Institution of Civil Engineers Record

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CONNECT TO BETTER New Civil Engineer INDUSTRY MUST RISE AGAIN AFTER CROSSRAIL DEBACLE

MARK HANSFORD EDITOR

his month’s New Civil Engineer was intended to be fu- It is also extraordinary because it is blatantly not fact. Because ture looking as we explore innovations in our Future of Europe’s two most recent and fast-paced high speed rail projects: Bor- Tunnelling special. We are still doing that. But we also deaux-Tours and Montpelier-Nîmes opened on time and on budget. We T find ourselves dedicating many column inches to tun- have written about both repeatedly in New Civil Engineer, so Meggs did nelling past, as we learned this month the full scale of not have to look far for his research. the delays still afflicting Crossrail and the “many, many thousands of He could also have looked closer to home where projects such as hours” of work still needed to complete the civil engineering. the London 2012 Olympics, London’s Lee Tunnel, the M25 upgrade and The revelations emerged from the project’s latest boss Mark Wild Heathrow’s Terminal 5 all immediately jump out as complex major pro- – the third man in a year to take charge of the former “Fifteen billion jects that were delivered on time and on budget. pound railway”, as it was called the BBC documentary of the same name. Wild pulled no punches in his evidence to London Assembly’s We learned this month the full transport committee as he revealed the scale of work still to be done – up to three years’ worth in fact – and the issues he is having with the scale of the delays still afflicting supply chain. Subsequent investigations by New Civil Engineer, revealed in this Crossrail month’s magazine, show how severe these are, with client Crossrail Limited forced into negotiating new lump sum contracts with key contractors to incentivise them to get the work done. Crucially, just down the M4/M5 corridor, we report this month that Something has clearly gone very badly wrong on the project. Wild’s project leaders on Britain’s current mega-project, Hinkley Point C, are view, that the “enormity and complexity of Crossrail in all manners… “straining every sinew to explore and exploit every innovation they can was not fully understood” by senior project executives and represent- to ensure that this hugely sensitive project is delivered well. atives, is hugely perturbing. So such a sweeping statement from Meggs is not only not fact, it Yet in a day of extraordinary statements, the most extraordinary does our industry a massive disservice. came not from Wild but the man sat next to him, fellow project newbie Last month we reported how Meggs’ former IPA colleague, IPA direc- and incoming chairman Tony Meggs. tor of infrastructure delivery Stephen Dance, felt that problems with Meggs’ take on the Crossrail débâcle was this: “Projects of this scale Crossrail were dangerously close to undermining government confi- rarely go to time or budget. It is not an excuse, merely fact.” dence about future major projects. He was, of course, referring to High So that’s alright then. Despite hearing from Wild that the project is Speed 2 (HS2) whose acute cost pressures are well known. now running up to three years’ late and £2.5bn over budget, many coun- Wild’s latest revelations will have done nothing but further under- tries worldwide would be satisfied with that, he told the committee. mine that confidence. It would be a brave chancellor and transport Meggs has said this before, but it remains an extraordinary state- secretary to sign off on HS2 main civils contractors right now; here, ment, made all the more so by the fact the he was previously chief in February 2019, on the eve of Brexit and a major Spending Review. executive of the Infrastructure & Projects Authority (IPA). This is the Clearly it is now a big ask of our industry but a crucial one to help Treasury’s quango set up to help government departments in bring restore some of that confidence. major projects in on time and on budget. It clearly has work to do. l Mark Hansford is New Civil Engineer’s editor

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 3 Contents NEW CIVIL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2019 MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

03 Comment, 27 World View Report: Analysis & News Future of Tunnelling

06 Lighthouse: Keeping infrastructure in the spotlight amid 2019 uncertainty

08 The Edit: Crossrail 2 cash for Elizabeth Line

09 The Edit: Polcevera designs unveiled

12 Special Report: Crossrail chaos

20 Your View: Bridge maintenance; new behaviours; new tech skills; PFI; governance review

22 Business Culture: Construction companies are missing out on tax relief for research and development

12 Exclusive Report: Crossrail

Improvements in technology, practice, productivity and safety are all in the pipeline for the tunnelling industry as a series of major tunnelling projects get underway in the UK

28 Overview: British tunnelling 34 Splicing a spur onto an electricity projects are to be the test bed for cable tunnel in south London new techniques 35 Align: Importing overseas 12 It now looks as though Crossrail will 33 Norway is developing plans to build techniques for High Speed 2’s open as much as three years late. a fl oating tunnel across a deep  ord Chiltern Tunnels contract This report explores the reasons and the consequences

4 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2019 New Civil Engineer Get news delivered daily Weekly Wrap and analysis delivered weekly with our newsletters. Sign-up at newcivilengineer.com

18 Big 22 Business EDITORIAL TEAM Interview Culture EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected]

Editor Mark Hansford (020) 3953 2821 mark.hansford

Deputy Editor Alexandra Wynne (020) 3953 2822 alexandra.wynne

Associate Editor Emily Ashwell (020) 3953 2094 emily.ashwell

News Editor Rob Horgan (020) 3953 2087 rob.horgan 22 SME Interview: Roni Savage of 18 Hinkley Point C delivery director Technical Reporter Nigel Cann explains how the project Jomas Associates – from kitchen Katherine Smale (020) 3953 2044 is benefi ting from lessons learned table to Goldman Sachs business katherine.smale from other infrastructure schemes programme Reporter Connor James Ibbetson (020) 3953 2088 | connor.ibbetson

38 Tech 42 Tech Reporter Sam Sholli Excellence Excellence (020) 3953 2086 | sam.sholli

Chief Sub Editor Andy Bolton (020) 3953 2823 | andy.bolton

Designer James McCarthy [email protected]

Graphic Artist Anthea Carter [email protected]

Technical Editor Emeritus Dave Parker dave.parker

38 Delivering high quality construction 42 A £780M congestion relief for Hinkley Point C’s demanding programme is nearing completion in CUSTOMER SERVICES nuclear programme Las Vegas [email protected]

FEBRUARY 2019 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 5 Lighthouse ICE VIEWPOINT Engineers must bring clarity to uncertainties surrounding public spending

s we start the year, UK level. The UK’s exit from the it is important European Union (EU), a spending As the second to reaffirm that review, a Queen’s Speech, a Budget half of 2018 A infrastructure and maybe even a General Election. transforms lives The renewal of the Democratic showed, no one can by connecting people, unlocking Unionist Party’s support for the human potential and raising living minority Conservative government say with any certainty standards. Too often in debates on will also need to take place and infrastructure investment, we forget BY ART WE the Scottish Government will need how the year will play these fundamental tenets. MASTER to find allies to pass its Budget in “out However, despite the payback WHAT WOULD February. from infrastructure investment, MASTER US As the second half of 2018 agreeing such investment is still a showed, no one can say with any elements of the Road Investment bet on the future which carries risk. certainty how the year will play out. Strategy in the absence of PFI, High These bets can also preclude others But some things will have to take Speed 2 Phase 2 and Northern being made, either on other projects place. Top of the list will be the UK Powerhouse Rail. These questions or elsewhere in the economy. Government’s spending review, could rub up against capital This gives rise to a persistent expected after the UK formally investment for say, a major publicly challenge: despite infrastructure leaves the EU, which is currently funded housebuilding programme. being the bedrock of our social scheduled for the end of March. This continued uncertainty once and economic fabric, investment The government has already again underscores the focus of the comes with substantial risks that declared the “end of austerity” ICE’s 2018 State of the Nation, which politicians need to be able to and announced funding in major looked at alternative financing stomach. At the best of times, this is areas, such as health spending in arrangements (such as a pay-as- a difficult pitch to sell. 2019 will be England. From a revenue spending you-go system for strategic roads in even more difficult than usual. point of view, this means decisions England and Scotland) to get around The year will be full of major on the major shifts in budgets have these medium-term political cycles political decision points at the effectively already been made. and deliver the infrastructure the This is not so for capital public needs. investment. While capital spending The spending review is just Despite the has increased during the period part of the din through which the of austerity, the UK government case for infrastructure will need payback announced at Budget 2018 that to be put. As 2019 progresses, we the spending review would include will be redoubling our efforts to from infrastructure a “zero-based review of capital remind politicians across the UK spending”. It is not yet clear if this of the transformative effects of investment, agreeing will treat social and economic infrastructure. Rather than a risky infrastructure as separate or as one bet, it is a down payment on a such investment and the same, as in Scotland. prosperous future – whatever that “is still a bet on the Such a review would bring into future looks like. play questions concerning major l Send comments on the future projects, such as how to fund Lighthouse to [email protected]

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07617_002_WAV_Q-Bic Plus Campaign_Scan_NCE_265x210_AW.indd 1 04/01/2019 11:20 MORE NEWS TRANSPORT NORTHERN LINE Sign up for EXTENSION IS The Edit New Civil RUNNING NINE ESSENTIAL NEWS & INFORMATION Engineer’s MONTHS LATE FROM NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM Breaking, Daily and The Northern Line Extension in south London will open nine months late, Weekly news New Civil Engineer has revealed. The alerts at line linking Kennington and Battersea, newcivil will now open in September 2021 rather than the originally planned engineer.com December 2020 date. The introduction of services on the new line is being “realigned” to coincide with the opening of the Bank Station upgrade. The new opening date will therefore be pushed back until after the planned three-month, partial closure of the Northern Line in 2021. A Transport for London report published in December 2017 revealed that the final works at Bank Station were set to open in 2021, after the three month blockade.

TRANSPORT HEATHROW RAIL LINK SCHEME Crossrail 2 cash to be switched to ‘REJECTED OUTRIGHT’ KEY STATS BY MINSTERS Elizabeth Line completion work £2.1bn The proposed Windsor Link Railway (WLR) which would have provided say London’s deputy mayor Value of access into Heathrow from the south Northern has been “rejected outright” by the Line government. Speaking exclusively to CROSSRAIL be using what would have gone into New Civil Engineer, WLR chief London deputy mayor Heidi the Crossrail 2 pot to pay for the Extension executive George Bathurst said he Alexander has admitted money set remaining work that needs to be done had received confirmation that its aside to develop Crossrail 2 will be on Crossrail 1,” Alexander said. scheme would not be taken forward. used to complete the original The Department for Transport told Crossrail project. She told a London Bathurst that the scheme’s expected Assembly budget and performance fare revenue would not match the committee meeting that a proportion capital cost of building the line. of the funding set aside for the Bathurst added that the government development of Crossrail 2 will be had not entered into any discussions used to complete the unfinished We would be to query how Windsor Link Railway Elizabeth Line. The announcement had generated its revenue numbers. was made two days before Crossrail using what “I’m really disappointed, it’s been chief executive Mark Wild revealed eight years in the making,” he said. that there are “thousands more would have gone into “I’m going to go back to the team and hours” of construction work to do on discuss what to do next.” The the line (see page 12). The money will the Crossrail 2 pot to proposal for the line had been drawn be drawn from the Mayoral up by WLR in partnership with Community Infrastructure Levy and pay for the remaining consultant Arcadis and contractor the Business Rates Supplement which “ Skanska. It was originally drawn up in work that needs to be had been earmarked for Crossrail 2. response to the government’s call for “For a limited part of time we would done on Crossrail 1 market led rail project proposals.

8 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 STRUCTURES POLCEVERA DESIGNS UNVEILED

Bridge designs by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano have been selected to replace the Polcevera viaduct which collapsed and killed 43 people last August. The new bridge will have a continuous 1,100m steel deck with 20 spans. It will have 19 elliptical piers made of reinforced concrete, most of which will be 50m apart. Two of the piers will be 100m apart to span the river and a railway .

ROADS STRUCTURES TRANSPORT TFL ANNOUNCES POST-GRENFELL HS4 PLAN TO LINK FIVE MONTH DELAY RECOMMENDATIONS HEATHROW WITH FOR EAST LONDON’S TO BE IMPLEMENTED GATWICK DISMISSED SILVERTOWN TUNNEL IN FULL Ministers have rejected the proposed £10bn HS4Air rail scheme connecting The contract award for the £1bn The government will implement all High Speed 1 with High Speed 2 (HS2) Silvertown Tunnel has been delayed recommendations in Dame Hackitt’s via Gatwick and Heathrow airports, by five months, moving the opening review of Building Regulations and fire New Civil Engineer can reveal. The date from 2023 to 2024. The contract safety following the Grenfell tower project to build the 140km high speed award to build the 1.4km twin-bore disaster, housing minister James route had been proposed in response road tunnel under the Thames Brokenshire said. The government will to the Department for Transport’s call between Silvertown and the also launch a regulatory group to for market led rail proposals. The new Greenwich Peninsula, will now go oversee the implementation of the line was to start at Ashford in Kent ahead in July 2019. The delay was recommendations which include and run south of London via the two revealed in a recently published setting up a construction products airports to the Great Western Mainline stripTransport ad ideas_Layout for London 1 (TfL) 6/7/18 report. 11:47 AM Pagestandards 2 committee. and HS2.

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FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 9 The Edit

BUSINESS STRUCTURES STRUCTURES COSTAIN ENDS 2018 LACK OF POST- KEY STATS CONCRETE CORES WITH FORWARD TENSIONED BRIDGE FOR WORLD’S TALLEST ORDER BOOK WORTH INSPECTIONS A 5km MODULAR BUILDINGS A RECORD £4.2BN ‘SERIOUS ISSUE’ Length of COMPLETED Humber Contractor Costain finished 2018 with Engineers reacted with caution to cable tunnel Work on the concrete cores for orders at a record £4.2bn, up from claims by the RAC Foundation that the two tallest modular buildings £3.9bn at the same point last year. The almost 200 post-tensioned road in the world has finished. British firm counts Network Rail and bridges managed by local authorities developer Tide Construction, which Highways England among its main in the UK have had no specialist has 1,500 residential units under clients and is one of the contractors inspection for 18 years. The construction throughout the Greater working on the delayed Crossrail organisation says there are 605 London area, was responsible project. It published the figures in a post-tensioned bridges in the UK for completing the work on the trading update ahead of its 2018 under the management of 106 local structures. The two towers, which results scheduled for March 6. authorities. Of these, the RAC have been designed by HTA Design Finishing the year with an order book Foundation has says 199 structures and are both located at 101 George at a record level reflects the firm’s have had no Post Tensioned Special Street in Croydon. They are set to market position as target clients who Inspection (PTSI) in the last 18 years. be the tallest structures in the world consolidate their supply chains to This is despite concerns following the to be built off-site using modular deliver multi-billion-pound investment collapse of Italy’s Polcevera viaduct in construction methods and will reach programmes, Costain said. The group August 2018. While none of the heights of 135m with one tower is the preferred bidder for £600M post-tensioned structures in the UK comprising 44 storeys and the other worth projects compared to £400M are technically comparable with 38. Fully-fitted modules will now be the previous year. The company Polcevera Viaduct, the lack of installed around the concrete cores by finished 2018 with a net cash position inspections is still a “serious issue” Vision Modular, Tide Construction’s of £110M. said the Foundation. offsite company.

