Going Boldly in Carnarvon the Engineering Behind Perth in 2020

5TH AUGUST 2013

GOING BOLDLY IN CARNARVON THE ENGINEERING BEHIND PERTH IN 2020

FUTURE TRAVEL PERTH’S AREA 51 IN OSBORNE PARK Date: Foyer,Centre 2 Level Venue: public. the for view on are structures Canstruction Perth 2013: we?” do –or be we can best the to be to strive ourselves and society to we have aresponsibility individuals presentation which questions: “As a gives Service WA the and Burns Unit Burns RPH of Director Wood, Fiona Excellence”. Professor for Breakfast Launch: Australian Engineering Week Today, 5 August More info: Date: Booragoon Street, Riseley Centre, Venue: disciplines. various highlights Centre Shopping City Garden of Court Centre the in display A photographic Photographic Display: canstruction More info: Date: Venue: essential. is registration but free, is event The pathways. learning about talk will institutes technical other and Universities engineer. an to be like is it what about engineers young fi practical or parent? Come along and hear teacher student, school ahigh you Are engineer: an be Ican so it Make 6 AUGUST TOMORROW, Time: Time: Time: Date: Venue: Facility. Kwinana Production CSBP the of atour on operation in plants nitrate ammonia and ammonium cyanide, sodium See choice? acareer as engineering in interested astudent you and Fertilisers: Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7 Register: Register: WHAT’S ON WHEN

Wed 7 August 2013 2013 August 7 Wed Mon 5 August - Fri 9 August 2013 -Fri 9August 5August Mon Mon 5 August – Sat 10 August 2013 August 10 –Sat 5August Mon Tue 6 August 2013Tue 6August 10.00AM 6.00PM

Perth Convention and Exhibition Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre &Exhibition Convention Perth CSBP, Beach Road, Kwinana Road, CSBP, Beach Centre Court, Garden City Shopping Shopping City Garden Court, Centre www.makeitso.org.au/aew [email protected]

rst-hand knowledge from from rst-hand knowledge www.engineersaustralia.org.au/ www.makeitso.org.au/aew

CSBP site tour. site CSBP Are “Striving

The The More Info: www.openday.uwa.edu.au Info: More Time: Date: Date: Venue: air! of power the feel and tunnel awind experience or robots intelligent WiFi-controlled see panning, Try gold at hand your disciplines. a range of engineering covering demonstrations interactive FacultyThe presents of Engineering Day UWA Open www.makeitso.org.au/aew Info: More Time: Date: Tuart Hill Street, Venue: registration. online the colleagues or friends and complete 7to of 10 atable organise Simply profi and prizes great are There night. quiz annual its for ateam submit WA to you Young invites Engineers SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 Time: Date: Venue: CSIRO. Flagship, Research National Climate Adaptation the of Director FIE Aust, Hardisty Paul Dr from be will luncheon AEW the for key address note The Macro: AEW Luncheon - From Micro to THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 Date: Venue: night. the on announced being winner display, the with Canstruction the to view encouraged are Guests Week. Engineering of Australian closing the Cocktail Party: Australian Engineering Week FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 Register: Time: Register: ts to Engineers Without Borders. Without to Engineers ts

Sun 11 August 2013 2013 11 August Sun Thur 8 August 2013 8August Thur Fri 9 August 2012 2012 Fri 9August 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM PM –4.00 AM 10.00 12.15PM 6.00PM Sun 11 August 2013 2013 11 August Sun 6.30 PM Perth Convention Exhibition Centre Foyer

Osborne Park Lawn Bowls Club, Park Park Club, Bowls Lawn Park Osborne Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley Stirling 35 An Engineer’s Journey Engineer’s An

www.makeitso.org.au/aew www.makeitso.org.au/aew Join us in celebrating celebrating in us Join

CONTENTS

16 06 04 28 24

engineering. for abreakthrough and a challenge Condor Tower was high-rise Perth now. the in is future the found fi it into a modern, world-class city. world-class it into amodern, works transform engineering as Perth of face the change will lines railway sunken and skyscrapers Soaring FUTURE OF THE CITY of fl number the Tripling AGAME- PIGGYBACK stuff the like It sounds HIGH, FLYING audacious road plan is undertaken. is plan road audacious Airport will be very diff Perth from to 2017By and drive your Gascoyne. the in up toproblem engineers was have Houston a didn’t sure Making CARNARVON BOLDLYGOING IN PERTH’S GREAT GREAT PERTH’S HAS A HEART OF STEEL AHEART HAS CHANGER TAKE SHAPE GATEWAY BEGINSTO JETSONS-STYLE ction but one Perth company has has company but one Perth ction August 5, 2013 5, August of science science of erent as an an erent as oors in in oors engineering. another’s person’s is magic for engineering ingenuity. potential the to accustomed more public appears example. atragic is Goldﬁ O’Connor’s which of CY madness, as dismissed or another time WA of history at were some the in feats engineering electricity. generate can that windows glass and behaviour criminal detect can that include acamera innovations people? blind to obstacles and directions communicate can that cane a “seeing” we would one day have design. advanced in is that aircraft month. WA in last operating started which ago, years billion 13 from receive information can imagination. someone’s in started innovations engineering all that overlooked has society one,creative but perhaps a as regarded generally engineering. of heart at the lie creativity and Imagination editor the from Letter Kim Macdonald Kim As the saying goes, one goes, saying the As general the days, These best the of Some engineering creative Other would have thought Who passenger single the And that telescope the Like not profession is The elds Pipeline Pipeline elds

3635 CAL-WAN1 3 -

WORD FROM THE TOP The job for people who build civilisations

Welcome to Australian Barnett’s frustration at the loss spending on infrastructure and gained on the technical aspects Engineering Week, an event to of James Price Point as a gas other public areas including the of procurement. celebrate and showcase the hub was no doubt based on his arts and community projects. There is no doubt engineering profession. clear understanding of what it In light of a changing global is an interesting and challenging Each year in August, would mean for local industries climate it is important profession. Engineers Australia hosts the and the flow-on impacts on our Australia’s engineering The careers that spring from event to highlight the important community. capability remains strong and an engineering degree are contribution of the sector. The “two-speed” economy in vibrant. Our ability to compete widely varying and therefore Engineers play a critical role in an increasingly global market can be hard to define to aspiring in maintaining the strength and will require innovation, students. sustainability of our economy. flexibility and adaptability. Above all, it is a degree that We are a profession that builds, The profession contributes to teaches a way of thinking in a creates and contributes. the discussion on how to structured manner about the Engineers are involved in Our ability to become more competitive. world in terms of our effect on it many aspects of our lives, For example, Engineers and our contribution to building including transport, compete in a global Australia recently released a the elements that make infrastructure, energy, water, market requires report titled Government as an communities and civilisations. waste management, Informed Buyer to identify how I welcome you to this year’s communications, food innovation and Government can better use liftout to celebrate the work of production, resource engineering expertise across the engineers. development and the built adaptability. procurement cycle. environment. About a quarter of Australian Helen Pedersen FIEAust, CPEng As our world moves WA, as we have ridden the Government spending is WA Division President, Engineers towards a more sustainable resources boom, has created dedicated to procurement, Australia future, engineers are difficulty in our community. representing approximately 10 ...... contributing to the solutions A higher cost of living has per cent of Australia’s GDP. ■ Engineers Australia is the profes- and leading innovation. affected many in a very visible A one per cent saving would sional association for engineers As a community in manner. amount to around $600 million. in Australia. With more than Australia and in WA, we The flow-on effects are harder The Engineers Australia 100,000 members, Engineers need to decide what our to see but do counterbalance report examines how the Australia provides a focal point future will look like. this — more money flowing in required engineering expertise for its members to contribute to There will be hard the economy means many can be matched with public policy debate, education, choices. people benefit through higher engineering-intensive purchases professional standards and Premier Colin spending, more jobs and more to ensure the right advice is community engagement.

SHIP WIT ER H N T R A P

N I 4 - Fly high, Jetsons-style in

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction but Kim Macdonald UWA COLLABORATION discovered for one Perth company the future is in the now. The University of WA, which has collaborated in the YouFly research, claims the emerging Perth engineering company is The craft may look similar to popular technology is aerodynamically changing the future of travel images of UFOs and spacecraft from the effi cient. with the invention of Jetsons cartoon, but the technology is single-passenger aircraft that based on the same sound principals that Professor Jie Pan, from UWA’s A School of Mechanical and can levitate across land and sea as fast have propelled helicopters for a century. as cars or boats. However, instead of helicopter-style Chemical Engineering, and Entecho has spent 10 years designing propellers above the passenger cabin, his team of fi nal year students the devices it calls YouFly, and in June YouFly’s concealed fan blades are helped refi ne aerodynamic started selling options to purchase located below the seat in a casing effi ciencies in a bid to help ahead of its anticipated release in known as the skirt. the device fl y longer on less mid-2015. battery power. Inventor Kim Schlunke — the former Professor Pan said the chief executive of Ralph Sarich’s university researchers also billion-dollar Orbital Corp — and his collaborated on the device’s team of engineers have successfully noise emissions, managing to flown a smaller unmanned version of cut it by ten decibels, which the aircraft, called a Mupod. It will introduce people was a reduction of almost When The West Australian witnessed three quarters. tests at Entecho’s Osborne Park factory to travel in the third The same principles have last month, the Mupod was capable of been transferred to the levitating both upwards and sideways, dimension. YouFly device, which albeit with a shaky pitch and roll. currently emits more sound Mr Schlunke said he was confident The device takes off vertically by than a car, but is a lot quieter about imminent flight tests on the displacing 60 cubic metres of air a than a helicopter. passenger-sized YouFly. second — equivalent to emptying the “It will introduce people to travel in volume from a small room, every The fi nal area of collaborative the third dimension,” he said. second. research was in stability. Air is accelerated through fan blades Professor Pan said more and directed downwards through the work needed to be done to skirt, creating enough force to generate ensure stability during fl ight, the momentum needed for take-off and though believes the shakiness flight. observed by The West The aircraft can reach speeds of about Australian during fl ight tests 120km/h, but at this stage in could be easily tuned out. development, can fly for only an hour before it needs to be electronically Inventor Kim Schlunke said re-charged. the shaking was a result of The technology has been developed by a gyroscopic stabilisation up to 20 people working with Entecho, technique that is being used and has involved joint research with the in wind resistence tests. University of Western Australia. Mr Schlunke said the company had also been in “close communication” above ground or sea, to prevent injuries ski and a quad bike might buy a YouFly, with NASA in relation to flight control in the event of a forced landing. because it flies and lands on land and ev strategy. NASA is developing its own The company would produce only 100 water,” he said. in personal aerial vehicle called the YouFly devices in the first release He said he had not discussed pla Puffin. selling for more than $100,000 each. licensing requirements with regulators, lif Unlike hovercrafts, which fly by A mass release later of a more basic though he believed the devices would be skimming the surface, early tests version could reduce the cost to about allowed in specified fly-zones under a un indicate the YouFly is capable of flying $40,000. licence similar to a skipper’s licence da thousands of metres in the air. It would initially be targeted at the used by jet-skiers. sto Entecho engineer Antriksh Srivastava inside the But Mr Schlunke said that Entecho adventure sports market.“We think the Users could either steer the device, or prototype of the manned YouFly device. would initially restrict flight to 2m person who sees the need to own a jet fly on auto pilot. be Career snapshot Doug Aberle FIEAust CPEng — electrical engineer Where do you work? Consulting The former is a slow process, requiring recently, as managing director at Western Is there a common personality trait among What is your favourite engineering project deliberate policy direction. The latter is Power. engineers? in WA? The systematic rollout of smart meters dependent on demand re-igniting, especially Your dream engineering project? The Mercifully no. Despite the stereotype of across the state. in China. In short, no time soon. development of game-changing renewable obsessive, nerdy and emotionally inept, While support for this has waxed and waned, What is the biggest problem currently energy sources or the refinement of high-end engineers in my experience display a wide it drives the single most powerful paradigm facing the industry? The need to evolve from electric vehicles to the point where they spectrum of personality traits which supports shift for electricity consumers and industry linear/mechanistic operating models to much became affordable and ubiquitous. In both a vibrant and creative community. providers alike as it supports the inclusion of more organic ways of thinking, working and cases, a fundamental positive shift would How many electrical engineers does it customers in the equation in a way that can connecting. occur in our energy consumption and carbon take to change a light bulb? dramatically reduce the long-term cost of Why did you decide to become an emission profiles. Dozens: Some to research new materials. infrastructure and leverage off renewable engineer? I wanted to use my skills and How does the WA engineering sector Some to design the new bulb. Some to type energy sources and the emergence of new interest in maths and physics in a pragmatic differ from other States or countries? test and certify it. Some to develop and technologies such as electric vehicles. way that would make a difference in the It’s very project-centric with an emphasis on optimise the manufacturing processes. When will the industry pick up? A world. resource development and tends to lack the Some to market the advantages of the new diversification of our economic base needs to What is your career highlight? Leading the strength which comes from a diversity of bulb to the market place. extend beyond primary extraction and an transformation in culture and performance of industry and a focus on the whole value chain, Some to manage the replacement and upturn in demand. Muja Power Station in the 1990s and, more from extraction through to tertiary value-add. recycling of old bulbs … - 5 mod hoverpod PERTH’S INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH

