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T 01629 541067 E [email protected] www.soluform.co.uk New Civil Engineer SETBACKS SHOULD NOT PREVENT US FROM INNOVATING MARK HANSFORD EDITOR his is an industry on the cusp of a technological rev- of the supply chain. Now, obviously, Crossrail is in the news this month. olution. Civils 4.0, as we have coined it in this issue, There are complex reasons behind the one year delay, as we report this focused around examining the extent to which we, as month (see p16). There are clearly questions to be answered around T an industry, are embracing technology and innovation. governance and the grilling its bosses have received from the London Now, this year has been an odd year for innovation. Assembly’s transport committee will only be the start. That it could Two of my leader articles this year have already talked about it, and have got to within six months of opening before, first, a £500M price both have been in relation to terrible bridge collapses. increase was announced and, now, a one year delay called, will be ex- The first was in May, after the Florida International University Bridge, amined in detail in the months and years to come by many a committee when six people were killed when the under-construction bridge and report. collapsed onto a live highway. This was a bridge where the university was pioneering its own Accel- erated Bridge Construction methodology and was also sold as the first What we must not lose sight of bridge in the world to be built using self-cleaning concrete. is what Crossrail has done for The second was the more recent and even more tragic collapse of the Polcevera viaduct in Genoa. Clearly it was a structure that should fostering innovation never, ever have collapsed. Anywhere in the world. And certainly not in a western European country such as Italy. It is a genuine tragedy, and massive lessons must be learned for sure. As with Florida and Genoa important lessons will have to be learned, Arguably one of the tragedies is that the bridge’s designer, Riccardo particularly with regard to systems integration. Morandi, was widely held as a genuine innovator and that his bridge But what we must not lose sight of is what Crossrail has done for fos- was a miracle in its day. That it got to the state it was in when it col- “tering innovation. Its Innovation Forum, which has now morphed into lapsed says more about what has happened since. i3P, has provided a £500,000 cash injection, match-funded by the tier Both collapses speak volumes about the support, both in design and one supply chain to make a total of £1M invested. delivery and then later, in operations and maintenance, that is needed Ideas that received funding ranged from practical aids, such as an to encourage innovation. Innovation is, by definition, doing the untried; augmented reality app to aid tunnelling and an initiative to reduce the the untested. Doing it is an inherently risky business and needs good risk of hand injuries, through to technology-led innovations such as support networks. lightweight concrete. But we need to do it. The art and the beauty of civil engineering is to We now need the next mega-projects – Tideway, yes, but more innovate and to evolve. It is also what the government is demanding, as importantly High Speed 2 – to take up the mantle. Deliver well, while still we attempt to boost productivity in our sector. innovating. That is really the message. So who is helping us do it? And let’s not get too down on Crossrail – one year late and £500M This issue is published on the eve of New Civil Engineer’s annual over budget on a 10 year project that is genuinely attempting a world Festival of Innovation & Technology, which has been hugely support- first in signalling is not a disaster. Google Berlin Brandenberg Airport if ed by the Knowledge Transfer Network and its innovation platform i3P, you don’t believe me. This in turn was spun out of Crossrail’s efforts to draw innovation out l Mark Hansford is New Civil Engineer’s editor OCTOBER 2018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 3 Contents NEW CIVIL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2018 MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS 03 Comment, 35 World View Report: Analysis & News CIvils 4.0 06 Lighthouse: Don’t miss out on the digital revolution 08 The Edit: HS2 phase 2 bill delayed 14 Analysis: Bridge maintenance sector faces challenges 15 Analysis: Is it worth dropping EU standards, post-Brexit? 20 The Interview: Landsec’s Beth West 22 ICE governance review 24 Your View: Polcevera lessons; Crossrail delays; sea level rise 16 Special Report: Crossrail Delay Modern technology is set to drive a step change in construction productivity as more and more projects adopt drones, sensors and the Internet of Things. This report looks at new innovations, focusing on those being showcased in the NCE Accelerator and Techfest 36 Overview: How technological 44 The NCE Accelerator is a platform advances will boost construction for innovative SMEs productivity 50 Five highlights at the TechFest 16 In depth report on the reasons for 40 Costain is pioneering show in London the decision to delay Crossrail’s communications between vehicles 54 Debate: Post project value opening by 12 months and roads on the A2/M2 in Kent 4 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2018 New Civil Engineer Get news delivered daily Weekly Wrap and analysis delivered weekly with our newsletters. Sign-up at newcivilengineer.com 28 Business 62 Tech Culture Excellence EDITORIAL TEAM EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected] Editor Mark Hansford (020) 3953 2821 mark.hansford Deputy Editor Alexandra Wynne (020) 3953 2822 alexandra.wynne Contributing Editor Jackie Whitelaw [email protected] Associate Editor Emily Ashwell (020) 3953 2094 emily.ashwell 28 Sweco is helping a Scottish road 62 Engineers have developed a new News Editor network cut its carbon emissions wastewater treatment process to help Rob Horgan companies cut treatment costs and (020) 3953 2087 rob.horgan 30 SME profi le: Breheny reduce energy consumption Technical Reporter Katherine Smale (020) 3953 2044 katherine.smale 72 Global 77 ICE Chief Sub Editor Andy Bolton Congress Record (020) 3953 2823 | andy.bolton Designer James McCarthy [email protected] Graphic Artist Anthea Carter [email protected] Technical Editor Emeritus Dave Parker dave.parker CUSTOMER SERVICES [email protected] 72 Engineers are gathering to discuss 77 People’s Choice Award polling how they can help the world meet the gets underway; Review follows UN sustainable development goals Special General Meeting on ballot OCTOBER 2018 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 5 Lighthouse ICE VIEWPOINT Don’t miss out on the digital revolution he pace of and digital twins. technological change The technological revolution The reality in recent years has can take unexpected directions of this T been enough to make but is moving at incredible pace. heads spin. Civil engineers, along with all other newest technological Twenty years ago it would have professions, need to be equipped to been inconceivable that one of the handle that change and make sure revolution is main forms of global communication that it creates positive outcomes. would be the offshoots of Friends BY ART WE This is why investigating the that it is happening Reunited and MySpace. But social MASTER progress and developments in “everywhere media – as we now know it – is used WHAT WOULD technology and particularly intelligent by governments, media outlets MASTER US assets is so important. In 2017, professionals to explore how and charities alike. These social the ICE’s asset management group artificial intelligence can enhance platforms have even changed the published a guidance paper on existing infrastructure. way we think about our politicians intelligent assets in which Sir John On September 25, ICE will host the and the world around us. Armitt said that infrastructure sensing Shaping a Digital World Conference It is not just communications is becoming simpler, cheaper, and bringing together asset owners, where the productive and often more versatile. Data can now be consultants, contractors, academics disruptive power of new digital readily collected, analysed in real and technology providers to technology is being felt. British time and compared across assets, debate the challenges associated companies are creating robotic companies and countries. with the digital transformation of surgical tools while autonomous We are rapidly moving toward a infrastructure. vehicles have gone from the realms world in which rail networks will The benefits of technology and of science fiction to the testing detect their own degradation, and intelligent assets are boundless. It tracks in no time at all. tunnels will record conditions, is important to make sure that we Civil engineers have not been communicate with trains and advise understand how they will affect left behind, integrating new on maintenance. work process, asset management digital technology into their This year, the President’s theme and most importantly, the lives of everyday lives through tools such engages directly with the important the millions of people who use the as building information modelling developments in technology and the infrastructure that is created by implications they have for improving embracing these new technologies.