TUNNELS HUMBER TUNNEL HALF DONE

The project to construct a new gas pipeline underneath the river Humber has hit a major milestone as the 510t tunnel boring machine passed the half way mark on its 5km journey. The 3.5m diameter tunnel currently under construction will house a vital replacement gas pipeline carrying around 20% of the gas Britain needs, supplying homes and business across the east of England.

10 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 “The ICE Ben Fund helped me to pay my rent

We’re here to help all civil engineers who are, or have been, members of ICE. We’re also here for their families. For more information visit icebenfund.com t: +44 (0) 1444 417 979 [email protected] Exclusive Report: Crossrail Contractors know they have a bit more breathing space after the delay Extra cash for “announcement made station contractors last year to get the job done

Stations Chaos space after the delay announcement made last year and so they have News Team IN THIS shifted their works programmes to REPORT the right,” one source close to the project said. rossrail bosses are “Over the last few months negoti- negotiating extra Extra ations have been going on with payments to its con- contractors about lump sum C tractors so that they completion payments to drive out the current can finish remaining incentives problem of contractors dragging Crossrail station works, New Civil p12 their heels. Engineer can reveal. A second source told New Civil Lucrative one-off lump sum pay- Engineer that the NEC3 form of con- ments are to be thrown at contrac- Signal testing tract used to promote collaboration tors to incentivise them to “pick up has not given client Crossrail Ltd the pace” of works at all remaining delays enough “clout” to force contractors stations, according to multiple p14 to perform. sources. “Contractors are now incentivised CENTRAL STATIONS: Work on the project has slowed to finish the work as quickly as pos- KEY PLAYERS as contractors had “little money to Explaining sible in order to get paid quicker. make” by finishing the job under the delays The quicker they finish the job, the Bond Street Tottenham original contract terms. quicker they are paid,” said the first p16 Crossrail station Court Road The revelation came after source. designed by Crossrail station Crossrail’s latest chief executive He added: “Contractors’ enthu- WSP and built designed by Arup Mark Wild told the London Assem- siasm to complete the works is by a Costain/ and built by bly transport committee in early understandably extremely low as Skanska joint Laing O’Rourke January that there were still “many, they have been paid for most of it venture worth in contract worth many thousands of hours” of work already. The rates which they put up to £250M up to £250M. to do before station fit-outs on the in, in 2011, were very aggressive at contract Integrates central underground section are so now they are making very little award. Works with London complete. money to finish the works. must integrate Underground Wild, who took on the role in “There simply are not enough with a separate upgrade project November after incumbent Simon people on site as they [contractors] £300M London built by Taylor Wright was ousted, said it could are not making enough money to fin- Underground Woodrow/Bam take up to three years to fully com- ish the job off and can make much upgrade built by Nuttall JV in plete the project. more money going elsewhere and so a Costain/Laing £600M contract “What is happening at Bond that is what they are doing.” O’Rourke JV and designed by Street and some of the other sta- All stations are now expected to and designed by Jacobs. tions is that the contractors know be completed by the summer, with Atkins. they have a bit more breathing the exception of Bond Street station

12 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 which is likely to take much longer. systems has yet to begin in earnest The source added that Crossrail after a series of ineffective tests in “won’t be strong-armed” into paying 2018. “excessive amounts” to contractors He tore into the efforts of his and if the line has to open without predecessors and their key main Bond Street then it will. contractors before unveiling a cata- A third source said that repackag- logue of work still to be done. Wild ing the contracts is the logical way took charge of Crossrail in Novem- to complete the project at this late ber having moved over from his role stage. as managing director for London “This was a programme with Underground at TfL. many interfaces. The way it was He said that at the time of the structured was built to cause delays announcement of the then one- – and it did,” the source said. year delay last August, Crossrail’s “The whole disintegration of the revised programme was “a country programme makes is quite difficult mile away” from where it stands to- to unravel just where accountability day and that no-one understood the [for delays] lies. magnitude of the unfolding problem. “So eventually you get to the “I think the enormity and com- point where the only way to get plexity of Crossrail in all man- there [get work finished] is to say ners: the stations; the trains; the ‘we’ve got this much work to do and signalling systems; the software this is the best way to package it’.” integration; the control systems; That the stations are so far the interface with Network Rail; the behind schedule came as a major truth is that the complexity was not surprise, with Crossrail and Trans- fully understood,” he said. port for London (TfL) previously Wild said work was underway claiming that complex integration of to devise a programme that allows multiple signalling systems were be- contractors to get the stations fin- hind the severe delays announced ished in a way that does not overly in late August last year (New Civil impact on systems testing. Engineer, October 2018). He suggested the central section At the time a one-year delay was of the line could be opened by announced but Wild has since told “omitting” one or two of the sta- the London Assembly transport tions. Bond Street Station committee that he faced “one, to Equally, the plan could be to open two…, to three” more years’ work the stations simultaneously but to finish the job, stressing that there with limited functionality. were actually “two dominant critical Revised plans will be tabled to CENTRAL STATIONS: paths” and that station construction the TfL board this month. KEY PLAYERS was now more critical. “The precise sequence is difficult: Wild confirmed that none of the you’ve got to go to every single Whitechapel Paddington Farringdon line’s central stations have yet been contractor, every subcontractor. Station built Designed by Crossrail station completed while crucial dynamic “And if I was going to be critical by Balfour Aecom and built built by Bam testing of trains and signalling of the past, then it’s the work we Beatty/Morgan by a Costain/ Nuttall/Ferrovial should have done a year ago,” he Sindall/Vinci Skanska JV in an Agroman/ said. Construction up to £400M Kier JV to an Wild said that he hoped to public- JV in contract deal. Ties in Aecom design. There ly reveal the latest revised opening worth up to to Paddington Integrates strategy by the end of March. £250M and Integrated with Network simply are He also levelled criticism at some designed by Project that Rail station not enough people tier one suppliers who he said failed Arcadis includes a new built as part to offer ideas on how to mitigate the Hammersmith of Thameslink on site as they delays. Liverpool Street & City programme by Referencing a meeting held in Au- Built by Laing Underground a Costain/Laing [contractors] are gust to flush out ideas, Wild said: O’Rourke in station built O’Rourke joint “Siemens, Bombardier, Costain/ “ Skanska, Balfour Beatty – they are up to £400M by Carillion venture designed not making enough deal. Designed and designed by Atkins the people actually delivering the by Mott by Mott money to finish work. They were asked if they had MacDonald MacDonald any ideas. It became clear they the job didn’t.”

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 13 Exclusive Report: Crossrail

You can’t test Installation delay something which hasn’t been installed set back dynamic standard Network Rail systems to the “east and west. “The most important reason [that testing has not been done] is that they were trying to test something signalling tests that wasn’t installed.” He did accept that there were serious challenges at the western end of the line with the spur to Heathrow, Testing now due to start next month where the signalling has already been upgraded to the higher quality Euro- pean Train Control System (ETCS) – a system that is also being rolled out by Signalling Network Rail nationwide. Mark Hansford “The complex thing, that everybody is scratching their heads about, is the ETCS,” he said. “It can second attempt work in the lab in Zurich. There may to begin dynam- be 1,000 people around the world ic testing on the working on this,” he said. A Elizabeth line is due With this in mind he warned that this month after a the dynamic testing phase could take false start last year. This has up to anything from three to 15 months to now been cited as the main cause of complete. delays to the Crossrail programme. Earlier, ousted Crossrail chairman Two voltage transformers failed Sir Terry Morgan presented his side during the initial energisation of of the story to the committee. electrical equipment at Pudding He insisted that an 18-month Mill Lane substation – this was then delay to delivery of the trains from used as a reason for the delay to the Testing should have begun last year Bombardier was key to the overall dynamic testing programme (New programme delays. Civil Engineer October 2 018). the testing window was valuable, not This severely impacted Siemens’ New Crossrail chief executive and Crossrail’s ability to work on the KEY DATES all testing time available was used Mark Wild has rejected this claim. productively. This was due to issues signalling interfaces, he said. This, He told the London Assembly such as train readiness and reli- he stressed, was a TfL contract and transport committee that the real 2019 ability, communications and power therefore Crossrail executives should reason for the delay was simply that availability.” not be held accountable. the systems being tested were not Original full The note adds that areas for re- Wild rejected this defence and said complete enough for the work to be opening date view included removing constraints that as Crossrail chief executive he to carried out. caused by “incomplete infrastruc- was happy to be held fully account- “Dynamic testing didn’t work a ture” . able for all aspects of the project, year ago [because of] two simple 2020 Crossrail’s trains have a com- regardless of where contractual reasons: the signalling integration New date plex on-board signalling system to responsibilities lie. hadn’t been completed, and you cope with the up to four operating “There is no easy way to say it – can’t test something which hasn’t announced in systems they must work with. These Crossrail Limited is the system inte- been installed,” he said. August 2018 feature software from train manufac- grator. Crossrail Limited didn’t have A weekly update note produced turer Bombardier and signal system a grip on the systems integration,” he for London mayor and Transport provider Siemens. This is “novel”, said. “As [chief executive] of Crossrail for London (TfL) chair Sadiq Khan 2022 admitted Wild, but not a world first. I find myself fully responsible for all in June 2018 and seen by New Civil Latest “That is an important myth to integration. In future I’ll be doing all Engineer highlights the problem. bust,” he said. “People talk about the calls with Bombardier. “A lessons learned review has opening date this as a world first. It’s not. We “And looking forward with dynamic been commissioned following last have a standard Siemens signalling testing starting again in a few days week’s train testing window...while product in the central section and time… I will be accountable,” he said.

14 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 CIVILS UTILITIES POWER & FIBRE HIRE 01685 374771 0344 2511 999 0344 2511 666 0344 8244 482 Exclusive Report: Crossrail

I was given a Mayor knew of the sheet by TfL about what to say at delay in July insists that board meeting “Morgan told the Assembly that one of these, containing a key warning that the opening deadline would be missed, was also amended by TfL former Crossrail boss officials to leave open the possibility that the deadline could be met. This document has too been seen by New Civil Engineer. But TfL did suppress information insists ex-Crossrail chair “We did issue a weekly briefing note to the mayor… that second para- graph in what went to the mayor was deleted – by TfL,” Morgan added. Explaining Delays This paragraph made clear that Mark Hansford KEY TEAM there would be insufficient time to complete testing in time for a Decem- ber 2018 opening date. rossrail chief exec- Project “At the moment there is insufficient utive Mark Wild’s sponsors time to complete the testing required detailed exposé Transport ahead of the joint trial running and C of the Crossrail trial operations from 1 October 2018,” programme’s delays for London, says the deleted paragraph. were not actually the main order of Department “This remains an area of serious business for the London Assembly’s attention. An improved plan that transport committee meeting on 9 for Transport balances construction and testing January. time is being developed over the next Former Crossrail chair Terry Mor- Delivery fortnight,” the deleted paragraph gan and Wild were predominantly goes on. giving evidence to the committee’s company Morgan was also adamant that he ongoing investigation into who Crossrail Ltd, Clear signs: Morgan says mayor was told the mayor the project would be knew what about the delays to the fully aware of delays delayed in his private meeting on 26 project and when. The investiga- a subsidiary July. tion followed London mayor Sadiq of TfL ing evidence to the committee. New “I told the mayor ‘delivery in 2018 Khan’s claim that he was unaware Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild, is not feasible’. What else does it of any delay until two days before who was managing director of TfL’s mean?” he said. they were publicly confirmed on 31 Elizabeth London Underground (LU) division He added he does not suffer from August last year. Line at the time and LU director of strat- memory loss, in response to the Morgan explained how executives mayor suggesting he had “misremem- operator egy and service development David at Crossrail, Transport for London Hughes, denied that the document bered” some details about the delay. (TfL) and the Department for Trans- London had been altered. The committee has ordered TfL port were routinely briefed about Underground, Morgan told New Civil Engineer he and deputy mayor for transport Heidi the project’s challenges, but alleged only agreed to stick to the line on Alexander to supply further documen- that executives were deliberately a subsidiary the note because he had a personal tation. suppressing information about the of TfL meeting with the mayor the follow- Morgan appeared before the likelihood of a delay that would go ing day. committee in January because he the mayor’s office. “I was given a sheet by TfL about was unavailable in December when To support his argument he cited what to say at that board meeting London mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL a key meeting with the mayor on 25 and that took out any reference to commissioner Mike Brown answered July when he was given a briefing not being able to deliver the pro- questions about the Crossrail delay. note by a TfL official telling him gramme in 2018,” said Morgan. At that meeting both were adamant what to say. This note has been Following this meeting Khan that the information they were given seen by New Civil Engineer. requested written weekly progress through to the end of August 2018 TfL executives later denied report from Crossrail Limited via indicated the December 2018 deadline knowledge of the incident when giv- TfL. for opening Crossrail would be met.