Hovercrafts have evolved into a sophisticated industry, with vehicle manufacturers such as Volkswagen dipping their toes into the arena with their Aqua craft. WA the world’s launch pad for first hovercraft

Before hovercrafts entered the NASA space program and the Chinese military, and long before they became James Bond’s getaway vehicle of choice, the world’s first air-cushion vehicle was used as a toy by a little boy in Perth. That little boy was AK Alcock of Victoria Park, whose father, Alfred Upton Alcock, created what is now regarded as the first modern hovercraft. Britain’s Christopher Cockerel was the first to patent a design that operated under the same principle, which he did in England in 1956, but Mr Alcock is recognised as the inventor of the first practical prototype. Mr Alcock, an electrical engineer, began working on the model after moving to Perth from Victoria in 1910, and he successfully demonstrated the contraption to media and government officials in 1912. Hi son, AK, later recalled in a newspaper interview he l y, Mr Schlunke believes it could eco-resorts because it had minimal Rhett Williams and called the contraption eventually be used by the military and environmental impact. Entecho founder “dada’s floating train” and in rescue operations, and if this took Could the YouFly ever replace the and managing used to ride it down the place, the 2m flight restriction would be car? director Kim passage way at their Victoria Hovercraft patent holder rs, lifted. Mr Schlunke said the technology Schlunke test a Park home. Christopher Cockerell. be This would allow manned and supported such a development, but it model of their “I can clearly remember unmanned YouFly devices to travel into would require a regulatory framework unmanned aerial the model, as at the age of seven I had the thrill of riding on it,” dangerous situations, such as into a — including licensing and road rules in craft called a he told the Canberra Times in 1966. storm or the top of a burning building. the air — which do not yet exist. Mupod at their “My father took out a provisional patent in 1914, but or Mr Schlunke predicted it could also “We have certainly looked at the use Osborne Park apparently never completed the patent because he could not get become a popular mode of transport at for commuting and congestion, and we factory. Pictures: any financial backing.” believe there are two fundamental Simon Santi In those early days, few could see the potential for Mr Alcock’s technologies available today that might simple design — a 1.2m square platform, which levitated above allow that to happen,” he said. the floor. “We assume the commuter of the The device used an electric motor to drive the air downwards, future will go out to their YouFly, jump and a propeller was later added to give it a forward motion. g in and read a newspaper, without Mr Alcock was immediately aware of its potential, and was needing to actually steer it. confident that, with a bigger engine, the invention would reach “The device will use a GPS system to speeds of 160km/h. find its way and use avoidance radar to He hoped it would eventually be used to carry bulk grain from avoid things like flocks of birds. farms in the Wheatbelt. “Those technologies are available and Mr Alcock was not recognised until after Cockerel’s first could make this kind of commuting full-scale design crossed the English Channel in 1959. possible. A few years after he passed away in 1962 he was hailed by “Imagine your wife wants a lift home media as a “prophet without honour in his own country”. from the shops, so you send your His original prototype has since been recognised by Westland unmanned YouFly to her. Aircraft Company, aviation historians and even in the British “The device parks itself, then your parliament. wife gets in with her shopping and These days, hovercrafts are a multi-billion dollar industry, takes her home.” and designs have become so sophisticated the vehicles can The Federal Government has transition smoothly over land, sea and ice. provided two grants worth $2.25 They are used in fields as diverse as recreation, tourism, million, but most funding comes from a rescue operations and the military. Norwegian investor. 6 -

Career snapshot Fiona Galati — civil engineer Where do you work? Georgiou a useful, appealing part of the city. allows me to understand how Piggyback a What is your favourite When will the industry pick up? things work, as well as being able engineering project in WA? My There is a lot of uncertainty about to build things people use every favourite project would be the works in the mining sector. day, like rail lines and subdivisions Kim Macdonald finds tripling the number of try Elizabeth Quay project in Perth. I However, investments in where people live. foo can’t wait for the works to be infrastructure particularly in and What is your career highlight? floors in Perth high-rise Condor Tower was a ide complete and the riverfront to be around Perth, even during the Installing a water main at The ex down-time, will provide both jobs Esplanade as part of the Elizabeth challenge and a breakthrough for engineering. ma as well as new and upgraded Quay project, where we infrastructure. discovered old roads and The height of existing Initially, the engineers were en What is the biggest problem hand-built brick pipelines. skyscrapers is not set in stone — frustrated by the challenge of ce currently facing the industry? Your dream engineering or steel or glass — following trying to find a way to an Uncertainty about work in the project? The Channel Tunnel revolutionary work done by WA adequately strengthen the cla mining sector, and projects in the between England and France. I engineering firm Pritchard North West slowing down. think it would be really exciting to Francis. str Another major issue is Australia’s be a part of something that spans The firm successfully th cost base — our declining multiple countries and is so widely piggybacked 18 storeys on top of be productivity and the effect that used. And it would have to the existing 10-storey Oakleigh has on our international include frequent trips to either Building on St Georges Terrace, The micropiles were too competitiveness. These need to England or France, depending on almost tripling the size of the sp be addressed in a planned and which side you were working on. office block. like toothpicks so systematic manner. How does the WA engineering Managing director Arthur Why did you decide to become sector differ from other States Psaltis said it was believed to be pushing through a do an engineer? I always took an or countries? The WA the first project anywhere in the sponge to get to the foo interest in the ways things worked engineering sector has been world to attempt piggybacking re growing up. Being an engineer hugely boosted by the amount of on this scale. good, solid soil to natural resources and associated Mr Psaltis said the obvious ra facilities. issue in attempting to build on below. an existing structure was a 1 ensuring the foundations were existing foundations that sat in mo strong enough to support the a relatively soft surface. additional floors. “There was a solution that wo When works started in late came at the dead of night,” said ea 2003, early geotechnical surveys Mr Psaltis by revealed surprisingly soft clay “It was a turning point in co 4m below the existing office solving the whole thing. iso block. “For many months we were

From Concept To BUILD YOUR CAREER! Operations BECOME A CHARTERED BUILDER Advance your Career in the Building and Construction Industry

The Australian Institute of Building promotes the

At PLEXAL we work closely with our clients to deliver reliable, effi cient profession of Building and and innovative brownfi elds and greenfi elds engineering services. We have broad experience in on-shore and off-shore oil & gas, gas transmission and Construction Management resource industries. for all Building Practitioners. Our range of services include • Multi-discipline concept, front-end and • Hazardous areas management detailed engineering • Risk workshop facilitation • Project and engineering management (HAZOPs, HAZIDs, SIL) • Control, safety systems and alarm • Construction management, installation, management commissioning • Functional safety lifecycle management • Ongoing facilities support

Plexal Group has ofﬁ ces in Perth, Brisbane, Thailand and Bangladesh. Part of SPIE Oil & Gas Services. For further information go to www.aib.org.au or [email protected]

For more information please contact us at 2061639 π JERM050813 [email protected] or go to our website at www.plexalgroup.com visit www.aib.org.au today 2062061 π JELP050813 e e n d

2061639πJERM050813 - isolated existingcolumns. concrete wallsbetween the by installingload-bearing each floor oftheexistingblock workers were able tostrengthen months. process overa 12-step three raft foundation. thenew,to form partially-piled reinforced concrete 1.4mbelow, footings, andinstalled down oftheexisting theface soil below.” tothegood,solid toget sponge toothpicks pushingthrough a below thesoftclay,” hesaid. soil the micropiles ontoastiffer structure waspassedthrough clay withmicropiles. and punched through thesoft cement underexistingfootings, engineers injectedliquid make thenew footings larger.” existing footings toallow usto idea toreduceofthe thesize footings. we Then hadabright trying tostrengthen existing a gamechanger These wallsbecamethe These From there, construction foundationThe work required workersThe dugvertically micropiles“The were like weight“The ofthenew After thebreakthrough idea, You play realise theirdreams. to thelivesofWest Aussies,helping people was impossible.TADWA ismaking adifference watching akiddoingsomething they thought There are fewthingsmore movingthan and theLotterywestgamesyou play. This hasbeenmadepossiblethankstoyou TADWA helpspeoplegetmore outoflifethrough technology. Laughter fi Their eyessaysomuch. Disability WA (TADWA), they’re ridingone. be abletorideabike.Andthenallofsudden,thanks Technology Assisting Now imagineyourchildhasspenttheirwholelifethinking they’d never impossible onlyafewmomentsearlier. They’re stunned thatthey’re actuallydoingsomethingthatseemed The lookintheireyessayseverything. Have youeverseenasmallchildridebikeforthefi fi Think watchingalittleoneridebikeforthe lotterywest.wa.gov.au YouY give rst timeisemotional?Try watchingsomeoneolder. lls theairastheyexperience anewtypeofjoyandfreedom. i . . was demolishedandrebuilt. emitted ifOakleighBuilding dioxide that would have been emission of500tonnescarbon tonnes, andprevented the amount oflandfillby 5000 scratch. building a28-floor tower from compared tothepriceof saving ofupto$5million resulting inacost the effort, the residential units. division walls between each of The solutionalsoreducedThe the projectThe waswell worth • • Savings 10-storey tower Job: Condor Tower FASTFACTS • waste 5000 tonnesofconcrete $5 million 500 tonnesofCO Piggyback 18storeysPiggyback ona rst time? rst gamblinghelponline.org.au 1800 858 2 Play Responsibly Excellence Award. Australia Engineering overall winneroftheEngineers William HudsonAward as Australia. the University ofWestern civil at engineering department four-year research study inthe in Chicago. world-renowned Tower Trump sub-penthouse inthe par withthecostofrenting the the average WA income, andon more than$300,000isfour times $6000 aweek. annual The rent of it wasputonthemarket for rental listinglate lastyear when history asWA’s mostexpensive made penthouse apartment exclusive reputation,its the centralbusiness district. previously area underutilised in Tower, helpingtorejuvenate the block intothelandmark Condor anabandoned office turning Terrace. Condor Towers inStGeorges Psaltisoutside director Arthur Pritchard Francis managing In 2010itwasnamedtheSir projectThe wastheresult ofa In asignofthebuilding’s socialbenefitcamefromThe Picture: BillHattoPicture: ENGINEERING GREAT PROJECTS Toronto, weworkgloballywithourclientstoprovide tailored solutionsfor Construction andProcurement a world classgoldproject inGhana,Lycopodium a engineersare partofthe staff Newcastle,Manila, basedinPerth,Brisbane,Melbourne, With more than20yearsofinnovationonkeyglobalprojects andover1000 Whether it’s designingthenextiron ore project inthePilbara,orbuilding mineral processing andinfrastructure projects. fabric ofmining. Project Management Engineering |Process Design - IT’SWHAT WEDO. lycopodium.com.au Accra and 7 8 - Smart camera an extra pair of eyes for security CCTV technology that analyses surveillance footage and recognises abnormal behaviour to alert busy security workers is a win for the field of law and order.

