bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer analysis: avoiding the ‘black box’ syndrome
Authors: Lamb Anthony R.
Published: December 2009

Recent rapid advances in computer software and hardware have provided civil and structural engineers with increasingly powerful means of processing, storing, retrieving and displaying data. Most engineering consultancy firms now rely heavily on computers and software design packages to provide a competitive edge. However, there is a real danger of blind dependence on automated ‘black box’ techniques, the results of which may not be checked against engineering experience and intuition. This paper shows how this can happen and proposes a hierarchy of computer-aided design supervision to avoid potentially fatal errors resulting from flawed computer analysis.
Briefing: Towards one Institution of Engineers
Authors: Freer Robert
Published: December 2009

It could be said that the UK engineering profession started to fragment and weaken when the ICE failed to admit mechanical engineer George Stephenson, who went on to found the IMechE. Energy consultant Robert Freer says the ICE should focus on unifying the whole profession while it is still in good shape.
New station brings trains back to Auckland's centre
Authors: Maylin Melvyn , Shanmuganathan Sulojana
Published: December 2009

With a population of just 3.7 million, New Zealand is not exactly renowned for its traffic problems. However the economy of Auckland, its largest city, was starting to suffer from the global bane of traffic congestion and something had to be done. The first step towards a more integrated transport system was to return the main railway station back to the city centre site it vacated 65 years ago, only this time underground. By combining conventional materials with state-of-the-art design and construction methods, the project team was able to deliver a large, safe and attractive transport interchange within a very limited budget and time frame.
Stress-laminated arches: a stronger case for timber bridges
Authors: Freedman Geoff , Kermani Abdy
Published: December 2009

Timber bridges have been around for a long time but are still viewed with suspicion by design engineers and the public alike. Though not as durable or strong as steel and concrete, timber is nevertheless a sustainable material in plentiful supply and can be combined with other materials to make up for its structural shortcomings. ‘Stress-laminated construction’, where short planks of low-grade timber are simply bolted together to make large flat slabs, is now a primary design option for secondary road applications in the US. This paper reports on pioneering UK research which has shown such bridges can be even stronger when built with arched rather than flat decks.
Managing knowledge: a North American perspective
Authors: Carrillo Patricia
Published: December 2009

Knowledge has always been one of the most important assets of any business, not least in civil engineering. Effective management of knowledge can thus be vital to an organisation's development, performance and competitiveness—but how formal does the process need to be? This paper looks at how two major North American engineering, procurement and construction businesses manage their technical knowledge and then examines the merits of the different approaches for UK civil engineering organisations, from strategy and implementation to people aspects and performance metrics.
Military role in regeneration of civil engineering capability
Authors: Ogden Ian
Published: December 2009

The post-conflict security of a region is invariably tenuous in an environment of poor communications, severely damaged infrastructure and limited social and economic fabric. Military engineers, with their unique combination of management and engineering skills, are thus better equipped than most to regenerate essential services during the initial transition to peace. This paper highlights some of the many factors that need to be tackled during the initial peace-support operation and the key enablers to the successful regeneration of infrastructure, particularly basic utilities, industry and civil engineering capability.
Mines—defusing the risk to infrastructure regeneration
Authors: Simonds James
Published: December 2009

The use of mines in recent conflicts both to protect and deny the use of infrastructure significantly impedes regeneration of that infrastructure once peace is established. The impact of mine contamination also extends beyond the infrastructure itself, severely hindering a return to normality. As this paper shows, military engineers can play a significant role in assisting infrastructure regeneration post-conflict in mitigating the impact of these ‘hidden killers’ through a range of activities.
Restoration of civil air facilities following war
Authors: White John V.
Published: December 2009

This paper highlights the issues faced by military engineers when restoring civil air facilities following conflict. Based on experiences at Pristina in Kosovo and Kabul in Afghanistan, it covers the various stages of opening runways, from mine clearance and rapid repair for combat operations to more permanent solutions for eventual transfer to civil authorities. At both locations the infrastructure had been destroyed but the differing political environments impacted significantly upon the works undertaken.
Civil–military cooperation: the key to regeneration
Authors: Howard James
Published: December 2009

This paper examines the relationship between national infrastructure regeneration and military objectives in crisis or conflict resolution. Perhaps surprisingly, national-scale infrastructure regeneration is rarely a discrete or formal military objective. However, the complex emergencies that often follow combat operations can result in a blurring of civil and military priorities. The most important issue is to manage the relationship between civil and military actors to its best effect. This has led to the development of a military capability known as civil–military cooperation or CIMIC.
Giving something back: improving Ethiopian engineering education
Authors: Brockway Paul
Published: December 2009