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MSc Engineering Management MSc Management MBA Fast-track masters with exclusive exemptions for chartered ICE members With MDC you can complete a fast-track masters in as little as 12 months Proven success Since 1991 more than 1200 senior professionals have graduated with MDC. Minimum disruption to working week Exclusive exemptions for ICE members mean you only need to attend 2 residential weekends (near London) and complete a dissertation. Corporate payback The dissertation, on an individual’s chosen topic, can equate to a large (and otherwise expensive) piece of consultancy work for an individual’s employer or company. Apply now for www.managementmasters.co.uk/engineering e: [email protected] t: 01429 839254 April 2019 Nigel Cann BY EMILY ASHWELL Lessons from elsewhere fuel Hinkley construction programme

hen it comes to learn- on Unit 2 reactor is also powering ing lessons, the team ahead at a faster pace. Excavations delivering Hinkley speeded up after the team saw how W Point C has a full it could make efficiencies after com- textbook to go on. pleting the first unit. None more so than Nigel Cann, With such a mammoth project, it who is delivery director for the will be no surprise to find out that £19.6bn new nuclear power station Cann runs a very planned, tight ship

The Interview The on the Somerset coast for EdF and he is proud of the current 97% and China General Nuclear Power right first-time rate, reflecting the high Group. standards he expects from a supply While former EdF boss Vincent chain work in the highly regulated de Rivas famously said in 2007 nuclear power environment. that people would be cooking their “The risk appetite for construc- Christmas turkeys in overs powered tion has shrunk, thank goodness. by energy from Hinkley Point C by nuclear power station – Sizewell C So, we do things properly and that 2017, Cann is more cautious ahead – in Suffolk. ranges not only from the fact that of the expected 2025 opening date. Work on Hinkley Point C has been we’re in the serious business of “Do I have a crystal ball that will going on for two years. There are building a nuclear power station, tell me what will happen in five more than 3,600 people on site and but also the temporary works years? We do quite rightly get a lot work on Unit 1 is pressing ahead, and the way people behave. So, it of scrutiny from shareholders and with first concrete pour for the re- doesn’t really matter what you’re stakeholders and we are very trans- actor’s base now complete. A huge doing, the standards are the same,” parent. As of December 2018, we are excavation 21m below sea level has he says. on track. If we have an issue we will been completed, which will house Learning from other nuclear new share it,” he says. the 54m tall pumping station. Work builds which have hit problems, On track means that the final initial priorities were getting the milestone of 2018, the first concrete batching plant up early, doing mock- pour of a section of the common ups, developing full 3D clash build- raft – the foundations for Unit 1 re- The risk ing information modelling (BIM), actor – was completed in December. getting the supply chain on board Cann’s task is to deliver a new appetite early – “contractor conditioning” as nuclear power station on time and Cann calls it – and building welfare to budget, learning lessons from for construction areas next to the site, so productivi- EdF’s recent builds at Flamanville has shrunk, thank ty is increased because workers will in France and Taishan in China. The not have to travel far to site. skills and innovations developed goodness. So, we do Around 80% of the project pro- on Hinkley must also be retained curement is done. Cann is keen on to deliver a planned second new “things properly contractors working in alliances,

18 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 The first pour for the reactor base is complete

which he says leads to more collabo- “The best thing you can give indus- rative behaviour. What we tried try to drive best value is certainty. If “I want an alliance that sorts itself KEY FACTS to do for the we were certain Sizewell would reach out. In a nuclear island there’s over final investment decision and start in 2,500 rooms. The last thing I want to be civils contract is get say 2021 then clearly that would put doing is negotiating with five different 3,600 us in a really strong position both as contractors where fire exits should Size of the best of the UK a company and to potentially oversee be that given day, where we take the and operate a supply chain with a scaffolding up or down an inch… it’s on-site really good landscape to plan, invest much better that the alliance is able construction “ed over a decade ago and costs have and deliver best value,” he says. to manage itself. That’s the kind of in- team gone from £2.67bn to £9.8bn. Prob- “It’s all about continuity over peo- novation I want – to empower a very lems included quality deficiencies in ple processes, procedures and tools capable supply chain.” welds and concrete joints, cracks in to get a better outcome,” he adds. This is the first nuclear power £19.6bn the reactor basement concrete and The value of the Hinkley contracts station to be constructed in the UK excess water in structural concrete. is huge. In summer 2017, EdF an- since Sizewell B in the mid-1990s, so Hinkley At Hinkley, the team has launched a nounced Balfour Beatty had replaced is the supply chain’s lack of experi- Point C raft of innovations to ensure it avoids Costain as preferred bidder for the ence a risk? No, says Cann, citing the construction the same problems, including prefab- tunnelling and marine works package work Bouygues has done with EdF rication of the steel containment liner on Hinkley Point C, worth more than at Flamanville. The Bylor contractor budget and fuel buildings, as well as using £200M. Costain had worked on plans joint venture (Bouygues Travaux BIM to prevent clashes. for three cooling tunnels since 2013. Publics and Laing O’Rourke) has the Cann is aware that delivery has to “We just went through a formal bid- main civils contract worth £2.8bn. be efficient, with costs under scrutiny. ding process, because it went on so This includes the buildings housing Public spending watchdog the Nation- long, I guess the technology changed the two European Pressurised Reac- al Audit Office described the govern- a little bit, we just took decision to tor (EPR) nuclear reactors. ment’s Hinkley subsidy deal as “risky go back into market, check some of “If you look at all our supply chain, and expensive”. In its first National In- the prices and Balfour Beatty was they’re a partnership that we’ve frastructure Assessment, the National our preferred bidder. It (Costain) was encouraged to come together. What Infrastructure Commission warned really more of a victim that it took so we tried to do for the civils contract ministers against supporting multiple long to get to a point of decision and is get the best of the UK, because new nuclear power stations and said a formal scope. You’re not tunnelling we want to be part of UK’s Industrial the government should only support through London Clay, it’s quite diffi- Strategy and maximise the opportuni- Hinkley and one other before 2025. cult under the sea terrain,” he says. ty for the workforce. In this case Laing EdF wants the next power station to Now the major civil engineering O’Rourke is our partner in doing that, be Sizewell C, where it has just begun work is starting, Cann is has ambi- but it has an awful lot of technical ex- the third stage of the public consul- tions to set a new world record for pertise and support from Bouygues,” tation. It says that it can be delivered building a reactor. He may be cau- he says. 20% cheaper than Hinkley Point C if the tious, but he is also confident of meet- Construction at Flamanville 3 start- skills and knowledge can be retained. ing the 2025 completion deadline.

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 19 To take my last point first, populism in this context generally means a call for superficially attractive and therefore popular solutions to difficult problems which confront the nation. Correct me if I Your View am wrong but over the many years in which PFIs have been employed, I LETTERS TO THE EDITOR have not been aware of any popular AND COMMENTS ONLINE movement for their abolition. However, it is true that PFIs have been controversial since their inception, and for many NEW TECH NEW TECH reasons. For example, right from DISRUPTORS ARE the start, they were identified as NEW TECH YES, BUT an accounting sleight of hand to NEEDED TO SHAKE UP @ NOT AT THE EXPENSE CONSTRUCTION OF ENGINEERING ICE President Andrew Wyllie has made a passionate and compelling It seems ICE President Andrew case for civil engineers to embrace Wyllie has caught the soundbite the latest technological changes culture prevalent in our society, like artificial intelligence and smart judging by his Presidential Profile infrastructure in New Civil Engineer (New Civil Engineer, December (New Civil Engineer, December 2018). Today words such as 2018) and at a recent ICE Project 13 diversity, sustainability, dynamic seminar in Belfast. professionalism, inclusion, global, But if civil engineers are to adopt asset enhancement and the like the new ways of working as outlined are all used to create an aura in the “Enterprise” model included of modernism and of political in the Project 13 blueprint, the ICE correctness. must lead by example and link with It really worries me when a the existing technology institutions. chartered civil engineer could be a The blueprint stresses the need data scientist, computer scientist to take on new behaviours to or an algorithm writer. These skills Hammond: Scrapping PFI address the productivity deficit can and could be added to the skills and form new industry roles. These of the civil engineer but should take government major project are described as “owner”, “key not form the core of an engineer’s expenditure off the balance sheet. advisor”, “integrator” and “key training. Experience has shown all too clearly supplier”, replacing the traditional The examples Wyllie quotes well the deficiencies of the concept, and transactional roles of client, illustrate why we should ensure increasingly so in recent years. In its consultant, contractor and supplier the basics are covered. He states report of January 2018, the National respectively. that Network Rail has put equality, Audit Office says that Britain has The role of “advisor”, for example, diversity and inclusion as a hard incurred billions of pounds in extra will require coaching, flexibility, criteria for assessing bids for work. costs for no clear benefit through problem solving and team-player Perhaps time, cost and quality the use of PFI. Hammond is doing behaviours. should be featured more in their no more than seeing the light, albeit If these new behaviours are not assessment. The recent chaos to the belatedly. accompanied by material change they railway network has been largely John Salter (M) will end up being merely informative. contributed to by Network Rail’s [email protected] In the energy sector, rapid inadequacies. technological changes are referred David Jones (M), Castleton, GOVERNANCE to as disruptors. Maybe civil Newport engineering needs similar disruption ICE MEMBERS URGED if it is to successfully deliver the TO PARTICIPATE IN The Editor, FINANCE smart infrastructure of the future. New Civil GOVERNANCE REVIEW Therefore, to successfully deliver Engineer, ENDING FLAWED PFI Project 13 the ICE must forge Telephone stronger links with the existing I was more than a little surprised by As many New Civil Engineer readers technological institutions to drive House, your condemnation of chancellor will know, the ICE held a ballot over research and development, and 69-77 Paul Philip Hammond’s scrapping of the summer of 2018 on a proposal to bring suppliers, designers and Street, London, private finance initiatives (PFIs) transfer the ICE’s governance from a contractors closer together. EC2A 4NQ and your castigation of the move council of trustees elected directly Brian Pope (M) Email: nceedit@ as “populist” (New Civil Engineer, from and by the membership to an [email protected] emap.com December 2018). internally appointed Trustee Board.

20 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 MAIN POINT ALL BRIDGES YOURNEED VIEWS AND ENGINEERING OPINIONS CARE

The Future of Bridges feature in the December 2018 issue was with excellent reports made available on line. Similarly, the a welcome reflection on the current problems facing bridge United States has the National Transportation Safety Board, engineers. However, the emphasis on long span structures may which provides rigorous forensic analyses of each failure, fully have been at the expense of the tens of thousands of the more accessible to all. modest highway and rail bridges in daily use by the And yet there is no such body for road bridges travelling millions throughout the UK. in the UK, something which the Bridge Owners Peter Sparkes’ letter in the same issue Forum has long campaigned for, calling for draws attention to the low level of funding statutory investigations into incidents on for bridge inspection and maintenance, national and local highway networks. as well as the potential lack of Without being able to learn the lessons understanding of the problems facing from failures, the same mistakes will be us with the backlog of maintenance. made. Budget cuts, particularly in local As an example, a rural UK highway authority bridge owners, ratchet bridge collapsed in May 2016, thankfully up the risks of failures and their with no casualties, and yet the reasons consequences. and lessons that should be learned by But it is not just a question of money; other owners have never been shared. the last couple of decades has seen But this is not just a UK problem; a a dramatic reduction in professional combination of ageing bridge stocks and capacity and capability (and indeed, reduced maintenance interventions means competence) at all levels meaning that bridge that the spate of recent collapses around the management decisions are often being taken by globe is not an exception but will be the new inexperienced engineers, especially in smaller local norm – unless urgent steps are taken to address the authorities, which are under financial and political pressure to current lack of investment not only in financial terms but keep their networks unrestricted. also to recognise the need to urgently enhance professional More worrying, in cases where highway bridge failures do engineering input. occur, is the absence of knowledge sharing. At least UK rail Richard Fish (F), technical secretary, Bridge Owners Forum bridges are covered by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch [email protected]

The governance discussions Europe. l To make the case that the ICE is which led to these governance The resolutions passed at the a membership organisation and not proposals were held between SGM on 31 July 2018 called for a simply a subscription organisation, October 2017 and April 2018, and full membership-wide consultation and that the majority of its were privy to Council. In the short and debate on ICE governance. ICE trustees should be elected by the period between the ballot being Council accepted these resolutions membership. announced and the close of the and a Governance Review has The CivilsMatters website ballot itself, there was no space on been established, chaired by past will be open read access and the ICE website for the proposals to President David Orr. subscriber write access. It will be be debated. It is vital that there is now an open run in line with Charity Commission The governance proposals debate and that members discuss Guidance Item 7 on openness and received the necessary two thirds the pros and cons of all options. transparency. majority by a margin of 163 votes out After all, that is what professional I invite ICE Members to visit the of 3,954, a turnout of less than 9% of engineers are trained and required website. the 44,437 eligible to vote. to do in practice. To this end, a Paul Jowitt, ICE past president Before the ballot result was website www.civilsmatters.org has 2009/10 [email protected] known, a special general meeting been created. Editor’s note: The Presidential (SGM) was called by over 120 ICE CivilsMatters has been set up commission is indeed now up and members, comfortably exceeding with three aims: running and there is an official ICE the minimum of 60 signatures l To ensure that discussions web portal for Members to read required. The signatories came about ICE Governance are the terms of reference and see a from across the grades of the ICE transparent and open list of members of the commission. membership, from the UK and as l To encourage widespread Visit www.ice.org.uk/news-and- far afield as North America, Africa, membership participation in the insight/latest-ice-news/presidential- the Indian sub-continent, China and Governance Review commission-ice-governance-begins

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 21 Business Culture SME Profile LEARNING TO GROW Roni Savage has taken her firm Jomas Associates from the kitchen table to leading light in Goldman Sachs’ small businesses programme. Emily Ashwell reports.

wo years ago, geotechnical and I think it’s one of my jobs to be a engineer Roni Savage role model,” she says. was always put forward to represent had no profile photos on KEY FACTS Savage started her career as a the company, they challenged me her social media pages. graduate engineering geologist at considerably, and when you are Her business, Jomas £2M Harrison Group, before becoming challenged you step up to the plate,” Associates, was growing a senior consultant at Bettridge she says. through referrals and raising her Jomas Turner and Partners (BTP), and Savage recalls as a young graduate Tprofile or marketing the firm simply Associates then associate director at Parsons engineer being given a white van, was not top of her to-do list. turnover in Brinckerhoff, now WSP. In was during hi-vis jacket and boots and spending That absence of a photo not this time that she began to form her working week travelling around only reflected where the business 2017 the idea of the sort of company the country between different sites was at, but it also reflected where she would like to run, particularly managing diggers and drillers. the industry was at in terms of 14 inspired by the supportive Perhaps growing up with four stereotypes. Number of environment at BTP. brothers helped, she admits, but she “Roni Savage – you make a mental permanent “From day one they realised I was says she learnt to always approach assumption of what I look like and I Jomas quite ambitious and they wanted each situation with confidence. can guarantee 99.9% of the time it’s Associates to support me as much as I was “It does bring challenges. You go not me. I walk into the meeting and staff willing to progress. I was never back in the van and think ‘how am I say ‘hi I’m Roni Savage’ and their excluded from any opportunity, I going to deal with this?’ expressions…” she tails off laughing. “My approach to this is that when But since then a lot has changed. you’re faced with a scenario, put Savage has taken the business down your best foot forward. I present my a new path to increase its growth confident self all the time,” she says. rate and, as managing director of From talking to Savage, it is clear Jomas Associates, she has personally They that she has a very strong work ethic. stepped into the limelight to help When discussing how she balanced raise the profile of women in challenged me having children with her career, she engineering and encourage more girls appreciated the flexibility she was to join the profession. considerably, and when given, but repaid it with hard work. “Every meeting I walked in to, the you are challenged you It was when she had two young other people looked nothing like me. children that Savage came to a point There just weren’t the role models step up to the plate where she wanted to change the

22 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 “ READ MORE BUSINESS ARTICLES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/BUSINESS-CULTURE

