Inside: Richard Susskind on AI p70 Graduate Award winners p94 New Civil Engineer JANUARY 2018 ECONOMIC ELEVATOR HOW CIVIL ENGINEERING IS NOW KEY TO RAISING BRITAIN'S WAGES Street New Civil Engineer KICK OUT THE OLD JOBS, BRING IN THE NEW
MARK HANSFORD EDITOR
ots of excitement has inevitably surrounded chancellor Philip Hammond’s Budget and the plethora of reports, It can be difficult to strategies and deals that have been published in the get ‘cutting edge’ skills L weeks following, all largely focused on tackling Britain’s “productivity” challenge. into the university syllabus The engineering industry has largely welcomed it all, largely because the general thrust has been that investing in the right kind of infrastruc- ture is the answer: that by having better road and rail links the nation event back in October, and his thoughts, and the responses of the sen- will collectively work harder in the making of stuff, and that once made, ior business-leader audience, are published in this month’s edition. this stuff can get its way to market quicker. “Digital” infrastructure has He had a stark warning for any engineer that believes they are been a particularly positive thing to talk about – whether that be invest- “immune from the advancing power of computing: “That determined ing in 5G telecoms networks or paving the way for autonomous vehi- view that machines do the routine work underestimates the processing cles (for purposes unclear). power of technology,” he stated. “Machines are outperforming us, but But what has been missing from the post-Budget debate and discus- doing it in a different way” sions has been the other digital – digital delivery. And it is surprising Susskind warned that the 2020s would be a crucial decade of re-em- (or not surprising, depending on your view of the profession) how few ployment, of engineers developing systems to replace our own ways people seem to be taking it, and its ramifications, seriously. of working, replacing themselves, in fact. But that leads to an almost Back in June New Civil Engineer’s special report on the Rise of the bigger question: if we are not going to be doing what we are currently Machines highlighted the rising threat – yes, threat – posed to the in- doing, what will we be doing, and what skills do we need to do it? dustry as we know it by machine learning, artificial intelligence and the We already know the skills we are teaching are wrong. Aecom di- automation of the construction process. But seemingly few believed it, rector Peter Ayres was People’s choice winner at the 2017 British or wished to believe it. Construction Industry Awards for the remarkable Halley VI Antarctic Since then we have heard more on this. Mace has warned that 600,000 research station in October. When he spoke to another NCE100 Club he construction jobs could be replaced by technology over the next 20 was clear: “Everything I was taught at university can now be done by years; its report Industry 4.0 made the front page of the Daily Telegraph, a small black box,” he said. The skills he now needs to employ are not but few in the industry are talking about it. Perhaps because the view being taught at uni. He needs coders, gamers, thinkers. of the average professional was that “those are unskilled jobs, surely?” But as Imperial College London chair in systems integration Jennifer But it really is far less about automation of construction and far more White told the Susskind debate, it can be difficult to get “cutting edge” about machine learning. Expedition Engineering director and ICE vice pres- digital skills into the university syllabus. She said she “thought it would ident Ed McCann is on top of this, telling our NCE100 Club last month, quite be a no brainer” but that the reality is anything but. plainly, that “an awful lot of what our people do is going to go.” McCann is currently working on a major skills review for the ICE. It re- McCann is a big advocate of the thinking of Richard Susskind, lawyer ports in April, and could – should – have some fundamental proposals and author of The Future of the Professions, a seminal book that chal- for how to change what we teach future engineers. So forget the Budget lenges the role of humans in professional activities in the future. – the big story in 2018 is skills. As it happens, Susskind spoke at a New Civil Engineer TechFest fringe l Mark Hansford is New Civil Engineer’s editor
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 3 Contents NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
03 Comment, 25 This month's big issue: Analysis & News Elevating Infrastructure
06 Lighthouse: Now is the time of opportunity for civil engineering
08 The Edit: Boston fl ood barrier gets the go-ahead after contract award
09 The Edit: Mersey barrage plan
10 Analysis: Row over She eld tree cutting programme
14 Analysis: Olympic stadium transformation under fi re
16 Interview: Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England chief executive
18 Your View: Brain drain, importing skills, Oroville dam, Stonehenge
101 Institution of Civil Engineers: 200th anniversary book, engineering superheroes, ICE hosts ‘Masterchef’ Chancellor Philip Hammond has put infrastructure investment at the heart of his plans to boost the nation’s wages. We look at how he expects this to be delivered more e ciently and with greater use of technology
26 Overview: The government has 38 Debate: Delivering high speed rail launched a series of industry and skills for new rail projects infrastructure e ciency measures 42 Debate: How technology can 32 Construction sector deal:| boost construction productivity Encouraging the industry to to more research and development 45 Project profi les ICE 200: Invsibile Superheroes campaign
4 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 New Civil Engineer Get news delivered daily Weekly Wrap and analysis delivered weekly with our newsletters. Sign-up at newcivilengineer.com
Story of the week: A technical investigation into bridge collapses in South East Asia 66 Tech 70 Tech CONTRIBUTORS Excellence Excellence
Jess Clark p10 She eld tree felling [email protected] Twitter @jclarkjourno
66 Drones can carry out detailed surveys 70 Machine learning expert Richard of motorways faster than people on Susskind on the future of the civil Kathernine Smale p14 Olympic stadium débâcle the ground, and with less disruption engineering profession [email protected] Twitter @katsmaleNCE 88 World 94 Business View Culture
Fiona McIntyre p38 High speed rail fi [email protected] Twitter @fi onaMcNCE
88 The winning projects and teams from 94 Charlotte Murphy is the overall Emily Ashwell this year’s New Civil Engineer winner of this year’s Graduate of the p26 Elevating infrastructure Tunnelling Awards Year awards [email protected]
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 5 Lighthouse ICE VIEWPOINT Now is the time of opportunity for civil engineering
ecent weeks have funding of £170M to a Construction seen a wave of Sector Deal demonstrates we have We should commitments from been heard. enable the R the government. Our industry now has a great When taken opportunity – an impetus – to ultimate asset together it appears that its desire redefine the future as well. to reform the way infrastructure is So where do we go from here? delivery team and delivered and therefore provide the Ahead of us we have the ultimate necessary projects and plans for a BY ART WE quality-based procurement exercise support each other modern economy is at the highest it MASTER to submit our tender on the future “to be the best has been for nearly a decade. WHAT WOULD industry business model design. The The details coming from the MASTER US question is, how will we change, and Infrastructure & Projects Authority how can the government change to and Department for Transport enable this. qualities. A supply chain of allies – combine with the chancellor’s As an industry we need to co- companies that amass individuals Budget announcements to clearly ordinate our thoughts into a single who specialise in a particular set the stage for something voice and a single movement. If subject – that can build a brand off transformational. we seek a more collaborative, the back of that in the same way Autumn Budget announcements value-based culture between clients as Honda is known for reliability or of £1.7bn for transforming cities and the supply chain we must Rolls Royce for luxury. funding, integrating housing collaborate clearly in designing the In short we should enable the and infrastructure needs; five change programme. This is both ultimate asset delivery team and departments signing up to a our biggest risk and our biggest support each other to be the best, presumption in favour of offsite opportunity. not compete with each other into construction for future projects What will this brave new world mediocrity. and the commitment of intent and look like? The Infrastructure Client It is clear that whatever the Group work programme is the locus finer details of the blueprint, the for this activity. Project 13 provides future of our industry is going to a blueprint for a future alliance be unlocked through collaboration Ahead of us model where we collaborate across not competition. Success in this will suppliers, across sectors and with be underpinned by communication we have the the owners of, and investors in, skills and diversity. Organisations ultimate quality- our infrastructure. This continues already rich in both will transition to be a work in progress and you much more smoothly to the new based procurement still have time to help shape it. model. But it is by working together Join the community to feed in your that we will succeed. exercise to submit our expertise. The government is providing us “tender on the future To succeed, we will need to with a golden opportunity. Through become world class at collaborating cooperation we can grasp it and across organisations. We must value deliver the infrastructure that this industry business and promote each other for our country needs for generations to model design unique personal and professional come.
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06710_RMD_Ascent S Ad_NCE_210x280mm_AW.indd 1 07/11/2017 14:59:16 TRANSPORT MORE CROSSRAIL 2 COULD NEWS BE BUILT IN PHASES The Edit TO MAKE IT MORE ESSENTIAL NEWS & INFORMATION More AFFORDABLE FROM NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM coverage online at Crossrail 2 funding problems could be solved by building the line in stages, newcivil managing director Michèle Dix has engineer.com said. The £31bn underground line will run from south west London to Tottenham Hale in the north east, with regional branches to Broxbourne, Epsom, Shepperton and Chessington. Dix told the New Civil Engineer Tunnelling Summit 2017 that building and opening the line in “chunks” has been considered as a solution, should there be a gap in funding. The options are either phase building, where each section of the line is a separate entity, as with High Speed 2, or staged building, where it is one project that is built in sections. She said: “We have got to make the scheme more affordable…[and consider] whether or not the scheme could be built in chunks, will that make it more affordable?”
Bam and Motts get green light ENERGY KEY STATS GOVERNMENT PUTS to start work on £100M Boston CASH INTO NUCLEAR £31bn POWER RESEARCH flood defence barrier Estimated PROGRAMME cost of Crossrail 2 The government has backed the UK’s FLOODING the specialist gate. The JV was one of nuclear power sector by announcing a The green light for construction of the six initial bidders for the contract. raft of financial packages, including up £100M Boston Barrier has been Environment Agency programme to £56M for research into advanced formally given to a Bam Nuttall and manager Jim Anderson said the three modular reactors (AMRs). The funding Mott MacDonald joint venture (BMM remaining teams offered high quality will support research into AMRs, which JV). Plans for the flood defence bids, but the BMM JV had won on a use advanced design and scheme have been approved by 60% quality, 40% cost evaluation. manufacturing techniques, over the environment secretary Michael Gove “Unusually and due to the sheer next three years. Laing O’Rourke is the and the Treasury. News that BMM JV volume of properties that will be lead civils firm exploring the technology. had won the contract was exclusively protected by the scheme, 100% of the “The UK has the potential to become a revealed at New Civil Engineer’s Flood funding is being provided by the world leader in developing the next Management Forum in November. The government.” generation of nuclear technologies,” said team will carry out the detailed design energy minister Richard Harrington. On 7 and construction of the barrier and December a new Nuclear National Policy the associated works. The race for the Two teams Statement (NPS) consultation was contract narrowed to four bidders launched to identify sites for large-scale, before tender packages went out to dropped single reactor nuclear plants over 1GW to bid. Two teams dropped out because be commissioned between 2026 and 2035. of the project’s complexity. A third out because of the Meanwhile £86M has been pledged for a team dropped out mid-tender when it complexity of the national nuclear fusion platform at the emerged that a limited number of Oxfordshire Culham Centre for Fusion suppliers was capable of providing “project Energy. 8 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 TUNNELS FIRST TIDEWAY TBM ARRIVES The first of six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for London’s Tideway project has been delivered to site by a barge travelling along the river Thames. The 1,350t TBM has made the 850km journey from Kehl in Germany where it underwent testing Tideway, which is building a new 25km long sewer, dubbed London’s super sewer, has pledged to transport over 90% of materials by barge, reducing the number of road journeys during the project by over 300,000.
INFRASTRUCTURE TRANSPORT BUSINESS SCAPE ANNOUNCES LORRY PARK KEY STATS SINGAPORE FIRM PLANS TO PROCURE ALTERNATIVE TO SURBANA JURONG £2BN CIVILS OPERATION STACK £2bn BUYS CONSULTANT FRAMEWORK IS SCRAPPED Value of ROBERT BIRD Scape Scape has published details of its Plans for a lorry park in Kent to framework Australian consultant Robert £2bn civil engineering and counter chaos caused by operation Bird Group has been bought by infrastructure framework, which will Stack on the M20 have been cancelled Singapore urban, industrial and run for four years from October next by the government. The proposed £56M infrastructure consultant Surbana year. The last framework was used to lorry park in Stanford, Kent with Jurong Group. The value of the procure almost 100 major projects capacity for 3,600 vehicles had Funding for acquisition has not yet been across the UK since January 2015. The been approved by the government in research into disclosed, but the deal was expected New Civil Engineer framework has a total lot value of July last year as a permanent small nuclear to be closed as £1.6bn in England, Wales and alternative to Operation Stack, the went to press. Under the deal, Northern Ireland and a £400M lot for emergency system used to queue reactors chairman Robert Bird and other the public sector in Scotland. Scape lorries on the motorway when there is senior leadership executives will Procure managing director Victoria disruption to channel crossings. But remain in their roles and company Brambini said: “Across the United transport secretary Chris Grayling will continue to operate as Robert Kingdom there is a growing need for has confirmed that the plans have Bird. According to sources, the Asian investment in infrastructure that is vital been cancelled. A judicial review consultancy is on an expansion to unlocking long-term regional growth, hearing had been due next month drive, including buying specialist bringing local economies closer concerning environmental impacts of firms. Other firms already in the together and ultimately strengthening the lorry park but the government has group include the Snowy Mountain communities. “Greater connectivity for said it is no longer defending the Engineering Company, Singapore towns, cities and rural areas is vital in review. Another lorry park is now engineering consultant KTP, China- helping them to thrive, and local being developed by Highways based architecture and engineering authorities are rightly ambitious for England and will be consulted on firm Sino-Sun, and Singaporean safety what can be achieved in their areas.” early this year. and security company Aetos.
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 9 Transport Analysis JESS CLARK Sheffield’s tree felling programme in the name of highways maintenance
ngineers are starting to wade into a debate 6,000 sparked by an ongoing E row over the felling Number of of 6,000 trees in trees replaced Sheffield as part of a £2.2bn highways maintenance. during A total of 6,000 trees will be felled – Sheffield and replaced – in Sheffield by the end highways of this year as part of a £2.2bn Streets Ahead PFI deal between the council maintenance and Amey. programme Campaigners complain healthy trees are being chopped down, while the council maintains it is doing £2 .2bn essential work to ensure safety and Value of protect the future of the city’s street trees. Amey’s It is now being argued that several Streets Ahead engineering alternatives to felling are Protestors: Have been attempting to stop tree felling work in Sheffield not funded in the deal and that this programme should be reconsidered. alternatives to felling. The 25-year highway maintenance It is a lose, lose Former Trafford Council highways scheme, which began in 2012, has engineer Peter Townsend told New been dogged by protests and legal for everyone Civil Engineer that a compromise action. would be a win-win solution. “Amey The Streets Ahead contract at the moment and could gain publicity by showing how and subsequent tree replacement well they’re working environmentally programme has been challenged what it needs to be is with the council on a PFI contact,” he in the High Court and the Court of a win, win said. “It is a lose, lose for everyone at Appeal, with the High Court ruling the the moment and what it needs to be is contract to be “lawful and legal” and “ a win, win” he added. the Court of Appeal finding the case But the move has stirred up Currently, trees under threat against the council to have no merit. protests. In June this year 329 out are classified as dangerous, dead, The project involves “transforming” of 427 attempted tree fells were diseased, dying, damaging footpaths the city’s roads in the first five years abandoned as a result of protest or properties or “discriminatory” - and maintaining standards for 20 action and in August the Labour-run for example obstructing wheelchair years. There are 36,000 highway trees council was granted a High Court users – before a decision to fell them to be maintained and each tree that injunction banning anyone from is made. is felled will be replaced with a tree entering a tree “safety zone”. A list of 25 engineering solutions is which is between eight to 10 years Now engineers are suggesting considered alongside felling, but only old, the council said. more should be done to consider 14 of these can be carried out within
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The programme affects less Key facts 1% than 1% of the city’s Percentage trees, and each tree of Sheffield removed will be trees affected “ by felling replaced on a one for work one basis 25 years
the terms of the contract. Length of Sheffield City Council told New Civil Amey’s PFI Engineer that budgetary pressures contract had forced its hand. It said that “huge budget cuts” meant that “careful consideration” had to be given before exploring the Amey: Says tree felling is necessary and that trees are being replaced other 11 options, and documents presented by the council to the High zone” injunction. Court said there was “no money for “We want our city to benefit from There doesn’t unfunded solutions outside of the PFI better roads, pavements and street contract framework”. lighting as well as an increased and seem to be The solutions not funded within sustainable street tree stock that can the PFI contract include: altering line be enjoyed by generations to come,” any coordination markings or carriageway kerb lines; Sheffield City Council cabinet member between a tree footpath deviations; use of geogrids; for environment and street scene use of fill instead of a sealed surface; Bryan Lodge said in a statement last replacement scheme reduction in road widths; conversion month, adding that further breaches of footways into verges; road closures; of the injunction would leave the “ of that sort of nature changes to contract specifications; council with “no other option” but to the creation of new footways or the pursue further court action. and the highways closure of old ones. Amey stressed the benefits being Engineering solutions allowed delivered to Sheffield residents via maintenance within the PFI are: the use of the Streets Ahead Scheme. In a joint thinner profile kerbs; excavation response via the council it stressed programme for root examination; ramping that Streets Ahead was not just about or reprofiling; flexible paving or street trees – “it’s about ensuring we consideration should be shown. “[At surfacing; removal of displaced kerbs have roads, pavements and a street Trafford] we would take out three or and filling in pavement cracks; root scene to be proud of for many years four [trees] out of 20 and do that over pruning; root shaving; installing to come”. a six or eight-year period. root barriers and guidance panels; “It presents us with a unique “Those [replacement] trees were applying tree growth retardant; the opportunity to sustainably manage, decent sized specimens, so they creation of larger tree pits, heavy increase and maintain the city’s were reasonable sized trees by the tree crown reduction or pollarding to diverse street tree stock over a 25 time you’re taking down the last stunt tree growth; and retaining dead, year period,” it said. trees in the road, so that way you’re dying, dangerous and diseased trees “The programme affects less than maintaining the leafy suburb look. for their habitat value. 1% of the city’s trees, and each tree “To me there doesn’t seem to be The council said it was keen to removed will be replaced on a one any coordination between a tree detract attention from the ongoing for one basis.” Amey also added that, replacement scheme of that sort of tree saga that has hit the headlines as part of Streets Ahead it is not just nature and the highways maintenance and which has resulted in one replacing trees, but will also plant 600 programme.” protester handed a suspended additional street trees. l Read a full response from sentence for breaching the “safety But Townsend insisted more Amey in Your View on p18
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Consult our in-house civil engineer Darren Evans 07785 624002 Book a CPD with Dominic Ferguson 07785 623971 Structures Analysis KATHERINE SMALE Boris deal hits taxpayer with Olympic stadium conversion costs
he original cost for retained with a much smaller roof transforming the £323M and seating for 25,000 people. Olympic stadium However, after a series of T in east London Cost of negotiations following the 2012 from games to converting Games, a decision was taken to legacy mode was never properly transform the stadium into a 60,000 scrutinised, leading to a massive Olympic seat football ground. Under the new cost overrun, according to a new stadium design, the “temporary” upper tier report published by London mayor to football was retained and the permanent Sadiq Khan. lower tier demolished and replaced The independent Moore Stephens stadium with retractable seating which could Olympic Stadium Review by forensic be temporarily moved back from the The financial accountant Moore Stephens pitch to accommodate an athletics looked into the spiralling costs £190M track. A new roof, which was larger estimates were of transforming the stadium into Original cost than original, was also included in the home of West Ham United estimate for the new design. incorrect... because football club. The Moore Stephens report says The final cost has been put converting that contracts with West Ham were there were errors in at £323M, which the report Olympic signed before the conversion costs says is significantly higher than were properly understood. their calculation, the “unrealistic” original estimate stadium The annual cost of retracting “ of £190M. to football seats was budgeted at £50,000, compilation and Much of the cost has been stadium which it said was believed to be shouldered by the taxpayer due to far lower than for any comparable presentation a deal done by previous mayor of system in existence. London Boris Johnson and lease The report also says that the Rugby World Cup in 2015. This, it holders West Ham United. retractable seating added around said, added “significant” extra delay The deal meant the taxpayer £20M of costs due to problems with and cost. would own, transform and operate completion of design, component The report says: “It is our opinion the stadium, effectively renting it to manufacture, delivery to site, that the financial estimates were the football club. This left the public management of materials on site, incorrect not because they were with the liability for cost overruns. sequencing of work and assembly estimates, but because there In Games mode, the stadium performance on site. were errors in their calculation, was designed to seat 80,000 with The job of strengthening the compilation and presentation.” a permanent sunken, concrete temporary steelwork to support the Khan said he would taking over lower tier structure and new, larger roof also expanded, with control of the London Stadium to put temporary upper tier and steel the perimeter compression truss it on a “more secure financial footing” truss supporting the roof. joints requiring more work than and was working with post Olympics In legacy mode, it was originally originally envisaged. development body the London proposed that the truss be removed The problem was compounded Legacy Development Corporation along with the upper tier and roof by a deadline to complete the work (LLDC), to put a plan together to and the permanent lower tier in time for the stadium to host the control costs going forward.
