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The article focuses on the Civils 2007 event. Most delegates agreed that Civils 2007 had provided a world-class forum for topical discussion. Gemma Watts of Dean & Dyball says that they were very pleased with the outcome of three days exhibiting at the Civils show. One of the great successes of the show was the technical seminar programme, with the often standing-room-only sessions resulting in a comprehensive discussion of the issues covered.

The article reports about the construction of a deep water outer harbor at Great Yarmouth, England by Great Yarmouth Port Co. The owner, International Port Holdings (IPH) is planning to expand its facilities. Further, Van Oord ACZ and Nuttall John Martin have been given the contract. The money for the development will come from the European Regional Development Fund, East of England Development Agency etc. The work is divided into scope A and scope B. Details about the project is also given.

The article discusses the comparison of two crash barrier technologies called concrete step barriers and steel barriers in Great Britain. Accordingly, concrete barriers are undoubtedly better protection against crossovers but lack ductility that increases the possibility of injuries to the driver of the errant vehicle. On the other hand, steel barriers are designed to offer a certain amount of give so that the automobile's impact is cushioned.

The article offers information on the demolition of 86 year old, Victorian style Castlewood reservoir in South London, England, and re[placing it with a new reservoir capable of providing for a larger population than the original 4.1Ml structure. The contract for the construction has been awarded to Morrison Construction. Information on the various techniques used by the construction group to finalise the structure has been offered.

The aritcle reports on a new delivery system for offshore wind farms in Great Britain, which could reduce installation and construction costs. A consortium comprising BMT Group, Gifford, Hunter Associates, Bierrum International, University of Nottingham, E.ON UK and DONG Energy is trialling a system where a bespoke Transport and Installation Barge (TIB) is used to install concrete gravity foundations for wind turbines at depths of up to 35 meters. Michael Starling of BMT says the project is focused on the offshore transport and installation part.

The author addresses whether the looming global food shortage indicates the need for reassessing the managed retreat of the British coastline. Association of Drainage Authorities (ADA) chief executive Jean Venables says saline intrusion into the aquifers will affect the ability to grow crops in areas adjacent to aquifers. National Farmers' Union senior policy adviser Paul Hammett says he have some concerns about the cost-benefit analysis of defending farmland as it seems to be quite out of date.

The article reports on inquiries on Network Rail's project management, in light of engineering delays at Rugby and Liverpool Street stations in England. The West Coast Main Line has been shut to be remodeled from December 27-30, 2007, but the track was not opened until January 4, 2008 due to a shortage of electrification. First Scotrail's managing director Mary Dickson says they will be asking some hard question of Network Rail managers as the result of having to suspend services between Glasgow and Paisley.

The article reports that the number of students studying civil engineering has risen 45 percent in the past five years, according to a report published by the Engineering Technology Board. The rise came despite the total number of students across all engineering disciplines falling by more than 25 percent during the same period. Civils graduates are the most likely to get work soon after university, with 74 percent employed within six months of graduation. They also receive the best graduate salaries, at £23,000 per annum on average.

The article presents information related to the expansion of Severn Trent's 162ha water treatment works at Minworth in West Midlands, England. As part of current expansion plans, company Van Elle has worked on a 148M pound contract to install foundations for eight final settlement tanks, one activated sludge plant (ASP) and six ancillary structures, including a pumping station and distribution centres.

The article focuses on the significant contribution of the Autotrack 8 for Highway Design software designed by Savoy Computing in the transport of wind turbines done by trucking firm R. Collett & Sons from Chatham dockyard to Kent, England. The use of the software is intended to address the issue of predicting the movements of a large vehicle. The software was able to input data on the planned route and model it to predict the clearances needed.

The article focuses on a shatter-resistant window film developed by 3M Co. The film can be retrofitted to buildings considered to be at high risk of terrorist attacks. The film is designed to deform under pressure from a bomb blast outside the building while staying in one piece. It is being tested for the International Organization of Standardization and U.S. General Services Administration standards compliance by the Carillon security consultancy TPS.

The article reports on the newly constructed roads and bridges at the Olympic Park in London, England. It relates the 30 bridges and 20km of new road are being created on the Olympic Park to link 2.5km of land that until now has been separated by railroads and waterways. The investment in infrastructure is important to the Games and for renewing this part of East London. Moreover, the structures, bridges, and highway projects in joining the various parts of the Olympic Park are explored.