I spent many years being an engineer, I’m still one because that’s what “I passionately enjoy, but now I’m that and a strategic business owner

strategise and plan for the future. I got a business growth plan and things have changed for me now, I’m in a totally different place from where I was before. I’m not just focusing on organic growth now,” she says. “What Goldman Sachs 10KSMB has done is made me into a business owner. I spent many years being an engineer, I’m still one because that’s what I passionately enjoy, but now I’m that and a strategic business owner.” Part of this has been pro-actively balance of work and home in her life, Savage: Early structure, so she brought in someone marketing the businesses. It had an so she decided to set up on her own responsibility to run the office and help manage average growth of 30% year on year in 2009. fuelled ambition freelancers. Savage says this was a just from being referred. “In setting up on my own, one of major change for Jomas Associates However, the marketing strategy the critical things for me was that which now has 14 permanent is to enable the business to grow I really enjoyed the BTP set up. I members of staff, with another 20 on further. Savage has also put in wanted to have a company providing drilling and site works, and which place an organisational structure, a a high level of customer service, with turned over £2M in 2017. recruitment plan including graduate quality,” she says. Clients include Aitch Group, programme, and she has developed Working from her kitchen table, she Genesis Housing, Transport for target markets. gained a couple of clients and initially London and Brent Council. Alongside that, she has used her that was as much as she wanted to Throughout, Savage has tried to own profile to foster a more diverse do. Based on the specialisms Savage benchmark the business against the community of engineers. She has won had developed, Jomas Associates best in the industry in terms of quality several high profile awards, including undertakes site investigations, land and customer service. Black British Business Person of 2018 contamination risk assessments and “I can’t find a solution without and an Everywoman business award, geotechnical engineering assessments understanding and caring for the for the most inspirational woman across the UK. client’s problem. In caring for their running a business between six and “What I learnt very quickly is that problem, it enables me to find a nine years. when you work in a certain way, solution with their happiness as a Savage says she has had to prove clients stick around, they refer you on focus,” she says. herself and get the letters after her to another two clients, who refer you A couple of years ago, Savage sat name, but she is hoping her story will on to another two and the business down and reviewed Jomas Associates inspire others. grows through referrals. Suddenly I and decided to go for the Goldman “It will take some time to have realised I needed a website; things Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses – full change but without us being were growing and I needed an office,” 10KSB – programme. It takes small brave enough to talk about it we she says. businesses it sees as having high will never have that change. I A critical point for the business growth potential and helps build desperately want more girls to take came when Savage was pregnant the leaders’ business management on more engineering degrees or with her third child. It was then she knowledge. apprenticeships, because that will realised she needed a permanent “I got to learn how to structure, change the future,” she says. N

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 23 Business Culture Research & Development RELIEF ALL ROUND Civil engineering and construction companies are missing out on millions of pounds in tax credits because of a lack of understanding about what work qualifies. Connor Ibbetson reports.

round £3.5bn of those in the construction sector of research and fail to grasp what the government development (R&D) KEY FACTS means by R&D. tax relief support “R&D has a stereotypical definition “dealing with systems uncertainty”. was claimed in the 39,960 of what it looks like,” says Fitch. That definition, in itself, is 2016/17 financial year, “As an engineer, if you close off-putting, says Fitch. “Speaking corresponding to £24.9bn of R&D R&D tax your eyes and think about what as someone who has been in the expenditureA according to the Office credit claims R&D looks like, you think of a white construction sector for 25 years, for National Statistics. in 2016/2017 room, a laboratory with long tables when I first read that, I didn’t know ONS figures also show that there and microscopes and people in what that meant in the context of were a total of 39,960 R&D tax credit white coats. That is what engineers the construction and engineering claims, most of which – 34,060 – were 1,365 typically think of R&D as.” sectors.” made under a government scheme However, when it comes to Her He has since interpreted “dealing set up specifically for SMEs. Number of Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, the with technological uncertainty” as Yet around 3.5% of the claims came R&D claims definition is wildly different. “managing technical risk”, a common from the construction industry, which from the For R&D tax credits, R&D is part of construction work, and is hugely represented by SMEs. These broadly defined as a “dealing with “dealing with systems uncertainty” 1,365 claims resulted in payments of construction technological uncertainty” and in a civil engineering context as £80M. industry in meaning designing sub-systems to Sectors taking most advantage work together. His business, Invennt, of the tax credit scheme were the 2016/17 specialises in advising civils firms manufacturing, professional, scientific about how to make claims. and technical, and information and It’s in the communications sectors, accounting EVERYDAY INNOVATION for 70% of all applications between day-to-day, Fitch says that those in engineering them. and construction are being “modest”, solving the day-to-day and that realising that a lot of WHAT DOES R&D MEAN TO problems where the their day-to-day work qualifies as ENGINEERS? innovation could bring huge benefits So why is the uptake for construction untapped opportunity to their companies. so low? Business consultant Invennt “There is a huge untapped benefit,” director Tim Fitch says it is because “ Fitch says. lies for construction

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The key is translating how tax authorities define R&D

“foreman did the company directors realise that the modification and application of the coating qualified for R&D relief,” explains Fitch. In fact, the opportunities for small businesses undertaking innovations such as this are substantial. Businesses with less than 500 staff and turnovers of under £90M or a balance sheet total under £77M are eligible for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) R&D Relief. This allows these companies to deduct an extra 130% of their qualifying costs from their yearly profit, as well as the normal 100% deduction, to make a total 230% deduction. They can also claim a tax credit if the company is loss making, worth up to 14.5% of the surrenderable loss. Larger companies and businesses are still eligible to claim for their R&D “People tell me they don’t do Construction undertake R&D to exceed the work and can receive a tax credit for specific ‘R&D’ projects and just work firms claim a traditional methods in terms of life 11% of qualifying R&D expenditure up for their clients, but that goes back disproportionately expectancy of buildings, durability or to 31 December 2017 and 12% from 1 to the definitions of R&D; it’s in the low amount of robustness”. January 2018. day-to-day, solving the day-to-day research and One cited example of a successful Claimable costs include direct and problems where the untapped development tax claim from a construction business externally-provided staffing costs, opportunity lies for construction.” relief was from a company that designed subcontracted R&D, consumables, Benefits can extend beyond tax modular laboratories to combat software, trials, prototyping and credits, says Fitch, as he has seen contamination during repairs. independent research costs. noticeable improvement in company “The company designed some new Under the tax code for this relief, morale when project workers see buildings with removable sections,” companies can also apply for work their innovations rewarded. says Fitch. “Exterior walls could done up to two years ago. “The process of uncovering this be slid away and a unit could be R&D also changes the culture of the removed in total and replaced by a ENABLING INNOVATIONS business and the people involved new unit before the exterior walls The purpose of this scheme is day-to-day,” says Fitch. “And as we were slid back into place.” for companies to reinvest the tease out all the problems they have Fitch stresses that not all claims benefits back into R&D and foster overcome, there is a real uptick in need to be of such a large scale, and innovation, and the key to expanding morale as they realise some of what can be as small as individual elements this for construction is knowledge, they are doing is classed by the within a project. says Fitch. government as R&D and is being Another example he cites is of “How many engineers have read rewarded.” a firm modifying a wood coating the tax code? Or had it translated material to allow it to use cheaper into language they can understand?” CLAIM GUIDANCE materials, while maintaining the he asks. “The key is translating how tax Government R&D credit guidance for original design quality. The guidance authorities define R&D and innovation small businesses says: “in general, goes on to say “significantly this and explaining how this maps onto [construction] is a traditional and development was a small element of what construction companies, well-proven industry. However, an an overall conventional project”. consultants and contractors and increasing number of companies “Only after discussion with the site engineers do day-to-day.” N

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FEBRUARY 2019 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 27 DRIVING AHEAD Improvements in technology, practice, productivity and safety are all in the pipeline for a tunnelling industry needing to reinforce its reputation for delivery. Ty Byrd reports.

Future of not just to employ the best of would require innovative changes practice but to improve on this. to tunnelling custom and practice, Tunnelling KEY FACTS Andy Alder understands the to include increased mechanisation, challenges, having worked on Crossrail remote operation, robotic 18 where he was chief tunnel engineer intervention, greater emphasis on ntil this month, Britain and project manager. He is now health and safety plus higher training was perceived as a Major programme director of Tideway. standards. good place to be as a tunnelling Thinking holistically about tunnelling Some of these are becoming tunneller. Numerous projects in the future will bring major available already, others are on their subterranean projects projects in gains in productivity, he believes. way or are being contemplated. are underway or progress in “Tunnels are linear by nature and Take training for example. actively under consideration. In the UK we tend to build them one element at Simulation of tunnel boring machine Uworkload terms, London is the a time, as logistics permit. It would be (TBM) operation to train TBM current tunnelling capital of Europe better if we thought of each scheme as drivers – or pilots, as they are with other parts of the UK close 25km a whole and advanced it as such. With, sometimes called – is already taking behind. for instance, track bed, permanent way, place; French contracting giant Yet challenges with Crossrail are Length of services and so on all closely following Bouygues perhaps being the leader threatening the industry’s global Thames tunnel boring and lining. in development and use of TBM reputation for on time, to budget Tideway “This presents the opportunity to simulators. delivery. Improvements in technology radically improve project schedules “We have more and more TBMs innovation will be key. tunnel but needs investment and the operating and want conformity of The list of potential test beds procurement model to support this.” operation, conformity of reaction for proving new ideas is long. The Such a way of constructing tunnels to events,” says Bouygues Travaux Thames Tideway tunnel, already Publics business development facing time and cost pressures, director, Jérôme Furgé. Bouygues springs to mind, as do the Lower Travaux Publics is one of the partners Thames road crossing and High It would be in the Align joint venture awarded Speed 2’s (HS2’s) prospective 56km of HS2’s challenging Chilterns contract. twin bores. better if we “So we have built simulators to These and other tunnelling replicate – in a general way – changes schemes are opportunities to build thought of each of soil conditions, ground faults, face British expertise while drawing in scheme as a whole and collapse and so on, to help teach knowledge and skills from overseas. pilots how to react to or avoid such There is heavy pressure on everyone “advanced it as such events. They’re proving very effective 28 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 We have built simulators to replicate changes of soil conditions, ground “faults, face collapse and so on, to help teach pilots

we go forward. With the ability to monitor more effectively, with better instrumentation and even greater reliability of machines, we’ll be able to manage with fewer people under the surface.” A body of opinion also holds that there should be less plant underground. Altier says that an important area of research has to be into the feasibility of reducing the length of TBMs. “Today we have TBMs that are 120m long, the train including all the ancillary equipment needed for the TBMs to perform. By why can’t all the functions provided by that equipment, such as the hydraulics, electrical power, lubrication and so as a training tool.” London’s claim TBM computerised guidance and on, be provided from the surface via Bouygues is now moving towards to be tunnelling operation systems, the activity of ‘umbilical cords’?” he asks. a second stage in which specific capital of Europe TBM drivers could then be reduced “Keep the cutter head and projects are simulated. “The intention is being boosted to a minimum – to the extent that segment erection within the ground is that pilots working on a particular by Thames tunnel boring machines gain a degree but remove everything else.” In tunnel will have a clear idea of the Tideway tunnel, of autonomy. other words, opt for small TBMs challenges ahead of them. Obviously on which work is Such autonomy will undoubtedly and thereby greatly ease logistical for this we need good information just beginning be extended in the future to behind congestion within the tunnel drive. about the ground.” tunnel shield operations, such as the Smart stresses that the tunnelling Obtaining knowledge about ground erection of tunnel lining segments, industry has come a long way in conditions is one critical area that has with greater use of robotics and recent times with development of to improve in the future, according to remote control. The same applies TBMs; that these are now being Align project director Daniel Altier. ahead of the TBM. fabricated with enhanced reliability, “I cannot understand why, as yet, Furgé cites one example of where better able to cope with difficult we don’t have the means to get a human intervention can beneficially ground while working at a faster rate. really comprehensive picture of be reduced is in replacing cutters, And they are getting even better. the ground we’re going to tunnel particularly where face support is For instance, developments are taking through,” Altier says. “There is too being provided by slurry. “Bouygues place which maximise and combine much uncertainty in tunnelling, is developing such robots,” he says. the best aspects of earth pressure especially where we’re having to go Greater automation should bring an balance machines and those that deeper, where the easier (to tunnel) overall reduction in personnel needed employ slurry – namely, variable upper layers are already occupied.” underground while excavation is density tunnel boring machines Using the tunnel itself to find out taking place. Pilots, for instance, (VaDTBMs). what the ground is like should no could drive their TBMs remotely, Suffice to say, the clue is in the longer be anyone’s default position. guided by CCTV and multiple sensors name. The density of slurry in front “It’s much too late,” he asserts. as well as their enhanced knowledge of a VaDTBM’s cutter head can be “We need radar or sonar systems, or of the ground. thickened or thinned to maintain something not yet devised, to provide Tim Smart has extensive face support through a wide range of absolute foresight of what we will experience of major infrastructure ground conditions and faults. pass through so that tunnellers can projects. He is currently HS2 Ltd’s That they are highly effective is anticipate with confidence metre by chief engineer. indicated by their pioneering use in metre what they will find.” He remarks: “Old stagers say you Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. The With greater knowledge of the need to be in the ground to ‘feel’ the choice of variable density machines ground and further development of ground but this won’t really hold as for HS2’s Chilterns tunnels represents

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 29 World View Future of Tunnelling

Old stagers say Herrenknecht’s variable density TBM proved you need to be itself on a Bouygues in the ground to ‘feel’ Hong Kong project the ground but this “won’t really hold as we go forward

a first for Europe. TBM manufacturer Herrenknecht has reason to believe the application of its VaDTBMs will become universal over time. Another first, namely “continuous boring” could also be deployed on HS2. This is an innovative process in which the installation of tunnel lining does not interrupt TBM forward movement. Conventionally, tunnel boring has to stop as each ring of precast concrete tunnel lining segments is installed. It starts again once the ring is in place and the TBM can resume thrusting against the ring circumference. The plan is to modify the jacks positioned between the ring of plastics is another option but the tunnels in future. circumference and the TBM so that favoured one – so far – is precast “We will want longer lives for our these can elongate and maintain concrete installed using an innovative KEY FACTS tunnelling assets and will take steps thrust at all times. The intention, of custom-made erector. to ensure this: including building course, is to save time. “I believe such “We’ve been involved with in durability and embedding innovative thinking is essential on the Herrenknecht conducting full scale 120m technology so that monitoring and project,” says Altier. trials of the machine. These were Typical maintenance are easier. On the subject of tunnel lining, completed in January and will help length of a “In addition, monitoring the HS2’s Smart is an advocate for us make a final decision on the right performance of tunnels in service redesigning segments so that they material to use.” tunnel boring and providing a platform to share interlock better and require less Precast concrete should bring machine the results with the industry could bolting. better standards of quality and provide real benefits in more The topic of secondary linings productivity while also conferring efficient lining designs in the future.” has been taxing engineers on the health and safety benefits, Alder This, he says, would address Thames Tideway tunnel. “We need to adds. The firm impression given is some of the conservatism inherent prevent groundwater getting into the that if Herrenknecht’s erector proves in current design methods. tunnel when it’s empty and effluent up to the job, then precast will be the Keeping track of personnel getting out when it’s in use and under choice, all other things being equal. and plant during construction is pressure,” says Alder. Alder says: “The water tightness another function currently being A secondary lining to back up the of the primary tunnel lining should revolutionised in tunnelling. primary one is an obvious solution. actually be sufficient on its own. The Bouygues is well on with its But how should this be formed? secondary lining is as much about “Tracktivity” system for knowing Insitu concrete is a possibility but securing durability and to protect exactly where people and Alder’s experience with such a lining against abrasion and chemical attack. equipment are located. on another tunnel means he has Thames Tideway tunnel is being “Having such information in reservations. designed and built to last.” real time is increasingly crucial for “Concrete had to be pumped long Alder predicts that asset efficiency and safety,” says Furgé. distances and we learned lessons monitoring – the kind of oversight, for “If you’re not happy with about control of quality and speed example, to which bridges are subject productivity, for example, you can of progress,” he says. Membranes – will become more prevalent with trace the course of a machine,

