘building back accelerate work on shovel-ready flood As part of the changes, a new “risk better’, while also considering climate defence schemes that will begin later category” was announced which change and adaptation pathways,” this year or in 2021. should make it easier for schemes he says. It is estimated that 22 areas across that prevent surface water flooding to “The strategy and the policy is a the country will benefit from this qualify for increased funding. good thing, but the devil is in the immediate boost to jobs, supporting And as part of the wider strategic detail in terms of how it will actually local economies as communities policy to tackle flooding, there will be get delivered and how it will be recover from the impact of a focus on continuing to enhance local funded, while recognising that there coronavirus. understanding of surface water flood are going to be significant challenges As part of the investment plan, the risk, as well as on promoting actions for the public purse. government has pledged to deliver to help prevent, and better manage, “There are also challenges five key commitments which could the impact of surface water flooding. around working out how to obtain prevent £32bn in economic damage In addition to ensuring the partnership funding for some of these across the UK. They are: owners of existing and new drainage schemes. And there’s also a need to l Upgrading and expanding flood assets are meeting their statutory make sure there’s adequate funding defences and infrastructure obligations, the government will available for maintenance to ensure
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 25 Future of Stormwater Overview
There always Coastal defences are a seems to be major priority a conflict around the bureaucracy and planning process, “and ultimately whether the planning system can cope
these sustainable solutions are maintained going forward.” And while the government has committed to “build, build, build”, there is significant doubt about whether the planning system is fit for purpose in terms of delivering the proposed flood defence schemes. “There is a real concern around if and how the planning process will enable these projects to be delivered quickly enough. There’s a tension that needs to be managed,” insists Shaffer. “There always seems to be a conflict around the bureaucracy and planning process, and ultimately whether the planning system can cope.” Shaffer believes there should be no compromise on the quality INNOVATIVE RESILIENCE PROGRAMME of the developments that are being delivered, but he suggests there should be more focus on ensuring adequate competencies and capacity The £200M Innovative Resilience Programme, each area can select the solutions it will take within local government and first announced in the Spring Budget 2020, will forward. The 25 areas will develop their proposals in within the developers and design deliver innovative projects in 25 locations. more detail, before the programme begins in April consultants. 2021. The areas will also receive some preparation As well as ensuring that the project These schemes include nature-based solutions; funding in 2020-21. pipeline is not stifled by a lack of sustainable drainage systems; proactive approaches The programme will also support work in the capacity, it is increasingly evident for making properties more flood resilient; Thames and Humber estuaries, the Severn Valley that flood resilience and surface encouraging local businesses to improve their flood and Yorkshire to trial and develop ways of planning water management must be higher on resilience; and building voluntary sector capacity to ahead and improving investment decisions in the the agenda during the planning phase aid flood response and recovery. face of the long-term uncertainties brought by for any major infrastructure project. The investment will be used to show how climate change. “Flood risk, drainage and surface innovative actions can work individually and in For the Thames and Humber, the government water are not considered early combination to improve resilience to flooding and has pledged to build on previous work to look at enough in the master planning coastal erosion, and encourage strategic thinking major investments in tidal flood management. In process,” Shaffer says. and collaborative working across stakeholders. the Severn Valley and Yorkshire, this will involve “A lot more work needs to be done Funding will be around £6M per area between new work to explore how the approach might be to make the process more efficient. 2021 and 2027. The Environment Agency will applied to other situations where major investments “And where there isn’t legislation, invite lead local flood authorities and coastal in flood and coastal erosion risk are likely to be it is primarily about good common protection authorities to work with local partners needed over the coming decades. sense and good engagement across on expressions of interest later this year. It is hoped that the evidence from the Innovative stakeholders, but currently that The government will then publish a prospectus Resilience Programme will help engineers identify does not always happen at every which will include a menu of actions from which and implement successful approaches more widely. opportunity.” N
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Managing floodwater does not always call for heavy civil engineering solutions – sometimes mimicking nature can be a better approach. Claire Smith reports. SLOWING THE FLOW lanning flood prevention terms of the hydrology but, because it schemes usually takes hasn’t flooded recently, it is kind of ‘out years, requires major KEY FACT of sight, out of mind’. construction work and “The work on NFM is part of a wider results in lots of concrete £15M flood risk strategy for the city, which and steel, right? Well, links in with more traditional measures. not always – it can involve natural Defra funding NFM is one part of the jigsaw.” Pmaterials, be completed in weeks and to evaluate The Defra project started in 2017 and that we needed to get on the ground blend in, if natural flood management is due to end in March next year. Data and start implementing measures and (NFM) techniques are used. natural flood from more than 50 projects, including collecting the data to infill the evidence The planning for NFM can still take management the one led by McDonald, will feed into base, but that we couldn’t tackle a while but it is hoped that a £15M the final report. everywhere,” explains McDonald. Department for Environment, Food and Developing NFM upstream of “So we built up a partnership with Rural Affairs (Defra) pilot project will Leicester was no small task. McDonald the local authorities, Trent Rivers Trust, mature the science in order to change describes it as “a really big catchment” Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife that. The pilot includes a project to add and at 600km2, she is not joking. Trust and Natural England to look at flood resilience to the River Soar and “We knew with the timescales we had what approach we should take and how mitigate flood risk in Leicester. It will we should tackle this, as well as what also test techniques for use elsewhere. we can get onto the ground quickly to “Leicester is strange in that it start learning from.” hasn’t flooded for a number of The Environment Agency also years, but it is at risk from flooding,” It was about brought Heriot-Watt University into the says Environment Agency senior project and is funding a PhD student environmental project manager Alex delivering to get the additional data out of the McDonald. “I believe it was the 1960s project to help with the evidence base. when it last properly flooded and it schemes that could “When we started we were looking is currently one of the top 10 places quite broadly,” says McDonald. “We in the UK at flood risk as a result of feed back into the were looking at different land owners, a combination of fluvial and surface wider pilot in terms of we were looking at approaching the water as well as the canal that runs agricultural community and – just with through the city. It’s quite complex in “the knowledge learning the timescales on the project to get
28 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 READ MORE BUSINESS ARTICLES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING
A team involving an ecologist and geomorphologist went out to develop “the NFM concept for each site