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01236 467 000 The voice of the concrete and repair bamritchies.co.uk and refurbishment industry Jim O’Sullivan BY FIONA MCINTYRE New routes to stable procurement
ighways are in Jim forward from planned dates while O’Sullivan’s blood. 16 have been pushed back into RIS2 His father and (2020 to 2025). Six of the schemes H grandfather both have been sent back to the Depart- worked on the roads ment for Transport (DfT) for a new in England and Ireland. But the cost-benefit analysis. Highways England chief executive The reason for altering the sched- did not always see himself following ule is to avoid a glut of roadworks in their footsteps. taking place, partly to minimise “One can argue there is some- disruption for motorists but also
The Interview The thing in the DNA or the destiny that to ensure resources in the supply causes one to work in roads,” says chain are not stretched too thinly. O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan strongly denies poor “But it certainly wasn’t an active planning was to blame for the career plan when I was studying swaps. Instead he says it was a air transport engineering at City That stability is arguably needed feature of his organisation being University.” in this period of Highways England’s transformed from the Highways After a stint in the utilities short history. After becoming Agency to Highways England. industry O’Sullivan rose to become Highways England in 2015, funding “I think people were very nervous British Airways technical director, switched from an annual cycle to a in the first year about changing any- achieving a long-held ambition and five-year programme known as the thing in the five-year RIS, because prompting a rethink about his next Road Investment Strategy (RIS), set the whole approach was to bring move. He says, in a typically under- up to encourage a long-term vision control. stated way, the opportunity to lead for improving Britain’s roads. The “But I think as we’ve got further newly created Highways England in £15bn RIS1, running from 2015 to into it and become more confident, 2015 happened to come along at the 2020, covers more than 100 road we felt it was OK to revisit this, to right time. schemes. see it as a challenge and to change O’Sullivan is a modest man. But in October, 32 of the schemes it,” he says. He describes the “great things” were moved: 10 have been brought “I think if we had tried to change Highways England has achieved it too early, people would have said, but refuses to take credit for them. ‘ah, yet another example of a com- Getting on with the job in uncertain pany that can’t deliver’.” times, it seems, is his top priority. Another big shake-up is in the “I’ve been here two-and-a-half I intend to procurement of Highways England years. I have had two prime minis- be here and work. Most of the work for RIS1 has ters, two secretaries of state, two been procured through the Collab- permanent secretaries and three orative Delivery Framework (CDF), ministers,” he says. bringing stability to a four-lot national framework with a “So, I intend to be here and bring- this organisation for one-size-fits-all approach. ing stability to this organisation for But from next year, Highways quite some time.” “quite some time England is moving towards a more 16 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Stonehenge tunnel: Procured outside the regional investment programme
flexible, programme-based approach ing. More is being done to try to cre- known as Routes to Market. For this, We could ate a better experience for motorists: two procurement streams are being KEY FACTS instead of warning drivers of delays; set up: one is the Regional Investment certainly do effort is being made to put an exact Programme (RIP), which will be used 100 time until the end of the roadworks to procure conventional work, such more on safety, and on the overhead signage. Recently as widening and junction improve- Number we could do more on there have been trials on whether ments across England; another is the of roads the speed limit can be safely pushed Smart Motorways Programme which customer service, for up from 50mph to 60mph through aims to tackle congestion and provide schemes roadworks. better travel information for drivers. covered by “sure “I wouldn’t criticise our suppliers at Procurement of major infrastruc- Highways all, but I do think we could do more. ture projects such as the £4.4bn Low- We could certainly do more on safety, er Thames Crossing and the £1.6bn England’s nuance in procurement. and we could do more on customer A303 Stonehenge Tunnel scheme will Route “We think that [a regional ap- service, for sure,” he says. be run separately. This should make proach] will reduce the imbalance “I think if I was to go back a year, procurement easier, as contracts Investment we saw in RIS1 in terms of some lots historically – not today, because will be tailored to these schemes. By Strategy 1 being over-full and some lots being today people are starting to embrace contrast, the £1.6bn A14 improvement undersubscribed,” says O’Sullivan. this agenda – but if I was to go back scheme was procured through the The switch involves a change in a year I think people would have said CDF model, and it was felt that this £15bn contractor selection criteria. that roadworks are not a nice experi- had not worked as well as it could Value of Those contractors who are working ence and there’s nothing we can do. have. on projects already will find that “I think today people recognise that “It worked, but it was hard work. It Route subsequent work will be awarded there are things that can make the was more work than it should have Investment following a wider assessment of its journey easier for motorists and that been,” says O’Sullivan. Strategy performance than might previously when we do them, people notice.” It is hoped the Routes to Mar- have been expected. Achieving easier journeys also ket approach will also stamp out between 2015 So what criteria will firms be judged means embracing technological accusations of unfairness which and 2020 on? changes. Better use of customer have been thrown at the CDF model. “Well we’re working on that, but journey data means Highways For example, if two £30M schemes it would include a combination of England can offer more accurate were bundled into a £60M scheme it safety, scheme delivery, value added, journey times, and even suggest what changed the tender lot or category efficiency delivered, quality and value time motorists should set off when within which it was placed, barring for money,” says O’Sullivan. the roads are congested so they can smaller firms which might have bid “So it’s more based on value than avoid the worst of the traffic. for a £30M contract from bidding for price, I think is how I would sum- “When I first arrived here two-and- the bigger one. marise it.” a-half years ago, the question I was Changing from a lot-based frame- One thing O’Sullivan will be looking asked is: ‘is Highways England a good work to a more regional approach for from potential partners is a focus idea?’,” he says. “That question has should help address some of those on customer satisfaction, which he long since gone away.” issues, and allow more room for says has not always been forthcom-
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 17 with minor modifications to the tunnel length. Orders could have been produced then and it would have been built and open for the last 10 years by now. Instead, the Department for Transport decided that it was too Your View expensive at about £700M, which was a vastly inflated figure from LETTERS TO THE EDITOR the ECI contractor Balfour Beatty/ AND COMMENTS ONLINE Costain JV in order to cover contingencies. How the cost estimate has now got to £1.6bn is a mystery, but just BUSINESS CULTURE PLANNING goes to show how wrong (low) the IMPORTING VITAL WE NEED A SOUTH cost estimate for High Speed 2 is. Philip Alexander, posted online ENGINEERING SKILLS @ MIDLANDS SCIENCE CITY on article headed “Tunnelling solutions sought as A303 plans Can I express my wholehearted Perhaps the government and reach cash limit”. agreement with the comments local authorities should consider contained in the thoughtful letter setting up “Science City” based on LEARNING FROM FAILURE from George Rosie (Your View, last Harwell, Culham, Milton Park and month). Didcot as a counterweight to Milton A BETTER APPROACH TO There is no doubt that the Read more Keynes and a rival to Silicon Fen in DISASTER RECOVERY
outcome of the Queensferry letters at Cambridgeshire. Crossing is wonderful. However, the www.newcivil The main rail line from London to The report on the Eindhoven procurement leaves me concerned Bristol runs through the site as does Airport car park collapse (New Civil engineer.com and frustrated. the A34 leading from the M40 to Engineer, last month) highlights At school I learnt about the proud the M4 – this could be up-graded to some important technical issues. shipbuilding heritage of the local A34(M). Oxford is a short distance More so, the fact that New Civil Clyde and Forth communities and away, easily reached by road or Engineer was able to publish such a those skills are certainly valid on rail and Oxford Airport could take this project. pressure off Heathrow. Rose is correct to question Such a proposal would boost the whether today, as a nation, we economic case for improved links are capable of delivering such between Oxford and Cambridge. mega projects from our own Using the New Towns Act land manufacturing base. can be bought, very quickly, by I find the economics doubly compulsory purchase order at worrying, given that we are all aware existing use value. that for every pound we spend Better to plan the area properly internally, there is a reasonable (using a New Town Development rebate through taxation. Corporation) than allow developers It is a rich country indeed that to cherry-pick the best bits and externalises significant procurement leave the local authorities to Eindhoven: Rapid reaction packages such as this and there pick up the rest and provide the is no doubt we are repeating the infrastructure. detailed report less than six months process constantly going forward. Roger Ball, posted online on article after the collapse also owes much Is it because there is a dearth headed “East west rail and road to the difference between Dutch of political nouse, is it a fear of projects ‘key to unlocking growth’” business culture and that of the UK. being held to ransom by awkward Several years ago I was industrial relations, or is it the commissioned by insurers to general malaise of a liberal society TRANSPORT investigate the failure of a structure paralysed by the sound bite POPULARITY PLOY on a large site operated by a joint criticism of an often biased press? venture of UK and Dutch companies. Personally I remain convinced our The Editor, There had been no deaths or nation has the skill, but I am very New Civil It’s a wonderful “Yes Minister” ploy injuries but the failure shut down concerned we now no longer hold to announce that you are going a critical process for the whole Engineer, the will. ahead with a really well supported project, resulting in delay costing Telephone Compromise is always our enemy scheme knowing full well that you’re a lot of money. I managed to work and as civil engineers it is our duty House, going to pull the plug down the line out the cause of the failure and then to ensure we help our clients make 69-77 Paul due to “affordability issues”. travelled with the UK managing the difficult choices and understand Street, London, I’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic. director to the Netherlands for a the benefits. EC2A 4NQ Halcrow took the [A303 Stonehenge series of meetings, culminating in Chris Plant Email: nceedit@ tunnel] scheme through a Public a meeting with all relevant parties. [email protected] emap.com Inquiry in 2002 and it was approved When presenting my findings and
18 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 GOOD POINT LOSINGYOUR OURVIEWS AND OPINIONSEXPERTISE
I refer to your Infrastructure Insight report and the “Brexit industry would have been forced to change its unsustainable could worsen skills shortages in construction” article (New practice of under investment in the UK. However, the European Civil Engineer, last month). Union provided a solution: unlimited access to cheap, Over 30 years ago apprenticeships in construction disposable labour. Why invest in supporting and training trades and the numbers of students studying civil people in the UK, if you can get cheap labour from the engineering in the UK were far higher than today. depressed economies of Europe? Spain has 50% youth Contractors believed they had a responsibility unemployment and many qualified engineers will to work with local colleges to provide practice work for peanuts. This is the elephant in the room. training and on the job experience to young So Sir John Armitt is fundamentally wrong people, so that they could be bricklayers, as to what is at the heart of the problem. The carpenters, plumbers and rail workers. But the “self-inflicted skills crisis” will not be caused by new breed of management contractors which the public vote. It will be as a direct result of has grown during the last 30 years pulled their civil engineering companies and authorities in funding and support from apprenticeships. the UK having deliberately avoided investing in a Likewise, in the last 20 years, over half of generation of civil engineers in the UK. They can keep the UK’s universities have stopped teaching civil their heads in the sand, moan and complain about the engineering. Queen Mary University London where changing world, or embrace the more international world I attended (and which had taken over King’s College’s civil opening up for the UK. engineering programme) shut its programme a few years after To be at the top of civil engineering internationally, our I completed my degree. The university explained that it was companies must return to investing in apprenticeships and essentially a commercial company and closure was all about universities. Just look at Sir James Dyson, whose company money. It explained that the civil engineering industry had a is investing £2.5M in mechanical engineering research and reputation for short term profit and was unwilling to invest in launching a new university. If only our industry had such training, or research. visionary leaders. In a world of supply and demand, the civil engineering Stephen Gibson [email protected]
conclusions, I was very conscious on trying to understand the problem interesting dynamic). that directly opposite me was the and working out how to solve it. But the biggest misconception engineer who had designed the Alasdair Beal (F), a.beal@ that must be addressed is the issue structure. When I finished, he asked btinternet.com of dam age and current standards. various questions, took notes and Regardless of age, dams are then sat quietly. When questions assessed against current standards LEARNING FROM FAILURE from others were finished, I asked and guidance. The industry does him if he wanted to ask more OROVILLE’S FLAWS not expect 1950s performance from questions or discuss any points. I a 1950s dam. Periodic reviews, was quite taken aback by his answer: I was very surprised to read the in the case of the United States “No, I understand, your explanation, article on Oroville dam entitled every five years by FERC against it makes sense, it is logical”. (New Civil Engineer, last month). modern standards, legally require When the drawings for the Questions remain. One question implementation. Therefore a 1950s proposed remedial works arrived that should be asked is why was the dam should perform adequately a short time later, it was quickly essential drawdown infrastructure against today’s standards. obvious that the engineer had fully not operating at the time of the Other questions remain on understood the problem, worked out flood? And why was the “power the operation, maintenance and an ingenious and practical solution station referred to in the diagram engineering of the compound – and the site was back in operation diasabled? Operation of these would structures. Why, for example, did soon afterwards. have greatly alleviated or indeed the auxiliary spillway have an earth The UK MD of the project and I removed the problem of elevated (and therefore erodible) chute both found the difference between reservoir water levels. crossed by a main access road? All that Dutch meeting and typical UK There was also no mention in the of which was destroyed. practice quite shocking. If something article of regulatory oversight and Ian Hope (F) Supervising engineer goes wrong, instead of arguing about the role of the two regulators: FERC – Reservoirs Act 1975 past chair who should be blamed and held and California State (which is also British Dam Society dalihavidson@ liable, the Dutch focus their attention the owner which in itself creates an hotmail.co.uk
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 19 HIGHWAYS TACKLING THE TREES TRANSPORT VIEW While most Sheffield residents are supportive of the tree replacement programme (only 7% raised any objection in a recent survey), it is clear that a small, vocal minority remain opposed. What most people agree about, SECURING THE however, is that since starting work in 2012, Streets Ahead, the 25 year highways upgrade and maintenance contract between Amey and Sheffield City Council, has seen huge DIGITAL RAILWAY investment in the city’s roads and pavements, with 1,100km of highway and 2,300km of footway resurfaced, more than 64,600 new LED street lights installed and more than 3,200 gullies replaced. Replacing street trees is part of The growth in the core section. The new Westrace Trackside this programme. We only replace demand on the System, which was required to achieve this target, a street tree if it is dead, dying, UK’s railways is was developed specifically for Thameslink and diseased, dangerous, damaging, or remarkable, with the designed as an IP network-based solution. discriminatory (creating difficulty growth rate showing Our engineers drew from the experience of for elderly, disabled and partially no signs of slowing. To the aerospace and defence sectors to develop sighted people to use the footway). Mark keep pace with this, safe, reliable, robust and secure IP networks. By The council only decides to replace Ferrer we have to develop introducing these networks, the amount and trees as a last resort in order to ways of unlocking speed of data flowing through has increased uphold its duty to ensure the safety more capacity within significantly, enabling much more detailed and of Sheffield people. A High Court the confines and constraints of our existing rail meaningful analysis to take place. Developed and judge agreed it was the council’s infrastructure; building new railways is simply not delivered entirely within the UK, the creation, right to do this. a viable economic option across the network. testing, proving, installation and commissioning of Prior to Streets Ahead, street The digital railway concept is critically important this technology is a great example of partnership- trees had not been actively to unlocking capacity, with the deployment of working with Network Rail. IP-based solutions managed. Many were removed and the European Train Control System and traffic are becoming much more prevalent in signalling never replaced. Such a policy is no management systems essential components systems as we migrate to a more digitalised way to guarantee the continued in achieving this. However, it is important to railway, with the technology meeting many of the health and vitality of an urban tree remember that to deliver this much-needed extra requirements of the digital railway programme. population which is rightly prized. capacity, we not only have to safely and efficiently Running safety critical infrastructure We share people’s pride in move trains around, but also become much better systems over a network means cybersecurity Sheffield’s population of 4M trees. at moving people, making sure they are in the right is of paramount importance and our IP solution In total, around 36,000 are on the place at the right time to optimise the utilisation of meets the requirements of BS EN 50159:2010, street, and of these around 6,000 will the transport network. which covers the security requirements for have been replaced during the last To achieve these things, we need to improve communications between safety-related five years. the collection, analysis and use of the mass of data equipment and transmission systems. The work we are doing now will that is created – and for that to happen effectively, Now the network infrastructure is proven, see a new generation of young trees we need better communications networks. As little attention turns to how best to collate and analyse maturing as part of a thriving green as five years ago, it was quite rare for a signalling the data, in collaboration with all the other systems streetscape for our children, their company to talk about internet protocol (IP) that combine to make an operational railway, to children and their grandchildren to networks, but now they are a major consideration deliver better, more efficient and more frequent enjoy. on every project, with the signalling design for the journey options for passengers and freight. James Haluch, managing director Thameslink Programme one of the major drivers ● Mark Ferrer is operations director, digital for Highways, Amey. for the introduction of IP network technology. railway, Siemens Rail Automation [email protected] Quite simply, without the introduction of this Editor’s note: This letter is technology, it would not have been possible responding to an online version of to meet the performance requirements for an article that was published on 21 Thameslink; that is to deliver a reliable, 24 trains November. A print version can be per hour service in each direction through read on page 12.
20 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 0 0.5 122.5 m N
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ivil engineers have for 310/A Package 3” is pushing our luck centuries been at the too far. heart of social and We have to talk about the issues economic progress and that people are worried about. In the helped improve the UK, most people are worried about world in which we live. housing, good schools, and how they The ICE’s 200th anniversary is the will be looked after in the future. In Cperfect time to demonstrate to people Nick Baveystock Africa, jobs, safe water and energy are just what civil engineering brings to is the ICE’s often the main topics. In Hong Kong, society. Director General it is accommodation and congestion. We all know that the general public We must use ICE 200 to seize the does not really understand the public imagination by offering magnitude of what civil engineers solutions to the problems that they do. People, across the world, expect face, not just talk to ourselves about their mobile phones to work, that how wonderful we are. Clarity and aircraft will land safely on runways and that turning a switch will produce electricity. We are in many ways the victims of our own success. We must use Much of the problem is that we speak in a language that the ICE 200 public does not understand, about issues they do not recognise, and to seize the public with a reticence that means we are rarely heard. I attended a hugely imagination by ICE 200 is all successful awards dinner last month, about telling the with fantastic projects, deservedly offering solutions world about the recognised as world-beating. But “ work civil engineers to the problems that expecting the public to be enthused do about something called “Project they face
22 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 simplicity is all. So ICE 200 tries to explain why we All you need to do the things we do, rather than how do to take part we do them. The key to success is convincing the general public that infrastructure is not an abstract in Café 200 is to speak concept, but something that benefits to the public about it every day. ICE 200 gives us a megaphone to your civil engineering shout loudly about civil engineering on a global scale – to inform, to “ experiences educate and to inspire. We have 96,000 members across the world. If we cannot harness that power, we are tea or a coffee. We want to harness missing a trick. that network. Everyone can play a part: Café 200 is a programme of individuals, companies, academia, engineering talks to clubs and think tanks, the retired and the yet coffee morning groups that aims to to qualify. ICE 200 wants to achieve widen our exposure to the public – three things: we want to demonstrate particularly parents and carers – and that civil engineers directly transform society as a whole. The Institution the public’s lives; that civil engineers was founded in one of London’s many safeguard the future of our families; coffee houses, which in the 1800s and that civil engineering is a creative, were a hotbed for exchanging ideas rewarding and fun career for anyone. and debating possibilities. We are We have designed a series of going back to our coffee house roots activities to engage with the public. by holding these talks with existing These are: Pitch 200, Café 200, public groups and revivifying the Explore Engineering and the Invisible exchange of ideas that kept engineers Superheroes exhibition. Everyone at the forefront of innovation and the can be engaged. All we need to Industrial Revolution. do is to tell the public just what This project runs throughout the engineering delivers for them. You do year and all you need to do to take not need to wait for some mythical part in Café 200 is to speak to the ICE “permission to proceed”; let us public about your civil engineering take the initiative in the same way experiences, the projects you have that Telford, Brunel and Arup would worked on (or are working on) and have done, and get out and tell our how we help change people’s lives. own stories. And they are global Regional teams are drawing up a programmes; all of us can take part. programme of public meetings. As sessions become available, we will be PITCH 200 in touch with our pool of volunteers This is a competition. Anyone can to fill the slots. But do not wait to be enter. But we particularly want young asked and if you see an opportunity engineers with a passion for civil in your area then grab it. Further engineering to take up the mantle of details and support can be found at demystifying complex engineering www.ice.org.uk/news-and-insight/ concepts. Applicants will be given latest-ice-news/cafe-200-needs- 200 seconds to explain, to a novice engineers-explain-civil-engineering or audience, their chosen subject in contact [email protected]. as quirky and engaging a way as possible. To enter, contact Suzanne. EXPLORE ENGINEERING [email protected]. Your regional Civil engineers, arguably more teams are still taking applications and than any other profession, have a look forward to hearing from anyone direct impact on the world around who may want to be involved. us that stands the test of time. The Trans-Siberian Express, the Millau CAFÉ 200 Viaduct, and Telford’s Menai Bridge Every day in towns throughout the all provide a testament to engineering world, groups of people meet to excellence. Explore Engineering is a discuss what interests them over a great way for people to find out about
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 23 ICE 200 Call To Action
Civil engineers, arguably more than any other profession, have a “direct impact on the world around us that stands the test of time
the built environment in their area and discover how civil engineers shape the world – and who better to explain this than ICE members? So we need people to put together organised tours and self-guided trails aimed at inspiring young people and parents to consider civil engineering as a career and shout about how civil engineers transform lives for the better. The programme will mix current projects with the rich heritage of infrastructure. There will be a mix of online content, physical “guided” tours and leaflets that show how civil engineering is changing our environment and improving lives by providing water, building roads and bridges, supplying energy, treating waste and all of the other ways The ICE wants comic book superheroes theme civil engineers transform lives and engineers to give will help inspire the next generation safeguard the future. If you want to be guided tours of engineers and the ICE is calling involved or you have a brilliant idea of inspiring on its members to share the crucial then contact darrell.matthews@ice. infrastructure role they play. If you would like to org.uk. projects support the Invisible Superheroes exhibition please contact simon. INVISIBLE SUPERHEROES [email protected]. We want to use our global ICE 200 is a fantastic opportunity headquarters in One Great George for everyone. We can all get involved. Street to show the world how Do not look to Great George Street for engineers transform lives. To do approval. this we have launched a year-long This is a time for pop-ups and exhibition to celebrate the heroic innovation. Let us, all of us, use 2018 endeavours that engineers undertake to really tell the public how engineers for society. The exhibition shows transform lives. If every single one of how engineers around the world us persuaded just one brilliant young have improved people’s lives and girl or boy to be a civil engineer, think introduces the unsung heroes behind what a stunning legacy we will offer their work. the world as a result of our 200th Using state-of-the-art technology, Anniversary. from augmented reality to virtual If you want to find out what is tours, the exhibition will bring to happening in your area, or share your life projects that span the globe and efforts please use the social media demonstrate the full range of civil hashtag #ICE200. engineering’s reach and effect. The Make it so!
24 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 THE BIG ISSUE Elevating Infrastructure
PUTTING INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE HEART OF GROWTH POLICY PAGE 2 CONSTRUCTION S PRODUCTIVITY DEAL PAGE 2 ADDRESSING HIGH SPEED RAIL S ILL SHORTAGES PAGE DRIVING DIGITAL TRANSFOR ATION PAGE 2 INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY CASE STUDIES PAGE
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 25 LOOKING FOR RESULTS WHY EFFICIENT, CLEAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOW AT THE HEART OF GOVERNMENT POLICY BY EMILY ASHWELL
Elevating drive to improve productivity, in part through infrastructure – revealing a Infrastructure KEY STATS firm policy commitment to investment and an acknowledgement of its importance in the wider economy. he 2017 Autumn 300,000 Hammond’s Budget speech Budget kicked off a Government’s revealed that the Office of Budget series of government Responsibility had downgraded announcements outlining annual Britain’s forecast 2017 gross domestic the policy backdrop which housing product (GDP) by 0.5% . It now will part-define if, and output target expects the economy to grow 1.5% in when, some major projects go-ahead, 2017, 1.4% in 2018, 1.3% in 2019 and Twhether they get funding and how 2020. they will be built. 1.5% Hammond made a clear link For those developing, designing between increasing productivity and and building the projects, it spells out Forecast GDP the work civil engineers do, through what the public sector, as a client, growth for investment in infrastructure. Better wants to see engineers deliver. 2017 infrastructure enables a more mobile The policies coming out workforce, a transport system that is of the Budget, the Industrial better for business and skilled jobs for Strategy, the Department for those people actually delivering the Transport’s (DfT’s) Transport infrastructure. and Infrastructure Efficiency Strategy and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s (IPA) policy paper Transforming Infrastructure I loved the early Performance are all aligned in the outcomes they want to achieve, and recognition that how they want them to be achieved. The first sign of real change in the the world is on the way the government, and its arm’s length bodies such as HS2 Ltd and cusp of a technology Highways England, intend to work was in chancellor Philip Hammond’s revolution and the UK Budget in November. “ needs to put itself at It revealed a sober economic forecast and outlined a government the front of that
26 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Better infrastructure also goes Tunnel get off the ground and hand in hand with the government’s Network Rail will also have to bid for The govern- ambition to build 300,000 houses each funding for new major enhancements year. A clear example of this is the outside the next financial control ment will use chancellor’s Budget commitment that period. Getting public sector decision the East to West road and rail schemes makers onside will be crucial. its purchasing power along the Oxford and Cambridge So, what does public bodies now corridor will support house building. want to see from the civil engineers to drive adoption of “The key to raising the wages of looking to plan and deliver new British workers is raising investment infrastructure projects? – public and private. And we are Some of the biggest civil modern construction investing in Britain’s future: half a engineering contracts ever awarded “ trillion pounds since 2010,” he said. have come out of government bodies methods, such as “The biggest rail programme since this year, spearheaded by the £6.6bn Victorian times. The largest road awarded by HS2 Ltd for HS2’s civils offsite manufacturing building programme since the 1970s. work. There is a lot more to come The biggest increase in science and with the publication of the £600bn innovation funding in four decades. infrastructure pipeline, but what are And the two largest infrastructure the factors driving whether the green projects in Europe – Crossrail and light is given to a project? High Speed 2 (HS2),” he said. The government not only wants “When I took this job I committed transport to help improve the to make the battle to raise Britain’s country’s productivity. It wants productivity. And thus the nation’s projects themselves to be more pay. The central mission of the productive. Treasury.” The DfT’s Transport Infrastructure With Hammond spelling out how Efficiency Strategy says investment important infrastructure is to the decisions will be made on whole life future of the country’s economy, how costs and wider benefits such as is the government policy changing building skills and capacity in the as a result of the infrastructure supply chain, innovation, regional re- initiatives? balancing and clean growth. The upshot of the recently reported Speaking at the strategy’s launch overspending and under delivery at at the ICE in December, transport Highways England and Network Rail, secretary Chris Grayling said: is that now major new road and rail “Projects have to have a skills and projects have to come to the table technology footprint.” better planned and in some cases with The public sector is trying to private funding. become a better client by improving Aligning project delivery to its procurement through better cost government policy will play an estimating, using data from similar important part in getting new projects projects to benchmark what success the green light. And there is a huge means, and ensuring projects are number of projects the public and better set up with clear objectives and private sectors would like to see get defined delivery structures. the green light. It wants to end the days of late Highways England, for example, is and over budget projects. From the hoping to get around 30 development supply chain it wants to see much consent orders pushed through by the better collaboration so the project is end of RIS1. got right from the start. By working Major infrastructure projects such with its contractors and suppliers, as the Lower Thames Crossing will the government wants to see the have to bid for funding outside the supply chain maximise innovation and existing procurement frameworks. productivity. Transport for London wants to see A drive towards modern key projects such as the Silvertown construction methods, in particular offsite construction, is one of the policies to come out of the Budget, and this is likely to have the biggest impact on the civil engineering sector The supply and project delivery. The policy is that the government chain is quite will use its purchasing power to drive adoption of modern immature and there construction methods, such as isn’t currently enough offsite manufacturing. Government departments, including the DfT, will “offsite construction adopt a “presumption in favour of JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 27 Elevating Infrastructure Introduction
The government has put an AUTUMN 2017 NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE increasing emphasis PIPELINE: WHAT’S IN IT? on air quality through The government has 694 projects in total the decision to underlined its commitment including: “ to infrastructure spending 241 transport projects commit £220M to a with the publication of 108 energy projects Clean Air Fund the latest version of the 97 utilities projects National Infrastructure 29 flood defence projects pipeline. The size of the programme is why ministers PER CAPITA SPEND offsite construction by 2019 across are keen to improve Public and private per capita suitable capital programmes, where construction productivity. spend 2017/18 to 2020/21 it represents best value for money.” Here are some highlights Highest: London at £4,033 This presumption will extend to the Lowest: Yorkshire & DfT’s arm’s length bodies such as £600bn investment of Humberside at £2,962 Highways England, Network Rail and public and private money HS2 Limited. over next 10 years So, expect to see more successful contract winners whose supply chains £240bn of pipeline can deliver innovations such as investment to be delivered Ramboll’s automated gantry design, by 2021, of which £75bn is Source: National which enables the structures to be for transport Infrastructure Pipeline fully fabricated and fitted out offsite, and put insitu in a matter of minutes. The government’s drive to use its purchasing power to increase use of the most modern construction methods is also laid out in the sister policies to the Budget from the DfT and IPA and the Industrial Strategy. The move is welcomed by the industry, with some saying the announcement will drive an increase in scale and pace of offsite construction. The benefits of offsite can be huge, potentially cutting years off projects, and building elements faster, greener and of higher quality. However, engineers say the supply chain will now need to catch up with the policy. “The supply chain is quite immature “Because we will harness this broadband. It also includes a and there isn’t currently enough potential and turn it into the high £400M driverless vehicle charging offsite. There has to be investment paid, high productivity jobs of KEY STATS infrastructure research and by private firms setting up their tomorrow,” said Hammond in his development fund; plus £40M for own factories. A lot of companies speech. £400M research and development into in the architecture and engineering This translates into an increase in vehicle battery charging. consultancies are ready to do it, funding for the National Productivity New fund There were also announcements the supply chain just needs to be Investment Fund (NPIF) from £23bn for driverless about 5G, tax breaks for research and developed,” says Arcadis head of to £31bn and extending it into development and improving STEM modular James Totton. 2022/23. This money will be spent on infrastructure teaching in school to help combat Another of the Budget’s main policy a combination of these technology R&D skills’ shortages. agendas is to put Britain at forefront initiatives and also on infrastructure. KPMG partner and UK sector of tech and digital industries such as The Fund includes £500M for head for infrastructure, building Artificial Intelligence (AI), immersive a range of initiatives from AI to and construction Richard Threlfall technology and driverless cars. 5G mobile networks and full fibre says the tone of the Budget from
28 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Air quality is behind quite a lot of the delays that are going “on generally Pennine route. We know from the Budget that the government has an increasing emphasis on air quality through the decision to commit £220M to the Clean Air Fund. With the Heathrow Airport expansion plans and the Silvertown Tunnel project still in consultation over air quality concerns, air quality and the impact on it from project builds and usage is an issue civil engineers need to address. The National Air Quality Plan launched in July requires local authorities in England to draw up plans to improve air quality, and this is where engineers designing and building schemes will need to factor in emission levels. The plans are likely to also contain further transport design work, for example they might require road layouts at congestion and air pollution pinch points to be changed or projects to drive an increase in public transport use. In this Budget, the Clean Air Fund, paid for by an increase on Vehicle Excise Duty on new diesel cars, is to help support businesses and individuals adapt to measures to reduce pollution. These pollution-reducing measures are being consulted on, but could an infrastructure point of view was This will be spent on driving forward be areas such as diesel scrappage “really positive”. KEY STAT projects including £243M for Greater schemes or schemes to drive people “Right from the outset, the Manchester which will, in part, help to use cleaner transport methods, chancellor reaffirmed the belief that develop its own industrial strategy. such as cycling or public transport. investment in infrastructure was £40M For the Midlands Engine, £270M “Air quality is behind quite a critical for the country’s future,” he is for intra-city transport priorities. lot of the delays that are going on says. “I loved the early recognition Government In the Midlands some of the money generally,” said BDB Law partner that the world is on the cusp of a money for will be spent on a new extension Angus Walker, talking about major technology revolution and the UK vehicle to the Midland Metro Alliance projects. needs to put itself at the front of that (MMA). Money will also include He cited bodies such as Client Earth and clearly lots of that does relate to battery £300M to ensure HS2 infrastructure and its challenge of the government’s our world of infrastructure.” charging can accommodate future Northern National Air Quality Plan, as well as The main infrastructure Powerhouse and Midlands Engine rail possible challenges ahead to the announcement from the NPIF was research improvements and £30M to explore Airports National Policy Statement on the £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund. digital connectivity on the trans- Heathrow.