30 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019

World View Future of Tunnelling

intention is to use it in the UK.” Putting consequential reductions in oxygen We will want Thames Tideway is also planning to transportation consumption and production of employ the technology during its infrastructure CO and NO . He was writing in the longer lives for 2 2 tunnelling operations to help secure underground specifi c context of tunnel ventilation our tunnelling assets the safety of people and track the will become and the possibility of making formerly location of safety critical assets. more viable unusable tunnels viable for traffi c and will take steps to Improved monitoring of tunnel as tunnelling (Your View, last month). operatives’ health and wellbeing is technology The expert view is that ventilation ensure this high on the agenda of HS2. improves will always be required, to control “ “There is increased awareness piston effects and extract smoke in of the benefi ts of looking after your an emergency. But the necessity of its to see how the situation can be workforce. Unacknowledged fatigue provision via expensive shafts may be unlocked or improved, to reduce or ill health means accidents are considerably less. standing time, for example. And in more likely to happen. Conversely Already the prospect of mass an emergency, of course, you can see a healthier workforce improves electric vehicle use is having an where all your people are.” productivity,” says Smart. impact on design of the Lower Bouygues’ system is based on In future, much more attention Thames Crossing, although radio-frequency identifi cation (Rfi d); will be paid to this aspect of tunnel admittedly not of the tunnel itself. where electromagnetic fi elds are used working, he believes. “And I’m talking The proud claim of its project to automatically identify and track mental health and wellbeing here as director Tim Jones is that the tunnel tags attached to people or objects. well as physical.” approach will be equipped with “With chips on helmets, plant and Finally, a recent letter to New the fi rst green rest area in Britain. equipment,” Furgé says. Civil Engineer raised an interesting There, “refuelling” will solely involve Bouygues is already applying Rfi d issue. Bruce Latimer referred to the charging points, not petrol or diesel on a major project in Paris. “The increased use of electric cars and pumps. That truly is the future. N

UK TUNNELS

LONDON REST OF UK Recently Recently completed completed G Crossrail G Glasgow’s G London Power Shieldhall Tunnels G Humber gas Underway tunnel G Thames Tideway Underway G Bank station G Hinkley Point C G Bakerloo Line G Woodsmith link Mine (York G Northern Line Potash) Extension Prospective Contracts awarded G A303 G HS2 Stonehenge G Prospective Menai (National G Lower Thames Grid) G Crossing Trans Pennine G Crossrail 2 G Silvertown G Bakerloo Line extension G London Power Tunnels 2

32 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2019 The Rogfast tunnel will use lighting innovations deployed FOILING on the Ryfast tunnel THE FJORDS Norway is using a range of tunnelling techniques to rise to the challenge of tunnelling across fjords on its west coast. Dave Parker reports.

numerous fjord crossings along its deep into the land. Some are gigantic Future of CASE 1,100km length. obstacles, up to 5km wide, and up to STUDY: The E39 links Kristiansand and 1.25km deep. Tunnelling Trondheim on the west coast – the “There is a total of 10 that couldn’t Ryfast so-called “golden coast”– home to one be crossed with the technology of the n 5 October, Road third of the country’s population and time,” said Dunham. “Now, however, thousands of Tunnels generated 60% of Norway’s exports, new technologies are becoming eager athletes will Norway’s Public Roads Administration available, and we can begin to look assemble at the start E39 programme manager Kjersti at very innovative solutions for these line for what must Kvalheim Dunham told an audience at extreme crossings.” surely be one of the New Civil Engineer’s recent Tunnelling Rogfast is a little more conventional, most unusual road races of all time. KEY FACTS Festival 2018 event. but still pushing boundaries. OThe 20km half marathon is due to “It’s nearly 1,100km from end to end Norway already has considerable take place east of Stavanger, Norway’s 24.5km – but the journey takes 21 hours on a experience with extreme hard rock fourth largest city, through the good day, because of the seven ferry tunnels, not least the then 24.5km newly completed Ryfast road tunnels Length of crossings en route. By 2035 we should Laerdal Tunnel on the E13 route beneath one of Norway’s fjords. Laerdal tunnel have cut that to 11 hours by replacing linking Oslo and Bergen, which The runners will face a steep the ferries with fixed crossings.” opened in 2000. The Rogfast Tunnel descent to a depth of 292m below sea Norway’s west coast route is will be slightly longer but much level, followed by a stamina-sapping 1,100km notorious for the many fjords that cut deeper, setting a new world record of uphill slog back to ground level. Along Length of 392m below sea level at its deepest the way the tedium of running in a point. concrete tunnel should be alleviated E39 between On the Laerdal tunnel a big effort by frequent light art installations, Kristiansand was made to minimise the mental whose ultimate function is to reduce It’s nearly strain on drivers faced with a 20 the risk of vehicle drivers losing and minute drive through many kilometres concentration during their long haul Trondheim 1,100km from of essentially featureless tunnel. underground. Three large caves were dug out at Similar measures will be adopted end to end – but the 6km intervals, with bright lighting in the 27km twin bore Rogfast tunnel, and rest areas, as a palliative to currently under construction to the journey takes 21 hours claustrophobia. west of Stavanger. No such caverns are planned for the The Rogfast tunnel will be a on a good day, because Rogfast Tunnel. Instead, bore diameter vital link in the mammoth 30 year “ is 10.5m, larger than strictly necessary of the seven ferry multibillion pound E39 coastal to relieve the claustrophobia highway project which includes crossings experienced by drivers. N

NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 33 Work is well advanced, with cable installation SHARED underway SPACE Redevelopment of London’s Battersea Power Station has required intricate tunnelling to supply its inhabitants with electricity. Alexandra Wynne reports.

is how this is being linked in to the Gallagher, came up with a unique Future of CASE existing – and in use – 2.95m outside hand excavated “junction chamber” diameter wedge block tunnel that as the solution. Essentially this is STUDY: Tunnelling houses 132kV cables. The design a carefully crafted 9m by 6m by BATTERSEA and construction methodology also 6m reinforced concrete cast insitu POWER had to grapple with the additional chamber 20m below ground that ondon’s Grade II listed TUNNEL complications that a densely built encases the new and old tunnels and Battersea Power Station up area 20m above, 1.6m and 300mm forms the new connection between stopped functioning in diameter sewers 12m above and a them. Naturally the logistical and 1983 but, after many years live railway 10m away all threw the engineering challenge so close to an of stalled attempts, it is KEY FACTS project’s way. existing power supply meant this was now set to regenerate “One of the biggest challenges the riskiest part of the whole scheme the local area as part of a vast new on this project is that we’ve got to and the sequence of work was vital. Ldevelopment. £42M maintain security of supply to our A tunnel boring machine (TBM) Work beneath the ground to bring London customers across Battersea, drove the 2.44m internal diameter electricity to the new development Value of Nine Elms and also to the north side spur and stopped 4m away from, and the surrounding Nine Elms Battersea of the river to central London,” says and perpendicular to, the existing UK Power Networks project manager tunnel. Site workers disassembled the development has required a major Cable Tunnel effort. A new substation connected Rosemary Bridger. TBM, leaving the shield insitu, and that to the existing power grid is key. Consultant Cowi, working alongside installed internal propping to support This connection involves construction main contractor Clancy Docwra and the wedge block tunnel and prevent of the 320m long Battersea Cable tunnelling subcontractor Joseph deformation while the permanent Tunnel. Including associated works, works were completed. Extensive the power project is costing £42M. monitoring equipment, alerted the “This project will deliver essential One of the project team to movement during new electricity supplies that will excavation and unloading. breathe new life into a once-derelict biggest The 11 week TBM drive through part of London,” says Nirmal Kotecha, London Clay paved the way for work capital programme and procurement challenges on this to begin on the junction chamber director for project client and co- around mid-2017. Work on the funder UK Power Networks. project is that we’ve concrete chamber finished late last The 320m long spur tunnel, dug year and the work to pull the nearly using an open-face shield, is not in got to maintain 50km of power cables into place is set itself exceptional. What is, however, “ for completion by April. N security of supply

34 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 World View INSPIRING CIVILS ACROSS THE GLOBE NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/WORLD-VIEW

INDIA LONGEST ROAD AND RAIL BRIDGE OPENS

A new 4.94km road and rail bridge has opened in India’s northern state of Assam. The Bogibeel Bridge is the longest dual-use bridge in the country, crossing the Brahmaputra river. It has two decks, with the upper deck carrying three lanes of traffic and the lower with room for two broad gauge railway lines. The bridge is made up of 39, 125m-long welded steel trusses and reinforced concrete construction. The detailed designs were undertaken by the state-owned consultancy Rail India Technical and Engineering Services.

UNITED STATES NORWAY CHINA MUSK LAUNCHES SUSPENSION BRIDGE CHINA NUCLEAR POWER STATION UNDERGROUND LINKING NARVIK TO COMPLETION RAISES HOPES FOR TRANSIT SYSTEM BJERKVIK OPENS HINKLEY POINT C SUCCESS

Elon Musk’s Tesla and Boring Norway’s second longest suspension Company have developed a new bridge, engineered by Cowi, has tunnel-based transit system that opened. The 1.5km Hålogaland transports conventional vehicles at bridge connects the town of Narvik speeds of up to 384km/h under and the village of Bjerkvik, improving cities. Speaking at the launch, Musk road safety by moving traffic away said: “It’s much more like an from routes prone to landslides. The underground highway than it is a main span is a closed steel box subway.” The new system, dubbed girder design and stretches 1,145m, the “Boring Loop System” involves with side spans of 240m and 149m. mounting pop-out side wheels to a On the Narvik side, the viaduct was conventional car. They guide the constructed using a specially vehicle along tracks mounted in the designed movable casting carriage The world’s first Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR), has tunnel. In a tweet, Musk said the almost 120m long and weighing 725t. started operating, in Guangdong province, China boosting wheels transform cars into “rail The Øyjord side viaduct was hopes for the success of the similar Hinkley Point C. The guided trains and back again.” The constructed on the ground and lifted 1,755MW Taishan Unit 1 reactor is one of two EPR technology is similar to that of the into place. The bridge’s foundations reactors to be built at Taishan, the largest power Cambridge guided busway, where comprise five caissons, 10m in generation unit ever constructed. The Taishan project is a buses can move between roads and diameter, sunk 30m below the joint venture involving CGN and EDF Group which is also a dedicated busway. surface of the Rombaksfjorden. building Hinkley Point C. Work on Unit 1 began in 2009.

NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 35 Future of Tunnelling High Speed 2 ENHANCING EXPERTISE Leading edge tunnelling practice plus a continuous search for improvement will characterise Align joint venture’s approach to building the Chilterns section of High Speed 2. Ty Byrd gets the details from project director Daniel Altier.

ost challenging 15m or 16m a day with both UK machines. aspect of High Regardless of the ground conditions we Speed 2’s (HS2’s) meet.” C1 Chilterns Align is a joint venture (JV) of three contract for major contractors: Bouygues Travaux 21.6km of railway Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and including through faults and voids and infrastructure is undoubtedly the driving VolkerFitzpatrick. where there is little cover – to ensure Mof a twin tube tunnel nearly 16km long. Altier, a graduate of the prestigious stability at the face.” Ground conditions to be met by the Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics in “Such tunnelling versatility is likely project’s tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Paris, has worked for Bouygues for 30 to prove crucial for Align on C1. For are a mixture of chalk, marl, alluvium, years; he embodies the French company’s instance, there is a number of water gravel and clay with flints. Plus more than sense of engineering innovation and abstraction sites in the locality – we don’t the occasional fault line. excitement. Altier arrived in the UK want ‘thinner’ slurry getting into them “There’s always a risk that we could last summer fresh from completing the and polluting water sources. lose material at the face during boring immense Liantang tunnel, one of four “In these areas, with our VaDTBMs, with earth pressure balance (EPB) major projects in Hong Kong on which he we can increase the density of slurry at machinery or cause ground pollution honed his skills. the face and prevent pollution occurring,” using conventional slurry machines,” says “I’m very proud to be here in England explains Altier. Daniel Altier, project director of Align, now working for Align and playing a Altier is being joined at Align by the contractor responsible for C1. leadership role on HS2,” he says. French tunnelling talent straight from “Which is why we’ll be using two So what, exactly, are VaDTBMs? Hong Kong to get the machines working. Herrenknecht state of the art variable “They’re a mix between EPB and slurry This includes Didier Jacques, Align’s density TBMs (VaDTBMs) in a first for TBMs that allow the slurry density to be tunnels construction director. “We need Europe,” he says. “They’re fantastic in adjusted to suit the ground being driven experienced people at the beginning,” variable ground, having proved themselves through. VaDTBMs are ideal for dealing says Altier. in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. with a much wider range of mixed ground “Knowledgeable international key “C1’s twin bores are 9.1m in diameter conditions as they allow pressure in front players are being put in place. But once and we’re aiming to achieve progress of of the cutter head to be maintained – both VaDTBMs are up and running we will

36 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALIGN

released to allow erection of one segment of the new ring. Once this segment was installed, the jacks would be re- pressurised. Then another two pairs of jacks would be released, the next segment installed, and so on, until completion of the new ring. “We’re now considering a system where – expressed simply – the 12 pairs of jacks would not just maintain pressure during segment erection in the manner described above but also to physically elongate, giving the TBM something to push against and allow excavation to continue,” Altier says. “Such continuous boring would have to be fully computerised – there can be no possibility of human error. It has to be safe. Our calculations indicate by not stopping, we could shave a month off our 36 month tunnelling schedule. And time is money.” Such innovative thinking is essential on the project, believes Altier. Align is committed to providing the best technical solutions combined with the best value. “We’re helped by being so well integrated with the client. When I arrived last summer what was amazing to me was the way Align and staff from client HS2 Ltd were working together. It’s real integration: there is no difference between the people of Align and those of HS2 Ltd.” Such close working, especially in the early stages of C1, is extremely helpful in thrashing out practical solutions says be instigating a training programme to Align’s C1 lining segments to “catch up” with the Altier. “Take the shafts,” he says. C1 has bring local people up to speed.” Chilterns twin machine. five vent shafts up to 80m deep to cope Practical technology transfer is one bore tunnel There are seven segments to each ring with piston effect and provide tunnel of the principal benefits Altier sees in contract – of Chilterns tunnel lining. Conventional ventilation. working in JV; and indeed, working as a illustrated here practice would have 14 pairs of jacks (two “We examined eight options for the JV with other joint ventures involved in – will be driven each per segment) maintaining pressure design and construction of each shaft. the same overall railway project. with innovative between the TBM and the circumference We decided together to go for smaller “Align’s JV partners bring their own variable density of segments already in place. diameter shafts sited between the twin particular expertise to C1 from which TBMs Two pairs of jacks would then be bores, and for the TBMs to clip them others can benefit, while themselves on either side. Four of the shafts are in benefiting from knowledge others are wet locations and these will be sunk with contributing to HS2,” he explains. When I arrived diaphragm wall cutter rigs; the fifth, He cites the use of precast inverts to drier shaft, is likely to be built within a promote cleaner tunnel working as an last summer caisson. The point is, we’ve anticipated example of Align gaining from shared ideas. likely problems with value engineered Right now, taxing the ingenuity of what was amazing to solutions.” Altier and colleagues at Align is the Does this constitute the accolade challenge of achieving “continuous me was the way Align of ‘tunnelling excellence’? “No,” Altier boring”. and staff from client replies. “Tunnelling excellence to my “Our goal is not to stop the TBMs,” mind is not injuring anyone. We are he says. Normally, a TBM comes to rest “ committed at Align to promoting HS2 Ltd were working after boring a certain length of tunnel, to safety and achieving this definition of allow erection of precast concrete tunnel together excellence.”

