The Engineers Collective

This month The Engineers Collective deviates from its usual format as an unprecedented political situation unfolds in the United Kingdom. As Prime Minister Johnson is found to have broken the law in his prorogation of Parliament, regular co-hosts Mark Hansford and Alexandra Wynne from New Civil Engineer discuss what all of this actually means for the immediate future of infrastructure in our country.

The pair outline three possible directions for the current government, and try to avoid focusing too much on the giant Brexit-shaped elephant in the room. Will Mr. Johnson focus on infrastructure to boost the economy? Will he even last long enough to have that input? All this and more is up for discussion.

The Engineers Collective is bought to you by Bentley Systems. Bentley's Year in Infrastructure Conference will be held between 21-24 October 2019 in Singapore. Find out more by visiting yii.bentley.com.

As the operator of Brazil's Governador Jose Richa Airport, infraero - Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuaria needed a better way to organise its data and share information among different areas of the company and external stakeholders. Using BIM and GIS technology, along with Bentley applications, the project team created a digital twin of the airport that includes a reality mesh and central repository for all airport data. Its digital twin is streamlining all future internal airport infrastructure projects, as well as planning and management processes, and the project was a winner of Bentley's 2018 Year in Infrastructure Award for Advancing Digital Twins for Airports. Find out more at www.bentley.com/londrina/

In this month’s episode of The Engineers Collective, news editor Rob Horgan and reporter Catherine Kennedy discuss the top news stories of the month, and Catherine tells us a bit about her most recent site visit in Belfast.

Later, Nadine Buddoo (features editor at NCE) is joined by Zane Ulhaq, associate director for Atkins, and Helen Balmforth, the head of data analytics at the Health and Safety Executive.

Zane is a leader for change in the construction and healthcare sectors. He has digitally transformed a business unit of over 3,000 staff and is a key leader of Atkins’ global digital programme. Helen provides data analytical expertise across HSE, the wider UK government and the private sector. She has over 18 years’ experience of developing and delivering analytical solutions for a range of health and safety issues. Helen has led the development of the Regulatory Intelligence programme of work at HSE and sits on the cross government Data Leaders Network.

Together they discuss health, safety and wellbeing issues affecting the industry, and help us understand how data science and tools can be applied to make improvements and innovations.
They tell us all about the ‘Discovering Safety’ programme and how successes and challenges will be shared with industry, and reference examples of best practice.
As with all topics, there is also some Covid-forced innovation to be highlighted, as well as a general shift within industry in data culture (and HSE’s change in mindset to match pace).

Urban populations are growing while climate change means both droughts, as well as sudden intense rainfall events, are on the rise. However, existing urban infrastructure in UK has not caught up with the water management challenges presented by these scenarios. We need to be much smarter about the capture, usage and planned management of water going forward. This is critical to reduce flood risk and to be prepared for periods of drought.

In this episode, New Civil Engineer assistant news editor Rob Hakimian is joined by two guests to discuss the topic - Charlotte Markey, who is green urbanisation innovation manager at Polypipe, and John Griffiths, who is national account manager at environmental data management solutions company Kisters..

In conversation with Rob, Charlotte and John outline the opportunities for upgrading existing infrastructure to blue green infrastructure in the UK, explaining examples including tree pits, rain gardens and blue green roof systems. They also explain the growing importance of data collection – particularly using smart sensors. Both Charlotte and John suggest that this data could be an untapped resource that might be better leveraged with a more strategic “joined up” approach on the part of government, utilities providers and other water management stakeholders.

They also talk about on their involvement a recent pilot project in Manchester that saw the installation of a climate and water resilience research roof in the heart of the city. The project is helping to drive understanding of how a combination of construction and data technologies can help mitigate the impacts of climate change and urbanisation. It demonstrates how storing and re-using rainwater can reduce the volume of surface run-off impacting important assets such as sewer networks.

Charlotte and John compare the approach in the UK to elsewhere globally and consider the implications of not changing the approach to surface water management and the role smart data can play in that.

Listen now to hear about how blue green infrastructure and smart rainwater management can play an ongoing role in the UK’s climate resilience.

The Engineers Collective is proving truly global in reach, with a third of listeners based outside the UK. It is also appealing to an inquisitive, career-builder demographic, with 80% of listeners under 35.

Special guests on previous episodes have included Crossrail managing director Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd special advisor Andrew McNaughton and ICE president Ed McCann. All are available for download and all address current and ongoing issues around skills and major project delivery.

The Engineers Collective is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, A-cast, Stitcher, PodBean and via newcivilengineer.com/podcast

The Engineer’s Collective is powered by Seequent, the subsurface software specialists.

Around the world, teams are using PLAXIS, OpenGround, Leapfrog Works, and GeoStudio to design, build and operate safe, sustainable, and long-lasting infrastructure, from roads to rail, bridges to tunnels, and buildings, dams and levees.

Find out more at seequent.com/civil.

Many firms working in construction are reporting increasing workloads but the challenge of finding skilled staff to deliver that work is not becoming easier.

Bentley Systems chief information officer champion Claire Rutkowski joins NCE editor Claire Smith to talk about the problem and the role technology will play in addressing it.

Claire also spends much of her time out working with architecture, engineering and construction firms to understand their challenges first hand to ensure Bentley’s products meet their needs. However, this also means she has a good understanding of emerging trends from the sector and what those could mean for future business and both Claires explore her insight during the conversation.

On the back of NCE having just concluded its 50th anniversary celebrations, the discussion around emerging trends turns to look much further into the future and the pair consider what infrastructure projects might look like in the 2070s.

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

This month’s episode of The Engineers Collective features Steve Cockerell and Shannon Clemons from Bentley Systems talking to NCE’s news editor Rob Horgan about Bentley Systems’ The Year in Infrastructure 2020 Conference. Due to COVID-19, Bentley Systems decided to cancel or postpone all the company’s physical conferences and events in 2020. This new digital conference format will bring together, now for a broader global community, the thought leadership, networking, and learning content that Bentley conference attendees have come to expect.

Hear from Steve and Shannon about what’s happening during YII 2020 and why you should attend the conference!

The Year in Infrastructure Conference is Going Digital – Oct. 20, 21 and 27
Bentley Systems wants you to be part of this digital experience!

Register now to have full complementary access to live and on-demand content as part of the Year in Infrastructure 2020 Conference. Conference participants will receive exclusive access to a wide range of content that is relevant to infrastructure professionals in every role and phase of the lifecycle. Learn from your peers and exchange ideas on advancing infrastructure.

The YII 2020 speaker-lineup includes:

• Greg Bentley, CEO
  Join Greg in an interactive discussion on the infrastructure resilience challenges professionals face and how digital advancement can facilitate overcoming these obstacles.
• Keith Bentley, Chief Technology Officer
  Hear from Keith about how leading design and construction firms, along with owner-operators, are leveraging digital twins, and the new business model opportunities that are emerging.
• Leading organizations like HS2, Tesla, and NOV share their use cases on innovative applications of digital twins.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity, reserve your virtual seat now at https://yii.bentley.com