This is a personal report of a volunteer engineer who worked as a civil engineering lecturer in Ethiopia for two years on a placement with Voluntary Service Overseas. In addition to his main teaching role, most of which was blackboard-based, he was able to make a major contribution to improving the way the technology faculty operated. He also became involved in road safety and HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns. In return he and his wife gained a significantly broader view of the world and its problems, confirming their belief that volunteering is a genuinely two-way process.
Student volunteers: embarking on a career in development
Authors: Lamb Andrew , Long Susan
Published: December 2009

Channelling the skills, enthusiasm and hard work of students into meaningful projects to enhance quality of life for communities in the developing world is the main aim of Engineers Without Borders. Now in the UK, the organisation works to provide ways and means of bringing projects and students together to produce qualified and experienced development professionals. It is still early days but the interest from engineering students and the success of initial projects is already significant. This paper explains the aims and activities of the organisation, outlines the urgent need for development engineering in the effort to avert future human suffering and gives examples of what can be achieved.
Significance of cracks in low-rise buildings—what you need to know
Authors: Johnson Roger
Published: December 2009

A structural survey of a domestic property—particularly advice on the significance of cracks—is one of the precious few occasions when members of the public require the services of a civil engineer. Although the work may be low value or even pro bono, the financial impact on the client of getting it wrong can be significant. Furthermore, given the profession's desire for a higher public image, it is vital on these occasions that work is carried out as professionally as possible. This paper summarises what every civil engineer should know about undertaking and interpreting crack surveys.
Briefing: Natural ventilation—the key to cutting energy demand
Authors: Fitzgerald Shaun , Woods Andrew
Published: December 2009

Buildings use up nearly half the UK's total energy output. Shaun Fitzgerald and Andrew Woods of the BP Institute report on their pioneering work into natural ventilation systems that offer engineers a genuine opportunity to build a more sustainable, low-energy future.
Briefing: Battling birds: new ways to cut maintenance costs
Authors: Mendes Danny
Published: December 2009

Roosting birds can cause extensive and costly damage to urban infrastructure. Metronet civils maintenance asset manager Danny Mendes reports on some of the innovative strategies being used to keep pigeons out of London Underground, ranging from repellent gel to hawks.
Briefing: Promoting research: a joined-up approach
Authors: Costello Fionnuala
Published: December 2009

It is much easier to get people interested in advances in builtenvironment technology if it is presented holistically rather than as the output of individual engineering disciplines. Based on the experiences of a major recent research exhibition, Fionnuala Costello of the EPSRC describes how it can be done.
Graduate civil engineers: defining a new breed
Authors: Clarke Barry
Published: December 2009

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 ConstructionSkills 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.
Transport engineering— a future paved with gold?
Authors: Ridley Tony
Published: December 2009

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.
Congestion charging: selling the concept
Authors: Ison Stephen
Published: December 2009

The surge in urban traffic worldwide is leading to increasing problems of congestion and environmental degradation. Congestion charging is coming to be seen as one of the more effective policy options—particularly since the introduction of the central London scheme in 2003—but it remains highly controversial. This paper describes the issues of public and political acceptance and the economic arguments for congestion pricing. It also looks at the issues that need to be addressed by authorities contemplating the introduction of a charge, including use of revenue, accuracy and reliability of the monitoring technology, availability of alternatives to cars, promotion, and the importance of positive political will and leadership.
Integrating transport and planning: a new approach
Authors: Devereux Lynn , Devereux Bernard , Lindsay Clare
Published: December 2009

Nearly everyone agrees that traffic congestion and pollution could be reduced by better planning. The problem until now, however, is that planners have found it difficult to integrate conventional land-use and transport data into a single model, meaning planning policies tend to be formulated in isolation from traffic predictions and, more importantly, environmental impacts. This paper describes a new approach, in which a geographical information system is used to combine different data sources, including satellite imagery and modelling techniques, into a single and highly graphic planning, transport and environmental model. It then reports on two applications of the model—one theoretical and one practical—in eastern England.
Managing changing risks to infrastructure systems
Authors: Hall Jim , Dawson Richard , Manning Lucy , Walkden Mike , Dickson Mark , Sayers Paul
Published: December 2009

