Innovative Thinking

Imagine a piece of software that could help you choose the route of a new metro crossing a city as complex and constrained as London.

One that would tell you exactly which route to select to weigh the competing constraints, and find anoptimum balance of construction and in-service operational efficiency. Consider…

Brexit may be a divisive issue, but Hilti head of engineering Kirsty Walton believes a forthcoming change to EU documentation should be welcomed across the construction industry.

Walton says the adaption of Eurocode 2 to include a standard on concrete fastenings will help the sector’s own journey towards safer, more reliable and…

The profession is changing. Civils teams are now made up of a vibrant mix of disciplines – a far cry from the traditional teams of engineers, designers and quantity surveyors of the past. 

Recognising this, the ICE is embarking on a historic ballot, urging its members to vote to “open its…

While Atkins has a reputation for technical excellence, the industry’s growing skills shortage is a concern.

With more than 18,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue of £1.76bn, one might think Atkins is well prepared, but it always needs to recruit more engineers.  Chief engineer Richard Leighton says: “there is a shortage”.…

Kirkthorpe Hydropower will be the largest hydro scheme in Yorkshire, and, once commissioned in November the £5.3M facility will have a 500kW capacity – producing around 2.3M.kWh per annum. This is enough renewable electricity to take around 800 homes off the grid.

The scheme comprises a 500kW axial turbine and is…

Firstly, apologies for plagiarising and modifying the post World War 2 “export or die” slogan which was generally associated with the motor industry, in the days that we actually had one, and with the need for foreign money to keep Britain afloat. However, in this fast paced digital age, I…

A dynamic partnership approach and a delivery strategy that places sustainability best practice at its heart, is helping to bring considerable social and environmental value to a flagship mixed use development in Hampshire.

A 208.4ha greenfield site is gradually turning into what its developer, Grainger, envisions will be a “village conservation…

Building information modelling (BIM) and load monitoring are making their debut on a large basement propping scheme in Oxford.

Westgate Oxford Alliance – a joint venture between the Crown Estate and Land Securities – has embarked on a £500M project to redevelop the Westgate Centre in Oxford. The plan involves demolishing…

Most new rail projects require innovation and adaptation; the South Europe Atlantic (SEA) high speed line being constructed between Tours and Bordeaux impresses with the sheer number and scale of inventive ideas.

The SEA line, is an important part of France’s burgeoning high-speed network, it will provide a two hour journey…

Stations are more than somewhere to get on and off a train. Done right they are a place to visit without travelling, according to Arcadis, which has come up with a way of working out what creates the best mix of development.

High Speed 2 (HS2) is understood to be very…