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08535_WAV_QBP 2020_Ticks Ad F_NCE_265x210_AW.indd 1 05/02/2020 13:56 New Civil Engineer INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS ONLY PART OF THE ANSWER
CLAIRE SMITH EDITOR
ove it or loathe it – High Speed 2 (HS2) is here to stay and an HS2 select committee to more closely govern the work of HS2 Ltd. after prime minister Boris Johnson rubber stamped the Whether this will benefit the project, only time will tell. Doug Oakervee-chaired review of the project in February. While getting government backing to fund the scheme may have L But, as you will read in this month’s news pages, it is not seemed like the biggest hurdle, there could be many more to come in a case of full steam ahead: contractors are being told to convincing the public that green lighting the work was the right decision. cut costs further, the scope has changed, and parts of HS2’s remit have Gaining government commitment to invest in infrastructure has felt been removed. All these changes have the feel of a project that is in its infancy rather than one that has so far been more than 10 years in the making, and one We must become better on which construction work will start in April, according the Johnson. Despite the decade of work so far, HS2 still does not feel like a scheme communicators and address how that has the weight of public support behind it – something you would expect it to have garnered by now. the civil engineering solutions we are Even as he announced the go-ahead, Johnson said the task of approving the high speed line was “not made easier by HS2 Ltd”. He said that HS2 Ltd proposing do not add to the climate had failed to “distinguish itself among local communities,” and had allowed costs to “explode”. However, he stressed that “poor management [has] not crisis but help mitigate it detracted in my view from the fundamental attractiveness [of the project]”. “ I cannot help but think that the project became its own worst enemy like a continuous challenge for many years. But it is only part of the real by mainly pitching the benefits based on journey speed, when a story task which must also include gaining public support for the work. To built on journey reliability and taking freight off the road might have do this more effectively we must become better communicators and been more compelling to the public. We have to face facts that much of address how the civil engineering solutions we are proposing do not add the UK rail network relies on Victorian-era assets whose vulnerability to the climate crisis but help mitigate it. has been increasingly demonstrated in extreme weather events, such as As an industry we are judged on past performance, which has left the February’s Storm Ciara. public with an impression – rightly or wrongly – that the UK civil engineering Victorian pioneers such as Brunel and Bazalgette – among many sector delivers late, goes over budget and destroys the environment. others – were clear figureheads for the projects that still today form the Overcoming these preconceptions is not easy and how the industry backbone of many parts of UK infrastructure. moves forward from the HS2 go-ahead will play a big part – as will the Today, project leaders come and go and it is teams, rather than next generation of megaprojects. Using more concrete and steel with individuals, that take projects forward, with politicians often being the diesel-powered equipment used to construct it seems counter-intuitive face of infrastructure initiatives – although not always to good effect. to the public, given the context of the climate crisis. Maybe the project How many people thought of Johnson’s failed Garden Bridge project figureheads we need in this era are those that champion the carbon re- when he started to promote the idea of a crossing to link Ireland with ducing credentials of the completed infrastructure as much as the need Scotland in 2018? for the infrastructure itself? For HS2, Johnson has promised a minister to take a lead on the project l Claire Smith is New Civil Engineer’s editor
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 3 Contents NEW CIVIL ENGINEER MARCH 2020 MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
08 News, Comment 21 Future & Analysis of Rail
08 The Edit: Shapps suspends smart motorway openings pending review
08 The Edit: Midlands mayor publishes £15bn rail and metro plans
11 Inside Track: Shake up after High Speed 2 gets green light
12 Inside Track: Aecom/WSP merger to create global consulting giant
13 Inside Track: Grenfell fi re fi rms seek prosecution immunity
14 Inside Track: UK could miss Brexit chance to rewrite standards
16 Big Interview: Rupert Clubb, Transport for the South East
46 ICE Record While High Speed 2 has dominated the recent news agenda, plenty of innovation is already underway in the rail sector. In this issue we examine how the industry is embracing new technologies and tackling complex networks
22 Network Rail is spending £41.6bn 24 Curved box jack for East on its network during its current Coast Main Line dive under fi ve year investment programme with a strong emphasis on 28 How Network Rail is using 46 Call for Council nominations; obtaining e ciency and value artifi cial intelligence to monitor implementing governance plans for money the condition of its network
4 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER MARCH 2020 For instant updates follow us: Twitter: @ncedigital LinkedIn: new civil engineer Facebook: ncedigital
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31 Innovative Live! EDITORIAL TEAM Thinking EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected]
Editor Claire Smith (020) 3953 2818 claire.smith
Deputy Editor Alexandra Wynne (020) 3953 2822 alexandra.wynne
Associate Editor Emily Ashwell (020) 3953 2094 emily.ashwell
LISTEN: THE ENGINEERS COLLECTIVE Features Editor The latest New Civil Engineer podcast goes live Nadine Buddoo 32 Single span bridge replaces structure (020) 3953 2819 nadine.buddoo destroyed in Cumbria fl oods on 26 February. Go to newcivilengineer.com/podcast to listen to this and The Engineers Collective News Editor 36 An algorithm-driven, autonomous Rob Horgan back catalogue (020) 3953 2087 rob.horgan tunnelling machine has been developed for a Malaysian mass Features Reporter Catherine Kennedy rapid transit project (020) 3953 2095 catherine.kennedy
39 Innovation showcase News Reporter Joshua Stein (020) 3953 2088 joshua.stein
Chief Sub Editor 35 Innovative Andy Bolton Thinker (020) 3953 2823 | andy.bolton
BOOK NOW Designer New Civil Engineer’s Future of Airports conference James McCarthy [email protected] is back in 2020. Visit airports.newcivilengineer.com to see the speaker line up Graphic Artist Anthea Carter [email protected]
COMING SOON CUSTOMER SERVICES (020) 3953 2152 NCE100 awards [email protected] https://100awards.newcivilengineer.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING Future of Rail Francis Barham 35 Tunnelling heavyweight Bill Grose https://rail.newcivilengineer.com (020) 953 2912 francis.barham on getting engineers to think outside the box when seeking e ciencies
MARCH 2020 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 5 Lighthouse ICE VIEWPOINT The need for an integrated UK rail plan
ong-term planning more recently the Williams and and investment in Oakervee – reviews, reviews and Irrespective the UK’s railways more reviews! of what L are both integral to Regardless of the problems that the prosperity of our are identified, and the solutions put High Speed 2 and communities and to the success of forward to remedy them, the key our businesses. aims of the UK’s railways have not Northern Powerhouse Approximately 1.8bn passenger changed. journeys were made in 2018/19, BY ART WE At a fundamental level, the Rail look like in the with 17.4bn net tonne kilometres MASTER continuing requirements are for “future, they must of freight transported by rail. Add WHAT WOULD a system that optimises intercity to this that 240,000 people are MASTER US travel, while improving regional support one another employed by the mainline railways, and local rail. and that rail is one of the most So what are the outcomes and environmentally sustainable modes desired impacts of achieving them? of transport, then the importance of They are to enhance connectivity the industry really does hit home. and capacity, while boosting service Crossrail and HS2 have experienced So, it is increasingly concerning reliability and resilience to improve difficulties in relation to timescale that there has been a legacy of customer experience for all users. and budget escalation. underperformance in approaches There must be an acceptance While it can be a bitter pill to taken to planning, delivering and that the realisation of each of these swallow for some given that both operating a system that consistently outcomes is inextricably linked projects have, and will continue to, benefits its customers. to driving economic growth and receive huge public funding, what is The myriad of reviews that have improving quality of life right across most important is that they deliver taken place in the last five years the UK. benefits over the long term. alone demonstrate that all is not Over the coming months, it is The public shares this view, well. Bowe and Hendy in 2015, imperative that the government and with opinion polls conducted by industry reflect on how best to plan YouGov highlighting that only 3% of for these outcomes. British adults believe that the most This means taking decisions important factor determining the The continuing about planning and investment success of a major project is a low in a holistic manner. Irrespective overall cost of construction. requirements of what High Speed 2 (HS2) and A far larger number (74%) would Northern Powerhouse Rail look like like politicians to talk about the are for a system in the future, they must support benefits. one another and the other major A proper joined-up plan for the that optimises upgrades that will take place across UK’s railways – that fully integrates the network. national, regional and local service intercity travel, while The budgets and delivery of provision – is most likely to deliver “improving regional major rail projects continue to come benefits for all. under a great deal of scrutiny. There l Comments about the Lighthouse and local rail is no shying away from the fact Column to [email protected]
6 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020
® MORE NEWS RAIL £15BN RAIL AND Sign up for METRO PLAN FOR The Edit New Civil WEST MIDLANDS THE BIGGEST STORIES OF THE MONTH Engineer’s FROM NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM Breaking, West Midlands mayor Andy Street Daily and has unveiled a 20 year plan to transform rail and metro services Weekly news in the West Midlands. Street’s £15bn alerts at proposal includes opening eight new newcivil metro lines and 21 new railway stations across the West Midlands by engineer. 2040. As part of his metro expansion com/ plan, 280 new stops will be added across 240km of railway. In addition newsletters to trams running on roads and on rail lines, he wants to put some sections of the line in tunnels to free up road space on narrow roads at the surface above the new Metro line. In Coventry, very light rail trams and driverless autonomous pods will be used to connect key sites such as the University of Warwick and the city centre.
AVIATION KEY STATS HS2 GO-AHEAD WELCOMED BY Smart motorways suspended £164M RIVAL HEATHROW Value of EXPANSION BACKERS M23 smart and could be scrapped amid fears Rival bidders to expand Heathrow motorway Airport have welcomed prime for motorists’ safety project minister Boris Johnson’s decision to press ahead with High Speed 2 (HS2) (Inside Track, Page 11). Heathrow West ROADS on opening new smart motorways, chief executive Carlton Brown said Transport secretary Grant Shapps has construction of the M23 upgrade near the decision was “fantastic”, while a suspended the opening of new smart Gatwick Airport continues. Highways spokesperson for Heathrow Airports motorways pending a review. Shapps England said main contractor Kier will Ltd said Heathrow’s expansion and told Parliament that stretches of carry out the final phase of work on HS2 were needed to make the UK smart motorway, including a 10km the £164M smart motorway in March. a “global Britain”. During his section of the M20, will not open Construction has been ongoing since announcement, Johnson talked up before the safety review has been September 2018. Work to finish HS2’s benefits for Birmingham Airport, completed. He also said the converting the hard shoulder into a while seemingly criticising Heathrow. government could scrap all smart live traffic lane will take place on a This prompted MPs to ask whether he motorways if they are considered 18km stretch of motorway between was planning to about cancel Heathrow’s more dangerous than conventional junction 8 and junction 10. Smart expansion. Johnson quipped that he roads. Ministers ordered a smart motorways opponents were could “see no bulldozers [at motorways review at the end of 2019 disappointed that construction is still Heathrow] at present, nor any after five deaths on the M1. Since then ongoing. Police Federation roads immediate prospect of them arriving”. the BBC’s “Panaroma” revealed that policing lead Gemma Fox told New Despite Johnson’s comments, there have been 38 deaths on smart Civil Engineer: “We have been very Heathrow West chief executive motorways in the last five years. clear in our view that smart motorways Carlton Brown said: “It is fantastic to Highways England is currently are extremely dangerous […] We are see the government’s commitment to procuring its £7bn smart motorways disappointed that Highways England delivering a vital infrastructure project alliance, with contractors due to be will continue with current construction such as HS2” and added that appointed in the spring. Despite the ban plans despite [the review].” Heathrow expansion “must be next”.
8 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 GEOTECHNICS YORKSHIRE MINE FIRM RESCUED
Sirius Minerals has accepted a £405M takeover offer from Anglo American, saving the company building the £2.4bn polyhalite mine in North Yorkshire. Sirius has struggled to finance the project and announced plans to raise capital last year after running out of cash. Sirius was in the middle of a review of the project, announced in September last year, after funding difficulties led to work on the project being slowed.
RAIL STRUCTURES ROADS SHAPPS GIVES GREEN ICE CALLS FOR A14 UPGRADE LIGHT FOR NEXT NORTHERN PROJECT TO OPEN PHASE OF EAST-WEST IRELAND-SCOTLAND MORE THAN SIX RAIL PROJECT BRIDGE STUDY MONTHS EARLY
The next phase of the East West Rail The ICE wants an independent study The biggest road project under project has been approved by into the feasibility of building a bridge construction in the UK is to open transport secretary Grant Shapps, who between Scotland and Northern more than six months early, Highways has signed a Transport and Works Order, Ireland. ICE head of policy and public England has revealed. The £1.5bn paving the way for work between affairs Chris Richards said the proposal scheme to improve journeys between Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes and “should be put to the National the East of England and the Midlands Aylesbury. East West Rail runs from Infrastructure Commission and is to open this Spring. It had originally Oxford to Cambridge. It will also subjected to a comprehensive and been scheduled to open to traffic at connect the Great Western main line, independent study”. It comes after the the end of the year. Main work is being Chiltern main line, West Coast Main government confirmed that it is now carried out by a Skanska, Costain and LiebigLine andNCE Midland Revised main ad Dec line. 2019_Layout 1 11/5/19“seriously 5:01 considering” PM Page the1 idea. Balfour Beatty joint venture.