Civil engineering infrastructure systems are vulnerable to the effects of natural hazards such as flooding, landslides, windstorm and coastal erosion. Risk analysis provides a rational approach to analysing the threat these phenomena pose and identifying efficient options for system management. This paper presents a general formulation of the risk-analysis problem for an engineering system subject to environmental loads. However, most of the variables that determine system behaviour may be subject to long-term change, for example due to climate change or structural deterioration. The uncertainties in appraisal of infrastructure over extended timescales can be considerable, so a framework is presented for systematic analysis of uncertainties and robust decision making.
Geohazard risk management for infrastructure projects
Authors: Free Matthew , Anderson Sara , Milloy Charles , Mian Juliet
Published: December 2009

This paper presents generic guidance for construction professionals for the assessment of geological-related hazards and risks for infrastructure projects. The risks presented by such hazards to a project are dependent upon their potential size and impact. Drawing on practical experience of civil engineering projects in the UK and worldwide, the authors show that, through a carefully planned risk management framework, the potential impact of uncertain events related to geohazards can be identified, appropriately investigated and mitigated. The corresponding reduction in uncertainty provides improved control over both costs and programme to the advantage of all parties involved.
An observational model for managing risk
Authors: Masurier Jason Le , Blockley David , Wood David Muir
Published: December 2009

The observational method, which has its roots in geotechnical engineering, is shown to be a particular instance of a generic approach applicable to the management of a range of construction project risks. A methodology is described for ensuring robustness in the observational method process, by applying the same principles on which it is based in a holistic way to the management of all project risks, not only those associated with the ground. A model is presented of the broader application of this approach to risk management and a practical example is given of a successful application of the developed methodology to a project with a complex range of risks.
What causes accidents?
Authors: Gibb Alistair , Haslam Roger , Gyi Diane , Hide Sophie , Duff Roy
Published: December 2009

This paper describes aspects of the findings of a three-year research project, Construction Accident Causality, funded by the UK Health and Safety Executive. The project developed a causality model, through a combination of focus groups and detailed study of 100 construction accidents, using an ergonomics systems approach, to identify where safety is compromised and why. It concludes that stakeholders responsible for the immediate accident circumstances, shaping factors and originating influences must all work hard to remove flaws in their safety systems to ensure that accidents are reduced.
Risk perception and construction safety
Authors: MacDonald Gordon
Published: December 2009

Risk assessment is the cornerstone of modern health and safety legislation and of accepted approaches to safety management. However, based on detailed interviews with construction site managers on a mix of small- to medium-sized projects—and by drawing on existing, widely based, risk-perception research—this paper provides evidence that risk perception, as opposed to a formal risk assessment, plays a significant role in safety decision making. It also highlights marked and disturbing differences between on-site risk identification, assessment and decision-making processes and those envisaged in safety management teaching as well as current legislation.
Professional indemnity insurance—a better way
Authors: Baster Jenny , Davis Martin
Published: December 2009

Over recent years, both large and small consultants have faced sharp increases in professional indemnity (PI) premiums and self-insured excesses. There are now real questions over future availability, and affordability, of cover. In many ways, PI insurance is ill-adapted to the modern complexities and demands of the construction industry, with its highly fragmented and interrelated roles. It is certainly not good at meeting the needs of clients and it propagates the conflicts and antagonisms that need to be left behind if the industry is to thrive. This paper explores some of these issues and looks at recent developments in project-specific insurance.
Heathrow Terminal 5: enhancing environmental sustainability
Authors: Lister Beverley
Published: December 2009

London Heathrow airport's Terminal 5 project provided an opportunity for owner BAA to set and deliver new standards in environmental sustainability for the construction industry. As this paper describes, opportunities were pursued at each development stage to improve performance and firmly embed environmental awareness and corporate responsibility into decision-making processes. Throughout the design and construction, project teams and suppliers were encouraged to apply innovative techniques and best practice to deliver exemplary environmental performance.
Heathrow Terminal 5: tunnelled underground infrastructure
Authors: Williams Ian
Published: December 2009

Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow airport was one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe over the last five years. It included approximately 14 km of tunnelling to provide underground infrastructure for rail, road and effluent discharge. In all cases the tunnels were delivered without major incident, thanks to a single integrated team which made all aspects of risk management central to its delivery philosophy. This paper describes the four key projects for which the key aspect of delivery was tunnelling – the airside road, the storm water outfall and the Piccadilly line and Heathrow Express extensions. It discusses the range of aspects that made up the delivery of this infrastructure, ranging from design through to performance of tunnelling machines and the control of surface settlement.
Heathrow Terminal 5: rail transportation systems
Authors: Fugeman Ian
Published: December 2009

