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The Acre is a 'retrofirst' refurbishment of a 1980s office building in central London, UK, with 80% of the original structure being reuse. A key requirement was to temporarily divide the ten-storey building into two independent parts during demolition and later reconstruction of linking units. This paper describes the award-winning temporary works used to create a clear work front, with four props horizontally stabilising the building while the site was served by rooftop tower cranes. Far fewer temporary elements were required than first envisaged, leading to benefits to programme, cost, safety and emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 8 October 2018 ICE president Robert Mair will present awards to the following papers published in the various ICE Proceedings journals in 2017. Journal editorial panels nominated their best papers and an awards committee, chaired by Nigel Wright, allocated the awards. These award-winning papers can be downloaded for free from the ICE Virtual Library's 'ICE Publishing Awards 2018' page at . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chart is presented that lists award winning papers related to engineering in Great Britain in 2007 including "Managing the inner world of infrastructure," by Michael Abbott, "The rise and rise of time-bar clauses," by Hamish Lal and "Explaining tunnel construction by joint mapping," by Jack Knight.

A list of the recently published civil engineering papers including the 12 specialist journal of the Institution Civil Engineers proceedings is presented. The titles of these papers include "Garyllis River Footbridge—harmonizing engineering and architecture features," "Use of sewage sludge ash (SSA) as material admixture in mortars," and "Partnerships for improving water utility management in Africa."

This article presents information on papers related to engineering published in the most recent issues of the journal "ICE Proceedings." ICE proceeding includes eight specialist journals. Papers related to Bridge Engineering were "A I RverTyne bridge, UK-design and Construction," by S. Metheringham and J. Townshend, "Probabilistic Pedestrian Lateral Excitation of Bridges," by T. M. Roberts, "A Simplified Integral Composite Bridge Connection," by O.J. Riches, N.A. Carstairs and A.E.K. Jones. Papers related to Engineering Sustainability were "Integrated Assessment of Urban Sustainability," by J.S. Wakon, M. El-Haram, N.H. Castillo, R.M. W. Homer, A.D.F. Price and C. Hardcastle, "Urban Biodiversity and Sustainable Development," by R.G. Donovan, J.P. Sadler and J.R. Bryson.

A chart is presented that lists award-winning papers on engineering that could be downloaded for free from the ICE Virtual Library's "ICE Publishing Awards 2013" page at www.icevirtuallibrary.com/info/awards2013.

The article lists the specialist journals included in the ICE Proceedings which includes the "Channel Tunnel Rail Link section 2: King's Cross lands," by I. Gardner and T. Smart, "Remediating a soil-nailed excavation in Wuhan, China," by Y. Yang, and "The psychology of managing project cost," by T. Aikens.