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cost estimates before the award of the HS2 contractors at NTP, which then triggers the start of Old Oak Common told construction. to keep on digging Contractors including Skanska, Costain, Bouygues, VolkerFitzpatrick, Sir Robert McAlpine and Kier were awarded the main civils packages in July 2017. When announcing the go-ahead for HS2, Johnson said the task of approving the high speed line was “not made easier by HS2 Ltd”. He said that HS2 Ltd had failed to “distinguish itself among local communities”, and had allowed costs to “explode”. But he stressed that “poor management [has] not detracted in my view from the fundamental attractiveness [of the project]”. Instead Johnson announced that a minister will be appointed specifically to focus on the running of HS2 and will “make any important decisions” on the project. He added that a Commons HS2 select HIGH SPEED 2 committee will also be formed to keep a closer eye on the project promoter. HS2 shake up announced after green light HS2 Ltd will also be stripped of responsibility for delivering Phase 2b Changes for contract terms, route design and project governance connecting Crewe to Manchester and Birmingham to Leeds and will no longer be in charge of delivering the section of BY ROB HORGAN AND JOSHUA STEIN Phase 1 between Old Oak Common in west London and the Euston terminus. “I will be creating new delivery rime minister Boris Johnson has giv- in full, after Johnson gave the project his arrangements for both the grossly behind en the official “green light” for High go ahead. schedule Euston terminus and Phase 2b Speed 2 (HS2), following a six month The notice to proceed (NTP) for [due to run from the Midlands to Leeds Preview of the project. the main civil works packages has and Manchester], of the wider project,” But he has announced a “shake up” in been delayed indefinitely to allow said the prime minister. the way the project is governed, admitting contractors to further cut construction Johnson’s announcement came with a that delivery of the Old Oak Common to costs. The NTP was originally pledge to invest in rail services in the North. Euston section of the route in London will earmarked for approval in November “Before those designs [of phase 2b] are have to be re-evaluated. 2018, but have been delayed several times finalised and legislation introduced, we Johnson revealed that the northern with contractors told to “go away and will also present an integrated plan for rail section of the route will be combined with sharpen their pencils” to reduce costs. in the North [...] Some suggested delaying Northern Powerhouse Rail and “other A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd confirmed or cancelling HS2 could push Northern northern rail projects” to create a “High that talks continue with contractors. They Powerhouse Rail forward,” Johnson Speed North” network. added that re-tendering the contracts added. “This is not an either or – we will Main civils contractors appointed to would be a decision for the government, explore the option of linking Northern work on HS2 have also been warned that if HS2 Ltd was unable to agree costs Powerhouse [Rail] with HS2 and other they could be thrown off the job if they with its contractors. This is despite train networks in a High Speed North.” cannot bring down the projected £10.7bn Johnson announcing that construction The £2.9bn trans-Pennine route civils engineering costs by £1bn. The between London and Birmingham will electrification upgrade between government-ordered Oakervee review of begin in April. Manchester, York, Huddersfield and the project – which informed Johnson’s The main civils works contracts are Leeds is also expected to be rolled into decision – recommends that contracts are negotiated in two stages. HS2 Ltd gives the High Speed North plan. put back out to tender if HS2 Ltd is unable the NTP at the end of stage one which Expedition Engineering previously to achieve a “satisfactory position with focuses on concept/scheme design and on tabled a similar proposition to combine each of the main works civils contrac- agreeing costs. During this stage, HS2 and Northern Powerhouse in May, as tors”. The Oakervee review was published contractors work with HS2 Ltd to finalise revealed by New Civil Engineer.
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 11 Inside Track Xxxxx xxxx xxxxx
Under the plan put forward by former warnings that terminating HS2 at Old Oak BUSINESS HS2 Ltd independent design panel Common will have “very serious and un- member Alistair Lenczner, Manchester acceptable implications” for Elizabeth line Aecom/WSP merger Piccadilly would be transformed from a (Crossrail) services which will interchange main line terminus into a through station with HS2 there. The Oakervee review also with a Northern Powerhouse extension concedes News of talks sparks linking Manchester to Bradford and Leeds. that terminating HS2 in west London will The plans also include a new link between lead to “extremely crowded” services on concerns about competition Birmingham, Derby, Sheffield and Leeds. the Elizabeth line even if it is only on a Meanwhile in the South, Johnson temporary basis. BY CATHERINE KENNEDY announced that the Euston section of the Crossrail features heavily in the line will also be taken out of the hands of Oakervee report, mentioned a total of 18 merger between Aecom and WSP HS2 Ltd. The Oakervee review concludes times. In particular, the report urges HS2 would “not be a good thing” for the that initially running a reduced HS2 Ltd to “learn lessons [from] Crossrail and construction sector or the UK service to Old Oak Common, before later other major transport projects” in relation economyA as a whole, according to a extending the line to Euston, is the most to transparency, systems integration and leading business academic. “sensible” option. procurement strategies. It is understood that Canada-based “A key decision is whether to make It adds: “Revised procurement and WSP initiated discussions with Aecom Old Oak Common the London terminus, contracting models should be considered, about a deal, according to Bloomberg. at least for a period,” the review states. especially for any future HS2 construction Talks are said to be at a preliminary “Here the government should continue contracts including on Phase 2a. In any stage but Bloomberg said the move could with the section from Old Oak Common future procurements, HS2 Ltd needs to lead to cost savings of about £150M, by to Euston.” The review adds: “Old Oak consider how it can ensure […] an consolidating departments, reducing Common should act as the temporary optimised approach to risk allocation is office space and streamlining IT systems London terminus for HS2 services until used, [that] there is robust management and procurement. Euston station is complete. Time taken to of interfaces on the project and [that] University of Manchester professor get Euston right should not delay the start efficient designs are developed.” of innovation management and strategy of HS2 services.” The Oakervee review also urges HS2 Ltd Bruce Tether said that a merger between It suggests running 10 trains per to be “transparent” about its costs, and the two engineering giants would follow hour between Birmingham and Old Oak to “learn lessons” from Crossrail in terms a pattern of consolidation which has Common when the line first opens, before of updating the public about the project’s emerged in the industry over the last 30 increasing services to 14 trains per hour true cost. years – something he believes is damaging once Euston opens – which is still fewer “The Review considers that the use of competition in the consultancy sector. trains than the 18 per hour for which HS2 2015 prices in presenting the cost of HS2 The two companies are roughly the was originally designed. The review also has not helped the public understand same size. Aecom’s global revenue last says that there should be “one organi- the project’s cost. Going forward, the year was £15.5bn, while WSP recorded sation responsible for the overall devel- government should reconsider how it revenues of £4.5bn in 2018. But Tether opment and governance of the Euston presents the costs of major infrastructure suggested that the Competitions & project” and that “organisation should not projects with a view to helping Parliament Markets Authority (CMA) should assess be HS2 Ltd”. and the public better comprehend the the implications of such a deal as both are This is despite, Transport for London’s costs of these projects,” says the review. major players in the UK market. The CMA investigates mergers to ensure they do not reduce competition, is not currently looking into the case and said it was unable to comment. OAKERVEE RECOMMENDATIONS AT A GLANCE “Certainly there has been a huge amount of consolidation over the last 10, 20, 30 years,” Tether told New Civil l Remove HS2 Ltd from the l Integrate Phase 2b of procurement packages Engineer. “First the consolidation was delivery of the Euston station (connecting Birmingham l Regularly update MPs largely intra-UK, [but] more recently it and associated civils works to Leeds and Crewe and the public about has been international, with the loss of l Merge Phase 1 with Phase to Manchester) into a project costs using independence for previously leading 2a and allow HS2 Ltd to wider High Speed North up-to-date costings UK firms – for example Atkins. Personally, I concentrate on delivering this masterplan involving Northern l Reduce train frequencies don’t think that is a good thing for UK Plc.” first part of the scheme Powerhouse Rail and other from 18 trains per hour to 10 He added: “I don’t know the motivation l Temporarily terminate schemes trains per hour, with capability in this particular case. One thing that I do Phase 1 (between London l Re-tender main civils works built in to eventually run 14 wonder is whether the CMA might take a and Birmingham) at Old Oak contracts if HS2 Ltd is unable trains look at it, as it seems to me that it would Common for a limited time to agree costs with existing l Cutting the speed from leave one very large player in the market.” to allow more time “to get contractors 360km/h to 320km/h would A research report from Baird senior Euston right” l Reassess the scope and size lessen the project’s benefits research analyst Andrew Wittmann says a deal could help the firms consolidate
12 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 MORE NEWS NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM
STRUCTURES An Aecom/WSP merger could muddy perceptions Grenfell buck passing of competition in the consultancy sector Tower refurb businesses seek prosecution immunity
BY JOSHUA STEIN
he second phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry following the fatal fire in June 2017 has halted as firms Tinvolved in the tower’s refurbishment seek to avoid criminal prosecution. Inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick was forced to pause proceedings after witnesses for principal contractor Rydon, main architect Studio E and several suppliers applied to the Attorney General for “privilege against self-incrimination”. If granted, witnesses – and by extension their employers – would be protected from facing criminal charges based on witness statements to the inquiry. The pause was enforced after all firms involved in the pre-fire refurbishment delivered their opening statements. real estate and streamline procurement the UK], putting the combined group The principal contractor, cladding man- and system investments. It could also give in first place.” ufacturer and main architect all refused WSP more access to the United States An Aecom/WSP merger would be the to accept responsibility for the fire which market, via Aecom’s Los Angeles base. biggest since Jacobs bought CH2M for killed 72 people. Instead, they blamed the WSP has acquired several US-based £2.15bn in August 2017 forming a global council, other contractors and each other. construction and engineering firms since business with revenues of £11.5bn in Contractor Rydon, which was employed 2014. The company acquired New York- 2018. That deal was in part driven by to manage the job in 2016, said it was based Parsons Brinckerhoff for around Jacobs’ desire to make headway in the not aware the cladding used in the £1.1bn that year, before buying Berger UK market, and CH2M’s strength in water refurbishment posed a fire risk. Group Holdings for £308M in 2018. and transportation sector. The merger This is despite the fact that insulation In December 2019, it also closed increased Jacobs staff numbers by an provider Celotex, had submitted emails the £50M acquisition of US-based estimated 20,000 to 74,000 staff, making to the inquiry which showed that Rydon, environmental consulting firm Ecology it one of the world’s largest engineering Studio E and subcontractor Harley knew & Environment. At the time, WSP chief consultants. Jacobs’ board expanded to use of the cladding and insulation could executive Alexandre L’Heureux said that include a director from CH2M. allow fire to spread. the acquisition “enables us to increase But such acquisitions are not without The inquiry heard that Rydon our footprint in the US”. their challenges. had received an email written by Neil Likewise, Aecom has grown in size over CH2M was subsequently removed from Crawford of Studio E Architects point- the last decade, largely by acquiring 22 a £44M project management contract ing out that fire stops to prevent flames companies. A merger between the two in the US to avoid a conflict of interest, spreading between floors though internal could be a logical step following years of since Jacobs was part of a joint venture ducting holes would be useless. smaller acquisitions. bidding for the project’s design and build Rydon meanwhile provided emails Glenigan economic analyst Rhys deal. At the time, Wittmann said large- which showed that cladding manufacturer Gadsby told New Civil Engineer that scale mergers and acquisitions in the Arconic Architecture knew the cladding the possible merger “highlights the engineering sector often destroy, rather did not meet European Union fire safety increasingly multi-disciplinary nature of than create value. He said: “Large-scale standards. Arconic’s defence said its role the leading industry consultancies”. Both mergers and acquisitions in engineer- was solely to “supply a product” and “it firms featured in Glenigan’s 2019 league ing-heavy/people-focused companies was the responsibility of others to decide tables for UK engineering and surveying have a poor track record, in our view.” whether or not to choose that product. services, where Aecom was listed as the Should a WSP/Aecom merger go ahead, Officials at Harley, Celotex and Studio E fourth biggest firm while WSP was fifth. the resulting business is likely to face also denied responsibility for the fire. The Gadsby added: “Together, the two firms similar dilemmas. Both companies have Inquiry is scheduled to resume on won £951.8M [worth of work in declined to comment. 24 February.
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 13 Inside Track
“We are positive that following the Post Brexit, the UK is transition period, government practice free to draw up its own, in using voluntary standards to support non-EU standards regulation will not change,” said a BSI spokesperson. “Where there is ambition in this or a future government to diverge from regulatory requirements in the EU or other countries, we will ensure that if industry standards are needed to underpin new laws, they represent international best practice.” But Pallet believes keeping to European codes of practice for an extended period would be a massive missed opportunity. “Now that the UK has left the EU and is in the transition period, I fundamentally believe that as a sovereign nation we should have control over the standards and codes that we wish to adopt for controlling our industries and our worldwide trade,” said Pallet. “Future trade with the EU should be no different from that with other countries BREXIT – Canada, India, United States, China or Australia. If an industry wants to trade a UK could miss Brexit opportunity to rewrite product with a country, then that industry has to accept the national standards construction design and product standards adopted by the country – even though it might require different standards for Transition period offers chance to rip up rule book each country with which it trades; for example using different electrical plugs and/or voltage.” BY ROB HORGAN He added: “I feel strongly that the UK should not agree to sign up to accepting t’s official: the UK is transitioning. As masonry structures. There are also codes every Eurocode and every EuroNorm in of 31 January, Britain officially left the for geotechnical drawings and earthquake perpetuity, as prepared by 34 countries European Union (EU) and has entered resistant designs. in Europe. This would immediately make Ian 11 month period of transition. During EuroNorms (ENs) act in very much the our products the same as all the other the coming months, current rules on trade, same way but covers products. 34 countries and give us no competitive travel, and business for the UK and EU will Pallet – who has served on the BS5975 advantage. The recent litigation brought continue to apply. But after 1 January 2021 code of practice committee for British by Dyson in not accepting the limiting EN the UK will be on its own. falsework standards and who was involved standard for suction levels in cleaners was Any changes to existing national in updating the section on temporary an example. standards must be agreed by the end of works procedures – believes the UK should “While there are advantages in the year, so they can be implemented at use Brexit as an opportunity to set its own having common design rules, as in the the end of the transition period. According standards; including rewriting its own core Eurocodes, the UK must retain the to temporary works consultant Peter Pallet design and product codes. right to modify such rules to suit our “now is the time to act, not to wait until after But appetite within British standards processes and practice.” the transition period”. body BSI to rewrite entirely new standards Pallet believes that the BSI should be Pallet – a chartered European engineer appears thin at best. Throughout the Brexit able to write standards unhindered by 34 and expert witness on the Law Society debate, BSI representatives repeatedly other countries, and should reintroduce directory – told New Civil Engineer that suggested that the UK would accept codes of practice. “accepting all European standards and norms every Eurocode and future Eurocodes and How these standards are devised is without question, is not the will of the withdraw conflicting standards. something Pallet believes should be people”, and therefore the debate about how BSI’s membership of European standards formed by debates within institutions we write our own standards must begin now. bodies CEN and Cenelec will continue such as the ICE. “The ICE and its members Particular areas of interest include as normal, with all the accompanying should have a debate on the issues con- Eurocodes which are written to ensure obligations and rights. Those bodies have cerning standards,” Pallet said. “The ICE uniform levels of safety in construction also offered to extend the UK’s membership should urgently lobby the government to design across the EU. They largely cover for a year beyond the transition period ensure that the BSI does not sign away our engineering designs and include separate until the end of 2021, and the BSI has right to complete our own standards for codes for concrete, steel, timber and already indicated that it agrees. industry and worldwide trade.”
