The Engineers Collective

New Civil Engineer

News and interviews covering all corners of infrastructure, from rail to roads to energy to tunnels and much more, with guests from all around the wide world of civil engineering chatting with NCE news editor Rob Hakimian and the rest of the NCE team

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100 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes100

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Oct 26, 2022 · 34 min
Barriers to adopting digital technology in construction
This episode of The Engineers Collective podcast explores the barriers to adopting digital technology in construction and how they can be overcome. Joining NCE deputy editor Rob Horgan is Helen Samuels from EKFB and Alex Wraight from Allies and Morrison. Helen is a chartered civil engineer with a masters in environmental management and a fellow of the ICE. She has served as industry advisor for Plymouth, Cardiff and UCL universities, and was working group chair and report author of a review of infrastructure governance, as part of a wider review of asset safety post Grenfell. She is currently Managing Director for EKFB, delivery an 80km stretch of the HS2 civils programme, with former roles including Managing Director at CH2M Hill (now part of Jacobs), and Engineering Director for United Utilities and Network Rail. Meanwhile, Alex is an experienced architect. Alex has been at Allies and Morrison for 22 years and a Partner since 2015, leading on a variety of complex projects in the public eye. A champion for technical excellence, Alex is also an active member of the British Council of Offices (BCO) and sat on the Technical Affairs Committee that produced the 2009 Guide to Specification. He is also a board member for Better Bankside and sits on the St Albans and Watford Design Review Panels. Alex and Helen were recently involved in judging the British Construction Industry Awards and during the podcast, they look at the common problems and issues that they saw during the judging process in terms of adoption and implementation of digital technology in construction. While celebrating innovation within the industry, the pair highlight barriers around data sharing and explore how the industry can move away from working in siloes and towards a common set of goals. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure. Find out more at www.bentley.com
Sep 28, 2022 · 38 min
Designing to create space rather than a building is key to regeneration
Concept design of a timber high rise building in Oslo is attracting both awards and attention globally for its sustainable regeneration potential, even without firm plans to put the proposal into construction. The masterminds behind the Regenerative Highrise scheme are Haptic Architects director Tomas Stokke and Ramboll director Ollie Wildman who join NCE editor Claire Smith to talk through the new approach and how other projects are looking to copy the idea. Both Tomas and Ollie call for greater consideration of the ability of tall buildings – in the right place – as a means to meet urbanisation without creating urban sprawl. They both suggest that cities need to consider vertical masterplanning in the same way they create horizontal masterplans but they also believe new buildings need to more carefully plan for future use. The Oslo project, which recently won the Tall Building category at NCE’s sister title Architectural Review’s Future Projects Awards, is a concept to regenerate a socially challenging site in central Oslo. Ollie describes it as a concept to create conversation. As well as addressing the site’s existing issues, the future-proofed design aims to create a building that can be adapted to meet future needs rather than being demolished and rebuilt after a few decades. The structure also features a range of materials, including major use of timber. Tomas talks about the need to focus on the ground floor interaction with the surrounding area in order to deliver on regeneration, explaining that we can’t look at buildings in isolation and calls for them to be considered in context of the local environment. The Oslo design features three “ground floor levels” – one facing onto a road viaduct, another onto a river frontage and the third connects with public transport links. Ollie then goes onto explain the structural design that allows for floor heights and layouts to be changed in the future to adapt to changing needs over the building’s lifespan. In doing so he calls for more focus on creating space and less on designing buildings. “Without a single end use in mind, it becomes about creating space,” he said.
Aug 31, 2022 · 51 min
How flexible working on construction sites could be a ‘win-win’
Pandemic restrictions brought working from home to the lives of many, which worked well for office-based roles, but what about those on site? This episode of The Engineers Collective podcast explores a major industry trial of flexible working practices by leading contractors in the UK. “During the first lockdown many sites shut down for a few weeks but workers soon returned with social distancing precautions in place,” said NCE editor Claire Smith, who hosts the latest episode. “That could have meant back to business as usual for contractors, however, there were a group of businesses – Bam, Skanska and Willmott Dixon – that used the situation as an opportunity to try to do things differently and worked To listen to the podcast click here and then read the Construction Pioneers Programme report to learn how you could bring the same benefits to your sites.