and Rutland Wildlife Trust and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). “It is a very sensitive environment so we have had to go through a complicated consent process to get permission to work in the site,” explains Morrisey. “The site is mainly within the wet woodland, which has the only peat left in Leicestershire and has suffered historically from drying of the peat. “In terms of implementing the project, we were very keen to also address the reason for the poor condition of the SSSI while at the same time providing that NFM function. It was about marrying the needs of the site and the existing land management practices with the NFM scheme. The features installed are designed to slow the flow of the river. One of the natural features identified during the geomorphological study was a onto the ground – we then brought At Enderby, the location right through to the basics historical oxbow, which now has a Atkins in to push forward some of the the scheme has such as whether a willing land owner wood-based bund formed by four trees sites we had identified as having a little extended a natural was involved. downstream to allow water to collect bit more mileage in terms of potential pond to add This process led to a shortlist of 12 behind it. In another area, ridge and and willing land owners.” capacity key sites around the Soar catchment furrow structures from old withy beds, Atkins principle environmental – two of which have been completed. which were used to grow willow, have scientist Ian Morrisey says: “Before we Work on the third is about to start after been modified with bunds to help hold joined, there had been a number of site delays resulting from heavy rainfall in back water. Strategically felled trees appraisals using online tools to look at February and then coronavirus. have also been used to back water up natural resource opportunity mapping. A fourth is being delivered under a onto the flood plain. “A significant number of sites had partnership between the Environment All the materials for the work were been identified as having potential in Agency and Leicester City Council. sourced from within the site, with the terms of flow, storage flow attenuation, According to Morrisey, the final sites exception of some coir wire and a few opportunities to change land use and were selected following a series of stakes. All of the structures were hand tree planting. ground truthing investigations. built to avoid damaging the site. “It was about getting a bit more “A team involving an ecologist and The second site is on land which is traction on the overall strategy and geomorphologist went out to develop already owned by the Environment delivering schemes that could feed the NFM concept for each site based on Agency at Enderby Bridge. back into the wider pilot in terms of the what was seen on the ground,” he says. “The site is downstream but really knowledge learning.” The data gathered helped to finalise the close to Narborough Bog,” explains The Atkins team looked at hundreds sites that would be targeted under the McDonald. “There is a historic bridge of sites and filtered them down based Defra project. which used to be a crossing over the on a multitude of criteria from the The first site is called Narborough Soar, but past river realignment means likely effectiveness of the measure at Bog, which is owned by Leicestershire it is now just a very old bridge in the
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 29 Future of Stormwater Natural Flood Management
We are using time-lapse cameras to see the progression of the floods onto the flood “plain and see how the features are storing and attenuating flow
middle of a field with cows walking around it and a tiny pond next to it. “But it does have a ditch network that it drains into and a pipe connection to the River Soar, so what we wanted to do was extend the capacity within the site. “Atkins designed us a really nice storage pond, which is about 70m by up to 13m wide. We took out 730m3 of material to form the pond and the existing pond now spills into the new one when the water levels are high.” Water level monitoring equipment has just been installed so that the team can understand how much water the scheme is managing to take off the flow of the river in combination with the Narborough Bog site. Monitors are also McDonald and her there has been realigned to pass under each approach to feed back into the being installed upstream so detailed team were hands a railway embankment and the paleo Defra project. analysis can be carried out using live on in creating the channel of the river is clearly visible on More than 50 sites are being targeted data via telemetry. NFM structures the site.” by the pilot project but McDonald “Some of the best monitoring comes Topsoil has been stripped, but believes this is the tip of the iceberg from imagery,” says Morrisey. “We are flooding and then the pandemic and that NFM has huge potential to be using time-lapse cameras to see the brought work to a standstill. However, used across the whole of the UK. “It’s progression of the floods onto the flood work is set to restart on 24 August and all about land management, not just plain and see how the features are is only expected to take a few weeks. rivers,” she says. N storing and attenuating flow.” “We will be creating a large pond While the UK has not recently had with a bund downstream with tree the heavy rain that marked the first few planting areas along the paleo channel months of the year, the constrained to effectively ‘roughen’ the flood plain We will be nature of the flood plain at Narborough surface and trip the flow up and slow it means that the team has already had down,” explains Morrisey. creating a large a few flood events to see how the The team clearly views the work features react. as a success so far and believes that pond with a bund And results so far have been positive working with a number of different land and it is actively working. owners has helped it to understand downstream with tree Work on the third site, located in some of the challenges of planning the Croft, is set to get underway in late work and the long term ownership and planting areas along August and is on private land. management issues that could impact “the paleo channel to “The section of field we will be NFM schemes. working in has been set aside by the Morrisey adds that the variety effectively ‘roughen’ landowner as it gets very wet following of measures used will also allow the rainfall,” says Morrisey. “The river team to analyse the effectiveness of the flood plain
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ollowing heavy rainfall in l Rider sewers, which run parallel to councils to implement three SuDS on 2007, Thames Water has the main sewer, picking up connections three residential roads. These were been constructing flood KEY FACT from properties and providing more trials to assess the ability of different protection measures for capacity on the network types of drainage system to reduce basement properties in the 2 l Street isolation schemes, which peak flows into the sewer network. heavily urbanised London 12,851m include pumping systems to lower Based on the results of the trials, boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea, Amount of water levels at areas of risk Thames Water worked alongside Fand Hammersmith & Fulham. permeable l Individual property protection consultant Mott Macdonald and The catchment area encompasses measures, known as flooding local Hammersmith & Fulham Council to add Counters Creek, a stream that originally block paving improvement processes (Flips) which five more SuDS to the catchment. flowed southwards from Kensal Green used include pumps to protect properties Polypipe’s Permavoid system of to Chelsea Creek. The stream was an from basement flooding. geocellular tanks which helps to important element of natural drainage Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) capture, store and reuse rainwater, was but over the years had been filled in, have also been introduced to reduce used for the scheme. It incorporates covered and diverted, with only small the amount of water run-off entering a combination of products – such sections remaining visible. the sewers. as Permatex, Permafoam and To help address the flooding, water Between 2010 and 2015 Thames Permafilter – that have been designed regulator Ofwat approved £280M of Water worked with Hammersmith & to complement the Permavoid system. funding for the Counters Creek flood Fulham, and Kensington & Chelsea The system allowed the designers to alleviation scheme in December 2014. introduce and maintain greenery and “Plans developed over time as our trees, including rain gardens, while understanding of flooding mechanisms providing the ability to filter and treat and knowledge of the catchment water before it enters the underground area improved,” says Thames Water The system tanks. operations manager for major projects “The SuDS solutions aimed to Harjeet Singh. “As a company, one also intercepts address four main areas: water of our key priorities is to reduce the quantity, quality, amenity and risk of sewer flooding to customers’ runoff directly from biodiversity,” explains Singh. properties, and to do this we use a As part of the £4.67M SuDS scheme, wide range of methods.” the highways via kerb parking bay surfacing in six residential These methods have included: “openings streets was replaced with permeable CHELSEA CHECKER Residences in part of west London have been plagued by basement flooding, but it is hoped that an innovative combination of drainage solutions will end that. Nadine Buddoo reports.
