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New Civil Engineer DECEMBER 2019

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New Civil Engineer DECEMBER 2019 Lessons from floods p11 Florida bridge failings p12 Managing stormwater p23 New Civil Engineer DECEMBER 2019 DRIVING FORCE THE PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE: EMBRACE INNOVATION WHILE GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT FREE Online Confi gurator Tool. Another box ticked. The ultimate geocellular attenuation solution Fully compliant with SfA8 Use our tool for fast and accurate design Fully confi gurable lateral Design tanks around irregular site shapes and vertical access points or where there is restricted access Like Q-Bic Plus itself, our free confi gurator tool is going down a storm. In clear steps it asks the questions and makes the calculations to create the optimum attenuation or infi ltration solution, complete with an auto-generated Bill of Materials. For specifi ers, contractors and installers it is yet another box ticked. qbic.wavin.co.uk 07617_002_WAV_Q-Bic Plus Campaign_Ticks Ad G_NCE_265x210__New Brand_AW.indd 1 05/11/2019 12:30 New Civil Engineer NET ZERO CHALLENGE COULD REVITALISE HIGH SPEED 2 MARK HANSFORD EDITOR ew ICE president Paul Sheffield entered office this month It is time for civil engineering with a clear message to civil engineering professionals worldwide: it is time to get serious about tackling the to step up to the challenge and N climate emergency. His call to arms could not have been better timed. show other sectors how net zero can be Sheffield was delivering his address as prime minister Boris Johnson was belatedly convening the government’s emergency Cobra committee to achieved discuss devastating floods across northern England. Meanwhile, Venice was being submerged by the city’s highest tide in 50 years and, across the other side of the world, Australia was battling catastrophic bushfires. “led the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s engagement on HS2 and was All are attributed to climate change and, finally, key influencers from the only person permitted to petition the High Speed Rail Bill Committee lawmakers to global sports bodies are taking action. In the UK, we have about HS2 legislation regarding its climate change impacts. enshrined in law a commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by Smyth recommends using the net zero obligation to reboot HS2’s 2050, making Britain the first major economy to do so. environmental narrative and relaunch it to coincide with the project’s tenth And, as Sheffield said, it is time for civil engineering to step up to the anniversary. He argues that the government’s forthcoming Transport De- challenge and show other sectors how net zero can be achieved. carbonisation Strategy should be used as an opportunity to commit to The ICE’s annual State of the Nation report will next year show the way. But making rail, as opposed to air, the longer distance travel mode of choice the industry cannot wait and must start having the difficult conversations. – and that any moves to curtail HS2 will weaken, not improve, its carbon By various reckonings, the built environment has a major effect on 80% case by reducing the wider benefits the project unlocks from released of UK emissions. Within the infrastructure space, we know from the Infra- capacity and sustainable housing development. structure Carbon Review and its associated technical report that emis- Smyth’s report demands consideration alongside the (now leaked) sions from UK infrastructure account for some half of that total. Oakervee review that also calls for the full route to be built. Projects have to change – how they are designed; how they are de- The HS2 project is clearly not perfect; Oakervee’s review accepts that livered – and questions should be asked of clients about whether they the procurement was “deeply flawed” and that costs still need to be con- should be built at all. trolled. And ongoing questions over the ways the project promoter treats High Speed 2 (HS2) has faced – and continues to face – plenty of ques- its engineers need answering. tions about whether it should be built. And thus far the net zero question But HS2 will form a crucial part of the UK’s transition to net zero. As has not been a comfortable one because, despite plenty of net zero bene- the transport sector undertakes an irreversible shift towards net zero fits in use, it does use an awful lot of concrete in construction. emission mobility, a high capacity fully electrified railway such as HS2 is But that could now change. A timely and independent report published essential to making this happen. this month sets out the crucial role that HS2 will play in the UK achieving As Sheffield says, “Creating a sustainable future is our biggest challenge its net zero targets by 2050. HS2 – towards a zero carbon future examines and should lie at the heart of everything we do. We have the technology the carbon case for HS2, considering its impacts from construction, op- and capability at our fingertips and we can change the world.” eration and modal shift. The independent review commissioned by High Through projects like HS2 we will do