Jul 27, 2022 · 28 min
Arup’s role in levelling up the Humber
With the UK’s ‘levelling up’ agenda in full swing, the latest episode of The Engineers Collective looks at how one region is taking a different approach to regeneration. Joining NCE head of content and engagement Rob Horgan on the episode is Krishanthi Carfrae, Arup’s lead Cities Advisory and Economics associate across the North West and Yorkshire. The episode focusses on Opportunity Humber; a new cross-Humber private sector-led partnership established to drive greater investment in the region which benefits all areas along the Humber. Krishanthi explains how Opportunity Humber was devised and runs listeners through the scheme’s objectives. She gives an insight into the particular challenges and opportunities in the region and explains why other regions are looking closely at emulating the Opportunity Humber model. Still in its early days, Krishanthi looks forward to the types of schemes that the Opportunity Humber backers will be looking to support, with energy identified as a key area of growth.
Jul 13, 2022 · 45 min
How evolution of sensor technology has empowered complex engineering projects
Fast paced development of electronics technology over the last decade has enable wireless sensors to go from being unproven but innovative solutions for monitoring complex engineering projects to become the go-to option for many schemes. The benefits for project delivery and reduced risk that this evolution in sensor technology is explored in this episode, which is sponsored by Farnell Electronics. NCE editor Claire Smith is joined by Bryn Smith, who is chief technical officer with wireless condition monitoring systems and technology firm Senceive, to discuss the change and look ahead to what technology advancements are expected in the future. Bryn starts by using one of Senceive’s first projects, which involved work on Bond Steet tube station for Costain and Laing O’Rourke, to demonstrate how the technology has changed in the last 10 years. He explains how the limitations of the solutions used on that scheme have been overcome and the benefits the technology can now deliver on current projects. While advances in electronics has enabled more rapid reporting and longer battery life to improve the quality of the data collected, Bryn said that there are still misconceptions about sensor technology. As NCE marks it’s 50th anniversary this year, Claire asks Bryn to make some predictions about what sensor technology will look like in another 50 years from now. Listen to the podcast to find out what he thinks is in store for the industry and the opportunities this will present to major project delivery in 2072. This episode is sponsored by Farnell. Farnell is a global electronics and industrial solution provider, part of the Avnet group. We deliver products, services, and solutions to thousands of customers around the world who focus on electronic system design, manufacturing, industrial environments, as well as across maintenance and repair sectors. We offer a portfolio of close to 1 million products from thousands of world-leading supplier brands. Engineers come to us at any and every stage of their process, as we are well equipped to offer support with the products they need as well as adding value. Farnell carry a vast product portfolio of around 80,000 industrial products to support customers in their Industrial Automation journey – all available for fast delivery. We are well placed to offer support across multiple leading supplier brands such as Omega, Schneider, Eaton, ABB, Omron, Siemens, Festo, Mitsubishi, and Phoenix Contact. Our Industrial Automation & Control Hub provides access to a wide range of technical resources to facilitate factory floor design and upgrade of existing systems. Find out more at uk.farnell.com
Jun 29, 2022 · 38 min
Speaking out about opportunities for women is critical to solving the skills crisis
Making more women aware of the opportunities a career in construction can offer is critical to attracting more people into the sector and resolving the ongoing skills crisis the industry faces. In this episode of The Engineers Collective, NCE editor Claire Smith speaks to Willmott Dixon construction manager Lianne Lawson and Mott MacDonald development manager for energy Clare Rhodes James about their experiences coming into the sector as women as the industry prepared to mark International Women in Engineering Day last week. The three start by discussing how they each came to study engineering and construction and the issues they experienced with people either being firmly behind them or trying to discourage them from that career path. The group consider how the sector has changed for young women coming into it now compared to when they were early in their careers. They mostly see positive change but believe that more needs to be done to ensure school children understand the opportunities and have the chance to choose construction rather than being guided down other career paths. Claire referenced her recent interview with Women’s Engineering Society CEO Elizabeth Donnelly on the need for more engineering role models in society. Elizabeth told Claire that the general public still don’t see engineers in the way they do doctors or lawyers. “Elizabeth said that you see doctors and lawyers portrayed on television and in fiction, but engineering only has visibility in documentary formats,” explained Claire. “As a result she says that most women who come into the engineering profession already have family or a family friend in the industry, which is why International Women in Engineering Day is so important.” Clare and Lianne agreed that greater outreach was needed and that gender parity in the construction sector was possible, in time, particularly with an emphasis that working in construction does not always mean being on site and wearing PPE. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure. Find out more at www.bentley.com
Jun 8, 2022 · 24 min
How is 3D printing changing construction techniques?