14 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 14 October 2020 Grosvenor House Hotel, London
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BCIA 2020 Advert - 265x210 U1.indd 1 12/02/2020 16:14 Rupert Clubb CHIEF OFFICER, TRANSPORT FOR THE SOUTH EAST BY EMILY ASHWELL Delivering low carbon growth in the South East
ransport for the rail bottlenecks; and for increasing South East (TfSE) reliability on the Brighton Main wants to bring about Line. There are also pressures on T a change in the way the road network ,and short-term people and goods improvements are planned to solve move around the region. This goes congestion on the A27 and at the way beyond building new roads or M3/A34 junction, which is important railway lines. for freight travelling towards the
The Interview The When chief officer Rupert Clubb, Midlands. a civil engineer who previously Big schemes on the horizon align worked for the Environment Agency, with TfSE’s priorities too. These looks 30 years ahead, he wants to include Crossrail 2; the possible see a transport system which does extension of the Elizabeth line to not concentrate on transporting Ebbsfleet; southern and western masses of people in and out of rail access to Heathrow airport – London each day. Instead, he wants about yourself, and your mobility whether or not the expansion goes it to focus on walking, cycling, more is there in a clean, efficient, reliable ahead; and reducing pressure on the public transport use, and more people way.” south west M25 quadrant. working near to where they live. That is not to say that the But there are wider issues, such Above anything else, TfSE sub-national transport body does as difficulties in getting from east to knows it has one chance to get it not recognise the fact that there west across the region. For example, right, which means the transport are immediate, pressing issues: Clubb asks why it takes around two strategy it is currently developing it is supporting plans for a grade hours to make the 104km trip from must facilitate economic growth. separated rail flyover at Woking; for Brighton to Southampton by train. But this cannot come at any cost, remodelling Croydon to alleviate its TfSE’s transport strategy is set to particularly to the environment. be formally agreed at its April board “There is just one shot at this,” meeting. From there a Strategic says Clubb. “We have got this Investment Plan will be developed, chance now to get it right. We talk Nobody wants to with schemes presented in a clear about sustainability and how what order of priority. TfSE will then we do now has an impact in future live in congested develop strategic outline business generations. Well, never was it cases for the schemes. more so. towns and cities where TfSE was established in 2017. It “Nobody wants to live in is a sub-national transport body, congested towns and cities the air quality is having one of several around the country where the air quality is having including Midlands Connect and a detrimental impact on health. a detrimental impact Transport for the North (TfN). It People want to live in places where “ was set up to bring an integrated you can breathe the air, feel good on health approach to transport planning in
16 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 Clubb recognises the need to address immediate issues as well as longer term goals
the region, bringing together local But lower car dependence means authorities and transport bodies such We will be more pressure on public transport, as Highways England, Network Rail KEY FACTS submitting which is already full to capacity. and Transport for London (TfL). As TfSE develops its Strategic So far, the only one of these a proposal to the Investment Plan, it will work with the sub-national transport bodies to private sector and potential funders have official powers is TfN, but 2 hours government to consider to see how the tens of billions of TfSE is pressing the Department pounds needed to fund its projects for Transport (DfT) to devolve Time it takes the powers we need to can be raised, without relying soley on responsibilities and powers for the “ public money. South East, so that it can deliver its to travel deliver the strategy It is looking at a whole range of transport strategy. mechanisms, including community These powers could, for example, between infrastructure levies. enable it to co-create Highways Longer term schemes do not focus England’s Roads Investment Strategy Brighton and on individual transport modes, but on and have a greater say in Network “Clearly we want to see productivity transport corridors and networks. Rail’s investments and enhancements. Southampton going up across the whole of the “We quite often talk about Network It could also support the introduction country, and if we are levelling up Rail’s control periods, and in the next by local authorities, councils etcetera by rail the economy, here in the South East breath roads investment strategies of congestion busting measures, air we play an important role,” he says, and should we really be separating quality zones and regional smart pointing out that most cars made these? Should we be looking at ticketing. in the Midlands are exported via a transport investment plan and “We will be submitting a proposal 104km Southampton. strategy, rather than separate to the government to consider Alongside the problems of the streams,” Clubb asks. the powers we need to deliver the Distance transport systems themselves, TfSE is Clubb argues that the key to strategy,” says Clubb. tackling the sector’s bigger issues, such thinking differently about transport The UK’s two busiest airports – between as moving to a net zero future. This is to better align it to housing and Heathrow and Gatwick – are in the could mean incentivising people to use economic development plans and land South East, as well as key ports. So Brighton and more public transport, walk or cycle. use plans. the movement of goods and services “We would all want a world in 30 “At the moment there is a bit of a in and out of the region is seen by Southampton years’ time where the air quality is disconnect. If you started to overlay TfSE as critical not just to the region’s good, we are living within a 2°C rise employment growth for the next prosperity, but to that of the UK as a [in average temperatures], and people 20 years over proposed housing whole. That is why Clubb does feel comfortable walking around the growth, you get a mismatch…That not think its demands will fall on places where they live. That leads us relationship between transport and deaf ears at the DfT – even if the to think in a different way and provide land use planning is crucial. In terms political agenda is to level up the some of the incentivisation and of really nailing down the ambition we standard of transport infrastructure alternatives for people to make those set in our strategy, we will be closing across the country. choices.” that disconnect,” he says.
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 17 lessons from three failures: the collapse of the cooling towers at Ferrybridge; Ronan Point; and the high alumina cement prestressed beams to the roof of the swimming pool at Camden School for Girls. Your View Loading is most important and often not given the attention it LETTERS TO THE EDITOR deserves. Now that computer AND COMMENTS ONLINE programs are much more sophisticated than they were in the 1980s, loading codes could reflect what, for most buildings, is the more ROADS heavily overloaded motorways to likely live load distribution. Thus, HOW SMART ARE all available alternative local routes replacing a general uniform live has no doubt created much worse load by a smaller uniform load plus SMART MOTORWAYS? 2 @ pollution and injuries than widening a point load – say over 1m – which would have created. can be anywhere on the member. Now why should we be surprised Technical advances have I consider this better represents that the Department for Transport/ improved engine efficiency and the more likely loading on many Highways England, have decided development of less polluting buildings and think programs could not to open the section of smart electrical and hydrogen propulsion be written for this and codes amended motorway on the M20 in Kent in systems are well advanced. to give guidance on this uniform design March after spending £92M to Now that the UK has the power load and point load for different design and construct that stretch of to follow better scientific advice structures. motorway. on pollution, and politicians have Douglas Goode (M), National and local road users were had the courage to halt the “smart” [email protected] put to a shed load of inconvenience motorway programme, it is time and delays when this was being to revisit abandoned proposals to RAILWAYS constructed over a two year period. relieve the worst bottlenecks on our The reason given is that the motorway network. GAUGE DIFFERENCE Highways England want to make James Fletcher (M), WOULD LIMIT IRISH SEA sure that smart motorways are safe. [email protected] A simple risk assessment at the TUNNEL BENEFITS inception stage would have identified STRUCTURES this fundamental issue and dealt with it then; rather than determining its PRACTICAL DESIGN safety at the delivery stage. LOAD GUIDANCE Who is in charge of these project? Walt Disney? The letters “Still learning from Mario Donnetti (F), disaster” (New Civil Engineer, [email protected] February 2020) remind me of when I taught structures to final year students at Manchester University ROADS in the 1980s. CALL FOR A RETURN I spent the first month discussing TO WIDENING the approximate analysis of structures. That is, the introduction of sufficient pins at estimated points Ireland’s railways are wider gauge Widening of motorways such as of contraflexure to render the M6 were blocked by the European structure statically determinate so The suggestion, in the brief article Union’s flawed pollution policy, it could be analysed, under various on tunnelling under the Irish Sea to which was based simplistically loading conditions. This was done provide a rail link, (New Civil Engineer, on road width. To circumvent by statics to obtain estimates of last month) suffers from the same this, extra running lanes started the axial load, moment and shear major drawback as a rail bridge. to be created by sacrificing hard The Editor, in the members and so “size” them. A – probably erroneous – story of shoulders. New Civil This helped students understand the early days of a number of Irish Initially statistics showed a safety the structural behaviour, as well as railways seemed to show them to Engineer, gain on the M42, but with refuges providing estimates of the member be of various gauges, with obvious Telephone at 800m intervals and sophisticated properties which a computer program problems when they began to meet. traffic control. Increasing this House, will ask for before it can be run. At Since none of them wanted to to 2.4km to save money despite 69-77 Paul the end of the month, there was a change to another’s gauge – an increases in serious and fatal Street, London, quiz on sketching the shape of the admission of being second rate – the accidents has made these roads EC2A 4NQ bending moment distribution of purported solution was to add all deeply unpopular with users. Email: nceedit@ some simple structures. the gauges together and divide by The dispersal of traffic from emap.com I also gave a lecture on the the number of railways.
18 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 MAIN POINT RISING TO THEYOUR VIEWS CLIMATE AND OPINIONS CHALLENGE
It has always been one of the great assets of the civil engineer I must admit I have not fully kept up with New Civil Engineer to look at the whole project, while other disciplines look recently, but I did note the “Towards Net Zero” banner on only at part. the February issue and dived in. This approach is desperately needed in the climate There were some good points from WSP’s Giles change debate, where much of the argument Perkins regarding hydrogen/electric powered is disconnected and sometimes contradictory transport, and I read later in the same issue of elements, or in pure virtue signalling. There is Arup’s new office, where gas combustion has no benefit in destroying our steel industry with been completely forsaken to avoid fossil fuels in emissions restrictions if the result is to bring steel line with government aspirations to banish gas as from the other side of the world where standards an energy source for buildings. may be lower. But on the next page, headlined “Towards Net While electricity generation reaches only 50% Zero” we are told Skanska have just laid 7,000t of renewable, conversion to electric cars will not be steel pipeline to deliver a million litres/second of gas emission-free, as it will require more electricity, possibly fossil into the UK grid. Then we have two articles on Innovative fuelled, to meet demand. Meanwhile wealthy people salve Thinking (concrete, and more concrete), Innovation Showcase their consciences with “offsetting” of unproven value, and (concrete), and soon after a two page feature on plastic roads governments enact statutory targets which are unenforceable as a “solution to environmental challenges”. Really? David because there will be no remedy for failure many years ahead. Attenborough would be sceptical, I think. There are only two underlying issues. The ICE’s State of the Nation report is this year being The first is that we have to control our ever increasing dedicated to the 2050 zero carbon target now set in UK law. I use of energy. This in turn requires control of the elements, really hope the report will cut to the chase and explain to the including ever more transport of both goods and people, and government clearly what achieving zero carbon would mean in the enormous demands of the communications revolution. The the civil engineering world – eg zero concrete, zero fossil fuels, second is the consequence of overpopulation, which of course zero new nuclear, and no High Speed 2s or third runways. includes the energy that they use. Experience suggests that the If true zero carbon is not going to be achieved, which is remedy for this is education, as educated peoples tend to have presumably so, unless we can function with not much more smaller families. than timber and masonry, then as professional engineers I The remedy lies probably not in actual reduction of demand, think we should call a spade a spade and instead point the way
but of new technology which may still be unknown, thus to quantifying and achieving the best CO2 reductions actually making notional commitments for 2050 entirely hypothetical. At possible as soon as possible. this stage, the development of technologies to take carbon And along the way we should not dress up rearranging the dioxide out of the atmosphere seems to be crucial. But who deck chairs on the Titanic as making giant leaps forward, it’s knows what may crop up before 2050? just not helpful. Mike Keatinge (M), [email protected] Ralph Swallow (M), [email protected]
The answer came out at five RAILWAYS to run trains into Euston, as feet three inches (5’3”). Since THE VALUE OF HIGH currently proposed, better to none of the railways were of this serve central London. gauge, honour was satisfied, and SPEED CONNECTION One can only assume that conversion took place. VIA LONDON running HS2 into St Pancras has Whatever the validity of this already been explored, but a direct story, the Irish railways are all of While I agree that a through route platform walk-over might have 5’3” gauge [Those in England, Wales from HS2 to HS1 might be desirable, been an acceptable compromise and Scotland are 4’8.5”]. It follows it seems to me that it would only be until stymied by the inevitable that any physical rail connection possible to provide such a facility strict border checks that will be from UK mainland to Ireland is by boring deep beneath the route of necessitated by “Brexit”. of limited value. It is not to be the North London Line to a station As with so much of our supposed that either Northern at Stratford rather than under south infrastructure investment, though, Ireland or the Irish Republic would London via Waterloo as proposed by the whole matter is being used as a look kindly on the multi-billion cost BuroHappold (New Civil Engineer, political football and transportation of conversion! January 2020). planning takes a secondary role. David Negus (M), It would add hugely to costs, Geoff Bruce (M), [email protected] but it would still also be necessary [email protected]
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 19 THE WAY YOU WORK IS CHANGING EXPERIENCE A NEW CREATIVE WORKSPACE IN BEXLEY
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NCE Subs - Half Page Advert - 186mmw x 110mmh.indd 1 14/02/2020 11:58 Future of Rail
While High Speed 2 has dominated the recent news agenda, plenty of innovation is already underway in the rail sector. In this issue we examine how the industry is embracing new technologies and tackling complex networks
NETWORK RAIL’S CP6 PRIORITIES / PAGE 22 DRIVING CAPACITY ON THE EAST COAST MAIN LINE / PAGE 24 HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD TRANSFORM RAIL / PAGE 28