that. Speed Rail Industry Leaders was produced by Ralph Smyth, who formerly l Mark Hansford is New Civil Engineer’s editor DECEMBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 3 Contents NEW CIVIL ENGINEER DECEMBER 2019 MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS 08 News, Comment 23 Future of & Analysis Stormwater 08 The Edit: Crossrail opening delayed to ‘sometime in 2021’ 08 The Edit: Grenfell Tower cladding breached Building Regs 09 Wylfa green light decision put back 11 Inside Track: Flood lessons 12 Inside Track: Engineers blamed for Florida bridge collapse 20 Your View: Powering electric vehicles; tackling water waste; poorly conceived projects 52 ICE News: Hong Kong-Zhuhai- Macau bridge wins People’s Choice Award; She eld gives inaugural address 16 Big Climate change is impacting the UK’s infrastructure in Interview many ways, but fl ood risk, and in particular the risk of fl ooding from surface water, poses one of the most pressing challenges for engineers 24 Localised sustainable drainage 32 Will England follow the lead of systems are gaining weight as Wales and make sustainable stormwater management methods drainage systems mandatory on all new developments? Much 28 An innovative housing depends on the way English fl ood development in Leeds is using 16 Incoming ICE President Paul defence policies are enforced by a range of sustainable drainage local government and water She eld is a dyed in the wool systems as fl ood protection contractor with global experience companies 4 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER DECEMBER 2019 For instant updates follow us: Twitter: @ncedigital LinkedIn: new civil engineer Facebook: ncedigital Instagram Email: newcivilengineer.com/newsletters 37 Innovative Also this month EDITORIAL TEAM Thinking EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected] Editor Mark Hansford (020) 3953 2821 mark.hansford Deputy Editor Alexandra Wynne (020) 3953 2822 alexandra.wynne Associate Editor Emily Ashwell (020) 3953 2094 emily.ashwell LISTEN: THE ENGINEERS COLLECTIVE 38 Digital twins start to yield results on The latest episode of New Civil Engineer’s podcast News Editor Rob Horgan major projects explores ways the industry can address net zero with (020) 3953 2087 rob.horgan Forum for the Future chairman Keith Clarke 40 Cleveland Bridge probes Humber newcivilengineer.com/podcast Reporter Bridge cables for evidence of Sam Sholli (020) 3953 2086 | sam.sholli corrosion (pictured) ATTEND: TUNNELLING FESTIVAL Chief Sub Editor 51 Beach recharge programme protects Plan your visit to New Civil Engineer’s Andy Bolton (020) 3953 2823 | andy.bolton North Norfolk communities Tunnelling Festival on 5 December. Go to tunnelling.newcivilengineer.com Designer James McCarthy [email protected] 42 SME Graphic Artist Anthea Carter Interview [email protected] Technical Editor Emeritus Dave Parker dave.parker CUSTOMER SERVICES (020) 3953 2152 [email protected] ENTER Showcase your talent by entering the New Civil Engineer 42 SME Interview: Stormharvester Graduate & Apprentice Awards has a smart solution to surface graduates.newcivilengineer.com water induced fl ooding DECEMBER 2019 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 5 Lighthouse ICE VIEWPOINT The next government must address infrastructure and climate challenges n just a few short new government to deliver those weeks, Britain outcomes. The will have a new First, Britain needs a national government I government – its strategy for infrastructure. One that third this year. It takes a long-term, joined-up view should also take goes without saying that whatever of our future infrastructure needs, this government may be, it will based on evidence. The work of the steps to incentivise have a major role to play in taking National Infrastructure Commission decisions on the future shape of the BY ART WE is a solid base on which to build the uptake of offsite country’s infrastructure networks. MASTER such a strategy. “manufacturing for The ICE’s mission is to ensure WHAT WOULD Underscoring the significance society gets the infrastructure it MASTER US of this need, our research shows construction needs and that it can trust that it that 75% of the public agree with will be delivered. the statement: “The UK is in need The Institution will be making of a new national strategy for the case to the new government infrastructure”. delivery. Many innovative solutions for infrastructure that drives the A strategy is important; not exist to help address productivity economic growth necessary to something just for civil servants to and the health of the business enhance the UK’s position in the get excited about – but a clear story environment sector, however global economy, that supports a about where the country is going, government action can help to high quality of life and that realises and the infrastructure needed to get propel forward this change. a low carbon future. us there. Some of the things we’d like to see To that end, there are important Second, we must address the include setting out further support next steps that must be taken by the burning platform – of our burning for the principles of Project 13 as a planet.
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