A surveillance camera that highlights any behaviour staff would then decide staff by flashing up on a can detect criminal that is potentially criminal, whether they were running master screen, or overriding behaviour and alert security by flashing it on the master from danger or simply a broadcast from another staff seems like something screen in a security room. running to catch a bus. camera where no untoward that can only exist in a Mr Pennefather denied the behaviour was detected. futuristic thriller film. technology was a Big Real-time vision of a If that were the case, WA Brother intrusion into person climbing a wall late would be at the point in the personal privacy, saying it at night for example, would film where the good guys was no more intrusive than be highlighted as an activity just got a little bit smarter. Only one per cent traditional security showing a person in an The technology, developed measures. unusual area displaying by Curtin University’s of the footage on a Mr Pennefather said the unusual behaviour. electrical engineering system worked by analysing Mr Pennefather said it was department, is being sold security camera is a camera’s field of vision for useful because security staff around the world through a a real security a few weeks to determine who usually flicked between university offshoot called normal behaviour. several security cameras iCetana. event. It then built a database could miss vital events. Company chief executive based on factors such as the “Only one per cent of the Gary Pennefather said the number of people who footage on a security camera technology made existing For example, two people walked through the area, the is a real security event,” he security and CCTV cameras filmed clashing would be time of day most people said. more efficient by ensuring highlighted to security staff. appeared, the average size of “This technology makes staff who monitored them The staff would then groups of people, their sure that one per cent is did not miss important decide whether the people activities and the areas highlighted to security staff footage as it ocurred. were skylarking or fighting. where activities occured, as it is happening.” The technology analyses In another example, vision among other factors. The device was recognised security and CCTV camera of a group of people running Anything abnormal would at the 2011 WA Innovator of footage as it is filmed and would be highlighted, and be highlighted to security the Year award.

Optimize. Accelerate. Maximize. For the life of the ﬁeld.

FMC Technologies delivers complete life cycle support to optimize the operations of subsea fields. Our boosting and monitoring technologies accelerate production. And our subsea processing and intervention services maximize recovery in the most difficult subsea reservoirs. Wherever the field, whatever the challenge, we’re with you every day, in every way. For the life of the field. Learn more at www.MaximizeRecovery.com

www.fmctechnologies.com COURSES IN SYNC WITH INDUSTRY NEEDS THAT’S HOW UNIVERSITY SHOULD BE

When big ideas stretch possibilities, new ways of overcoming challenges are needed. At ECU, we’ve consulted with industry to develop a full range of Engineering courses that equip students with real-world skills to meet these demands. You’ll study in our new state-of-the-art engineering and technology building, featuring some of the best-equipped labs in Australia. This means you’ll graduate ready to design, test, build and solve real-world challenges. ENGINEERING COURSES AVAILABLE Aeronautics Chemical Civil Civil & Environmental Computer Systems Electrical Power Electronic & Computer Systems Electronics & Communications Instrumentation Control & Automation Marine & Oﬀ shore Systems Mechanical Mechatronics Motorsports Naval Architecture Ocean Engineering APPLY NOW FOR ENGINEERING

Tel: 134 ECU (134 328) ★★★★★ TEACHING QUALITY reachyourpotential.com.au ★★★★★ GRADUATE SATISFACTION E: [email protected] The Good Universities Guide 2013

303LOWE ECU10261 CRICOS IPC 00279B 10 - Career snapshot i Dr Doug McInnes OAM Hon FIEAust Ord River meanders CPEng — geotechnical engineer The nation-building irrigation scheme has Where do you work? Why did you decide to become seen a few stops and starts over the Golder Associates an engineer? I imagined I would What is your favourite be able to have a broad range of decades, but it now appears to be engineering project in WA? career opportunities. Developments on Burswood Island What is your career highlight? bearing fruit, Kim Macdonald reports. where I have worked since 1975. Witnessing graduate engineers What is the biggest problem progress. Former prime minister Robert Menzies facing the industry? Insufficient Your dream engineering was surrounded by flies and cotton fields funding for training. project? A large embankment 50 years ago when he declared Kununurra dam. “the most exciting place in Australia”. How does the WA engineering Back in 1963, the remote North West sector differ from other States town was little more than a collection of or countries? We need to service farms, but it garnered attention from remote and underpopulated across the globe. regions. Queen Elizabeth II visited the town the Is there a common personality same year, in what is believed to have been The diversion dam controls trait among engineers? the only occasion Her Majesty ever the flow of water from into The determination to talk about stepped on to a dirt runway. the lower Ord River and engineering to anyone who will The humble town’s drawcard was the maintains Lake Kununurra. listen. Ord River Irrigation Scheme — a project Picture:Trevor Collens How many engineers does it that opened an agricultural industry in take to change a lightbulb? the State’s inhospitable north. On the basis of the information It put the town at the edge of a new available, the answer is in the frontier and created a region that was A second dam, built in 1972, fed 10,000m3 range of one to ten. predicted to become the State’s food bowl. of water — or nine times the volume of mi Circumstances may change Work began in 1959 with a design that Sydney Harbour — into Lake Argyle. tod with time and location and tried to prevent seasonal flooding and The two dams continue to provide water ch require alterations to be made divert water from the Ord River for for nearly 15,000ha of irrigated land, div to this advice. irrigation. which produce more than 60 crops and Ch The diversion dam was built first, using underpin a $120 million annual co 20 radial floodgates to regulate the release agricultural economy. of water into the lower Ord River and In current values, the cost of stage one aw maintain Lake Kununurra. was relatively modest. ma

Engineering Class Challenger Institute of Technology’s THE SHORTEST DISTANCE engineering training is in FROM WELLHEAD TO MARKET a class of its own. SHOULD BE A STRAIGHT LINE. Enrol now with the fi rst Australian training provider to achieve full professional accreditation from Engineers TO ENERFLEX. Australia. Whether you’re looking to build on your current industry skills or take the fi rst step towards a new career, Challenger Institute has the course for you.

We provide the flexibility of custom energy Places are now available: processing solutions from a single source. CERTIFICATE III IN ENGINEERING (TECHNICAL) From wellhead to market. ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF ENGINEERING (MECHANICAL) ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY (ELECTRICAL) Compression to full-scale processing plants. DIPLOMA OF CIVIL CONSTRUCTION DESIGN DIPLOMA OF ENGINEERING (TECHNICAL) MECHATRONICS Now, who are you going to DIPLOMA OF ENGINEERING (TECHNICAL) CAD SKILL SET DIPLOMA OF ENGINEERING (TECHNICAL) PROJECT PLANNING SKILL SET trust your business with? DIPLOMA OF ENGINEERING (TECHNICAL) APPLIED MATHEMATICS SKILL SET

Your ﬁ rst step: phone 9239 8189 web challenger.wa.edu.au The Single Source www.enerﬂex.com CRICOS Provider Code 00125 J MK_MUR2884 CTA3013 - 11 s its way home

The construction and engineering of the project was challenging given the remoteness of the site, extreme weather and sudden river flows. The 15m-high radial gates, which each weigh more than 95 tonnes, were installed between reinforced concrete piers on a quartzite bar in the river. They are adjusted for varying flows of rainfall. by spending $311 million to extend the Robert Menzies inspects a cotton farm in main irrigation channel by 31km and Kununurra in 1963. Picture: Kevin Richards, build 40km of sealed roads to open up The Kununurra Historical Society more than 13,000ha. Regional Development Minister The construction and Brendon Grylls believes that after 50 years, Kununurra is finally coming of age. engineering of the project In a sign of renewed confidence, bulldozers last month cleared the first was challenging given the block of what will be 13,400ha of new remoteness of the site. farming land. This farm will run under Chinese-backed Kimberley Agricultural Investment, which plans to invest $700 There are questions over whether the million. scheme lived up to its original hype, and The Ord River Diversion Dam was last m3 The Commonwealth committed a £5 the economic viability of the scheme has month awarded a heritage marker by million grant — worth about $140 million been questioned over the years, Engineering Australia. today — for the creation of irrigation particularly after crop failures in early Water Corporation chief executive Sue er channels, the pumping station and cotton fields. Murphy said the dam’s construction was a diversion dam. Perth and Danish company By the 1980s, only 10 per cent of the challenge. “When damming was first Christiani Nielsen Clough then won a possible irrigation area was under conceived it was a huge undertaking, with construction contract for £2.9 million. cultivation. Now, almost all the possible decades of investigations and planning," Another contract for £763,000 was irrigation area is cultivated. she said. "It was an achievement ahead of awarded to Vickers Hoskins of Perth to The State Government recently its time and paved the way for successful The Queen and Prince Phillip, left, with manufacture the radial gates. reignited debate over the scheme’s success agriculture in the region.” David Brand at Kununurra. How would you like to work with the biggest names in Engineering?