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 29 Elevating Infrastructure Introduction
As civil FLOODING VIEW engineering faces a new year, the policy landscape within “which it operates ADDING VALUE becomes ever more complex but relevant WITH SUDS On the issue of clean energy, a side Budget document called Control for Low Carbon Levies, confirms the government’s short term shift away from subsidising new low We have been really that same dishwasher there is no standardised carbon energy schemes until 2025, busy asking the certificate for water consumption. Perhaps in the Commitments such as Hinckley Point industry about the future, we will see water performance certificates C nuclear power station will continue. future of drainage based on water consumers in the house and also This document says there will and recently hosted the sustainability of the drainage. But even then I be a halt to the introduction of new a debate at the doubt that house A will be worth more than house low-carbon levies until 2025. This ICE asking: “Do B. Most of us buy our homes on an emotional effectively means the government will Martin SuDS add value to level… I do not know anybody who has decided not subsidise any new clean energy Lambley developments?”. We not to buy a house because it has a poor energy projects before 2025. have been discussing rating or pay more, because it has a good one. It does not mean that agreements SuDS for around 20 Of course, value is not just about how much for projects cannot be signed before years and it has long our house is worth, it is the unmeasurable quality then or that construction can’t begin, been considered to be the future of drainage, of what we like about where we live. It is here it means that projects won’t be a return to stormwater being managed more that SuDS adds value, right now, today, not in commissioned before 2025. in keeping with how nature works, rather than the financial value of the property but in what it This, the government said, was to collecting it into a pipe and moving it downstream makes us feel about it… I suggest it is bigger than protect consumers from the costs as to be somebody else’s problem. Respondents on just individual developments, true sustainable there is already enough money spent our future of drainage website certainly seem to drainage, properly integrated into developments on the levies such as the deal for agree with many submissions suggesting wider as part of clear planning strategy adds value to Hinckley Point C, which has come in integration of SuDS and the implementation of society. By reducing the risk of flooding, we make for recent criticism from the Public legislation to drive it. communities safer. By improving water quality we Accounts Committee for not being in It is part of the SuDS community’s ambitions that can create a sustainable, reusable resource that consumers’ interests. integrated SuDS would become a selling feature benefits the community while removing demand New Civil Engineer understands for a development. A house on a development on other resources. And by creating biodiversity that there is a hope within the sector with SuDS would somehow be worth more than and amenity within the community we create nicer that Swansea’s tidal lagoon could be an equivalent house on an adjacent development places to live, to work, to play, to bring our children subsidised via another government without SuDS. I am not sure currently this would up in. Who could argue that is not adding value. funding mechanism. happen and part of the reason is that water is There is still time to submit your thoughts on As the civil engineering faces a undervalued… we turn the taps on and water the future of drainage at www.futureofdrainage. new year, the policy landscape within comes out, it goes down the plug and disappears, co.uk. There is an iPad Pro for the best two entries. which they operate becomes ever we flush our toilets and it has gone. When the rain ● Martin Lambley is Wavin’s product manager, more complex but relevant. falls, so long as it does not come in through the storm water However, as the Budget and roof and the gutters are not blocked, most people associated strategies put the do not even think about what has happened to it. emphasis on better productivity Compare this with energy. Energy Performance and project delivery, there are still Certificates are everywhere when a house is many who would like to see the same sold or when we buy electrical appliances. Smart applied to the Westminster decision meters allowing energy monitoring are increasingly making process, ending the long wait commonplace. Buy a dishwasher and there to put spades in the ground for some is a standard format energy certificate, yet on major projects. N
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siemens.com/wincc-open-architecture The government has highlighted the construction sector as one primed to drive PUSHING “economic growth FOR VALUE IMPROVING CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY IS KEY TO FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH BY FIONA MCINTYRE
artificial intelligence development Elevating l the need to make the UK a leader in Infrastructure KEY FACTS clean growth l the need to meet challenges associated with future mobility oosting the UK’s faltering £725M through the development of new productivity was the key Value of new transport modes such as electric and focus of last November’s Industrial autonomous vehicles Budget, and that drive has l the UK’s ageing population. been further emphasised Strategy A watchdog called the Independent in the Industrial Strategy, Challenge Industrial Strategy Council will which was published soon after the be set up in 2018 to monitor the Fund BBudget. This puts construction very government’s progress on tackling much centre stage through a £420M these four challenges. pot to drive reforms in the way £250M Support for the strategy comes the industry procures and delivers in the form of a £725M investment projects. Expected boost to the Industrial Strategy The strategy, published in construction Challenge Fund over three years. The November in the form of a White Department for Business, Energy, and Paper, sets out how the government industry Industrial Strategy (BEIS) hopes this will imorove the nation’s productivity contribution will help the UK become “the world’s by investing in skills, infrastructure to most innovative nation by 2030”. It and future technologies. It builds is in addition to the £1bn investment on ideas set out in a Green Paper in construction announced earlier this year. January 2017. sector deal “The way we earn and live our The Industrial Strategy was lives as workers, citizens and published came alongside consumers is being transformed by gloomy news from the Office for new technologies,” said business Budget Responsibility, which has secretary Greg Clark, at the stratgy downgraded Britain’s growth launch. The UK is well placed to forecasts for each year until 2022. benefit from this new industrial The strategy aims to tackle that revolution and we start from a and four major challenges are position of significant strength.” identified. The UK must confront “The Industrial Strategy is an these to stay ahead in the coming unashamedly ambitious vision for the years. They are: future of our country, laying out how l the need to make the UK a leader in we tackle our productivity challenge,
32 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 earn our way in the future, and improve living standards across the We could see country.” our roads, rail, One of the first recipients of the Challenge Fund will be the and utilities acting as construction industry. It will receive £170M after the industry, through a springboard for a the Construction Leadership Council agreed to add £250M of resurgent economy its own money to the government cash in a Sector Deal (see box). “ Despite the announcement, there materials. is still some uncertainty about the Wolstenholme insists the industry industry’s £250M contribution. A will unite to rise to the challenge. CLC spokesman confirmed that “Securing this deal is a reflection exact details of how the industry’s of how well the sector has come contribution will be put together have together over the last year – and still to be worked out. spoken with one voice about where Nevertheless, ministers were it wants to go, and what it needs to keen to extoll the new agreement’s do to get there,” he says. “This deal ambition. is also a reflection of the vital role we “The agreement embodies our have to play in delivering the UK’s vision for a modern Industrial infrastructure and housing ambitions Strategy, with government and – and of government’s commitment to industry working together in a working with us to deliver on them. strategic partnership towards the A separate paper setting out the full common goal of higher productivity, details of the deal will be published and a more skilled construction in the coming weeks, an initial workforce with more earning power,” statement sets out three key areas of said Clark. focus: procuring best on whole life Sector deals, which combine value, driving innovation and building government and private sector skills for the future (see box). SECTOR DEAL: investment, have also been reached Most industry experts have TWO INITIATIVES with the artificial intelligence, welcomed the deal. ICE director automotive and life sciences general Nick Baveystock says the industries. ICE has been “supportive of a CENTRE FOR models, sensing Plans for the construction sector construction sector deal for some DIGITAL BUILT technology and secure deal were revealed in the summer time”. BRITAIN data and information and have been driven through by “This Industrial Strategy provides PROGRAMME infrastructure. Crossrail chief executive and CLC the will and the direction for our The government has chairman Andrew Wolstenholme, industry to attempt to unlock the announced the launch BUILDING who says he is “delighted” that productivity problems that face the of the Centre for Digital FOR 2050 construction is included within the country,” he explains. “Now that Built Britain at the The government is also first wave of sector deals. the Industrial Strategy has been University of Cambridge. investing £1.4M in a It will focus on modernising published we can work towards The new centre, which research project called construction practices through new improving productivity with forms part of the Industrial “Building for 2050”. Led digital and manufacturing techniques, employment better distributed across Strategy Challenge Fund by Aecom, this project and a boost to the number of skilled the UK, kick start growth across the investment, will develop is gathering evidence workers through a £64M investment country through better infrastructure, Building Information from three housing for construction skills training. enable transport links and improve Modelling (BIM), sensors, developments located Clark said the deal’s four main provision of public services.” data analytics and smart in Swansea, Bristol and objectives build on goals previously Civil Engineering Contractors systems technologies that Manchester with the aim set out in the government’s Association (Ceca) director of can be embedded in new of uncovering the barriers Construction 2025 industrial strategy external affairs Marie-Claude building projects. to developing low cost, low for construction policy paper. Hemming was encouraged that the The Centre for Digital carbon housing. The four main objectives now are: government has highlighted the Built Britain Programme, The project will test l Achieve a 33% reduction in the construction sector as one “primed first announced in the innovative methods of costs of construction and whole-life to drive economic growth” and 2016 budget, is intended construction and will costs of assets. also welcomed the steps towards to deliver reduced whole- involve working closely l To halve the time it takes for improving innovation and skills. life costs and carbon with householders to refurbishments and new build “We believe the UK economy emissions from buildings, track their views, and to projects to be completed. will grow if we take steps to boost and improve construction report on the progress l To reach a 50% reduction in productivity and drive innovation,” productivity and capacity of efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in the built she says. “We must also work to by using intelligent environmental impact of environment. ensure that the current workforce in building information UK homes by 2050. l To secure a 50% drop in the trade the infrastructure sector is upskilled, gap between total exports and and sufficient new entrants are imports of construction products and attracted to the industry, to deliver
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 33 Elevating Infrastructure Construction Sector Deal
Government must work with WHAT IS THE SECTOR DEAL PLAN? industry to ensure the challenges facing our “The sector will aim to develop a “sector are addressed procurement standard” the government’s planned pipeline of investment.” Turner & Townsend head of The deal contains commitments to work manufacturing, materials and energy sectors to infrastructure south and UK collaboratively in three key areas. develop and commercialise digital and offsite commercial services David Whysall manufacturing technologies. said the sector deal was a major PROCURING FOR VALUE This will accelerate change in the milestone. He says that being part In the months ahead, the construction sector and infrastructure and construction sector, of the first tranche of sector deals the government will work to ensure construction ensuring new technologies that can help shows the government recognises the projects across the public and private sectors deliver the government’s planned investments huge contribution the construction are procured and built, with consideration given in infrastructure and the government’s 2015 industry makes to the economy, and to their whole life value, rather than just initial commitment to deliver 1M homes by the end of the major challenges it faces. capital cost. The sector will aim to develop 2020 and 500,000 more by the end of 2022. Whysall says the industry has a procurement standard and work with the struggled to reinvent itself and Infrastructure & Projects Authority to develop SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE improve performance because of its cost and performance benchmarks for assets and The construction sector, with support from the “fragmented supply chains, coupled contractors. They will also monitor outcomes government, will work closely to drive increased with its highly cyclical nature and low including increased housing capacity, productivity investment in skills development, while adopting margins”. He sees the new deal as a and pre-manufactured value. a more strategic and coordinated approach to call to action for the whole industry, recruitment, while equipping workers with the setting a clear agenda for change. INDUSTRY-LED INNOVATION skills that they will need for the future. This The idea for the new Industrial There is a joint government/industry will be achieved through a joint commitment to Strategy was announced five months commitment to invest in a programme to bring reform to the Construction Industry Training after the referendum on whether together the construction, digital technology, Board to make it more strategic and industry-led. Britain should stay in the European Union (EU). At the time, prime minister Theresa May said the result of the referendum Collaborative gave a “once-in-a-generation chance approach is expected to shape a new future for our nation: to lead to more the chance to build a stronger, fairer efficient projects country”. Many now see this new approach as a way to try and smooth the transition as Britain leaves the EU. “Government must work with industry to ensure the challenges facing our sector are addressed,” stresses Hemming. “Get it right and we could see our roads, rail, and utilities acting as a springboard for a resurgent economy, which will secure the economic health of UK plc after we leave the European Union.” The civil engineering has broadly welcomed the strategy since its launch, but many experts are saying that the government now has to follow through on its promises and make sure actions do not contradict each other. N
34 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 All together now
Infrastructure is crucial in fostering social inclusion. For the A47 trunk road upgrade, our economic modelling tool, TEAM, analysed the social implications and identified the creation of 9600 additional jobs, 3200 new houses and £500M investment into local businesses. Now that’s what you call inclusive infrastructure.
Opening opportunities with connected thinking. mottmac.com Old
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D T E A FAST FOWARD TO THE FUTURE HIGH SPEED RAIL DE ATE BY FIONA MCINTYRE
THE BACKGROUND
100,000 By 2020 In 2015 extra workers between 25% the high speed will be needed and 30% of rail workforce by the end of the traction, numbered this decade rolling stock and 2,150. Due to to cope with electrifi cation HS2, by 2020 a surge in workforce will the workforce demand from have left the will need to engineering and sector. Around reach 30,100. construction 20% of the projects. workforce in rail is older than 55. READ MORE DEBATES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/NCE-LIVE
ritain has been losing out on College for High Speed Rail opened its high speed rail technology. doors to the first cohort of students across If people can’t Countries such as Japan, France two campuses, one in Doncaster and one and Spain, have become known in Birmingham. Allied with High Speed 2 be excited about for an expertise in high speed Ltd, the college is aiming to train the next rail projects while the UK has to generation of highly skilled technicians to being part of this amazing some extent slipped behind. work on the mega-project. industry…maybe we’re BBut High Speed 2 (HS2), the proposed National College of High Speed Rail chief rail link running from London to the executive Claire Mowbray explains how the focusing on the wrong bit Midlands and the North, offers the UK an college offers apprentices something new, unprecedented opportunity to develop its with topics covering rolling stock, track, “ of it own high speed rail expertise and to market technical and civils expertise. it worldwide. “I think the really positive thing that we’ve other institutions pitch to a younger There is just one problem: Britain is seen is that young people are interested, audience. facing a skills shortage in construction and they are excited about High Speed 2 and University Technical Colleges (UTCs) engineering, and with several other major what that’s going to mean,” she says. teach pupils aged 14 to 19. Unlike standard projects on the horizon, such as Hinkely Popular BBC programme “The One Show” schools, UTCs are allied to a local employer Point C or Crossrail 2, there will be strong featured the college during its first open and a university partner, and offer practical competition for skilled workers over the week. Mowbray recounts how the crew was experience students can use in the coming decades. fascinated by the technology being used workplace. The rail industry is responding to the in teaching, including building information Students are offered a technical specialism challenge. As well as using marketing and modelling – and how they were impressed by linked to a skills gap in the area, alongside PR tactics such as Twitter and Facebook the fact that 35% of apprentices are female. the usual arts and humanities subjects campaigns to target young people She describes the college as a “talent pool studied at GCSE. As well as focusing on choosing their careers, companies are also for the future,” stressing how supportive science, engineering, technology and maths evaluating ways to attract more talent into the industry has been: £5M of kit has been (Stem), UTCs operate a longer day than the rail industry – and particularly into donated to the college, while plenty of work mainstream schools. Pupils work from apprenticeships. placements and mentoring opportunities are 8.30am to 5pm, so they more time to develop “How do we improve that attractiveness on offer for the students. their technical specialisms and experience of within the [rail] sector?” asks Gensler But the college is not just for young a working environment. aviation and transportation practice area people. Although students must be 18 to The model may be less than a decade old, leader Hiro Aso. enrol, there is no upper age limit and courses but more than 50 UTCs will have opened by Gensler is one of the world’s leading cater for those with some prior knowledge 2018. design firms. It is behind the design of One who want to upskill. “I think we really need Colas Rail is a big recruiter of railway Belleview Station in Denver, Colorado, which to challenge ourselves about what that engineers, taking on 15 to 20 graduates used the railway line as an inspiration for traditional apprentice model looks like,” says annually. Its head of career and development the design of the office block above it. It Mowbray. Gemma Simmonds believes UTCs could be has also been involved in the design of San While the college caters for adult students, crucial to boosting the skilled workforce in Francisco’s new Chinatown station. high speed rail technology. “If people can’t be excited about being “Some of the work that the UTCs are doing part of this amazing industry…maybe we’re is really critical in bringing through the 14 to focusing on the wrong bit of it,” says Aso. 19-year-olds into STEM subjects,” she says. Education has a big role to play by “If those UTCs work, they’re a perfect providing more technical opportunities for picking ground for students to then work young people. In September the National into industries like ours.” Colas Rail has been supporting the Sir Simon Milton Westminster UTC, which opened its doors this September, with open I think the really days and work experience opportunities for students. Real, work-based projects are positive thing that offered so the UTC students get an idea about what future career paths they can we’ve seen is that young have in the rail industry. Colas Rail offers several apprenticeships for school leavers people are interested, they and graduates too. Pupils have not closed the door to higher are excited about High education by attending a UTC. Professor “ Peter Woodward, chair in high-speed rail Speed 2 and what that’s Aso: Asks how the rail sector can make itself engineering at Leeds University, says going to mean more attractive to people starting their careers that students at a local UTC can gain the
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 39 High Speed Rail Round Table
We’ve probably DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS had a bit of a dip This report is based on a round table where we did prioritise discussion that took place in London in October. The participants were: graduates a little bit above
Simon Aldrich leader of urban apprentices development and infrastructure “ capability, Golder Associates Iain Anderson managing director, Colas Rail urban Part of the campaign will have a targeted Hiro Aso aviation and transportation focus on mothers, as they are considered to practice area leader, be the biggest infl uences in children’s career Gensler choices. Will Bryant operations director S&C But Simmonds believes fi rms could do Woodward: People have not closed the door south alliance, Colas Rail far more to help spread a positive message on higher education by going to a UTC Nick Dunne director of technology, about technical education. Siemens Rail Automation “I think there’s a lot we could do to necessary qualifi cations to study an MSc Jerome Furge director, Bouygues support some of these institutions, whether at the university. Leeds University is now Travaux Publics it’s the National College of High Speed Rail or developing new MScs and PhDs in high Mark Hansford editor, New Civil the UTCs, to actually really help with the PR speed rail. Engineer side of it,” she says. But UTCs are a relatively new addition to Derek Holden director, Aecom BD Woodward agrees, arguing that industry the education mix, and they face a credibility Anil Iyer chief operating officer, must help attract students into technical problem. According to education publication Association for Consultancy & routes. Schools Week, many existing UTCs failed to Engineering “The universities and the colleges can’t do fi ll around half the available places in the last Peter Kirk business development it all on their own, so if that is the message academic year. While fi ve new UTCs opened director, Balfour Beatty we want to get across, then please help us to in September, four closed their doors or Clair Mowbray chief get that message across,” he says. became sixth form colleges over the summer. executive,National College of High Existing issues concerning higher The age of enrolment could be off-putting Speed Rail education could also help to push pupils to pupils and parents. UTCs take students Gemma Simmonds head of career and towards alternative technical routes. from 14 years old, the age at which teenagers development, Colas Rail Steve Swain According to the Institu te for Fiscal Studies start studying for their GCSEs. Although project director, Tarmac Bogel (IFS) students can expect to graduate with an GCSEs are still studied at UTCs, alongside more Peter Woodward high-speed rail average of £50,000 of debt, rising to £57,000 for technical subjects, parents in particular are engineering chair, Leeds University the poorest. Meanwhile apprentices earn while likely to be wary about their child switching they learn and often do not pay course fees. schools at such a crucial time. In association with So why has the level of debt accrued from So what can the industry do to help boost taking a university course not put more popularity of technical routes? young people off? One option could be to focus on “Absolutely I think it’s been a few years persuading parents. For its 200th anniversary to come through, but now it’s started to be next year the ICE is staging a series of ‘oh maybe that’s not the necessary route events to increase public awareness of civil [university education], maybe there are engineering and of what civil engineers other routes’,” says Anderson. contribute to society. “And I think maybe that leads towards the UTCs and the high speed colleges.” Businesses are changing their minds about There’s a lot we university educations too, explains Balfour Beatty business development director Peter could do to support Kirk. “If we were to go back say, maybe 20 years, some of these institutions, apprentices were at the absolute forefront of our business,” he says. whether it’s the National “We’ve probably had a bit of a dip where we did prioritise graduates a little bit above College of High Speed Rail apprentices. But we’re certainly seeing a “ shift now back to much more of an even or the UTCs balance.”
40 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 We’re active members of the communities we serve.
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D T E A B REINVENTING ENGINEERING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION DEBATE
BY FIONA MCINTYRE
DEBATE BACKGROUND
2.4% £170M 50% Government Government Productivity plans to will put £170M increase in raise total towards manufacturing research and modernising the sector following development construction the adoption of (R&D) industry digital processes investment to through R&D, over the last 20 2.4% of GDP matched by years by 2027. £250M from the industry READ MORE DEBATES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/NCE-LIVE
s the government’s recently involves the government pledging £170M to released Industrial Strategy help modernise the construction industry We go out and rush concludes, the world is going and increase its productivity. An extra £250M through a fourth industrial will be paid by the industry, although details to build it before we revolution – and Britain had of how this will be paid have not yet been better get ready. released. have things finalised, and To this end, the 255-page strategy Embedding digital processes into actually, we should design publishedA in November set out four “grand construction and engineering would help REINVENTING challenges” for the country to tackle. These the sector become far more efficient, argues it virtually before we get were: Dulake. During his involvement with the l complications associated with future Tideway project, Dulake started looking at “ out there mobility modes such as autonomous the metrics of how teams were performing. vehicles By adopting more digital processes, l the need to push Britain to the forefront approval times were halved, six months have things finalised, and actually the lesson of research into artificial intelligence was shaved off the design programme, and from that is, we should design it virtually development an 80% efficiency rating was achieved in before we get out there, don’t rush to go and ENGINEERING l making the UK a leader in clean growth the transfer of data between parties on the dig a hole in the ground, just make sure we l problems posed by an ageing population. project. get it all properly done before we go out on Drawing together new announcements For Dulake, being able to measure the site.” and those made in the Budget a week earlier, benefits of digital is crucial to wider uptake. To effectively roll out these digital the Industrial Strategy set out a roadmap to “When you can start to realise the value of ways of working, the processes must be prosperity (see box). what you are doing, I think you appreciate standardised. This is where clients can play But there are barriers: the UK’s why you should do more of it. ” a big role. productivity is flatlining. The budget “If you’ve ever doubted the efficiency of “You [clients] have to be able to define contained a sober surprise in the news that digital you should have a bit of faith, because the requirements that you want, sometimes the Office for Budget Responsibility had actually the evidence is beginning to collect the software that needs to be used, and downgraded Britain’s growth forecasts for that this is the best way to go.” the functionality you want out of what it is each year until 2022. When digital modelling is used in the you’re defining, because unless you do that Despite this, Mott MacDonald major design process, mistakes can be made in the it is chaos,” says Dulake. projects portfolio director Chris Dulake safety of the office. This immediately makes Highways England smart motorway believes the Industrial Strategy has the the project more efficient as it prevents time programme director Shaun Pidcock agrees right proposals to address the problem, being wasted on site. Dulake believes this that clients have a responsibility to help particularly in the low-productivity relatively small change has a big impact. drive standardisation. construction industry. “That is when you look at the data, one of “At the moment I get lots of really good “My personal view? I think it’s a rather the major sources of where we get it wrong,” ideas, and there’s a lot of good things good document,” he says, adding that its he says. happening on a lot of my projects from a proposals would boost efficiency in the “We go out and rush to build it before we lot of different suppliers, but my problem industry – particularly those embedded in the construction sector deal, announced at the same time. Agreed between the government and INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY the Construction Leadership Council on behalf of the construction industry, the deal AIMS CONSTRUCTION SECTOR DEAL l Boost productivity and get Britain ready l One of four sector deals announced for future challenges posed by, for example, as part of the Industrial Strategy, agreed The budget artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and by the government and the Construction skills shortages. Leadership Council contained a sober l Raise total research and development l Sector deals see the government and (R&D) investment to 2.4% of GDP by industries working together on specific issues surprise in the news that 2027. to boost productivity and growth. l Invest £725M in new Industrial Strategy l Government will put £170M towards the Office for Budget Challenge Fund programmes modernising the construction industry through Increase National Productivity Investment research and development Responsibility had Fund to £31bn l The industry will contribute £250M “ l Boost electric vehicle uptake with £400M although it is yet to be revealed who exactly downgraded Britain’s for charging infrastructure will pay and how it will work growth forecasts for each l Agree Local Industrial Strategies with l A new paper setting out the details of the councils that play to local strengths deal will be published shortly year until 2022
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 43 Elevating Infrastructure Round Table
The second worst DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS industry in the world for adopting
This report is based on a round table technology is construction, discussion that took place in London in November. beaten only by hunting and The participants were: “ Director and leader of the Arup fi shing infrastructure London group Tim Chapman John D’Arcy development director for younger members of the sector struggle to transport, Mott MacDonald understand what the problem is. James Dean founder and chief “The second worst industry in the world executive, SenSat for adopting technology is construction, Lucas: Look to creative industries Chris Dulake major projects portfolio beaten only by hunting and fi shing,” director, Mott MacDonald says SenSat founder and chief executive is actually getting a consistency and Mark Enzer chief technical officer, James Dean. Formed in 2015, SenSat helps commonality,” he says, adding this would Mott MacDonald construction and engineering fi rms, as well help steer suppliers away from competing David Ferroussat procurement as government bodies, to improve their with one another. director for infrastructure, Heathrow effi ciency by using incredibly detailed 3D Highways England is currently fi nalising Airport Ltd mapping tools to get better data. the procurement strategy for its next fi ve- Steve Fox chief executive, Bam It is part of the UK government’s year investment period known as the Road Nuttall Pathfi nders programme, researching and Investment Strategy (RIS2). Marie Gilmour innovation champion, testing the safe use of drones in cities (see For inspiration, Dulake recommends Nichols Group feature p66). SenSat is the only UK drone the manufacturing industry. By adopting Kate Hall design director, HS2 Ltd operator with permission to fl y over live digital processes, rolling out automation Mark Hansford editor, New Civil highways. Unsurprisingly the company’s and constructing virtually, before building Engineer mission is “to digitise the world”. in reality, the industry has improved its Jo Lucas Phase 2a engineering change Dean describes how investors sometimes productivity by more than 50% in the last 20 manager, HS2 Ltd appear surprised at how easy SenSat’s years. Harry Parnel head of digital project solutions are. They can help with automatic But HS2 Ltd phase 2a engineering change delivery, Balfour Beatty Major surveys, more accurate measuring and manager Jo Lucas has a more radical role Projects getting live information to construction model. Lucas recommends taking a leaf out Shaun Pidcock smart motorway models. With so many potential benefi ts and of the creative industries’ book. programme director, Highways easily available technology, Dean says he “Sometimes I worry about the fact that England is confused about what the blockers are – we get quite caught up in the concept of Malcolm Taylor head of technical could it be senior management? the manufacturing industry and what we information, Crossrail Mott MacDonald chief technical offi cer could do there, because actually they’re Mark Enzer believes poor digital skills among still producing an Ikea-like car that you In association with upper management is a major issue. can specify slightly differently each time, “I think that maybe the least digitised part whereas we are producing things which are of the workforce are the ones who are higher quite different each time,” she says. up, and this whole thing of upskilling. The “I think an area that’s actually worth mindset is: if we’ve got to upskill we’re trying looking into instead of the manufacturing to upskill the younger people,” he says. world is the art world. Each time they create “Generally that’s not the problem: the a unique piece of artwork, but actually they’re being incredibly creative about how problem is the older ones and I think they do that because they’ve always got particularly, if you don’t have digitised incredibly tight budgets which they can work mindsets in the C-suite, then how on earth with. So they use digital in an increasingly can you get it really driven lower down?” An area that’s complex way that actually does refl ect the A type of reverse mentoring system could construction industry probably more closely address the problem, argues Dulake. By actually worth than the manufacturing world.” pairing graduates with senior professionals Irrespective of where inspiration is drawn in their sixties, both could benefi t from looking into instead of from, it is still clear that construction sharing knowledge of digital processes and the manufacturing world has a long way to go before the whole of the industry generally. sector is reaping the rewards of better “I think there’s almost a buddy system “is the art world effi ciency by using digital engineering. And which we need to begin to run,” he says. 44 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Elevating Infrastructure Industry Response
“The key to raising the wages of Chancellor Philip Hammond has spelt out The investment in infrastructure is British workers is raising the crucial link between infrastructure signifi cant, but in return government is investment – public and private. ” spending and the economy: “We are rightly expecting improvements in delivery. Philip Hammond, investing in Britain’s future: Half a trillion Here we o er the industry response, Chancellor pounds since 2010. The biggest rail highlighting a series of key sectors and programme since Victorian times. The issues where improvements in delivery and largest road building programme since the outcomes can be made. 70s. The biggest increase in science and innovation funding in four decades. And the This is what they said: two largest infrastructure projects in Europe – Crossrail and High Speed 2. When I took FCC: Mersey Gateway p46 this job I committed to make the battle to Mott MacDonald: Social Inclusion p48 raise Britain’s productivity. And thus the Stantec: Urbanisation and Resilience p52 nation’s pay. The central mission of the Siemens: Digital Railway p56 Treasury.” Wavin: Surface water fl ooding p60
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 45 Elevating Infrastructure
FCC Mersey Gateway
The stunning cable stayed It is the catalyst multi-span bridge at the centre of the Mersey Gateway scheme that will is a real show-stopper. connect communities
But the elegant design of 2.13km and lead regeneration long bridge with its 1km span over the River Mersey is not the only and investment reason the project was named by “ KPMG as one of the top 100 global throughout Halton infrastructure projects. Comparing it to the Bosphorus Bridge in Turkey, and the North West the consultancy firm said the Mersey Gateway “offers an equally impressive and desperately needed solution, construction and land acquisition improving mobility and economic costs of around £600M, are growth throughout the Liverpool city split almost equally between the region, north Cheshire and the North new bridge and the landside road West of the UK.” improvements. Mersey Gateway is a network of “The project is more than just 7km of new roads designed to relieve a bridge,” says Merseylink CCJV congestion on the Silver Jubilee construction director Juan Manuel Bridge between Runcorn and Widnes. Dochao, who describes Mersey That bridge – itself an iconic structure Gateway as a “transformational – opened in 1961, and was designed to project”. carry 8,000 vehicles a day. But 50 “It is the catalyst that will connect years on, more than 80,000 vehicles communities and lead regeneration were using it, and the surrounding and investment throughout Halton road network just could not cope. and the North West. The iconic design Plans to relieve this congestion with of the bridge will put the local area, a second road crossing of the Mersey Liverpool and the North West region go back more than 20 years. Those firmly on the map and will encourage plans promoted by local authority attention from all over the world.” tower, a 110m high tower on the north Halton Borough Council, along with He adds: “To deliver a project of side and a 125m high south tower. The neighbouring councils, agencies, such importance, a construction KEY STATS pylon heights were based on clearance business organisations and developers joint venture with an extensive track required for aeroplanes using the were thwarted many times, but record for delivery across the globe 1,000+ nearby Liverpool John Lennon eventually came to fruition in autumn was assembled. All three companies Airport, and on planning restrictions this year, when the Mersey Gateway work in the global market: FCC has Number of work- dictating where pylon foundations was opened to traffic. It has been significant experience building large ers employed on could be placed in the river. It has built as a public-private partnership approach viaducts, Samsung has the project at peak a trapezoidal post tensioned insitu (PPP), with Halton Borough Council worked on many cable stay bridges, reinforced concrete deck, with a awarding the Merseylink consortium a and Kier provided local knowledge and 110m maximum clearance of 23m above contract to design, build, finance and experience.” Height of tallest water level. operate it for 30 years. Merseylink is Dochao says one of the biggest of the crossing’s Building the bridge using marine made up of Macquarie Capital, FCC challenges was coordinating this towers vessels was not an option, due to the Construcción and BBGI. international construction team : lack of water in the Mersey estuary. Merseylink CCJV, the consortium’s “We had more than 1,000 workers The construction team took an construction joint venture of FCC operating at the same time, 80m early decision to install a 1km long Construcción, Kier Infrastructure in different places in such a Height of central temporary trestle bridge across the tower & Overseas and Samsung C&T challenging place, as well as dealing river, from which all the concrete and Corporation, began work on site in with the adverse weather in the reinforcement could be delivered, 2014, to designs by a JV between Mersey estuary.” and to act as a platform for the main Cowi (formerly Flint & Neill) and The bridge has three pylons of construction work on the structure. URS, now part of Aecom. The different heights: an 80m high central The trestle bridge was built
46 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 ADVERTISING FEATURE
team faced a range of different challenges: “On the north landside we faced the challenge of working on a brownfield site. As it is an old chemical industrial area, its ground was highly contaminated. By treating this material, we were able to reuse it in the embankments. As a result, we haven’t sent any material off site.” He adds: “In the south, the main challenges were traffic management and communicating with local businesses. The joint venture worked hard to ensure the local community has been kept updated, particularly through social media channels.” Dochao says the team is very proud of its engagement with local communities. Although the project is welcomed by local residents and businesses, the construction work was always going to cause some disruption – especially the landside activities. Merseylink CCJV opened two visitor centres to inform people about the project, and to collect feedback that helped to improve or minimise the impact of the construction activities. These were staffed by volunteers from the local community. Another success has been the establishment of the Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust, a charity set simultaneously from each side of the The crossing’s up to promote the conservation, river, using 12m long piles to support We had more central section protection and improvement of the pre-assembled steel trestle deck at low tide environment across 1,600ha of the sections topped with precast concrete than 1,000 Upper Mersey Estuary from the planks. It meant that land-based plant new bridge up river to Warrington. could be used to dig the cofferdams workers operating “This team developed strategies that for the main pylon foundations, as at the same time, in helped preserve important ecological well as delivering all the concrete for sites, such as the salt marshes, as well the pylons. di erent places in such as creating sustainable wildflower The deck sections were built by “ meadows at the Clifton roundabout balanced cantilever, with one 6m long a challenging place in Runcorn,” explains Dochao. “The section cast from both sides of each Trust will also manage a new 28.5ha pylon every week – giving a total of nature reserve alongside the bridge, 36m of deck construction per week. something that is unique for a major The deck sections are connected to technology used elsewhere around construction project in the UK. The the pylons by stay cables ranging in the world in the form of a movable Mersey Gateway really is a ‘green’ length from 41m to 226m. scaffold system (MSS). Two steel infrastructure project.” The approach viaducts at each MSS units were built specially for the “FCC is proud to work on such a end of the main bridge are made Mersey Gateway project, and had major project in the UK. We want up of multiple spans of 64m on the very complex geometry to cope with to use this knowledge of the market north side and 70m on the south. the curve and super-elevation of the and this experience to win new They also have cast concrete decks, approach viaducts. opportunities in the future,” says and the JV again adopted formwork Dochao says the construction Dochao.