MARCH 2020 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 21 While High Speed 2 has consumed much of the public focus on the rail industry, Network Rail is carrying out £42bn worth of operations, maintenance and renewals SMARTwork with an efficiency drive. Emily Ashwell reports. MONEY Future characterised its last fi nancial control KEY FACTS period (CP5). These included the of Rail electrifi cation of the Great Western Main Line between Maidenhead and £42.2bn Cardiff, which went from £874M to ews that High Speed 2 Spending £2.8bn. The track operator must (HS2) has been given also demonstrate that it can work the green light has planned by increasingly effi ciently. been an immense relief Network Rail The environment in which Network to the rail industry Rail projects are delivered is radically which just a few weeks in Control different from fi ve years ago. It is now ago warned of the “devastating Period 6 largely devolved around 13 routes, pipeline in October. Nimpact” of canning the project. with some central core functions Network Rail chief executive The High Speed Rail Group and the including some infrastructure Andrew Haines recently told Railway Industry Association warned: projects. The focus is on operations, New Civil Engineer: “The East “[There are] no other ‘shovel ready’ maintenance and renewals, with most West Rail, Brighton Main Line, project[s] in the UK of a remotely of the £10bn for enhancements – in Trans-Pennine Upgrade and Western comparable size [to HS2].” addition to the £42.4bn settlement Rail Access projects represent 75% As New Civil Engineer went to press – earmarked to fi nish off projects of the funding, but none of them are it was announced that construction from CP5, the previous fi ve year ready to hit the ground.” of HS2 phase one between London investment programme. The A particular objective for Haines and the West Midlands could start government only named the 58 during CP6 is to improve safety, in April, meaning the 10,000 jobs it projects in the enhancement particularly following the Margam already supports are secured, with accident in Wales last year where the number rising to 30,000 during two track workers were killed. A peak construction. 100-strong taskforce has been set up But while the impact on the The East West to look at improving safety for track industry of HS2 is huge, Network workers. Rail will also be spending billions Rail, Brighton Within the main settlement focused of pounds with the 4,000 fi rms in on operations, maintenance and its supply chains, of which nearly Main Line, Trans- renewals, Network Rail has to achieve 3,000 are small and medium sized effi ciencies amounting to £3.5bn enterprises. Pennine Upgrade and over the control period – essentially Almost a year into its fi ve year, doing more for less, with a bigger £42.4bn Control Period 6 (CP6) Western Rail Access workload than CP5. So, how will these investment programme, Network “ effi ciencies be achieved and what will projects represent 75% Rail is under pressure to show it be the impact on the supply chain? can avoid the huge overspends that of the funding “The focus is tangibly different
22 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER MARCH 2020 It’s not about squeezing the supply chain, it’s about working with them 1,000 “better replacement would cost around Different efficiency £100,000, while the milling machine improvements achieves a similar outcome for around 25% of the cost. It works quickly and completes work within the possession times. Network Rail is now looking to purchase a milling £650M machine of its own. Largest expected saving is For the supply chain, Network Rail is adamant that innovations in improved contracting and new technology such as the strategies during CP6 milling machine do not mean smaller workbanks – that is work currently being undertaken and the confi rmed work pipeline. “We do look at where the workbank has changed from one year to the next and if there’s less volume in it, that’s not effi ciency, that’s just doing less stuff. In order to be more effi cient, we have to demonstrate it was cheaper and that there’s no degradation in any service, it has to be as good as it was previously,” says O’Reilly. Another example of the new effi ciency is engineers using a specially develop ed app to turn off the power on a site when starting electrifi cation work, rather than this control period compared to the new work,” says O’Reilly. spending 40 minutes per shift doing last, from Andrew Haines all the way The rail body is working on around the switch off on site. into the regions. Everyone is clear 1,000 different effi ciency initiatives This, Network Rail says, could save about being more effi cient, but not over 23 areas throughout the entire £43M over CP6. just being more effi cient, being able business. Of these around 250 The largest expected saving – to articulate and track and talk about involve new technology, 500 look £640M during CP6 – is in improved those good things that we’ve been at how Network Rail can improve contracting strategies. This means doing,” says Network Rail group processes and the remaining 250 much earlier contractor involvement analyst Sean O’Reilly. concern Network Rail’s procurement and Network Rail adopting a Network Rail plans to become more arrangements. collaborative approach – less of the productive through cost effi ciencies “The commitments we’ve made previous mistakes of Network Rail’s and scope effi ciencies. With costs it to deliver, assume that we will make in-house engineers who sometimes is a question of delivering the same that £3.5bn saving. We defi nitely design a scheme that contractors work, cheaper, but with the same need to hit that £3.5bn and would then say is not buildable. outcome. In terms of scope, the aim aspire to stretch beyond that,” says “It’s not about squeezing the is to combine innovation and new Network Rail programme manager supply chain, it’s about working with technology with less complexity or Matt Dixson. them better. It could be about giving less work to get the same outcome. One example of the new era of them surety of workbank, so they can “If you look at our forecast there effi ciencies impacting supply chain plan on the supply side. is no intention to reduce headcount work is a new rail milling machine “It’s about bringing competition over this control period. In fact, we currently being built in Austria. into the marketplace – like we did have a lot more work to deliver in The machine will grind away the with our signalling framework, where this control period than when top layer of damaged rail until it we’re inviting more companies to we compare it to the last, so by is smooth, prolonging its life. It is bid for work to introduce some becoming more productive, becoming estimated the machine will save competition – what this isn’t about is more effi cient, by freeing up time, it Network Rail £80M over CP6. On a saying to the supply chain ‘you will allows people to be deployed on this 400m stretch of track, complete rail charge us less’,” says O’Reilly. N
MARCH 2020 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 23 WERRINGTON DIVE UNDER N A15 Werrington LOCATION Great Northern & Great Eastern to Spalding £200M WERRINGTON PROJECT N Project cost N A15 A47 Peterborough PUSHING NORTH CUTTING 3.5mØ 2km TBM for guide tunnels Direction of box jack Lincoln Foxcovert A15 East Coast Road Road Main Line A15 Hurn to Grantham 3,580m Road New track footbridge Cock Lane footbridge DIVE UNDER 3 Brook Drain diversion FOR CAPACITY 120,000m SOUTH RAMP If a tunnelling is required it is usually the main Material excavated Hurn Road footbridge A15 focus of an infrastructure project. But for one TBM launch pit Precast segmental linings rail scheme on the East Coast Main Line, it is Soil nailed embankment Brook Drain diversion TBM reception pit GRANTHAM 900, 8-10m nails with sprayed only part of the enabling works for the UK’s first concrete facing Cock Lane South ramp (sheet piling) curved box jack. Claire Smith reports. footbridge Existing rail track New rail track East Coast Main Line Track removed to Peterborough
Future Cross – although Network Rail project Curved box jack, 160m manager Adrian Elliott says this KEY FACT undersells the scale of the work – a North approach cutting. of Rail Launch ramp for box structure new turnback structure at Stevenage and a power supply upgrade for the £200M pring next year will mark whole ECML route. PETERBOROUGH Cock Lane footbridge THE WHOLE STRUCTURE completion of a major Cost of “The main driver for the work at relocated Not to scale engineering scheme at Werrington is capacity, but there will Werrington Slewed Stamford Werrington, just north of be a slight improvement in journey Line track Peterborough. The project grade time as a result,” explains Elliott. will improve rail capacity separation The Werrington scheme adds DIVE UNDER: PRE CAST CONCRETE on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). two long distance high speed paths scheme PORTAL STRUCTURE The work so far has achieved some between London and Doncaster Pre cast concrete box sections Contiguous bored pile retaining wall S at portal section major milestones, but there are still to allow an additional two trains some challenging ones to come as the per hour while maintaining freight new dive under structure will involve capacity by removing conflicting at the UK’s first curved box jack. grade train movements. Plans to improve train flow in the “The dive under will replace the area have been under development current flat crossing that is used by since 2013, but could not get started freight trains moving to and from until the scheme was approved Peterborough from the Stamford Lines through a Transport Work Act Order onto the Great Northern and Great in August 2018. For the last 18 months, contractor Morgan Sindall Infrastructure has been working to put the plan into action with support from Mott The main driver MacDonald acting as its designers and Excavation taking place Tony Gee undertaking some specialist for the work at from ECML track level design work as a subconsultant. Guide tunnels to be broken At just over £200M, the Werrington Werrington is capacity, out as jacking progresses Total length 160m grade separation scheme is a major Slide and jacking arrangement project in its own right. It is one of but there will be a four significant packages of work slight improvement in Hydraulic jacks underway on the ECML. The others Launching platform focus on track improvements at King’s “ journey time as a result
24 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 Soil nailing WERRINGTON DIVE UNDER N was the only A15 Werrington option here as the LOCATION Great Northern & Great Eastern to Spalding £200M WERRINGTON PROJECT N close proximity of Project cost N A15 A47 Peterborough the new rail route to 3.5mØ NORTH CUTTING “ 2km the existing rail lines TBM for guide tunnels Direction of box jack Lincoln Foxcovert governed the steepness A15 East Coast Road Road Main Line A15 Hurn to Grantham 3,580m Road of the slopes New track footbridge Cock Lane footbridge DIVE UNDER 3 Brook Drain diversion Eastern (GNGE) towards Spalding,” 120,000m SOUTH RAMP says Elliott. Material excavated Network Rail design project Hurn Road footbridge A15 engineer Seymour Myers estimates TBM launch pit that the existing flat crossing means Precast segmental linings that freight trains can block the lines Soil nailed embankment for up to 10 minutes at a time. Brook Drain diversion TBM reception pit GRANTHAM 900, 8-10m nails with sprayed The solution is a dive under, concrete facing created by the curved box jack Cock Lane South ramp (sheet piling) which is scheduled to take place footbridge Existing rail track this September under a nine day line New rail track closure. While that is the overall aim East Coast Main Line Track removed to Peterborough of the scheme, significant work has already been completed and there is still much to do before the box Curved box jack, 160m jacking gets underway. Much of the work over the last North approach cutting. year has been enabling works to Launch ramp for box structure create the space within the rail corridor for the dive under structure PETERBOROUGH Cock Lane footbridge THE WHOLE STRUCTURE to emerge on the western side of the relocated Not to scale site. These enabling works have Slewed Stamford Line track included significant drainage improvements as a result of the site DIVE UNDER: PRE CAST CONCRETE lying within a flood plain; slewing existing track out of the way and PORTAL STRUCTURE Pre cast concrete box sections Contiguous bored pile retaining wall diverting utilities to make space at portal section for the dive under; and a new foot bridge with Equality Act compliant ramps built to replace one within the construction area. A local stream called the Brook Drain has undergone major improvements to enhance flood resilience in the area with earthworks on a 1km long section of the northern part and a 500m box culvert to the south to allow the track to pass over the top. “The Cock Lane footbridge had to be relocated to make space for the Excavation taking place dive under, as well as cope with the from ECML track level widened rail corridor,” says Elliott. Guide tunnels to be broken “Other achievements include out as jacking progresses construction of 3,580m of new track Total length 160m Slide and jacking arrangement for the Stamford lines, which were constructed offline and connected to the existing railway to effectively Hydraulic jacks Launching platform slew the lines out of the way of the dive under during two possessions
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 25 Future of Rail Werrington Dive Under
Flyovers have a visibility issue here as the area is very flat and the other “dive under routes were not ideal
over the Christmas and New Year period. The work also involved installation of all the power and signals for the two lines, which is a major task.” Nonetheless, it is not all new construction – some work will allow the use of existing assets to minimise disruption. The connection of the new railway to the GNGE line will run along the route of Hurn Road under the A15, to avoid the work impacting on traffic using this trunk road. Hurn Road itself has been diverted and a new junction with the A15 has been created slightly to the north of its current alignment. Bauer Technologies is currently installing the first 84 of 142, 600mm diameter minipiles to 7.5m depth below the A15 bridge to allow the track level to be lowered below the original road level to make space for the overhead line electrification Clockwise from to press. guidance and steering capabilities equipment. top: Headwall Bam Ritchies has recently are vital. The low headroom below the bridge prepared for TBM completed soil nailing for the While the scheme is complicated, dictated the use of minipiles for the launch; Piling approach cutting with 900, 8m to 10m Elliott believes that it is the best work which is being completed in two underway for the nails installed with a sprayed concrete solution for the site. “We considered stages to allow a bridle path under the TBM reception facing to secure the over-steepened flyovers and alternative dive under bridge to remain open throughout. pit; Cutting sides. designs,” he said. “But flyovers have a To the east of the A15 bridge, just excavation Morgan Sindall senior project visibility issue here as the area is very before the new lines connect into the completed manager Neal McKenzie says: “Soil flat and the other dive under routes GNGE route, a new bridge structure nailing was the only option here as the were not ideal.” is planned to carry Lincoln Road over close proximity of the new rail route Although the curved box jack is a the new line. to the existing rail lines governed the UK first, it is considered to be the best Focus on construction for the dive steepness of the slopes.” option. Mott MacDonald technical under has so far been on the eastern Delivery of the 3.5m diameter principal Alan Willoner explains: “Self- side of the scheme as the jacking Lovatt RM132 earth pressure balance propelled modular transporters were operation will drive the box from east TBM to site in mid-February was a considered at the early stages to bring to west. major milestone for the scheme and the concrete box sections for the dive Bauer Technologies started forms a key part of the box jacking under in but that would have called work on the launch ramp structure process, which will be undertaken by for a longer blockade for installation for the operation last summer, and Jacked Structures. and additional infrastructure, such excavation of 120,000m3 of material According to Tony Gee project as large cranes and an asphalt haul has already been completed, with engineer Simon Dimmock, the guide road.” the base slab cast ready to launch the tunnels are part of Jacked Structures’ Morgan Sindall Infrastructure tunnel tunnel boring machine (TBM) which patented approach to box jacks manager Mick Thompson is expecting will bore guide tunnels ahead of the even on a straight alignment. But the TBM to deliver advances of up to box jack as New Civil Engineer went the curvature of this box means the 7m a day.