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 37 POWERTech Excellence OF CONSISTENCY Hinkley Point C is the UK’s first new nuclear build since the 1990s. For operator EdF it is a crucial chance to prove it can build a mega nuclear scheme to time and budget. Innovation is vital, reports Emily Ashwell.

uch more rests on country’s ageing fleet of reactors. The the £19.6bn project KEY FACTS Flamanville 3 new build in Normandy to construct the is now notorious for having been Hinkley Point C delayed by several years and has 235,000t of steel nuclear power 3M.t gone over budget by hundreds of reinforcement is being used at Hinkley Point C station in Somerset Amount of millions of pounds. than the ability to power 6M homes. concrete So it comes as no surprise that EDF Everyone is bearing the pressure to and its contractors are under more M required get it right – from the shovel drivers than the usual amount of pressure to at a nearby Somerset quarry who get Hinkley Point C right. wash the wheels of their vehicles £2.8bn “One of the biggest challenges we to ensure the quality of the raw Value of main had was take best practice from the materials being delivered to Hinkley civils contract industry and some of the key lessons is as pure as possible, to the team of learned from other projects and make 48 planners painstakingly mapping 4,500t sure that they were embedded here,” out each element of work on the says EDF Hinkley Point C delivery construction site. Weight of Unit director Nigel Cann (see interview p18). This is because the political, 1 base In detail, this means looking economic and historic context of carefully at what triggered the delays the construction of Hinkley Point C, and cost increases on Hinkley’s means that successful delivery could predecessors and heading them off. pave the way for more nuclear new The result is a series of construction builds in the UK and overseas. innovations that have so far resulted Some UK politicians are doubtful about Hinkley Point C’s economic case. French energy giant EDF is delivering the scheme in conjunction One of the with the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). Going over budget biggest or time could damage EDF’s plans for another nuclear power station, challenges we had was Sizewell C in Suffolk. to take some of the key In France, where more than 70% of electricity generated comes from lessons learned from nuclear power, the energy firm needs investment to overhaul the “ other projects

38 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 in the project having a 97% right first- Concrete for the 4,500t time rate. Consistency nuclear island was Hinkley Point C is on the north and quality are poured in 30 hours Somerset coast. The 176ha construction site for two European the two key drivers for Pressurised Water Reactors (EPRs) – Units 1 and 2 – sits alongside an concrete production at operating nuclear power station, and one being decommissioned. Hinkley Point C Construction of the new power “ station started at the end of 2016. Enabling works are substantially exactly what we don’t want.” complete and excavations for Unit Aggregates come from Hanson 2 are nearing the finish line. A Kier quarries, many of them local. Abel Bam Nuttall joint venture (JV) has says that it is less the mix of concrete the £203M enabling works contract, that makes it suitable for nuclear, and which involves excavating over more the way it is handled. “What is 5.5M.m3 of material, building terracing nuclear concrete? Nuclear concrete structures and creating a road network. is everyone involved knowing what Costain is due to finish the 500m long they’re doing, why they’re doing it jetty, which will handle raw materials and maintaining it. The actual mix delivered by ship in March, while design isn’t that special, but it’s the Balfour Beatty has the marine works way it’s handled and treated and contract to build the three tunnels tested and maintained which is the needed for water intake and outfall. nuclear bit.” Milestones for the main civils There are simple tests and construction work are now being surveillance methods throughout the ticked off – December’s concrete pour process. “One of the biggest things on the first part of Unit 1’s 4,500t you can do wrong is put the wrong base was a major one. The Bylor powder in the wrong silos,” says Abel. contractor JV of Bouygues and Laing In addition, high performance O’Rourke has the deal worth over microwave moisture probes are used £2.8bn for the reactor buildings and to monitor water content. There are main civils works. also probes within the mixer, and the So where is EDF and its tier 1 teams mix is controlled by a machine, not an looking to learn lessons and what is operator. being done differently? The batching plant operator Huge importance has been placed normally uses experience and on concrete production – 3M.t is judgement in the final mix, tempering needed. Problems with concrete adjustments before completing at other nuclear power station the batch, but at Hinkley Point C builds have caused costly delays. the adjustments are by a specially Flamanville suffered from cracking or calibrated machine. poorly compacted concrete. Finland’s “You lose a little bit on output, but Olkiluoto 3 – not an EDF project – you gain massively on consistency,” had too much water in some of its says Abel. concrete mix impacting strength. The result is that the plants at Consistency and quality are the two Hinkley Point C are producing the key drivers for concrete production lowest standard deviation concrete in at Hinkley Point C. Engineers have the UK, according to Abel. He says a been working on mixes since 2012, good UK batching plant will produce with testing at the Bouygues lab in concrete with deviations of about 5, Paris resulting in a 150 page technical but at Hinkley it is typically producing report for each. An 18 month concretes below 2. programme to mock up and test the Standard deviations are the result batching plants was also undertaken. of tests on the ingredients, and “What we’re trying to develop strength of the concrete. Higher is a product that’s so consistent, values indicate changes in the that when the [workers] on site are composition of the concrete. placing it, compacting it, finishing it, “All the quarries know what they they do the same over and over again need to produce because we treat over the next six years,” says Bylor them as the same team as here. If chief materials engineer Peter Abel. we didn’t have that control, there “So, if there’s a change, for instance if would be variability. I have never had we’re losing workability too quickly such good control over the inbound or it’s a bit sticky or heavy, [the aggregates,” he says. workers] might change the way Alongside the base of the they’re placing and curing it, which is structures, Bylor’s concrete work

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 39 Tech Excellence Hinkley Point C

We’ve Construction on site in August 2018, showing planned our the Unit 1 base in the pour timings like foreground an orchestra

“will include the housing for the two reactors and prefabricated components for the fuel buildings, which sit adjacent to the reactors. Prefabrication of elements for the fuel buildings aims to cut 18 months off the construction programme and reduce insitu welding by 45%. The 57m diameter cylindrical reactor buildings are designed with a 1.8m thick reinforced concrete domed roof and will be around 64m tall. The reactor buildings have a double- wall containment structure and a from Port Talbot in south Wales. A reinforced concrete foundation slab. TIMELINE – OTHER EPR PROJECTS by-product of steel manufacturing, It A cross section of the reactor design helps to lower and control adiabatic shows the outer concrete wall, and heat generation in mass concrete. then a gap which will be maintained The two Hinkley Point China. This was another While GGBS is commonly used at sub-atmospheric pressure to C reactors are European EdF and CGN project. in concrete, at Hinkley it will be the enable radiation leaks to be collected, Pressurised Water Construction of what first time it has been used in an inner within an inner containment wall with Reactors (EPRs). Each was supposed to be the containment building. a leak-tight steel liner. will produce 1.6GW of first nuclear power station Although most of the mixes used in The team has developed an app for power. They have been using the this technology the various Hinkley Point C structures delivering the concrete to site that designed by EDF and began in Olkiluoto, contain constituents from local produces a running order for concrete Areva. Finland in 2005. It is not quarries, the particular mix for the production each day. These timings expected to go into full containment building also includes are cascaded across the project, so Engineers spent operation until 2020, 11 a special low heat cement from the everyone can see what concrete is 850,000 hours studying years late. South of France. It has taken five being delivered where and when. the design for the third- Flamanville C in France years to fully develop and samples All this has contributed to generation pressurised was due to come into are currently undergoing load testing the successful first pour for the water reactors for service in 2012, after at the University of Dundee. foundation slab or nuclear island for Hinkley. Assessment of construction started in “We need 10,000t, which is a Unit 1. The pour was undertaken the EPRs by the Office 2007. The opening date smallish volume, but this concrete continuously over 30 hours requiring for Nuclear Regulation has been pushed back to is the most important concrete on just under 2,000m³, forming a (ONR) took four years. 2020. the project. The cement is very pure, maximum 3.2m thick slab, reinforced At the end of 2018 Hinkley Point C is due very consistent, and has a natural with steel from south Wales. the first EPR nuclear to come into operation low heat. By blending with GGBS, it The main concrete was a C40/50 power station went into in 2025, construction helps to manage heat and hydration,” mix with a cem3b low heat cement. operation at Taishan in started in 2016. says Abel. Workers poured a specially The concrete for the reactor developed low heat concrete mix buildings must be able to withstand which could be revibrated up to six everything from a tsunami to an hours after placement. aeroplane collision. “We’ve planned our pour timings It is with the construction of like an orchestra, so by the time the reactor buildings that the we placed this layer and stepped team is also learning from the back to put the next layer on top, steel construction problems at the concrete is in tune with that Flamanville. On that project, the movement,” says Abel. Taishan nuclear reactors’ containment buildings were One of the key elements of Hinkley power station fabricated on site and comprise 150 Point C’s concrete mix is ground- steel panels. There, workers were granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) hampered by bad weather and welds

40 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 were deemed substandard. This Hinkley Point C caused delays and cost hikes as they were re-done. CONCRETE BATCHING PLANT is a ‘Russian doll As well as concrete, Hinkley Point C’s containment liner includes of Rubik cubes’ a 6mm thick steel plate, which will be prefabricated in six major components. These include four huge rings to line the cylindrical reactor building, as well as the dome. “ Prefabrication will be undertaken at steel manufacturer Tissot’s works near Bordeaux in France. It is there doll of Rubik’s Cubes”. Workers can that Tissot hopes to do as much of access the full design on tablets and the welding as possible. although this has been done before, Some welding will still have to be the team at Hinkley Point C says it done insitu, and a huge temporary With names like Batts Each plant has an has never been done to this scale. works shelter is being built, so that Combe, Masters and aggregate ground storage “You’ll have more than [a total this work can be done under cover. Gurney Slade, the capacity of 50,000t and of] 4,500 rooms just in the main “At Flamanville, welding was constituents used at each overhead aggregate nuclear island units, which are mainly disrupted by wind and weather. Hinkley sound more storage bin capacity of replicas of each other with some The impact of weather can cost two like the list of craft 100t. The mixer capacity differences. So, if you take that grand months per year,” says Bouygues ales you would find at a is 140m3 per hour. Each scale of the universe looking down, services director Jean-François local Somerset pub than concrete batch must we did a calculation on how much Persegol. concrete constituents. comply with nuclear data we’re really handling and it is At Taishan in China, another EDF/ regulations. approximately 1,700 items to be fitted CGN nuclear new build, the first four But these constituents Teka TPZ 4500 in each of those rooms,” says Codd. liner rings were also prefabricated, will be delivered via the planetary mixers were “I have never been on such a complex with the results boding well for Severn Estuary, on to specified for the plants, project in terms of the amount of Hinkley Point C. Engineers there the temporary jetty and with each having special numbers and data there is. We’re found they took 25 days to construct into one of the site’s automatic cleaning trying to organise a digital twin to a ring, compared to 40 at Flamanville. three concrete batching equipment fitted to predict the issues that will come out Persegol explains that offsite plants. These plants do not remove residue from in the future.” prefabrication is vital at Hinkley just supply the Bylor JV previous mixes. ConSpare It is this digital twin of Hinkley as it enables work to be done in a building the reactor, they CDX mixer dust Point C, with all the de-clashing more controlled, less time stressed also supply concrete for extraction systems were undertaken, which will wipe out environment. earthworks, marine works specified to manage dust massive time issues and aims to When it moves to the mechanical, and the jetty. containment. create 20% in cost savings for the electrical and heating, ventilation and building of Sizewell C. N air conditioning installation stage, contractors will have to co-ordinate cabling and pipework in 2,500 rooms throughout each unit of the power station. The MEH Alliance of Altrad, Balfour Beatty Bailey, Cavendish Nuclear and Doosan Babcock is in charge of this work and EDF is again drawing on lessons from Flamanville. Given 235,000t of steel reinforcement bars have to be set in concrete, the Hinkley Point C team does not want to repeat clashing problems at Flamanville, where some of the steel had to be moved to make way for other components later in the project. To avoid this at Hinkley Point C, there is an extensive 4D modelling programme, showing in detail where every component goes – what Bechtel Artist’s impression of 4D team manager at Hinkley Point C, Hinkley Point C Andy Codd, describes as a “Russian

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 41 DASHTech Excellence FOR THE CASH A £780M congestion-busting roads revamp in Las Vegas is nearing completion. Rob Horgan popped across the pond to take in Project Neon first hand.

n Las Vegas everything is big. are left to install on the new flyover, The hotels, the casinos, even We couldn’t together with some local roadworks the water fountains. So when KEY FACTS and final traffic management systems the Nevada Department of take more installation. Transportation (NDoT) decided 300,000 “The last sections to put in will to revamp the city’s road than one to two lanes actually be suspended right over the Number of infrastructure, it was no surprise that of freeway anywhere I-15,” says Kiewit information officer Iit decided to “go big”. vehicles per Jay Proskovec. “One of the limitations Nearly two decades in the making, day using the along the route for of the project specification was that the aptly-named Project Neon is I-15 in Las we couldn’t take more than one to the largest public works project in “ two lanes of freeway anywhere along Vegas any significant amount Nevada’s 150-year history. Costing the route for any significant amount just shy of $1bn (£780M), it sets out of time of time,” he says. “So we have had to £16M to widen 6km of motorway from the be pretty inventive with the design to outskirts of the city to a purpose built Value of early figure out the order in which we were interchange called Neon Gateway in completion high occupancy vehicle (HOV) flyover building things, as well as building downtown Las Vegas. In total, 19km bonuses which connects US 95 with the I-15, as much as possible away from the of lane conversion across the city will creating 35.4km of continuous carpool freeway.” be introduced to separate motorway and rapid use lanes. The project will Atkins project manager Mike traffic from general traffic, reducing also create carpool access l ramps, Warnick adds: “We have seen 34 merging and weaving of traffic. reconstruct Charleston Boulevard major traffic switches to date and The project’s aim is to reduce interchange – a major connection to there are about 13 left, so we will congestion on Interstate 15 (I-15) and Las Vegas Boulevard and downtown have done 47 in total by the time of Highway US 95 (US 95). This stretch – and extend Grand Central Parkway completion. That was a big part of of the I-15 is the busiest highway in over the Union Pacific railway tracks. our design phase in order to keep Nevada, handling 300,000 vehicles daily, Major sections of the new 25m tall traffic flowing as well reducing costs making 25,000 lane changes per hour. flyover were finished in November by reducing temporary works needed Traffic through the corridor is expected 2018 – two months ahead of schedule for big switches.” to double by 2035. When Project Neon – representing a major milestone for “Likewise with the bridge is complete, traffic delays are expected project partners contractor Kiewit structures, we have managed to to be reduced by 28%. and consultant Atkins as the project save a lot of time by keeping them The project involves construction ramps up for a July finish. With the pretty similar in order to simplify of 29 new or replacement bridges, entire project 88% complete, four construction,” he says. the largest of which is a 764m long of the new flyover’s bridge spans “They are all concrete beam

42 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 they come in late there are liquidated damages, with penalties imposed with PROJECT NEON each hour the project is delayed.