Piled structures continue to fail during earthquakes despite being designed with the required safety factor against bending due to lateral loads. This paper suggests that the reason for this may be that when the ground liquefies, its reduction in lateral support allows piles to buckle under their axial load. The mechanism could have led to the collapse of many pile-supported structures in earthquakes worldwide and is likely to cause more damage in the future. The paper concludes that the practical implications could be far-reaching, requiring reassessment of existing structures in liquefiable soils as well as rewriting seismic design codes to take better account of the effects of axial load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into the behaviour and effect of including geogrids in the unbound layers of roadways has been carried out over the last 30 years. It has led to an understanding of how the performance benefits observed can be quantified and applied by engineers to reduce the unbound layer thickness, cut construction costs and increase traffic life. So far, highway applications of geogrids have tended to be limited to where problem soils have been encountered along the route. However, extensive research programmes into hexagonal structure geogrids have extended the application of geogrid benefits to the design and construction of the whole pavement, offering savings in the bound layers as well as unbound layers. This paper reports on trafficking trials carried out in the UK and USA at both small and full scale. Using project case studies, it describes how the inclusion of a geogrid in the granular layers of a whole pavement can reduce project costs while maintaining traffic life, increase project life to reduce maintenance and rehabilitation costs, and increase project value for clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a long history of developments in civil engineering being tailored for and used by military engineers. This paper describes current UK research on protective structures and hardening of civil structures, its exploitation in current operations and future equipment and techniques. To deliver this research, an integrated team was created, with requirements definition and management being provided by military engineers and Ministry of Defence scientists. The research was conducted by consultants in civil engineering, defence, security and infrastructure together with academic teams from civil engineering and physics departments in UK universities. Major drivers were cross-fertilisation and pull-through from civil engineering, innovation and exploitation into current military operations and for future equipment. Maintaining a balance between the demands from the priorities of current operations and the need to maintain fundamental work to underpin longer term thinking has been a key feature. The programme structure, processes and lessons learned are described, together with some example work strands and their successful use in practice. Examples range from fast-running engineering models for use in operational theatres, retrofitting of hardening measures to existing buildings, modular structures through to high strain rate material characterisation and modelling of civil engineering materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines mutual recognition of professional engineering qualifications and the globalisation of accreditation of engineering education by US organisation ABET. Scrutiny of the Washington Accord on mutual recognition and a recent attempt to gain ABET accreditation for a UK civil engineering degree programme highlights differences between ABET and the UK Engineering Council. The ambiguity of the Washington Accord also means it may be interpreted differently by signatories. It is suggested that ABET accreditation and the US professional engineer (PE) qualification may become the de-facto global standard due to lack of significant competition from the UK or Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is over a decade since the UK's Cardington fire research programme began and eight years since the collapse of the US World Trade Center, two events that have shaped research on fire engineering of steel and composite structures. Successful performance of the Cardington steel structure in a fire has been eagerly taken up by many as a means of reducing the cost of fire protection, while the World Trade Center collapse brought to worldwide attention the danger of fire-induced total structural collapse. This paper summarises recent developments in UK steel structural fire-engineering research and identifies key issues for further work, including performance and integrity of fire-protection materials with regard to controlling progressive structural collapse and fire spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a retrospective analysis of the failure of the 93 m high Teton dam in Idaho, USA, on its first filling in June 1976. Water from the near-full reservoir cascaded downstream, killing 11 people and causing massive economic losses. The failure shattered the confidence of the engineering community at large, enraged the public and politicians, and led to a series of dam safety regulations in the USA and other jurisdictions around the world. The conclusion to be drawn is that, in building major structures, engineers should expect the unexpected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civil engineers continually interact with other engineering disciplines. There are also many internal interfaces, for example between design and construction and between analysis and practice. Clearly, opportunities for misunderstandings abound whenever there is an interface between specialist skills, and—left undiscovered—can result in failure. It is vital to learn from all failures, and grouping them under interfaces offers a convenient categorisation. Those discussed in this paper include building interfaces, technology frontiers, structures supporting moving loads, bearings, systems' behaviour and control systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents reviews of the histories of seven large bridges that failed or required repair due to a weakness in design either during construction or shortly after being brought into service. All seven failures played a significant role in developing the civil engineering profession's knowledge of structural action and materials behaviour. The author builds upon the important historical research work of others to show that these case histories still hold lessons for the profession today. In particular, they all had some precedent, which at the time went largely unnoticed, indicating that such failures may be controlled or foreseen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collapse of a record-breaking 240 m span prestressed-concrete bridge in the Pacific Island nation of Palau occurred without warning in 1996. The parties involved were subject to a confidentiality agreement, so no definitive statement has been made as to the cause of the collapse. This paper reports on a study carried out using information in the public domain. Iit concludes that a repair carried out six weeks before the collapse was not to blame, but did expose weaknesses in the original design. is recommended that the construction industry should not shelter behind confidentiality clauses but, like the aircraft industry, publish its mistakes so lessons can be learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews reported causes of a range of engineering failures from around the world n an attempt to define general lessons for future projects. It draws on cases of major failures reported over the past few years and the conclusions of an earlier review reported in 1979. The reports indicate that not a single failure was caused by hitherto unknown physical phenomena occurring without prior warning. All were caused by failures to use information available somewhere. They were therefore 'institutional' risks of systems of organisation, communications and procurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines Thomas Telford's achievement as a project manager against modern criteria for that role. It shows that he was undoubtedly one of the best project managers of his time but appears to have confined his innovations to engineering design rather than attempting to change the way major projects were managed. He nevertheless inspired all who worked with him and proved that you do not need modern communications and management tools to be an outstanding project manager. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that the Romans staged mock sea battles as well as gladiator contests in some of its numerous amphitheatres. However, there is much speculation as to whether it would have been technically possible to flood the Empire's largest and best-known amphitheatre—the Colosseum in Rome itself—even though contemporary reports suggest it did happen. Using a modern engineering analysis, this paper concludes that while there are a considerable number of missing links in the archaeological evidence, the central 80m long arena could have been filled in a time of 2-5 h and drained again in a similar timescale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a paper that studied aspects of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) including its work, major issues, and matters of concern. SCOSS', which was created in 1977 to pinpoint practices and trends in structural engineering, deliberation on an estimated 200 topics has resulted in change in design requirements and authoritative guidance. The paper concludes a comprehensive approach to structural safety and emphasizes human shortcomings and errors as the causes of failure.