26 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 GROUNDWATER CONCERNS
Ground conditions at Werrington are complicated an excavation can be dry immediately after it is dug, by four confined aquifers, and dewatering wells but the uplift pressures mean it can flood sometime are being installed to manage base slab heave later. Head level is about 2m above ground level.” during the excavation phase. The low permeability means that dewatering wells have a low zone of influence. Mott MacDonald Bauer has experienced no issues with groundwater worked with Preene Groundwater Consulting and during the piling so far, but heavy rainfall last WJ Groundwater to design the dewatering system autumn did complicate the soil nailing work delivered which features 300 wells, which were constructed by Bam Ritchies. Nonetheless, Mott MacDonald by Stuart Wells. technical principal Alan Willoner says that the real There were also other challenges with the challenge will come with longer term excavation. ground conditions that had to be considered during “There are large areas that are dry, but removing excavation work for the eastern launch ramp. the weight of the ground during excavation “There are relic shear planes within the Oxford creates potential for groundwater issues,” he Clay that can fail when slopes reach gradients of says. “The aquifers have low permeability and the one in three, so measures had to be taken in the groundwater is largely contained within fractures so design to address this risk,” says Willoner.
be cast inside the precast segmental Excavators working from ground tunnel linings ready for the box jack level will remove the ground to the itself. KEY FACT base level of the dive under, uncover The 160m box structure will be cast the tunnels and break out
on site from the end of February using 3 their linings to expose the guide Peri’s travelling formwork system, and 120,000m structures to allow 1.5m advances work on the structure is expected to Material of the box jack. be completed by mid-July. excavated McKenzie says that the void “We will carry out a trial push over excavated will only be slightly larger a 15m length in mid-August,” says ahead of TBM than the box section itself to minimise McKenzie. launch the need for backfill. “There are ports “This will give us time to refine within the box sections to allow “The first bore is due to be the design ahead of the main work for grouting once the box jack is completed by mid-March and we in September if we encounter any completed,” he says. will transport the TBM back to the issues.” Despite the temporary nature of eastern side of the site for relaunch According to McKenzie, the actual the tunnels, the precast segmental on driving the second bore by that pushing process of the box will linings are still designed as if they start of April,” says Thompson. “The only last for six days out of the nine are permanent structures as they second bore is due to be completed planned for the September track will need to support the railway by early May. possession as the time includes work above between their installation this “Use of an earth pressure balance to move track and electrification spring and deconstruction in the machine is essential for controlling equipment ahead of the work. autumn. The connections between the the settlement at surface as we will be Unlike like some box jacking linings have been designed with the tunnelling under live rail lines. Once processes, the excavation work will deconstruction process in mind as the we start tunnelling, the operation will be undertaken from ground level box jack progresses. run 24 hours a day, seven days a week just ahead of the box being pushed While the curved box jack is a until it is completed. into place. A more conventional box UK first, the project team appears “The cover is around 7m and we jacking process with excavation from confident that this element of have live robotic monitoring of the within the box itself would have the work will be delivered within rails [above] themselves to ensure required a much deeper dive than was the planned nine day window in the safety of the railway.” possible given the site constraints and September. Bauer Technologies had just location within the flood plain. Although the focus on site is started work on the reception pit for According to McKenzie, these gearing towards this work, there the TBM with 135, 900mm diameter factors, along with the relatively is still a significant amount to do rotary bored piles due to be installed short length and lack of space for a following the box jack to complete the to depths of up to 17.1m to form the much bigger tunnelling scheme, also work next spring ahead of timetable retaining walls. ruled out the use of a conventionally changes on the ECML, which are set to Once complete, guide rails will tunnelled solution for the project. start in 2022. N
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 27 TRAIN BRAINS The use of artificial intelligence in rail is growing. Catherine Kennedy looks at the latest initiatives Network Rail and its engineering partners are undertaking as they seek to transform rail project delivery and asset management.
Future compare what the cameras see with an image of how the track should look. of Rail This identifies defects or issues that require further attention – such as missing Pandrol clips, which secure p until now, Network rails to the sleepers. Rail’s complex “Then a human sat in an office – as infrastructure has opposed to a human walking the track largely been delivered – confirms if it’s a defect or not,” and managed by explains Flower. humans through, for This automatic identification of example, manual calculations and site issues has the potential to increase Uinspections. efficiency. But artificial intelligence (AI) is “If we can automatically process changing all of that. data and present it to engineers, then “There is massive potential for us to they’re much better informed,” says use AI not only to better understand Flower. “We can tell them what they issues around rail infrastructure, need to know when they need to but also to create solutions to solve know it, which will then enable them them,” says Network Rail head of to concentrate on staff capability and maintenance Tim Flower. “The key thing is to make sure we train those AI algorithms in the right way – making sure we’ve got the right insight in there.”
PLAIN LINE PATTERN RECOGNITION If we can Network Rail’s plain line pattern recognition (PLPR) system is the automatically closest the track operator has come to fully embedding such technology. process data and The system automatically films the present it to engineers, railway, using lasers and cameras Vegetation encroachment attached to trains. then they’re much detection survey used by This data is then analysed using Atkins and Network Rail machine vision algorithms, which “ better informed
28 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 onsite supervision and really drive A drone captures that quality result we’re striving for.” It’s based on LiDAR data The system was rolled out throughout the last control period machine vision, and has been trained to ensure it does but we have started not miss anything, which has meant occasional false positives – where to do some machine images have been misinterpreted – have been an issue. learning to try and Flower explains: “It’s based on machine vision, but we have started “ improve the accuracy to do some machine learning to try and improve the accuracy.” “The machine learning is about removing the false positives from the The second initiative focuses on output, so the human inspectors are managing vegetation encroachment. only looking at genuine things they Network Rail manages its vegetation need to review.” using a specification that defines Consultant Atkins has experienced encroachment zones, which similar false positive challenges in the indicates the necessary track development of the aerial survey clearance to allow trains to pass data work it has carried out with safely. Network Rail. The rail operator has worked The consultant maps the ground by with Atkins to create these zones capturing LiDAR (Light Detection and and then intersect them with Ranging) data via light beams sent vegetation LiDAR data to understand from scanners mounted on drones where on the network vegetation is or helicopters. Height information is encroaching. gathered for each point scanned and “Then managers can go into that this data is classified into different specific area and carry out the categories, for example, ground or management required,” says Walji. rail tracks. Analytical models are then These initiatives are part of applied to inform asset management Network Rail’s wider research and decisions and to highlight which areas development portfolio, and the aim of track should be monitored. is to be able to eventually roll them However, it has again been out across the organisation to help necessary to limit the false positives. end users make more informed asset Along with gantries spanning rail management decisions. tracks, motorway gantries and football goalposts could also be LEEDS MASONRY VIADUCT picked up if the machine learning Meanwhile, a Cambridge Centre algorithm is too aggressive. for Smart Infrastructure and “It’s finding out where that Construction (CSIC) project for tolerance is for accuracy levels,” says Network Rail has used an automated Atkins technology enabled services network of a Fibre Bragg Grating senior analyst Jonny Corker. “What is (FBG) sensing system, acoustic and isn’t acceptable to miss.” emission sensors, and high- sensitivity accelerometers to gain EARTHWORKS AND VEGETATION insight into a damaged masonry Use of this aerial survey data has led viaduct in Leeds. to two different initiatives. The fibreoptic sensing in the FBGs The ground points from the LiDAR provides dynamic strain data at data are used to build a digital terrain multiple locations simultaneously, model (DTM). Terrain models from identifying the extension and different years are compared to show contraction of the bridge when change over time, and these changes trains cross it. are categorised using machine In addition to this, acoustic learning and cloud computing emission sensing detects high to detect and quantify potential frequency waves that indicate geotechnical problems. cracking. These high frequency “We can understand where the waves can be easily distinguished ground has moved over that period from typical vibration frequencies of of time and where there is potential bridges. instability – or where there have been CSIC co-investigator Matthew works in the past and there might DeJong explains that this makes it be more instability further down the possible to “detect which cracks are line,” explains Atkins digital asset active and propagating and which management engineer Fatema Walji. have been there for 30 years but
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 29 Future of Rail Artificial Intelligence
You give it some when it’s most appropriate.” He adds that looking for trends in basic training, large amounts of high dimensional or multi-parameter data is challenging and it starts training manually, but that AI allows teams “to look for trends in the data that we itself otherwise might not have been able to capture”. As such, AI has the potential to “ eliminate much of the groundwork aren’t a problem”. and calculations that stops design This sensor data has allowed CSIC teams focusing on what they are to research new approaches to asset trained to do. management, in collaboration with the HackPartners and Network Rail Alan Turing Institute. are for example, currently building For example, algorithms developed technology which will use AI to for the bridge have separated automate station design work. seasonal variation from other long- The NextStation tool would allow term data trends, identifying areas planners to enter specific parameters on the viaduct where deterioration is relating to the number of passengers actively taking place. entering or leaving a station, then AI “Because of changes in temperature would design the station to suit those. and humidity, the part of the bridge “It would speed up the design that moves when a train goes across process of stations as well as make it changes with the time of year,” much cheaper,” explains HackPartners says DeJong, who is also assistant chief executive River Tamoor Baig. professor of structural engineering at When it comes to operations, Baig the University of California, Berkeley. believes “we will have missed a trick “We’ve been able to unlock some if in a decade we still have humans of those things and we already see solely making operational decisions”. locations where continued damage is Overall, Forder believes it is not occurring.” about “removing the need for people”, Another Network Rail development but about “removing the repeatable project is exploring the correlation Fibre Bragg grating being,” says Forder. “The more tasks that people find quite mundane”. between weather data and asset strain sensors someone does a task, the more Corker agrees. “It will help people failure. they recognise the subtleties in it. make decisions, not make decisions Network Rail R&D manager Rob With machine learning, the more for them,” he says. Forder explains: “A human being can information you put through it, the “An algorithm is very difficult to say when it rains, I can see the trend better the algorithm becomes.” hold responsible for its decisions. of this type of asset failing. We’re Everybody understands that. It’s your currently working on a predictive SCALE AND PROACTIVITY name that’s going to be going on the model that can say: ‘this weather’s These methods also allow larger bottom of the report.” coming, these are the hot spots in the amounts of data to be processed It is this collaboration that will areas you’re likely to see failure’.” at faster speeds than previously enable AI to effectively support the possible. rail management of the future. N TRAINING “The ability to crunch huge data Once a model understands the sets increases the value of those data variable factors, it will learn. sets,” says Corker. “You can be more “So, you have a period of a weather proactive. You have new tools in type, you’ll have an asset failure and engineers’ toolkits.” it will go back into the model to learn From a Network Rail perspective, something you haven’t taught it,” says Flower highlights the importance of The ability to Forder. this proactivity. “You give it some basic training, and “We should be able to much better crunch huge it starts training itself.” inform the managers of the asset,” he When the model has been trained says. “We’ll start to see when things data sets increases in this way, the AI is repeatable – and are trending towards an alarm, as once it gets to the stage of being opposed to waiting for an alarm.” the value of those reliably right the first time every time, DeJong also emphasises this. data sets. You can be standards rise. “Before it was reactive. Now, we detect “It’s a bit like training a human things much earlier and act on them “ more proactive
30 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 Innovative Thinking NEW DESIGN CONCEPTS, INVENTIVE CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND FRESH IDEAS
Delivering a new river crossing to reduce fl ood risk and minimise maintenance within a National Park has brought a UK fi rst to Pooley Bridge. Meanwhile tunnelling is introducing some new approaches, including autonomous tunnel boring machines
STEEL ADDS BENEFITS TO CUMBRIAN BRIDGE / PAGE 32 INNOVATIVE THINKER: BILL GROSE ON TUNNELS / PAGE 35 TUNNELLING GOES AUTONOMOUS IN MALAYSIA / PAGE 36
MARCH 2020 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 31 Innovative Thinking Pooley Bridge
A stainless steel/concrete composite road bridge in Cumbria is breaking barriers with its innovative thinking, community engagement and environmental concerns. Joshua Stein reports. STEEL SLIVER
ooley Bridge is almost structure. The sleek three-layer local scenery. there. The fi rst stainless structure will straddle the River The council responded to all bids steel road bridge in the KEY FACTS Eamont when it opens in this summer. for the job with another condition: the UK is currently being The team working on the two and a project could not disrupt the summer constructed over a £5M half year project sought a future-proof tourism season, crucial to the town’s picturesque river running Cost of design: one which was fl ood resilient, economy. This meant site work had to through a Lake District valley. It is which would comply with Environment be carried out between September 2019 Ppartly modelled on the three-span replacement Agency regulations, and which could and early summer this year. 18th century stone arch bridge it Pooley Bridge meet the wishes of local people. The bridge is currently being replaces. That structure collapsed constructed on site. In January the after Storm Desmond hit Cumbria in MINIMISING TOURISM IMPACT fi rst sections of steelwork arrived. The December 2015. 40m The bridge will serve the village sections are being fabricated in four The original bridge over the River Length of of Pooley Bridge, a popular destination separate quarter sections at a factory in Eamont was one of more than 700 for tourists to the Lake District and Darwen, Lancashire 190km away. bridges in the county to be damaged by Pooley Bridge a designated Area of Outstanding When New Civil Engineer visited the the storm. Later, client Cumbria County Natural Beauty, meaning construction site, one half of the bridge’s steel frame Council, granted £123.6M of emergency 1 in 700 years projects must not extensively change was set up alongside the river on a funding to the area’s Infrastructure the site. This called for a slender bridge purpose-built lay down area. Recovery Programme (IRP). Ferocity which would not adversely impact the As New Civil Engineer went to “Storm Desmond was a 1 in 700-year of Storm press, the second half was set to be level storm,” IRP project manager Craig Desmond in transported to site and the process to Mitchell tells New Civil Engineer during fi x the two parts together will begin, a recent site visit. “They keep revising 2015 before a single crane lift will drop the [the scale of the storm] upwards, ” he Our under- structure into place. Once the structure adds. “Our full understanding of it is is in place, concrete will be pumped that scour caused the collapse due to standing is into the formwork for the arch which the force of the water. Once that [the will support the deck. The structure will piers] were gone, there was nothing that scour caused the incorporate a temporary tie bar across holding the bridge up.” collapse due to the its bottom chord to restrain the ends The new £5M Pooley Bridge is a 450t until loads are fully transferred into the stainless steel concrete composite force of water abutments.
