Search

The article deals with the warning of Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the government of Great Britain cannot manage developments across the Thames Gateway area to the east of London. PAC chairman Edward Leigh said the project, in which 160,000 homes, business and recreation centres, are planned by 2016, was too big for the Department for Communities and Local Government to manage, and this risked putting off private sector investors. The Thames Gateway is reportedly low on the government's priority list.

The article announces that Glasgow, Scotland-based engineer Richard McGowan has won the prestigious Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) mentor of the year award.

The article reports that One Great George Street has opened its new Wheelchair access lift, to coincide with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) council meeting in Great Britain in November 2007. The Sesame lift will allow wheelchair users to gain access directly from the Westminster building's front entrance. In order to make room for Sesame, two flights of stone steps at the building's entrance were cut out, and two lifts were installed.

The article reports that a task facing the newly formed Railtrack in 1994 as ensuring that its overbridges could carry the new 40t and 44t gvw trucks introduced onto Great britain's roads. It was a task that was simply too large for Railtrack to manage, and so it left local authorities to make their own investigations. They did, however, need to make sure that the conclusions arrived at by a number of different agencies were consistent.

The article reports that the Welsh Highland Railway is being revived for a cost of £25M, around £1M per mile for the 600mm gauge route running from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. The 19th century line ceased running in 1937 and was scrapped in 1942 for the war effort. The track bed was held in receivership until 1990, when the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways took over. Work to reinstate the line began in 1997, with funding from private donations and awards from the Welsh Assembly and the European Union.

The article reports that Network Rail has unveiled its business plan for 2009-2014, outlining a £30bn spend to upgrade and improve the British rail network. The rail operator has also promised halve the costs of running the railway by 2014. Network Rail's strategic business plan says the track operator will double spending on expansion of the network to £9.6bn, while £11.4bn will be spent on track renewals, signals, structures and stations.

The article reports that British Environment Agency chief executive Barbara Young has slammed the proposed Severn Barrage scheme for its negative environmental impact on me estuary's unique wildlife. According to her, a project to deliver 5% of the country's energy at the price of wrecking valuable wildlife is not the way forward. The government has promised a new Severn Estuary tidal power feasibility study. This will include an assessment of a barrage's environmental impact on the region.

The article reports on the possible construction of an inter-city high speed rail as the Department of Transport of Great Britain highlighted the London-Birmingham-Manchester corridor as a possible route. This development was one of the options considered to ease congestion and lessen the environmental impact of transport. According to transport secretary Ruth Kelly, this development aims to support mobility and contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.

The article reports that the British Department for Transport (DfT) announced its commitment of making road user charging and hard shoulder running transport priorities in 2007. DfT released its response to the Eddington and Stern reports as it commits to measures in combatting climate change and bringing aviation to the emissions trading system. The DfT response, Towards a Sustainable Transport System confirms £20 billion budget for transport upgrade between 2014 and 2019.

The article discusses the bid of Transport for London (TfL) over the Metronet contracts for the London Underground. The engineers reportedly expects TfL to get Bechtel manage the Metronet contracts on their behalf. However, Tube Lines is anticipated to submit a counter bid. It speculates that Tube Lines awaits the assessment of bankers Rothschild on Metronet before it submits their bid.

The article discusses the application of computer modelling by Canadian engineers Colder Associates to stabilize sandy slopes surrounding a zinc oxide mine in Shaimerden, Kazakhstan. Zinc oxide is used in the production of sun tan lotion, paints, rubber and various electrical components. The mine in Shaimerden is planned to reach down to a depth of 200 meters below ground level, through extensive sandy and clayey drift deposits, into underlying limestone.

The article focuses on a call by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) to members to serve on its energy and geospatial engineering panel. The energy panel aims to provide a forum to discuss energy policy issues in Great Britain. It will also inform government and other bodies of engineering issues surrounding energy.