Between 2001 and 2005, around £250 million was spent on construction research in UK universities. The funds were either directly allocated to projects or indirectly as core funds to support research infrastructure. The latter were allocated according to the standing and vitality or ‘power’ of the research groups, the average of which in 2001 showed a dramatic but little publicised improvement over 1996. This paper describes the process used to assess that research power and then analyses the data for the last assessment in 2001. It concludes that the UK has around 700 or so civil engineering research academics who are recognised as international in their outlook and whose performance is well above average, despite belowaverage support. It urges the UK construction professionals to take more advantage of this hidden resource on their doorstep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Getting ahead in civil engineering today is, like most other professions, very much down to an individual's own efforts. Based on in-depth interviews with senior civil engineers and human resources managers at five major UK engineering organisations, this paper concludes that the traditional hierarchical, linear and predictable nature of civil engineering career development no longer exists. Promotion today depends very much on how individuals manage their own careers. Civil engineers need to make the best use of the support resources available to them and then follow their passions, be proactive and grasp opportunities. They should also build and share expertise, take considered risks, use positive politics, raise their visibility, promote their profiles, network and find role models and mentors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not all volunteer engineering services are provided purely for community-related projects. Developing economies also need a flourishing private sector yet many of their businesses lack the skills to overcome technical and managerial challenges and are unable to buy in the necessary advice. This paper describes the wide-ranging volunteer consultancy services provided by British Executive Services Overseas to organisations in both the public and private sectors worldwide. The assignments also provide a valuable opportunity for volunteers and their sponsors to get involved at the earliest stages of major development projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade there have been several advances in health and safety practice in tunnelling. Industry standard publications have been revised, new and revised legislation has come into effect and a series of CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) standards for tunnel-machinery safety have been drafted. Extensive research related mainly to health and safety in compressed air tunnelling has also been undertaken. This paper reviews the health and safety risks of tunnelling and, through reference to standards, legislation, research and guidance, provides some indication as to how a reduction in these risks is being achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a source of renewable energy hydropower schemes are not particularly popular with planners due to the significant impact they can have on their immediate surroundings. However, a small run-of-river plant recently completed in Scotland the country's first hydro project for 40 years shows that such schemes can be both profitable and practical to build, as well as having a negligible environmental impact. This paper describes the planning design and construction of the 3 MW Cuileig scheme a benchmark for what looks set to be a renaissance for hydropower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dense urban development on a hilly terrain, together with intense seasonal rainfall, gives rise to acute slope safety problems in Hong Kong. This is reflected by a death toll of over 470 fatalities due to landslides since the 1940s. Site formation works form an integral part of infrastructure and building development in a steeply sloping terrain. In the mid-1970s, the Hong Kong government embarked on a slope retrofitting programme, known as the landslip preventive measures programme, systematically to reduce landslide risk by upgrading substandard man-made slopes to modern safety standards. By 2010, some 4500 high-risk government man-made slopes had been upgraded through the implementation of engineering works. In 2010, the government launched the landslip prevention and mitigation programme to dovetail with the completion of the previous programme. The new rolling programme aims to contain the overall landslide risk to an 'as low as reasonably practicable' level by upgrading the remaining substandard man-made slopes and systematically mitigating the landslide risk posed by vulnerable natural terrain catchments. In this paper, the advances and innovations arising from this unique systematic slope safety programme are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses several reports published in the issue including one on engineering failures and another on learning from failure.