32 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER MARCH 2020 “ READ MORE BUSINESS ARTICLES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING
The ground investigation confi rmed back spans were the only feasible “way forward
and loss of pre-stress, the Hammersmith Flyover being a notable example.” The ground on either side of the river also made the design and construction process more complicated. Typically, a clear span bridge would have piled abutments to root the bridge in place. But that requires good ground on both sides. During ground investigations, rather than fi nding the expected rock, engineers discovered that the ground on the river banks is variable glacial till, meaning piling would have been technically challenging. “The ground investigation (GI) confi rmed back spans were the only feasible way forward,” Mitchell says. Knight Architects, designed the The bridge’s consultations on three initial models “We couldn’t use piles, we did not structure. Eric Wright Civil Engineering location within over the course of a year, is a slender fi nd any rock on the far side, even after is the principal contractor, working in the Lake District 40m single span structure. going 15m into the ground. If there had partnership with consultant GHD. National Park The deck is a slender concrete slab, been rock, then we would have had a The original structure was built in created design measuring just 250mm in its depth and simple arched bridge. As soon as we 1764, with piers in the river supporting restrictions between 7.5m and 9.5m wide, which did the GI, that was ruled out.” its three arches. will fi t to a duplex stainless steel plate Instead steel framed backspans will But during Storm Desmond, when layer below. Sitting below that is a transfer loads from the arch and the water built up against the piers, its concrete arch, designed to support the deck into concrete slabs cast into the brute force created turbulence which deck and to serve as a visual reminder river banks. caused scour and erosion of the riverbed of the former bridge. The backspans are housed in a cast around the piers. When the piers were insitu concrete abutment structure undermined, the bridge was swept SLIM DECK CHALLENGE and held in place with a system of away. GHD technical director Stewart pre-tensioned bolts around 2m long. Because scour caused the original Tennant says it wanted to achieve In December approximately 250m3 of bridge’s piers to fail, the Environment a slim deck, but discounted post- concrete was poured on the east bank Agency pushed for a single span tensioning because of concerns about of the river to create the fi rst reinforced structure across the river. the long term durability of post-tension concrete abutment structure. “In the end there wasn’t really tendons. another option. Without piers in “We discounted using STAINLESS STEEL: the water we are eliminating the post-tensioning in the top deck INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY need for checks every two years to as well. We also need to consider The stainless steel and concrete see if the structure has scoured or durability for the 120-year design life. composite structure is unique – a not,” says Mitchell. In addition, with pre-stressing you’ve combination of durable and light “Piers would have been the easiest got embedded energy in the structure, material with environmental benefi ts. way in terms of construction and you have to think about the risk of that In comparison to ordinary steel, the practicality, but they would have been energy being released due to corrosion stainless alternative is two and a half the most disruptive to the community you couldn’t see, for instance. times more expensive but its light and they probably would have led to a “There have been several high- weight and longer durability gives it an higher fl ood risk.” profi le pre-stressed bridges which have advantage. The fi nal design, developed after encountered problems, due to corrosion “If we had not gone for stainless steel
MARCH 2020 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 33 Innovative Thinking Pooley Bridge
M6 A66 Keswick If we had Pooley POOLEY BRIDGE POOLEY BRIDGE Bridge N B5320 Concrete Windermere not gone for £5M top slab Kendal Project cost stainless steel it would 40m M6 t on THE NEW BRIDGE Length of bridge m Ea er B5320 iv have been a heavier R 450t 100m structure Weight The 18th century stone arch bridge “ washed away in Storm Desmond Backspan frame Abutment structure it would have been a heavier structure, Duplex stainless and we would not be able to do that steel structure single lift,” Mitchell says. This would have made it difficult to Concrete bottom slab (arch) keep to the council’s strict timetable. connected to steelwork Instead the bridge would have taken longer to develop would have had to be lifted piece by piece, requiring a 1 Concrete pumped into lower arch formwork, 2 Concrete pumped into top deck formwork Foundation slab temporary pier in the river for support. before bridge is placed in position after the bridge has been put into place The temporary pier was not acceptable 2 2 for the Environmental Agency, and 1 would have increased the overall River Eamont project cost. The team will pour some of the Cast insitu concrete abutment Cast insitu concrete abutment concrete for the arch before the lift to save time, but the extra weight of the concrete and potential for intense wind reducing the bridge’s carbon footprint. after the old bridge failed in 2015. At means the contractor will have to use Knight Architects associate Héctor the time of publishing, Eric Wright was the largest fully mobile crawler crane in Beade Pereda says: “It’s not just about in conversation with the Environment the UK with a capacity of 1,350t. A top not using certain materials. It’s about Agency about reusing the temporary layer of concrete will be poured onto working hard to use the minimum work site components on other the arch after the bridge has been put amount possible, which is what we have projects in Cumbria. in place. done here. Both of the materials we The bridge is on schedule for used offer high levels of strength, so the completion this summer. “We had a WIND AND COLD WEATHER strength of the bridge will be enhanced.” key driver on this project, everything Eric Wright operations director Gavin Fitting the bridge together before we do is to keep Pooley Bridge up and Hulme says: “We lost a few days it gets lifted in will also mean that running,” Mitchell says. because of the wind, because it’s like maintenance work is likely to focus on The enthusiastic local response to a funnel effect down the valley. Setting the backspans, as they will take the the bridge has been overwhelming. concrete in the winter also brings loads from the structure. One indication of this is that the challenges, if you are mixing cement “That will minimise the amount of town has brewed a beer called New and water at 4°C to 5°C, there is the time the bridge will be closed for in the Bridge Ale to celebrate the structure. risk that the water will freeze. If it does, future,” Mitchell says. The bottle features Knight Architects’ then it will expand and damage the “We have to consider future design as its logo. N concrete as it sets.” maintenance with our design of the Given the Environment Agency bridge, in particular we have to think restrictions and the small window for about the bearings.” the job, Mitchell says a composite Temporary back ties used in the structure was “realistically the only construction of the bridge could also We have to way of moving the bridge in a single lift, be used if any bearings need replacing and the only way we could avoid doing or refurbishing, so that the bridge can consider future works in the water. stay open during repairs. Those would have driven up maintenance with costs and would have forced us to EXTRA MATERIALS build the bridge between June and COULD BE REUSED our design of the September, which would have had a The team constructed a 2,000-piece substantial economic impact on Pooley temporary work site for assembling its bridge, in particular businesses”. components. The 2m thick platform “ we have to think about The use of steel minimised the was used to lift in a temporary amount of concrete used in the structure, footbridge, which was brought in soon the bearings
34 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 Innovative Thinker Bill Grose
Grose: Promoting new ways of thinking about tunnels DEEP and underground space THOUGHT Tunnelling has made massive strides in terms of safety and deliverability. The challenge now is how to get the cost down. Rob Horgan reports.
tunnel between Grose. “We were encouraged to come a “new way of thinking” about tunnels Morocco and Spain, up with ideas, to get things slightly and underground space. the UK and Ireland wrong, to correct it and then to learn Grose explains that a key part of or even connecting from that. thinking differently is getting engineers the United States “Nowadays, the belt and braces to talk to other professionals outside of and Russia “are all culture is stifling innovation. Everyone the sector. feasibly possible” from a tunnelling is bogged down in process, or the Think Deep UK brings engineers perspective,A according to sector ‘correct way’ of doing things. together with other built environment heavyweight Bill Grose. “To truly encourage creativity, there specialists. Likewise, The BTS The challenge – politics aside – is needs to be time to be innovative, and Hyperloop Challenge brought making tunnelling between such to play, that is set aside from the usual tunnellers together with policy places financially viable. process. The industry as a whole needs makers, architects and infrastructure “In the last 10 years the tunnelling to escape the constraints of process.” investors. industry has made massive Grose is involved in two projects, to More than 300 ideas were tabled improvements in terms of safety and break the barriers to innovation and and have been whittled down to six in terms of deliverability,” former encourage creative thinking. that form the backbone of a report British Tunnelling Society chair Grose Think Deep UK and The BTS later this year. says. “The challenge now is to get the Hyperloop Challenge are encouraging While not going into the specifics, cost down.” Grose revealed that everything from “If you go back 10 years and look developing autonomous tunnel boring at the cost of tunnelling it will be machines capable of going longer more or less the same as it is today. distances through different materials, So, while there have been massive If you go back to using spoil to tunnelling linings has improvements in many areas, bringing been explored. down the cost of tunnelling is what 10 years and “What I wanted was to create a will really invigorate the industry.” different environment for people to To do so, Grose believes that look at the cost of think and to push the boundaries tunnellers, engineering firms and of what is currently possible,” says clients need a “change of mindset”. tunnelling it will be Grose. “We weren’t ever going to solve “When I think back to my time as a the hyperloop problem but it did young engineer working at Arup, there more or less the same allow us to come up with a number was a real culture of innovation,” says “ of ideas to make tunnelling cheaper. N as it is today
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 35 Innovative Thinking Autonomous TBMs
From Sungai Buloh Artificial Plug and play Programmable Hawthomden N Schist intelligence AI autonomous TBM module logic controller Sentul West Station algorithms Titiwangsa Station Hospital Kuala Lumpur GGranite ‘The Brain’ DATA ‘The Kampung Baru Station EXCHANGE Nervous Ampang Park Station KLCC East Station Conlay Station Remote link System’ Karstic TRX Station Remote Kenny Hill Limestone DIGGING ITS Monitoring TBM Process controlol Formation Chan Sow Lin Station LINE 2 TUNNEL Bandar Malaysia North Station Bandar Malaysia South Station Granite To Serdang and Putrajaya
TUNNELLING CONTROL CENTRE
Ampang Bandar Malaysia Sentul West Titiwangsa Hospital Kuala Kampung Baru KLCC East Conlay Chan Sow North portal Park Station TRX Station OWN DRIVE Station Station Lumpur Station Station Station Lin Station North Station Ground breaking development in Malaysia of autonomous Alluvium Residual tunnelling – tunnel boring machines without operators – soil is reinforcing international recognition of the emerging South portal Granite Kenny Hill Formation Bandar Malaysia ‘Asian Century’. Ty Byrd reports. Karstic Limestone South Station 13.5km long tunnel
oliticians, economists input,” he said. data collection points, then processes and cultural analysts are MMC Gamuda’s system is the information in order to make forecasting that Asia will KEY FACTS described by acting general manager decisions at frequent intervals.” rise to pre-eminence in (tunnels) Justin Chin Jing Ho as a These decisions relate – among the 21st century and – 10 “plug and play” solution based on other things – to steering, speed, on evidence provided custom software installed on an penetration and removal of muck. by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s fast Autonomous industrial PC module. And they are absolutely optimal, Chin Pexpanding capital – they could be TBMs “It is driven by artificial intelligence states: “Our A-TBM system results right. The city has turned itself into operated by control algorithms and effectively takes in faster response times, improved a hotbed of tunnelling expertise over from the TBM operator, acting as accuracy, and productivity benefits and is now among world leaders MMC Gamuda the brains of the TBM,” he says. which are tangible.” in the application of tunnel boring in Malaysia “The module is connected to the The overall result is safer tunnelling technology. existing ‘nervous system’ of the which is cost and programme efficient. A pointer to this was given at tunnel boring machine, interfacing via Chin knows what he is talking last December’s New Civil Engineer 51km a programmable logic controller. about. MMC Gamuda is currently Tunnelling Festival in London. Length of “It constantly monitors, in real operating 10 autonomous TBMs in There, Malaysian contractor MMC time, data collected at the machine’s Malaysia, all of which seem to be Gamuda won the Innovation in Tunnel Line 1 functioning well. Excavation Award. It had entered its To get the full story of how the autonomous tunnel boring machine 9.5km A-TBM system came about, it is system (A-TBM) and prevailed over Line 1 necessary to go back to early in five European contenders. tunnelled It is driven the millennium. Traffic congestion One eminent European technologist section in and around Kuala Lumpur – an Martin Herrenknecht, founder by artificial area known as Klang Valley – was and chair of leading German TBM becoming unsustainable and Malaysia’s manufacturer Herrenknecht, praised intelligence control government gave the green light to the contractor. construction of a mass rapid transit “MMC Gamuda has taken a bold algorithms and network. step to pioneer this A-TBM system…. effectively takes over This was to have three lines built that adapts to various ground sequentially, with the first – all 51km conditions with minimal human “ of it, 9.5km of which underground from the TBM operator
36 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 READ MORE BUSINESS ARTICLES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING
From Sungai Buloh Artificial Plug and play Programmable Hawthomden N Schist intelligence AI autonomous TBM module logic controller Sentul West Station algorithms Titiwangsa Station Hospital Kuala Lumpur GraniteG ‘The Brain’ DATA ‘The Kampung Baru Station EXCHANGE Nervous Ampang Park Station KLCC East Station Conlay Station Remote link System’ Karstic TRX Station Remote Kenny Hill Limestone Monitoring TBM Process controlol Formation Chan Sow Lin Station LINE 2 TUNNEL Bandar Malaysia North Station Bandar Malaysia South Station Granite To Serdang and Putrajaya
TUNNELLING CONTROL CENTRE We began to
Ampang Bandar Malaysia Sentul West Titiwangsa Hospital Kuala Kampung Baru KLCC East Conlay Chan Sow North portal Park Station TRX Station Station Station Lumpur Station Station Station Lin Station North Station wonder if we Alluvium Residual could take some of the soil control responsibility South portal Granite Kenny Hill Formation Bandar Malaysia Karstic Limestone South Station away from the TBM 13.5km long tunnel “ operator
– to be in operation by late 2016. the contractor opted to use variable “The sheer scale of the works, with Mass Rapid Transit Corporation density tunnel boring machines Line 2 overlapping early on with Line 1, (MRT Corp) was established as the (VaDTBMs), then in relative infancy. threw up lots of challenges,” Chin says. client, bids were evaluated, and the VaDTBMs are a mix between earth The tunnelling market globally successful contractor for the tunnels pressure balance and slurry machines was growing and demand for skilled – a coming together of two local where the density of slurry can be personnel in particular seemed to be firms, MMC and Gamuda – began adjusted. The theory is they can expanding exponentially. “To train work in 2011. maintain pressure ahead of the cutter potential operators, we built our own From the start, MMC Gamuda head through a variety of ground TBM simulator which functioned well was permitted to be open minded conditions to ensure stability at the and proved useful,” says Chin. in its approach to the work by an tunnel face. In practice, the machines But it was not really enough. “We enlightened client. “MRT Corp are highly effective. began to wonder if we could take is strict, tough and with high Built jointly by Herrenknecht some of the control responsibility expectations,” says the contractor’s and MMC Gamuda, the contractor’s away from the TBM operator, using deputy project director Ng Hau Wei. VaDTBMs proved their worth on computers to perhaps provide a “But collaboration has been Line 1 to the extent there was no steering function.” excellent. The client’s tunnelling question that the technology would There are some precedents for this, department contains experienced be employed again on Line 2. although nothing directly applicable. tunnellers who understand the issues, Line 2 is a slightly larger project For instance, the Lesotho Highlands are insightful and have been helpful in than Line 1, at 52.2km long, of Project in South Africa 35 years ago achieving solutions.” which 13.5km is below ground. The included rudimentary attempts to Of considerable significance was tunnelling contract – for twin bored automate TBM steering; but this an early decision relating to Klang tunnels and 11 underground stations achieved limited success, and only in Valley’s difficult ground conditions. – was again taken by MMC Gamuda hard rock, according to Chin. The area has four main geological which began preparatory work in 2016. Someone who had worked on formations – karstic limestone, Getting the machinery was not a Lesotho was Gusztav Klados, Kenny Hill ground, granite and problem – eight of Line 1’s 10 TBMs a Hungarian tunnel engineer of mixed formations – plus its share would be refurbished for Line 2 international repute. of faults and voids which do not and another four purchased – but Klados was known to the tunnelling lend themselves to subterranean availability of TBM operators was fraternity in Kuala Lumpur, having activity. With MRT Corp’s blessing, another matter. worked there in the 2000s.