Growing use of 3D printing for concrete structures, metal bridges and composite forms by the construction industry is discussed in this episode, which is sponsored by Farnell Electronics. NCE editor Claire Smith and senior reporter Catherine Kennedy are joined by Bam Nuttall head of innovation Colin Evison to chart how 3D printing first started to influence the civil engineering sector, where the industry is now and what opportunities lie ahead. Colin shares his experience of working with 3D printed concrete structures on projects with clients like the Environment Agency and talks about the opportunity it presents for engineers to tap into their creative side as they work outside of existing design codes. Claire and Catherine discuss the construction risks that come with using innovative technology with Colin, along with the potential 3D printing offers to reaching carbon net zero. Colin also shares some lessons learned around where 3D printing techniques work best and some considerations when planning to use such methods. While Colin doesn’t believe 3D printing will solve every construction problem, he does expect its used to grow in the next decade. This episode is sponsored by Farnell. Farnell is a global electronics and industrial solution provider, part of the Avnet group. We deliver products, services, and solutions to thousands of customers around the world who focus on electronic system design, manufacturing, industrial environments, as well as across maintenance and repair sectors. We offer a portfolio of close to 1 million products from thousands of world-leading supplier brands. Engineers come to us at any and every stage of their process, as we are well equipped to offer support with the products they need as well as adding value. Farnell carry a vast product portfolio of around 80,000 industrial products to support customers in their Industrial Automation journey – all available for fast delivery. We are well placed to offer support across multiple leading supplier brands such as Omega, Schneider, Eaton, ABB, Omron, Siemens, Festo, Mitsubishi, and Phoenix Contact. Our Industrial Automation & Control Hub provides access to a wide range of technical resources to facilitate factory floor design and upgrade of existing systems. Find out more at uk.farnell.com
May 25, 2022 · 45 min
The role of digital twins in influencing infrastructure investment
Think of digital twins in a construction setting and what usually comes to mind is a digital representation of physical asset that aids planning, design, delivery and operation of the infrastructure but what if they were used to help drive informed investment decisions too? The investment opportunity is subject of the latest episode of The Engineers Collective. At the start of the episode NCE editor Claire Smith is joined by former executive director of the Centre for Digital Built Britain, Alexandra Bolton who discusses the findings of some work with the finance industry to look at the broader role of digital twins. Later on Claire looks at how the Cross River Rail project in Brisbane is putting the financial planning aspect of digital twins into action and speaks to the project’s CEO Graeme Newton and digital delivery manager Andrew Curthoys. Before looking at the project case study, Claire and Alexandra explore the background behind the How finance and digital twins shape a better future for the planet report and look at the recommendations from the report that aim to drive greater use of digital twins for broader benefits and better outcomes. In Brisbane, Claire discovers from Graeme and Andrew that Cross River Rail is already helping to drive investment decisions beyond the new rail route, even though it is not due to open for several years. According to Graeme, the data generated by the project’s digital twin - as well as the infrastructure itself - was a key part of the city winning the bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games. One of the key messages from Alexandra, Graeme and Andrew is that infrastructure clients need to be bold when making the decision to use digital twins and take a leap of faith around the use of data that they can bring together, rather than trying to predict how it will be used in the future. Did you enjoy this episode? Get involved and complete our Digital Twin Adoption and Deployment Survey: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=MpZ-Bkzq2U6ebeKUlW4oS68kcPWtiANHh_fR1lzduxxUN0RWNkswRjFVOVVQQTVHVlhMRE5XRTJHUi4u
May 11, 2022 · 27 min
What does intelligent infrastructure mean for future design, maintenance and operation?