32 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 READ MORE BUSINESS ARTICLES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING
paving. The paving allows rainwater The system streets without having significant Rain gardens to filter through into the geocellular provides impact on parking provision.” storage structures under the road additional The rain gardens are part of and tree pits where it is stored and then released stormwater the permeable paving’s hydraulic to the sewer system at a reduced storage capacity system. The geocellular units below were integrated into rate. The scheme includes a total of and is also used to the substrate are connected to the 12,851m2 of permeable block paving. irrigate planted storage within the permeable paving. the design in some The underground geocellular areas These units include a gravel sump and units only required an excavation of rockwool material to provide irrigation, streets approximately 700mm, reducing the plus storage capacity for the planted “ risk of hitting utilities. area which removes some runoff The top paving layer incorporates volume from the sewer. drainage manager Jessica Bastock. block paving resting on a pervious “The system also intercepts runoff “It wasn’t just a fancy new street; concrete base that allows water directly from the highways via kerb there was a significant reason behind to permeate. openings; a measure that, together the work.” Other elements include flow control with a filter geotextile installed in Construction of the SuDS scheme chambers to slowly release the the permeable paving, provides started in June 2019 and was absorbed water into the sewer system. pollution control should the system be completed in March 2020. Bastock “Using permeable block paving connected to a surface water sewer in explains that delivering the project parking bays provided an adaptable the future,” explains Singh. in nine months required significant solution for the site-specific constraints As well as being informed by the collaboration between all key of each road, specifically in terms of previous pilot schemes, the drainage stakeholders. the depth of excavation, the presence solutions selected for the site also “We were always in conversation of numerous utilities and the existing incorporated feedback from residents with Thames Water and Mott highway use,” says Singh. through public consultations. Macdonald,” she says. “Every week, we “In addition to the permeable “From the beginning, the would have a joint walk-through at the paving, rain gardens and tree pits were consultation went well. People were sites that were open so we could raise integrated into the design in some quite accepting of the project because any issues and discuss any redesigns. streets,” he adds. they understood the reason behind “It worked really well. There was a “These biodiversity pockets could be it,” explains London Borough of good flow of communication between located at discreet locations in longer Hammersmith & Fulham flood and the teams.” And following completion of the project, the team has received positive feedback from local residents. “They really like the look of the streets,” Bastock says. “We’ve even had residents on neighbouring streets ask if we’re going to come and work on their street. There’s now a bit of friendly neighbourhood jealousy of the new streets next door!” Despite the positive feedback, Thames Water anticipates there may still be basement flooding in the area in future. But, according Singh, these issues are often caused by other factors including sewer blockages and unauthorised deepening and renovation of basements which do not comply with local planning policies or building regulations. While there is more work to do to raise awareness of these issues, the use of SuDS will continue to play a key role in helping to reduce flood risk and alleviate pressure on drains and sewers. With this in mind, Thames Water is currently finalising its SuDS programme for the new regulatory period. N
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 33 Future of Stormwater Lagoon Hull
LAGOON HULL A1165 N HULL 1km
River front development A1033 opportunity areas BALANCED Victoria Dock Consent ready outer A63 harbour development 26-41% REDUCTION IN New four lane highway TRAFFIC ON THE A63 (9.6km)
Outer harbour DEFENCE (2km) 100% The ambitious Lagoon Hull project aims to protect Hessle IMPOUNDED LAGOON (5KM) Tidal flood protection the city from flooding, while improving transport for at least 100 years connectivity and reinvigorating the local economy. Y £300M U A R Journey time savings Nadine Buddoo reports. E S T E R M B 1,600 100% THROUGH TRAFFIC H U MOVED TO LAGOON ROAD Construction jobs ull is one of the cities estuary – on the southern edge of in the UK which are Hull – compounds its vulnerability £1bn Gross value added most vulnerable cities KEY FACTS to flooding. per annum to coastal flooding “The city is almost trapped by Bridge Humber and rising sea levels. £1.5bn water,” says Hatley. “There has been But the proposed pluvial flooding, which we saw in Lagoon Hull project aims to change Cost of Lagoon 2007, where a massive downpour one or two types of flooding, but Hull is Hall that. Hull project into saturated land led to surface vulnerable to all of them. It is a perfect The £1.5bn scheme will involve the water runoff just pooling everywhere storm of all the risk factors.” construction of an 11km causeway in throughout the city before it even got Lagoon Hull aims to deliver a holistic the Humber estuary, creating a non- 11km to the drains. The devastation was solution that alleviates all of these risks. tidal lagoon along Hull’s waterfront. Length of immense.” “There’s no point fixing pluvial A four lane highway will also be built Hatley explains that the city also flooding, if people are still at risk along the causeway in the Humber Lagoon Hull remains at risk of fluvial, tidal surge and of flooding from something else,” estuary for 9.6km, relieving congestion causeway groundwater flooding. says Hatley. on the A63, currently the main route “It is relatively unusual because in The project has also been designed into the city. most places the area is vulnerable to to consider the needs of the city, as well Construction is expected to take 10 as the requirements of the Port of Hull. years, and the completed lagoon could The scheme is divided into two parts: provide flood protection for at least 100 With flood the 5km2 impounded lagoon and the years. Lagoon Hull project director Paul 2km2 outer harbour development. Hatley says the scheme is primarily water For the outer harbour development centred on providing the best solution – which has already received for local people, as well as for the attenuation, we are development consent and includes environment. more than 84ha of land for quayside Hull sits in what was originally dealing with a vast operations – the main requirement is swamp land and is mostly below ease of access for shipping vessels, large sea level. During heavy rain, surface amount of water. A areas of quay space and water berths. water from neighbouring areas drains “metre level difference But the needs of the city are towards the city. The River Hull runs fundamentally different to those of the through the centre, while the Humber is about 5M.m3 port. The impounded lagoon borders the
34 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 LAGOON HULL A1165 N HULL 1km
River front development A1033 opportunity areas Victoria Dock Consent ready outer A63 harbour development 26-41% REDUCTION IN New four lane highway TRAFFIC ON THE A63 (9.6km)
Outer harbour (2km) 100% Hessle IMPOUNDED LAGOON (5KM) Tidal flood protection for at least 100 years
Y £300M U A R Journey time savings E S T E R M B 1,600 100% THROUGH TRAFFIC H U MOVED TO LAGOON ROAD Construction jobs £1bn Gross value added
per annum Humber Bridge Humber