The article reports on a claim by PPP arbiter Chris Bolt that he will publish draft findings into how much extra Metronet should have been paid to carry out its works due to changes in the scope of works. Under Bolt's proposed timetable into the review of the upgrade of the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria rail lines in London, England by Metronet, draft directions on the change in costs and revenues that would have been incurred by an efficient Tube contractor will be published in November 2007.

The article reports that funding for a proposed Thames tideway tunnel in London, England is unlikely to come from increases in water rates, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). Based on CCW research, Thames Water customers would be willing to pay only £13 to £14 per year more in their bills to fund the project. The first consultation for the Office of Water Services' 2009 price review has been launched in October 2007.

The article reports on an announcement by Network Rail's chief engineer Andrew McNaughton that all future contracts of the British company will have to be complete within strict 8-hour possessions. Rather than continue to drive down costs through reduced supplier margins, Network Rail was looking to the supply chain to win work by introducing a step change in efficiency and innovation. Network Rail has announced a new round of bidding for professional services contracts in October 2007.

The article focuses on the release of the official report on a fatal motorway bridge collapse in Montreal, Quebec in 2006, which revealed problems with its design, construction, inspection and maintenance. The report was written by former Quebec Premier Pierre Marc Johnson and a panel of engineers. It lists deficiencies in the design and then positioning of reinforcement during construction and substandard concrete which did not contain enough tiny air bubbles to prevent freeze-thaw action.

The article reports that a scheme launched specifically to help young British women into engineering careers in the north east has failed to attract a single applicant. Instead, all 85 places available on the NVQ-level construction course, which is backed by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) North East, Newcastle College and local employers, will now be filled by young men.

The article reports that almost one-third of British civil engineers would take a pay cut in exchange for more flexible working conditions, according to new research conducted by the Times newspaper and EPC Global. The survey also found that although half of the profession do already have flexible working conditions, they are less likely than average to see any real benefits from it.

The article reports that consultant Mouchel Parkman's reported a 23% increase in pre-tax profits in 2006/2007 to £33M and announced that it would be dropping the Parkman name to become simply Mouchel Group. Turnover for the group increased by 20% from £374M to £448.4M over the year 2007, while the forward order-book stood at a record £2.2bn.

The article focuses on the West Midlands' State of the nation report on climate change released by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). The report points out the vital role for engineering in making buildings more fuel and heat efficient, and praises local housing and development schemes in Bilston and Longbridge which minimise carbon emissions. Fundamental changes need to be made in lifestyle and expectations to manage the world's resources and adapt to changes already happening, president Ed Gardiner said.

The article reports on the approval of the Crossrail project funding by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Brown said that by generating an additional 30,000 jobs and helping London, England, retain its position as the world's pre-eminent financial centre, Crossrail will support Great Britain's economic growth and maintain its position as a leading world economy. The project is expected to give the civil engineering sector a huge boost over the next decade.

The article discusses the role of engineers in addressing climate change, according to communities and local government secretary Hazel Blears. Blears spoke about the vital role of engineers in tackling climate change at the ICE/RIBA event at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, England. She stressed the vital role of engineers in the design process. Blears also said that the route through to developing infrastructure and large-scale projects would be easier because of new planning laws, proposed under the recent planning White Paper.

The article reports on the recommendation of Nelson Ogunshakin, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Association of Consulting and Engineering, to engineering consultants about their fees. According to Ogunshakin, consultants must resist client pressure, stand their ground and push for higher fees. He also said that current fee levels were unsustainable, with consultants typically only charging 10-12% of the final cost of projects.

The article reports on the call of engineers for an amnesty for construction firms involved in corrupt practices abroad. This could be done by giving companies the chance to continue with a clean conscience. According to delegates at a conference organised by the Anti Corruption Forum in London, England such an amnesty to enable firms to move forward without the fear that their past activities might be brought back to haunt them.