This paper sets out to provide a 'big-picture' guide to the major advances in structural engineering design that have taken place over the last five decades. Rapid advances in computer technology during this period have spurred the development of structural calculations, ranging from the simple strength-of-materials approach in the 1950s, to the finite-element type of structural analysis for design in more recent years, and to the modern development of scientific simulation and visualisation for structural problems in the years to come. The paper concludes that the continually emerging nature of structural engineering and its associated codes of practice offers an exciting career, balancing idealisations of scientific theory with engineering reality and employing the latest computing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society's globalising economic system is destabilising the planet's life-support systems and is rapidly becoming unsustainable. This paper, which is based on the author's touring Brunel international lecture, analyses current knowledge and concludes that society could move to a sustainable way of living within environmental limits over the next few decades, allowing for continued human development and population growth as well as adapting to climate change. The paper also addresses the policies and engineering input that will be needed to achieve this transition to a new 'ecological age' of human civilisation. In particular there needs to be a continuous adaption of the global economy to match the size of the supporting ecosystem. If use of resources remains within Earth's natural capacity to absorb waste and regenerate those resources, the economy will be sustainable and human development can continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent restoration of the 1797 Wendover arm of the Grand Union Canal in England has revealed one of the earliest uses of asphalt as a waterproofing liner. Following excessive leakage, a length of 4.4 km of the arm was lined in 1857 with coal tar asphalt as an economic alternative to repuddling with clay. However, within 13 years the canal was leaking as before and eventually closed in 1904. As this paper reports, the failure appears to have resulted from use of an excessively rich lining mixture and poor construction practice plus damage from boats, ice breaking and earth movements. It was nevertheless a novel, if ultimately unsuccessful, approach to repairing a seriously leaking canal economically and constituted a significant step in the use of asphalt for hydraulic engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thomas Telford's best known canal work is probably Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen (Ellesmere) Canal, possibly followed by the construction of the Shropshire Union and Caledonian Canals. However, the greatest concentration of engineering works exhibiting Telford's genius is probably a 6 km length of the Birmingham Canal, where he dramatically upgraded the waterway while maintaining existing traffic and preserving revenues for the canal company. This paper describes the project, which included removing a congested summit of six locks with a vast cutting up to 22 m deep. The canal and its structures remain in full use today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant proportion of volunteer engineers are involved with poverty alleviation in the developing world. Such work invariably involves a contribution from professional engineers, whether voluntary or otherwise. However there is an increasing danger of using good engineering to support poor policy. The role of engineers is important but they must work in collaboration with other professionals if long-lasting solutions are to be achieved. As illustrated by the case studies in this paper sustained alleviation of poverty through implementation of infrastructure solutions requires careful attention to underlying social, economic and political influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge over the River Tyne in north-east England is a unique tilting bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. Opened by the Queen in May 2002, the inspirational 105 m span structure subsequently became the first bridge to win the Royal Institute of British Architects' 2002 Stirling Prize for `building of the year'. This paper provides an overview of what has become known as the `blinking eye' bridge and of the processes adopted to achieve and deliver it not least the spectacular superstructure installation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the paper "Civil Engineering's Image in Schools--and How to Change It," by L. Hamill and L. Hodgkinson. Even in a market as large as construction, wasteful and inefficient producers can only expect to achieve low profits at best, and hence be driven to low cost solutions, including pay. There is an almost complete lack of customer-centered strategy and management in the industry. As the intellectuals of the construction industry, civil engineers really must now get with it instead of suffering the inevitable effects of economics.

Buildings in mainland Britain have suffered from several serious blast incidents over the past two decades, from the 1992 St Mary Axe bomb in the City of London to the Buncefield oil depot explosion in 2005. This paper is based on the authors' experiences of investigating and repairing the resulting damage to many of the major buildings involved in these incidents. It describes how forensic investigation - including laboratory and on-site testing and computer modelling and analysis techniques - was vital to these investigations to assess dynamic response, extent of damage and residual strength of the buildings and structural elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is now a real shortage of civil engineering graduates in the UK and, more importantly, a shortage of graduates with appropriate skills to meet the needs of the construction industry. As this paper explains, this is one of several drivers for change in the educational base of civil engineers the others being the UK Spec, the national qualification framework and the newly formed Construction Skills council. But to encourage students to enter the profession there also needs to be clear simple messages to define civil engineering and what civil engineers do so that the excitement importance and challenge of the profession can emerge. This will be achieved through increased interaction between industry and higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport engineering offers a potentially rich and fulfilling career not just financially but in terms of the holistic service that transport engineers can offer society long into the future. This paper which is based on the author's recent Paviors' Lecture in London, explains that it is not just about getting things done, it is about getting the right things done, which means taking the broadest possible view of what transport engineering is about In addition to building the right vehicles and infrastructure it also means developing good policies and carrying out good research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Last year's Indian Ocean tsunami was a tragic reminder of the destructive power of earthquakes and of the continuing need for scientists, engineers and technologists to help protect society from their effects. This paper reports on the development of a UK-designed challenge project aimed at raising awareness among young people worldwide of the global importance of earthquake engineering skills. Since the project's launch in 2000, over 1400 school and university students have taken part— including hundreds in japan and Taiwan—and take-up continues to rise. The project is a valuable promotional tool for the engineering profession and serves as a model for any engineers planning extra-curricular projects for local schools and colleges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abandoned 200-year-old, 85 km long Wilts and Berks Canal between Bath and Oxford in southern England is currently being restored by a voluntary trust that includes many volunteer engineers. The inter-relation between design techniques and construction methods is discussed and examples of recent design and construction projects are given, together with comments on some of the more unusual design issues relating to voluntary restoration projects. The challenging extent of work remaining is outlined and the potential for training and research is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the article "Ma'rib Dam and irrigation project—a wonder in the desert," by Rajib Chakraborty, published in the November 2005 issue of the magazine. The author expresses his surprise and disappointment over the article's failure to mention the social and agricultural aspects of the Ma'rib Dam project. He claims that civil engineers should recognize their customers and construct what is needed by the societies they serve.