The article reports on the responsibility of Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) man Lawrence Waterman of keeping the health and safety across all Olympic sites in London, England. Waterman is the ODA's man accountable for construction-related condition and safety across all the London 2012 venues. Moreover, it presents information on Waterman's job as a construction health and safety consultant before joining the ODA and his relationship with other companies and clients.

The article reports on the need of tougher guidelines on risk assessments for historic structures in Great Britain. Paul Scott, director of fire and risk engineering at Faber Maunsell, stresses that tougher guidelines should exist to ensure that risk assessors used in historic structures are suitably competent. It notes that risk assessment should be done with someone who is competent enough and can take into account the replaceability and historic nature of the building.

The article focuses on the demolition of the Swiss Centre building at the Leicester Square in London, England. The work is in preparation for the construction of a nine-storey development of McAleer & Rushe. The £160 million mixed-use structure will house a casino, restaurant and hotel and is built on the existing foundations of the Swiss Centre building.

The article reports that the construction industry needs a chief construction officer in Whitehall, England. The Members of Parliament (MPs) believe that the industry needs a dedicated officer and the recommendation came from the Commons Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform select committee. The officer is someone who provides point of engagement between the industry and the public sector, as will be involved in policy and regulatory matters across government departments.

The article reports that some Members of Parliament (MPs) attacked the government for its uncertainty to add more high speed railway lines in Great Britain. The MPs states that the government's hesitation may lead to overcrowding misery in the coming years. They point out that ministers ignore the potential environmental and economic benefits of a high-speed and well-funded rail network. The transport select committee dropped the government's White Paper, stating that it is short-sighted.

Information about the topics discussed during the seventh Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Brunel international lecture held in June 2008 in Great Britain is presented. It highlights the talk of Arup director Peter Head who focused on the attitude of the nation towards waste describing the people as actually wasteful. Head added that a major opportunity is to treat urban wastewater and use it for drip feed irrigation of surrounding farmland.

The article reports on the failure of government sustainability document to make a real difference in Great Britain. According to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), the document which sets out targets for sustainable practice in construction has failed to inspire change in the industry. John Wilson, technical and environmental officer of CECA, said that the document lacks any evident drivers to affect change in behavior.

The article reports on the strategy used by Atkins to direct on larger national projects in Great Britain. Atkins has reduced its regional staff as it changes the focus of its design business. According to their spokesman, the scheme is their strategy to win best contracts and to offer a better service to clients.

The article offers information on the online service provider, Centremapslive that provides a range of geospatial information for engineers. It takes data from several suppliers to provide a one stop online shop for mapping resources distributable in all formats, which ranges from the British Geological Survey to the Environment Agency. It also mentions that data can be downloaded in different formats compatible with Geographical Information System (GIS) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.

The article presents information on various television programs that will be aired in the last week of May 2008 on several channels in Great Britain. A friendly match between England and the U.S. would be broadcasted on British Broadcasting Co. 1. The program "The Gadget Show" on Channel 5 will try out the best in-car gadgets on the market. In the program "Scrapheap Challenge" on Channel 4, the contestants will battle to see who can put together the best dune buggy.

Information about several issues discussed at the "Procuring the Future of Infrastructure Conference" sponsored by the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) East Midlands at Nottingham Racecourse in England in April 2008 is presented. Topics include the discussion of the ICE report concerning the long-term infrastructure planning process for Great Britain. The symposium featured more than 70 industry professionals and the keynote address of ICE president David Orr.

The article announces the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) annual Merit Awards (EMMAs) in which Scott Wilson bagged the Overall Winner Award in the Large Project category while Derbyshire County Council was awarded the Overall Winner Award for the Small Project category.

The article presents information on the prospects of a proposed congestion charging scheme in Manchester, England. It is stated that the prospects of the scheme weakened after the Labour chair of the Greater Manchester Passenger Authority (GMPTA), Roger Jones was unseated by an anti-charging campaigner. It is stated that the scheme is not likely to get an approval if Manchester's new councilors move against the scheme, even if the Department of Transport (DfT) approves it.