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 47 Elevating Infrastructure
Mott MacDonald Social Inclusion
Feeling valued and important are As an crucial to social cohesion; we all need a sense of belonging and to be widely important connected. driver and enabler of When people and communities are excluded or where the gap between growth, infrastructure the so-called haves and have nots widens, society becomes more can help reduce fragile. In the wake of the financial “ crisis, large sections of society have fi nancial inequality increasingly felt left behind, no longer receiving what they perceive as a fair share of the economic pie. To avoid It starts with convenience: the aggravating this growing problem, centre brings together under one everyone must be able to contribute roof treatments that were previously and benefit from rising prosperity. delivered across 13 different locations As an important driver and enabler in eight buildings. The result is uch of growth, infrastructure can help less wayfinding and travelling for reduce financial inequality. Done vulnerable and often very ill people. well, it serves the many not the few Radiotherapy is conventionally housed and is built with the end users in in basements. But a subterranean mind and, with their full involvement, facility does little for the emotional infrastructure will also foster social and psychological wellbeing of inclusion. patients. The centre is the first in Europe to provide radiotherapy above It’s good to talk ground, so that patients can see Making the transition to socially outside. Art, colour and cosy meeting inclusive infrastructure will not areas all contribute to creating spaces be easy. To ensure a development that feel welcoming and positive fulfils its social, economic, cultural rather than cold and clinical. and environmental potential, the The building team also had regular community needs to help shape its contact with residents to ensure their design. Engaging those affected, lives were not affected too much particularly often neglected by the building work. Also, local groups, such as the young and old, people were employed to work on minorities and those from deprived the project, providing jobs and skills neighbourhoods can be difficult, as training, as well as the opportunity can understanding and addressing to feel they had contributed to their concerns and aspirations. But something important. it is worth taking the time to do so. For the Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS People and communities tend to Foundation Trust Patient Reference embrace and look after infrastructure Group, the centre is a wonderful they have influenced and are less example of how having patients as the the project have been determined to likely to try to stop projects that take focus of design can produce uplifting engage local communities from the account of their views. Similarly, a infrastructure. And for the hospital’s start, with the objective of benefiting development will only effectively project management organisation, the many, not just a few. And that is meet the needs of users if their voice Essentia, it is a showcase for what can the purpose of the HS2 design panel, is heard early in the design process. be achieved by the NHS. whose remit covers people, place and The Cancer Centre at London’s High Speed 2 (HS2), the high- time. The focus of the people aspect Guy’s Hospital was a truly speed rail link to be built between is to create places that encourage collaborative project, with the voice London and the west Midlands, is diverse activities, provide access and of patients and local residents at its more controversial in some quarters promote inclusion. The panel is aiming heart. The £160M facility opened in than a new healthcare facility, but to achieve these goals by engaging September 2016 and was designed people are also at the centre of the with local communities along the with the patients, for the patients. design process. Those working on route and ensuring their views are
48 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 ADVERTISING FEATURE
Take the case of Rossington near Doncaster, a town built around one of Yorkshire’s most productive coal mines. Although the pit survived the 1980s, when many others were closed, output was severely cut and the town suffered serious economic decline, high unemployment and deprivation. At one point, 11 of its 20 wards were in the bottom 10% of UK deprivation indices. The pit was finally closed in 2016. With the town’s reason for being removed, a new purpose had to be found. Rossington needed to attract investment on a large scale. The Great Yorkshire Way, a £56M road linking the M18 with the A638 south of the town, offered the opportunity to unlock Rossington’s potential. From being a cut-off community, it is now well connected to the national motorway network. Employment and economic opportunities are being created at a 560,000m2, £500M new iPort inland freight distribution centre backed by developer Veridan. Paying attention to small details when developing a project can be decisive in breaking down barriers to social and economic inclusion. Aberfan in Wales is infamous for the disaster in 1966 that killed 116 children and 28 adults. Less well known is the economic decline that set in after the closure of Merthyr Vale Colliery in 1989. Recent investment in flood protection, a new access road, bridge and footbridge that reconnect the communities of Merthyr Vale and The focus of the front of mind for designers from the Inclusive: The Aberfan, has returned hope. get go. Cancer Centre But it is not just the improved people aspect at Guy’s Hospital amenities that have made a The things that make the difference was built in difference. It is the community- is to create places that Social exclusion occurs when consultation with oriented “add-ons”, which would not individuals or communities are patients have happened without infrastructure, encourage diverse prevented from participating in and that have engaged and motivated benefiting fully from the economic local people. activities, provide and social life of society. There can The new footbridge provides easy “ be many reasons why they are shut access to the banks of the now access and promote out. Infrastructure can sometimes healthy and biodiverse River Taff, inclusion address these and help bring excluded while a new community facility will communities back into the fold. host local events.
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 49 Elevating Infrastructure
Factoring an inequality impact assessment into every design “brief would ensure infrastructure improves the life chances of the many, not just the few
A moral obligation Importantly, inclusion defines the morality of a society and should be the primary consideration when developing infrastructure. That has rarely been case. Legislation has been necessary to ensure many buildings are accessible to those with poor mobility. The industry should not need regulation to do what is right, however. It should always strive to provide inclusive environments. Less than 8% of disabled people use wheelchairs, yet it is estimated that 12.9M people in the UK have limiting long-term illnesses, impairments or disabilities. Some 45% of those are over the state pension age. By 2030 there are expected to be 20M people over the age of 65 and 6M over 80. A built environment needs to be created or adapted for people with a range of needs, including hearing or sight loss and/or a cognitive disability, as well as general physical issues that affect older members of society. A question of trust Organisation for Economic Co- Currently, 20% of 12.9M people Trust in business, media, government, operation & Development. with disabilities have difficulty and non-governmental organisations The average FTSE chief executive accessing transport; 54% shops; 35% has been eroding for some time. earns £5.3M a year, 386 times more hospitals, 21% doctors’ surgeries; and The most recent Edelman Trust than a worker on the UK national 21% theatres and cinemas. And the barometer found that trust in all four living wage. Someone on the average front doors of 84% of new homes are had declined further. Just 52% of salary of £28,000 would take 160 not wide enough to accommodate a respondents across the 28 countries years to earn the same amount. wheelchair. surveyed said they trusted business Inequality takes many other forms, Inclusive design would ensure level to “do what is right”. Inequality is but the financial contrast between access to the entrances to buildings one reason a growing proportion of highest and lowest earners starkly and transport vehicles. people mistrust companies, with many illustrates the gulf that many believe Doors would be sufficiently wide believing the odds are stacked in has opened in society. to allow wheelchair access and allow favour of the “haves”. Factoring an inequality impact enough space to enable wheelchairs The UK is one of the most unequal assessment into every design brief to turn. Accessible lavatories and nations in the developed world – would ensure infrastructure improves changing places would also be the seventh least equal in the 35 the life chances of the many, not just included. countries that are members of the the few, and would go some way to
50 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 ADVERTISING FEATURE
otherwise have arisen. It can result in some projects failing to make it off the drawing board, despite having the potential to widely benefit the local community and address inequality. Mott MacDonald’s transparent economic assessment model (TEAM) starts with a local analysis. The Norwich Northern Distributor Road illustrates the importance of assessing the micro- economic impacts. It was given the go ahead even though the cost-benefit ratio was negative because TEAM identified that the scheme would create 5,230 net additional jobs, £1bn net additional GVA spread over 30 years and £966M in associated investments. Businesses can go some way to restoring trust if their investment is focused on the communities they serve. Anglian Water is a major investor in infrastructure. The goal for One Alliance, the consortium responsible for designing and building the utility company’s capital construction programme, is to collaborate to make a positive difference to local life for everyone’s benefit. It is an approach pioneered in Wisbech to address high youth unemployment. The seven firms in the alliance, including Mott MacDonald, are working jointly on initiatives to improve employability, create jobs and support education and training. They have also a drawn up a proposal to reopen the rail line between the town and nearby Cambridge, which would provide Businesses can sections of society. People are less young people in Wisbech with access Mott MacDonald’s equality, likely to stop to the wealth of education and go some way to diversity and inclusion sifting tool projects that employment opportunities just a short analyses schemes to identify which take account of distance away. restoring trust if their have the greatest equality impact. Its their views social impact forecasting tool helps Inclusive infrastructure investment is focused to understand the social groups most Inclusive infrastructure involves likely to benefit from economic gains. putting community considerations on the communities Trust could be strengthened if front and centre, rather than “ the way we value a project considers treating them as ancillary to design they serve more than its return on investment. and development processes. It The traditional cost-benefit analysis requires everyone in the industry – that precedes every major project, government, investors, asset owners, addressing inequality. from a rail line to a healthcare investors, consultants, contractors The assessment would help ensure facility, tends to ignore the local and suppliers – to change the way in that projects support equality of impact, consequential employment, which they think about projects, what opportunity and do not discriminate salary, gross value added (GVA) and it means to add value and the way against or disadvantage different investment benefits that would not business is conducted.
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 51 Elevating Infrastructure
Stantec Urbanisation and Resilience
The global trend towards increased “However, cities are in a very good Open Hearth urban infrastructure need to put urbanisation shows no sign of slowing place to respond to that challenge, Park: Former communities at the heart of their down. In fact, it is still accelerating. because they can look at things steelworks site decision-making. within their boundaries and adopt an in Nova Scotia “If we are going to tackle some of Fifty per cent of the world’s integrated approach,” says Smith, transformed the issues we face in infrastructure, population live in cities, a figure that who predicts that we will see the into usable we need to see more collaboration is projected to rise to 75% by 2050. emergence of new approaches that space, which at the local level – even within Worldwide there are 425 metropolitan address the challenges of urban connects three cities. In the United States they centres with populations of over 1M, resilience and security as a system- neighbourhoods manage infrastructure at city level – and this number is expected to rise to wide set of interrelated services and everything comes under the mayor. 650 by 2025. capabilities. But here provision is divided by the While urbanisation can bring At city level, he says, the local authority, the water utility and benefits, it also brings serious boundaries between energy, water the energy utility, and it is much more challenges, including climate change, and food production can be blurred difficult to get collaboration across food security, health, energy, water and even disappear, to be replaced by these boundaries.” resources, poverty and inequality. highly integrated, holistic strategies Smith agrees: “In the UK we do “Urbanisation is increasing through a focused on resilience and innovation. tend to work in our own spaces with combination of population growth and Stantec technical director Adrian our own responsibilities – whether migration,” explains Stantec strategy Johnson adds: “Resilience can be a that is an energy company, a director David Smith. driver for a decentralised approach, transport group or the council. “But there is the challenge of where communities have more “We try to consult with all the scarce resources – particularly food, involvement. There will always be a need stakeholders but what we need is a energy and water. Cities are often in for some sort of centralised decision way of bringing all the stakeholders places that compound that challenge.” making, but it might be more e ective together and putting all their ideas He adds: “We are also having to to make decisions at community level into a grand masterplan for a region consider climate change, which will about things like reusing and recycling or city or urban area. We should be have a huge impact on cities, a lot of water or having local energy generation, doing it as a team, and trying to solve which are in coastal regions. which provide resilience when the big problems together.” ‘With sea level rise and storms centralised systems fail.” He explains that, in North America, intensifying you can see how Johnson says: “Increasingly those “charrettes” have become popular as vulnerable some of these cities are.” involved in providing and maintaining a way of identifying a shared vision
52 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 ADVERTISING FEATURE
OPEN HEARTH PARK
The Sydney Tar Ponds in Nova Scotia were once the site of one of renovated rail cars, and sculptures. the largest steel plants in North America—and one of the most Stantec’s environmental specialists monitored remediation, contaminated sites in Canada. and its landscape architects and engineers designed all the park’s elements to meet the strict geotechnical requirements for the site’s When it closed, the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency set out to turn remediated cap. the site into useable space that would reconnect three divided All foundations, utilities, and landscape elements had to be neighbourhoods and turn them back into a community. constructed with newly placed soils. Local slag material was used to The result, Open Hearth Park, features waterfront access, create landforms and as the base for roads and paths, reducing the multi-use paths, fields, outdoor performance areas, an adventure project cost substantially. playground, two pedestrian bridges, and nearly 51ha of wildlife The result is an ecologically and seasonally diverse park with a habitat. The park celebrates the community’s rich history through highly resilient landscape, perfectly suited to manage storm water seven themes, and includes salvaged relics from the steelworks, and provide a natural solution that enhances the community.
SEYCHELLES: WATER RESOURCE PLAN
The Republic of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean is typical of many developing island states facing the challenges of growing population, demographic change, increased wealth, and the impact of climate change – all of which are putting a strain on water supply and sanitation. An unfavourable topography contributes to the challenge, with steep mountains making water storage difficult, and water having to be pumped to population centres on the plains and coastal strips. In 2014 the Seychelles government appointed Stantec to develop a water strategy that could address the rising demand. “We started by trying to look at what these issues were: things like water supply efficiency, water demand management, the current supply system, where the supply-demand deficits are, and what the options are; and then we came up with a resource efficiency plan,” explains Stantec technical director Evan Dollar. “But during that process we were also talking with lot of stakeholders, and we were involved in a charrette. Another consultant was working with the government looking at a masterplan for the whole island, and we were part of that – looking at how does water feed into the wider issue,” he adds. “The island also has major issues with energy. There are some wind turbines, but the majority of the power comes from a big diesel plant fuelled by imported diesel. If that goes down, they have major supply disruptions,” Dollar continues. “And most of the food has to be imported. Seychelles: Water strategy required to address rising demand “We proposed a new water policy and Act, but we did it in a very integrated way. There was a lot of stakeholder engagement when wastewater, getting energy from sludge, and tying in with the we were setting out the policy objectives; and joining up water, agricultural sector.” energy and food was important to everyone. That is probably the The company is also helping the Seychelles government look at most useful thing we did: bringing people together and creating a how to deal with – and adapt to – climate change in the coastal framework for going forward.” areas. “We started off with a relatively small project and identified Stantec has since won the contract to develop a comprehensive what the key issues were, then brought in people from around the sanitation masterplan. “There is real recognition that they have world who are looking at things in a systems way – understanding to deal with water supply and sanitation and energy and food the connectivity between water, energy, food and transport,” says together,” says Dollar. “We have tried to embed a whole circular Dollar. “Now they can start to identify areas where investment in economy approach, which means looking at things like reusing one area has benefits to another.”
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There’s a change challenge in existing cities, which makes it even more important to have HULL: COORDINATED FLOOD ALLEVIATION PLAN in society: a masterplan that meets the needs of all stakeholders: “In an existing city, people want to be where infrastructure is replaced as you need to and as you can afford to, In the 2007 floods, Hull was one of the worst hit part of the solution – having this masterplan and a shared cities in the UK. It remains at the top of the list for vision is much more important.” vulnerability to flooding. certainly the younger But, says Johnson, there is great “ scope for integrating infrastructure A report into the 2007 event concluded that four generation does solutions on individual redevelopment major organisations – the Environment Agency, sites within a city to maximise benefi ts. Yorkshire Water, Hull City Council and East Riding of He cites London’s Opportunity Areas Yorkshire Council – all had responsibilities for flood for development in a city or region. such as Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea alleviation in the area, but they were not working A charrette is a form of meeting or and Old Oak Common in London – together. workshop where all the stakeholders both huge brownfi eld redevelopment As a result, the four organisations decided to start get together and thrash out what they sites – as examples where initiatives to work more closely and share knowledge while are trying to achieve and how each of like removing surface water from the delivering projects. This year, they decided to create the di erent stakeholders plays its part combined sewer will both improve a long term partnership that takes a fresh, integrated within that vision. resilience and provide wider benefits approach to addressing flood risk by developing Stantec is very experienced in running in terms of improvements to people’s sustainable solutions that provide wider benefits to the these events, and is starting to introduce health and wellbeing. local community and economy. them to the UK. Earlier this year Hull’s “This is happening more and more “Ten years after the 2007 floods there has been a Living With Water partnership held a as people realise the implications of great deal of progress on flood resilience in Hull, but charrette that resulted in a very clear some of these challenges and their climate change means the goalposts are constantly vision for making the city more resilient potential impact,” says Smith. “And moving and we need to think differently about how (see box). this community approach is gathering we approach the challenge,” explains Yorkshire Water “If we are going to meet the momentum. There’s a change in director of asset management Nevil Muncaster. challenges of resilience, a multi- society: people want to be part of “We cannot continue to simply build bigger and stakeholder solution is much more the solution – certainly the younger bigger sewers, we need to look at more sustainable viable,” says Smith. “Each stakeholder generation does. And that’s having a solutions,” he adds. ends up with their own projects, but very positive impact.” “This is about putting civil back into civil engineer. they are much more joined up.” Johnson adds: “A community- We need to work with communities to design and Smith says that it is much easier centred approach is likely to result create solutions that enhance their lives, seeking to build an integrated sustainable in more efficiency and a better opportunities to provide multiple benefits rather than world in a small community or a new understanding of what customers siloed outputs.” urban area or city; it is a far bigger think of as value for money.” “The history of Hull & Haltemprice is tied to the opportunities for connectivity and trade offered by the water environment, but over the years the city has moved away from those roots. We want to work with STANTEC’S MERGER WITH MWH communities to rediscover the city’s relationship with water and shape a successful, sustainable city that is ready for the future,” he adds. Hull’s unique level of risk comes from the fact that Stantec gained a significant consolidated Stantec’s position as pretty much all water in the city essentially drains into presence in the UK consultancy a global leader in water resources Yorkshire Water’s sewer system. sector when it merged with MWH infrastructure, while reinforcing “One solution would be to build more tunnels and in 2016. its North America business bigger pumps, but the cost would be huge,” explains and giving it a presence in key Muncaster. “And that would not solve the problem, Integration between the two geographies, including the UK, just mitigate the impact.” companies is now complete, and Australia, New Zealand, South and He says the answer is to develop “blue green” from 1 January 2018 the combined Central America, Europe and the solutions that provide wider benefits to the local company in the UK will be known Middle East. community, such as access to green space, improved as Stantec. As a result of the acquisition, UK air quality and biodiversity, delivered in partnership Worldwide, Stantec employs clients will now have access to a with the other agencies and other local partners. This 22,000 people in 400 locations broader, cross-sector service that new initiative, called “Hull and Haltemprice Living across six continents, and is one of is geared towards tackling industry With Water”, was launched in September with a the fastest growing multi-sector challenges such as community and charrette facilitated by Stantec experts from the US design firms in the world. customers, resilience, affordability, and Canada. The merger with MWH and creativity and innovation. “The partners want Hull to be resilient as a city,
54 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 ADVERTISING FEATURE
HULL: COORDINATED FLOOD ALLEVIATION PLAN Image courtesy of 2B Landscape Consulting’
which means looking at resilience in people, as well as Hull: Stantec value and enhance health and wellbeing”. property resilience and the economic resilience of the facilitated Under the heading of resilience, the partners agreed city,“ explains Stantec project lead Jane Campbell. a charrette to drive a year on year reduction in flood risk and build “There is so much interaction, which is why Nevil discussion awareness and resilience in communities. The aim is to thought a charrette was the best thing to do – to get to produce a better protect homes and businesses from the damage everyone into a room and work out the best way to go community- of flooding, so that investors no longer see it as a barrier forward.” focused flood to investment. And sustainability is about enabling The two day event included the four partners and alleviation plan environmentally sensitive growth that enhances local representatives of charities – for example organisations communities, and delivers multi-benefit flood risk that work with communities in Hull to plant trees and management solutions. grow vegetables – as well as local businesses, developers, Since the charrette, the partners have also appointed consultants and academics. a general manager to identify projects that can be taken The aim of the event was to develop a vision for the forward immediately and to deliver on the strategic “Living With Water” initiative and to set out clear objectives objectives. “The general manager is working on a plan for the fi rst year. The agreed vision focuses on three for the next 12 months, based on the output from the areas: place, resilience and sustainability. “Place” is about charrette, understanding what is already going on, working with communities to make Hull & Haltemprice a starting to plot out what are the things that will give “great maritime city to live in, work and visit” and ensuring the most benefit over the year, and engaging with more investment in integrated water systems is designed to “create people,” explains Muncaster.