W Bonanza Rd “We have had a lot of crews 15 working five, six, days a week running

515 days shift, night shifts and swing HOV CONNECTOR shifts from March until November,” Warnick adds. “Sometimes seven .K. Blvd .K. days a week during the critical times. y a S M.L S w k r It is nice to be through that phase a P

NEON GATEWAY l

a now and take our foot off the gas a

Alta Dr r t n bit now.” e

C

d Off-site manufacturing and CHARLESTON n a r INTERCHANGE G prefabrication has helped cut a S Reconstruction GRAND CENTRAL significant amount of time out of the PARKWAY- W Charleston Blvd construction schedule. Eight concrete INDUSTRIAL CONNECTOR girders used on the HOV flyover were SOUTHBOUND prefabricated almost 500km away in t

S

RAMP BRAIDING

n i Phoenix, Arizona and required a 16-

a

M 78X108 S car police escort to transport them to site. Likewise, the deck panels were made offsite. The project’s 42 active

e

v

i r HOV INTERCHANGE traffic management (ATM) boards

D Direct connection to E St Louis Ave

o

h

c Oakey and Charleston were created by Daktronics, while

n

a d R R their steel support structures were l W Sahara Ave ia r E Sahara Ave t shipped in from North Dakota. s u d n I d The ATM system is part of a wider lv B

s push to improve safety on the route. NEW HOV LANES a g e V With around three car accidents a day 15 s N a L

S 500m on the I-15, NDoT is confident that widening the route and introducing new carpool lanes will reduce the number of unnecessary lane changes, resulting in fewer accidents. In total, 42 girders, or concrete box beam The project ATM boards will be installed at 800m girders. We have used precast widens 6km We came intervals along the route, including a girders, precast bridge deck panels of motorway 23m long gantry that will be the longest and California wide-flange, precast and separates up with an sign structure in the state. beams [similar to a concrete I-beam] motorway traffic “This will be one of the first value- because we could make them longer from local traffic alternative that saved a wide active traffic management spans, thereby eliminating the need large portion of bridge systems in the US,” NDoT information for more columns. officer Tony Illia says. “The combination of the three has by tweaking the bridge “Other places have sporadic signs allowed for an accelerated pace, so but this is one of the first to introduce we could build a bridge span within “ ATM signs every half mile. Places structure and the 30 to 45 days. So that really shaved a have these signs but nowhere near as lot of time off building the bridge.” location immense as this, spanning the entire And the ability to get work done road way. A lot of other places are on time, or even ahead of schedule looking at how this system works and was integral to Kiewit Infrastructure for everybody,” Warnick adds. are excited to see it in action.” West being appointed the general “We have either met or come in Technology on the project is not contractor under a $559M (£442M) ahead of schedule on every interim limited to the traffic management design and build contract, with Atkins milestone to date. The [US]95 work systems. To “sell the project” to the acting as lead designer. was 54 days ahead, the I-15 work public, Warnick explains how Atkins The team’s design proposal was 12 days ahead. So, the next one turned its CAD drawings into a virtual reduced construction programme is the final push to be done before reality driving simulator. estimates by 300 days, giving the mid-July.” Warnick adds: “Being able to put project a time-cost saving of around Indeed, the team won a £3.9M people in the driving seat through $80M (£63M). This was largely bonus for reopening a lane of US95 the animation made from our CAD achieved by tweaking the positioning in each direction two months early. drawings was a great benefit to get of the flyover shortening it from Dubbed ‘‘the Big Squeeze’’ workers the public on board,” Warnick says. 1.43km to 792m. This reduced were on site seven days a week to “We also created a virtual helicopter construction time by four months. make room for the signature HOV. tour that flies to the south of the “During the bidding phase, we Incentivising the contractors is a project and does the whole route came up with an alternative that big part of NDoT’s project delivery and then lands back at our central saved a large portion of bridge by strategy. Atkins and Kiewit stand office. eW used both at public meetings tweaking the bridge structure and the to earn up to nearly £16M together and it was crucial to getting the public location, which saved time and cost in early completion bonuses. But if buy in.” N

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 43 Read it here first WE ARE DETERMINED TO BRING OUR READERS EXCLUSIVE DAILY CONTENT. WHERE NEW CIVIL ENGINEER LEADS, THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA FOLLOW

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DECEMBERFEBRUARY 20192017 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 45 Tech Bites NEW INNOVATIONS THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR PROJECTS NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/TECH-EXCELLENCE

CLIMATE CHANGE NEWCASTLE CREATES DIGITAL CITY TO PLAN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Newcastle is the world’s first city to create a live digital replica of the entire city. It will help planners stress test the city’s infrastructure in response to climate change and population growth. The virtual model combines geospatial and performance data overlaid with operational data to produce a model that can be tested under various scenarios. Digital testing is already used by Formula One teams, so they can to test new cars without having to build prototypes. The system is capable of visualising changes in real time, allowing researchers to examine the impact of environmental and human changes.

GEOTECHNICAL UTILITIES ELECTRICITY LONDON UNIVERSITIES TO BEYOND LINE OF SIGHT DRONE SHAFTS USE DEVELOP MINI- MONITORS CABLES IN US TEST THERMAL GROUT ROBOTS TO FIX MONITORING LEAKY PIPES

Thermal imaging has been Funding worth £7M from the used to monitor grout government’s £27M Industrial penetration behind precast Strategy is being set aside for concrete shaft rings for the British robotics experts to first time. Barhale pioneered develop miniature robots two 30m deep segmentally capable of repairing utilities lined access shafts either side pipes from the inside. of the Thames as part of the Scientists from four British £5M Chelsea to Battersea universities have been medium pressure gas pipeline challenged to develop the project. These shafts pass 10mm long robots to repair A United States power company Louis-based power company through made ground, leaky pipes and avoid digging has successfully conducted a Ameren used the BVLOS drone alluvium and river terrace up roads to access them. The test with a beyond visual line of to monitor almost 100km of deposits before reaching the robots will have sensors and sight (BVLOS) drone to monitor overhead power lines in a London Clay in which the navigational technology to power lines. It paves the way single flight. This is more 330m long sub-Thames tunnel allow them to locate and for long distance remote efficient than traditional linking the shafts was built. repair cracks. infrastructure monitoring. St inspection methods.

46 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Tech Showcase MARTELLO PILING DEPTH OF FOCUS Martello Piling is going from strength to strength, delivering several complex schemes and earning a solid reputation in London’s commercial and high-end residential markets.

artello Piling, part of the Franki Foundations UK Group, entered the piling market in 2002, offering a revolutionary new piling system Mthat enables the construction of large diameter piles within restricted access and low headroom conditions.

ALTERNATIVE APPROACH The company’s alternative approach to solving complex ground engineering problems is partly responsible for its recent success in London’s high-end residential and commercial markets. In recent times, Martello has demonstrated the scale of it capabilities on projects, such as Mayfair Park Residences and 22 Bishopsgate, which is set to be one of London’s tallest skyscrapers.

DESIGN Martello is working on several challenging high rise projects in London Martello is becoming more involved with its clients’ design teams, to develop solutions to some of the most complex ground engineering problems. Early is the only rig in the market capable of It beat other larger piling contractors involvement in a project allows Martello KEY STATS installing 1500mm diameter piles within in securing the piling package for the to offer an alternative design, providing 10m of headroom. redevelopment of the grade II* listed the client with cost and programme Martello has the ability to adapt building. The project requires the savings. Being great problem solvers 450mm to its specialist rigs and fabricate installation of 687 piles and plunge is one strength, but Martello’s project-specific equipment, such as columns. combination of specialist management 2.5m plunge column frames for top-down knowledge and experienced site labour Range of pile construction. THE FUTURE are the main reasons for its success. diameters Martello’s strategy for the coming LARGEST PROJECT TO DATE months is to continue to secure its INNOVATION offered by This year Martello secured its largest position in London’s commercial market Martello is currently fabricating its Martello project to date, in a highly prestigious among some of the UK’s premier ground latest rig, the MP6002, which it says and sensitive central London location. engineering contractors.

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 47 Debate: Social Value of VALUABLEInfrastructure OPINIONS

DEBATE BACKGROUND

184,000 £110bn 694 Number of Estimated UK Pipeline projects new homes infrastructure spend and programmes completed in by 2025 across 15 sectors England in (Source: PwC) and 14 UK 2016/17 regions (Source: KPMG)

In association with The United Kingdom’s infrastructure is perhaps its greatest asset. It powers homes and businesses, gets people home from work, and keeps homes safe. It is time to stop thinking about infrastructure with cold hard- nosed calculations and start considering infrastructure as a social asset, not just an investment opportunity. But how can we as engineers determine the social value of our projects beyond simple cost and efficiency? Report by Connor Ibbetson.

t is clear for the whole of the infrastructure sector that the debate about investment priorities has to shift from cold, hard-nosed calculations alone,” says HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Thurston in his Iforeword to The social benefits of infrastructure investment, a report published by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association. “I therefore encourage the industry to support the efforts underway to address the measurement of social benefit from infrastructure investment,” he adds. The nature of our infrastructure, as Thurston says, has long been dictated by “cold calculations” without considering the wider social impacts. But the mood of the industry, government and wider community is changing. Some say major infrastructure projects should put a financial figure on social benefits In 2013, the government’s Public Services (Social Value) Act came into force. It says that those providing SOCIAL VALUE AND TOTAL VALUE stakeholders,” she says. new infrastructure must articulate Arup associate director for A total value approach involves the “wider social, economic and sustainability and social value, putting a financial figure on social environmental benefits” of a project Alison Ball says that Arup has begun value, as well as considering the or service. to consider aspects beyond social environmental impacts. Arup’s report entitled Societal value in its projects, something the “We also think that added into value of infrastructure published company terms “total value”. this we need to take a total value in 2014 says that, using flood “Many things come together to approach, asking: ‘what are the alleviation infrastructure as an form the social value of the project, natural and environmental benefits?’, example, “Social value is not such as health and wellbeing, crime and the negatives, the financial well understood by either local and safety, identity, pride and values, as well as the economic communities or those working to belonging, community cohesion values?” design, deliver, and construct.” and diversity, geography, and “Let’s think wider and make The report also says that the hidden value of infrastructure consulting local people about visible,” Ball adds. projects is sometimes seen as an This reflects Arup’s Making the “exercise of informing” rather than Let’s think Total Value Case for Investment genuine consultation, and that research paper into total value. In projects that failed to consult those wider and make this report, the concept of total affected by them have often failed the hidden value of value is represented as the equation: to capitalise on local knowledge and Total value equals a combination suffer as a result. infrastructure visible of financial, economic, social and “ FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 49 Debate Social Value of Infrastructure

Not everything Social value is hard to defi ne should be reduced to an economic rationality. “There are things that are above this

natural value. Ball says all these elements must be taken into account to give a picture of the true “net” value capture possible when comparing costs to benefi ts. However, Offshore Wind Consultants lead advanced engineer, Khalid Kamhawi, says that projects cannot always be assigned a fi xed economic value. “Not everything should be reduced to an economic rationality. There are things that are above this,” he says. AT THE ROUND TABLE “Social value has a dimension above and beyond economic dimensions.” This report is informed by a round table discussion Sam Hewlings Morgan Sindall/ICE FIR Panel Further issues arise when trying held in central London in December, in association Connor Ibbetson New Civil Engineer to defi ne just what social value with Arup. Around the table were: Khalid Kamhawi Offshore Wind Consultants means. London Climate Change Panel Chris Longley SLC Rail member Anusha Shah argues, that Alison Ball Arup Anusha Shah London Climate Change Partnership/ social value is highly subjective, and Andrew Brown Anglian Water ICE FIR Panel there is not one size fi ts all formula Kate Cairns Cairns Consultancy Neil Stansbury Anti-Corruption Centre for calculating it. Tim Chapman Arup Isabel Weh Liu Transport Focus “We need to defi ne the social values Kate Hall HS2 Ltd Charlotte Wood Environment Agency for developed countries as different Mark Hansford New Civil Engineer to what the social values for other countries are,” she says. It is not a new concept to consider all the stakeholders of a project independently, but does each group FURTHER READING of stakeholders needs to have its own social value, to be compared and considered with the others? Civil Engineering Contractors Association: “The Arup: “Making the Total Value Case for “When we measure social social benefits of infrastructure investment” Investment in Infrastructure and the Built value, where do we set the system (2018) Environment” boundaries?” asks Morgan Sindall’s www.ceca.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cebr- www.arup.com/perspectives/publications/ equality, diversity and inclusion ceca-report-the-social-benefits-of-infrastructure- research/section/making-the-total-value-case- manager Sam Hewlings. investment-final-december-2018-compressed.pdf for-investment-in-infrastructure-and-the-built- “Does local social value count more environment than national social value? How do we Arup: “Societal value of infrastructure” (2014) weight that?” https://research.arup.com/projects/societal-value- Public Services (Social Value) Act This is a problem in defi ning of-infrastructure/ www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-value- social value of infrastructure. Who act-information-and-resources/social-value-act- counts more: the consumer or the Fullfact: House Building Statistics information-and-resourcesp community? They are not always the https://fullfact.org/economy/house-building- same group. england/ “How do we decide which of these