Thanks to a range of industrial internships, the chance to work Plus our Postgraduate courses: with the likes of Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Alcoa and Verve, to name • Graduate Diploma in Extractive Metallurgy just a few, is just one good reason to choose Murdoch. But there • Master of Engineering are plenty more including a more practical problem based approach • Graduate Certiﬁ cate in Energy Studies to teaching combined with our state-of-the-art facilities. • Graduate Diploma in Energy Studies The hands-on real industry experience you’ll gain in our engineering • Graduate Diploma in Energy and the Environment pilot plant, instrumentation and control lab, renewable energy • Master of Science in Renewable Energy. facilities, industrial computer systems and electrical power engineering If you’d like to put yourself at the forefront of the booming labs are world-class. Engineering and Energy industries, start by coming to our And, of course, there is the comprehensive range of Open Day on Sunday 18 August from 10am to 4pm at our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, with a choice to specialise South Street campus. It’s a chance to ask more questions in one or more areas: and get hands-on experience with some great activities. • Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering To ﬁ nd out more about our Engineering and • Electrical Power Engineering • Environmental Engineering Energy degrees, visit www.murdoch.edu.au • Mineral Science or call 1300 MURDOCH (1300 687 3624). • Industrial Computer Systems Engineering • Instrumentation and Control Engineering • Renewable Energy Engineering CRICOS Provider Code 00125 J MK_MUR2884 13 12 - Office smart windows a power

Your car or office building co co could soon generate its blo ra own power by harvesting ra

sunlight hitting its ph windows, Kim pr Macdonald writes. th

Offices, households and cars may soon generate power by capturing solar energy through windows fitted with a revolutionary glazing. E Kamal Alameh, an engineer at the Electron Science Research Institute at of Edith Cowan University, and his research team have invented a film co which harvests the sun’s energy and converts it into electricity. ce The thin film lies between two sheets th of glass and diverts up to 50 per cent of infrared radiation and ultraviolet rays w Professor Kamal to the edge of a treated window panel. Alameh and Photovoltaic cells at the edge of the Mikhail Vasiliev panel capture these rays and convert a r demonstrate a them into electricity. ro glass product Professor Alameh said early tests co that traps solar through industry partner Tropiglas sa energy and Technologies showed an office in a converts it to glass building could generate 20 per av electrical cent of its power needs through sq energy. Picture windows fitted with the film. ra Dione Davidson A more significant saving would wa

www.globalskm.com - 13

Career snapshot r trip for sunlight Alina Racu — mechanical engineer come in reduced heating and cooling solar panel. However, a 30-storey Where do you work? Tracey Brunstrom & other that determines success. costs, with tests showing the film skyscraper has limited roof space for Hammond /Health Information Network, How does the WA engineering sector blocked 90 per cent of solar infrared PVC solar panels, but could generate Government of Western Australia differ to other States or countries? WA rays and 95 per cent of thermal infrared hundreds of megawatt hours of What is your favourite engineering project engineering is very multicultural and migrant rays without blocking natural light. electricity per year through PV in WA? Every project is important as there is a engineers are committed to their jobs.They Professor Alameh, who has a PhD in windows. lesson to be learnt and experience gained. are doing their best to live in Australia and photonics engineering, said the product The product could also allow cars to When will the sector pick up? bring value. They are responsible and they provided energy savings because of its generate enough power to run their Understanding the bigger picture and exhibit high effort to maintain a good lifestyle. thermal insulation. air-conditioners or heaters. Because the assuming responsibilities for our actions and Is there a common personality trait among product works with infrared and UV roles could mitigate the risk. Australia has engineers? What is the difference between rays, this power could be generated great people and huge potential, so I have an engineer and a dog? Both have an n even on cloudy days. confidence in the future of engineering in this intelligent look but cannot express Professor Alameh said there were State. themselves. Seriously though, we are three aspects to the technology. What is the biggest problem currently pragmatic people and we are always looking Early tests . . . show an The first was a spectrally-selective, facing the industry? There is an ahead to new challenges. nano-engineered coating which allowed overestimation of and reliability on Asian How many engineers does it take to t office in a glass building natural, visible light to pass through markets. change a light bulb? Depends of project the glass but which blocked UV and Why did you become an engineer? Despite management requests and procedures. could generate 20 per infrared radiation. my creative side, I am a practical person who cent of its power needs The second aspect was micro and enjoys getting tasks done. nano-particles that converted UV What is your career highlight? One of them ts through windows fitted radiation to longer wavelengths and was starting work straight away in Australia, f scattered infrared light to the edges of after arriving the day before from my s with the film. glass. homeland Romania. I am proud to work in an The third was a micro-engineered experienced and well-known company like “This will cut down on heat entering optical structure that allowed visible TBH. a room, and will keep heat inside the light to pass and deflected infrared Your dream engineering project? If I room in winter, reducing heating and radiation, routing it through multiple understand the scope of the project and the cooling costs by about 40 per cent,” he reflections to the edges of the panel value it can bring a community, I can happily said. where it was collected by photovoltaic fit in almost any engineering sector. The glazing product can generate an cells and later converted to electricity. One of the benefits of being a consultant is average of 30 to 50 watts of power per Professor Alameh says the glazing the opportunity to switch between fields. square metre from solar UV and IR may reach the market in about 18 We deal in facts and figures, but it’s the radiation only — a fraction of the 120 months, after completing a trial in relationships with our clients and with each watts generated by a similar-sized PV South Africa. 14 - Career snapshot Local nous key to Bay Yeo MIEAust CPEng — civil/structural engineer

Where do you work? Cape Lambert with remain competitive in a global Sinclair Knight Merz market.Engineering firms should also play WA’s first TV, radio What is your favourite engineering the innovation card and offer niche project in WA? Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert engineering services. Kim Macdonald discovers that cost was the mother of Port B because of the scale of the job and its Why did you decide to become an impact on the industry. engineer? Engineers are silent achievers ingenuity for engineers recreating overseas breakthroughs. What is the biggest problem facing the who render a positive change to the built industry? With investment in resource environment on an enormous scale. Television and radio were not created in Mr Rennie said this encouraged Mr projects coming off peak, budget constraints What is your career highlight? Seeing my WA, but the tyranny of distance prompted Stevens to continue his own experiments, have become the flavour of the month. designs through to reality on major local engineers to successfully invent and by September 1899, he had However, engineering could refocus on infrastructure projects and winning the their own versions within years of their successfully transmitted Morse code demonstrating value for money and Engineers Australia Young Engineer of the initial development abroad. signals across five rooms in the basement encouraging changes in investor sentiments. Year award for WA. The State’s pre-eminent expert on the of the Perth Telegraph office, located on We need decisive industrial reforms to Your dream engineering job? Build the subject, Richard Rennie, said WA the corner of Barrack Street and St USS Enterprise or be part of Deep Space inventors learned the principles behind Georges Terrace. Industries mining operations in my lifetime. the technology from European inventors He was believed to have been the first in Need I say why? through newspaper and magazine reports. Australia to do so. A letter from Mr How does the WA engineering sector But without any instructions on how to Stevens to The West Australian newspaper differ from other States? WA’s engineering build the technology, they had to figure years later claimed his successful sector is more exposed to large-scale, out how to build them from scratch. experiments were ahead of his Eastern privately funded engineering projects Mr Rennie said WA’s first radio States peers. because of our natural resources. This gives experiments were carried out by George Another pioneer in radio was a local WA engineers opportunities to get involved Philip Stevens in 1899. He wanted to create man called Walter Coxon, who built his from concept to completion. a system to communication between own receivers and spark transmitters as Is there a common personality trait Rottnest Island and Fremantle, after then early as 1907. among engineers? Perseverance through premier Sir John Forrest deemed an He later studied at the Marconi School adversity is a prominent feature. underwater cable too expensive. of Wireless in the UK, and by 1921, was th How many engineers does it take to The technology existed in the UK, with broadcasting music from his Bulwer Fa change a lightbulb? Five. One to write a Morse code signals transmitted across the Street home in North Perth from his own specification, one to prepare English Channel in 1899. amateur radio station. sim drawings/schematics, one to procure the But Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi In 1924 he was employed by Westralian th lightbulb, one to hire a sparky based on the refused a request from the WA Farmers to design and construct WA’s first pr specification, one to supervise the sparky… Government for two sets of the telegraphy, commercial radio station, 6WF. He ab but the sparky will screw the bulb in. claiming he had not yet perfected the designed much of the transmission technology. technology himself. cr

engineering excellence From concept and feasibility studies through design, across every delivery and long term production operations and optimisation, Clough’s engineering experts add value to phase every phase of the project lifecycle.

ENGINEERING ENERGY & CHEMICALS CAPITAL PROJECTS fi nd out more about exciting engineering careers at JETTIES & NEAR SHORE MARINE MINING & MINERALS COMMISSIONING & ASSET SUPPORT www.clough.com.au/careers w - 15 Cookers come to every home The world’s first practical household electric cooker was designed by a Kalgoorlie engineer intent on bringing the convenience of cooking with electricity to the masses. Kalgoorlie council’s electrical engineer David Curle Smith registered his improved version of the electric stove with the Australian Patents Office in late s, November, 1905, just over a dozen years after the first electrical stove appeared in nt Canada. Kalgoorlie engineer and stove Historian Howard Willis said patent-holder David Curle Smith. Mr Curle Smith came up with the idea after being placed in Mr Willis wrote in a 2007 that in charge of the town’s electrical unlike previous versions of the supply and generation. electric stove, Mr Curle Smith’s er He believed electric stoves version did not have a would encourage consumption thermostat. of excess daytime electricity However, his version produced by the town. pioneered a feature common As soon as he secured the today —– an oven set under a patent, he undertook the grill tray, set under a hotplate. immediate manufacture, To encourage residents to use distribution and maintenance of the appliance, Mr Curle Smith He also designed the radio receivers developed a set mechanical system in 1926. Crowds gather electrical cooking stoves, which held free public demonstrations. that were sold to the public by Westralian In 1932, John Bell was became the first around one of the council hired to His wife wrote the first Farmers, called the Mulgaphone. WA-based person to demonstrate a TV the first householders for two shillings a cookbook for electric stoves, n The history of television in WA is camera and receiver he had invented television sets month. with recipes such as magpie similar in that local engineers designed himself, though it lagged a few years in 1948. The rental program ensured pudding, curried mutton and n their own versions, but relied on basic behind a design by South Australia’s RB that for the first time in history, boiled brisket. rst principles that had already been invented Calderwell. the appliance was available to all The Kalgoorlie municipality abroad. Mr Rennie said Mr Bell had worked out households. Before, they had produced about 50 stoves before Scotsman John Logie Baird has been the design of the device by himself based been used only in palaces, hotels the project was suspended credited with inventing the TV after he on his own experiments. and popular cooking schools. because of cost overruns.

A Masters in Professional Our vision is to be ‘the best people to work with’ Engineering will empower you to change the world. What would you like to achieve?