Critical to opening the new £4·3 billion Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow airport was the availability of a public transport service on extensions to both the Heathrow Express and London Underground's Piccadilly line, not least as this was a key requirement of the planning permission. A sub-surface tracked transit system also needed to be operational to provide a passenger link between the two main terminal buildings. This paper describes the challenge of managing the design, delivery and integration of new railway systems into existing, occasionally old, public systems with continually evolving management structures and without impacting on existing rail services. This was greatly assisted by the application of a system engineering approach.
CDM 2007 two years on: survey reveals widespread misunderstanding
Authors: Dalby Steve
Published: December 2009

The UK's Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 have been in force for over two years but a recent survey suggests only half of all ‘duty holders’ actually understand them. Steve Dalby of CDM2007.org says this is putting both people and companies at risk.
Commonwealth Engineers' Council: linking engineers for the benefit of mankind
Authors: Bailey Neil
Published: December 2009

ICE director general Tom Foulkes has recently become president of the Commonwealth Engineers' Council. Secretary Neil Bailey and ICE's David Rodriguez-Vega explain how it uniquely connects engineers from across five continents for the benefit of mankind.
Designing and building Belfast's new retail heart
Authors: Gray Michael , McCaffrey Stephen , Blaney Felim , McMeel Finbarr , Gallagher Stephen
Published: December 2009

Victoria Square shopping centre is a new £400 million mixed-use development in the centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Unlike most traditional shopping centres, its layout is based on the twists and turns of existing street patterns and it also provides open streetscapes with glazed rain screens rather than enclosed malls. This paper describes the design and construction of this 135 000 m2 high-quality urban regeneration scheme, including its extensive three-level basement in water-bearing gravels and the spectacular glazed dome and central ‘lily pad’ viewing and circulation structure.
Middle East: building towards a more sustainable approach
Authors: Cullinane Brian , Roberts Natalie
Published: December 2009

A combination of a hot and arid climate, a transient population and several decades of vast, oil-driven developments has pushed much of the Middle East to the bottom of the sustainability leagues. In response, the past few years have seen an outbreak of sustainability policy initiatives in the region. This paper summarises these developments and, through an energy case study for a major mixed-use development in Dubai, shows that significant improvements are achievable. However, it concludes that more needs to be done to ensure that sustainability targets achieved during planning and design are actually realised during construction and operation.
Delivering Wadi Dayqah, Oman's tallest dam
Authors: Prisk Mike , Richards Mike , Hieatt Michael
Published: December 2009

Oman is a semi-arid country with few permanent surface-water resources. The Wadi Dayqah dam project, which started impounding in August 2009, will provide a much needed additional supply of up to 35 million m3 of water per annum. This paper describes the design and construction of the concrete gravity main dam, which at 75 m high is the tallest in the country. A year after construction started a tropical cyclone hit the region resulting in flood flows well in excess of the 10 000-year design flood. This prompted a major design modification to allow almost double the discharge over the central spillway section. Nevertheless the project remained on schedule.
A timber cantilevered view walkway in Vitoria, Spain
Authors: Fernández-Cabo J. L.
Published: December 2009

This paper describes the structural project for a timber cantilevered walkway truss recently built in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, as a part of a nature education centre. This study analyses the structural aspects of this walkway, designed as a cantilevered truss with a span of 19·2 m and a backspan of around 10 m between the two lines of columns of the structure. The structure has been built mainly using laminated veneered lumber (LVL) for the struts and chords and steel bars for the diagonals. The critical sections, at the two lines of columns, have been built using frames made of steel and reinforced concrete. Due to the critical tension force that appears at the foundation, permanent anchors were used for transferring this force to the ground. Wind loading has also led to anchoring the two pairs of concrete columns. The joints in the timber trusses were designed using dowels with steel gusset plates and toothed plates. The singular structure of this construction makes it similar in size to the German Pavilion recently built in Hannover, which is considered to be the biggest timber cantilevered roof in Europe. Although the structural problem solved in this construction is not exactly the same (the snow load is not critical whereas in this example the live load is the key factor), some important general remarks can be learnt from this case study.
Non-destructive assessment of timber in historic buildings
Authors: Williams J. R.
Published: December 2009