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Siemens Digital Railway
Our major transport routes, whether We must also they be road, rail or air are all increasingly running at or near full use technology capacity, particularly (but by no means exclusively) during the to unlock the latent ever-lengthening peak periods. capacity that exists And with population growth in most major cities forecast to continue, within our existing these transport networks are being “ placed under unprecedented levels of infrastructure to pressure. In fact, if passenger growth in the next 20 years matches growth improve the way it in the last 20, there will be 1bn extra operates passenger journeys by 2030. Nowhere is this more apparent than in London, with forecasters predicting hour during peak periods of the day. that 10M people will live in the city by The delivery of this world-class, 2030. So how can transport operators 36 trains-per-hour service, has continue to meet this demand and been achieved through a digital continue to move people safely, transformation of the Victoria Line, comfortably, quickly, efficiently and which is now one of the highest cost-effectively? capacity lines in Europe. Given the land, financial and The initial upgrade programme economic constraints that operators saw the introduction of Siemens’ face, it is simply impossible to keep automatic train protection and on building new motorway lanes or automatic train operation systems, commissioning new high-speed lines in conjunction with radio-based to keep pace with demand. Although signalling. These new train control new infrastructure projects such solutions were overlaid onto the as High Speed 2 and Crossrail will existing signalling systems, allowing be a huge boost, we must also use the first of the new trains to start technology to unlock the latent running on the live passenger-carrying capacity that exists within our existing railway in July 2009, three years infrastructure to improve the way it ahead of final project completion. operates. As new trains were progressively introduced, the existing and new Unlocking capacity on control solutions operated together, London Underground with the new system interfacing The upgrade of London Underground’s with the existing one to determine Victoria Line is a prime example of distance-to-go radio (DTG-R) safe this. Siemens has been working in driving profiles for the new trains. close partnership with Transport In July 2012, the final major stage for London since 2003 to deliver of the upgrade programme was capacity and efficiency improvements commissioned. Completed in time on the then 35 year old Victoria Line, for the London 2012 Olympics, the the work forming part of an ambitious programme successfully delivered nine year, £10bn upgrade programme, faster, more reliable and more Victoria Line: increased from 28 to 33 trains per which has seen the renewal of comfortable journeys for passengers. Now operating hour in peak hours, with the next the whole signalling system and Over the following 15 months, the a 36 trains per stage of the programme introducing replacement of the entire train fleet. legacy signalling system was then hour service in the new technology and infrastructure Now, following the implementation completely stripped out, with new peak hours required to increase that figure to of a new timetable on 22 May 2017, signals, track circuits and platform enable a 36 train per hour service. trains are pulling into Victoria Line equipment installed. This involved extensive signalling, stations every 100 seconds, enabling At this stage of the programme, rolling stock, power, cooling and 3,000 more passengers to travel every the Victoria Line’s capacity had been infrastructure upgrades, with the final
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completed. Of course, achieving the 36 trains per hour service was a major milestone, but the key to long term infrastructure success is maintaining reliability. This was a central requirement to the Victoria Line’s major upgrade programmes, with exhaustive planning, testing and simulation undertaken to effectively “destruction test” the system in a laboratory environment prior to installation. Working in collaboration with the software supplier, engineering and operations testing teams were tasked with trying to break the system. If they succeeded, the scenario that caused a failure was carefully examined and the probability of it occurring in an operational environment determined. If there was no chance of this, no further action was required, but if there was any possibility, a solution was developed. This work gave the delivery team enormous confidence during the installation and operational phases. With ongoing maintenance, there is clearly a need to balance the risk and reward of different approaches. At one extreme is the “fix it when it breaks” option – but this is expensive, disruptive and the least safe option. The other extreme is to have regular planned maintenance – however, this can be wasteful in time and resource if maintenance is unnecessary. The panacea of maintenance therefore is condition-monitoring, whereby maintenance is undertaken only when required. As the panacea, it is of course the most difficult to achieve, but given the wealth of data we now collect from the control centre, on-board trains and from the infrastructure, it has become a project commissioning representing The key to realistic option. the culmination of a five year Reliability, though, is not just programme of work. During this final long term a function of the infrastructure’s commissioning, Siemens upgraded performance, with some delays being signalling and rolling stock systems infrastructure success is caused by human factors: people to reflect extensive infrastructure falling ill, luggage trapped in doors changes, with comprehensive maintaining reliability etcetera. installation, testing, principles testing Planning for these apparently and test-train running successfully “ random events is more difficult, but JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 57 Elevating Infrastructure
The regularity the world, and represents Siemens’ first operational application of ETCS The Thameslink of the service in the UK. Programme will The introduction of this system transform north- means people now means that every train runs at the south travel across optimised speed profile, performs central London know they do not have accurate stopping, and maintains a strict adherence to station dwell to rush times. Siemens’ continuous automatic “ train protection (ATP) system, provided as part of the ETCS, means the Victoria Line upgrade work enabled that it will do all of this with a high short periods of operation at 38 trains level of safety protection. per hour and in some circumstance When deployed across the even 39 trains, enabling the operator Thameslink core and London Bridge to return to the timetable quickly and areas, the enhanced control system efficiently. and ETCS protection will enable the This application of world class on-board ATO system to drive trains technology is leading to a change in at optimised intervals, enabling the human behaviour on the underground, throughput required to support the such that people are becoming less 24 trains per hour timetable. likely to run for trains, or risk being The Siemens solution is “vertically trapped in closing doors to catch one. integrated”, which means that The regularity of the service means Siemens is providing the trains, people now know they do not have to train control and signalling systems rush, because as one train departs the that will allow safety, reliability and next one is less than two minutes away. capacity to be increased. ETCS will be at the core of this, Unlocking capacity on the main line increasing capacity and energy In 2018, the government-sponsored efficiency through more effective Thameslink Programme will transform train control. north-south rail travel through London, with passengers set to benefit from What’s Next more connections, more reliable To consider what the next key journeys, better stations and new trains. technologies are likely to be for In peak times, train frequency will railway operators, we need to re- increase from 16 to 24 trains per hour adjust our focus, and think not in in each direction through the core area terms of moving trains around a from Blackfriars to St Pancras. network, but more broadly about As a key route, Thameslink how we safely, efficiently and reliably was already a busy railway and so move people around cities. And implementation of the programme the answer to this lies in part in the was carefully phased to ensure that a availability, acquisition, aggregation reliable service was maintained as the and then analysis of data which will new signalling and control system was support a wide range of decision- introduced. making and communication processes, As part of the overall project, for example, helping to communicate Siemens has helped deliver the high tailored information to travellers at capacity infrastructure programme, the most appropriate points in their which provides the European Train journey. Control System (ETCS) and enhanced The creation of condition-based signalling control systems needed to maintenance systems ensures support automatic train operation efficient reliability is achieved, with (ATO) and timetable management. the integration of other data such These systems are crucial to the as that from car parks, road traffic, programme being able to reliably buses, trams and so on, enabling the achieve the 24 trains per hour service. development of intelligent solutions Thameslink will be the first to facilitate faster, more efficient operational application of full end-to-end journeys. Automatic Train Operation (ATO) over For example, data is already being ETCS in the UK and among the first in used to advise travellers in real time
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Photo: Network Rail Data is already being used to advise travellers in real time where there are “spaces in car parks; which train carriages have seats available
where there are spaces in car parks; which train carriages have seats available; and where there are delays in their onward journey. By joining this up, passengers can be guided seamlessly through their journey, enabling them to make smart and informed decisions. In Europe, the effective integration of traveller information is already a reality, with Siemens’ SiMobility Connect platform providing an interface for transport operators and mobility service providers. The system allows real-time passenger information, journey planning, booking, e-ticket purchase and payment to be communicated across various modes of transport. Constantly updated traffic information can be used to optimise route recommendations in real time. Swiss rail operator Schweizerische Südostbahn is now using the SiMobility platform to provide travellers access to information about transport services across the entire country. Other areas of operation are also being examined, with energy performance and storage and efficiency a major focus. Hydrogen fuel cells, kinetic energy recovery systems and electric car charging points linked to the railway’s power network are all current research projects that are at varying stages of development. When added to the work that is already underway to improve the passenger experience, all this will combine to make transport networks more efficient and more effective, and will underline the vital role that metro systems play in connecting people across a multi-modal network.
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 59 Elevating Infrastructure
Wavin Surface water ooding Summer 2017 marked the tenth The biggest anniversary of some of the worst floods in this country’s recent history reason SuDS is The Met Office recorded that not working as well as “extremely heavy and prolonged rain” fell on the UK during June and July it could is the lack of a 2007. It was the wettest May-to-July period since records began in 1766. legal driver Sir Michael Pitt, a former council “ chief executive appointed by the government to chair a review into the leading to an increased risk of surface 2007 floods, described the scale of water flooding in the UK.” damage then as “shocking” and the The committee’s report, published first-hand accounts “troubling”. He in 2012, said studies had estimated said the flooding caused the country’s that flood damage from surface water largest peacetime emergency for 60 run-off could increase by more than years. 200% over the next 50 years. Pitt set out 92 recommendations Consequently, surface water for improving the country’s response flooding, is a major area of concern to the threat of flooding. The then as Britain looks to reduce its environment secretary Hilary Benn vulnerability to extreme weather. said on 1 December 2008 that the Pitt’s report notes this clearly. government supported changes in “Perhaps the most significant feature response to all 92 – and that an action of last summer’s events was the high plan would “help to ensure that, as a proportion of surface water flooding country, we are all better prepared for compared with flooding from rivers,” flooding”. it says. Ten years on, progress has been Recommendations included made, but action is still required in development of new tools to model addressing one of the most important surface water flooding; moves to issues: surface water flooding. The remove some automatic rights to lay Environment Agency warned in 2007 impermeable surfaces on gardens; from small raingardens to permeable that “two-thirds of the properties and giving more importance to local block paving to underground flooded this summer were affected surface water management plans. KEY STATS storage tanks. They can be natural, because drains and sewers were Pitt also called for the government manufactured or, perhaps most overwhelmed”. to “resolve the issue of which £9,000 effectively in many cases, a carefully Awareness body Know Your Flood organisations should be responsible designed mixture of the two. Risk estimates that almost 4M for the ownership and maintenance Anticipated capital The key is that these systems properties in the UK are at risk from of sustainable drainage systems cost saving on a prevent rain water from causing surface flooding. (SuDS)”. It said the proposed new home in Wales a threat to local infrastructure or The problem is predicted to get Floods & Water Bill should “provide where SuDs are building up in rivers or streams worse. Climate change and pressures appropriate powers to enable effective used and becoming an issue for another to build more homes are likely to lead management of surface water flooding community. to more extreme weather and less risks, including SuDS”. The concept of SuDS is not new. natural green spaces. So what exactly are SuDS, how University of Sheffield emeritus A report by the independent can they help manage surface water professor of urban water Richard Climate Change Committee, which flooding and, 10 years after Pitt’s Ashley, who advised the post-2007 advised the government on climate work, why have they not been more floods Pitt review, has been working change says that the proportion of successful to date? since the 1990s on sustainable urban gardens that had been paved over Now described as “an approach drainage systems, as they were known in the UK’s towns and cities soared rather than a specific feature”, SuDS back then. from 28% in 2001 to 48% in 2011. use environmentally friendly measures Ciria published a design manual for It adds: “Current evidence suggests that mimic nature to manage water SuDS back in 2000. that increases in rainfall intensity close to where it falls. The work goes on. Ashley co- [are] likely under a changing climate, Components can include anything authored a paper, published by the
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The law would have amended the Water Industry Act 1991, making the right to connect surface runoff to public sewers conditional upon the drainage system being approved by a local authority esstablished SuDS- approving body (SAB). But the proposed implementation date of 1 October 2012 was put back after the coalition government carried out a consultation in late 2011. This showed that 70% of respondents would prefer a later implementation date. A second consultation was run in 2014, this time on “an alternative approach” to the one set out in the Flood & Water Management Act, this set out proposals to “deliver SuDS through changes to the planning system”. By now the National Planning Policy Framework had been published, reshaping the planning environment, and ensuring development would be “appropriately fl ood resilient and resistant… and give priority to the use of SuDS”. The 2014 consultation proposed strengthening this to raise the status of SuDs in planning process. The completed quay Despite more than half of respondents being against an exemption from SuDS requirements ICE this year, titled Evaluating the The infl uence Some blame for small developments, the longer-term benefits of SuDS. This reluctant government said it was minded to used a Ciria-developed evaluation of the developers for apply the policy changes to major method called the Benefits of SuDS dragging their schemes only. Tool (BeST) to estimate the value of housebuilders was heels on SuDs In April 2015, the new planning two schemes in Northumbria. implementation guidelines came into force, saying The paper noted that area covering a key reason why efforts SuDS should be in place for new Killingworth and Long Benton had developments – but only if they were a population of almost 40,000 and SuDS legislation was for 10 homes or more, and only if periodic flooding problems despite “ SuDS were not “demonstrated to be “relatively modest rainfall”. It said never fully enacted as inappropriate”. that installing Suds to provide Schedule three of the Flood & attenuation and surface water expected Water Management Act still lies conveyance with exceedance storage dormant. could provide almost £50M of flood A poll of 365 built environment risk reduction benefits. had a change of government,” says professionals in spring 2016 found But despite all the reports that have Ashley. that four-fifths did not believe the been published in their favour, SuDS Schedule Three of the Flood & government to be committed to the have yet to receive the full backing of Water Management Act 2010 – long-term delivery of SuDS. Over policy makers at Westminster. passed in response to the Pitt Review half the respondents believed it was “We all thought we’d succeeded – would have required development too easy for developers to avoid SuDS when the Flood & Water Management projects to have their surface water implementation. Act was published by the Labour drainage systems approved before “The biggest reason SuDS is not government in 2010. But then we construction could begin. working as well as it could is the
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unenthusiastc about SuDS. The SuDs could government said itself in 2012 – five years after the 2007 floods – that create places fewer than half of new schemes used the systems. “Uptake has been slow,” that are nicer to live it conceded. in, with biodiversity, Half of respondents to the 2012 consultation disagreed with the cleaner water and less premise that sustainable drainage “ need be no more expensive than fl ooding traditional methods. Two years later there was concern about the cost of maintaining SuDS. “There was a general assumption lack of a legal driver,” says Martin from local authority and developer Lambley, product manager at SuDS respondents that commuted sums provider Wavin. “The biggest piece would be the norm,” said the missing is the overarching legislation.” government’s summary of responses So why has it been so hard to to the to the 2014 consultation. introduce effective legislation in The government has also noted England, and what lessons can be concerns about local authorities’ learned from elsewhere? technical capability to inspect the It is often held that developers construction of SuDS. have been against aspects of SuDS In short there was a wealth of legislation. Indeed in early 2012, the arguments made against the prompt Home Builders Federation called enforcement of SuDS and in the end for certain drainage measures to be a softer system was brought in, which delayed. In March 2014, the body said many feel has too many loopholes to it was “pleased to advise” members be effective. So where can England go that ministers had confirmed a delay from here? Well, it may not have to in the date by which SuDS would have look too far. to be approved. “Therefore house On 19 May 2017 the Welsh builders can continue with business as Government launched a consultation, usual,” it added. seeking views on proposals to enact Changing most cases, overall operational and Lambley and Ashley believe the Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water government maintenance costs are also lower,” influence of the housebuilders, at a Management Act. priorities are said the government. time when the Tory-led government The consultation document says hampering “Wales is taking proactive steps was relying on the construction that an assessment of options to efforts to towards creating a legal structure to industry for its response to the improve the uptake of effective SuDS enact pro-SuDs make SuDS work,” says Lambley. economic crisis, was a key reason for new developments “concluded legislation In Portland, Oregon in the United why SuDS legislation was never fully that implementing Schedule 3 States, the Green Street Program is enacted as expected. provides the best means of delivering another example of SuDS progress. So what was the main argument our policy objectives”. “A green street is a sustainable against the rapid introduction of a Wales intends to make unitary stormwater strategy that meets law requiring developers to ensure authorities the SuDS approving regulatory compliance and resource their SuDS were approved? A raft of bodies, and make them responsible protection goals by using a natural administrative reasons were proposed. for ensuring drainage systems are systems approach to manage “It became clear to us…. the maintained in accordance with stormwater, reduce flows, improve standards and guidance, which are national standards. water quality and enhance watershed essential for house builders to be able This could mean developers facing health,” says the City of Portland to design SAB-compliant SuDS, were a different set of drainage rules on website. not going to be ready,” said the HBF each side of the Severn Bridge. But Policy to promote such green in March 2014. “Most of the 152 new the Welsh Government is confident streets within private and public local authority SABs were clearly not there are financial as well as flood risk development has existed for a decade. going to be ready to process house management benefits to its approach. It recognises that 273M litres of builders’ SuDS applications by April. It points to a report by storm water must be removed from “Access across third-party land, Environmental Policy Consulting, the combined sewer system every year affecting about a quarter of sites, was which says that the use of SuDS from 2011. nowhere near resolution. And so on.” could save £9,000 in capital costs on In Portland, many public Many developers were clearly the average new home in Wales. “In projects pay a fee equal to 1% of
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the potential benefits of a roll out of SuDS across all schools and health centres in Greater Manchester. It estimated that as well as reducing the risk of surface water flooding, the initiative would boost water quality, reduce the need for water treatment, improve air quality, create better mental health, lead to better education and improve biodiversity. In the decade to 2028, a net present value of up to £65M was predicted, with a possible benefit to cost ratio of 2:1. “SuDS gives you the opportunity to use land to deliver multiple benefits,” says Ashley. Another group that may drive change is the water companies, if the conditions can be found to convince them that SuDS will help them manage water and waste water. As well as reducing demand on drainage, SuDS components can be adapted as technology allows, to provide useful information. “Gas and electricity firms manage capacity and demand, and water companies are looking at how they can get better at that with data, understanding flow better,” says Lambley. Water UK, which has described their construction cost into a A wealth of SuDS as vital, said in 2015 that fund for green streets. Standards water firms were well placed to adopt and incentives were designed arguments and maintain sustainable drainage to “encourage incorporation of systems. green street facilities into private made against the But, written evidence from development, redevelopment and the trade body to the Commons enhancement projects”. prompt enforcement Environment, Food and Rural According to Portland-based Affairs Committee this year said Museum of the City, peak flows of of SuDS and in the that “without significant legislative water to drains has reduced by up to “ change”, SuDS adopted by water 94%, at less than two-thirds of the end a softer system companies could deal only with rain cost of a traditional pipe enlargement was brought in water runoff from buildings and scheme. surrounding yards as “this is the only So why is this not happening in surface water that [water companies] England? are permitted by legislation to “It’s a political issue,” says Ashley. Lambley. handle”. Lambley says water management “We need to get into the policies It added: “These limitations are is not given the same priority in of place making, public health and so significant and it remains the case Parliament as education and health. on,” agrees Ashley. “The big problem that only the kind of overall approach “It is just seen as drainage.” is that people think SuDS is only that Schedule 3 offered can deal One avenue that is being explored about flood prevention.” adequately with surface water.” to break this deadlock is the A Ciria paper noted the advantages It seems all roads lead back to the promotion of the broader benefits of of making SuDS appealing to more Flood & Water Management Act, SuDS, beyond flood protection. policy makers back in 2013. and all eyes will be on how Wales “Suds could create places that A Business in the Community implements Schedule 3. are nicer to live in, with biodiversity, report earlier this year used Ciria’s A full version of this article is cleaner water and less flooding,” says BeST evaluation tool to calculate available online at goo.gl/JvkCWS
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 63 1
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Carboplate Overhead Repair System Mapei offers a full spectrum of products for the repair and structural strengthening of concrete construction and infrastructure projects.
This system is used for repairing and strengthening reinforced concrete elements damaged by physical and mechanical stresses, for strengthening concrete and wood to withstand flexural loads, and for upgrading structures in areas subject to seismic stress and earthquakes.
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MapeWrap 21 or MapeWrap 31 epoxy saturant
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For more information about Mapei’s system solutions, call 0121 508 6970 to speak to a member of the Technical Department.
0121 508 6970 | mapei.co.uk E E Tech Excellence IN T E NE R NE TE N G I E I IN TING T E NEE R GR N E N RVE BY MARK HANSFORD
he days of traffi c control, more data than ever before, giving closing roads and sending KEY FACT them better insights into the effects people into dangerous of design decisions. environments to produce By using the digital terrain model, topographical surveys will 1,200 they can calculate cut and fi ll soon be over if Highways measurements. They can also analyse England has its way. The motorways Times quicker visual lines of site by using a 3D mesh Tand trunk roads authority has worked to survey a or point cloud, reducing project costs with tech start-up Sensat over the highway with and also, ultimately, improving the past year to generate the fi rst high uality and user experience of the resolution digital models of UK a drone highway. highways, generated via autonomous It is pretty amazing and SenSat mapping drones. chief executive James Dean oozes Attention is currently centred on 15,000 enthusiasm. Hampshire, where Highways England Times as has brought in SenSat to generate many data a full 3D model of the M2 smart motorways scheme as part of its push points Having a towards rapid engineering modelling captured in a (REM). digital copy Highways England wants to drone survey completely automate the design of the world around us of its smart motorways routes, the aim being to “design a motorway in allows us to measure a day”. It asked SenSat to create a dataset that would integrate directly quicker, calculate with the REM, a cornerstone of “ automated digital design. more accurately and These integrations are made easier by generating outputs that are in the plan in ways that were computer’s language as standard, simply not possible unlike traditional surveys. The outputs of REM give design teams two years ago
66 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Sensat’s drones have flown over 9,000km of live A SenSat drone can motorway including the M27 (pictured) go places a human simply cannot, o ering a new, unique and safe approach to “what we do
“Having a digital copy of the world process of photogrammetry “cleans” around us is incredibly useful,” he the model to remove moving objects says. “It allows us to measure quicker, like cars. calculate more accurately and plan in “Mapp is designed to be intuitive ways that were simply not possible to use, boost productivity and allow even two years ago.” all project members to engage with To achieve these objectives, a digital copy of their world,” says SenSat had to deliver a highly Sensat chief executive Jack Lomas. accurate survey at a lower cost than If all that is not impressive enough, traditional means, without disrupting there is more. traffi c fl ow. In September, the government By no means coincidentally, SenSat announced a pathfi nder programme was well placed to do this. It already to test and trial ways that drones holds special permissions from the can be applied commercially to drive UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) technology adoption in the UK. that allow its drones to fl y over major The aim is to allow drones to be highways – one of the few companies safely and effi ciently fl own beyond to do so. the visual line of sight, enabling their ver the past year it has fl own over full technological potential to be Junction 11 of the M2 as ,000km over live highways without realised. a densified point cloud incident on behalf of engineering This programme will involve of over 1.78bn XYZ clients, delivering tangible cost drones fl ying up to the technological measurements and time benefi ts in data capture. limit, which currently stands at Aerial surveys are not only quicker 200km, compared to the current legal and cheaper, they deliver the data limit which is 500m from the pilot. in digital formats that the industry SenSat has been picked as the already uses. infrastructure pathfi nder partner, SenSat has worked out that its with partners Costain, the CAA, the surveys are 1,200 times quicker than Department for Transport and the traditional surveys and far, far more Transport Catapult. accurate – providing 15,000 times as It makes SenSat the only company many data points. Crucially, there is in the UK which is approved to fl y no need for physical access, reducing drones beyond the visual line of risks of accidents normally associated sight within civil engineering and with work on live highways. infrastructure. It will retain this In addition, there is no need to permission for three to fi ve years. spend time and money on traffi c These are exciting times. “We management and there is no believe technology will shape the disruption to customer journeys. future of effi cient working,” enthuses nce the data was collected it was Lomas. “We believe in innovation loaded into SenSat’s Mapp app. And in sustainability collecting useful here it gets even cleverer, and really information that can help us make starts to make a difference. better, more informed decisions for a As an example, a screenshot of the future of sustainable growth. cloud based Mapp platform depicts “Technology should also help Junction 11 of the M2 . This densifi ed reduce workplace risk, making our point cloud consists of over 1. bn working environments safer. accurate measurements. “A SenSat drone can go places a The highway itself seems unusually human simply cannot, offering a new, quiet - in fact traffi c was normal unique and safe approach to what we during the scan but the underlying do,” he says. N
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 67 Join the debate about the future of drainage
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Concrete Canvas ScottishPower hydro electric ume
Concrete Canvas (CC) is an The material is Main picture: coverage area as that provided by the innovative construction product that Concrete Canvas contents of two 17t ready mix trucks. can be described as “concrete on a simply unrolled remediation can Installed by Cubby Construction, roll”. be installed at at rates of up to 800m² per day, from a spreader beam rates of up to the material could be installed in Essentially, it is a flexible concrete 800m2 per day wet weather, which greatly reduced impregnated fabric that hardens on across the channel programme disruption and allowed for hydration, to form a thin, durable, Top right: The the quick return to operation of the waterproof and fibre reinforced remediated critical asset. concrete layer. Manufactured in “areas with substantial vegetation channel, four Flexible prior to hydration, the Pontypridd, South Wales, volume growth. Annual remedial works using years after the material is simply unrolled from a production of CC began in 2009 with conventional solutions, including crack Concrete Canvas spreader beam across the channel, the material now exported to over 80 injection resins, sprayed concrete, was installed cut to length, fixed into place with countries worldwide. insitu pouring and slab replacement shot-fired nails and hydrated. With Within the UK, the material is used were costing ScottishPower tens of Bottom Right: a low alkaline reserve and minimal extensively by the likes of Network thousands of pounds each year. The dilapidated washout, the material can safely Rail, Highways England and various In a remote location with restricted channel before be installed into live water courses environmental organisations for access, the CC alternative was it was lined with without adversely affecting the local erosion control applications such installed over a six week period in Concrete Canvas ecology; an important consideration as channel lining, slope protection inclement weather. The flume was for the materials specification by and culvert lining. With tightening then assessed over a four year period, ScottishPower. At only 5mm thick budgets and a greater focus on and in that time, the first phase of and with a low Manning’s value, increasing efficiencies with current CC lined section demonstrated its the material had minimal impact assets rather than new build schemes, durability against freeze-thaw action, on the hydraulic capacity or flow CC also offers a unique solution for abrasion resistance and environmental characteristics of the flume. the remediation of existing concrete weathering. It also provided Despite challenging weather infrastructure. ScottishPower with a low maintenance conditions the total installation took An example of this, is the solution that greatly increased the less than three weeks, using a five remediation of a dilapidated operational life of the structure as man team. hydro-electric flume network for well as making significant cost savings. Concrete Canvas Ltd was recently ScottishPower. Work began in 2013, Following the successful awarded the Technical Innovation where 7,500m² of CC was used to assessment, ScottishPower specified Award at the 2017 Ground Engineering line over 1.5km of concrete flume in CC for an additional 2,000m² Awards for its latest product, CC Dumfries and Galloway. The flume section, works for which were Hydro – the world’s fi rst all-in-one was suffering from significant water completed in August this year. armoured impermeable liner. loss as some sections were cracked, Supplied in bulk rolls of 200m², a l For further information please there was spalling and there were single pallet of CC provides the same visit www.concretecanvas.com
JUNE 2017 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 69 N R T
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DEBATE BACKGROUND
2020 2020s 2030s to 2040s An average Decade where Time by which desktop businesses and most human computer will individuals must labour will have have more choose whether been replaced, processing to compete according power than the with machines to Richard human brain by or build the Susskind 2020 machines READ MORE DEBATES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/NCE-LIVE
obots are coming to take over our jobs. Even jobs in Everyone thinks professions that some might have considered “safe” from the their profession technology takeover, including is going to get away with it, education, journalism, health and engineering, will soon be done by and we have got away with Rmachines, according to Richard Susskind OBE, author of e uture f t e r fess s. it for too long Susskind recently spoke to a select group of engineering business leaders about how “ artifi cial intelligence will revolutionise the for us to do? I don’t think the 2020s will be way we work – and sooner than we think. the decade of unemployment. It is about However, there will be roles for humans re-employment, developing systems to in the age of the machines, he said: “The replace our own ways of working, replacing decision is: do you compete with the ourselves … designing the systems that will systems, or do you build them?” replace our ways of working. The decision is: Professionals, engineers included, must do you compete with the systems or do you stop looking at processes and instead focus build them?” on what is produced, he said, using the Susskind: Machines are outperforming us He added: “The best way to predict the example of creating a hole in a wall. future is to invent it.” “Most professionals see scope for of attendees understandably seemed to be Skanska innovation and business technology in other professions rather than what immediate effect will this will have on improvement director Sam Stacey shared their own. But you need to focus on the current ways of working and, if machines Susskind’s optimism and said humans outcomes the hole in the wall rather than will eventually be able to do it all, what will fi nd other things to do. He said: “The the power tools.” should they do instead? The answer was, world has a wrong-headed idea about what “When we are thinking about our future we said Susskind, “re-employment” rather than employment is about. We are heading should take a step back and say: might there “unemployment”, which means engineers towards [a world where] we can solve the be a different way of delivering?’” should use their skills to design the systems fundamental needs of humanity today. Many people have the view that machines that will one day do their jobs in effect “Technology putting people out of jobs is can process information but that any replacing themselves. the wrong way to look at it. Human beings “creativity” or “innovation” re uires human “What does it mean for jobs, what is left are always going to fi nd something to do.” intervention, Susskind explained. This view is uite simply wrong, he said. “[The view was] that machines are very good at routine work, but that non-routine RICHARD SUSSKIND work re uires a human being”, he said, “They [machines] can only take you so far Richard Susskind is a lawyer and technologist. The book observes that many people but if you need a high level of imagination His doctorate in the mid-1980s was in respond by saying that there are limits to then you need a human being.” Aritificaial Intelligence (AI) and law. In 1988 what machines can do; that there are many But Susskind added: “The determined he co-developed the world’s first commercial “non-routine” tasks – creative and emotional view that machines do the routine work AI system in law. ones, for instance – that only human beings underestimates the processing power of can perform. technology. Many of his observations on the engineering The authors’ extensive research into “Machines are outperforming us, but doing profession are drawn from the arguments professional work does not support the view it in a different way” and findings presented in “The Future of the that the new tasks that emerge are and will be One of the big uestions on the minds Professions”, a book that he wrote with his ones for which humans are better suited than son Daniel Susskind, a Fellow in Economics at machines. Balliol College. It transpires that insistence that there A simplification of the position laid out in are tasks that can never be undertaken by When we are The book draws four conclusions: machines often rests on what is called the l that our systems and machines are “AI fallacy” – the belief that the only way to thinking about our becoming increasingly capable develop machines that can perform at the level l that they are taking on more and more of human beings is to copy the way human future we should take a tasks that were once the exclusive province of beings work. step back and say: ‘might human beings The error here is to fail to notice that many l that although new tasks will doubtless arise contemporary AI systems do not operate by there be a di erent way of in years to come machines are likely in time to copying human beings. Instead, they function “ take on many of these as well in quite different and unhuman ways. delivering?