The article informs about some published papers related to engineering. In addition to the journal "Civil Engineering," the Institute of Civil Engineering proceedings includes eight specialist journals. Papers and articles published in the most recent issues are listed in the article. The journals of which article are mentioned here include "Bridge Engineering," "Engineering Sustainability," "Geotechnical Engineering," "Maritime Engineering," "Municipal Engineering," and the others.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Broads outdoor centre: a lesson in low-impact engineering," by Andrew Best, which appeared in the February 2008 issue.

The article lists the recently published papers and articles about engineering which includes "The landmark Metsovitikos Bridge, Greece," by K. Aahmadi-Kashani, "The establishment of plastic design in the UK," by J. Heyman, and "The Cockermouth School Eco Centre, Cumbria, UK," by S. W. Pollington.

A review of publicly funded UK structural and geotechnical research showed it was among the best in the world, but incremental rather than transformational. Furthermore, public research investment in this area is less than in other sectors despite significant investment in construction and infrastructure generally. This is also at a time of rapid change driven by population growth, resource scarcity and security, developments in technology, society's expectations and aspirations, and climate. A major review of the purpose of infrastructure and construction was thus undertaken by representatives from academia, industry, research organisations, clients and government. They concluded that, if transformational research is to take place, the research themes to address are hazards, understanding material behaviour, paradigm shift in design, construction processes, building performance, smart buildings, asset management, intervention, decarbonisation and adaption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African Community Access Programme is a research initiative for the rural transport sector in Africa. The programme is funded by the UK Department for International Development and by partner governments in Africa. The programme in turn has funded a wide range of research projects in the rural transport sector. It provides support to users of the research outputs at all stages of the uptake process. Users of these new ideas include national transport sector institutions, local government organisations, practitioners and community groups. Under the programme the uptake of new ideas and innovations has been most effective in the road engineering aspects of rural transport. This includes the adoption of new standards and specifications for low traffic roads. The rate of uptake is affected by the level of institutional maturity and cohesion in the participating countries, and how closely the innovation is aligned to sector policies and strategic plans. Particular success has been achieved when there is a champion for the idea in the user organisation. The programme has focused on effective communication of research findings to user groups and building a strong community of practice for the rural transport sector. Long-term support from the principal funder has been a key factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational ill health and wellbeing is a significant challenge for workers in the civil engineering and construction sectors. The symptoms of many ill-health conditions become more severe over time and minor aches and pains in a young worker can develop into serious problems the older they get. Health and safety training has increased in recent years and site inductions are now ubiquitous. However, formal training methods seem to have little effect. Evidence-based, wearable simulations for common construction ill-health conditions have been developed from over 20 years of university-based research. The simulations provide a learning experience for dermatitis, hand-arm vibration syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders, noise-induced hearing loss and respiratory disorders and are being trialled with young apprentices aiming to change their attitudes and behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the panel for historical engineering works of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). The author provides an overview of the history of the development of the panel. The author also explores how the panel has successfully engage with the public more than any other institution activity in its unparalleled efforts to record infrastructure heritage, as well as promoting the best engineering practice.

The article presents two commentaries to a previously published report by Keith Clarke on the measures needed to excel in the engineering business. The first commentary asserts the importance of singularity in leadership in gaining excellence which is overlooked in the report. On the other hand, the second commentary points out the universal truth about engineering that is addressed in the report.

The article discusses how the British engineering profession should face up to the challenge of moving towards a sustainable future. Universities are trying many different ways of introducing sustainability into syllabuses, ranging from adding modules to existing courses to restructuring entire courses with a different philosophical framework. The process has made many of those involved reevaluate what university courses should be trying to achieve. Should graduates emerge as calculation kings or with the ability to create a better world? Business is recognizing that there are real dangers in ignoring social and environmental impacts of projects, whether it be bad publicity or hidden long-life costs.

The article reports on the problems and principles of Earth Systems engineering, which is expected to help solve the problems faced by the world. Earth Systems engineering, which is similar to Earth systems science, could be used to address climate change, poverty, and resource scarcity, among others. It is a type of engineering that stretches the boundaries of the field to deal with unprecedented levels of uncertainty and human and natural systems. The article presents various examples of how engineering is applied to deal with complex systems including coastlines, cities, and climate.