Historic buildings are part of our built environment. Many of these buildings are important icons of our past and form part of our heritage and culture. They also provide excellent opportunities for reuse and development and can serve as the focal point for the regeneration of many run down, post-industrial areas. We should all be recycling our newspapers, plastic and glass bottles and should be composting our organic waste as part of the Green Revolution to reduce the amount we, as a society, waste. What better act of environmental awareness is there than reusing our historic buildings and the materials within? A holistic approach to the investigation of historic timber using non-destructive techniques to inspect and examine timber in situ for strength-reducing defects combined with repairs undertaken with the minimum of interventions, where practicable, can facilitate the reuse of original structural timber and can contribute to the ‘recycling’ of historic buildings. Moreover, the ‘recycling’ of such buildings and the materials therein can result in the construction industry exerting less pressure on our natural resources and reducing its carbon footprint.
Vertically laminated timber bridges
Authors: Freedman G.
Published: December 2009

This paper reports on research to optimise the design and construction of various forms of stress-laminated timber bridges. Forty bridges, up to 24 m span, and over 60 deck panels have been built and monitored over the last 5 years. A research programme at Napier University has complemented the construction and, through a series of dynamic and static load tests, has helped develop better construction methods and stronger structures. The overall aim of this research programme has been to develop structural uses for low-grade, UK-grown timber and it has been shown that using timber in compression is an extremely effective technique for arch bridges. These bridges, on public roads, can help increase public confidence in timber as a viable primary structural material. This paper reports the development of factory-produced, timber-laminated modules for lorry bridges and footbridges. It explains the different fixings, spans, widths and load tests and summarises the conclusions. It finishes by showing the lowest cost, stress-laminated flat lorry bridge and reports the details of cyclic load tests for the development of timber arch bridges for heavy lorry traffic.
New Zealand's North Island main trunk railway: 1870–1908
Authors: Merrifield A. L. R.
Published: December 2009

Completion of the Union Pacific railway in the USA in 1869 was seen to hold lessons for New Zealand's colonial government. A policy of immigration and public works funded from loans was instituted in 1870. A network of railways would be built to open up land for settlement. One such was the North Island main trunk line, linking Auckland and Wellington – the two main centres in the North Island. It took until 1908 to complete the 680km route. As described in this paper, building the line was a major adventure as natural and man-made difficulties were gradually overcome. Location surveyors often worked at risk of their lives as not all Maori accepted the agreement between tribal leaders and the government that work could start. For many years government was uncertain where the best route lay. The engineers had to surmount very difficult topography, the geology of very young rocks and scarcity of funding. Eventually, after locally trained engineers overcame the worst engineering problems, the date that the first through train could run became the focus of a wager between the minister of public works and one of his resident engineers.
Did early ICE presidents recognise concepts of sustainability?
Authors: Wynn P. G. L.
Published: December 2009

With today's strong emphasis on sustainability, the question is raised whether this is a new development. Reflective publications of the first three presidents of the Institution of Civil Engineers are examined to determine the extent to which they addressed a recently expounded eight-point framework for sustainable development in the context of civil engineering work. Evidence is found that these early presidents did indeed consider many of the issues contained in the framework. Taking into account the political and social environment of the day, it is apparent that these early engineers, especially Thomas Telford and Sir John Rennie, were well aware of the implications of their work beyond the expected cost/time/quality approach.
Transport of volatile organic compounds through PVC and LLDPE geomembranes from both aqueous and vapour phases
Authors: McWatters R.S. , Rowe R.K.
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACT: The diffusive migration in the aqueous and vapour phases of four volatile organic compounds (VOCs: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) through samples of 0.76 mm (30 mil) thick flexible poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) and 0.76 mm (30 mil) linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) geomembranes are compared based on both sorption and diffusion tests. Diffusion coefficients for the PVC geomembrane were in the range of 5.0–10 × 10−13 m2/s for diffusion from both the aqueous and vapour states. The range for LLDPE was 2.5–5.0 × 10−13 m2/s. Diffusive transport of VOC contaminants through geomembranes in a simulated landfill environment (i.e. in the presence of water vapour) is identical despite the phase they originated from, simplifying the analysis of contaminant transport. The partitioning (sorption) coefficients for PVC were in the range 100–1075 with respect to aqueous phase concentrations. The corresponding values with respect to vapour phase concentrations were 22–290. LLDPE partitioning (sorption) coefficients were 200–475 with respect to aqueous phase concentrations and 44–123 with respect to vapour phase concentrations.
An explicit expression for strain in geomembrane uplifted by wind
Authors: Giroud J.P.
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACT: The design of geomembrane liners exposed to the risk of uplift by wind involves an implicit equation for the geomembrane strain in the case where the geomembrane has a linear tension–strain curve. Solving this equation by iterations is tedious and hinders the work of design engineers. This technical note presents an approximate solution to the implicit equation. The geomembrane strain calculated using the proposed approximate equation is very accurate for the entire range of geomembrane strains typically considered in design (error less than 0.01% of the strain value for usual strains). Therefore, the proposed equation can be considered as a quasi-exact solution.
Shear resistance of bitumen-coated piles in sand
Authors: Khare M. G. , Gandhi S. R.
Published: December 2009

