Author: Paula McMahon

Call for Papers – How civil engineers can rise to the challenge of climate change13/04/20

Organisation: ICE
Date: 13/04/20
Time: Deadline 13th April for 200 word abstract
Speaker: Engineers worldwide who can contribute to gathering exemplar projects and ideas
Venue: -
Cost: Free
Type: Publication
Contact: paula.mcmahon@srm.com
Region: Northumberland
Time of Day: Day
Topic: Other

Civil Engineering is planning a special issue in 2021 on how civil engineers can rise to the challenge of climate change.

In recent years the world has experienced some of the most extreme weather since records began. There is no longer room for doubt: climate change is happening now and all civil engineers must start addressing the challenges and increased risks associated with it.

Civil engineers greatly influence the built environment. What they plan, design, build and maintain affects every aspect of society.  However, very few projects being delivered today truly consider their impact on the climate − or the risks they face from a changed climate.

Civil engineers need to be aware of the real environmental impact of their projects as well as the climate conditions they should be accounting for beyond current codes. For example, does their project impact on the climate justify it going ahead? Could it be delivered in a more sustainable way with lower embodied carbon dioxide emissions, both during construction and operation? Will it be able to withstand higher temperatures, sea levels, winds and rainfall during its lifespan? How climate-friendly is the decommissioning plan?

This planned special issue of Civil Engineering aims to showcase research and case studies on what civil engineers can do to address climate-change risks. It will discuss the challenges of assessing whole-life climate impacts and risks, and look at new design approaches that enable projects to be both more sustainable and more resilient.

Examples of topics for papers include, but are not limited to:

  • Advances in whole-life identification of climate impact and risk
  • Case studies of how civil engineers are mitigating the climate impact of projects
  • Case studies of how designs are being adapted to be more resilient to climate change
  • Codification of climate-change impact and risks
  • Design lessons learned from climate-related disasters

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SAVE THE DATE – Climate Business Action Toolkit09/06/20

Organisation: ICE
Date: 09/06/20
Time: We shall welcome everyone at 17:45 where you can network with some light refreshments. The talk will start at 18:15 with an expected close circa 19:30.
Speaker: Sharon Lashley, Climate Action North
Venue: Stephenson Building, Teesside University. TS1 3BA
Cost: Free
Type: Knowlegde event
Contact: paula.mcmahon@srm.com
Region: Tees Valley: Tees Valley
Time of Day: Evening
Topic: Other

Climate Business Action Toolkit with Environmental degradation due to construction schemes in the North East and possible green solutions to the environmental problems caused by the regional schemes.

DATE CHANGE TO 17th – deep soil mixing ground improvement12/03/20

Organisation: ICE
Date: 12/03/20
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
Speaker: TBA
Venue: Stephenson Building, Teesside University. TS1 3BA.
Cost: Free
Type: Knowledge event
Contact: paula.mcmahon@srm.com
Region: Tees Valley: Tees Valley
Time of Day: Day
Topic: Other

Check out details when available on https://www.ice.org.uk/events?region=61

Climate Change Adaption vs Mitigation18/02/20

Organisation: ICE
Date: 18/02/20
Time: We shall welcome everyone at 17:45 where you can network with some light refreshments. The debate will start at 18:15 with an expected close circa 19:30.
Speaker: Ian Hodge, EA. Dr Caspar Hewett, The Great Debate. Robert Thorniley-Walker, Structural & Civil Consultants Ltd. Kirils Holstovs, AECOM.
Venue: Stephenson Building, Teesside University. TS1 3BA
Cost: Free
Type: Debate
Contact: paula.mcmahon@srm.com
Region: Tees Valley: Tees Valley
Time of Day: Evening
Topic: Other

In a world with massive and rapid changes in technology and tighter fiscal boundaries how will engineers need to position themselves to deliver key infrastructure? What skills will engineers need?

Climate Change believers, non-believers, engineers, non-engineers, students and educators of all disciplines are welcome to this debate which should offer some thought provoking and interesting discussion.

In a world of financial constraints, we all need to manage our money effectively. Given the Climate Emergency we are facing and the uncertainties which lie ahead how do we allocate time, talent and money between these two concepts?

A variety of speakers and our Panel Chair will provide thought provoking ideas to enable all to contribute to this healthy debate. Do we mitigate (reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases) or adapt (minimise the effects of climate change)? Do Engineers, or anyone else, fully understand the concept of climate change adaptation?

We shall explore:

  • how we seek to reduce harm and exploit opportunities by adjusting existing designs to accommodate the climate and its effects (Adaption)
  • what conversations are currently on-going to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases (Mitigation).

There is much to debate and discuss including:

  • Given our current thinking is mainly focused on Mitigation why are not meeting our targets?
  • What climate change scenario should we prepare for?
  • Is Adaptation receiving enough attention from researchers, policy makers and the industry?
  • Should we spend more on climate change adaptation to protect the public and the economy?
  • If we allocate more resources for adaptation, will less resources for mitigation create greater consequences in the future?
  • With this significant degree of uncertainty what are our financial risks and how are we dealing with them?
  • Are we doing enough?