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 37 Innovative Thinking Autonomous TBMs
Steering is better, deviations from design are smaller, we’re “building rings more efficiently
“It was he who challenged us to develop an auto-steering functionality in-house, given advancements in current technology, especially in computing power,” Chin told Kuala Lumpur’s Star Online, which reported the New Civil Engineer award last December. With Ng acting as project sponsor, a task force was assembled, and over Bandar Malaysia away altogether with old style manual the following six months the desired North Station operation,” says Ng. functionality was achieved. KLANG VALLEY MASS For now, efforts to expand the “We developed the steering scope of autonomy continue apace, TRANSIT capability and put it to the test on with every component scrutinised one of our TBMs,” says Chin. for its “automaticability” potential. “The results were very encouraging. Klang Valley MRT is a planned “The A-TBM system is not yet fully So much so, that we decided to try three line mass rapid transit system complete,” states Ng. and automate everything.” serving the Klang Valley (Greater “Segment erection is not in the Three further subsystems beyond Kuala Lumpur) region of Malaysia. purview of TBM operators and as auto steering were developed over such has so far avoided the attention the following 18 months: auto advance Described as having a “wheel of our project team,” says Ng. This (thrust force, rotation of cutter head, and spoke” aspect, the MRT as is likely to change. “We’re starting to torque); auto excavation (muck away, conceived has two northwest- look at segments, they’re in the plan,” muck balance); and auto slurry (control southeast radial lines and one circle he says. Segment erection is a natural of the variable slurry system). line around Kuala Lumpur. progression for A-TBM. “It means our system covers all Construction of the Line 2 tunnel is the main tasks of the TBM operator. actually decline, as they will, likely to finish by the end of quarter Gradually we’ve applied A-TBM to all productivity gains with A-TBM are two this year. So what then? 10 of our VaDTBMs working on Line 2 obvious according to Chin. “For “There’s been a change of with great success,” says Ng. Human example, steering is better, deviations government and not everything TBM operators are still currently from design are smaller, we’re is certain. We hope the incoming in control, turning on the A-TBM building rings more efficiently and executive will proceed with Line function when they are comfortable delivering a better quality product for 3 and we will try very hard to win with using it. the client.” that contract too,” Ng says. “We’ve Confidence is growing, it seems; not Herrenknecht remained interested developed a huge amount of expertise least because when A-TBM is running, and cooperative throughout MMC and will be hoping to market this human intervention in autonomous Gamuda’s development of A-TBM, but overseas as well.” N operations is down to 1% of the time, did not directly participate. “There or less. were other priorities,” says Ng. The “It took a lot of convincing of manufacturer has subsequently stakeholders for them to believe in acknowledged the inherent benefits the system, but they’ve come round,” of the system and will play a part in says Ng. “The number of operators verifying tunnelling results on site. We’re starting required will fall and those still The tunnelled sections of Line 2 needed for oversight purposes will have been driven 24 hours a day to look at be based largely above ground, in over two shifts, 365 days a year. At segments, they’re in tunnelling control centres.” peak, 36 TBM operators have been Even before employee numbers required. “The ultimate aim is to do the plan 38 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 “ Innovative thinking – March 20
Funding boost for hyperloop-style freight system Innovation News NEW INNOVATIONS THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR PROJECTS Plan for small nuclear reactors in UK this decade NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING
Go ahead for UK’s first mine water district heating scheme TRANSPORT 16 solar-powered floating hotels will house Qatar World Cup fans HYPERLOOP- STYLE FREIGHT SYSTEM GETS FUNDING BOOST
Backers of a hyperloop-style freight transport system have closed a crowd funding campaign, having raised £1.5M – double the original target. Sustainable delivery company Magway plans to tackle the growth in online shopping and reduce freight traffic and air pollution by transporting packages through a network of underground pipes. This figure will be boosted by grant funding from government technology development agency Innovate UK. The grant will support the company’s plans to provide short delivery routes for airports, such as Heathrow and Stansted. Construction of a wider UK network of pipes is earmarked to start in 2023.
ENERGY ENERGY STRUCTURES MINI-NUCLEAR NORTH EAST RECYCLED WASTE FOR THIS YEAR’S PLANTS TO VILLAGE TO GET SERPENTINE PAVILION IN HYDE PARK SPREAD ACROSS HEATING FROM UK FROM 2029 MINE WATER
A Rolls-Royce-led consortium Construction of a district aims to have mini-nuclear heating scheme using mine power stations operating across water energy is set to begin in the UK from 2029. Rolls-Royce is County Durham this spring. leading a consortium bidding to Seaham Garden Village will be build small modular reactors at supplied with geothermal heat former nuclear sites in Cumbria from the Coal Authority’s and Wales. The consortium also nearby Dawdon minewater includes Assystem, SNC Lavalin/ treatment scheme, which treats Atkins, Wood, Arup, Laing water abstracted from an Recycled construction waste will Sumayya Vally, Sarah de Villiers O’Rourke, Bam Nuttall, Siemens, extensive network of flooded be used for this year’s Serpentine and Amina Kaskar, is the National Nuclear Laboratory abandoned coal mines. The Pavilion in London’s Hyde Park. youngest team of Serpentine and Nuclear AMRC. Rolls-Royce water is heated by geological Aecom is the engineer for the Pavilion designers. The structure claims its smaller reactors can processes and is a constantly 20th anniversary Pavillion, which will be made from “K-Briqs”, produce affordable energy with renewing zero-carbon heat is designed by Johannesburg which are made from 90% a lower carbon footprint than resource that can be transferred architects Counterspace. The all recycled construction and traditional nuclear sites. to a pipe network. women architect team of demolition waste.”
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 39 Innovative Thinking ROUTE TO THE FUTURE Colas is using a range of ground-breaking initiatives on the Humber Bank Link Road.
moke still billows out of the chimneys behind the development of the Humber Bank Link Road, and despite the loss of one of the factories that employed many local people, the roots of industry in Sthe area are being resurrected. The Humber Bank Link Road project, as part of the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme known as SHIIP, has been awarded to Colas by the client, North East Lincolnshire Council. It is intended to open up the path for new projects and companies to the surrounding area, heralding an exciting new chapter for Grimsby. Colas is delivering this in partnership with SIAC (Southern Ireland Asphalt Company) and working for Engie as the client designer and project manager. The importance of the £6M, 2.5km link road is fully appreciated when you Oldfleet box visualise the difference it will make to a woodland area with several species of mixing was executed to improve the culvert people currently using the A180. It will trees being planted, including oak, beech, geotechnical qualities of the soil. Mass open up a direct link between Moody maple, hazel and yew. An important nod mixing was favoured as the total area to Lane, Grimsby through to Hobson Way, towards wildlife renewal has started, by be remediated equated to 312m², as well Stallingborough. This, in turn, is planned means of the construction of a water vole as having a load bearing requirement of to ease congestion on the A180, which habitat, an inviting new home for the little 150kNm2. can be a bottleneck at peak times. creatures most recently seen in the area. The procedure involved mixing a This brings great new opportunities North East Lincolnshire Council is cementitious binder into peat, silts and for business to be rejuvenated and for looking to increase sustainable travel soft clay and was carried out with a mixing positive regeneration along the new road. options in the area and the inclusion tool that was attached to a 35t excavator. The scheme is in three stages: traffic of a cycle track from Grimsby to By mixing with the “Allu” arm to a depth management, business set up, and Immingham is another route being taken of 5.2m and injecting grout throughout finally the replacement of existing roads. to encourage zero-carbon output. Bus the whole process, a homogeneous mixed Creation of a re-aligned new entrance stops are currently being added along the panel was created, combining the top to Humber Gate Enterprise Park has new route, serving the area for the first layer of clay with the peat material which commenced and the road is taking shape time in 25 years, with the hope of public was at a depth of 5m. This procedure was as the eye is drawn along the previously transport being the primary carrier to the essential to create a stable base for the barren site to a stretch of asphalt that will industrial area. installation of the Oldfleet box culvert be the introduction of a new chapter for When the project started, an area of on phase 1, and this procedure will also industry and lifestyle in the area. concern was the ground conditions. It be used on phase 2 which is starting Part of the plan will be the creation of was too weak for the job, so deep soil soon. This method involves the use of
40 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLAS
natural resources, flexibility in design Site inspection dumper trucks with fully protective to operator and construction site safety and application, reduced vibration and – binder level cabins incorporating rotating seats. The and its mantra of “Together we make settlement control. entire seat operating console quickly it zero”, targeting zero work-related Colas project manager Danny Begley and conveniently changes through 1800 incidents. joined the company a year ago with 15 rotation, to give 90% more visibility It is important that social value years’ experience in the industry. He in the operator’s field of vision in the consideration is given at all times and to has encouraged innovations such as the direction of travel – during transport, this end there are seven work experience introduction of a zero-carbon emission loading and unloading. Primarily designed placement students on-site for periods hydrogen powered welfare cabin for the to operate as a rear-tipping dumper, ranging from a few days to a month, to operatives. this much-improved field of vision in a total of six months for those on their With near silent operation and forward mode leaves very few blind degree year out. They include a quantity on-demand power and heat, it is a helping spots, compared to a forward-tipping surveyor and two engineers. hand towards the UK’s major critical dumper – an obvious advantage and more Engaging local stakeholders, including energy challenges of a huge carbon than is required to comply with ISO local business and land owners in ongoing footprint and adding to the general 5006:2017. The rotating operator station dialogue is essential to ensure complete wellbeing of the workforce. also avoids time-consuming turning and transparency regarding timings of works A defibrillator has been installed on manoeuvring onsite, increasing efficiency that are in the pipeline and how that may site, the first one on the Humber Gate and productivity. When in reverse, the impact on them. Enterprise Park. dumper’s speed is automatically reduced The re-generation of the area is in On this project, Colas is for the to further improve safety. All these development and the Humber Bank Link first time using innovative dual view features fully align to Colas’ commitment Road is an inspiring step towards that goal.
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 41 Debate: Low Carbon Culture CLIMATE CONCERN
DEBATE BACKGROUND
100% 44% 50% Target for UK UK’s carbon Proportion of UK’s to cut its carbon emissions reduction greenhouse gases emissions from progress made by associated with 1990 levels by 2018 infrastructure 2050
In association with The search for the ultimate carbon-busting measures has to be balanced with motivating individuals to change to greener ways of doing things in the here and now. The focus for civil engineers is on reducing the impact of infrastructure on carbon footprints. Alexandra Wynne reports.
he climate emergency People need to is real but all the do more to think while the construction about their own industry continues to green footprint build infrastructure, housing and hospitals with incremental reductions in the Tamount of carbon produced. New Civil Engineer recently teamed up with Watson Fuels to debate how to balance looking for a major game changing carbon-busting fix with making improvements in the here and now. Global action groups, international, national and local agencies are calling for a more aware and proportionate response to the climate emergency; and these organisations are keen to highlight moves being made to start making inroads into the complexities of reducing the carbon content of all that we do in everyday life. the carbon content of these Texaco. “And it comes down to In the world of civil engineering, fuels is another means of making maybe there being an initial extra the carbon conversation is focused improvements. So it should be a cost by putting in the fully synthetic on infrastructure construction no-brainer to make their use more product that’s going to give you and maintenance. Infrastructure widespread. But is it? [fuel economies], but it’s going to is associated with half of the UK’s “The lubricants industry is not last longer. greenhouse gas emissions. The game dissimilar to [construction and other] “We have the same issues that changer here involves moving away industries in that when it comes people at first see the balance sheet from people assuming that it costs to a tender, people are looking at and say, alright, that’s my cheapest to cut carbon to realising the cutting the lowest cost first,” says Suzanne option and it’s how you move people carbon can save money too. Haslam, area manager at fuel giant on from that.” Consultants Mott MacDonald and Partly there is a need to understand Arup are among those that worked the fuel efficiency benefits made with British standards body BSI to It’s how you possible by lubricants, suggests Laing come up with the PAS 2080 Carbon O’Rourke technical environmental Management in Infrastructure make your leader Eddy Taylor. guidance that aims to direct Others at the debate asserted that individuals and organisations through business as usual is also the need for a major culture the carbon quagmire with real world change within organisations to make examples that can be replicated activity, the day to day, individuals see the importance of their elsewhere. role in affecting changes. Given all the lorry movements more efficient, more “It’s how you make your business required by construction, fuel “ as usual activity, the day to day, more economy is one way to make major productive, use less efficient, more productive, use less gains, and while fossil fuels reign, materials and question do we actually the use of additives to improve materials have to build it? It’s looking at those
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 43 Debate Low Carbon Culture
It’s looking at those AT THE ROUND TABLE simple acts first, so This report is based on a round table discussion Environment Agency that transition that held in London in late 2019. The discussion was James Joyce head of lubricants, Watson Fuels held in association with Watson Fuels. Around the Adam Piggott engineering manager, overwhelms many table were: Kinect Energy Group in Europe “ Kiro Tamer group energy advisor, Keltbray people is ‘what can I Hero Bennett sustainability consultant, Max Eddy Taylor technical environmental leader, change’, but is not that Fordham Laing O’Rourke Paul Bentley managing director, JN Bentley Steve Wrighton UK procurement manager, drastic and is easier to Julie Capon supply chain manager, Bam Nuttall Sibelco Michael Derome general manager, Speedy Asset Mark Hansford editor, New Civil Engineer xxxx implement Services Alexandra Wynne deputy editor, Katherine Ibbotson carbon planning manager, New Civil Engineer
simple acts first, so that transition that overwhelms many people is don’t want to go in one that’s got a ‘what can I change’, but is not that one star rating, you want the one drastic and is easier to implement,” that’s got five stars.” says Environment Agency carbon The difficulty still is often trying to planning manager Katherine decide what to tackle; deciding where “ Ibbotson. can the greatest gains be made. “Otherwise people come up with “I do think, sometimes, you’ve all sorts of innovations but they don’t got to start somewhere, and people become business as usual.” don’t know where to start,” agrees There are reasons to be optimistic contractor Bam Nuttall supply chain about building momentum for manager Julie Capon. “Because if major carbon improvements at the you’ve got 10 [sustainability targets] individual level given the experience in on the go, you won’t get all 10 over the construction industry in changing and they all want to do something, Lessons from the line.” attitudes to health and safety. and they all feel it’s part of their role the change in This is where PAS 2080 comes “It does go back to culture change, now and that’s probably what they’ve health and safety in, says Ibbotson. The aim of the and I’d draw the parallel to safety,” not done before. I think that’s the culture could standard is to give real-world says contractor JN Bentley managing biggest change and that societal aspect be applied to examples and pointers to those director Paul Bentley. “If you were has really helped move that forward.” the effort to cut aiming to make effective changes. to make the statement: ‘if we can’t What is also helping is incentivising carbon emissions And it is important to make all do it safely then we don’t do it’, I and training staff at an organisational changes as civil engineers rather than think now, everybody in the room level. Training and accreditation await the panacea. As Watson Fuels would nod, and that’s a change that’s is a key driver for inducing good head of lubricants James Joyce points happened in the last 25 years. And behavioural change toward more out, Tesla is not about to start making I think culturally if you were to say carbon-friendly practices. low carbon excavators. [today] don’t use carbon unless you “In some industries you have From Watson Fuels’ perspective, really have to, you’d be a million certain ways of recording that [an that means ensuring its fleet miles away from general agreement. organisation] has reached a level of of delivery trucks is the most When will it make a difference when sustainability, where a certificate is environmentally friendly transport that is the culture in the industry?” issued saying somebody has reached possible. It also means using There is evidence of a shift a certain level of sustainability,” says telemetry to ensure logistics are within organisations, such as the Haslam. as smooth as possible to reduce Environment Agency, which has “At Chevron and [its subsidiary] deliveries and take lorry movements been, perhaps understandably, Texaco we follow the Chartered off the road. It is also important for perceived as solely focused on flood Institute of Procurement & Supply it to encourage the use of lubricants management in recent times. sustainability index, so that’s one. that enhance the performance of all “It’s definitely changing,” says There’s almost a gap where someone machinery, to improve its working life Ibbotson. “I’ve felt change in the needs some guidance or to set a level as far as possible. last six months, whereby everybody where there’s something to achieve As Watson Fuels commercial [at the Agency] is concerned about that then you can follow and gain manager Anna Pajaron points out: climate and there are lots of different those credentials. “This is an industry that, for now, still groups around the climate emergency “It’s a bit like a restaurant – you needs to rely on diesel.”