city and will play a vital role in providing Lagoon Hull aims The University of Hull found that had a comprehensive flood defence. to address all of There’s no the lagoon been in place during the “It will also allow us to regulate the the flood risk tidal surge that hit the area in 2013, the water levels,” Hatley says. “With flood types affecting point fixing city would have had 100% protection water attenuation, we are dealing with the city pluvial flooding, if and the rest of the estuary would have a vast amount of water. A metre level seen an 80% reduction in flood volume. difference is about 5M.m3.” people are still at risk According to Hatley, these results are By lowering water levels in the caused by the fact that the estuary is lagoon, it can be used to store of flooding from not a contained body of water. As such, stormwater and alleviate the risk of the proposed causeway would reduce flooding in the area. “something else the volume of water entering it from the sea in the event of a tidal surge. COMPLEX MODELLING This is because the causeway would Around five years of design and counter to traditional engineering narrow the estuary, reducing volumes planning have already gone into the logic. Traditional thinking assumes of water that can pass into it before project, but submitting an application that constructing the causeway in the the surge ends. for planning permission is still Humber would cause a coastal squeeze As the average depth of the Humber some way off. While the modelling effect, with the causeway displacing estuary is a relatively shallow 6.5m, undertaken so far is promising, there flood water onto the south bank of the the ability of the causeway to reduce is more work to be done. “We’ve been Humber estuary. But modelling carried tidal surge impacts is expected to be in discussion with the Environment out independently by the University of greater than that of deeper rivers and Agency and it is intrigued, but not Hull and marine consultancy service estuaries, as less water can enter it completely convinced,” Hatley admits. ABPmer suggests that the causeway during a tidal surge. The sticking point is that the will, in fact, protect both sides of the “The model is effectively showing proposed scheme seems to run estuary from flooding. us that by introducing a restriction
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 35 Future of Stormwater Lagoon Hull
It is not about trying to make a profit out of the scheme, but about trying to contribute to “the city
in a certain part of the river, less water flows in because there is more resistance,” he says. “It’s not a barrage or a barrier, it’s a constriction that seems to have the potential for wider flood protection benefits.” Hatley is, of course, encouraged by the modelling data but remains cautious. “There is more work to be done to prove that this effect would really happen,” he says. The Environment Agency has The project brighter future.” If we get it agreed to undertake further modelling includes a Building the new highway on the work and, before delays caused by causeway estuary would not just expand the right, we will the coronavirus pandemic, the team incorporating a city’s traffic capacity, it would improve behind Lagoon Hull was expecting to 9.6km relief road access for cyclists and pedestrians. achieve the perfect meet environment secretary George Highways England has also Eustice to discuss the need for undertaken traffic modelling which has balance between government investment to fund further demonstrated that 100% of through modelling and research. traffic in the city would be transferred engineering and nature “Worst case scenario: if the design to the lagoon road, which would ease “ doesn’t make flooding any worse, the congestion on the A63 and improve overall lagoon project would still be access to the port. hugely beneficial in terms of supporting Improving connectivity to the a range of other outputs including region would also position Hull as the CHALLENGES AHEAD placemaking, economic regeneration, Northern Powerhouse’s gateway to The future of UK trade and energy port growth and improved transport Europe. Driving the region’s economic might rely heavily on the Humber and links,” Hatley insists.“Even if there was renaissance is a focus on green energy. the Lagoon Hull development, but the just a 5% estuarial flood protection Historically, the Humber estuary economic benefits must be aligned benefit, quite frankly, it’s worth the has been the heart of the UK’s coal with a considered approach to the investment to at least do the research.” powered energy industry with coal surrounding ecology and the river’s brought in by rail and river to nearby characteristics. ECONOMIC DRIVER power stations including Drax, “Trying to find ways of building Further in-depth feasibility studies Ferrybridge and West Burton. in harmony with nature is a major require a cash injection of around £25M But with energy production in challenge, but this project takes it to a from the government, so ultimately the the Humber region slowly being completely different level,” says Hatley. funding for the project will be a mix of transitioned away from high carbon “The construction phase will involve public and private. towards green energy and offshore lots of dredging and reclamation, but Hatley describes the funding model renewables, Hatley believes the region there’s nothing massively complicated for the scheme as particularly unusual. will play a vital role in producing the in terms of the construction techniques.” “It isn’t a public scheme, so it is energy of the future. But Hatley says the real engineering currently entirely backed by private “That transition is really important challenge will be balancing the organisations in the region,” he for the role the Humber will play in development of the project with the explains. “However, it is not a directly the prosperity of the UK,” he says. characteristics of the estuary and its commercial project. It is not about “The Humber has a direct impact dynamic morphology. trying to make a profit out of the on the ability of UK PLC to function He adds: “If we get it right, we will scheme, but about trying to contribute economically. And that is why there is achieve the perfect balance between to the city and giving the region a such a focus on flooding.” engineering and nature.” N
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Contractors are experimenting with ways to maintain social distancing on site and are starting to use electronic tags, while very light rail is gaining traction as a low cost solution to urban transport challenges
ELECTRONIC TAGS MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING / PAGE 40 INNOVATIVE THINKER: JULIAN MASON / PAGE 44 LATEST INDUSTRY INNOVATION REVEALED / PAGE 46
SEPTEMBER 2020 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 39 Innovative Thinking Social Distancing DANGER SIGNAL Could electronic warning tags help construction firms maintain site safety and help them comply with government guidance on social distancing during the pandemic? Nadine Buddoo reports.
he coronavirus pandemic civil engineering sector. The system has added a fresh layer has been evolved over time and it’s a of complexity to health KEY FACT perfect fit for this particular challenge. particular shift before anyone leaves and safety protocols on “It is a way for technology to give the site,” Levett explains. “If there’s an construction sites. 12 workers a gentle tap on the shoulder ‘intervention’, the red light will remain Ensuring projects and remind them that they might need flashing red. Before that individual can continue to be delivered safely Number of to take a few steps back.” leaves the site, you can scan the QR Tand in line with social distancing hours each tag The system is driven by a USB code on the tag and it will tell you who guidance has led the industry to seek adaptive QR code reader and they’ve interacted with. solutions in new technologies. can be used tag sensor which can be used on “It means that if someone who has With this in mind, an electric warning from a single a computer and connects to a worked on the site develops symptoms, tag which alerts wearers when they get charge cloud-based system so that any you can quickly and clearly identify too close to a colleague is proving to be transgressions of social distancing who they have come into contact with a vital tool on sites across the country. rules can be monitored and processes and who needs to self isolate.” The wearer is notified by an audible changed as necessary. “The system provides a track and and visual warning if they come into trace web that you can develop across close proximity of another tag. FOLLOWING THE RULES your site,” Levett adds. “Companies The tags, manufactured by Italian “You can check if there have been can then say with confidence that they firm Advanced Microwave Engineering, any ‘interventions’ during that have a comprehensive track and trace are set to alert when a 2m exclusion system in place for every employee and zone is breached. As social distancing every supplier who comes onto site.” rules change, the tags can be Those who are required to work in recalibrated to a different distance. close proximity can have their tags “This isn’t just a tag that has been The system grouped so they do not constantly set quickly thrown together because of each other off, but they will be warned Covid-19,” explains highway industry provides a if someone else is too close. specialist Neil Levett, who is importing “When you set up a group, it ensures the technology for distribution in the track and trace web you’re not creating false positives. The UK through his firm Keep2m. that you can develop system will know that those tags are “Advanced Microwave Engineering supposed to be in close proximity so is a specialist in the construction and across your site it’s not necessary to send out an alert.”
40 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 “ READ MORE INNOVATIVE THINKING ARTICLES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING
Most companies that have procured the tags are doing so because they just want to get “their staff back to work safely