The article reveals that Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) is close to agreeing the terms of a £3 billion deal with Viridor/Laing Consortium. The deal will see waste contractor Viridor and private finance developer John Laing deliver £330 million (M) of waste facilities. The consortium has already signed a £7M advance works order with Costain. The order will enable the contractor to begin detailed design work of mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plants, transfer loading stations and waste recycling centres.

The article reports that drainage authorities, farmers and the British Environment Agency were squaring up for a battle in the end of March 2008 over the need to maintain sea defences for key farming areas in Norfolk, England. The National Farmers Union (NFU) and the Association of Drainage Authorities (ADA) have claimed that Norfolk is too valuable to be allowed to flood, despite rising sea levels.

The article announces the finalists for the 2008 James Rennie Medal Award in Great Britain. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) will start the final selection process for the winner in April. The finalists include Ramboll Whitbybird senior engineer Paul Wewer and Corus industrial business manager Robert Dale. A schedule of other special events related to civil engineering to be held from April 2 to 9 is presented which includes the Graduate & Student Paper Competition in Taunton, England.

The article discusses the highlights of a series of events held by the Insitution of Civil Engineers (ICE) to celebrate the National Science and Engineering Week in England in March 2008. The ICE teamed up with other engineering associations and educational charity Setpoint to organise the Engineering Your Future careers awareness days in London. Two universities in Leeds paid tribute to the profession by constructing a scaled-down model of the Wembley Stadium Arch. ICE president David Orr stressed the success of the week.

The article reports that the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has criticised the omission of engineers from the newly formed Committee on Climate Change advisory board in Great Britain. ICE director general Tom Foulkes has requested the government to create a new advisory post for a senior civil engineer. He added that the lack of engineers in the board would impede efforts to bring the region's carbon emissions in line with European targets. Foulkes also commended the government's additional support for road pricing technology.

The article reports on the collapse of the lock gate at the Shoreham Port in Sussex, England due to bolt failure in January 2008. The port authority engineer Tony Parker said that the structural failure was caused by the fatigue in a set of bolts. The 14-year old gate was attached to a steel support frame mounted on a central pivot with bearings. The port authority is also conducting investigations on the lock gate.

The article discusses the highlights of the 2008 Big Draw Awards, which was hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Big Draw events were held throughout Great Britain in October 2007. The awards form part of the Campaign for Drawing, which is an initiative that encourages greater use of drawing in mainstream education. Presenting the awards were Michael Cook of Buro Happold and Narinder Sagoo of Foster + Partners Architect.

The article deals with an event held during the annual visit of David Orr, president of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), to the Yorkshire and Humber region in England in which students were asked to rebuild the Wembley Stadium Arch. The event showcased the engineering skills of pupils from Benton Park Technology College and Garforth Community College in Leeds. Orr hopes that the activity will inspire children to pursue a career in engineering. The activity was developed by Bob Bennett and Lynden Cable of ICE Yorkshire and Humber.

The article reports on the collapse of a tower crane in New York City due to the lack of redundancy in the support bracing system. Retired contractor Bruce Silberblatt had lodged a complaint with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) days before the crane collapsed, arguing that the bracing is not enough to support the crane. The incident killed 7 people, injured 24 and damaged 7 neighboring buildings. The DOB claims that a steel collar, which should have been attached to brace the crane, had fallen from the building before the collapse.

The article focuses on the use of steel in the design of earthquake-resistant structures discussed by the Society for Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics and the Institution of Structural Engineers at a London, England event in 2008. British Geological Survey (BGS) seismologist Alice Walker cited the possibility for another earthquake after the one that occurred in March. Professor Federico Mazzolani tackled the common structural failures in buildings during seismic events and the effectiveness of using steel eccentric bracing frames (EBF).

The article focuses on issues arising from the development of the Terminal 2 programme in Dover, England in 2008. Dover Harbour Board development and planning head Nigel Bodell cited the difficulty in getting contractors. Bodell stated that the growth and development at the port is being driven by freight. He is said to have remained optimistic that there are sufficient civil engineers who will be eager to take part in the project.

The article discusses the need to revise the training of civil engineers during the Future of London and its Engineers event in London, England in March 2008. Millennium bridge designer Chris Wise cited that the model of teaching currently being used is different from the actual engineering practice. Joint Board of Moderators member and Expedition Engineering civils director Ed McCann stated that civil engineering firms should lead the efforts to increase the participation of engineers in the commissioning of projects.