The role of Internet of Things to empower fully intelligent infrastructure comes under the spotlight with a look at what it means for the future of civil engineering in this episode, which is sponsored by Farnell Electronics. NCE editor Claire Smith is joined by Arup associate director Rory McCully to look back at the evolution embedded sensor technology has brought to infrastructure over the last 25 years and consider what the next 25 years might bring. Claire starts off with some predictions that were made at NCE’s 25th anniversary in 1997 where it was anticipated by 2022 that there would be self-monitoring, self-policing bridges. These were expected to have their own repair robots and be able to forecast when they had reached their design life. Rory and Claire conclude that the industry hasn’t quite reached that point yet and that it is still some way off but look at what has been achieved and consider the benefits that Internet of Things and intelligent infrastructure could bring in the future. Rory also outlines some of the barriers that the industry faces in terms of reaching these benefits, as well as the need for such technology to look at systems rather than infrastructure on a structure by structure level to gain the maximum advantages. This episode is sponsored by Farnell. Farnell is a global electronics and industrial solution provider, part of the Avnet group. We deliver products, services, and solutions to thousands of customers around the world who focus on electronic system design, manufacturing, industrial environments, as well as across maintenance and repair sectors. We offer a portfolio of close to 1 million products from thousands of world-leading supplier brands. Engineers come to us at any and every stage of their process, as we are well equipped to offer support with the products they need as well as adding value. Farnell carry a vast product portfolio of around 80,000 industrial products to support customers in their Industrial Automation journey – all available for fast delivery. We are well placed to offer support across multiple leading supplier brands such as Omega, Schneider, Eaton, ABB, Omron, Siemens, Festo, Mitsubishi, and Phoenix Contact. Our Industrial Automation & Control Hub provides access to a wide range of technical resources to facilitate factory floor design and upgrade of existing systems. Find out more at uk.farnell.com
Apr 27, 2022 · 34 min
Addressing the greater cancer risk faced by construction workers
Research by Cancer Research UK has shown that one in two people born after 1960 will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and only half of those diagnosed will survive for 10 years or more. However, the charity’s evidence suggests that people working in the construction industry are more likely to get cancer and die from the disease compared to the national population. To look at the factors that raise the risk for employees in the sector and work underway to address those, NCE editor Claire Smith is joined by Cancer Research UK senior cancer awareness nurse Jackie Kelly, Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) national civil engineering director Peter Crosland and Amey managing director for transport infrastructure Peter Anderson. Together they discuss both lifestyle factors and work-related risks that workers in the construction industry face that increase the potential for them to be diagnosed with cancer. Jackie talks about how Cancer Research UK works with industry to address cancer risk and the work it is undertaken with Amey and the Stop make a change programme with CECA. Peter from Amey explains how the firm’s partnership with Cancer Research UK came about and the positive change the workers driving through the business. Meanwhile Peter from CECA explains how his organisation has also been working with Cancer Research UK to create broader industry awareness. The group discuss lessons they’ve learnt along the way by working in partnership and share those to help other companies looking to emulate the work that Amey and CECA have done. Finally, Jackie shares some resources for people whose companies have not yet engaged at a corporate level and are looking for better information about cancer and support if they have been diagnosed with cancer. Jackie urged people to use current, credible, research-based information rather than general Internet searches and urge people to visit the Cancer Research UK website at CRUK.org or the NHS website at NHS.uk Cancer Research UK also has a free helpline staffed by specialist nurses open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm that anyone can call to get advice. To access that resource please call 0808 800 4040. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.