ON TRIAL The tags warn lanyard – to allow them to be attached safety in a logistics environment, for The tags are already being trialled on wearers when they to a person or vehicle, for example. example, allowing access and egress various projects across the UK, including get too close to Bam Nuttall civil safety manager to sites or helping to prevent crane or the Rotherhithe and Blackwall tunnel colleagues Graham Gregson adds: “Users have vehicle collisions. maintenance projects in London and been happy to take part in the trial as it “If a tag is attached to a vehicle, the Transpennine route upgrade. helps them maintain social distancing. the sensors automatically trigger the As this issue of NCE went to press, They are particularly happy with the speed of the truck to be reduced when Bam Nuttall was undertaking a two size and ease of use. a worker wearing a tag gets too close. week trial of 10 tags as part of work “[The tags] have not so much The tag on the wearer also vibrates to on the Transpennine route upgrade changed behaviours as confirmed alert them,” Levett explains. between Manchester and Leeds. and reinforced correct behaviours. “The range of uses – from people Bam Nuttall works manager and [Workers on site] were trying to do maintaining the Blackwall tunnel, to staff welfare officer Ron Georgeson the right thing before but now have people making pre-packed sandwiches says: “We were already using a social the confidence of knowing they are – is vast. distancing kit on site which had been maintaining the correct distance.” “But the different industries are developed at the start of Covid-19. As well as construction, the tags are almost immaterial. It’s all about the “The kit was worn on a belt around being used in various other sectors, technology and how invaluable it is in your waist and was a bit cumbersome.” including food manufacturing. terms of getting people back to work Georgeson says the Keep2m tags “Most companies that have procured quickly and safely.” are more user-friendly and welcomes the tags are doing so because they just Four tags and a charger cost the system’s ability to feed back data if want to get their staff back to work around £500, so the system requires a required. safely,” Levett says. significant investment. Each tag has to be charged every day But applications for the technology But Levett insists the cost is not and takes three hours for a full charge. are not limited to maintaining social prohibitive. With a 12 hour battery life, they have distancing. Longevity has been “If the technology is there, why the capacity to cover the duration of a built into the system because it can aren’t you using it?” he says. “If you’re standard shift on site. be adapted to future uses beyond not using an essential technology or The tags are also designed with Covid-19, Levett says. intervention because of cost, then you’re three fixing points – a clip, a loop and a The system can be used to improve basically putting a value on a life.” N
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 41 SHARING BEST PRACTICE DURING PROJECT DELIVERY
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Costain, Communities at the heart of A19 Testo’s Junction Anglian Water @one Alliance, Life Programme Costain Skanska JV, Supporting London’s homeless community, Balfour Beatty Vinci JV, BBVJV’s ‘WarmUp-4-Work’ on the HS2 Enabling works M4 J3-12 Smart Motorway Garenne, Inspiring curiosity in construction, meaningful a difference Galliford Try, Workforce feedback monitoring system for A46 28 October 2020 to the community of Jersey Anstey Lane Infrastructure Upgrade Scheme Grosvenor House Hotel, London Vinci Construction, Unsworth Park - Building Healthy Communities Kier Highways, Instaboom and GS6 Instaboom on M20 J3-5 SMP VolkerStevin, Xceed Customer Experience programme Millcroft, Health, safety and wellbeing excellence, HS2, Euston MPT - Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail, Thales, Trafford Park Line – Next Gear and Beyond! DIGITAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Arup, New York City Transit Flood Model Viewer Balfour Beatty Vinci JV, 4D Modelling on the M4 J3-12 SMP PRODUCT INNOVATION OF THE YEAR HLM Architects, ‘Thoughtful Design Toolkit’ – University of Keele Arup, Airport demand analyser Ideal Modular Homes, Bespoke Volumetric Manufacturing System Bryden Wood, Office 1.0: a Platforms approach to commercial office projects 2020 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED Costain, U-Route Digital Utility Routing Kier Construction, Digital thread delivering the new build prison at Wellingborough Diales Technical, Strong, lightweight structures assembled Kilnbridge Construction Services, Hinkley Point C Marine Works from curved metal plate RECOGNISING SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED PROJECT OUTCOMES – Heads Construction Reinforcement (Avonmouth) Ideal Modular Homes, Bespoke volumetric manufacturing system Stantec, Improving health and safety by digitising the impossible Kelda Technology, Air-powered showers improve sustainability - DSEAR Hazardous Area Assessment at London Aquatics Centre CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECT OF THE YEAR SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT OF THE YEAR Thornton Tomasetti, Konstru interoperability software Nodes & Links, Digital innovation to assure project outcomes Anlaby and East Ella Flood Alleviation Scheme, East Yorkshire Engineering Innovation Centre, Preston - Wimbledon Court One Roof nuVa Enterprises, Remote sharing of best practice Bacton-Walcott Coastal Management (Sandscaping) Scheme, Norfolk Heartspace, Sheffield University of Cambridge, Baildon Bridge Smart Scour Monitoring Project Peri, RCS Max Fairhaven to Church Scar Coast Protection Scheme, Lancashire LSE Centre Buildings Redevelopment, London Yorkshire Water and Stantec, QuickSolve Peri, Sono WZ Sensor The Active Office by Specific at Swansea University The Clore Music Studios, New College, Oxford Thorndon Country Park, Essex ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR PRODUCTIVITY IN CONSTRUCTION INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR TRANSPORT PROJECT OF THE YEAR Costain Skanska JV, Environment and sustainability opportunities matrix Ares Prism, Highways England Major Projects Programme Transformation COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PROJECT OF THE YEAR A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Ferrovial Construction, Carbon Skyline 2021 Plan Balfour Beatty Vinci JV, M4 J3-12 Operations Control Centre 1 Finsbury Avenue, London A46 Anstey Lane Infrastructure Upgrade Scheme, Leicestershire Kelda Technology, Low-carbon showers reduce water, Focus Logistics, Smarthub Logistics Hobhouse Court, London Delivering Smart on the M20 J3-5 & M23 J8-10 SMP energy and improve wellbeing Kier Construction, Combining MMC with a cutting-edge digital Riverside House, Salford Kilo Apron Development T1 Opportunity Stands (KAD T1), Heathrow Airport MPT - Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail, Thales, approach at the new build resettlement prison at Wellingborough TPL Making an Impact without leaving a mark The Beam, Sunderland Leeds Footbridge for Climate Innovation District Northern Gas Networks, Sweco and Geo2 Remediation, Time Square, Warrington Trafford Park Line – MPT, Manchester TEMPORARY WORKS INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Sustainable Hydrocarbon Remediation for Net Zero Carbon Future Water Management Alliance, Halvergate - The Future of Sustainable Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), Llyn Brenig Reservoir: CULTURAL & LEISURE PROJECT OF THE YEAR UTILITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR Water Management on a Landscape Scale Measures in the interest of safety English National Ballet, London Hogsmill STW: Consent Compliance, Kingston-Upon-Thames Swanton Consulting, Mole Hole Haulage Ramp – 1-5 Grosvenor Place Illuminated River, London Morecambe Catchment Strategy, Lancashire Swanton Consulting, Piccadilly Lights Enabling Works – One Sherwood Street The Standard Hotel, London Wentworth House Partnership, Bank Buildings Belfast - making safe after fire The Wave, Inland Surfing Lake, Bristol
HOUSING PROJECT OF THE YEAR To book your table contact: To sponsor the awards contact: BCIA.NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM Colin Ennis Francis Barham Dudley House, London 020 3953 2627 020 3953 2912 The Officers’ House, Royal Arsenal, London @BCIAwards #BCIA [email protected] [email protected] West Grove North, London
Headline sponsor Sponsored by Supporters Media partner Brought to you by SHARING BEST PRACTICE DURING PROJECT DELIVERY