The shear resistance of bitumen-coated piles in sand is studied with interface shear tests in a modified direct shear apparatus and pull-out tests on model piles. The interface shear tests are conducted to study the effect of pile material, thickness of coat, normal stress, and rate of shear on pile shear resistance. The shear resistance of bitumen-coated samples and sand is found to be independent of the roughness of the pile material. The bitumen coating reduced shear resistance by more than 90%. Shear resistance reduces with increase in the thickness of coat for a given normal stress and is found to be influenced by the rate of shear. The results of pull-out tests conducted to compare the shear behaviour of coated and uncoated model aluminium pipe piles driven in sand are also presented. The pull-out and interface shear tests show a similar response to increase in coat thickness and normal stress. The shear resistance of bitumen-coated piles is found to increase only marginally with the density of the soil. Scale effects in the model tests are also discussed.
A review of field performance of stone columns in soft soils
Authors: McCabe B. A. , Nimmons G. J. , Egan D.
Published: December 2009

The behaviour of stone columns has yet to be captured fully by analytical and numerical techniques, and predicting column behaviour in soft cohesive soils brings specific challenges. This paper provides a comprehensive review and assessment of some aspects of field performance of stone columns in soft clays and silts, from both published and unpublished data and for loading over both wide areas (i.e. embankments) and small areas (i.e. footings). In particular, a new database of settlement improvement factors is developed, which gives an indication of the reliability of a traditional analytical approach, as well as distinguishing clearly between the performance of the preferred dry bottom feed system and other column construction systems. The paper gives evidence highlighting the key construction issues central to the successful performance of treated ground. Some data are also presented on pore pressure and total stress changes as a result of column installation and loading, and interpretation of these data benefits from a direct comparison with driven piles.
Soil–environment interactions in geotechnical engineering
Authors: GENS A.
Published: December 2009

The range of problems that geotechnical engineers must face is increasing in complexity and scope. Often, complexity arises from the interaction between the soil and the environment – the topic of this lecture. To deal with this type of problem, the classical soil mechanics formulation is progressively generalised in order to incorporate the effects of new phenomena and new variables on soil behaviour. Recent advances in unsaturated soil mechanics are presented first: it is shown that they provide a consistent framework for understanding the engineering behaviour of unsaturated soils, and the effects of suction and moisture changes. Building on those developments, soil behaviour is further explored by considering thermal effects for two opposite cases: high temperatures, associated with the problem of storage and disposal of high-level radioactive waste; and low temperatures in problems of freezing ground. Finally, the lecture examines some issues related to chemical effects on soils and rocks, focusing in part on the subject of tunnelling in sulphate-bearing rocks. In each case new environmental variables are identified, enhanced theoretical formulations are established, and new or extended constitutive laws are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on mechanical constitutive equations, as they are especially important in geotechnical engineering. The lecture includes summary accounts of a number of case histories that illustrate the relevance and implications of the developments described for geotechnical engineering practice.
INTRODUCTION TO THE HONK KONG AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME.
Authors: TSANG D
Published: December 2009

The US$ 20 billion Hong Kong Airport Core Programme is one of the largest infrastructure developments in the world. In addition to a brand new airport on reclaimed land capable of handling up to 87 million passengers and 9 Mt of cargo a year, it includes a highly complex 34 km road and rail link to the Central district of Hong Kong and a variety of associated development schemes. Completed on time and to budget despite a background of economic and political upheaval, the project serves as a role model for major public sector infrastructure projects and is a testament to Sino-British co-operation.
Demonstrating survivability of marine energy converters
Authors: Jones A.
Published: December 2009