Mar 30, 2022 · 52 min
Reflecting on the lessons from the Stonehaven derailment tragedy
Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) chief inspector Simon French joins NCE senior reporter Catherine Kennedy to discuss the final report into the fatal Carmont derailment in August 2020. The accident occurred after a passenger train collided with debris washed from a drain onto the track following very heavy rainfall. Tragically three people died and the remaining six people on the train were injured. French reflects on the key learnings from the report, which found that a drainage system and associated earthworks constructed by Carillion had not been built in accordance with the original design and so were not able to safely accommodate the water flows on the morning of the derailment. He considers the importance of change management and the challenges posed by extreme weather, before reflecting back on how the rail industry has changed and improved since the RAIB was first set up. He also reflects on what the industry still needs to address in terms of improving safety and fully embracing a safety culture going forward. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.
Feb 23, 2022 · 1 hr 7 min
Considering carbon as a currency will drive circularity in civil engineering
Introducing circular economies into construction projects has been discussed as a concept for a number of years but this episode of the podcast looks at some projects that have actually put it into action. Following some discussion on the main news stories of the month, NCE’s editor Claire Smith and head of content and engagement Rob Horgan are joined by Sweco Architects head of sustainability Elise Grosse and Sweco’s UK Buildings Division digital manager Andrew Krebs to explore the practicalities of using circular economies. The group set out by defining what a circular economy is and the drivers for the construction sector to adopt them. Elise explains that the industry must start to consider carbon as a currency in order for circular economies to become central to projects. Nonetheless, both she and Andrew believe that data digital tools are also critical to the success of a circular economy, particularly when it comes to using material passports to track and plan reuse of demolition waste. The pair tell Claire and Rob that civil engineering is increasingly coming under the spotlight when it comes to material use and must take big steps to ensure it is focusing on achieving net zero rather than greenwashing. Elise added that recycling is often driven from an economic position rather than a moral one and urged the industry to consider whether the value and cost delivered by decisions today are at the expense of tomorrow. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure. Find out more at www.bentley.com
Feb 9, 2022 · 54 min
What does the future of hybrid working in civil engineering look like?
With the work from home guidance being relaxed in the UK following the latest wave of Covid, many civil engineers are now starting to return to some office-based working or more site-based activities. But after two years of working through a pandemic and embracing new ways of working, has the industry’s approach to how work is undertaken changed forever? To talk through the learnings since March 2020 and the opportunities and challenges a new approach presents, NCE editor Claire Smith is joined by Aecom chief operating officer for Europe and India Andy Barker and Ferrovial strategy and preconstruction director Grant Mobbs to discuss the changing dynamic from the consultants’ and contractors’ perspective. All three are agreed that the end of working from home guidance does not mean that the industry will revert to exactly how it was two years ago and that hybrid working is here to stay. Andy and Grant started by talking about the policies and approaches their firms had in place in early 2020 before discussing how their approach to work changed dramatically in March 2020. While the changes were challenging both employees and employers learned a lot along the way and both Grant and Andy add some detail to the positives and negatives the change brought. The trio acknowledge that the change to home working, and now hybrid working, is not felt in the same way for everyone and they look at the impact it has had for early career engineers. Grant and Andy talk about the strategies that their firms have put in place to support this part of the workforce. The greater focus on wellbeing that emerged during the last two years of working from home is a theme throughout, along with the potential for the change in working patterns to be more inclusive and welcome a more diverse workforce in the long term. The group conclude that there is no one size fits all approach to hybrid working but the move to more trust and grown up conversations about the topic means the industry has come a long way in two years. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure. Find out more at www.bentley.com
Jan 26, 2022 · 1 hr 2 min
How privately owned public space could add climate resilience to cities