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Costain, Communities at the heart of A19 Testo’s Junction Anglian Water @one Alliance, Life Programme Costain Skanska JV, Supporting London’s homeless community, Balfour Beatty Vinci JV, BBVJV’s ‘WarmUp-4-Work’ on the HS2 Enabling works M4 J3-12 Smart Motorway Garenne, Inspiring curiosity in construction, meaningful a difference Galliford Try, Workforce feedback monitoring system for A46 28 October 2020 to the community of Jersey Anstey Lane Infrastructure Upgrade Scheme Grosvenor House Hotel, London Vinci Construction, Unsworth Park - Building Healthy Communities Kier Highways, Instaboom and GS6 Instaboom on M20 J3-5 SMP VolkerStevin, Xceed Customer Experience programme Millcroft, Health, safety and wellbeing excellence, HS2, Euston MPT - Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail, Thales, Trafford Park Line – Next Gear and Beyond! DIGITAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Arup, New York City Transit Flood Model Viewer Balfour Beatty Vinci JV, 4D Modelling on the M4 J3-12 SMP PRODUCT INNOVATION OF THE YEAR HLM Architects, ‘Thoughtful Design Toolkit’ – University of Keele Arup, Airport demand analyser Ideal Modular Homes, Bespoke Volumetric Manufacturing System Bryden Wood, Office 1.0: a Platforms approach to commercial office projects 2020 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED Costain, U-Route Digital Utility Routing Kier Construction, Digital thread delivering the new build prison at Wellingborough Diales Technical, Strong, lightweight structures assembled Kilnbridge Construction Services, Hinkley Point C Marine Works from curved metal plate RECOGNISING SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED PROJECT OUTCOMES – Heads Construction Reinforcement (Avonmouth) Ideal Modular Homes, Bespoke volumetric manufacturing system Stantec, Improving health and safety by digitising the impossible Kelda Technology, Air-powered showers improve sustainability - DSEAR Hazardous Area Assessment at London Aquatics Centre CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECT OF THE YEAR SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT OF THE YEAR Thornton Tomasetti, Konstru interoperability software Nodes & Links, Digital innovation to assure project outcomes Anlaby and East Ella Flood Alleviation Scheme, East Yorkshire Engineering Innovation Centre, Preston - Wimbledon Court One Roof nuVa Enterprises, Remote sharing of best practice Bacton-Walcott Coastal Management (Sandscaping) Scheme, Norfolk Heartspace, Sheffield University of Cambridge, Baildon Bridge Smart Scour Monitoring Project Peri, RCS Max Fairhaven to Church Scar Coast Protection Scheme, Lancashire LSE Centre Buildings Redevelopment, London Yorkshire Water and Stantec, QuickSolve Peri, Sono WZ Sensor The Active Office by Specific at Swansea University The Clore Music Studios, New College, Oxford Thorndon Country Park, Essex ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR PRODUCTIVITY IN CONSTRUCTION INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR TRANSPORT PROJECT OF THE YEAR Costain Skanska JV, Environment and sustainability opportunities matrix Ares Prism, Highways England Major Projects Programme Transformation COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PROJECT OF THE YEAR A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Ferrovial Construction, Carbon Skyline 2021 Plan Balfour Beatty Vinci JV, M4 J3-12 Operations Control Centre 1 Finsbury Avenue, London A46 Anstey Lane Infrastructure Upgrade Scheme, Leicestershire Kelda Technology, Low-carbon showers reduce water, Focus Logistics, Smarthub Logistics Hobhouse Court, London Delivering Smart on the M20 J3-5 & M23 J8-10 SMP energy and improve wellbeing Kier Construction, Combining MMC with a cutting-edge digital Riverside House, Salford Kilo Apron Development T1 Opportunity Stands (KAD T1), Heathrow Airport MPT - Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail, Thales, approach at the new build resettlement prison at Wellingborough TPL Making an Impact without leaving a mark The Beam, Sunderland Leeds Footbridge for Climate Innovation District Northern Gas Networks, Sweco and Geo2 Remediation, Time Square, Warrington Trafford Park Line – MPT, Manchester TEMPORARY WORKS INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Sustainable Hydrocarbon Remediation for Net Zero Carbon Future Water Management Alliance, Halvergate - The Future of Sustainable Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), Llyn Brenig Reservoir: CULTURAL & LEISURE PROJECT OF THE YEAR UTILITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR Water Management on a Landscape Scale Measures in the interest of safety English National Ballet, London Hogsmill STW: Consent Compliance, Kingston-Upon-Thames Swanton Consulting, Mole Hole Haulage Ramp – 1-5 Grosvenor Place Illuminated River, London Morecambe Catchment Strategy, Lancashire Swanton Consulting, Piccadilly Lights Enabling Works – One Sherwood Street The Standard Hotel, London Wentworth House Partnership, Bank Buildings Belfast - making safe after fire The Wave, Inland Surfing Lake, Bristol
HOUSING PROJECT OF THE YEAR To book your table contact: To sponsor the awards contact: BCIA.NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM Colin Ennis Francis Barham Dudley House, London 020 3953 2627 020 3953 2912 The Officers’ House, Royal Arsenal, London @BCIAwards #BCIA [email protected] [email protected] West Grove North, London
Headline sponsor Sponsored by Supporters Media partner Brought to you by Innovative Thinker Julian Mason
Mason believes very light rail is a vital regional CHEAP transport component LINK Changing environmental and travel demands have boosted the very light rail industry, Engineering Integration engineering director Julian Mason tells Rob Horgan.
ith the UK braced £1.8M towards the development of The Cirencester VLR would also for an infrastructure Coventry’s VLR scheme; a flagship connect to the university and hospital, revolution, flagship project which has driven down the with the whole route taking 20 projects with lofty cost of VLR systems. minutes to travel. price tags will no Engineering Integration is drawing One of the main attractions of doubt continue to up a feasibility study for a 6.5km VLR VLR is the cost. VLR systems can be grab the headlines. But Engineering system linking Cirencester to Kemble. constructed for as little as £10M to WIntegration engineering director Kemble station is a key commuter £12M/km in urban settings and £5M Julian Mason believes that much stop connecting the Cotswolds with to £7M/km in the countryside. In cheaper very light rail (VLR) systems London and consequently caters comparison, heavy rail schemes cost could unlock a complete intermodal for far more passengers than the between £20M and £35M/km. transport system across the country. infrastructure was designed for. “[VLR is] massively cheaper, “If you think of a transport system “A lot of the commuters come because we are not integrated with as a tree; people walking to the station from Cirencester, and Kemble is heavy rail, we don’t have complex are the leaves on the tree that feed being overwhelmed by cars in the signalling systems, we utilise battery on to the twigs, which are the VLR morning and evening, so this is an power rather than having a traction systems,” Mason explains. opportunity to reduce the number of current type system, all of those costs “They in turn feed on to the heavy cars,” Mason explains. come down making VLR are much more rail, which is the branches, which attractive investment,” Mason adds. feed into the trunk that is the overall Due to their affordability, private intermodal hub. investment in VLR schemes is also “At the moment, there is a If you on the rise. Mason adds: “Developers disconnect between the leaves and of land and properties can see the the branches and that is why you get a provide rail advantages of having VLR infrastructure lot of cars driving to stations,” he adds. connected to their developments. The government appears keen infrastructure, it shows “If you provide new residents on accelerating wider roll out of with a bus link, they don’t see that VLR. As part of a £1.3bn funding a level of permanency as an investment in them, as it isn’t pot announcement for shovel- permanent. However, if you provide ready projects, the government and the likelihood rail infrastructure, it shows a level of has backed the creation of a VLR “ permanence. and the likelihood that it Innovation Centre in Dudley (see is that it will remain will remain operational for many years Inside Track, page 14). It has also put operational to come.” N
44 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 ADVERTORIAL
ON TRACK TO DELIVER East West Rail Alliance is building project teams for East West Rail phase 2.
As one of the most prestigious projects in the UK infrastructure pipeline, East West Rail Phase Two (EWR2) will connect communities and businesses between Bicester and Bedford, and Milton Keynes and Aylesbury, providing passengers with much improved cross-country rail links.
The East West Rail Alliance is responsible for the delivery of the EWR2 project and consists of Atkins, Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Network Rail who are working collaboratively to deliver this exciting rail project.