50 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 is the most important? asks Shah. “The people most directly affected by the works surrounding a project, or CASE STUDY: HIGH SPEED 2 those who stand to benefit the most?” This in turn spawns another ethical debate about who is best placed to decide these values: the engineers, developers and builders; the people Much has been said about High local effect being potential who will be impacted by the work; Speed 2 (HS2). It is without environmental damage to the or the people who will use the assets doubt a polarising project. The Chilterns Area of Outstanding created. cost is estimated to be £56bn, Natural Beauty (AONB). Only “Why don’t we ask the communities but it is estimated that it will part of HS2 is being tunnelled in first: what is it they want? asks Shah. generate £27bn in fares and the area, meaning above ground “We need to start things the a further £44bn of economic works will affect inhabitants. The other way round; we are defining benefits – but where will these Chiltern Society, which opposes social value but we are not asking the benefits be seen? HS2 crossing the area say these communities: is this what will make works will have “a detrimental them happy? How do we decide that?” The main consumer benefit from effect on the AONB… and very A prime example of this consumer the project is the cut in journey concerned about the precedent versus community issue can be seen times between London and HS2: £44bn of economic benefit HS2 has set for other protected in the expansion of Heathrow airport, Birmingham and Manchester and landscapes”. says Transport Focus board member Leeds. and improving air quality. It is up Such localised potential Isabell Weh Liu. Whilst there are benefits that to those living in close proximity damage is a key example of a “We are trying to represent the will affect everyone, such as a to the new lines to bear the social value metric that could be interests of the consumer, and that reduction in short haul flights, brunt of the cons. considered in a consumer versus is different from the community leaving a lower carbon footprint A prime example of this community scenario. interest,” she says. “If you poll the 50,000 people living in a 3km radius of Heathrow, you are going to get a ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT “We need to know more about the very different answer than if you poll AND PLANNING public sector drivers, and the private the tens of millions that will derive Of course any new project must sector drivers, before we can use benefit from the airport expansion.” engage with the government planning social development goals to choose However, it is the focus on processes, but these do not currently not just how projects will be built, but communities over consumers have a framework for considering whether they will be built at all.” that causes the progress of new these social values on large scale Anti-Corruption Centre co-founder infrastructure projects to be so slow projects, argues contractor SLC Rail Neill Stansbury argues there is in the United Kingdom, Liu adds. Northern Powerhouse area liaison a “massive failure” of leadership “Why doesn’t the UK have that manager Chris Longley. in politics and the industry for much infrastructure and why does Longley says that a greater not properly challenging the it take so long [to deliver]? It is understanding of how this concept government’s lack of vision in because the process is to first ask of social value is going to fit with developing more sustainable and the communities, who say no. It fails government planning policy is socially valuable projects. to take into account the benefit the needed. “There is a massive failure of tens of millions of consumers that “There needs to be a better leadership and a massive failure of could be accessing the infrastructure. understanding before the vision,” he says. Communities are treated as the expectations of social value “I can’t comprehend that we are primary stakeholders and they are measurement become too high; of even discussing a third runway at ones that can kill you with a yay or what needs to be done to help the key Heathrow airport, with planes already nay.” drivers for the public sector going overhead every 45 seconds in and the private sector and the London, blighting the lives of millions hybrids in order that they could of people. actually accept them in the first “There has got to be a much place,” he says. deeper vision with sustainability; Why doesn’t the We need to understand this, we are a hugely powerful industry Longley says, because social with dynamic leaders. Why aren’t we UK have that development goals have not been challenging the government’s lack of considered on a large scale project vision? much infrastructure before, “otherwise all we will do is, at “We are blighted by weak and inept and why does it take so a very high level, affect the delivery government leaders, it is time for the mechanism as opposed to the industry to stand up and say ‘we can long? decision-making mechanism”. do more and can do better’.” N

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ICE LEARNING HUB ICE Council: Supports work of Trustee Board New CPD content added to ICE Learning hub

New content has been added to the ICE Learning Hub. It covers sustainable materials, tunnelling, soil reinforcement and electricity generation. The Learning Hub was launched in November 2018. It provides a wide range of online modules and resources free and exclusively to ICE members to support their continuing professional development. Initial feedback has been positive, particularly from non-UK members who can now access an easy-to-use distance learning tool. The latest learning programmes have been selected to reflect recent events and ICE developments. Following European Week for Waste Reduction in November 2018, the hub has been updated ICE seeks nominations for 13 to include the new “little book of low carbon eating in the city” and “sustainable materials” seats on Council by 29 March programmes will help engineers consider their role in cutting New members are being sought with effect from 5 November. be corporate or technician waste. for ICE’s Council, which is Council meets four times members and are elected by The ICE has said it welcomes responsible for representing the a year, usually at One Great the professionally qualified feedback, including requests views of the membership to the George Street in London. members in the relevant regions for subjects to be covered Trustee Board. The 13 vacancies to be filled l One international member – in future Learning Hub The 35 elected ICE Council this year are: to represent Europe and Central updates. Send feedback to members steer the Institution’s l Six general members Asia [email protected]. efforts to best deliver value to (comprising corporate and l One graduate member – a society and its members. technician members), who gradutate member of the ICE It supports the Trustees’ are elected by the graduate – elected by ICE aim of ensuring that the ICE is professionally qualified graduate members considered a global centre of members worldwide and do Nominations must be excellence and helps set the not represent any particular submitted to the Council Office high-level strategy for the ICE to constituency at One Great George Street by meet the challenges and needs l Five regional members – 29 March. of the 21st century. one to represent each of the To find out more about Members can nominate following regions: East of Council nominations, go to themselves or a colleague. England, London, Scotland, www.ice.org.uk/about-ice/ Elected Council members will the South East and Yorkshire people/council--nomination or New material covers tunnelling serve a three year term of office & Humber. Candidates can email [email protected]

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 53 Institution of Civil Engineers Record

ICE Sheffield confirmed as next President Paul Sheffield will take over the ICE Presidency from Andrew Wyllie in Novemner, ICE Council has confirmed.

ICE vice president Paul Sheffield spent 31 years with the Kier has been officially elected the Group, initially working on a next President by ICE Council wide range of civil engineering and will succeed Andrew Wyllie and construction projects in in November. various parts of the world. Sheffield was initially put These included a gold mine Sheffield: wide forward as a potential candidate in Papua New Guinea, a experience with for the 2019/20 presidency by commercial development in contractors the nomination committee in London, a concrete gravity March 2018 and confirmed by dam in Snowdonia where he global civil engineering and O’Rourke to head its UK and Council in April 2018. Council was the chief engineer, and construction activities. From Middle East construction has now formally elected him to latterly as project director on 2010 to 2014, he was group chief business, with close serve for the session. a desalination plant in Saudi executive, with overall revenues involvement in projects such as Sheffield studied civil Arabia and underground of £3bn and activities spanning Thames Tideway Tunnels and engineering at the University of railways in Hong Kong. construction, support services, Hinkley Point C nuclear power Surrey, graduating in 1983 and Between 2005 and 2010, property development and station. becoming chartered in 1987. he was on the board of Kier housing. Sheffield is currently a non- Following graduation, he Group, with responsibility for In 2014, he joined Laing executive director of Southern

LEGAL FLOODING TECHNOLOGY ICE ICE to host disputes Flood defence ICE/Topcon joint Last chance to resolution event at brainstorming event lecture to cover see Engineering Great George Street precedes guidance barriers to change Superheroes

This year’s ICE Alternative The ICE and drainage systems Construction technology Visitors have a last chance to see Dispute Resolution event is manufacturer Wavin recently held companyTopcon and the ICE the Invisible Superheroes at the at One Great George Street a meeting of water and sewerage are holding a joint lecture on ICE, with the exhibition entering on 24 January. It will cover companies, local authorities, the barriers to change in the its final weeks. The exhibition unenforceable adjudication designers and developers, to find construction industry, on 6 celebrates the unsung heroes decisions; legal developments new ideas for effective sustainable February. The event will use of civil engineering. More than for adjudicators; dispute drainage systems (SuDS). Proposed the latest findings from joint ICE 20,000 people have visited the avoidance and resolution tools solutions included a shared digital and Topcon research to explore London exhibition while thousands under NEC4; and what parties workspace for SuDS stakeholders attidudes to the adoption of of others have attended pop- and representatives want and a “SuDS for Schools” new processes and technology. up versions around the world. from NEC Adjudicators.The partnership to upgrade and Attendees will learn about the Invisible Superheroes will remain event includes workshops on optimise outdoor facilities. A report most common barriers across open at ICE’s London headquarters the awarding of interest, cost and video content can be found at large and small businesses and until 22 February. Opening hours allocation and compensation www.ice.org.uk/water. The next of how challenges and opinions differ are Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm event assessment. For more these events is by invitation on 14 across of senior and ground teams. (excluding public holidays). There information visit www.ice.org. February in Leeds. To get involved To book a place, visit www.ice.org. is more information at www.ice.org. uk/events/alternative-dispute- with the ICE’s SuDS work, email uk/events/what-are-the-barriers-to- uk/events/exhibitions/ice-invisible- resolution-london [email protected]. change-in-the-construction. superheroes-exhibition.

54 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019 MORE ICE NEWS GO TO NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/ICE

TECHNOLOGY VIEW CLARITY AND SHARING WITH BLOCKCHAIN

Blockchain has A wide range of become a much-hyped technology recently, business processes and with the volatile trading of blockchain-based administrative tasks could be cryptocurrencies Water Services and is on the coming to mainstream improved, automatised and made supervisory board of the Dutch Balint attention. But more efficient Construction Group Bam. He is Penzes cryptocurrency is just also an industrial advisor to the one way of using this “ board of Manchester Airport technology. Blockchain towards more transparent, fairer practice and overall Group, working on its capital has the potential to become a more trusted entity. expansion work at Manchester fundamentally transform our industry. Blockchain can also deliver a more streamlined and Stansted airports. He is an With capital infrastructure projects around the procurement process, ensuring the provenance ICE Fellow. world relying on a scattered and complex supply of structural materials and creating a verified chain, we have an ongoing challenge to improve chain of custody. This will help to reduce waste productivity and accountability. Blockchain and improve sustainability, as well as drive up the technology could help to achieve greater quality of products and services. PASS LISTS, BYLAW 15 transparency, traceability and collaboration. If a digitised, undisputable and transparent In a nutshell, blockchain is a database of blockchain-enabled operation model is linked with As New Civil Engineer is now information, with special properties, which information and data-rich building information published monthly, the names is stored across a network of computers modelling implementation, the combination would of candidates recently awarded a and accessible to a community of users. It is create a trusted digital twin for assets. Creating the professional qualification with ICE decentralised, with no one party holding overall ultimate single source of truth for all aspects of a will only be published online at control of the data. The distributed information is construction project, it would support the design, www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/ simultaneously updated, recorded chronologically, construction, operation and maintenance stages icenews. They will no longer be and cryptographically secured. Once published, along the whole lifecycle. published in the print edition. it cannot be changed. In this way, it offers an We are still at an early stage on the blockchain immutable record of any transactions, agreements journey and there is a need for further The pass lists will also be published and interactions. collaborative industry research. We need to frame on ICE’s website, along with the The technology’s potential can be seen most and facilitate pilot projects and best practices to be names of all candidates applying clearly in payment and project management. able to leverage the full potential of this emerging for professionally qualified A wide range of business processes and technology. Construction is one of the largest membership (Bylaw 15). Both administrative tasks could be improved, industries in the world and infrastructure is the can be viewed at www.ice.org.uk/ automatised and made more efficient, resulting in backbone of economic growth and productivity. bylaw15 under “newest qualified better project control and significant cost savings. If blockchain could reshape the industry member”. Lists will remain on the A blockchain-based smart contract can initiate dramatically for the better, the opportunity is site for 28 days. To view lists on payments automatically, based on digitally approved simply too great to miss. l the New Civil Engineer website, work. It could help to solve the long-standing Balint Penzes is a consultant engineer at Cowi visit www.newcivilengineer.com/ industry issue of late payments and cash flow UK and author of the recent ICE report Blockchain latest/icenews problems. As a result, the industry could move technology in the construction industry

FEBRUARY 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 55 Institution of Civil Engineers Record

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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MENTORING MOMENTUM Rachel Skinner (chair), Bill Grose, Alan Clucas, Andrew Mylius, Martin Knights, Mike Napier, Miles Ashley, Rob Naybour, Tim Chapman, Tony Gates, Zakiyya Adam, Aimi Elias, John Dillon, David Caiden, Fay Bull, Sophie McPhilips, Stephen Wells, While the headlines Jennifer Cooke, Simon Creer are dominated by Eff ective mentoring is political uncertainty, Magazine of the the civil engineering Institution of Civil Engineers one of the key enablers 1 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA profession is getting 020 7222 7722 | www.ice.org.uk on and delivering. in progression towards There has been ICE MEMBERS’ ADDRESS Steve tremendous progress professional qualifi cation CHANGES/ SUBSCRIPTIONS QUERIES Feeley in ensuring a healthy pipeline of new www.ice.org.uk/myice to update your entrants and qualifi ed of mentorship. Today, the need for additional address quickly online. For subscription “ queries, please phone 020 7665 technicians and capacity and effective mentoring has never 2227, or email [email protected] engineers. been greater. A recent ICE membership survey In the last 12 months the ICE Professional highlighted the fact that effective mentoring SUBSCRIPTIONS Skills Review and the In Plain Sight report were is one of the key enablers in progression For subscription queries contact; dsb.net Ltd, 3 Queensbridge, launched, while Professional Review applications towards professional qualifi cation. Whether as Northampton NN4 7BF reached record levels and the profession has a supervising civil engineer, delegated engineer, Telephone: 01604 828 705 worked tirelessly to progress the apprenticeship or mentor under an approved ICE programme, All rights reserved © 2019 New Civil agenda. As 2019 gets underway, capacity and or through informal mentoring, we need Engineer. Published by EMAP a member skills must stay at the top of our agenda. experienced professionals to continue passing of the Metropolis Group. Metropolis In my day to day work, but also as a judge for knowledge to the next generation. Group respects the privacy of every the New Civil Engineer Graduate & Apprentice of Experienced professionals should never person for whom we have personal the Year Awards (New Civil Engineer, last month) I underestimate how much wisdom and data. We comply with data protection never fail to be impressed by the standard of new knowledge they can offer. Mentors routinely legislation such as the Data Protection entrants. In apprentices and graduates, we often report how rewarding they fi nd working with Act 1998 and the General Data see the “disrupters”, driving the digital revolution young professionals, and let us not forget the Protection Regulations which regulates within their own organisations. They serve as a CPD value to all involved. Additionally, the rise the processing of data and ensures powerful reminder that the future is in very safe of “reverse-mentoring” is helping experienced that your data is processed fairly and hands. professionals learn new skills and challenge lawfully, is kept secure and only that data necessary for any processing is kept. Civil engineering apprenticeship provision is accepted thinking. You can see our privacy policy at www. expanding rapidly, providing a pathway to ICE Those undertaking initial professional metropolis.co.uk/privacy professional qualifi cation and rewarding careers. development, whether via an apprenticeship, Employers, colleges, universities and my ICE ICE training scheme, or experience route, will Printed by Precision Colour Printing Ltd, colleagues have been working relentlessly to require and benefi t from mentoring. Irrespective Telford. Registered as a newspaper with ensure that the opportunities and standards of the mechanism, the skills and benefi ts remain the Post Offi ce ISSN 0307-7683; Issue presented by the new Apprenticeship Levy are the same. Our profession has a proud 200-year No: 2070. Statements made or opinions realised. Our membership teams have been history of developing new talent, and the need expressed in New Civil Engineer do supporting those developing and entering to secure the pipeline of future skills is as great not necessarily refl ect the views of ICE Council or ICE committees apprenticeship programmes, and demand now as it ever has been. I wish all mentors, and continues to grow. mentees every success in 2019. The evolution of the apprenticeship agenda is l Steve Feeley is ICE membership recruitment just one strand in our profession’s fi ne history director

56 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2019

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