The article reports on the ranking of some British engineering consultants and contractors in the "Sunday Times" 100 Best Companies to Work for 2008 list. Consultant Hydrock of Bristol, England ranked 4th out of 311 entities in the mid-sized companies category while Mott MacDonald ranked eighth in the list of 20 Best Big Companies to Work For. It is reported that firms like Hydrock find the high-profile an effective recruiting tool in a time of acute skills shortages.

The article reports that several properties were flooded caused by overtopping of coastal defences in southern England and Wales due to storm-force winds combined with high spring tides in March 2008. According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the broken sea defences triggered the evacuation of 30 individuals from a caravan park and a precautionary coastline search for possible victims of the tides. South-west Wales Environment Agency flood risk manager Phil Pickersgill said 11 roads were closed due to tidal overtopping onto the roads.

The article reports that structural engineering consultant Edge Structures has used 4D computer-aided design (CAD) technology to communicate its designs more effectively in Great Britain. The CAD software is designed by NavisWorks which allows Edge to model the progress of a development against time in order to analyze the construction accurately. Edge Structures' associate Paul James explained how NavisWorks showed bus drivers operating around a busy North East town center.

The article reports that the British Geological Survey (BGS) declared that there have been no reports of significant damage to building or infrastructure after the earthquake in Lincolnshire, England. It reveals that more than 28,000 reports have been made to the BGS since the initial earthquake, but the extent of the damage to property has been limited to minor damage to chimneys and small cracks in the concrete.

The article reports that the parliament has issued a slap in the face to the British engineers by refusing to recognise the title engineer in law and protect it from those passing themselves off as chartered professionals. It is stated that the government replied a petition to recognise the professional status of chartered engineers, and even enclose it in law, in an attempt to stop many less skilled trades using the title. It reveals that the petition collected a total of 37,079 signatures.

The article reports on the implementation of the Home Office's five tier Points Based System (PBS) for immigration in Great Britain on February 29, 2008. Under the new rules, civil firms face a ban on recruiting foreign workers if they are found to be employing illegal immigrants. It introduces a sponsorship system for employers recruiting labour from overseas.

The article deals with the prediction that there will be a surge in civil engineering firms in Great Britain rushing to finish the sale of their businesses in March 2008. The surge is caused by the implementation of the Capital Gains Tax reform in April 2008. The author says business owners are processing deals to maximize profits and avoid the new 18% rate. Richard Farnsworth of PricewaterhouseCoopers reveals that there are some shareholders who have full business taper relief rushing to sell assets prior the implementation of the reform.

This article reports that British engineers were urged to return to college and teach part-time to help tackle a shortage of civils tutors. An initiative launched by skills council Lifelong Learning UK offers engineering professionals free teacher training and help to find part-time teaching posts. Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) training courses are part of the Pass on Your Skills initiative.

The article reports on the selection of Costain as the preferred contractor for Europe's largest waste private finance initiative concession. A joint venture of John Laing and waste contractor Viridor has selected Costain to build the new waste facilities for the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority. These will include five mechanical biological treatment plants, two materials recovery facilities, four in-vessel composting plants, five transfer loading stations and 17 waste recycling centres.

The article focuses on the results of an investigation conducted by "New Civil Engineer" (NCE) regarding the Accropode sea defences in Scarborough, England. NCE discovered a significant number of badly damaged precast concrete Accropodes in the armoured revetment protecting 1.5 kilometers of Scarborough's coastline. According to Scarborough Borough Council's head of engineering and harbour services John Riby, the surveys showed that the sea defence was fit for purpose.

The article reports on the decision to switch engineers from the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to a job at the London Liverpool Street in England, which resulted in commuter chaos. Contractor Colas Rail, which was working at Liverpool Street, has been unable to get enough electrical engineers to carry out overhead electrification works. Network Rail has decided to pull engineers from the WCML to address the problem. Sources claim that the Liverpool Street was prioritised as more than 120,000 commuters use the terminus every day.

The article presents an update on the proposed construction of a relief road in Weymouth, England. Planning permission for the main A354 route was granted in April 2007, but approval for Compulsory Purchase Orders necessary to acquire land on the route and works on subsidiary routes has yet to be given. Public inquiry into the scheme's land take and side roads will reconvene on December 11, 2007.