The Alliance will deliver:
● Approximately 48km of new rail infrastructure, including new signalling, power and communication systems ● 15 new bridges ● 23 bridge refurbishments ● Demolition of four existing bridges ● Two new high level platforms at Bletchley station Three of the UK’s largest cranes are being used to aid the dismantling of sections ● A new station in Winslow of the Bletchley flyover. ● A key intersection with High Speed 2 project managers and is looking to fill are project teams based in site offices In addition, East West Rail Alliance is commercial, procurement, ecology and along the project alignment. carrying out complex engineering works administration roles. The Alliance is on the Bletchley Flyover, a disused rail seeking to build a highly talented team In addition, the EWR2 project works will bridge that spans over the West Coast and – as a true construction alliance – provide numerous opportunities for local Mainline. Sections of the flyover will be place a strong emphasis on collaboration. businesses of all sizes to get involved dismantled and rebuilt so that it can and join the supply chain to help deliver accommodate the new East West Rail In particular, the Alliance is looking to the project. line, bringing the structure up to modern recruit engineers at site, section, senior standards. and up to project engineer level. For more information please contact: To carry out this project, the East West The main project team is based close to [email protected]. Rail Alliance is recruiting engineers and Milton Keynes Central Station and there Innovation News NEW INNOVATIONS THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR PROJECTS NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING
FLOODING MANCHESTER PARK GETS NATURE-BASED FLOOD DEFENCES
The opening of a new “sponge” park in Manchester could set the tone for future landscaping work. Designers used nature-based solutions to combat the effects of climate change. Manchester City Council’s West Gorton Community Park was designed by Arup and architect BDP to manage the flow of rainwater into a drainage system and help prevent flooding. Paths and hard surfaces have been replaced with permeable paving to allow rainwater to percolate through to the ground. Infiltration ponds will soak up water and any remaining will flow into sunken rain gardens, which have been planted with a range of biodiverse vegetation.
TRANSPORT TUNNELLING RAIL TFL PLANS TO ELON MUSK’S COMPETITION WINNERS HELP POWER THE TUBE BORING COMPANY DEVELOP RAIL EFFICIENCY PROJECTS WITH RENEWABLE LAUNCHES ENERGY COMPETITION
London mayor Sadiq Khan has Elon Musk’s tunneling venture set out plans to change The Boring Company wants Transport for London’s (TfL’s) teams across the world to come Tube electricity supply, making up with tunnelling solutions to it more cost effective while the question: “Can you beat the tackling the climate emergency. snail?”. It is gauging interest TfL is one of the UK’s largest from anyone with knowledge of electricity consumers, using tunnelling including students, 1.6TWh per annum, equivalent companies and hobbyists. to the electricity consumed by Competitors must design, build, Network Rail is working with encourages innovation by asking 437,000 homes. TfL currently and race their own tunnelling winners of an innovation for ambitious ideas that could sources electricity directly solution at The Boring competition to deliver a more transform the rail industry. from the National Grid. Its Company’s Dig-a-Factory in the reliable and efficient railway. The Eleven of the 25 winning entrants new plans involve using first Not-a-Boring Competition £9.4M First of a Kind 2020 will work with Network Rail on renewables to supply the Tube in spring 2021. Teams will competition – funded by the projects that directly support the in place of energy from carbon compete to bore a 30m long Department for Transport and organisation’s research and emitting sources. 500mm diameter tunnel. managed by Innovate UK – development portfolio.
46 SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER Institution of Civil Engineers Record
ICE The ICE is examining devolved and Results of regional infrastructure planning Council elections and bylaw ballot
A new cohort of Council members has been elected to help direct the lifelong learning and engineering knowledge of the ICE. Results of the Council election and the bylaw ballot were announced at ICE’s Annual General Meeting on 21 July. Ten new Council members have been elected. They will take office from 3 November and serve for three years. Corporate Members were also asked to vote on seven resolutions concerning the Institution’s bylaws. They voted REGIONAL POLICY to approve all resolutions. The resolutions related to the balance of the Trustee Board and the method of appointing Engineers’ views on government and electing its members; the provision for the Trustee Board to dismiss a Trustee for justifiable ‘levelling up’ agenda sought reasons; and changes to the rules for attendance and voting at a Special General Meeting (NCE Industry professionals and local The consultation paper sets of England. It recognises the fact June). government stakeholders are out a range of questions that the that data shows variations in ICE President Paul Sheffield being encouraged by the ICE to Institution believes should be regional investment, and that said: “I am delighted that share their views on the role of answered to ensure that regional the impact of Covid-19 on members have voted infrastructure in the government’s investment in infrastructure regional economic growth may overwhelmingly in favour of “levelling up” agenda. delivers the biggest social and also be felt unevenly. changing ICE’s bylaws in line Feedback and submissions economic benefits. The discussion paper sets with recommendations received are sought as part of an ICE ICE policy director Chris out a series of questions for from David Orr’s Presidential consultation exercise. It is the Richards said: “We recognise that sector professionals to answer. Commission into the governance first step in a wider piece of policy more effective approaches to Responses will inform the of the ICE.” work being undertaken, looking at regional infrastructure planning development of ICE policy in the role of devolved and regional and investment could reap relation to regional infrastructure infrastructure planning. rewards for many businesses planning and delivery. Although The concept of levelling up and communities. This is an this work will predominantly has been widely discussed by opportunity to share your focus on infrastructure policy government. On the surface it can thoughts about how we can take in England, views from across be understood as a signal of the the levelling up theory and give it the devolved nations and government’s intention to deliver clear and actionable outcomes.” international nations are more equitable investment in The paper encourages welcome and encouraged. services across the UK, and in discussion about what l Read the consultation England specifically, with a view investment models are required at www.ice.org Send to delivering better opportunities to ensure infrastructure is contributions or questions to Sheffield: delighted with bylaw vote to all of society. adequately funded in all regions [email protected] by 31 August.
SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 47 Institution of Civil Engineers Record
NET ZERO Carbon reduction consultation launched New ICE initiative to examine ways to implement the State of the Nation report on achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050
An initiative to implement educate about decarbonisation. recommendations from the With a clear message of ICE’s recent State of the Nation cross-industry collaboration report has been launched by and a desire to make impacts the Institution. at individual and industry It is called The Carbon level, outputs will be released Project: Towards Net Zero before, during and after United Infrastructure. Nations COP26 climate change The State of the Nation report conference in November 2021. examines the contribution of The programme will be led UK infrastructure to the nation’s by a steering group of industry 2050 net zero target and makes leaders and chaired by ICE 10 specific recommendations President-elect Rachel Skinner. on how to achieve it (NCE last It will be split across three l Identifying systems-level carbon accountancy business as month). work streams: reduction within in-use carbon. usual across the infrastructure The Carbon Project will l Measuring, sharing and Those workstreams are sector and providing the run a programme of thought benchmarking carbon impacts geared towards the ultimate evidence base for decision leadership and knowledge l Capability building in low aims of a transformation makers to legislate for a net zero sharing events to inform and carbon design and delivery in business models, making infrastructure system.