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 71 Machine Learning Debate Round Table
Susskind continued: “This will liberate us The biggest rather than unemploy us”. DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS Inevitably this means that the way future engineers are trained and prepared for the problem, said world of work will have to change, because Richard Susskind was speaking at a Susskind, is that the if Susskind’s vision is correct then the round table discussion organised by professional landscape will be dramatically New Civil Engineer and supported technology takeover different when the students of today, and by Arup in October. The event was a tomorrow, start their careers. As Arup spin-off from New Civil Engineer’s could create an inequality London infrastructure director Tim Chapman Festival of Innovation and Technology “ pointed out: “All of our processes are going in September. Around the table were between the companies to be totally changed and undermined. a selection of business leaders. They Everyone thinks they [their profession] are were: which own it and those going to get away with it, and we have got Tim Chapman director, Arup London away with it for too long.” Tony Donnell director of engineering, which do not The consensus seemed to be that the Morgan Sindall old ways of teaching engineering students Chris Dulake global metros and far at Imperial was to teach the new skills were already out of date, but that there are transit practice leader and major as optional extras, and hope that this barriers to revolutionising the university projects portfolio director, training will eventually become part of education structure. Mott MacDonald the mainstream course. She added: “If you Aecom transportation director Paul Colin Evison head of innovation, Bam run an evening class, it is optional for the McCormick said that each year companies Nuttall students and you get the sort of groundswell take on a certain number of graduate Mark Hansford editor, New Civil that then allows it to get into the main trainees, but he uestioned how long that Engineer course, but at the moment a lot of that sort model would suit the needs of businesses. Jim Johnson director, Arup of thing is optional evening classes.” He challenged: “When are businesses going Hael Kobayashi associate director Skanska’s Stacey said that in the to have to adapt? At some point we are going digital, Arup construction industry there are “huge to realise that actually we don’t need 350 Paul McCormick transportation barriers” to break through to create the grads this year, we need 50, or none.” director, Aecom technological changes needed. He said: Susskind agreed that an overhaul of Alberto Ragazzoni structural engineer, “There are all these ways that we can see the education system was needed so that BDP how things can be better, we watch all these graduates could be trained for the future. He Dan Smith director, KPMG other industries and they are developing and said: “What are we training our graduates to Sam Stacey director of innovation and there is some sort of continuity there. become? We’re training lawyers and doctors business improvement, Skanska “With construction we are shackled by for the 20th century. We have got to re-think Nigel Tonks London buildings group the structure of the industry. We can have our educational system as well”. leader, Arup a lovely time fantasising about how much Arup London buildings group leader Nigel Jennifer Whyte chair in systems better it could be but we have to get over the Tonks referenced a survey of graduates that integration, Imperial College London problem of the shackles.” asked about digital skills and said the results Using more machines could lower risk had been “disappointing”. in the workplace, as there would be fewer Imperial College London chair in systems In association with people working on the construction sites. integration Jennifer White told the panel that This point was made by Bam Nuttall head of it can be diffi cult to get “cutting edge” digital innovation Colin Evison. “Should we employ skills into the university syllabus. more machines and less people?” he asked. She said: “I thought it would be a no One of the more philosophical uestions brainer” but added that it was diffi cult to posed by the debate was what the shift break down the old ways of doing things. towards technology would mean for “power She said the solution she had found so and democracy”. The biggest problem, said Susskind, is that the technology takeover could create We can have a lovely an ine uality between the companies which own it and those which do not. time fantasising He said: “There is going to be a big disparity…how will we distribute the about how much better it benefi ts and the burdens. What does it mean for power and democracy?”. could be but we have to get The conclusion: robots are coming for engineering jobs, but they might not create over the problem of the the dystopian scene that may spring to mind “ as long as humans are able to fi nd a way to shackles work alongside them.
72 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 Tech Bites NEW INNOVATIONS THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR PROJECTS NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/TECH-EXCELLENCE
TRANSPORT A40 RESURFACING JOB SETS RECYCLING BENCHMARK
A new benchmark for recycling in the highways industry has been set by FM Conway and Transport for London (TfL) on the A40 highway resurfacing project in west London. For the first time, a new asphalt surface course containing 50% high polished stone value recycled aggregate has been laid on a major trunk road in the UK. The material incorporates FM Conway’s own designed and manufactured polymer modified bitumen. Previously, standard practice limited the amount of recycled content for a surface course to 10% when used on motorways and A-roads. The new mix was laid on 20km of the A40 in west London.
FLOODING STRUCTURES TRANSPORT FLOOD DEFENCE CONTRACTORS HIGHWAYS ENGLAND LOOKS FOR CRITERIA SHOULD START FINAL STONEHENGE TUNNEL COST SAVINGS INCLUDE NATURAL FORTH ROAD RESOURCE IMPACT BRIDGE REPAIRS
The UK’s natural capital should Spencer Group has begun the be considered in flood final phase of repairs on the protection proposals, Forth Road Bridge arising from according to the Department the failure of one of the for Environment, Food and structure’s truss end links in Rural Affairs (Defra). Speaking 2015 which closed the bridge at New Civil Engineer’s Flood for three weeks. The contractor Management Forum in London will complete the replacement of in November, Defra head of seven truss end links with a water and flood integration sliding bearing system. Work Highways England is seeking headroom from here on in is to Hazel Durant said that while includes removing temporary cost-saving tunnelling actually value engineer some of the economic and societal steel frames on the main deck, innovations for the A303 upgrade the components out of it, but as cases for flood protection installing bearings and installing at Stonehenge, which is reaching you can see from the nature of schemes are usually new bearings on the side decks. its £1.6bn affordability limit. the scheme it’s really quite considered, the natural capital Work to install the bearings is Highways England project difficult to value engineer case - value placed on natural complicated by the position of director Derek Parody said: “The anything because the bulk of the resources – is not. the links under the deck. only way we can create cost of the scheme is the tunnel.”
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 73 6 June 2018 • London Hilton on Park Lane OPEN FOR ENTRIES ENTRIES CLOSE 12 JANUARY 2018
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Steel for Life would like to thank its sponsors: HEADLINE STRUCTURAL BARRETT STEEL LIMITED STEELWORK GOLD AJN Steelstock Ltd, Ficep UK Ltd, Kingspan Limited, National Tube Stockholders and Cleveland Steel & Tubes, ParkerSteel, Peddinghaus Corporation, voestalpine Metsec plc, Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd SILVER Hadley Group, Jack Tighe Ltd IN ACTION
P76 SOUTHBANK PLACE: COMPLEX STEEL TOWERS P78 CAMPUS WHITEHAVEN: UNITING TWO SCHOOLS l For further information about steel construction and Steel for Life, please visit www.steelconstruction.info or www.steelforlife.org P80 WEBSITE: THE STEEL SECTOR BIBLE P82 BEACON OF LIGHT: SUNDERLAND SPORTS CENTRE Edited and written by Martin Cooper P84 RUTHERFORD APPLETON LABORATORY SOUTHERNSTRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION TOWERS SOUTH BANK DEVELOPMENT USES STEEL FOR COMPLEX TOWERS AT WATERLOO
ituated between the London Eye and busy immediately behind the large-scale groundworks Waterloo Station, Southbank Place covers an KEY FACT programme, which is currently progressing throughout 2 area of more than 20,000m and consists of the site. two commercial blocks, six residential towers Viewed from outside the hoardings, the project is a along with new retail units, restaurants 6,300t forest of tower cranes – there are currently more than 10 – and cafés, all of which are located around Amount of needed to feed and lift the various materials being used. the existing Shell Tower, which will become one of structural steel “There is very little room on site and certainly no Sthe development's centrepieces when the project is used room for mobile cranes to be positioned or materials to completed in 2019. be stored,” explains Canary Wharf Contractors assistant The two new commercial office blocks, known as project manager Sam Hayward. “All of the steelwork has One and Two Southbank Place are both steel-framed to be delivered on a just-in-time basis and is being erected structures, containing 11 floors and 17 floors respectively. by tower crane.” Number One will be a new landmark headquarters for Severfield began its steel erection programme in Shell International’s downstream business. It is already January 2017. Work was able to commence once the fully pre-let to Shell for 20 years and consists of 83,190m2 concrete formed basements were completed, along with of office space and two retail units on the ground floor. the slip-formed cores. Two bridges will link this building with the adjacent Shell Building One has two cores, a main core that reaches Tower. the full height of the structure, and a secondary satellite Two Southbank Place is a 90,730m2 speculative core that only serves the lowest four levels. Building Two office and retail development that property investment has just the one centrally-positioned core. company Almacantar is marketing and leasing to “Building One is a fairly straightforward building, based occupiers. around a repetitive 9m by 12m grid pattern,” explains Apart from one residential tower, the two commercial WSP associate director Andrew Martin. “Two, on the structures are the first buildings to take shape on what is other hand, is much more complicated as its design is already a very busy and logistically challenging site. partially dictated by the Bakerloo Underground line that Faced with the usual traffic, noise and lack of space passes beneath its footprint.” all inner-city projects have to cope with, Southbank The Tube line actually passes under the structure’s Place will eventually have a maximum workforce of 1,600 south eastern corner and consequently no piles could be people. installed in this area. To avoid positioning columns over With so many trades people due on site, it was this important transport link, this corner, that houses the important to get the commercial blocks up as quickly main entrance of the building, slopes inwards from the as possible. The steel erection has been carried out sixth floor, with the aid of two raking columns.
76 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Top left: Steelwork Some of our connections erection quickly PROJECT TEAM progresses on both are very big, as the finished Project: One & Two Southbank Place, London buildings Main client: Braeburn Estates Top right: Building main member is up to 30t in weight Architects: Squire and Partners, Adamson Associates, One has steps Kohn Pederson Fox to accommodate in places. We’ve also had to use a Main contractor: Canary Wharf Contractors outdoor terraces Structural engineer: WSP number of plated sections to achieve Steelwork contractor: Severfield “ these spans
These raking columns make the building pull itself underside of the sixth floor. structurally towards this corner. To counterbalance this, The uppermost floor of Building Two is known as the temporary bracing has been installed. This has to remain entertainment area. Formed with 12m high elliptical in position until the structure’s floors are complete. members, it is a glazed pavilion that is set back from Both buildings have used cellular beams throughout the floors below and offers access to a rooftop terrace. for efficient service integration. However, unlike Building Adjacent to this feature the structure also has a rooftop One, which has some internal columns, Building Two two-storey plant enclosure. has none, with clear uninterrupted spans reaching a Meanwhile, Building One’s standout features are the five maximum length of 17m. further outdoor terraces, formed as the structure steps in at “With such long spans, some of our connections are level five, eight, nine and Level 11 which is a plant space. very big, as the finished main member is up to 30t in Both blocks will have different cladding systems, with weight in places,” says Severfield senior project manager Building Two finished with curtain walling, and One Paul Walmsley. “We’ve also had to use a number of plated predominantly clad with large precast panels weighing up sections to achieve these spans and the supporting to 12t columns.” Both buildings are aiming to achieve a Breeam The north and west elevation of Building Two features “Excellent” rating, and are due for completion towards a series of outdoor spaces accommodated on 2m-wide the end of 2018. cantilevers. These spaces extend upwards from level The project is one of the first to be operating as an 6, and they are formed by two further raking columns Ultra Site under the considerate contractor’s scheme. positioned at fourth floor level that extend up to the
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 77 FRAMESSTRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION FOR BRAINS STEELWORK BRINGS TWO CUMBRIA SCHOOLS TOGETHER ON ONE SITE
wo schools in Whitehaven, Cumbria will soon The trick is to order the be sharing new state-of-the-art premises KEY FACT that also incorporate an array of community steel early and get the accessible sports facilities. Known as Campus Whitehaven, it will bring 700t fabrication started as soon as together St Benedict’s Catholic High School Amount of and special education needs school Mayfield, into two new structural steel possible to iron out any snags Tbuildings at the former’s site in Hensingham, Whitehaven. used The £28M project, which is due for completion in August 2019 has been funded by investment from a “Despite some very inclement weather – unfortunately range of partners, including Copeland Community Fund, the Cumbria coast is prone to a fair amount of Cumbria County Council, the Nuclear Decommissioning precipitation – it was possible to complete the steelwork Authority and Sellafield Ltd. a week ahead of schedule. This then allowed BSS to “This remarkable project has incredible potential to continue with the other elements of its package, such as transform the education of young people in Whitehaven installing precast floor slabs and roof decking. and improve the health and well-being of the whole “That’s one of the advantages of steel, it is quick to community,” says Cumbria County Council cabinet erect and only high winds, which we didn’t really get, member for economic development and property, will halt its progress,” says Wates senior project manager councillor David Southward. Simon Humphrey. “I’ve been involved in a number of steel As well as an indoor sports hall, fitness suite and a construction jobs in the past and this one has been one hydrotherapy pool, a range of outdoor facilities will be of the most well organised. The trick is to order the steel available to local community during non-school hours. early and get the fabrication started as soon as possible These include multi-use sports pitches, one of which will to iron out any snags, and this is precisely what we did.” have an all-weather 4G surface. Completing the steel frame quickly allowed the follow- Main contractor Wates Construction started on site in May on trades to get an early start, helping to achieve the this year after earthworks to prepare what were previously project team’s aim of creating a watertight structure sports pitches for the construction works. Foundations were before the onset of winter. installed, and steelwork erection began in June. The campus has been designed with a focus on “We erected the entire 700t steel frame, which using intelligent planning to produce a creative and amounted to some 3,500 individual pieces, in 11 weeks,” collaborative learning environment for students across a says Border Steelwork Structures (BSS) contracts director wide range of abilities. Stuart Airey. Mayfield, for instance, is a Mobility Opportunities via
78 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Building schools with steel is an efficient way to build with the added benefit of built-in flexibility
“Benedict’s getting a three-storey wing, and Mayfield being accommodated in a lower, two-storey building. Both wings are of a similar design with steelwork supporting precast planks and columns mostly based around a 7m by 7.5m grid pattern. This creates two perimeter rows of classrooms separated by central corridors – 1.8m wide in St Benedicts and 2m wide in Mayfield – formed by intermediate columns. “Building schools with steel is a tried and tested method,” comments Curtins Consulting Director Andy Roberts. “It’s an efficient way to build with the added benefit of built-in flexibility, whereby partition walls can be removed to create larger classrooms if and when desired.” All of the classroom services are accommodated within the corridors beneath the steel beams, with individual services then directed into each class. Each wing is a fully braced frame with cross bracings positioned in some internal partitions as well as in stairwells, which are located at each end of the structures. Because the wings are each approximately 100m long, they are each separated from the central zone by movement joints. As each wing is located either side of the entrance and the sports facilities, ease of access has been guaranteed to these areas as well as a fair amount of privacy. Above: The The central shared zone of the campus, which will triangular entrance also be the part accessed by the local community is PROJECT TEAM canopy connects highlighted by the beak-like triangular pointed entrance, Project: Campus Whitehaven the two schools which provides access into a double-height circulation Main client: Cumbria County Council Inset: Artist’s area known as the winter garden. Architect: Ellis Williams Architects impression of the The fully glazed entrance is formed with a series of Main contractor: Wates Construction campus entrance circular hollow section feature columns with universal Structural engineer: Curtins Consulting beams and ties supporting the 159mm deep aluminium Steelwork contractor: Border Steelwork Structures deck roof. The winter garden is a large open space with just one internal column and has no heating, making it a pseudo- Education Centre of Excellence, combining therapy and outdoor environment. A large circular roof light will allow education to teach functional skills, such as sitting and plenty of natural light into the zone. The longest steel walking to children with physical disabilities and complex elements of the project were used to span this area, with needs. some beams measuring up to 22m long. Augmentative technologies will be used from the very Positioned towards the back of the winter garden first design phase to identify and propose flexible and are the shared dining areas, kitchens and sports areas. innovative interior solutions to support these learning These consist of the number of double-height long span objectives and help students live more independent lives. structures, with the largest being the main sports hall. St Benedict’s interior will draw inspiration from the The sports hall has a clear span of 18.4m, while the pool local area’s technological industries and provide solutions has a span of 15.1m. to facilitate a diverse curriculum, where students will be “When looking at the structural choices for Campus encouraged to explore robotics, renewable energy and Whitehaven, steel was the obvious choice. We have some low carbon technologies. large spans throughout the scheme and for economy On plan, the overall project has a birdlike appearance wanted to keep the building height to a minimum. Steel with two long teaching wings positioned either side of a helped us achieve this,” says Ellis Williams Architects body structure that contains the entrance/winter garden associate Ruth Clayton. and the sports areas. “The winter garden forms the main entrance to the Emphasising the avian likeness, the central body campus and we wanted a light and airy feel to the double culminates in a triangular pointed entrance area that height space, while the dynamic triangular feature resembles a beak. canopy that articulates the entrance was easily achieved The schools will occupy one wing each, with St in steel to give the minimal look we wanted.”
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 79 SHAREDSTRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION TOOL STEEL WEBSITE DRAWS TOGETHER MORE AND MORE INFORMATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS WORKING ON STRUCTURES
he steel sector’s website – Articles are also regularly www.steelconstruction.info - is the number one destination for engineers and other reviewed and updated construction professionals seeking to access steel related information. where needed as part of a formal Launched five years ago, www.steelconstruction.info brings together all of the maintenance regime Tsector’s technical and cost information, which was only previously available from a variety of different sources. was updated to feature the projects which won Described as the free encyclopaedia for the UK steel “awards, commendations and merits (see box), and fully construction sector, it was designed to be easy to use, hyperlinked “case studies” for each winning project as comprehensive as possible, and the one-stop-shop for have been added to the ever-growing bank of project technical guidance on steel construction. data. More than 30 other case studies of projects under British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) construction in 2017 have also been added so far this year technical development manager Chris Dolling says: “We covering a broad range of building types and sectors. set out to provide the best possible internet-based source For those who are new to www.steelconstruction.info for steel construction information and we feel this is the site has well over 100 wikipedia-style articles, written exactly what we’ve achieved. by the steel sector’s own experts as well as external “Feedback has been very positive and the Google consultants. They cover best practice in the use of steel Analytics for the website continue to show year-on-year across the construction sector, as well as topics such growth in the number of users.” as fire engineering, costs, sustainability and health and Key to the success of the website is the continuous safety. stream of new content and the regular updates to ensure These core articles act as roadmaps to each topic with the information provided remains current. Highlights so links to more detailed information available from the far this year include: sector and other external sources. A number of online l A new article discussing steel and the circular economy CPD presentations are also included. These enable users l A major new release of the design software that to take a test and download a certificate for their records. calculates the Elastic critical moment for lateral-torsional There is also a host of links taking users directly to
buckling (Mcr) web-based steel design software and tools, while the news l A new interactive version of the “Blue Book” that section allows access to a number of BCSA and Steel for provides design data for open and hollow sections to Life supplements that have appeared in construction and comply with Eurocodes and BS 5950 (see box) architectural publications, such as New Civil Engineer, l A new article bringing together and indexing all Construction News and Building. Advisory Desk Notes published since January 2010 The steel sector has an ongoing pipeline of research l Quarterly updates to the cost table, cost comparison and development work, and continuously updates its figures, and BCIS location factors to suit the latest data guidance in line with changes in legislation, standards and from Aecom industry practice. Articles are also regularly reviewed and l A new series of written CPD Modules updated where needed, as part of a formal maintenance l A new SCI guide (P419) on “Brittle fracture”, presenting regime that ensures every article is kept up-to-date. modified steel thickness limits for use on buildings where Users can register on the site to get quarterly email fatigue is not a design consideration (see box) alerts highlighting all of its new features, updates and Recently the Structural Steel Design Awards article additional information.
80 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 GUIDE TO BRITTLE STRUCTURAL STEEL NEW INTERACTIVE FRACTURE NOW DESIGN AWARDS BLUE BOOK NOW AVAILABLE 2017 WINNERS AVAILABLE
Commissioned and funded by the The five winning projects Produced by the Steel BCSA and Steel for Life, a new at the 49th annual Construction Institute (SCI) on Steel Construction Institute (SCI) Structural Steel Design behalf of Steel for Life, a new guide “(P419) Brittle fracture: Awards (SSDA) were interactive version of the Blue selection of steel sub-grade to BS The Leadenhall Building, Book is now available and can be EN 1993-1-10”, has been added to London (pictured); found in the Key Resources menu the website. T-Pylon; LSQ London; of the website. HGV Egress Ramp, Selection of steel sub- Selfridges, London; and The comprehensive web-hosted grade is an important Oriam, Heriot-Watt resource includes design responsibility for all University, Edinburgh. information in accordance with the steel designers, in Eurocodes and BS 5950. order to manage the Commonly referred to It provides design data for the risk of brittle fracture. as the “Cheesegrater”, full range of open sections and The design rules in the The Leadenhall Building hollow sections (both hot-finished Eurocode were developed for also won the Project and cold-formed), and does not structures subject to fatigue such of the Year Award, a require any software to be installed as bridges and crane supporting new award category on a host computer. structures, and it is acknowledged recognising outstanding achievement and design in steel SCI associate director Michael that their use for buildings where construction. Sansom said: “The new user- fatigue plays a minor role is Reaching a height of 224m, the use of steel was friendly and refreshed interactive extremely safe-sided. fundamental in creating this landmark wedge-shaped Blue Book has a format that allow This new publication presents building that now adorns the City of London. users to either print information modified steel thickness limits From an initial shortlist of 17 projects, all of this year’s directly or export information which may be used in buildings entries scored highly in sustainability, cost-effectiveness, to a spreadsheet on their own where fatigue is not a design efficiency and innovation, with six schemes getting computer.” consideration. Commendations and six collecting Merits.
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 81
SPORTSSTRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION LEGACY STEEL WAS THE COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR SUNDERLAND’S BEACON OF LIGHT
ifferent sized trusses are providing the architect Paul Reed. spans to create the column-free spaces for At ground floor level the building will accommodate a
Sunderland’s Beacon of Light sports and KEY FACT large multi-use sports and performance hall, adjacent to
education facility. which sits a four-level teaching and learning block. Above Known as the Beacon of Light and 880t this, and topping the entire structure, is an indoor 4G located adjacent to Sunderland FC's Amount of football pitch. famous Stadium of Light football ground, the facility is structural steel “Structural steelwork was the obvious choice and Dsaid to be the first of its kind in the UK and will include used it is the only material that could form the building, engaging and interactive zones for education, health and particularly the trusses, cost-effectively and efficiently,” fitness, as well as sport. says Marc Horn, a director at structural engineers Shed. The Beacon is also the final project of the wider There are a lot of trusses in this structure. Working regeneration of the former Monkwearmouth colliery site. from top to bottom, the uppermost and longest trusses, Other projects on the site, as well as the stadium have at 60.5m long, are the nine that form the Beacon’s roof, included a hotel and an aquatics centre boasting a 50m creating the column-free space for the third-storey competition pool. football pitch. Built over five-storeys and occupying 4.75ha, the They are fabricated from box sections, 150mm by Beacon is a large cube-shaped structure, which will be 150mm by 10mm top boom and 200mm by 200mm by illuminated at night. The upper areas will be clad with 8mm bottom boom. The top boom was pre-cambered translucent polycarbonate cladding allowing light from for steelwork contractor Harry Marsh (Engineers) by within the structure to seep out, creating a highly visible specialist bending company Angle Ring. The trusses are beacon on the city’s landscape. 4.1m-high and weigh 13t each. They were brought to site “Steel has been chosen for the Beacon of light to in three pieces and were erected individually using Harry enhance the concept of a simple lightweight enclosure over Marsh’s on site mobile tower crane. a brick base. This is of particular importance within the “It’s a two-way spanning roof, as connecting the main polycarbonate enclosed football barn where the primary trusses, are sets of secondary trusses formed from and secondary structural elements remain visible.” secondary members,” says Horn. “This design proved to Here, connections have been designed carefully to be more efficient and lighter.” minimise visual impact and painted hot-rolled box Because of this design, each truss, was supported elements have been used to create an unimposing during erection at third points by two temporary trestles. support frame. The use of steel in the roof provides These had to stay in position until the entire series of nine a strong but lightweight solution, maximising light roof trusses and their connecting steel members was in penetration through the fabric covering, creating a place, thereby making the entire structure stable. glowing beacon effect at night,” says FaulknerBrowns The main structure of the Beacon is formed with
82 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Top left: The steel Structural steelwork was PROJECT TEAM frame is clad in a translucent the obvious choice and it polycarbonate Project: Beacon of Light, Sunderland material is the only material that could Main client: Foundation of Light Architect: FaulknerBrowns Architects Top right: The form the building, particularly Main contractor: Tolent Construction Beacon is next to Structural engineer: Shed the trusses, cost-effectively and Sunderland FC’s Steelwork contractor: Harry Marsh (Engineers) Stadium of Light “ efficiently
Bottom right: universal column sections up to the underside of the The storey-high spine trusses are positioned in a Cross section top floor. Above this point, a series of vertical trusses row, at second floor level, across the building’s width, made from square hollow sections, up to 4.8m high and of the building, effectively forming the demarcation between the sports measuring up to 21m in length, form the football pitch showing the hall and the teaching zone. area’s elevations and support the roof trusses. structural As well as supporting the sports hall trusses, these Below the football pitch, another two series of trusses steelwork multi-purpose trusses also support three levels of were required to create the column-free space for the structure and allow the first floor below to have just multi-use sports and performance hall on the next level two columns within the viewing gallery overlooking the down, as well as the areas that overlook it. Spanning a sports hall. distance of 34.7m and each weighing 13.7t, nine 4m high The gallery will be used by spectators during trusses form the hall’s roof and support approximately sports contests and concerts. More spectators can half of the floor for the football pitch above. be accommodated on moveable stands, which can be They were brought to site in three sections, and then stored, when not in use, in a recess beneath the first floor. bolted up to form two larger pieces, consisting of one The three-level accommodation block is formed third and another two thirds element. Using two mobile around a semi-regular 6.75m grid pattern, which also cranes, they were then lifted into place, with the final corresponds with the set-out pattern for the project’s connection between the two pieces being completed trusses. while they were being supported by the cranes. “A number of discussions were held about the grid as it These trusses are supported at one end by the has to accommodate classrooms, offices and work spaces,” building’s perimeter columns, and internally by another adds Horn. “The chosen column spacings proved to be the series of three spine trusses. most efficient for all of the intended uses.”