Creating new public realm as part of commercial development is becoming commonplace in order to meet planning requirements but could these be obligations be extended to add climate resilience too? The question is explored by founding director of Madeleine Kessler Architecture and Unscene Architecture Madeleine Kessler and Civic Engineers director Gareth Atkinson in the latest episode. Following the monthly news update from NCE editor Claire Smith and senior reporter Catherine Kennedy, the pair join Claire and features editor Sotiris Kanaris to look at the growth in privatised public space and the potential it presents. Both Madeleine and Gareth use examples from their day to day work to explore what works well in terms of well designed privately owned public realm, as well as share a few stories about what has worked less well. The conversation then turns to how the owners of these spaces could adapt designs to become better neighbours within their communities and include features such as rain gardens and sustainable drainage systems to reduce flood risk in the surrounding area. The discussion concludes with a look at the barriers to adapting existing spaces to include climate mitigation, which range from planning bureaucracy through to the charging of VAT on upgrades, which is not levelled on new build. In the absence of an existing planning mandate, Madeleine and Gareth both urge the industry to use new – and review existing – public space as an opportunity to improve both the sense of place in a community, as well as the climate resilience. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure. Find out more at www.bentley.com
Jan 12, 2022 · 43 min
How digital engineering is improving project delivery
Jacobs senior associate director and practice group lead for intelligent asset management Steve Yule and Collins Engineers director of unmanned aircraft systems, artificial intelligence and reality modelling Barritt Lovelace join NCE editor Claire Smith and reporter Catherine Kennedy to discuss the use of digital engineering on their projects. Network Rail and Jacobs have used digital twins on the Transpennine Route Upgrade, while Collins Engineers has adopted digital methods for the surveying work ahead of the Stone Arch Bridge Rehabilitation project in Minneapolis. Both projects were winners in Bentley Systems’ Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure in December. Steve and Barritt discuss how these new approaches can improve project delivery, reduce risk and create better outcomes. They also consider what the future looks like for digital technologies, and lessons learned so far. At Jacobs, Steve leads on technical input globally for high-profile infrastructure projects across the highway, rail, and utilities sectors, focusing on asset management, digital delivery, and digital twins. He has in-depth experience at working across all stages of the infrastructure lifecycle, giving him a clear perspective of the opportunities and challenges of ensuring alignment between each lifecycle stage. Barritt is a licenced professional engineer and has over 25 years of bridge design and inspection experience. He has designed over 50 bridges and has performed over 3,000 bridge inspections. Listeners can learn more about these and other projects in the Mobility gallery of Bentley’s Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure at: https://yii.bentley.com/en/award-finalists/mobility The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.
Dec 15, 2021 · 30 min
2021 in review - The top news stories and features of the year
Welcome to the final episode of The Engineers Collective for 2021! In this episode editor of New Civil Engineer Claire Smith, head of content and engagement Rob Horgan, and reporter Catherine Kennedy take a look at the top news stories and features of the year so far, and the background behind those headlines. The team run through the top five most read news stories, and the top five most popular features published by New Civil Engineer this year. The Engineers Collective will return in 2022. In the meantime, the whole New Civil Engineer team wishes you a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure. Find out more at www.bentley.com
Nov 24, 2021 · 42 min
ICE President Ed McCann on rail uncertainty, COP26 and secrets behind London’s Olympic velodrome
Fresh of the back of being inaugurated as ICE President, Ed McCann joins NCE editor Claire Smith and head of content & engagement Rob Horgan on the podcast to go over the latest news. Recorded ahead of the Integrated Rail Plan’s publication, Ed explains how a year of uncertainty has affected the industry while remaining sympathetic to the difficult position the government found itself in amid the pandemic. Ed also looks over the Spending Review as well as announcements made at COP26 and gives his take alongside Claire and Rob on what it means for civil engineers. The ICE’s 157th President then moves on to discuss his upcoming year at the helm of the Institution, mapping out how he plans to take on the good work done by Rachel Skinner in terms of addressing the climate crisis. The trio then wind the clock back and discuss how Ed came to be an engineer, uncover how he ended up studying for a masters in Mexico and reminisce about iconic projects in Ed's past such as Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and the Olympic Velodrome. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.