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NCE100 Awards Tables Advert - 265mmh x 210mmw.indd 1 13/01/2020 14:32 Institution of Civil Engineers Record
ICE The current ICE Council Institution invites Council nominations The ICE is seeking 11 candidates for election to the body which represents members’ views and advises the Institution’s Trustee Board.
The ICE is seeking new members It has an essential role in for its Council, which is representing the views of the responsible for representing the membership, offering advice to views of the membership to the the Trustee Board on how the Trustee Board. Institution can best deliver value The 35 elected-member to society and its members. ICE Council debates issues Members can nominate relevant to civil engineering, themselves or a colleague, and Council term. They are: North East England and Wales. the Institution and society, to each nomination requires at l Four general members Candidates may be corporate understand and recognise the least five sponsors. (comprising corporate and or Technician Members and are implications of the changing Those elected will serve a Technician Members), who are elected by the professionally nature of civil engineering. The three-year term of office from elected by the professionally qualified members in the Council supports the Trustees’ 3 November 2020. The Council qualified members worldwide relevant regions efforts to ensure that the ICE meets four times a year, usually and do not represent any l Three international members is considered a global centre at One Great George Street in particular constituency – to represent the Americas, of excellence, championing the London. l Three regional members – one Asia Pacific (non-Hong Kong) role civil engineering plays at There are 11 vacancies to member to represent each of the and the Middle East & Africa the heart of society. be filled for the upcoming following regions: Hong Kong, l One Graduate member
ICE AWARDS PROFESSION TRANSPORT Infrastructure Nominations for ICE Learning Hub ICE assesses to remain key to ICE Annual Awards adds ‘soft skills’ government roads political agenda are now open modules spending strategy
A cross-party group of MPs Nominations for the ICE Annual ICE members wanting to Delivery of the government’s has recommitted to keeping Awards 2020 are now open. brush up on their leadership, first Road Investment Strategy infrastructure at the top of The ICE Awards recognise management or decision-making (RIS1) is the focus of ICE’s the political agenda in 2020. outstanding civil engineering skills will find a range of new latest Insights paper. Civil The All-Party Parliamentary achievements and contributions modules on the ICE’s Learning engineering insights on the UK’s Group on Infrastructure to the profession and the Hub. More than 150 new learning first Road Investment Strategy (APPGI) was reconstituted Institution. An ICE Award is an modules, predominantly focused examines how effectively the at its AGM in January. impressive milestone for a civil on “soft skills”, have been added RIS has been delivered and Chelmsford MP Vicky Ford, engineer or project, providing in the latest update, more than assesses where focus should was re-elected as chair and the winner with industry doubling the available content. be placed for future investment Lord Stunell was elected as recognition. People or projects Members can now upskill in in the Strategic Road Network. an officer. Ford said: “With a can be nominated for one of the areas including planning and With the second investment number of key infrastructure six award categories, individual monitoring team performance, strategy due to start in April, topics, firmly on the horizon, awards or project-based implementing and adapting to this paper aims to give MPs the APPGI will continue to awards. Find out more at www. change, as well as workload and peers a concise summary highlight the importance of ice.org.uk/news-and-insight/ prioritisation. of RIS1 to highlight what has infrastructure to the economy latest-ice-news/nominations- l Visit the Learning Hub at worked well and areas that can and society”. open-for-ice-awards-2020 https://ice-vle.digits.co.uk be improved.
46 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | MARCH 2020 VICE PRESIDENT’S VIEW COMMITTING TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
A small number of individuals, Seventy two per cent tiny in the scale of the world’s population, has been of the United Nation’s conscious of the existential elected by ICE Graduate risk we all face, for many Sustainable Development members decades. Goals depend on infrastructure All nominations must be Richard The risk not just from submitted to the Governance climate change, but from a for their success or failure Office at One Great George Threlfall failure to live on a perpetually Street by 31 March 2020. sustainable basis. “ l Go to https://www.ice.org. The last decade saw a more uk/about-ice/governance/ general awakening of realisation, but balanced ice-council or email enquiries by conflicting views – let’s call it the “decade of need to do to help? I argue that we sit at the very [email protected] to find debate”. Then about a year ago, public opinion heart of the solution. Seventy two per cent of the out more. seemed decisively to flip. United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals Nowhere near a total consensus – witness the depend on infrastructure for their success or ideological battle that played out in Australia until failure. TRANSPORT this year’s tragic bushfires and that are still playing In particular, we urgently need to promote three out in the United States – but enough to embolden things, all much discussed in Davos: ICE Scotland backs scientists and governments, and organisations like l The development of globally-accepted, infrastructure the ICE to declare a climate emergency. transparent, objective, measurable standards for Business and finance have now belatedly the assessment of the ESG impact of infrastructure investment call come to the party. That much was evident at the projects and programmes. International Financial G7 Summit in Davos last month, where every Reporting Standards took 40 years to become Scottish policymakers must conversation was suffused with sustainability. ubiquitous. We don’t have that much time. to step up and deliver on But is it all just green washing? And what do l The embedding of the circular economy within the ambitions outlined we need to do to move from halo polishing to real the construction industry, rapidly investing in the in a new report, said ICE action? adoption of technologies to create more flexible Scotland. Transport body the It’s not just green washing, though there is a lot and/or recyclable assets, and drastically cutting Infrastructure Commission of that about. Try finding private, or multilateral the use of raw materials such as cement, steel and for Scotland published its agency, money for a coal-fired power station. You aluminium. 30-year infrastructure strategy will be met with a wall of refusal. l Addressing the mispricing of assets that is the last month. ICE Scotland The amount of money going into Impact result of taking new-build and renewal decisions on director Hannah Smith, said Investing, where the environmental, social and the basis of short-term cost minimisation, rather the commission’s findings governance (ESG) impact is the focus more than than whole-life impact. The biggest prize here is signalled a step-change in how the financial return, increased fivefold last year, climate resilience of new and existing assets. infrastructure was valued. to $500bn (£387bn), and the green bond market And if you cannot influence any of this? We all “We’re encouraged that the grew fourfold to a similar value. But still these have a role. Insulate your home. Install a smart commission, is calling on numbers are small in the scale of the challenge meter. And buy an electric vehicle, or none at all. government to recognise natural facing the world. l Richard Threlfall is ICE vice president, infrastructure in its future- What does the civil engineering profession learning society planning.”
MARCH 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 47 Institution of Civil Engineers Record
ICE The Institution will hold a vote on amendments to Rachel Skinner its by-laws resulting from confirmed as changes to its governance next ICE President
ICE Council has officially elected ICE vice president Rachel Skinner as its next President. She will succeed current President Paul Sheffield in November. Skinner was initially put forward as a candidate for the 2020/21 presidency by the ICE’s nomination committee in January 2019 and confirmed by Council in April 2019. Council has now formally elected her to serve for the session. She will serve as the Institution’s second female President – Jean Venables was ICE the first woman to hold the position when she took office in 2008. Implementation of governance Skinner is WSP UK head of transport and a chartered engineer. She is currently ICE recommendations begins senior vice president and is also a commissioner for the Infrastructure Commission for The ICE Council and Trustee A dedicated page on ICE’s of ICE Corporate Members Scotland. Board have agreed in full the website has been created to which will take place from June In 2016, Skinner was named findings from the Presidential keep members up to date with to July. Members will be asked one of The Telegraph’s Top Commission into ICE progress. to vote on resolutions about: 50 Influential Women in Governance. ICE Council has also the balance of the Trustee Engineering. In 2017, she was Implementation of some of reshaped its agenda to be much Board; the method of appointing named “Most Distinguished these has begun. Others require more outward facing, looking and dismissing trustees; and Winner” and “Best Woman members’ agreement in a ballot at how civil engineers can on changes to the rules for in Civil Engineering” at to be held this summer. address the issues about which attendance, and voting, at a the European Women in The ICE Council set up the society cares passionately. It Special General Meeting. Construction and Engineering Presidential Commission in 2018. has set in train work around The ICE President, Trustees Awards. Its final report was developed sustainability, the route to and Council members will ICE following two comprehensive net-zero, and has begun to members over the next few and wide-ranging consultations investigate what will be needed months to explain the changes with members. These allowed of the civil engineer of the future. and their implications. the Commission to get a real Those findings which l For more information on understanding of the critical necessitate a change to ICE’s the Presidential Commission’s governance issues and to allow Regulations and Terms of findings visit https://www.ice. members to comment. Reference will be reviewed by org.uk/about-ice/governance/ The trustees have said the Trustee Board and Council presidential-commission. Email that those findings which do at their meetings in March and [email protected] for not affect ICE by-laws should April respectively. more information about any be implemented as soon as Findings which affect the by- of the proposed governance Skinner: Distinguished engineer practicable. laws will be decided in a ballot changes.
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD NOT BE UNDERVALUED 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, Stephen Wells, Simon Creer In January, the In any case, Magazine of the ICE’s Technician Institution of Civil Engineers membership had technicians are 1 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA grown to over 2,500 – 020 7222 7722 | www.ice.org.uk a huge increase over the last decade and a not just supporting civil ICE MEMBERS’ ADDRESS much welcome sign of engineers – they are civil CHANGES/ SUBSCRIPTIONS Michelle a changing Institution. QUERIES www.ice.org.uk/myice to update your Robinson It’s also a time of engineers address quickly online. For subscription the year when the East queries, please phone 020 7665 of England Regional “ 2227, or email [email protected] volunteers interview trainee technicians that have applied for a Quest technician scholarship really can offer a route out of an unrewarding SUBSCRIPTIONS – so I want to dedicate this article to all the career and I think it is great that our industry For subscription queries contact; technicians that (like me) are part of our (and the ICE) offers individuals the chance to Esco 020 3953 2152 wonderful Institution. redefi ne themselves, retrain and become a civil All rights reserved © 2019 New Civil Let’s start with a defi nition: “Civil engineering engineering professional. Engineer. Published by EMAP a member technicians help civil engineers to plan, design, There are now many more pathways into our of the Metropolis Group. Metropolis and build highways, bridges, utilities, and profession than when I started my training. You Group respects the privacy of every other infrastructure projects. They also help to can earn while you learn with either day release person for whom we have personal plan, design, and build commercial, industrial, qualifi cations or with an apprenticeship and data. We comply with data protection residential, and land development projects.” there are lots of institutions that offer full time legislation such as the Data Protection The defi nition does not really do justice to qualifi cations that can lead to EngTech – further Act 1998 and the General Data the importance of technicians to our industry education colleges, university technical colleges Protection Regulations which regulates the processing of data and ensures and to wider society. Nor does it cover the effect and, of course, universities. that your data is processed fairly and that the opportunity that training to become The Quest scholarships are a sign of lawfully, is kept secure and only that data a technician can have on the individual. In my excellence. This means that the trainee necessary for any processing is kept. experience technicians are not limited to a technicians that get one are recognised for You can see our privacy policy at www. supporting role – many technicians have gone on their abilities and potential. This looks great on metropolis.co.uk/privacy to take up leadership roles within industry and their CVs and means that they can receive up within our institution. In any case technicians to £1,000, but it is also an endorsement of their Printed by Precision Colour Printing Ltd, are not just supporting civil engineers – they are choice to join our profession. Telford. Registered as a newspaper with civil engineers. If you’re on a further/higher education the Post Offi ce ISSN 0307-7683; Issue No: 2084. Statements made or opinions When I meet trainees that have applied for a course that could lead to you becoming an ICE expressed in New Civil Engineer do not Quest technician scholarship, I am often struck Technician Member (MICE), you could apply necessarily refl ect the views of by their different backgrounds. While many have for a Quest Technician Scholarship and we ICE Council or ICE committees started on this career path directly from school welcome your applications. If you are already or college there are lots of examples of career an ICE member, please support Quest when you changers – from solicitors to shop workers, from renew your subscription. It is a great way to help receptionists to teachers – who have decided technicians and engineers. that civil engineering is a better fi t for them. l Michelle Robinson is ICE East of Training to become a civil engineering technician England regional chair
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