The article reports on a deal between the British government and London, England regarding the Crossrail project. The deal will secure the last piece of its £16 billion price tag, just a week before the comprehensive spending review, when it will be officially announced. It brings to an end the almost 30 years of debate and discussion.

This article reports on the 22nd Thomas Telford Trophy golf tournament held in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on September 6, 2007.

This article reports on the selection process for recipients of scholarships from the Queen's Jubilee Scholarship Trust in Great Britain in 2007. The awards attracted more than 100 hopefuls wanting to further their education. Each hopeful outlines why he or she believes they deserve the award. The event also introduces the applicants to the role the Institution of Civil Engineers can play in their professional development.

The article reports that London Development Agency (LDA) board member Charles Secrett has vowed to use his position to block new airports or expansions to existing airports in London, England. Speaking at a Greenpeace debate into airport expansion, organized by Greenpeace, at the Labour Party conference, the former Friends of the Earth director instead proposed to deal with climate change by rationing flights. He claimed that 80% of aviation growth was from frivolous leisure flights and that future growth must be constrained.

The article reports on the assertion of John Hutton, secretary of state for business in Great Britain, that construction of a new generation of nuclear power stations is central to the government's sustainable energy strategy and will start as soon as new planning laws allow. Speaking at a meeting organized by the Nuclear Industry Association at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, Hutton reiterated that nuclear power was vital to plug the energy gap, but insisted the private sector would pick up the full cost.

The article reports on the construction liability campaign of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE). The campaign aims to outlaw joint and several liability and will call for legislation to make parties in construction projects equally-liable when construction mistakes arise. The campaign effort of ACE stem from a number of construction projects which have seen clients chasing consultants for damages after litigation.

This article reports on a statement issued by John Boyd, incoming president of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), in September 2007 calling on banks to be extra vigilant when dealing with accounts in countries where corruption is prevalent. Boyd added that the FIDIC anti-corruption manual "The Business Integrity Management System" has been successful in dealing with companies giving bribes, but that controlling the demand and supply of bribes was not the full answer.

This article reports on the move of the British Environmental Agency to join forces with the insurance industry in 2007 to ensure that only housing developments that it approves are eligible for cover against flood damage. Agency chief executive Barbara Young confirmed that she was meeting the Association of British Insurers to form a deal to outlaw cover for properties built with insufficient flood defenses.

This article reports on a study on vacancies of consulting engineer posts in the U.S. in 2007. Conducted by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, the study found that 13 percent of consulting engineering posts are left unfilled. It also showed that the greatest numbers of vacancies are in civil engineering, followed by structural, building services and environmental engineering.

This article reveals that recent events have propelled the Institution of Civil Engineers into the national news agenda in August 2008, promoting engineering and its value to society. Immediately after the collapse of the 1-35W bridge in Minneapolis, U.S., on August 1, the ICE fielded more than 40 enquiries from the media. Fifteen radio interviews were arranged, across BBC Radio 4, BBC Scotland and Classic FM. ICE Vice President Jean Venables and Scott Steedman handled these inquiries.

This article deals with the warning issued by the Institution of Civil Engineers East of England (ICEEE) group about the British government's East of England regional plan. According to the group, extensive new build will increase the chances of flooding to new and existing settlements. ICEE says the existing plan also brushes over environmental concerns and the provision of sufficient infrastructure. ICEEE Regional Manager John Canton believes an opportunity has been missed.

The article reports that World Bank plans to devolve decision-making powers to borrowing countries will jeopardise the quality of its projects. At the annual International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) conference in Singapore, incoming FIDIC president John Boyd told NCE that many developing nations would only be able to make decisions on key infrastructure schemes on a cost basis. Boyd argues that quality should be the only criterion for procurement selection.

The article presents quotes from Telford civil engineering apprentices Patricia McElduff regarding written projects, James Wallace about discussing civil engineering and Chris Jones about speaking at an annual dinner.