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 83
RESEARCHSTRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION FOCUSED STRUCTURAL STEEL WAS CHOSEN FOR A SENSITIVE LABORATORY SITE AT HARWELL
steel-framed facilities building at the Nicholls Marcel structural engineer Steven Coates. Harwell Science Campus has been designed “We did initially look at a portal frame design, but as
to provide column-free testing and storage KEY FACT both halls’ steelwork supports large overhead cranes
space, as well as to fit unobtrusively into there would have been too much lateral loading, and the rural landscape. 900t so we have vertical bracing providing the structural Home to more than 200 organisations, Amount of stability.” Harwell is a vast world-renowned science and innovation structural steel Each hall has an overhead gantry crane, serving the full campusA covering 284ha in the Oxfordshire countryside a used length of the building. The crane in the handling hall has few miles south of Didcot. a maximum lifting capacity of 50t, while the crane in the It has been claimed that every major industry sector in test hall has a maximum capacity of 35t. which the UK economy is actively involved either resides Creating the halls’ open column-free spaces are a series at Harwell in some form or visits the campus to conduct of 2m deep 35m long triangular roof trusses, which slope research and product development. downwards from the central row of columns. This means One of the main tenants is Rutherford Appleton that the interior height of each hall is 19m in the middle Laboratory (RAL), operated by the Science & Technology and 14m at the perimeter elevation. Facilities Council, which provides research into a diverse Tubular members were chosen for the trusses as they range of areas such as particle physics, space science, are less likely to collect dust, something which is highly materials, astronomy, and computational and e-science. important in a sterile scientific and research environment. RAL is constructing a new £23.7M facilities support According to Willmott Dixon site manager Noel Cafferty, building that will provide specialist support areas the sloping roofs have been designed to add architectural allowing researchers to test and commission new interest to the structure while helping the halls blend into scientific equipment. the surrounding countryside. Being built by Willmott Dixon, the facility consists of The facility is set into a dip in the landscape, dug out by two large open plan halls; the handling hall and the test Willmott Dixon early in its construction programme. The hall. Each is a single storey, steel braced frame measuring building is also set on the very edge of the campus and so 70m long by 35m wide. the upper parts of both halls can be seen from afar and The two halls sit side by side, share a central row of importantly from a popular walking trail. columns and are part of one large steel frame. However, The sloping roofs are intended to help the structures due to the sloping site, there is a 5m difference of floor become less obtrusive, while the Kalzip roof and wall level from the testing hall at the top of the site to the cladding has a striped design and a colour that marries lower handling hall. into the horizon. “Steel was the obvious choice for this project because Steelwork contractor Hambleton Steel brought the of the building’s size and the required spans,” says Clarke tubular trusses to site in three sections. Two mobile
84 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018
Top left: Secondary Steel was the obvious choice PROJECT TEAM curved steelwork forms the bullnose for this project because of elevation Project: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Facilities Top right: The the building’s size and the required Support Building, Harwell Science Campus, building has Oxfordshire been constructed spans Main client: Science & Technology Facilities Council to be visually Architect: Oxford Architects unobtrusive within Main contractor: Willmott Dixon bullnose feature was created by attaching a series of its setting “ Structural engineer: Clarke Nicholls Marcel secondary curved members to the main frame. Bottom right: Steel Steelwork contractor: Hambleton Steel Inside the handling hall there are two structurally model of the entire independent buildings; the laboratory and the handling scheme office. The laboratory is a single storey load bearing cranes erected the trusses, one lifting two bolted up blockwork building with precast planks forming the flat sections, while the other lifted the third piece. Once both roof, which will be used for storage. pieces were bolted to the supporting columns, the final The two-storey handling office is a braced steel connection between each piece was made, while the frame with composite beams supporting a 130mm-thick steelwork was being held in place by the cranes. concrete slab on profiled metal decking. The roof beams Hambleton’s steel erection programme started with the are cellular to allow distribution of services within the structurally independent four-storey braced steel frame structural depth. that forms an office building, which is connected to one Two steel-framed stair towers are located at either end end of the test hall. of the building and were both installed by Hambleton The offices are constructed using cellular beams during a return visit sometime after the main frame had supporting 150mm thick concrete slabs on profiled metal been completed. decking. The curved roof of the office matches the profile Both stairs provide access to the roof and are of the curved roof of the adjacent test hall. approximately 27m high. The stair flights are precast After erecting the offices, Hambleton progressively concrete units spanning the width of the stair well. erected the two halls, with two gangs working The roofs of both stair towers are precast concrete simultaneously. Once the main frame and roofs were up, hollowcore planks. Positioned on top of the stair tower Hambleton then installed a number of interior features roofs are steel-framed braced chimney stacks. along with an architectural bullnose element that runs The facilities support building is due for completion in along the main elevation of the handling hall. The Spring 2018.
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MICROTUNNEL SHORE CROSSING
UKRAINE Highly fractured zones RUSSIA
Site investigation Black Sea BULGARIA boreholes 163m
TURKEY Aegean SUCCEED Sea NEW CIVIL ENGINEER TUNNELLING AWARDS
MICROTUNNEL SHORE CROSSING EXEMPLIFY INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICE 80m
BY KATHERINE SMALE 30m
Microtunnel chainage ~1470m
at the at the base of the Caucasus Mountain range just south of Anapa on KEY FACTS the Black Sea coast in Russia, It then falls steeply by 80m to the coast, exiting in the sea, 30m below sea level. he global winners in 800kPa The steepness of the tunnel incline this years’ New Civil Maximum meant that trenchless technology had Engineer Tunnelling design to be used to construct it, however awards have outstripped it was this steep angle which gave it the competition and pressure for its first world first. Never before had provided a glimpse of the South Stream a microtunnel been bored at such a outstanding projects which are going steep angle. Ton around the world. Two projects TBM slurry Another challenge for contractors stood out. One involved the first use of system and building the 1.47km long, 2m diameter a tunnel boring machine in Hawaii and pumps tunnel. It is also situated in a highly KANEOHE/KAILUA SEWER TUNNEL PROJECT the other, the steepest incline of any seismic zone, passing through microtunnel ever achieved in Russia. geographic faults and highly fractured Kauai Niihau O’ahu KAILUA REGIONAL zones of complex rock formations. WASTEWATER 110MPa Molokai H TREATMENT PLANT N Unusually, the microtunnelling, which A W Maui GLOBAL WINNER: SOUTH A I I A Compressive N Lanai is normally carried out at shallow STREAM – MICROTUNNEL I S L A Kaho’olawe SHORE CROSSING IN RUSSIA – strength depths, also had to pass up to 163m N D ED ZUEBLIN/STRABAG of rock North S The South Stream Microtunnel Shore Pacific Ocean Island of Hawaii crossing on Russia’s Black Sea coast encountered was a technical feat of engineering on Kanoehe The steepness 500m which made it the stand out winner Kaneohe Kailua sewer Bay in the Tunnelling Project of the Year of the tunnel Gravity tunnel (up to $150M) category. The remit for tunnel alignment joint venture contractors Ed Zueblin incline meant that and Strabag was to build two tunnels, trenchless technology FLOW OF each of which would contain an Kaneohe WASTEWATER wastewater Access shaft 810mm diameter pipe to transport had to be used to pre-treatment location gas from Russia to Turkey. facility The tunnel entrance is situated “ construct it
88 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 below the mountain range, and as a consequence was subjected to highly- variable and partially fractured rock mass with groundwater pressures of up to 500kPa. Thicker than usual steel plates were required for the protective parts of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) to cope with the high overburden and potential rock squeezing felt at these depths. Special seals also had to be installed on the TBM to withstand the high groundwater pressure, and the slurry system and pumps had to be designed for internal pressure of 800kPa, for when it reached its lowest One of the MICROTUNNEL SHORE CROSSING point under the mountain. UKRAINE The tunnel lining sections were Highly fractured project team’s zones installed from the entry pit using a RUSSIA pipe jacking technique. To aid this, primary concerns Site investigation Black Sea 10 intermediate jacking stations were BULGARIA boreholes 163m installed every 130m along the tunnel was how to mitigate
TURKEY to provide sufficient force to push Aegean Sea the linings into place. In addition, an the impact of noise innovative lubrication system to keep “ from the works MICROTUNNEL the jacking forces as low as possible SHORE CROSSING was also used. With this approach, 80m the team was able to progress at an 30m average rate of 15m to 21m per day. overflows, on 30 April 2015 the City Recovering the TBM was also a and County of Honolulu, Hawaii major feat. The tunnel exit in the sea launched the first tunnel boring
Microtunnel chainage ~1470m was 30m underwater , so to prepare machine (TBM) to be used in the for the removal of the TBM, a special American state to create its longest integrated lifting-lug system was built gravity flow wastewater tunnel. into the TBM, significantly reducing The new 4m diameter tunnel will the effort and diving time required. transport water 4.9km, up to 91m The TBM was then lifted onto a under the Oneawa Hills, from the waiting barge. Kaneohe wastewater pre-treatment Throughout the construction facility to the Kailua regional process, a state of the art video and wastewater treatment plant. The communication system called Hades tunnel will also act as a reservoir for was used for the first time. This water during major storms, allowing allowed two-way communication the water to be treated over time. along the entire length of the Logistically the use of a TBM tunnel. This, says Strabag, was for the project required careful key to providing a safe working planning. The £4.1M TBM had to be environment. transported from Solon, Ohio, to the On completion of the tunnel, a KTC west coast of the United States before KANEOHE/KAILUA SEWER TUNNEL PROJECT 800 Linear winch, the most powerful it could be loaded onto a ship bound linear winch available at the time, was for the remote Hawaiian island in a Kauai used to pull a 127mm diameter wire journey taking a total of four weeks. Niihau O’ahu KAILUA REGIONAL WASTEWATER and the steel gas pipeline through the As tunnelling progressed, the Molokai H TREATMENT PLANT N A W Maui tunnel. TBM team encountered primarily A I I A N Lanai Construction started in June 2014 hard basaltic rock with unconfined I S L A Kaho’olawe N and took just over two years to compressive strengths of up to D North S complete, finishing in July 2016. 110MPa. There was also a 200m Pacific Ocean section of soft ground, which Island of Hawaii GLOBAL WINNER: KANEOHE/ required significant pre-excavation grouting to control groundwater 500m KAILUA SEWER TUNNEL Kaneohe PROJECT – SOUTHLAND inflows in excess of 63l/s. Bay Gravity tunnel HOLDINGS In these areas of soft ground, jet alignment Storms in the exposed island of grouting – a process using a high Hawaii can be devastating. Heavy rain kinetic energy jet of fluid to break leading to flash floods can overwhelm up and loosen the ground, and mix FLOW OF Kaneohe WASTEWATER the sewer system, damaging it with a thin slurry – was used to wastewater Access shaft pre-treatment location homes and the environment in the improve the ground and control the facility surrounding area. water. To reduce the risk of sewage Several deep shafts also had
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 89 World View Tunnelling Awards
Measures 1 the team had put in place to employ the local “community, mitigate noise and harm to the environment were a major feature of the project
to be built as part of the tunnel construction and one of the project team’s primary concerns was how to 6 7 mitigate the impact of noise from the works on the surrounding, densely packed urban environment. To address this, a 9m high, 305m long sound wall was installed around Winners Award the Kailua regional wastewater treatment plant, with noise monitoring conducted 24 hours a day. A community hotline was also set up to address complaints from nearby 9 10 residents. The team also trained and used local labour throughout the construction works. The judges sald that the measures the team had put in place to employ the local community, mitigate noise and harm to the environment were a major feature of the project. They were also impressed by the intricacies of the introduction of the first TBM on to the island and how 11 it dealt with ground treatment and support methodologies in difficult water bearing ground conditions. Boring finished in June 2016 and the tunnel lining to carry the waste water and avoid contamination of the surrounding ground was then grouted in place. This comprised 885, up to 6m long sections of 3m diameter Hobas glass fibre-reinforced thermosetting resin pipe. Only the first phase of the project was entered for the award. The second and third phases – which will include new shafts to control odour and an intermediate maintenance and emergency access – are programmed for completion in 2018. N
90 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 2 3 1. UK TUNNELLING TEAM 7. HEALTH, SAFETY OF THE YEAR AND WELLBEING Winner: - Dr Sauer & INITIATIVE Partners, Dragados and OF THE YEAR London Underground for Winner: Tideway, in the Bank Station capacity partnership with Active upgrade Highly commended: Training Team (ATT) for the Ferrovial Agroman Laing Employer Project Induction O’Rourke JV, OTB and Centre (EPIC) London Underground for the Highly commended: Dr 4 5 Northern Line Extension Sauer & Partners, Dragados and London Underground for 2. TECHNOLOGY the Bank Station Capacity INNOVATION Upgrade OF THE YEAR Winner: Bouygues Travaux 8. SPECIALIST Publics for its Thalia TUNNELLING PROJECT Simulator OF THE YEAR Highly commended: Winner: BNM Alliance for Dragages-Bouygues Joint the Elan Valley Aqueduct Venture for its Pipe- (EVA) Rehabilitation Project 8 jacking TBM Method for Construction of cross 9. OUTSTANDING passage CONTRIBUTION TO A PROJECT AWARD 3. DESIGNER Winner: Southland Holdings INNOVATION for the Jollyville Transmission OF THE YEAR Main Tunnel Winner: Dragages-Bouygues Joint Venture for MTRC 10. YOUNG TUNNELLER Contract 1128 SOV to OF THE YEAR Admiralty Tunnels Winner: Morgan Oleron of Bouygues Travaux Publics 4. COMMUNITY Highly commended: ENGAGEMENT AWARD Nicolas Ballu of Dragages Winner: Tideway for Skilling Hong Kong our Communities for the Future Highly commended: 11. GLOBAL MMC Gamuda KVMRT TUNNELLING Klang Valley for the TEAM OF THE YEAR underground work package Winner: Dragages Hong – Mass Rapid Transit Sungai Kong for Liantang Contract 2 12 13 Buloh – Kajang Line 12. TUNNELLING 5. CONTRACTOR PROJECT OF THE YEAR INNOVATION (OVER $150M) OF THE YEAR Winner: Southland Winner: Dragages-Bouygues Holdings for the Kaneohe/ Joint Venture for its pipe- Kailua Sewer Tunnel Project jacking TBM method for Highly commended: construction of cross passage UnPS for Crossrail C510 Highly commended: M4 East Whitechapel Station Platform for the WestConnex M4 East Tunnels Walking Scrubber 13. TUNNELLING 6. GEOTECHNICAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR SPECIALIST (UP TO $150M) INNOVATION OF THE Winner: Ed Zueblin/ YEAR Winner: FCC Strabag for South Stream - Construcción for the Bolaños Microtunnel Shore Crossing Tunnel in Russia
JANUARY 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 91 World View INSPIRING CIVILS ACROSS THE GLOBE NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/WORLD-VIEW
NEW ZEALAND QUAKE COLLAPSE: NO CHARGES
New Zealand police say there will be no prosecutions for the collapse of the CTV building in Christchurch, in the 2011 earthquake, killing 115 people. olice had been investigating whether criminal charges of negligent manslaughter should be brought against the engineers responsible for the building’s design. They said a technical investigation had found that there were “significant” deficiencies in the building’s design, but that there was insufficient evidence to provide a “reasonable prospect of conviction”.
AUSTRALIA PANAMA UNITED STATES SOUTH AUSTRALIA PANAMA ROAD OROVILLE SPILLWAY CRACK GETS WORLD’S WIDENING JOB FOR FEARS PLAYED DOWN BY DAM LARGEST BATTERY SPANISH-LED GROUP AUTHORITY IN CALIFORNIA
A battery more than three times FCC Corredor de las Platas bigger than the world’s largest is to consortium has been awarded the be installed by Tesla in the state of $543M (£402.2M) contract to widen South Australia. The local electricity the first section of Panama’s utility is using the battery in an Inter-American Highway in Central attempt to end the region’s energy America . The project to widen the crisis following damage to critical 32.7km highway to six lanes, infrastructure caused by a 50-year including the Capira and Campana storm last year. The storm caused a bypasses, will take more than 20 major blackout in the state leaving months to complete, the group said. 1.7M residents without power. The The consortium, formed by FCC 100MW (129MWh) lithium ion Construccion and CICSA – battery will be charged using the infrastructures and construction Concerns about hairline cracks in slabs forming the new renewable energy from the division of Grupo Carso – will flood control outlet in California’s Oroville Dam have Hornsdale Wind Farm. The design, construct and maintain been played down by the dam’s operator. Major repairs electricity will then be released the highway. The work will improve to the dam were needed after a large hole formed in the during peak hours in an effort to the connection with the Arraijan-La main concrete spillway of the dam in February. During make the system more reliable. The Chorrera motorway – which FCC repairs in October, the striking of formwork over recently project was delivered within 100 had previously worked on – and the placed, erosion-resistant concrete slabs exposed a days of the contract award. Pan-American Highway. number of small cracks in their upper surface.
92 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 8 March | Grosvenor House Hotel, London
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Sponsored by Charity partner Partners Graduate of the Year Awards
DOING MORE FOR SOCIETY CHARLOTTE MURPHY IS THIS YEAR’S OUTSTANDING CIVIL ENGINEERING GRADUATE BY JESS CLARK
94 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 WATCH WINNERS’ VIDEOS AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/LIVE
degree in civil seek different skills in their graduate WINNER CONSULTANT engineering is a talent. KEY FACTS GRADUATE OF THE YEAR now a requirement The finding? Was there any clear & JUDGES’ CHOICE for up to 15% of difference in skill set? Not really. All CHARLOTTE MURPHY all engineering 100 nine finalists were highly talented; vacancies, up and all three winning graduates Employer: Arup from 9% in 2012. As a skill set, civil Number will be outstanding employment University details: University of engineeringA is now ranked inside the of entries candidates who are already making a Cambridge, BA Hons First Class, top 10 most requested skills clusters positive impact in the industry. MEng with distinction in the industry. received But more than that, they also Year of graduation: 2016 What technology – and artificial had a clear vision for what they “Infrastructure projects can be so intelligence and automation in 49 would do as New Civil Engineer much more than their fundamental particular – will do to that demand Graduate of the Year. purpose of transporting things from is hard to predict. The skill sets Companies The nine finalists were judged on A to B”, says this year’s New Civil required will almost certainly change. represented academic and engineering skills, with Engineer Graduate of the Year winner But how? And where does a budding emphasis on enthusiasm, initiative Charlotte Murphy. graduate civil engineer go to develop in the entries and leadership potential. “They have the potential to the right ones? They had their written submissions transform communities and This year, New Civil Engineer’s scrutinised and then faced a gruelling revolutionise the way that people live Graduate Awards has tried a little 20 minute Dragon’s Den-style pitch their lives,” she says. experiment to help answer that last with our panel of 16 judges (see box). As a graduate bridges engineer on question. From our winners, the judges’ Arup’s civil structures, bridges and This year the awards recognise then had to pick one who New Civil tunnels team Murphy has worked three winners: one working for a Engineer and the ICE will work with to on the new light rail link between client, one for a consultant and develop their idea. Luton Airport, which was once voted one for a contractor. The move A judge’s best of the best, this was the worst airport in the UK, and was designed to test a theory that the winner who really stood out with the existing Network Rail station, these three organisations are a clear plan that they articulated with saying it is “exciting to be part of a very different in their nature and passion and clarity. project that will deliver much needed improvement”. Diversity is also an important issue for her and she spearheaded a campaign to change Arup policy CONSULTANT GRADUATE RUNNERS-UP and mandate the use of gender neutral language in communications to promote inclusion within the GAVIN As president of his university’s She worked with the company. She also serves as a STEM PILLINGER Architects & Engineering charity Reignite to research ambassador. — Society, Pillinger has continued a feasibility study on water Encouraging “outside work Employer: Amey to promote collaboration between irrigation during the dry season engineering” will be her priority University details: University the professions since graduating. and used the experience to as Graduate of the Year, which is of Sheffield, MEng structural “I am passionate about helping mentor students studying a perhaps unsurprising for a former engineering and architecture 2:1 other engineers thrive and love sustainability module. Cambridge Engineering Society Year of graduation: 2015 sharing different ideas and Since leaving university events officer; winner of the “We need to change the attitude perspectives about our industry”, Maguire has become a committee Institution of Structural Engineers Pai that innovation is disruptive he says. member of the Ironmongers Lin Li Travel Award. and dangerous, otherwise the civil Foundation and secured She also recently became a reserve engineering industry is in danger JO £6,000 sponsorship for a Girls in army officer in the Royal Engineers, of falling decades behind”, says MAGUIRE STEM day. while finding time to run the Great Wall Amey graduate engineer Gavin — She continues to promote of China marathon; trek to Everest base Pillinger. Employer: Mott MacDonald equality and inclusion, and says: camp; and climb Mount Kilimanjaro. However, he says that University details: University “it is our responsibility to ensure Before joining Arup Murphy did engineers should question the of Birmingham, MEng with that our workforce represents the placements with Rolls Royce, Davis sustainability and social and industrial experience, 2:1 world.” Maguire & Whitby, Expedition environmental implications of Year of graduation: 2015 As a graduate civil engineer Engineering and Laing O’Rourke. projects, adding “these are not A three-month placement with with Mott MacDonald she Her plan is simple: create “Do easy questions for engineers Engineers Without Borders in has worked on high profile More”; a conference and awards event to ask when such a daring and Cameroon inspired Jo Maguire to projects such as the celebrating achievemets with extra impressive engineering project is try to empower women and young Birmingham Midland Metro curricular community engagement, laid before them. But the costs of people who “may be overlooked”, Scheme and the M6 Junction 10 development, disaster relief and such a decision are enormous.” she says. improvement scheme. research activities. N
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 95 Graduate of the Year Awards Winners
by producing construction and environmental management AT THE AWARDS plans and planning statements; and leading the design with external consultants to achieve The awards were presented at a gala “buildable and cost-effective lunch in the ICE’s Great Hall, before an solutions”. audience of more than 150. Guests heard After a few months with the ICE President Lord Mair, last year’s company he was made responsible winner Brittany Harris and Josh Valman, for the engineering project chief executive of RPD International, management and coordination of a firm which helps companies quickly three residential developments, develop new ideas and test them in their with a gross value of around markets. £100M. While studying at the University of Surrey he found the skills he was developing as an engineer WINNER CLIENT were transferable to his role GRADUATE OF THE YEAR volunteering at a youth CHRISTIAN O’BRIEN club, where he says his proudest moment was preparing and Employer: Bellway Homes delivering bids to the council to University details: University of secure local government funding Surrey MEng civil engineering with for the club. year in industry first class O’Brien said he would change Year of graduation: 2016 the way the controversial 1992 M3 As a graduate at Bellway Homes, motorway project cutting through Christian O’Brien’s career highlights the Twyford Down in Winchester was include engaging with stakeholders; presented to the public. being a main point of contact for He says: “It [the project] was residents near a “contentious arguably a catalyst for negatively development”; clearing impacting the public’s perception of challenging planning conditions highway infrastructure projects.”
CLIENT GRADUATE RUNNERS-UP
JENNIFER graduated she has used to succeed” because she RICHARDSON her experience as a saw the “positive impact — construction supervisor civil engineers have on Employer: United on reservoir projects to communities”. She has
Client Graduate of the Year the of Graduate Client Utilities mentor A-Level students. worked on Crossrail 2 University details: and the Northern Line Newcastle University, BSc CLEO Extension (NLE) while on (Hons) environmental MCGLENNON the Transport for London science, first class, and — graduate scheme. MSc engineering geology, Employer: Transport McGlennon is distinction for London passionate about engaging Year of graduation: 2015 University details: others in engineering “It is important that when University of Manchester, and has already started we discover methods of MEng civil engineering to “effect change” as overcoming engineering with study in North editor of TfL newsletter challenges, we inform America “The Engineer”, a STEM others so that we can Year of graduation: 2016 ambassador and mentor strive for continuous Witnessing the aftermath for a first-year civil improvement,” says of the 2013 Alberta engineering graduate Jennifer Richardson. floods gave Cleo at the Northern Line In the years since she McGlennon the “drive Extension.
96 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 MORE ON NEW CIVIL ENGINEER’S LIVE EVENTS NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/LIVE
countries, winning the Emerging Engineers Award 2016 London Regional Prize. THE JUDGES As an environmental coordinator at Coca-Cola Enterprises while on his year in industry he was particularly proud of saving the business around £10,000 through process improvement projects in the factory. In his current role as a graduate site engineer at Balfour Beatty, working on the Tideway project, he organised a stand-up comedy night on site for staff and operatives to focus on welfare and mental health, with attendees saying, “the event made them forget that they were on a WINNER CONTRACTOR construction site”. GRADUATE OF THE YEAR JONATHAN KNIGHT
Employer: Balfour Beatty University details: Brunel University, MEng civil engineering, with My first year sustainability, first class honours Year of graduation: 2016 with Balfour At Brunel University Jonathan Knight says he learned about the Beatty has provided “social responsibility and change the industry can bring about”. He me with a positively decided to focus his dissertation on Alison Norrish director, Arup the removal of fluoride from drinking overwhelming Infrastructure London Group, water in less economically developed “ Brittany Harris graduate engineer, Buro experience Happold David Bennett business manager, Topcon David Smith chief strategy officer, CONTRACTOR GRADUATE RUNNERS-UP MWH UK Graham Dickinson marketing director, MWH IROSHA Nuttall she is a lead “Our work has the Kate Morris director, Aecom strategic GUNATUNGA coordinator of the Bam ability to influence the planning and advisory EMIA — Ambassadors Scheme, built environment like Ken Harland consulting and rail business Employer: Bam Nuttall which is a national scheme no other”, says Laing director, Amey University details: set up across the country O’Rourke site engineer Lesley Waud strategic highways market University of Surrey, which allows staff two Richard Scott. director, Atkins MEng Civil Engineering days a year to volunteer In his two years Mark Reynolds chief executive, Mace with sandwich year, first and encourage more with Laing O’Rourke Michele Dix chief executive, Crossrail 2 class honours young people into STEM. he has encouraged Phil Stride strategic projects director, Year of graduation: 2015 digital innovation and Tideway Inclusion and engaging RICHARD established a business Rachel Skinner head of development with the public is central SCOTT case for buying a Leica and executive director, WSP to Irosha Gunatunga’s — MS60 Multistation, Steve Feeley director of membership Contractor Graduate of the Year the of Graduate Contractor approach to engineering. Employer: Laing which was a first for recruitment, ICE “As an industry we need O’Rourke the company, to “drive Darren Calderwood director, Heathrow to be more transparent University details: pioneering digital Airport Ltd with the public and hide University of Dundee, engineering functions” Phil Wilbraham director, Heathrow less behind hoarding”, she MEng civil engineering, such as 3D as-built heat Airport Ltd says. design and management, maps, live concrete Paul Norris director, Mott MacDonald Alongside her job as first class honours scanning and setting out a site engineer at BAM Year of graduation: 2015 from Navisworks model.