Building Construction Camp and Village Accommodation Earthworks Land Development Marine and Port Infrastructure Non Process Infrastructure Precast Property Development Roadworks and Bridges Structural Concrete Water Infrastructure In the year The University of Western Australia celebrates its Centenary, it is offering a new route to a career in engineering through a 2-year Masters in Professional Engineering. Anyone with an undergraduate degree can apply. To ﬁ nd out more on how you can become an Australian-accredited engineer at the State’s World Top 100 university, call 6488 3061 or visit us at www.ecm.uwa.edu.au

www.georgiou.com.au 16 - City of the future has a B heart of steel Soaring skyscrapers and sunken railway lines will change the face of Perth as engineering works transform it into a modern, world-class city catering for inner-city living, entertainment and business. Kim Macdonald explores.

rains slide into the city, There will be a multitude of undergone a major change by shuttling workers to new residential structures at the 2020. Perth City Link the glass monoliths Waterbank precinct, near the The coalition is promising a that line the streets. causeway, with construction to new light rail system from About 150,000 people commence from late 2014. Mirrabooka to Perth by 2018. Twork in these skyscrapers and The city’s west end won’t miss It’s uncertain whether a Labor 26,000 people call the city home. out, with three new skyscrapers government would resurrect its Many locals live along the to be built on the old Emu heavy rail Metronet proposal. river on the city’s east side, or in Brewery site. Burswood will have a new new apartment blocks above the football stadium by 2018, to sit railway. A PLACE TO LAY YOUR HEAD alongside the proposed six-star Residents say city life is a bit A swathe of hotels slated for Crown Hotel. crowded, but everyone is development over the next few If Perth City Council gets it friendly when they cram into years will also add to the way, the city is also likely to get the small bars after work. skyline. its third busport, alongside the That’s lucky, because the bars central train station. are so small you practically have The $360 million City Link to stand on the footpath to order project is a prime example of the your $20 pint. way in which engineering is Welcome to Perth in the year changing where and how we 2020. live. The $360 million The project to sink the rail CITY OF THE FUTURE line last month enjoyed its first This is a likely depiction of City Link project is major milestone with the Perth in seven years time, Fremantle-bound trains following the completion of a a prime example of travelling in the underground raft of projects that are in the tunnel for the first time. works. the way in which By sinking the railway, Much of the social and engineers not only freed up physical transformation will be engineering is prime development space in the driven by engineers, who are CBD but also broke down the responsible for designing the changing where psychological barrier that has buildings and transport underpinned Northbridge’s “With the walls built, precast only metres from live electricity systems, conducting earthworks and how we live. reputation as the wrong side of concrete roof panels were and working rail lines. and sinking tunnels and the tracks. installed using a 130-tonne pedestrian pathways. Rail Alliance manager John crane. ROYAL SOIL By 2020, engineers would have At least seven new hotels and Anderson, a chartered civil “This was all done with the The head of the Metropolitan helped build new office and short-stay apartment blocks engineer, said that building the added challenge of working just Redevelopment Authority, residential hubs across 10ha of have been approved for Fremantle line just 1.2m above over three metres away from the Kieran Kinsella, said key land at Elizabeth Quay on the construction in the central the existing Joondalup line was operating rail line. engineering challenges at waterfront, 14ha of land over the business district and immediate a major engineering challenge. “The remaining and most Elizabeth Quay included the railway in the City Link surrounds, and at least seven The engineers had to ensure difficult stage was to excavate decontamination and treatment development and up to 40ha more hotels are in the planning the Joondalup tunnel did not 50m of the Fremantle tunnel, of soils. surrounding East Perth’s stage. exceed the maximum limits for directly above the existing Mr Kinsella said dewatering upcoming Waterbank precinct. The proposed developments movement and vibration during Joondalup tunnels, to a depth of was crucial because the area, The $2.6 billion Elizabeth range from small boutiques to the installation of the walls for roughly seven metres. which was reclaimed land from Quay project will provide nine 33-floor towers, though the underground Fremantle “The removal of the soil alters the 1950s and 60s, had a high development sites for as many construction times are line. the pressure being applied to the water table. as 18 buildings, as well as a uncertain. “A technique called cutter soil Joondalup tunnels, (and) any “Six metres of soil was 400-room hotel at Old Perth If all of them eventuate, mixing was used to mix cement pressure change to a concrete imported to the site earlier this Port. Perth’s hotel market could with the soil to increase the soil structure can potentially cause year as part of the surcharging The City Link Project will free oversupplied with more than strength so we could rely on it to movement.” process,” he said. up land for about 10 new towers 2000 additional rooms. restrain the diaphragm wall The challenges are been many “Compaction is well over the railway line in the panels directly over the and varied, including watery progressed to improve the centre of Perth, with four of GETTING AROUND Joondalup tunnels, until we soil in the area that was once a ground stability for future them already in the works. Transport will have also could construct the base slab. natural waterway, and working development.” - 17

Crown Towers, Burswood Burswood Stadium, Burswood

Waterbank building development

Old treasury building development

Elizabeth Quay

Old brewery development

ty Career snapshot Sadaf Sharikian — structural engineer

Where do you work? Blue Visions Engineering was the best match for my spirit. a holistic view during the planning process. Management, on Fiona Stanley Hospital My dad, who’s a civil engineer, has inspired me A dream project would take a broad view but nt What is your favourite engineering project a lot in my career. also pay meticulous attention to detail. in WA? WA Museum Projects, because it What is your career highlight? I have been How does the WA engineering sector differ consists of different phases that have involved always keen to research and develop new ideas from other States or countries? studying a different form of planning, and have for better production systems. I have been The construction sector in WA is better than m made me consider the advantages and involved in researching design work with some Queensland or Victoria, but the sector could disadvantages in the current market. innovative materials that considerably reduce improve if it opened the doors to new What is the biggest problem facing the the cost of a structure. expertise and sought to enhance learning by industry? There is a risk we may lose some What is your dream engineering project? holding more seminars and workshops. s very good professionals because of job Projects that turn out to be masterpieces not Is there a common personality trait among g insecurity in the industry. only use best-practice engineering, but they engineers? I think that they are, or try to be, Why did you become an engineer? Physics also consider environmental and sociological logical. and mathematics were my favourite subjects factors, as well as the comfort of people. How many engineers does it take to and I wanted to use them in practical world, I would like to be part of an effective team change a light bulb? One is not enough for not scientifically. working in on any-sized project that takes such sure — they need to brainstorm. 18 - ‘Scheme of madness’ proof in the pipeline Critics condemned a plan to carry water from Perth to the desert of Kalgoorlie in a pipe as ’crazy’ but an engineer proved them wrong, writes Kim Macdonald.

When water gushed into Mt Charlotte Reservoir in the outback town of Kalgoorlie on January 24 1903, it ended a period of some of the best and worst times for WA engineering. It had been four long years since the start of the State’s biggest engineering project: an ambitious bid to pump water 566km from Perth’s foothills to the desert. During construction, critics labelled the Goldfields pipeline a Workers take a break during construction of the Coolgardie Water Scheme pipeline “scheme of madness” and a waste of in 1900. The pipeline extends for 566km from Perth to Kalgoorlie. so public money, while engineer CY Engineer CY O’Connor. sq O’Connor, who led the project, was it the longest pipeline that had Corporation said Mr O’Connor opted endured vicious personal attacks. pipeline was made during the Gold ever been proposed, but it had to run for new locking bar design for the ad Yet the pipeline opened to acclaim Rush, when the local water supply uphill by about 340m — a feat never plates of steel, a radical departure th as one of the world’s greatest could not keep up with the population before attempted. from the welding technique used at be hydraulic engineering works and a boom. Ms Frylinck said many believed a the time. He believed rivets used in lea project that used cutting-edge She said there were anecdotes of desalination plant would have been a welding had the potential slow water th engineering techniques. people dying of thirst, and of nurses better option. flow and become a source of leaks. be The pipeline is still used and more mopping brows with whisky because Nonetheless, Mr O’Connor took on The pipes were manufactured by for than half of it is in original condition. water was so precious. the formidable task, using a raft of rolling two steel plates into National Trust historian Diana Critics of the pipeline were revolutionary designs and equipment. semi-circles. The edges were we Frylinck said the decision to build a concerned about the project. Not only A spokeswoman for the Water dovetailed and joined together by bit

THE SOLUTION WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US BUT IT TOOK EXCELLENT ENGINEERS TO FIGURE IT OUT.

Today, our two desalination plants provide almost half of Perth’s annual water needs. This is one part of our long-term strategy to make WA climate resilient. Our Water Forever goal could not be achieved without our outstanding engineers delivering new water sources, increased opportunities for recycling and water eﬃ ciency programs.

watercorporation.com.au - 19

and buried to protect the joints from any change in temperature. Twenty steam pump stations were Career snapshot spaced along the route to ensure the water overcame the uphill gradient. The pump stations were identical, Richard Hayers — civil engineer which resulted in significant maintenance savings. Where do you work? Sinclair Knight Merz Your dream engineering project? I’d like to However, the project was plagued What is your favourite engineering project participate in a community engineering project by difficulties and delays because in WA? The Perth City Link project and other in a developing country, such as Africa. engineering supplies had to be projects in Perth’s infrastructure plan, because How does the WA engineering sector imported from London. of the technical challenges and the positive differ from other States or countries? In The pipeline remains the Water effect they will have on the city. the scale of projects and the complexity. Corporation’s single largest asset and When will the industry pick up? Is there a common personality trait among is the basis of billions of dollars of We expect to see these challenging conditions engineers? They love to problem solve, break economic activity annually, according continue through 2014. The long-term down complex information and embrace logic. to the Water Corporation. prospects for WA remain very positive and I How many engineers does it take to Approximately 44,000 services are think we can expect to see the resources change a lightbulb? Two. One to do it and provided within the agricultural sector continue to drive future one to steady the chandelier. areas and Eastern Goldfields via employment growth. 8000km of pipe mains and more than What is the biggest problem facing 20 pump stations. the industry? Maintaining and The pipeline did not have a happy generating future employment in ending for Mr O’Connor, and he took engineering fields. Industry has a role to his life in South Fremantle in 1902 — play in raising the profile and in increasing weeks before pumping trials participation in engineering and other commenced. maths and science-based careers. Taking ne By April that year, water had your children along to Scitech to see how softer steel locking bars, which were reached Northam. By January 16 things work can help too. squeezed closed by a hydraulic press. 1903, water reached Kalgoorlie. Why did you decide to become an d A steel collar was placed over the Ms Frylinck said Mr O’Connor had engineer? To see something get built. It’s adjoining ends, and the space between not committed suicide because he like Lego for grown-ups. the collar and pipe filled with hemp thought the project would fail. What is your career highlight? As a before being covered with molten “He said the project would work, if young graduate in the mid-90s, I was lead. In the early stages of the project, he had time to finish it,” she said. thrown in the deep end with an r the lead was hammered by hand, There is speculation he could not engineering job on the Heathrow Express, before a caulking machine was used cope with sustained public criticism, building the high-speed rail link between for the job. while some believe he suffered from Paddington Station to Heathrow Airport, To prevent corrosion, the pipes bipolar disorder. What is certain is London. were dipped into a mixture of that he was one of WA’s greatest bitumen and either coal tar or cement engineers.

SAFE PROFESSIONAL CONSISTENT PROJECT FOCUSED

• Western Australian founded civil and mining contractor • Bluechip client base • Our own equipment, we do the work • Aboriginal Engagement Leader 72 Melville Parade, South Perth WA 6151 • Great career development T: +61 8 9267 8000 | F: 1300 735 152 www.brierty.com.au COR E

COHESION OPTIMISM RESILIENCE EXCELLENCE 20 -

Career snapshot Mark Leathersich — water W resources engineer Fi Where do you work? Water Corporation as general manager Acquisition Group What is your favourite engineering project in WA? An Perth Seawater Desalination Plant. It was a first for co Australia and a major shift in water supply strategy for se the State, delivered on time and on budget. fir When will the industry pick up? Capital spending ow will still need to service growth, but not at levels that de we have become accustomed to. What is the biggest problem facing the industry? Un Cost, because getting work done in Western Australia de is extremely expensive. de Why did you decide to become an engineer? se Working in the water industry combines engineering in with providing essential services to the community. me What is your career highlight? Being a part of the major shift in water supply strategy for the Perth EC community, from traditional Co dams and groundwater to Re climate independent so desalination. str Your dream engineering pr project? St Paul’s im Cathedral, London. in

pa wi tec of dio co

co A new wireless device hopes to provide early warning of the ever-present threat of bushfires. pr - 21 Wireless warning for bushfire danger Firefighters could benefit from a device that sends a text message warning of nearby smoke, finds Kim Macdonald.