The marine renewable energy industry is in its infancy with many developers currently undertaking research, development and demonstration activities to prove that their fledging technologies will provide a viable form of energy generation. Given the very nature of the technology and resource, they will generally be deployed either at the highly dynamic sea surface, or submerged many metres under water, or both. In either case, imposed environmental loads can be significant whereas access for inspection and maintenance activities could be limited due to harsh weather and sea conditions. Therefore it is essential that these technologies are developed and designed to survive these aggressive conditions for the whole of their operational lives, with a very low level of planned and unplanned inspection and maintenance interventions – and this requires the consideration of the ‘survivability’ of the ‘marine energy converter’ during design development. There is a clear ‘blueprint’ in place for all developers to follow in order to approach and demonstrate the survivability of their technology, which is based on the use of modern analysis techniques, such as ‘failure, modes, effects and criticality analysis’, together with traditional engineering design principles and procedures. This paper elaborates this blueprint further.
Turning marine energy into reality: the Scottish experience
Authors: Smith L. , Woolf D. , Mackay D.
Published: December 2009

This paper reflects on the current state of the marine energy industry with specific reference to Scotland, where advances, such as the Scottish government's marine renewables strategic environmental assessment and its announcement of the Saltire prize, are helping to stimulate marine energy developments. The Pentland Firth marine energy project was established in 2007. It utilises partnership working between the principal agencies in the area to assist in establishing the region as a world leader in the development, production and use of renewable energy. The Pentland Firth is a 30 km long stretch of water between Caithness and the Orkney Islands with one of the best tidal resources available anywhere in the world. The project, which aims to provide the key contact for device developers, investors, utility companies and the supply chain, is intended to support the development of a globally important marine energy industry and to offer significant benefits to both the local and national economies in a sustainable and environmentally acceptable manner. The paper examines project constraints and suggests that focusing investment on projects in areas of such significant resources is the most appropriate way to make nationally significant contributions to the economy.
Briefing: The assumptions behind the structural Eurocodes
Authors: Carpenter John N.
Published: December 2009

The year 2010 will be a landmark year for civil and structural engineers as it represents the year in which the structural Eurocodes will be ‘formally' placed in use. Existing related British standards will cease to be maintained by the British Standards Institution, although no doubt they will continue to be used for many years. As with all codes, the Eurocodes are constructed around a set of prime assumptions relating to the analysis and design methods set out in the text. These include the competencies of those using the code, choice of analysis model, quality control (in the office and on site), provenance of materials used and the use and maintenance of the facility once constructed. The Standing Committee on Structural Safety is concerned that as designers start to use the Eurocodes they do not forget these assumptions and the necessary actions that flow from them. This note has been developed by the committee to provide a commentary to each of the six assumptions given in BS EN 1990 as an aid to users. A more detailed paper is available on the committee's website.
Rotational strength and stiffness of tubular scaffold connectors
Authors: Abdel-Jaber M. S. , Beale R. G. , Godley M. H. R. , Abdel-Jaber M.
Published: December 2009

The most common form of access scaffold in the UK is tube-and-fitting. The assumption of zero rotational stiffness and strength in putlog connections is one of the factors leading to a reduction in the performance of these scaffolds when designed according to the latest European codes EN 12810 and EN 12811. In addition, limited data are available for the design of right-angled couplers. This paper summarises research undertaken to determine the rotational strength and stiffness of these connectors in order to obtain more realistic designs. A total of 30 tests were carried out on three types of putlog connector, 30 tests on three types of right-angled connector and six tests on a band and plate connector according to the procedures in EN 12811 part 3. A discussion of the applicability of the code is included and design recommendations produced.
Fracture moment and ductility of welded connections
Authors: Hedayat A. A. , Celikag M.
Published: December 2009

Examination of Northridge fractured connections has revealed that the materials and the manufacturing parameters associated with the fracture behaviour of these connections are random. Hence, the fracture resistance and ductility of these connections are also random. In this study, most of the parameters which are believed to contribute to the fracture behaviour of Northridge connections are analysed with respect to previous research in the field. Then one of the pre-tested post-Northridge connections is modelled, using finite-element analysis and the results are used as typical examples to illustrate the effect of each parameter on the behaviour of these connections. Experimental fracture moment and ductility data of a set of previously conducted tests on the pre-and post-Northridge design are used to obtain suitable cumulative distribution functions of the normalised fracture moment and plastic rotation of these types of connections. Statistical results show that, despite all the modifications applied to the pre-Northridge connections, the magnitude of the minimum plastic rotation and the strength are still less than what is required by the seismic codes. Therefore, both pre- and post-Northridge connections do not have enough strength and ductility and consequently they are not reliable and should be further modified when used in seismic regions.
Briefing: Has the urban renaissance lived up to its name?
Authors: Chan Laura
Published: December 2009