Nov 10, 2021 · 58 min
How EDF plans to mitigate the environmental impact of Sizewell C
Sizewell C consents manager Stephen Mannings and head of regional affairs Tom McGarry talked to NCE former features editor Nadine Buddoo and current features editor Sotiris Kanaris about EDF Energy’s efforts to alleviate concerns about the project's environmental impact. Like Sizewell B, the proposed nuclear power station Sizewell C will be located within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For the construction of the new power station, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) land will also be needed. For these reasons, local communities and environmental groups have raised concerns over the environmental impact of the project. During the podcast discussion, Stephen and Tom run through several measures devised to minimise the construction phase’s environmental impact. They also talk about the proposed plant design changes aiming to preserve a specific area of habitat and lower disturbance to wildlife. EDF Energy has also invested in creating new habitat, the Aldhurst Farm, which Stephen explains in more detail on the podcast. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.
Oct 27, 2021 · 58 min
Contracting to collaborate and drive industry change
The role of forms on contract have played over the last 30 years in moving the construction sector from an adversarial one to a collaborative one is explored in the latest episode. New Engineering Contracts (NEC) Users’ Group Chair John Welch, who is also currently deputy director for construction at Crown Commercial Service, and Andrew McNaughton who has recently joined Aczel as infrastructure lead join NCE editor Claire Smith and features editor Nadine Buddoo to talk about the impact NEC has had on the industry. John and Andrew discuss the drivers for the NEC contracts to be used on smaller projects now, as well as major schemes, and look at why the system is gaining ground internationally too. Both guests point to NEC’s basis as a simple form of contract that uses plain English as the main reason for widening adoption. They also discuss how evolution of the contracts has set out the principles for collaboration but say that it is really up to the project partners to foster those principles and put them into action. Before the interview, Claire chats with NCE’s head of content and engagement Rob Horgan and reporter Catherine Kennedy about what is likely to come out the Spending Review last today (27 October) and what the industry hopes will come out of COP26 in Glasgow. The news team also talk about the stories that have caught the interest of readers in the last month from National Highways’ historic rail bridge infilling to the fifth anniversary of construction work starting at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.
Oct 13, 2021 · 39 min
Why engineers need to prioritise nature-based solutions over ‘grey’ alternatives
With COP26 just weeks away, the need to design in sustainability and climate resilience into every element of the built environment has never been more in the spotlight and is the focus of the latest episode. NCE editor Claire Smith and reporter Catherine Kennedy are joined by Rodrigo Fernandes who is director of empowering sustainable development goals with Bentley Systems to talk about the role of engineers – and the tools available to them – to drive change through design. Before talking about the solutions and option available, Rodrigo talks to Claire and Catherine about progress on sustainability in the last decade and the scale of the challenge facing the engineering profession as it looks to increase the pace of change. Rodrigo discusses the need to have collaboration at ecosystem level to deliver real benefits for the environment and the need for engineers to prioritise nature-based solutions over “grey” [concrete] alternatives. He also calls on engineers to advocate for resiliency early in the lifecycle of a project and for the industry to make better use of lifecycle tools to facilitate more environmentally conscious decision making. The trio explore projects that are already doing good work in terms of improved sustainability with Rodrigo highlighting construction of High Speed 2 rail line as taking an innovative approach to design and delivery for sustainability. Nonetheless, he suggests that the construction industry needs to consider moving more to retrofitting and refurbishment over new build in the future to deliver on environmental promises. The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for transportation infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure. Find out more at www.bentley.com