An early warning sensor system properties as they wait to ultraviolet indexes and send could help fight bushfires by rebuild their homes and farms. up-to-date warnings to all sending text messages to Dr Ahmad, Professor mobile phones within a certain firefighters and property Daryoush Habibi and Amro radius. owners as soon as smoke is Qandour, who developed the The CCER plans to talk to detected. sensor network, are in local governments and surf Engineers at Edith Cowan discussion with a local lifesaving clubs about setting up University have developed a government in the State’s North the devices at beaches to warn device which they claim can West about using the devices to beachgoers when the UV index detect smoke 50m away, and protect remote heritage-listed reach extreme levels. send warnings via a wireless infrastructure. The devices could also be used internet connection or text “The sensors have the in homes to identify high levels message. capability to transmit data over of potentially fatal gases such as Dr Iftekhar Ahmad from long distances, allowing for nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, ECU’s Centre for large geographical areas or carbon monoxide, carbon Communications Engineering remote regions to be covered,” dioxide and natural gas. Research said the battery or Dr Ahmad said. This could help safeguard solar-powered device could be “Our priority is to have this residents, particularly the strategically placed in bush to system available for authorities. elderly, from faulty heaters and protect homes, farms and other We hope to work with them to gas stoves. important areas and help protect our environment “We could configure the infrastructure. and human life from what can technology to send a warning The system contains Dr Iftekhar Ahmad and Amro Qandour with their wi-fi bushfire monitor. be devastating, and directly to fire authorities, or palm-sized sensors, equipped unfortunately, all-too-frequent perhaps to a loved one,” Dr with wireless communication bushfires cause each year. Department of Environment occurrences.” Ahmad said. technology, which take readings The WA Government is facing and Conservation got out of The devices are not yet The device also has possible of temperature, oxygen, carbon a damages claim of potentially control and residents were commercially available, though use in the multimillion dollar dioxide levels and air millions of dollars for one of the evacuated as the fire swept Dr Ahmad believes they will honey industry, by measuring contaminants. State’s most damaging bushfires through the region. There was eventually sell for about $50 the acoustic signature of Dr Ahmad said the devices in recent years — the South no loss of life, but the effects each. beehives, warning beekeepers of could potentially save lives and West fires of November 2011. continue to be felt, with many Dr Ahmad said the sensors any parasites living within a prevent property damage that Prescribed burns by the families still living in rental were also able to detect hive.

Design Construct Deliver Operate

Hatch is one of the world’s leading professional service providers to the Mining & Metals, Infrastructure and Energy sectors. From concept to delivery, to the ongoing support of operating facilities, we are ready to take on our clients’ toughest challenges.

Hatch is proud to be a Partner of Engineers Australia and sponsor of the 2013 WA Engineering Excellence Awards.

hatch.com.au

$0/46-5*/(t&1$.t5&$)/0-0(*&4t01&3"5*0/"-4&37*$&4 22 - Ideas i A turtle test had via Chevron engineers Ja to sticking their necks ea re out with a new tog pipeline. Nick Sas pip reports. na ar Nature has been a source of be inspiration for artists for th centuries. A beautiful landscape tra or sunset has been behind the me creation of countless poems, th paintings and songs. But nature as inspiration for mi our more scientifically minded lim engineers? Well, not so much. th So it was unique when Chevron said a turtle inspired a ac 4.4km cross-shore pipeline on str Barrow Island. Classified as an A-class nature en reserve in 1910, Barrow Island — ar about 100km north-east of ma Onslow — is recognised for its sh Chevron’s unique biodiversity. dif Jason Davies It is also a crucial nesting area en and Colin for green and flatback turtles Beckett at the from October to March each ca Gorgon site year. Which makes it a sensitive de on Barrow home for the enormous Gorgon an Island. gas project. Sub-sea stability crucial in gas game

■ Kim Macdonald stresses on the seabed’s soil by ...... subjecting buckets of sand to The University of WA’s Centre for centrifugal forces. Offshore Foundation Systems is “We take a big box of soil, up to researching ways to transport 200kg, and put it on a 1.8m-radius huge volumes of gas underwater arm, and spin it at 200 times from offshore production wells to normal gravity,” Professor processing factories hundreds of Cassidy said. kilometres away. “It revolves six times every © And as the energy sector second, which accelerates the prepares for a future that could gravity to 200 times Earth’s revolve around floating LNG gravity. This is required as both facilities, the centre has also the strength and stiffness of soils started investigating how to best depend on the effective stress anchor such large vessels to the level. seabed. “Only by spinning the soil and Getting a stable foothold in the foundation models at high ocean is paramount for the FLNG gravities can similitude between vessels, which are about six the small scale models and times the size of the world’s full-scale conditions be biggest aircraft carriers. maintained.” Centre director Mark Cassidy, Professor Cassidy recently won who is a professor of civil a $3 million fellowship to engineering at UWA, said the continue his research into research was necessary to deal offshore geotechnics and Australian Laureate Fellowships Oil and gas with the unique seabed off the engineering. this year and has received many research WA coast. “Offshore gas lies at the heart other awards. showing a beam “The centre began in 1997 to of Australia’s prosperity, with He was elected a Fellow of the centrifuge. look at solutions of how to $120 billion of infrastructure Australian Academy of anchor platforms and pipelines under construction,” he said. Technological Sciences and to the seabed,” Professor Cassidy “But the future of offshore gas Engineering in 2009. said. requires new technology to safely In 2007 he was named the “The genesis for that was when build offshore foundations in our Prime Minister’s Malcolm they went to build their first weak and problematic soils. This McIntosh Australian Physical platform on the North West shelf project will provide engineers Scientist of the Year. — the Rankin platform — the with science-based tools to A year earlier he received the piles in the seabed just fell in the unlock the natural gas stranded Premier’s Early Career soil. Soil just crushed around in our deep oceans.” Achievement Award for Mark Cassidy, director of The University of Western them.” Professor Cassidy is the only excellence in science education, Australia’s Offshore Foundation Systems. The researchers replicated the West Australian to win one of 17 research and achievement. - 23 s inspired by nature’s fragility

For Chevron, bringing the gas demobilised. According to via subsea pipelines from the Chevron, the project was Jansz-Io fields on the west coast completed and the environment to the processing plant on the conditions were maintained and east coast of Barrow Island protected. required everyone pulling The engineering community together to build a a cross-shore was so impressed the project was pipeline, without disturbing the awarded the Environmental natural habitat of the turtles. Engineering Excellence Award — Protecting the environment representing world’s best around and on the island has practice in environmental been a constant struggle engineering for Australia — at throughout the project, and using the 23rd annual Australian pe traditional shore-crossing Engineering Excellence Awards methods would have disturbed last year. the fragile ecosystem. National Engineering The company also had to Excellence Awards judging panel r minimise obstruction of the chairman Ian Pedersen described d limestone reef that lines most of the project as meticulous. the west coast of the island. The pipeline for the Gorgon shore “The uncompromising Workers also had to take into crossing project at Barrow Island environmental commitment to a account the high seabed rock this project suggests engineering strength. construction techniques can be To add to the challenging ecologically sensitive, allowing re engineering environment, the us to maintain our natural — area has waves and swell that solution,” Gorgon project The scope of the shore crossing techniques to pioneer new ways environment for the future,” Mr make alternative pipeline upstream facilities project involved the construction of nine for industry to develop projects Pedersen said. shore-crossing techniques manager David Equid explained. holes, each 490m long. Because of in ecological sensitive areas. “This project demonstrates the difficult to execute and “We had to stay true to our the 300ha limit on tenure over “The key to our success was engineering profession has the ea environmentally challenging. environmental commitment. uncleared land, the engineering highly detailed planning, robust capacity to develop leading So the pipeline required “(So we) applied the trenchless works were undertaken within a environmental investigations sustainably practises to conserve careful site selection, concept solution of horizontal directional limited area. and careful site selection — our natural resources, while also ve development, detailed planning drilling — a proven engineering The company says the project followed by very strict control of contributing to the national n and rigorous execution. technique — to protect the demonstrated it was possible to operations,” Mr Equid said. economy through engineering “It required an innovative marine environment.” use proven engineering Last year, the site was projects.”

FLUOR DESIGNS AND BUILDS THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST PROJECTS

Each day, a global network of 41,000 Fluor employees design and build the world’s most challenging and remote projects. From iron ore projects in Western Australia, upstream LNG projects in Central Queensland, to copper projects in the Gobi m Desert of Mongolia – Fluor’s exceptional record of dependability, expertise and safety distinguish us in the industries that we serve.