In response to Britain's 1950s urban decline, the urban task force, chaired by Lord Richard Rogers, was launched in 1998 in an attempt to secure a lasting vision of future urban spaces. The report, published the following year, promoted design excellence through proposed recommendations to improve social wellbeing and environmental care. One of the main calls for change was for increased urban density, intended to reinvigorate urban areas and attract people back into towns and cities. Town planning has seen a shift in legislation in response to some of the recommendations made, informing current national policy on some of England's urban districts. In assessing the urban renaissance so far, Building Futures (the think tank of the Royal Institute of British Architects) hosted a provocative debate that questioned how much of what was built under the report guidelines is desirable in the long-term. This briefing is a review of the debate: This house believes the urban renaissance never happened.
Briefing: User-perspectives on walkable neighbourhoods
Authors: Khandokar Fahmida , Price Andrew , Austin Simon , Paranagamage Primali
Published: December 2009

Pedestrian-oriented and mixed-use neighbourhoods enable residents to interact with each other while walking and therefore enhance the frequency of contact. It is widely accepted that people living in walkable neighbourhoods are more likely to have a higher level of social capital and tend to live longer and healthier lives than those living in car-dependent neighbourhoods. However, there is an ongoing debate surrounding the underlying principles of walkable neighbourhoods that encourage and support walking by diverse user-groups. This article attempts to collate the evidence and investigate the association between walkable neighbourhoods and social capital. The findings suggest that the social and physical contexts of the walkable neighbourhood enhance casual interactions and social participations and are likely to contribute to the formation of social capital over a period of time.
Empirical Mode Decomposition Operator for Dewowing GPR Data
Authors: Battista Bradley M. , Addison Adrian D. , Knapp Camelia C.
Published: December 2009

Signal processing tools available to ground penetrating radar data used for shallow subsurface imaging and hydrogeophysical parameter estimation are significantly handled using the same tools available to seismic reflection data. Overall, the same tools produce interpretable images from both data types, but particular noise (wow noise) in electromagnetic data must be removed before stable and accurate quantitative results can be produced. Wow noise is an inherent, nonlinear electromagnetic interference and a significant component of GPR data. Further, the nonlinear and non-stationary nature of wow noise provides a strong argument for preprocessing radar traces with time-domain operators. Time-domain operators designed for nonlinear signals are under increasing development for both electromagnetic and acoustic signal processing. This work demonstrates optimal wow noise removal from ground penetrating radar data using the empirical mode decomposition. The technique provides a data-driven approach to empirically dewowing GPR data.
On-Site Bias Noise Correction in Multi-Frequency Slingram-type Electromagnetic Induction Measurements
Authors: Mitsuhata Yuji , Imasato Takehiko
Published: December 2009

Slingram-type horizontal-loop electromagnetic induction systems are popular for environmental and engineering investigations of relatively shallow subsurfaces. The Slingram method is effective for the detection of anomalous zones by mapping and profiling large areas. However, analogous to airborne electromagnetic and induction borehole logging methods, zero level adjustment is crucial for further inverse analysis to estimate subsurface resistivity structures. To address this problem, we propose a simple and practical procedure for on-site measurement and correction of bias noise. To attenuate the response generated by electromagnetic induction in the ground, we raise the Slingram-type sensor vertically off the ground and measure background noise as the bias noise. By subtracting the bias noise from the original raw data, bias correction is implemented. Two applications, a high-salinity groundwater investigation and a levee assessment survey, demonstrate that this procedure is effective for quadrature data, but is inadequate for in-phase data. For a more precise correction, a more sophisticated method should be developed.
Free Riding in Combinatorial First-Price Sealed-Bid Auctions
Authors: Maréchal François , Morand Pierre-Henri
Published: December 2009

We consider an allotted procurement contract awarded by means of a combinatorial first-price sealed-bid auction. Two small firms and a larger firm are competing. Each small firm is interested in a single lot whereas the large firm transmits a global offer. Under a specific informational framework, we derive the asymmetric combinatorial equilibrium bidding strategies and show that they exhibit a free-riding effect. We show that this effect is increasing with the level of uncertainty and decreasing with risk aversion. When all the firms are risk neutral or equally risk averse, the magnitude of the free-riding effect is unaffected by the division of the contract chosen by the public buyer. Nevertheless, when each firm exhibits its own risk aversion parameter, we find that the free-riding effect is reduced (resp. increased) as the more risk averse small firm competes for a larger (resp. smaller) part of the contract.