The article reports that the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will share offices and resources at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, England. According to ICE North East regional manager Stephen Larkin, ICE has an affinity with RIBA due to the nature of the work of civil engineers.

The article reports on the newly elected members of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Council in Great Britain. According to ICE, six of the new Council members are contractors. The influx will boost the number of contractors on Council to 11. Members of the Council include David John Balmforth, Nelson Ogunshakin and Louise Jane Hardy.

The article reports on the opening of the formal bidding to takeover London Underground contractor Metronet. The process will start once investment bank NM Rothschild has completed its valuation of the business. According to the author, Transport for London (TfL) is the only organization to publicly express interest in Metronet.

The article reports on the collapse of a newly constructed bridge in Karachi, Pakistan. The 100 meter section of the steel box girder deck failed without warning leaving 10 dead and many injured. Local engineering consultant and Pakistan ICE representative Sarfraz Ahmad stated that the rush to complete on time could have been a factor.

The article discusses "The Rail Industry Report" issued by Network Rail and train operator Virgin. According to the report, lapses in Network Rail's track maintenance and supervision regime were directly responsible for the fatal derailment at Grayrigg in Cumbria, England in February 2007. The report says that the patroller who last inspected the track, finished work early on the day of the incomplete inspection.

The article reports on events across Great Britain staged by ICE members to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Telford, the first president of the ICE. In Shropshire, where Telford began his grand projects as surveyor of public works, his successor as ICE president Quentin Leiper, attended a ceremony to mount a plaque on Telford's Mountford bridge. As part of an excursion across North Wales, the ICE Wales group took in some of Telford's iconic structures.

The article focuses on the collapsed bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The death toll from the event had fallen from twenty to four. Because the area was technically a crime scene, the police ensured nobody was able to get a good look at the bridge. Now, the road deck lay on the surface of the Mississippi, the concrete deck crumpled like paper. Minneapolis was suffering from shock. Large groups gathered around the few areas it was possible to catch a glimpse of the collapsed bridge, to pay their respects.

The article presents the outlook of structural specialists on the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bridge failure has killed five people. Structural specialists blame inadequate inspection regimes for the weaknesses in the bridge which led to its collapse. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is conducting finite element analysis to assess the cause of the structural failure.

The article stresses that congestion charging will be central to Manchester, England's transport planning future following a vote by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) to back a £3bn funding bid. Despite opposition from Stockport and Trafford, the remaining eight of the 10 Manchester authorities backed the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid which, if successful, would result in increased bus, tram and train capacity before introducing a congestion charge scheme.

The article reports that tube contractor Metronet went into administration after securing only £121 million emergency funds for its BCV deep tunnel business rather than the £551 million requested. Metronet administrator Ernst&Young said that London Underground Limited (LUL) had given Metronet hundreds of millions of pounds, to allow the company to operate, and assured staff they would be paid in full, along with the supply chain.

The article reports that London, England's Thameslink upgrade project was confirmed as central to the government's new £10 billion five-year plan to develop the rail network across England and Wales. Announcing a raft of projects and targets to meet an expected 22% increase in rail passenger capacity over the next seven years, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said that Thameslink was key to tackling overcrowding.

The article focuses on the use of computer models by Atkins to examine passenger flows at New Guangzhou and Beijing South metro stations in China. Atkins has to make sure that the spaces inside the station building were used as efficiently as possible to accommodate the huge number of passengers expected. The Legion software allowed Atkins principal consultant Cameron MacDonald to run passenger simulations on the unbuilt building to identify hotspots where people would spend significant amounts of time.

The article reports on the plan of the Rotherham Council in England to demolish the Ulley dam which nearly collapsed following a torrential rain in June 2007. It notes that emergency repairs prevented the collapse of the dam. Community deliver manager Andy Shaw states that permanently draining the reservoir would result to the lost of a key sailing, fishing and recreation site. It mentions that final decisions on the demolishment of the dam are expected in September.