.JOJOH.FUBMTt&OFSHZ$IFNJDBMTt*OEVTUSJBM4FSWJDFTt*OGSBTUSVDUVSF

www.fluor.com 24 -

Paul Dench, former station manager at Carnarvon Tracking Station, at his Willeton home. Picture: Simon Santi Going boldly in Carnarvon Making sure Houston didn’t have a and other space research, such as the antennae and equipment, tracking orbiting balloons, wind including a computer room that was problem was up to engineers in the measurements, water vapour in deep the size of half an average house. space, lunar science experiments, While the enormous computer was Gascoyne, Kim Macdonald writes. solar particle alert network and advanced for its time, Mr Dench said atmospheric measurements. it was less capable than the average A group of engineers in Carnarvon During the Apollo mission it smart phone is today. was in touch with every beat of Neil collected and analysed information “When we built our first computer Armstrong’s impassioned heart back about the Earth’s surface, including at the tracking station, we had 95 per in 1969 when he took one small step, moon temperature, tremors and dust cent of the computer capacity in and one giant leap, for mankind. levels. Western Australia at one site,” he The NASA Tracking Station in the While the station was a US venture, said. “UWA had the only other Gascoyne monitored the astronaut’s using US equipment, it was staffed by computer in the State but it was very heart rate, temperature and his a peak workforce of 220 primarily primitive. respiration during the moonlanding. Australian engineers, technicians and “It was massive by today’s While they were among several support staff. standards because they hadn’t NASA trackers around the world Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin on the moon. Carnavon, like the other Australian mastered minute technology.” which were all, quite literally, at the stations, was the only in the world to He said the technology changed for heart of the space mission, the North “We had to get the Apollo to the operate autonomously, under a every one of the four space missions West station was arguably closer to moon and get it back,” he said. special arrangement with NASA. that were monitored by the Carnavon Apollo than any other station except But Mr Dench, who now lives in Mr Dench was the first person on station. Houston. Willeton, said the station’s role as a the payroll for by the Australian Australian ingenuity came to the Due to its location, it was the last crucial link in the worldwide network operators, Amalgamated Wireless fore to deal with the challenges of its station to make contact with the crew of tracking stations, including five in Australasia. He said the remote location, such as in 1964 when before they left the Earth’s Australia, is sometimes overlooked. arrangements gave the station the lightning knocked out a atmosphere, giving the Apollo the He said its vital role was based ability to expand its operations as it communication link just before the “go” signal that sent the craft’s final largely on its location in the southern saw fit. unmanned Gemini 1 flight. rocket blasting out of the Earth’s hemisphere opposite the launch site By the time it closed in 1975, it had They organised for the part-time orbit. at Cape Canaveral, in the US, which so much equipment that it was Postmistress at Hamelin Pool, near Its location meant it was also the made it the perfect staging post for effectively four stations in one. Shark Bay, to set up a link via only station able to track the craft en route to the moon. The equipment included Australia’s Mullewa. returning crew directly for most of “Primarily it was chosen because first satellite-Earth station, built in NASA Carnarvon was one of only the final three hours of its re-entry to there was a need for spacecraft to 1966, which held contracts with other two NASA stations with an FPQ-6 Earth. orbit around Earth, and on the second agencies such as the European Space long-range precision tracking radar, Were it not for the Carnarvon or third orbit, to detach itself and go Agency. which was the most accurate in the Tracking Station, Houston would in transition in a path towards the The project turned the outback world. have, as they say, had a problem. moon,” he said. town of Carnarvon on its head, with The NASA Tracking Station closed Former station tracking manager “The best location to do that was the 1971 census showing that a higher in December, 1974, and was ultimately and electronic engineer Paul Dench over Carnarvon.” proportion of the town’s citizens had replaced by a network of Tracking said the Carnarvon station had two The station was involved in the tertiary education than Canberra. and Data Relay Satellites which now critical roles in 1969. Gemini and Skylab space missions Mr Dench said local engineers built support all spacecraft. 25 Look to the stars for clues to past ■ Kim Macdonald said it was possible to look back ...... to the earth’s formation about 13 WA engineers are seeking to billion years ago because it took unlock the secrets of the universe that long for radio waves formed in the billion years after the Big in that period to travel to earth. Bang with the most powerful Murchison was chosen as the low-frequency radio telescope in site because there was little FM the southern hemisphere. interference. In an area the size The $51 million Murchison of the Netherlands, there were Widefield Array, which was only 110 residents. switched on last month in the Professor Tingay said remote Murchison, will study preliminary results could arrive radio waves that are about 13 in as little as three months. billion years old. The data will be analysed by In a sign of the incredible WA’s only super computer, the advances in technology in the 400 $80 million Pawsey High years since Galileo turned a Performance Computing Centre telescope to the night sky, the for SKA Science, in Kensington. MWA will be able to detect and “This collaboration between monitor solar storms, space junk, some of astronomy’s greatest exploding stars and hopefully, minds has resulted in the will provide some insight into creation of a groundbreaking mysterious dark matter. facility,” Professor Tingay said. The MWA was nine years in “Right now we are standing at the making, and is the first of the frontier of astronomical three international projects that science. Each of these programs will eventually feed into the $2 has the potential to change our billion square kilometre array understanding about the telescope. Universe.” The SKA project, which will Professor Tingay said the utilise telescopes in several potential outcome was a bonanza countries across the globe, will in new technology. be 50 times more sensitive. “This is an exciting prospect Director of the MWA and for anyone who’s ever looked up Murchison Widefield Array commissioning engineers Brian Crosse and David Emrich service a low-frequency professor of Radio Astronomy at at the sky and wondered how the antenna at the MWA core. Picture: Michael Wilson Curtin University, Steven Tingay, Universe came to be,” he said. See more with Transﬁ eld Services Explore Western Australia, or central Queensland by taking your career further in the LNG or CSG industries.

transﬁ eldservices.com

RESOURCES | ENERGY | INDUSTRIAL | INFRASTRUCTURE | PROPERTY | DEFENCE 26 - Career snapshot Animation C Heather McWilliam GradIEAust — civil/geotechnical engineer the key to Where do you work? SRK Why did you decide to become Consulting an engineer?I wanted a career that complex What is your favourite would allow me to travel, to learn engineering project in WA? I had new skills and knowledge, and to the chance as a vacation student to solve a different problem each day. problems assist with the Perth City Link What is your career highlight? I project. It’s a very interesting and have recently arrived in Argentina challenging project from an for a secondment. I am looking Engineers have found some engineering perspective and also forward to facing some new unlikely bedfellows in the has the potential to have a challenges working on a project in animation industry, with the two significant impact on the the Andes at an elevation of 5000m sectors helping to boost each connectivity and vitality of Perth above sea level. other through difficult times. city. Your dream engineering project? Engineers are using animators What is the biggest problem The Channel Tunnel connecting the to explain difficult engineering currently facing the industry? UK and France is an impressive concepts in 3D, which is helping Water. Whether it is too much engineering feat. It took 11 them to market their wares to water, not enough, water supply, tunnel-boring machines, millions of investors and the buyers around Conceptual Technologies used animators at Toucan Creative to help contaminated water or so on. cubic metres of spoil, a lot of the world. investors visualise its kinetic energy recovery system. concrete, six years of construction CTL said it used animators at and over $15 billion. Toucan Creative to help investors our capacity to convey the technology worked to a large Is there a common personality visualise its kinetic energy principles of our technology to audience,” he said. trait among engineers? I think recovery system, after it had people globally to an extent “They are engineers with no that most successful engineers are trouble explaining the inner achieved by no other reference background in communication, great at communication, problem workings of the product to buyers materials,” CTL commercial and having the animation done solving and creativity. and investors. manager Steele Christian West gave them a great tool to How many engineers does it take The concept involved a pump said. communicate their concept for to change a lightbulb? Six. One that can harvest and recycle Toucan Creative technical patenting and marketing for a vacation student to hold the bulb, energy from the flow of a liquid director Matt Clarke said an wider appeal. one to apply a horizontal resistance or gas, or a “kinetic energy increasing number of “We stripped away the Fl force to the ladder, three to run recovery system”, through a engineering firms were turning technical jargon that is confusing ju stability analyses and one to check simple modification to existing to animators. to many, and visualised the idea in the calculations. traditional pump technology. “The West Group had a lot of in a way that anyone can Ca “The animation has enhanced trouble explaining how their understand.” co

EXPERIENCE IS WHAT COUNTS IN YOUR LEGAL TEAM FOR CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICES CONTRACTS

Squire Sanders’ partners and senior lawyers are among the most experienced in Australia on contracting in the Construction and Services industries. We provide ‘front end’ services with a focus on commercial contracting. We also provide ‘back end’ assistance specialising in large-scale construction, engineering, resources, energy and services contract disputes. We represent clients in mediation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation locally and internationally. Squire Sanders has offices in Perth, Sydney and a project office in Darwin. We are a top 10 global law firm with 39 offices in 19 countries.

Greg Steinepreis Avendra Singh Cris Cureton Partnering with clients T +61 8 9429 7505 T +61 2 8248 7810 T + +61 8 9429 7460 throughout Western Australia Successful project delivery relies on partnering with an experienced global engineering, management and specialist technical services consultant. With a global presence, and a respected track record in engineering, design, management and technical expertise, we aim to set the benchmark in everything that we do. We create value for our clients by making a real difference in the communities in which we work. For more information contact Paul Frewer Delivery Centre Manager, Perth T +61 8 6145 9300 E [email protected] squiresanders.com - 27

Career snapshot Can-do attitude is handy Bronwyn Yates — student To some people, cans are small create sculptures from tins of donated to those in need, petroleum (reservoir) engineer cylindrical tins. To the laterally food, then donate the tins to providing 3000kg of food which thinking engineer, cans can be Foodbank. created 6430 meals. Where do you work? I’ll be starting the Shell boats, space shuttles and Canstruction food charity has In WA, engineering firm Hatch Graduate Program in 2014. giant-sized computer game run since 1992, spreading to 140 won the people’s choice award What is your favourite engineering project in WA? characters. countries and collecting nearly with their sculpture of Yoshi, the Shell’s Prelude Project. They are using groundbreaking Teams of engineers from eight million kilos of food for dinosaur-like character from the new technology in FLNG, which is really exciting- different firms last year proved those in need. Super Mario video games, which especially since they’re trying it here in WA. their creativity, and their It was started by a New York they made from 5000 cans. What is the biggest problem facing the industry? philanthropic side, by creating designer, and has since been Fluor was the declared the The cost of doing business and the cost of labour in outlandish designs in the State’s championed by engineers, judges’ favourite with a design Australia, and especially WA, is getting too high. It inaugural Canstruction architects and contractors, called Thumbs Up To Fight makes it hard to justify new projects and investments, competition. among other professions with a Against Hunger, which was a and anything that can be outsourced, is. These factors Hosted by Engineers Australia, knack for construction. two-and-a-half metre high hand, combine to create a challenge for new projects. Canstruction is a unique Last year, more than 15,000 tins emerging from a shirt cuff. Why did you decide to become an engineer? I competition in which teams used to build the structures were As with all engineering enjoy a challenge. I feel being an engineer provides projects, safety comes first, with constant and varied challenges, and fantastic Engineers Australia requiring opportunities to work on really important, teams to submit a safety plan game-changing projects. outlining issues such as the Your dream engineering project? The North West structure’s stability during Shelf Project, when they were first developing it. The construction and deconstruction, project was so monumental in shaping the State’s LNG safe storage of tools, and the industry. appropriate lifting and manual How does the WA engineering sector handling of the cans. differ from other States or The sculptures will be countries? In the petroleum displayed at the Perth convention engineering area, it is much bigger centre from today until August and that means that there is a 10, and winners will be lot going on for engineers announced at the end of the outside of work. week. How many first year Fluor was the Judges will consider design engineers does it take to ng judges’ favourite and structural ingenuity, the change a lightbulb? a in the 2012 overall impression, the attention None, that’s a Canstruction to detail and use of labels and the second-year subject. competition. ingredients.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE’VE EVER BUILT IS TRUST.