WELFARE SAFETY ICE ICE Benevolent Fund ICE report looks at ICE launches social Pitch 200 competition webinars to help with Covid-19 workplace media activities for goes digital with video Covid-19 effects risk assessments the summer challenge
The ICE Benevolent Fund is Construction companies have The ICE is encouraging During the lockdown, ICE continuing to help members been warned against adopting engineers to get involved in members have turned to who are finding it difficult to a one-size-fits-all approach summer activities despite household objects to help cope with the effects of the to protecting workers during Covid-19 restrictions. Its explain civil engineering in recent lockdown with a series the Covid-19 pandemic. The #EngineeringSummer social an entertaining way. It is part of free webinars. The webinars ICE’s Covid-19: An Engineering media campaign is in full of a new take on a national will take place over the coming Approach to Protecting Workers swing, with a programme of competition. Pitch 200 usually weeks and cover a range of During the Pandemic report activities and content. The ICE involves entrants presenting topics focused on some of the includes guidance from leading is encouraging followers of their pitches to a live audience knock on effects of Covid-19. organisations and sources to the #EngineeringSummer tag in just 200 seconds, but this year These include how to manage help companies assess virus across the globe to photograph the contest has gone digital. your money, switching on to exposure risk on construction and share examples of local Eight finalists from across the mental health and exercise, sites and other workplaces. It engineering as part of a UK have created videos of as well as adapting to home notes that firms should engage photography competition their engineering explanations working. The free sessions are with individual employees while young people are being and the public will choose part of the range of assistance when reviewing and revising challenged to build their favourite the winner via an online vote resources that the Benevolent construction phase plans and engineering projects using between 1 and 30 September at Fund offers to ICE members. related risk assessments. household goods. www.ice.org.uk/pitch200
48 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 The ICE is examining ways to cut carbon emissions VICE PRESIDENT’S VIEW PROFESSIONALISM IS AS IMPORTANT AS EVER
I met former Laing O’Rourke We need to challenge director Paddy O’Rourke in 2006 and over the years ourselves continuously, we became good friends. In the last few years of his life I avoiding complacency and used to call him at his home in Canada once every few adapting to change over time Ed months for a chat. In these McCann sessions I was always given professional failings, all of which would be seen to l More information on a reading list to improve my “be avoidable. The Carbon Project, the young mind and was thus He challenged me to go back to the ICE and to Sustainability Route Map introduced to Charles Handy’s The Second Curve make sure that we did something to ensure that and a range of other net zero and Howard Gartner’s Five Minds for the Future this sort of thing did not happen again. In doing resources can be found at along with a fair sprinkling of poetry. this my voice joined that of others in the room www.ice.org.uk Hugely proud of his younger brother Ray, and resulted in the In Plain Sight work, led by he would share stories of their early days in Peter Hansford, which I hope and believe will help construction through to the great work that Laing prevent this sort of tragedy from happening in REGIONS O’Rourke had been doing more recently to develop infrastructure. a highly competent and qualified workforce. When Hansford interviewed me, he asked if I Regional webinars An educator through and through, O’Rourke thought we could see a Grenfell-type tragedy in continue to update believed absolutely in the importance of learning infrastructure. I said that in my view it was a matter as a way of improving your life chances. He also of “when, not if”, and that many of the skill and members believed that the future health of the construction process deficiencies in the building world had their industry would depend on the skill and counterpart in infrastructure. The ICE’s regions have been competence of its people. Over the last few weeks, I have been reminded keeping members up to date In the days after the Grenfell tragedy, he called both of O’Rourke’s predictions and his challenge as with the latest developments me to say that as an industry we should all I have read the reports coming out of the Grenfell in civil engineering via a series be ashamed. In typical O’Rourke language, he Inquiry and the litany of human, professional, of webinars. From technical described the burnt-out Grenfell building as a organisational and procedural failings that led topics such as modular and “tower of shame for the construction industry”. He to disaster. offsite construction and cycling predicted that what would emerge in the inquiries The ICE exists, in large part, to make sure infrastructure to industry to follow would reveal a catalogue of human and that civil engineers are competent and act issues including sustainability professionally and ensure that society gets the and inclusion, there are sessions infrastructure it needs: safely, economically and of interest to all members O’Rourke believed with proper regard for the natural environment. regardless of role or career absolutely in the To do this we need to challenge ourselves stage. The webinars include continuously, avoiding complacency and adapting breakfast briefings, lunch importance of learning as a to change over time. and learn sessions and evening No small challenge, but as O’Rourke might have events. way of improving your life said: “Go on now, give it a go”. l Access the webinars at chances l Ed McCann is an ICE vice president www.ice.org.uk/events “ SEPTEMBER 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 49 Institution of Civil Engineers Record
WEST MIDLANDS VIEW New Civil Engineer 4th Floor, Telephone House 69-77 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NQ
MARKETING SOLUTIONS Head of Sales | Francis Barham EASING THE (020) 3953 2912 | Francis.barham ONLINE ACCESS ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected] HOUSING CRISIS EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Liz Waugh (chair), Miles Ashley, David Caiden, Tim Chapman, Simon Creer, Tony Gates, Bill Grose, Martin Knights, Mike Napier, Rob Naybour
There has long Magazine of the been a gap between New, genuinely Institution of Civil Engineers housing supply and 1 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA 020 7222 7722 | www.ice.org.uk demand in the UK, aff ordable homes will which has caused ICE MEMBERS’ ADDRESS the housing crisis we only be viable on brownfi eld CHANGES/ SUBSCRIPTIONS now see and hear of QUERIES David so often. The West sites if land can be brought www.ice.org.uk/myice to update your Jobling Midlands is under forward for development in a address quickly online. For subscription signifi cant pressure queries, please phone 020 7665 to deliver its housing “ 2227, or email [email protected] cost eff ective way target of 215,000 new homes by 2031, while also protecting green belt land. West Midlands Combined Authority fi gures such problems in cost effective and show nearly 17,000 homes were built in the innovative ways. region in 2018/2019 – a 15% rise on the previous Locally-focused policies to support All rights reserved © 2020 New year and twice the UK average increase. development will also be required. For example, Civil Engineer. Published by EMAP This means the number of homes constructed the West Midlands is the fi rst UK region to a member of the Metropolis Group. in the region has more than doubled in the last redefi ne “affordable housing” to ensure it aligns Metropolis Group respects the privacy of every person for whom we have eight years, yet the numbers are still not enough. with actual incomes. personal data. We comply with data With the 2050 net zero target on the horizon, This new defi nition states that affordable protection legislation such as the Data there must also be greater focus on more housing should not cost (either in rents or Protection Act 1998 and the General sustainable ways to deliver housing. mortgages) more than 35% of the monthly Data Protection Regulations which Overcoming challenges associated with salary of the lowest quarter of wage earners in regulates the processing of data and delivering viable housing on brownfi eld sites, the local area. ensures that your data is processed fairly which reuse underused industrial land, and New, genuinely affordable homes will only be and lawfully, is kept secure and only that protects green belt, and which has a net positive viable on brownfi eld sites if land can be brought data necessary for any processing is kept. carbon impact, must be a major part of the forward for development in a cost effective way. You can see our privacy policy at www. answer. It is also one where engineers can play a Our profession holds the key to this. metropolis.co.uk/privacy key role. Alongside housing delivery innovations, Printed by Precision Colour Printing Ltd, The West Midlands has already committed to through advanced manufacturing and off-site Telford. Registered as a newspaper with prioritising brownfi eld development and, while solutions, cutting-edge engineering solutions will the Post Offi ce ISSN 0307-7683; Issue further funding has been included in the region’s also help address the housing crisis. No: 2090. Statements made or opinions £3.2bn investment blueprint submitted to the As the government increasingly prepares expressed in New Civil Engineer do not government, there are more aspects to consider. to invest for economic recovery and with the necessarily refl ect the views of Many brownfi eld sites across the region have likelihood of a post-pandemic housebuilding ICE Council or ICE committees lain derelict for decades and are seen as too boom, engineers must enable the delivery costly and diffi cult to develop. Challenges range of affordable new homes, on re-imagined from access and utility solutions to pervasive brownfi eld sites with innovative solutions that ground risks associated with previous uses. can be exported nationally and internationally to These sites present challenges and create jobs and growth for the West Midlands. opportunities for engineers, who must solve l David Jobling is ICE West Midlands regional chair
50 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | SEPTEMBER 2020 FINAL DEADLINE: 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 15 DECEMBER 2020 | THE BREWERY, LONDON ENTER THIS YEAR’S NCE TUNNELLING AWARDS TODAY
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