We shall welcome everyone at 17:45 where you can network with some light refreshments. The debate will start at 18:15 with an expected close circa 19:30.

The debate is in the main lecture theatre of The Stephenson Building.

Information on parking around the university.

This debate is hosted jointly by ICE Regional Advisory Board (RAB) and the ICE Teesside Branch. Special thanks to the ICE Graduates and Students who via the Climate Change Forum have provided ideas and food for thought.

This event could broaden your knowledge and skills, and develop personal qualities hence count towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Registration preferred, non ICE Members can sign in as guests.

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Engineered access solutions and associated risk11/02/20

Organisation: ICE
Date: 11/02/20
Time: We shall welcome everyone at 17:45 where you can network with some light refreshments. The talk will start at 18:15 with an expected close circa 19:30.
Speaker: David Milward MSc (Civil Engineering Structures)
Venue: Stephenson Building, Teesside University. TS1 3BA.
Cost: Free
Type: Knowledge event
Contact: paula.mcmahon@srm.com
Region: Tees Valley: Tees Valley
Time of Day: Evening
Topic: Site-Operations

Introduction to Scaffolding Temporary Works (TW)

How to identify the need of TW, what accounts as TW, General approach for collating a brief, project deliverable, design approach, working with stakeholders etc.

Access solutions

Different types of access solutions to carry out works in a safe manner:

  • General access (TG:20 compliant, small scale design, etc)
  • Cantilevered/suspended access
  • Demolitions Access
  • Access to grade listed buildings
  • Access for industrial building (powerplants, nuclear station, chemical plants etc)

Temporary Roof and Buildings

This section will include temporary weather protection schemes in terms of roofs and enclosed buildings:

  • Types of roofs and buildings (brief explanation of Monopitch, Duo Pitch and Canopies)
  • Small scale project focus
  • Large scale project focus (High speed 2. Hampstead Heath or such)

Network Rail schemes

This section will include projects specific to network rail and challenges encountered. How project deliverables are different from normal projects:

  • Considerations under networks rail projects
  • Project deliverables
  • Project focus

CDM

Briefly discuss CDM responsibilities, what it includes and RDG policies.

Image courtesy of Francis Ware.

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New Tees Crossing28/01/20

Organisation: ICE
Date: 28/01/20
Time: We shall welcome everyone at 17:45 where you can network with some light refreshments. The talk will start at 18:15 with an expected close circa 19:30.
Speaker: Andy Johnson, ARUP
Venue: Stephenson Building, Teesside University. TS1 3BA
Cost: Free
Type: Knowledge event
Contact: paula.mcmahon@srm.com
Region: Tees Valley: Tees Valley
Time of Day: Evening
Topic: Transport

Andy Johnson will give an insight into the strategic and economic need for a New Tees Crossing and the early development work undertaken by Tees valley Combined Authority to assess the potential “long list” of options which have been considered. He will also outline the development of the scheme options as the project advanced through Highways England’s Project Control Framework Stages 1 & 2, where potential options were assessed in both economic and environmental terms and wider benefits leveraged to increase the potential BCR’s, to allow the project team to arrive at the current likely preferred option, the A19 Tees Viaduct Capacity Enhancement Option.

The talk will take place in the main lecture theatre, Stephenson Building, Teesside University. For location see https://www.tees.ac.uk/docs/docrepo/about/CampusMap.pdf

For parking around the university see https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-footpaths/parking-permits-and-penalty-charge-notices/middlesbrough-town-centre-parking-map

This event could broaden your knowledge and skills, and develop personal qualities hence count towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Please utilise the booking system, non-ICE members can sign in as guests.

This event is jointly organised with IStructE and CIHT.

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How do we engineer the future?15/10/19

Organisation: ICE
Date: 15/10/19
Time: 17:45 networking / light refreshments for 18:15 debate
Speaker: Panel of distingushed speakers
Venue: Clarendon Building, Teesside University, TS1 3BX
Cost: Free
Type: Debate
Contact: Paula McMahon
Region: Tees Valley: Tees Valley
Time of Day: Evening
Topic: Other

You are welcome to help us debate this topic which should lead to some thought provoking and interesting discussion.

In a world with massive and rapid changes in technology and tighter fiscal boundaries how will engineers need to position themselves to deliver key infrastructure?  What skills will engineers need?

A variety of speakers will provide thought provoking ideas to enable Engineers and non engineers to contribute to this healthy debate. 

  • How we qualify our current engineers
  • Advances in technology and automation
  • How the political scene affects what we do now and the future
  • What will our future engineers look like

This debate is hosted jointly by ICE Regional Advisory Board (RAB),
Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Northern Counties and ICE Teesside Branch

For more information see https://www.ice.org.uk/events/how-do-we-engineer-the-future-middlesborough

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