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 97 OUND R T
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D T E A B INTEGRATING TEAMS EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION DEBATE
BY FIONA MCINTYRE
DEBATE BACKGROUND
50% 56% 30% Chance in Professionals Industry 2009 of a in 2009 professionals in project who saw 2009 who had coming in on integrating experienced a time and to teams as very greater emphasis budget important on collaboration since Egan’s 1998 report ‘Rethinking Construction’
98 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 READ MORE DEBATES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/NCE-LIVE
o some, collaboration is the is the right thing to do, this is the better way silver bullet for the construction of delivering for our customers, it is a better If I were to say industry. Enthusiasts argue way of making money and it is a better way that more collaboration across of treating our people.” that the client the supply chain would boost Pell Frischmann is trying to uncover the productivity, provide better barriers to collaboration. Part of the problem was exempt from the outcomes and ultimately deliver a better appears to be short term contracts, which collaborative behaviour I Tproduct for customers. But despite do not allow time to build good relationships INTEGRATING being a long-held ambition, widespread and trust between firms. would be saying something collaboration across the industry has failed Heathrow Airport Ltd delivery director to materialise. Darren Colderwood agrees that good “ that’s not true “Every so often this phrase of ‘we must relationships are vital for the collaboration collaborate in a fragmented industry’ process to work. At Heathrow, a five-year seems to come back,” says consultant Pell delivery period has meant that time has West Midlands Combined Authority, Frischmann chief executive Tushar Prabhu. been invested in building up trust with the which owns the Midlands Metro, has been “Everybody vigorously agrees with it and airport’s four big contractors. working closely with the nine design and TEAMS then unfortunately either the business cycle “The underpinning of all of this is about construction specialists in the alliance, or some other force comes along which we trust, it’s about building trust and a including Pell Frischmann. can’t easily name, and then we’re back to the relationship where you can share ideas and “It’s working because the client is in there same old fragmented industry.” share your thinking without worrying that with us, so shares some of the issues and Prabhu believes there are wide-ranging what you share is used against you,” he says. shares some of the reasons why things are benefits to be had from broader and better “The relationships are so strong that when done the way they are, because they see collaboration in construction, particularly it hasn’t gone well, you can get back round a them up close,” says Prabhu. among medium-sized firms who are table quite quickly without having to go and Network Rail programme director Martin occasionally overshadowed by very large look for people.” Frobisher has enjoyed a similar experience companies. Successful collaboration is as much about on the Stafford Alliance. Together with “We do think that there is a role for the client as suppliers. Prabhu argues that partners VolkerRail, Atkins and Laing middle-sized firms to collaborate with the clients need to be fully on board. O’Rourke, Network Rail has been part of supply chain, because we think a lot of “If I were to say that the client was exempt the UK rail sector’s first pure construction expertise, a lot of local knowledge resides from the collaborative behaviour I would be alliance, tackling a bottleneck through in the supply chain, and we think that those saying something that’s not true,” he says. Stafford created by unprecedented levels of relationships, could offer a different face for The Midlands Metro Alliance is an example passenger and freight traffic growth. some of the clients who are taking on board of collaboration done well, with close client Over three years it delivered 9.7km of larger programmes of work to try out a involvement. It is a 10-year programme of new railway line, 11 new bridges, upgraded different way of working,” he says. work to overhaul the tram network in the signalling and improved line speeds of up to Constructing Excellence chief executive West Midlands, expanding existing tram 100mph from Stafford to Crewe on the West Don Ward agrees, arguing that the time has tracks by around 34km. Its five projects Coast Main Line. come for medium-sized firms to push for will provide better connectivity around Most impressively the scheme was better collaboration practice. Edgbaston, Birmingham and Wolverhampton, delivered under its £250M budget and more “We do talk a good game, but where are among other places. than a year ahead of schedule. the leaders?” he says. “It may well be the mid-sized firms that are actually going to stand up and say ‘this COLLABORATION LESSONS LEARNED?
All of this is about In 2016 Mark Farmer published his review tendering post-2008 financial crash and into the woes of the construction industry, urged the supply chain to demonstrate how trust, it’s about aptly named Modernise or Die. collaboration and integrated working could deliver better solutions. building trust and a Farmer identified a lack of collaboration and In 1998 Sir John Egan was tasked with setting improvement culture as a major flaw in the out the scope for improvement within the relationship where you can industry. He warned that a survivalist approach construction industry. His report, “Rethinking prevents industry-wide uptake of BIM, while an Construction”, put forward the argument for share ideas and share your inability to collaborate on big data damages our much closer working between the client, the “ prospects of solving the skills shortage. design team and suppliers and subcontractors. thinking without worrying In 2009 Constructing Excellence published Egan also championed replacing contracts that what you share is used a report called “Never Waste a Good Crisis”. with performance measures and widespread It warned against a return to lowest price standardisation of common products. against you
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 99 Elevating Infrastructure Round Table
Collaboration is DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS somehow seen as This report is based on a round table a luxury which you can discussion that took place in London in November. The participants were: chuck out of the window in Darren Colderwood delivery director, Heathrow Airport Ltd the hard times Simon Flint development manager, “ Blu-3 business Martin Frobisher programme director, Ward agrees, adding that since the 2008 Network Rail fi nancial crash, companies have been more David Hancock head of construction, reluctant to take a gamble on potentially Cabinet Office risky ways of doing things. Mark Hansford editor, New Civil “Collaboration is somehow seen as a Engineer luxury which you can chuck out of the Damian Kilburn transport and window in the hard times.” Prabhu: Clients must collaborate too infrastructure director, Pell Constructing Excellence, a body which Frischmann promotes collaborative working practices Frobisher says that the success of Trevor Maginley business in the construction industry, is leading a collaboration on the project was down to development and IT director, Cleshar campaign called “Words Into Action” which putting in the work early on, bringing the Kevin Martin-Read business encourages people to disrupt the traditional proposed budget down from £750M to £250M development director, Capita Real delivery model and deliver practical change. by developing a project that delivered the Estate & Infrastructure For Capita Real Estate and Infrastructure desired outcomes for less. It helped that Peter Murray project manager, business development director Kevin Martin- people were completely focused on the Bechtel Read many of the techniques that make project, and were incentivised on a “best for Chris Porter transport planning collaboration work are free. project” basis rather than feeling divided by manager, Transport for London “It just distilled down to a number of which company they worked for. Tushar Prabhu chief executive, really basic things that came for free,” he “If you get that early scheme development Pell Frischmann says, describing his own experience of right, you can then pick the right team and Graham Sant managing director of collaborating. the right team will deliver it,” he says. infrastructure, Capita Real Estate & “Me, going in to talk to the project But Prabhu stresses that collaboration Infrastructure manager every single morning and at the is not suitable for every situation. At Don Ward chief executive, back end of every single day. And that one end of the scale, very standardised Constructing Excellence created an environment of openness and a projects such as schools do not necessarily massive channel of communication, and it require collaboration as they are simple to In association with was free, and we both benefi ted.” produce. So argues Cabinet Offi ce head of Some barriers are harder to overcome. construction David Hancock. He says that While many fi rms express an open attitude the government – the industry’s biggest to collaborating, some wonder whether the client – views collaboration as important on structure of the industry could hinder closer high risk, complex projects such as Crossrail working practices. but values it far less for simple, standardised Cleshar business development director production. Trevor Maginley argues that many senior And there are costs associated with construction professionals have reached collaboration, as Colderwood explains. their positions by being hard-nosed and Despite the benefi ts Heathrow Airport Ltd fi ghting for their fi rm over others. When has experienced from collaborating with those people become managing directors, for example, those behaviours remain. “This is its four big contracting partners, it took the construction industry,” he says. If you get that two years before the process was up and “When you try to talk about collaboration, running; the rest of its fi ve-year delivery you’re really talking about people changing early scheme period was a race to catch up. their behaviours. And this is one of the “For me, the cost of collaboration isn’t reasons why it hasn’t been this easy thing development right, you can necessarily pound notes directly,” says to do.” Colderwood. “It isn’t that the contract costs Ultimately Maginley believes that more then pick the right team more from the point that you enact it. It’s willingness to collaborate has to come from and the right team will that it takes longer to get started, it takes the client side. “If you get the customer to longer to get going: it’s time, it’s actually time want it to happen, then, fantastic. It will “ that it costs you.” happen.” deliver it
100 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Institution of Civil Engineers Record
ICE200 ‘Masterchef’ throws a spotlight on the ICE
On 7 December, BBC Two’s MasterChef: The Professionals served up a celebratory dinner to mark the ICE’s bicentenary. The chefs created a three- course fine-dining menu for ICE President Lord Mair and other ICE guests at One Great George Street. The episode included an interview with Lord Mair, discussing ICE’s 200th Part of the Engineering anniversary and the work of Superheroes exhibition civil engineers. Lord Mair said: “Civil engineers are often unsung heroes, working behind the ICE200 scenes to make society better and safer. We often take for granted the benefits of modern ICE highlights ‘Invisible life – from our energy supplies to sanitation to our ability to travel – and many people are Superheroes’ with new exhibition unaware that civil engineering makes these things possible. MasterChef: The Professionals The IC hasE officially launched alter-egos. Playing on his by completing a profile at www. has given us a unique its “Invisible Superheroes” “Colossus of Roads” nickname, ice.org.uk/youhero. Each profile opportunity to shine a spotlight exhibition, which forms part of Thomas Telford has become will be made into a playing card, on our profession and introduce its bicentenary celebrations on the superhero Colossus. In creating a deck of engineering to a wide audience how we work 7 December, and it is now open acknowledgement of his work to talent to be shared around the to transform people’s quality of to the public. build London’s sewer network, world. The 10 best submissions life and safeguard the future. The year-long exhibition Joseph Bazalgette is Captain will have artwork professionally The ICE is featured in episode tells the story of how civil Sanitation. Isambard Kingdom designed and printed – and join 15, part of Knockout Week, engineering has helped transform Brunel has been reimagined as the superheroes featured in the which is available on BBC lives and shape the world. It Captain Innovation. exhibition itself. iPlayer until 6 January 2018. highlights ways civil engineers Present-day engineering The exhibition is open from safeguard and protect society. heroes are also featured, 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, The exhibition brings to life with Andy Mitchell, chief and admission is free. For those projects that span the globe and executive of exhibition sponsor unable to visit, a virtual tour will demonstrates the range of civil Thames Tideway Tunnel, as be available at www.ice.org.uk/ engineering’s reach and effect. “Infrastructo”; Ellie Cosgrave, events/exhibitions/ice-invisible- The superhero theme is urban innovation and policy superheroes-exhibition. intended to help inspire a new lecturer at UCL STEaPP City l Watch the “Invisible generation of civil engineers and Leadership Lab, as “Urban Superheroes” trailer at promote the message that civil Angel”; and Anne Kemp, Atkins www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b- engineering is a rewarding and director and fellow and chair qWB7uago. exciting career option. of UK BIM Alliance, is “Digital l To discuss sponsorship Real-life engineers appear Dynamo”, among many others. opportunities, email simon. throughout the exhibition ICE members are also invited [email protected] or call 0207 Mair: Unique opportunity as their cartoon superhero to share their “superhero selves” 665 2163.
JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 101 Institution of Civil Engineers Record
ICE200 ICE book celebrates 200th anniversary Book to be published in September will highlight projects and engineers which have made a difference to society
The ICE is inviting members book which is balanced in terms to pre-order a limited edition of geography, sector, type and copy of ICE 200, the official date as well as ensuring that commemorative book for the key engineering lessons are Institution’s bicentenary. considered. The Committee’s The book features 200 aim is to tell the varied stories submissions from members of civil engineering, bringing to who identified civil engineering life the world that civil engineers projects and people who have created and are passionate The book celebrates 200 years of civil engineering have transformed lives. The about, and explain the impact submissions were among they have had on people’s lives. at ways to use them over the we intend to include as many as 500 received in response to a Projects featured in the book next few years as part of the possible on the ICE’s ‘What is request to members in early are not necessarily high profile, legacy of ICE 200. ICE director of Civil Engineering’ webpages and 2017. or major schemes. It will include engineering knowledge Nathan integrate them into our wider The ICE 200 Book committee, the ICE People’s Choice Award Baker said: “The response of the knowledge programmes.” chaired by past president winner as the 200th project. members has been superb and Royalties from book sales Gordon Masterton, reviewed all With so many high quality we now have so many examples will help fund ICE’s future 500 submissions to produce a entries, the ICE is also looking of impactful engineering that projects and campaigns to raise
PROJECT 13 DIGITAL ENGINEERING PROFESSION TRANSPORT Project 13 Future Less than a quarter Big turn out Mair and Adonis Leaders hold first of firms incorporated for certificate share same stage for meeting technology advances presentations NIC report launch
The ICE’s Project 13 Future Only 24% of engineering Over 500 ICE members and ICE President Lord Mair was Leaders have met for the organisations have adjusted their guests attended a due to speak alongside National first time to map out how in a beneficial way to the Certificate Presentation Infrastructure Commission to challenge and support digital revolution, despite 91% Ceremony at One Great George (NIC) chair Lord Adonis at the executive team and to accepting that it is already Street on 4 December. ICE the launch of the NIC’s New help ensure the successful happening. The figures, from President Lord Mair presented Technology and Infrastructure implementation of the initiative. a poll conducted at the ICE’s certificates to Fellows, report on 4 December at One ICE director general Nick Shaping a Digital World event, Incorporated and Chartered Great George Street. The Baveystock said: “Our industry put in stark relief the difference Members, and Technician report examines the emerging is often criticised for low between where industry needs Members who have recently technologies which have the productivity and concentrating to be and where it is. The figures achieved their professional most potential for improving too much on margins. Project are published in the post- qualification. The ICE said it infrastructure productivity. 13 is the industry’s attempt to event report, which builds on welcomed all the new members It also makes recommendations address these issues. The initial 2017’s State of the Nation digital and congratulates them on their to ministers about how to thinking has been done, derived transformation report and makes achievements. The Institution support their deployment. by practitioners and clients, recommendations to bring looks forward to continuing to The speeches will be followed and now is the time to take this about change. Access it now at support them throughout their by an expert panel session and a forward.” ice.org.uk/digitalworld careers. questions and answers session..
102 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 MORE ICE NEWS GO TO NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/ICE
CHRIMESWATCH PRESSING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE
Lord Mair’s By December 1906, he had transferred to the Presidential Address grade of Fellow, based on his work in the State in November served as of Victoria’s public works and as a consultant a prelude not only to and contractor pioneering the use of reinforced his Presidential Year, concrete. but to the Institution’s Monash’s civil engineering career was in bicentenary parallel with a rising career in the Australian awareness of civil engineering. Mike celebrations. army reserves, culminating in his appointment The book is due to be Chrimes Part of ICE 200 as a colonel in the 13th Infantry Brigade by 1913. launched in September 2018. will be celebrating Over the previous 30 years, he had served in the l For more information 200 years of artillery and the intelligence corps, improving and to pre-order, visit www. civil engineering mapping techniques and drafting “100 hints for ice.org.uk/my-ice/ice-200- achievements through which members have company commanders”. commemorative-book-and- transformed society, but a major thrust will be On the outbreak of war, Monash acted as chief collectors-edition looking forward, encouraging young people to censor. He distinguished himself as a fighting become civil engineers, and talking about what general throughout the war and on 8 August civil engineering will look like in the future. 1918, he played a leading role in the breakout Building on past president Tim Broyd’s that heralded the collapse of the German digital theme, Lord Mair, spoke much about the military capability. PASS LISTS, BYLAW 15 transformational potential of sensors, the project On 12 August 1918 he was knighted in the field, As New Civil Engineer is now cost savings they offer, and the benefits that can recognition by the politicians of his contribution published monthly, the names ensue from having structures that can “speak” to to victory. His national esteem was recorded by of candidates recently awarded a us about their behaviour and condition. a crowd of 250,000 attending his funeral more professional qualification with ICE How Marc Brunel could have benefited from than a decade later. For many of his troops, he will only be published online at such technology when driving the world’s first had won the war. www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/ shield-driven tunnel, a perfect illustration of how It is a moot point whether his civil engineering icenews. They will no longer be much the profession has moved on over the experience as a manager and innovator made published in the print edition. last two centuries to the tunnelling success of him a great military leader, or the organisational Crossrail. discipline of the military enabled him to achieve The pass lists will also be published The enthusiasm that Lord Mair’s vision can success as a businessman. on ICE’s website, along with the generate will make 2018 an exciting year for the He had the qualities of an open mind and names of all candidates applying ICE. Regions are geared up and staff inspired to inspirational leadership that enabled him to for professionally qualified make it a year to remember. succeed in both spheres. membership (Bylaw 15). Both The celebrations are likely to overshadow While one hopes that the generation of can be viewed at www.ice.org.uk/ further consideration of the First World War, so engineers taking the ICE forward into its next bylaw15 under “newest qualified I thought I would take this opportunity to remind century will not have to face the challenge member”. Lists will remain on the members of one ICE member who made an of global conflict, the qualities that enabled site for 28 days. To view lists on important contribution – Sir John Monash who Monash to succeed a century ago will be just as the New Civil Engineer website, lived between 1865 and 1931. important in the world of climate change and visit www.newcivilengineer.com/ Monash, born in Melbourne of Prussian – digital transformation. l latest/icenews Jewish parentage, was elected to the ICE in 1893. Mike Chrimes is an engineering historian
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EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected] Editor | Mark Hansford UN ERTAIN (020) 3953 2821 mark.hansford Deputy Editor | Alexandra Wynne (020) 3953 2822 alexandra.wynne Associate Editor | Emily Ashwell (020) 3953 2094 emily.ashwell Technical Reporter | Katherine Smale TI ES (020) 3953 2044 katherine.smale Technical Reporter | Fiona McIntyre (020) 3953 2870 fi ona.mcintyre News Reporter | Jess Clark (020) 3953 2876 jess.clark Chief Sub Editor | Andy Bolton While 2018 will be a the areas at risk, and we bring together experts (020) 3953 2823 | andy.bolton great year for all of annually for our fl ooding conference, but we Technical Editor Emeritus | Dave Parker us celebrating the must look to address the continuing challenges dave.parker ICE’s bicentenary, of decreasing funding and the increasing impacts we face an uncertain of climate change. MARKETING SOLUTIONS future regarding We must also look at skills and funding. The Head of Sales Francis Barham infrastructure Apprenticeship Levy is in place but, at the time (020) 3953 2912 | Francis.barham Keith investment in Wales. of writing, there is no direct funding of training ONLINE ACCESS ENQUIRIES As we point or other apprenticeship initiatives in Wales. Jones Email: [email protected] out all too often, The Autumn Budget promised investment there is a strong in construction skills across the and the EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD correlation between the condition of a pipeline of major projects looks strong, but it Rachel Skinner (chair), Bill Grose, Alan country’s infrastructure and its economy and takes a long time to train a civil engineer and we Clucas, Andrew Mylius, Martin Knights, quality of life. Wales needs a clear vision for must make sure that we have suffi cient skills in Mike Napier, Miles Ashley, Rob Naybour, infrastructure. place to cope with demand. Tim Chapman, Tony Gates, Zakiyya Adam, Aimi Elias, John Dillon, David Caiden, Government funding is passed from the As well as training new civil engineers, we all Andrew Crudgington, Fay Bull, Sophie Government to the Welsh Government need to keep our own skills up to date. It has McPhilips, Stephen Wells, Jennifer Cooke via a settlement – using the much debated long been an issue that major projects draw Barnet formula – and passed to the 22 Welsh away the talent but when the projects in the Magazine of the councils. pipeline commence, we must be able to satisfy Institution of Civil Engineers However, as a result of pressures on local the demand. 1 Great George Street, London SW1P authority fi nance for protected services of On a positive note, Welsh projects continue to 3AA 020 7222 7722 | www.ice.org.uk health, education and social services, plus demonstrate clear excellence, as can be seen at ICE MEMBERS’ ADDRESS increased cuts overall, the amount available for our annual engineering awards. CHANGES/ SUBSCRIPTIONS our vital infrastructure asset management – and Our George Gibby Award category winner – for QUERIES new infrastructure – is dropping. projects over 3M – Radyr Weir hydroelectric www.ice.org.uk/myice to update your This is despite an additional 1.2bn allocated scheme in Cardiff is an excellent example as is address quickly online. For subscription to Wales in the November 201 Budget. the A 86 Llain to Synod Inn Improvement, the queries, please phone 020 7665 Of course, we also have to face the very category winner for the Roy Edwards Award for 2227, or email [email protected] real issues arising from Brexit. Wales is a net schemes under 3M. SUBSCRIPTIONS recipient of European funding, which has The Bill Ward Sustainability Award, and our For subscription queries contact; traditionally funded infrastructure development. nomination to ICE’s People’s Choice 201 , was dsb.net Ltd, 3 Queensbridge, Northampton NN4 7BF Plugging the gap will be a very real challenge awarded to Colwyn Bay Waterfront regeneration Telephone: 01604 251030 going forward, particularly for fl ood risk coastal protection scheme in north Wales, partly All rights reserved © 2018 New Civil Engineer. management. for diverting an ama ing 99.69 materials from Published by EMAP Publishing Ltd; Wales suffers from coastal and fl uvial landfi ll. Printed by Precision Colour Printing Ltd, Telford. Registered as a newspaper with the fl ooding, due to the country’s long coastline We face uncertain times, but we are looking Post O¨ ce ISSN 0307-7683; Issue No: 2057 and topography. Residential and commercial forward, with confi dence in the quality of our Statements made or opinions expressed in New properties have long suffered from fl oods, some civil engineers across the nation and the rest of Civil Engineer do not necessarily refl ect the views of ICE Council or ICE committees with tragic outcomes. the . The Welsh Government has addressed many of l eith ones is ire tor o C a es C mr
104 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER JANUARY 2018 Classified CONTACT EMMA PHILLIPS 020 3033 2221 [email protected]
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Project Engineers / Managers
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106 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | JANUARY 2018 Careers CONTACT EMMA PHILLIPS 020 3033 2221 [email protected]
Searching Executi ve Talent Globally
Worldwide Vacancies
TEAM LEADER – HIGHWAYS DIRECTOR – RAIL METRO & HIGH SPEED RAIL Central Asia / CIS Region Levant Region, India & East Africa South East Asia £90k - £140k PA (Tax Free) + Full Expat Package £Negoti able PA (Tax Free) £Negoti able PA + Expat Package Currently assisti ng several large Engineering We currently have a number of senior director Rail Systems, Signalling/Train Control, Trackwork, Consultancies for large Road/Highway/Expressway level positi ons within the Rail sector with reputable Tracti on Power, Mobile Communicati ons (CMTS), projects in countries including Georgia, Moldova, internati onal consultancies based in the above Platf orm Screen Doors, AFC, Interface/Integrati on, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and more. locati ons. The role is responsible for managing RAMS/System Assurance, T&C, Planning, Opportuniti es in both Design and Constructi on high profi le rail projects including light and heavy Constructi on Operati ons, Project Design, Alignment, Supervision roles with current and future projects. rail, design acti viti es and any development studies, Tunnelling, Architecture, Requirements, Depots, Qualifi ed and experienced (15+ years) Civil Engineers implementati on of new strategies and ensuring Viaducts, Overground/Underground Stati ons interested in working in these regions please get in overall compliance. Requires a degree in civil and more. touch for more details. engineering with a minimum of 15-20 years’ internati onal experience. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
REGIONAL MANAGER – WATER CONTRACTS ENGINEER – WATER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HEAD Nairobi, Kenya Levant Region Singapore £120k PA + Full Expat Package £Negoti able PA (Tax Free) £80k - £120k PA + Expat Package A large internati onal Engineering Consultancy is Exciti ng opportunity with an internati onal multi - An Internati onal engineering specialist requires a acti vely seeking an experienced Regional Manager to disciplinary consultancy seeking an experienced Business Development Head with a civil engineering run the Water Division in their Nairobi offi ce. The role Contracts Engineer for a water supply project to background to develop the thermal and renewable involves leadership of the Branch’s Offi ce fi nancial be based in the Levant region. You should have a power markets. You must have at least 10 years’ and operati onal functi ons while also developing minimum of 10 years’ post graduate experience relevant experience with thermal/renewables sector. new business within Kenya and the wider Sub holding a BSc degree in either Quanti ty Surveying Those able to manage design projects as well as Saharan Africa region. You must hold a degree in Civil or Civil Engineering. Extensive experience in the regional BD teams will also be given preference. Engineering, have excellent knowledge of the East management of claims and variati on orders, Proven sales, leadership, and technical design skills Africa water sector and have extensive experience contractual noti fi cati ons and certi fi cati ons and are key aspects to this role. of similar management role and experience of civil contractual reporti ng on water supply projects within infrastructure projects in Sub Saharan Africa. This role the GCC region. is to be based in Nairobi full ti me. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
TEAM LEADER – CONSTRUCTION DESIGN MANAGER – HIGHWAYS PROJECTS LEADER – WATER Bangladesh Qatar Indonesia £150k PA + Full Expat Package £100k - £110k PA (Tax Free) £120k - £150k PA + Expat Package A large Engineering Consultancy is seeking an A globally recognisable Engineering consultancy Experienced Water/Wastewater Treatment expert experienced, qualifi ed Team Leader/CRE for a large requires an experienced Design Manager with required for an internati onal engineering consultancy BRT constructi on project in Bangladesh. The project extensive experience in the design leadership on group. You must demonstrate 15+ years’ relevant involves 20km of BRT corridor, 15km bus way, 20 large-scale Roads/Highways projects to review design engineering and project management BRT stati ons, Bus Depot and 2 Rail Terminals. This designs and liaise extensively with clients. You must experience covering constructi on supervision requires a suitably qualifi ed Civil Engineer with hold a degree in Civil Engineering and be Chartered acti viti es within Water & Wastewater Treatment 20+ years’ experience in Constructi on Supervision with a minimum of 10 years’ design experience projects. This role is based in Jakarta but regular of large Transportati on projects and exposure to a working on large-scale Roads/Highways schemes travel across Asia will be required. similar BRT project. with reputable consultancies. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
We have a wide variety of Internati onal vacancies available so if you are seeking your next overseas assignment please email [email protected] for a confi denti al discussion.
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JANUARY 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 107 Uretek has changed its name
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Uretek, the original founder of Uretek solutions, is re-branding its name to Geobear.
Geobear is a global ground engineering contractor providing non-disruptive solutions for a residential, commercial and infrastructure customers. www.geobear.co.uk