Our global web of more than 6000 As one of Australia’s largest construction, mining and servicing engineers, architects contractors, our reputation precedes us. For almost 80 years, and environmental we’ve been true to our word; when we say we’ll deliver, we deliver. scientists combine to From highways to dams, ports, railways and commercial buildings, help local communities we’ve been trusted to deliver many of Australia’s essential infrastructure projects – come rain or shine. We’ve also played a vital role in developing realise their dreams our country’s resources sector, particularly ore and LNG. We’re proud to support But our history is exactly that – history. It’s what we do today and tomorrow that counts. 2013 Australian Engineering Week THIESS.COM.AU www.ghd.com 28 - Perth’s grand gateway begins t By 2017 your drive to and from Perth Airport will be very different. Geoffrey Thomas reports on an audacious road plan. pr tra dr By any measure it is the biggest WA’s Director General of Transport airport precinct. en single road project ever undertaken and Commissioner of Main Roads, The project has been separated pe in WA and when completed in early Reece Waldock says the project will into three construction zones — 2017 it will ease the gridlock that provide a safe and efficient road north, south and west. WO chokes Perth Airport, Kewdale and network for visitors, residents and The project provides an Each zone has a dedicated project Th Welshpool throughout the day. businesses by early 2017. manager, design and construction co Dubbed Gateway WA, the project “Delivering a project of this opportunity to form a team. Ab will cost $1 billion, take magnitude is an amazing opportunity To build Gateway WA an alliance (so three-and-half years to complete and to demonstrate our capability, and gateway to the city that of some of world’s leading transform the road system around expertise, and to leave a positive expresses the dynamic, infrastructure and road builders in Perth Airport. legacy for the city of Perth,” said Mr was formed and selected in 2011. Ab Turning of the first soil occurred at Waldock. creative and rapidly The alliance is made up of the future Abernethy Road on-ramp “Works of this scale are not without Leighton Contractors, Georgiou, in to Tonkin Highway, on February 1 complexities but construction will be evolving character of GHD, AECOM and BG&E and they Le this year, with Federal Infrastructure staged to minimise interruptions to will stage the program to manage th and Transport Minister Anthony road users.” Western Australia. the work on-site in such a manner To Albanese and WA Transport Minister Fuelling the urgency for the as to minimise the disruption to an Troy Buswell. upgrade is the rapid growth in air container transport within the local businesses, residents, road Hi The project is being jointly funded, travel and the resulting expansion of Kewdale area. users and the freight industry. en with the Federal Government the international side of Perth Gateway WA is the result of a To achieve this, the alliance has contributing up to $686.4 million as Airport, with the new regional T2 comprehensive two-year planning done modelling to investigate ways wi part of the Regional Infrastructure Terminal as well as the Virgin study that identified the potential that the efficiency of the road Pe Fund and National Building Program Terminal to open next year. road and bridge improvements network can be maintained during lin and the State Government Air travel is forecast to double by required to service the future needs construction. in contributing $317.5 million. 2030, as is the growth in freight and of Kewdale, Forrestfield and the It says that wherever possible, co op GATEWAY WA to 7 re 1 Major freeway-to-freeway fre interchange at Tonkin co Highway-Leach Highway. 2 New primary access road to the consolidated airport terminal. 3 Interchange at Tonkin Highway-Horrie Miller Drive-Kewdale Road. 4 Interchange at Leach Early artist impression of the new freeway to Highway-Abernethy freeway interchange at Tonkin Hwy/Leach Hwy PERTH AIRPORT Road. 5 Upgrading of the existing Tonkin Highway-Roe Highway interchange to a partial freeway to freeway interchange. 1 2 6 Upgrades to local roads and intersections in the Kewdale area. 7 A new interchange at Boud Avenue (subject to further funding negotiations). Artist impression of the new interchange at Leach 8 Hwy and Abernethy Rd 4 Upgrading Leach Highway 3 between Orrong Road and Tonkin Highway to an expressway standard. * Overall widening of Tonkin Hwy to six lanes between Roe and Great Eastern Hwy. 6 Commence mid 2013 Commence end 2013 5 Commence end 2014 - 29

Career snapshot to take shape Abra DeKlerk — civil engineer (transport, . priority will be given to preserving freeway system, the nature of the planning and infrastructure) travel times, maintaining access to Gateway WA project has demanded a driveways and public transport, and visionary approach. Where do you work? AECOM in Perth Your dream engineering job? The ensuring the safe passage of Main Roads says the project What is your favourite engineering planning and delivery of Brasilia, planned pedestrians and cyclists. provides an opportunity to form a project in WA? Gateway WA Alliance. I from scratch as the Capital of Brazil. Lucio gateway to the city that expresses the was part of the small working group at Costa was the main urban planner and WORKS UNDER WAY dynamic, creative and rapidly Maunsell (AECOM legacy company) that Brasilia was built between 1956 and 1960. ct The first area of major activity is the evolving character of WA. identified the project six years ago and I How does the WA engineering sector construction of a new on-ramp from The plan is to use innovative and am now the board member for AECOM as differ from other States or countries? Abernethy Road to Tonkin Highway integrated urban design concepts to part of the successful Consortium that is The guts and glory that comes with a ce (southbound only). create a themed journey that will delivering this $1 billion project. resources-driven State. First works will be the include way-finding cues to aid When will the industry pick up? This is Is there a common personality trait interchanges at Leach Highway and navigation. a tough question. The macro-economic among engineers? Mostly tend to be Abernethy Road. Main Roads adds that the urban environment will improve in WA, the real too stuck on detail. Work to construct the new design will incorporate functional question is, when? In 12 to 18 months How many engineers does it take to interchange at Tonkin Highway and elements, including noise walls. there will be an improvement. Iron ore change a lightbulb? Future aimed y Leach Highway is expected to start at Flora unique to WA will create a commodity prices will be at the centre of response: hopefully one of us designs a the end of this year, with work at the green spine along the length of the an economic kick-start. In the interim, lightbulb that lasts and therefore none. r Tonkin Highway and Boud Avenue corridor to integrate the project into continued but measured spending on and Tonkin Highway and Roe its natural setting, says Main Roads. public projects is essential to maintain Highway scheduled to start at the A prominent feature of the urban and restore economic confidence. end of 2014. design will be the Tonkin Highway What is the biggest problem currently The Leach Highway interchange and Leach Highway interchange, facing the industry? Lack of confidence. ys will provide the main entry into where a grand gateway will be Why did you decide to become an Perth International Airport and will created between the city and the engineer? Early on in my school career I g link up with Horrie Miller Drive Perth Airport. decided I wanted to pursue either inside the airport precinct. Main Roads suggests this gateway engineering or archaeology. My late According to Main Roads, the new will be supported by the three major brother who was a civil engineer probably connections will be progressively bridge connections, which will create talked some sense into me. opened to traffic wherever possible portals to the gateway — to the south What is your career highlight? There to provide immediate and significant (Horrie Miller Drive/Kewdale Road/ have been a number: my first job with a relief to regional commuters, the Tonkin Highway); north (Tonkin small consultancy, moving to Australia 12 y freight industry and the local Highway/Boud Avenue); and years ago and landing a position with community. west (Abernethy Road/Leach Halpern Glick Maunsell. But rather than just another Highway). rt

Technip - A leading Oil & Gas contractor in Australia Less power. More energy. y

y n In Australia, Technip is experiencing sustained growth through our involvement in world-class Subsea, Offshore and Onshore projects

4 The City of Canning’s new Leisureplex has created a shining new Visit our website to learn more community hub for fun, fitness and local families. about Technip in Australia AECOM’s flexible design prioritised energy efficiency to reduce operating www.technip.com costs, meaning more fun for those with a little extra energy to burn. aecom.com 30 - Sight by sound at touch of Dr Iain Murray, Curtin University.

system, or typing the request into their mobile phone. a cane The system will use its stored knowledge to navigate the building to An audio cane designed by a Curtin that location while at the same time providing real time data about University lecturer aims to immediate obstacles, such as pedestrians. revolutionise the way sight-impaired By storing information in the people navigate around obstacles, cloud, all users can contribute to a catalogue of detailed maps that can writes Kim Macdonald. be used by anyone. Building owners would not need to Canes have been used by blind people put in any infrastructure to support since the beginning of time, but a the technology, as the sensors have high-tech new gadget under design everything required for the maps. could revolutionise the humble stick. Dr Murray said he was inspired to Curtin University electrical work in the field by his late brother, engineering lecturer Iain Murray, is Gordon, who was blind. designing a cane that can instantly “The goal is to come up with a map out a room, communicate system for the person who can’t see, directions to users and warn them of to help them discover their upcoming obstacles. environment indoors with more Dr Murray and his team of up to six confidence,” he said. PhD students have been working on While the focus of the gadget was the design for 18 months, and expect primarily indoor navigation, it would to complete it in the next 18 months. also have GPS for outside directions, The gadget employs a series of though satellite navigation usually sensors and stereoscopic cameras to has a 2m-3m inaccuracy range. detect walls, doors, pathways, Head lecturer Kerry Hoath with PhD Some features aim to make this furniture and other objects. student Nimsir Abhayasinghe navigation easier for users, including Audio cues help to locate and track demonstrates the ‘cane of the warning of large objects moving moving objects in the immediate future’, designed to map and store quickly towards them from as far as vicinity. directions and warn of approaching 25m away, such as oncoming traffic. The data is collated in less than a objects. Picture: Michael Wilson They would be warned of a person sixth of a second, and the information running towards them from 3m away. is then communicated through the “If a warning is required in an user’s mobile phone. emergency, such as oncoming traffic, Users can opt for a voice system for and down stairs, or detecting impaired, to tell them what is around the system will cause a rapid series of directions, similar to in-car obstacles that are right in front of them from wall to wall,” he said. buzzes on the mobile phone,” Dr navigation systems, while hearing you, but is not capable of telling you is The device has a memory, so once a Murray said. impaired users can use vibrations, something is more than a metre building has been mapped out, it is “After the alarm, the system will with different patterns for right and away,” Dr Murray said. stored for future use, so for instance a then let you know the detail behind left turns or for an emergency “We are developing is a user can request directions to their the emergency. warning. multi-sensor device for people who favourite cafe at their local shopping “It will help to keep users safe, and “A cane is beneficial for going up are blind, who are also often hearing centre simply by talking to the give them more independence.” Career snapshot Sebastian Bunney MIEAust Process — chemical engineer Where do you work? Chevron likely improve in a year or so once What is your career highlight? into each other again and again Australia the current trends in resources and Championing the production across different projects. What is your favourite the global economy become clearer, forecast on a $27 billion asset in my Is there a common personality engineering project in WA? I can and companies become more second year with the company — a trait among engineers? We easily say it is the Gorgon LNG comfortable with forecasting new lot of people’s bonuses were understand things better when Project. It is a massive endeavour, projects. partially tied to those figures, so I shown a diagram. Seriously, for all the ridiculous scale of which is What is the biggest problem had to get them right. you non-engineers reading this: if almost impossible to grasp even facing the industry? Politicians of Your dream engineering project? you need to explain anything to an when working on it. The fact that it all varieties scoring political points The pyramids. Those things are still engineer, show them using a is happening with minimal using the resources industry and standing, and were completed using diagram. Instant comprehension. environmental impact in an A-class others, rather than just shutting up technology that’s now over 4500 How many chemical engineers nature reserve simply makes it all and getting on with the job of years old. does it take to change a the more impressive. running our beautiful country. How does the WA engineering lightbulb? Three: one to change the When will the industry pick up? I Why did you decide to become sector differ to other States or bulb, one to needlessly reduce the feel like the industry is stepping back an engineer? I enjoyed maths and countries? The WA engineering operation to thermodynamic first from projects with a “wait-and-see” science in high school, and liked the sector is like a small country town. principles, and one to lament that approach to the economy and idea of being able to solve problems Most people know most other fugacities have again somehow markets in general. I think things will for a living. people, and engineers tend to run made it into the equations. A dedicatedWAjob site Check outwjobs.com.autoday andmoveyourcareerintothefastlane. latest careeradvice,localjobadverts,trainingandmore. online. DesignedforWApeople,wjobswillkeepyou uptodatewiththe wjobs.com.au isTheWestAustralian’sjobsitewithover12,500jobs Professional Appointments

2082922πSLTT050813 Global Engineering at Curtin.

Engineering the future.

At Curtin, you’ll beneﬁ t from global engineering partnerships and opportunities, a professional and interactive environment, and connections with industry professionals in your ﬁ elds of interest.

You’ll combine theory with practical study and learn from innovative teaching methods to prepare you for your chosen global career.

In the Times Higher Education, World

University Rankings, Curtin is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world for engineering, technology and computer sciences. A wide range of courses, leading industry research, strong partnerships, and internationally- recognised staff and facilities mean you’ll graduate career-ready, with the skills you’ll need to shape the future of global engineering.

Visit engineering.curtin.edu.au

Make tomorrow better.

CRICOS Provider Code 00301J CU-SE-0138/BRAND CUESC0171 Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology