The Singapore Engineer March 2023

SINGAPORE THE ENGINEER

March 2023 | MCI (P) 033/03/2023

Engineering innovations for Tuas

Port Phase 1 Reclamation Project recognised with triple awards

www.ies.org.sg

CONTENTS

FEATURES

COVER STORY

12 Engineering innovations for Tuas Port Phase 1 Reclamation Project recognised with triple awards

The accolades were received at the local, regional and international levels.

STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT

14 Rail transport – enhancing commuters’ travel experience

Enhancing Operation Readiness of Rail Operations for passenger safety and better commuter travel experience.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

16 The IOI Central Boulevard Towers

The iconic, biophilic development is set to usher the modern workforce into the future of work.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

19 Advancing the structural applications of bamboo

The project in Bali, Indonesia, features award-winning engineering innovation.

President Mr Dalson Chung

Chief Editor

T Bhaskaran t_b_n8@yahoo.com

Publications Manager Desmond Teo desmond@iesnet.org.sg

Snr Publications Executive Queek Jiayu jiayu@iesnet.org.sg

Publications Executive Nuraini Ahmad nuraini@iesnet.org.sg

Editorial Panel Dr Chandra Segaran

Dr Ang Keng Been

Mr Syafiq Shahul

Mr Jaime Vega Bautista Jr

Dr Victor Sim

Mr Soon Ren Jun

Dr Alexander Wiegand Media Representative Multimedia Communications (2000) Pte Ltd sales@multimediacomms.sg

Design & layout by 2EZ Asia Pte Ltd

Cover designed by Irin Kuah

Cover image by Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Published by

6467

www.ies.org.sg

PROJECT APPLICATION

24 Remotely designing the expansion of a wastewater treatment plant

Software solutions were used to accurately visualise existing conditions, improve decision-making and reduce modelling time.

26 Fit-out of educational facility in Singapore

Technology enabled remote meetings with multiple stakeholders and project completion on schedule.

27 The Santa Lucia Tunnel

A range of chemical products were used in the construction of the longest three-lane tunnel in Europe.

30 Low-carbon concrete to be used in major project

The Tuas Port Phase 1 project will use 360,000 m3 of low-carbon CO2 mineralised concrete.

31 Tower cranes are helping to build the largest timber campus in Europe

Coordinated movement as well as easy and safe access for operators and maintenance personnel characterise their operation.

The Singapore Engineer is published monthly by The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES). The publication is distributed free-of-charge to IES members and affiliates. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or IES. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine shall be reproduced, mechanically or electronically, without the prior consent of IES. Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the content at press time, IES will not be liable for any discrepancies. Unsolicited contributions are welcome but their inclusion in the magazine is at the discretion of the Editor.

Long-term partnership established to organise the Singapore International Water Week

Singapore International Water Week Pte Ltd (SIPL) and Messe München’s wholly owned subsidiary in Singapore, MMI Asia Pte Ltd (MMI Asia), have announced a 10-year agreement to organise the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) Water Expo, one of the premier global water events. A cornerstone of Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), the Water Expo is the pre-eminent marketplace for the latest urban water technologies, innovations and solutions for municipal and industrial water users in Southeast Asia.

SIWW is a global premier platform for sharing and co-creating innovative water solutions to meet urban water challenges. As one of the leading global water events, the biennial SIWW delivers a range of flagship programmes and platforms, that gather stakeholders from governments, utilities, academia and industry to share best practices and solutions, showcase the latest technologies and harness business opportunities.

The 10th Singapore International Water Week will be held from 18 to 22 June 2024.

Under the 10-year agreement, from 2023 to 2032, MMI Asia will organise five editions of the SIWW Water Expo and support SIPL in developing high-quality and impactful content at the show, tapping into the significant influence of Messe München’s leading environmental technology platform, IFAT.

In addition to organising the SIWW Water Expo, MMI Asia and its partner, MP Singapore, will also be providing event management services for SIWW Spotlight 2023 and SIWW2024, to deliver a seamless delegate experience for the two events.

SIPL’s Managing Director, Ryan Yuen said, “We are pleased to partner

with Messe München who brings a unique value proposition that complements our long-term vision for SIWW. Through the IFAT global network, we look forward to reaching a wider international audience, creating more business opportunities, and showcasing innovative water solutions and products to water agencies and the industry. MMI Asia will also work with us to expand SIWW into new growth areas, such as coastal protection, decarbonisation and digitalisation, to fortify our position as a leading global event on water innovation and climate action.”

International business is a driving force for Messe München. For years, the company has been successfully expanding its portfolio of leading trade fairs worldwide.

“As part of our strategic orientation, we are also continuously expanding the company in Singapore and developing our event formats further. The new cooperation with SIWW represents an important milestone in this strategy. Our subsidiary, MMI Asia, with its local

presence in Singapore plays an important role in driving Messe München’s internationalisation course in Southeast Asia, which the latest success proves,” said the two CEOs of Messe München, Dr Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel.

Michael Wilton, CEO & Managing Director of MMI Asia, explained, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work together with SIPL on the Singapore International Water Week, an event that has an enormous influence beyond Southeast Asia. It complements, perfectly, Messe München’s expertise and know-how in this vital sector for Singapore and the rest of the region. We are committed to providing a first-class experience for the industry and, together with the power of IFAT, bring extra value to the key topics facing the region today.”

Katharina Schlegel, Exhibition Director IFAT and bauma shows, elaborated, “This cooperation is another significant part in the global IFAT network, which will now be represented through SIWW in

SIPL’s Managing Director, Ryan Yuen, shakes hands with Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of the CEO dual leadership, Messe München, signalling the start of a long-term partnership for the Singapore International Water Week.

the increasingly important region of Southeast Asia. As the gateway to Southeast Asia, Singapore and SIWW will complement our four IFAT trade fairs in China, such as IE expo China. I am convinced that there will be immense synergy effects here for the Asian region, but the IFAT network, in general, will also benefit from this, in the short and medium term.”

Preparations for SIWW Spotlight 2023 and SIWW2024 are already underway.

Singapore International Water Week Pte Ltd

Singapore International Water Week Pte Ltd is a company set up by PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency and Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, as part of the strategic programme of the Singapore Government to grow the water industry and develop water technologies.

IFAT worldwide

Messe München organises environmental technology trade shows, such as the world’s leading trade fair on the subject, IFAT Munich. Other international environment-related events include IE expo China in Shanghai, IE expo Chengdu in Chengdu, IE expo Guangzhou in Guangzhou, IE expo Shenzhen in Shenzhen, IFAT Africa in Johannesburg, IFAT Eurasia in Istanbul, IFAT India in Mumbai, and IFAT Delhi in New Delhi. Together, the IFAT events form the world’s leading network for environmental technologies.

Messe München

Messe München is one of the leading exhibition organisers worldwide, with more than 50 of its own trade shows for capital goods, consumer goods and new technologies, held in Munich, Germany, as well as abroad. Together with its subsidiary companies and associates, Messe München organises trade shows in China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey. It has a global presence with representation in over 100 countries.

At SIWW2022, key topics such as climate mitigation and adaptation, resource circularity, net zero

SIWW2022, the first large-scale, in-person event in Singapore since the COVID-19 pandemic, featured 250 exhibitors, including 13 country / regional and thematic pavilions, at the Water Expo.

Nominations for Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2024 launched at UN 2023 Water Conference

The Singapore International Water Week has launched a call for nominations for the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize (LKYWP) 2024 – a prestigious international award that honours outstanding contributions by individuals or organisations towards solving the world’s water challenges by developing or applying innovative technologies, policies or programmes which benefit humanity.

Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu, announced the opening of nominations for the LKYWP 2024 in a speech delivered at a side event hosted by Singapore, during the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York.

The Singapore event, addressing ‘Water, Technology and Sustainable Development’, was well-attended by international leaders in the water sector, who shared best practices in leveraging technology for sustainable water management. The leaders also shared how the international community can work collectively to catalyse innovation for a water-resilient future, in support of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

The LKYWP is named after Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, whose foresight and

leadership have enabled Singapore to attain a sustainable water supply despite being a highly urbanised city-state with little natural water resources. Since its inception in 2008, the LKYWP, which is sponsored by Temasek Foundation, has gained a strong standing in the global water community for its recognition of innovative water technologies, policies or programmes that have been game-changers in their real-world application.

The honour roll for the prize includes laureates who have developed ground-breaking solutions in membrane technology and used water treatment, as well as holistic water policies and management practices, that have benefitted the lives of millions. Their achievements represent the pinnacle in sustainable water solutions that have made a difference to cities and people around the world.

The LKYWP 2024 Laureate will be announced next year on World Water Day, on 22 March 2024. The Laureate will receive SGD 300,000, a gold medallion and a certificate, at an award ceremony during the 10th Singapore International Water Week, to be held from 18 to 22 June 2024 in Singapore.

Grundfos announces solid 2022 results

Grundfos recorded a strong performance in 2022 with sales growth of 12.1% and net turnover hitting a record DKK 33.3 billion.

These results follow the company’s solid performance recorded for 2021, despite 2022 having been a year with historic market turbulence due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, continued impact of COVID-19, bottlenecks in global supply chains, rising energy prices, high inflationary pressure and significant currency swings.

“We have successfully navigated

through a challenging year. Our people and our customers have remained our priorities, and I am proud of the efforts made by our employees to keep delivering great customer experiences. We are satisfied with our financial performance. Our business remains strong, and we have delivered solid profitability,” says Poul Due Jensen, Group President & CEO, Grundfos.

In key markets, such as the US, Germany and the UK, Grundfos had strong sales growth, contributing to a 2022 global growth of 16.2%, excluding Russia and Belarus.

Nomination process

Leaders of international water companies and water utilities, top academics in water research, policy makers, heads of international organisations, members of government and distinguished individuals in the field of water are welcome to submit nominations of suitable candidates for the LKYWP 2024. This can be done online by uploading a citation of the nominee’s achievements at https://go.gov.sg/ lkywp2024nomination.

Nominations for the LKYWP 2024 may be made from 24 March 2023 to 30 June 2023.

Shortlisted nominees will be notified to submit supporting documents for more detailed evaluations by the Water Prize Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will thoroughly evaluate all shortlisted nominations and make their recommendations to the Water Prize Council which will then decide on the LKYWP 2024 Laureate. More information may be obtained by visiting https:// www.siww.com.sg/landing-page/ nomination-guidelines or emailing leekuanyewwaterprize@ siww.com.sg.

In 2022, Grundfos also launched and implemented a new divisional structure which will serve as a key lever in delivering the company’s strategic ambitions and pioneering solutions for water and climate challenges, to improve the quality of life for people.

Further, Grundfos fuelled the company’s innovation and sustainability agendas, reaching a milestone in November 2022, when its 2050 net-zero commitment was validated and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.

Eugene Seah joins Meinhardt Group

Singapore-headquartered global design, engineering, project and construction management firm, Meinhardt Group, has appointed Mr Eugene Seah as a Global Board member. Mr Seah will be helming a variety of senior leadership roles including that of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Meinhardt’s Singapore operations and Senior Director, Group CEO office, based in Singapore.

“We are excited to welcome Eugene into the Meinhardt Group. Eugene has a formidable reputation, endless energy and solid experience in the built environment industry, having successfully undertaken various senior leadership roles covering Sin-

gapore and overseas markets. I am looking forward to working closely with Eugene to bolster our business in Singapore, and implement new initiatives and business lines across the group,” said Mr Omar Shahzad, Meinhardt Group CEO.

Mr Seah joins Meinhardt Group from Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group where he held a number of leadership positions. He was also an Adjudicator in the Singapore Mediation Centre.

Mr Seah graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) (1st Class Hons) from the University of Reading in 1999 and a BSc in Technology Management and Computing (1st

Nature Of Business

Meinhardt Group achieves full ISO 19650 certification

Singapore-headquartered global design, engineering, project and construction management firm, Meinhardt Group, has become the first engineering company in Singapore to achieve full ISO 19650 compliance at the group-wide level encompassing its Singapore and overseas offices.

The ISO 19650 is a series of international standards which define a common unified framework for the effective and collaborative production and management of information across the whole lifecycle of a built asset, using building information modelling (BIM).

“We are proud to be the first engineering company with its global headquarters in Singapore to achieve the ISO 19650 certification at the group-wide level. It is a clear affirmation of our relentless push for digital transformation and commitment to adhere to the best practices in our industry. Our certification underscores our digital push regarding operating systems and workflow processes pertaining to the digitisation of information related to buildings and infrastructure works,” said Mr Omar Shahzad, Group CEO, Meinhardt Group.

Established by ISO (International Organization for Standardization), in 2018, the standard was developed from the UK’s now superseded PAS 1192, a tried and tested BIM information standard established by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in 2007. ISO sought to adapt and elevate this standard to an international level.

Meinhardt Group was endorsed and certified by TÜV SÜD, one of the world’s leading providers of testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services. The scope of evaluation included the group’s internal standards and protocol, the roles and responsibilities of the BIM and digital information management personnel, as well as case studies including the Integrated Waste Management

global level, TÜV SÜD has audited some 120,000 buildings and 7,000 projects for the ISO 19650 certification to-date,” said Mr Tobias Schmidt, Global Manager, Digital Lifestyle Solutions, TÜV SÜD.

“Meinhardt is one of the few organisations qualifying for the standard, which is such a well-organised and matured company. Meinhardt Group is outstanding in this regard and its achievement truly deserves recognition,” he added.

For its submission to TÜV SÜD, the Meinhardt Group team led by the Director of Group Digital Delivery, Mr Behzad Meskini, produced a record number of design drawings.

“We submitted a well-coordinated model with minimal design errors within just two and a half months. This significant achievement resonates with Meinhardt Group’s synergistic and data-driven approach, made possible by the efforts and

measurable productivity savings,” he added.

“Meinhardt’s ISO 19650 certification bolsters its Integrated Digital Design (IDD) methodology and results in more effective usage and distribution of data across key processes in the value chain such as Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA). This translates into an increase in productivity with less wastage of time and resources, thus promoting a greater push for sustainability and social equity,” said Mr Eugene Seah, Global Board Member, Meinhardt Group and Chief Operating Officer, Meinhardt Singapore.

Meinhardt Group

Meinhardt is a multi-disciplinary and integrated engineering, infrastructure and project management consulting firm. Owned and headquartered in Singapore, Meinhardt employs over 5,000 staff in more than 55 offices worldwide.

Meinhardt Group was endorsed and certified by TÜV SÜD to be full ISO 19650 compliant. From left to right, Mr Behzad Meskini, Director of Group Digital Delivery, Meinhardt Group; Mr Omar Shahzad, Group CEO, Meinhardt Group; and Mr Foo Soo Guan, Senior Vice President, Business Assurance Division, ASEAN, TÜV SÜD PSB.

Aurecon strengthens civil engineering capability in Singapore

Aurecon has appointed Adrian Yeung as its Technical Director, Civil for Singapore. Adrian has over 22 years of experience, having worked in the UK, Indonesia, South Africa and most recently, Singapore.

Adrian has contributed to the preliminary infrastructure design for Sentosa’s People Mover System; Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) infrastructure works for the North-South Corridor (i.e. N105, N106 and N107); planning, design and civil engineering works for Eastern Region Line (E1003 – five

stations); design development of cut and cover tunnel, Megaspine, for Changi Airport Terminal 5; as well as design and delivery of geotechnical works for the Marina Coastal Expressway Contract 482. Notably, Adrian served as the owner’s consultant for E1003, Megaspine, and various projects for HDB, URA and LTA, from 2011 to 2019.

Prior to joining Aurecon, Adrian was Senior Assistant Director at Sentosa Development Corporation. Earlier in his career, Adrian has also

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Bentley Systems issues Call for Nominations for the 2023 Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, has put out a call for nominations for the 2023 Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure. The awards, which are judged by independent juries of industry experts, recognise infrastructure projects for incorporating digital advancements in infrastructure. The deadline for nominations is 8 May 2023.

Users of Bentley software are invited to enter their projects in the Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure programme, no matter which phase the project is in – preconstruction/ conceptual, design, construction, or operations.

The three finalists chosen for each awards category will win a trip to Singapore to attend the 2023 Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards event, as guests of Bentley Systems. As part of the conference, the finalists will present their projects before the judges, industry thought leaders, and more than 100 media members.

The award categories include:

• Bridges and Tunnels

• Construction

• Enterprise Engineering

• Facilities, Campuses, and Cities

• Process and Power Generation

• Rail and Transit

• Roads and Highways

• Structural Engineering

• Subsurface Modelling and Analysis

• Surveying and Monitoring

• Transmission and Distribution

• Water and Wastewater

Submitted projects will be recognised for innovative advancements and measurable impacts in infrastructure and sustainability. Projects may be recognised for their economic impact and innovative use of Bentley software, including the iTwin Platform and infrastructure digital twins, 4D modelling, Infrastructure Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence.

Projects may also be recognised for advancements that empower sustainable development goals in terms of climate action, energy transition and efficiency, circularity of land and water resources, and fostering healthy communities.

In addition to the juried awards, Bentley’s Founders will honour select projects representing organisations or individuals whose undertakings contribute notably to infrastructure advancement and/or environmental and social development goals.

Every project nominated for an award receives recognition across the global infrastructure community in the following ways:

• Having their infrastructure

projects profiled in Bentley’s Infrastructure Yearbook which is distributed in print and digital formats to media, government and industry influencers, around the world.

• Enhancing their competitive edge by demonstrating to existing and potential clients the value the participants add to projects through their digital innovations.

• Increasing their exposure to and coverage from global media and industry analysts.

Additional information on the 2023 Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure programme, and on nominating a project, may be obtained from the Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure website.

Improving collaboration with easier access to real-time videos and project design data

Evercam, a leading provider of construction camera software, has recently announced the addition of Evercam 4D View to Bentley Systems’ Powered by iTwin program. Evercam 4D View helps project teams leverage engineering and design data to better understand the construction sequence and communicate project plans to all parties involved.

The 4D View app combines real-time, high-quality video footage throughout the jobsite with a digital twin and allows users to switch between the model and reality to track changes and communicate progress. The app addresses the challenge of the volume of data available to project teams by connecting it with 4D planning, scheduling and analysis capabilities.

While BIM has significantly contributed to the improvement of communications, the construc-

tion industry is still hindered by the inaccessibility of project data. Evercam 4D View allows all users on a project to share and interact with the model from within the Evercam platform.

Evercam 4D View allows users to easily switch between real-time footage and BIM models to make collaboration easier. Users can see any changes made to the BIM model and receive updates within the platform. 4D View provides users with a list of features from within the platform, including remote measurement, navigational tools and the ability to highlight anything from the 3D model, as the iTwin Platform recognises each element.

Evercam offers its customers unlimited user access, allowing team members from across the globe to work virtually together, ultimately improving safety, reducing risks, and creating greater efficiencies for the entire project team.

Engineering innovations for Tuas Port Phase 1 Reclamation Project recognised with triple awards

For the engineering innovations behind the Tuas Port Phase 1 (TPP1) Reclamation, Wharf Construction & Dredging Project, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and project partners were awarded the 2022 World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO)

H.J. Sabbagh Prize for Excellence in Engineering Construction.

The ceremony for the WFEO award will be held later this year.

Key design innovations included large-scale reuse of recyclable materials such as dredged seabed material and land-excavated materials, which accounted for more than half of the reclamation fill for TPP1. The reclamation filling, which included clay, was treated to ensure that the stability of the reclaimed land is within the stringent limits set for operating the driverless automated guided vehicles.

The stability of the reclamation fill is maintained using 10 storey-high caissons as earth-retaining walls.

These caissons also form the foundation of Tuas Port and wharf structures, for vessels to berth alongside. The caissons were fabricated at a nearby casting yard, towed out to sea, submerged and installed on the prepared foundation on the seabed.

A total of 221 caissons were used for the reclamation of TPP1, and the deep-water berths will be capable of accommodating future container ships with a draught of up to 21 m. In addition, MPA, as the port planner, designed Tuas Port with finger-piers so that the linear wharf layout maximises the landsea space while providing flexibility by enabling ships with different lengths to berth.

TPP1 was built 5 m above mean sea level, to adapt to rising sea levels. Dredged hard rock beneath the seabed was reused for shore protection and reclamation fill, to enhance resource circularity.

The TPP1 project was also awarded the IES Prestigious Engineering

Achievement Award 2022 by the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) at the IES 56th Annual Dinner on 17 January 2023, and the ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award 2022 by the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO) at the 40th Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (CAFEO 40) on 7 December 2022.

These accolades recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of MPA’s engineering teams, amidst the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, in driving innovation, adoption of state-of-art technologies to improve efficiency and construction safety, and incorporation of environmental sustainability and climate adaptation engineering in the design and construction of TPP1.

“These awards affirm the commitment to engineering excellence and the dedication of the entire MPA team,” said Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of MPA.

The completion of the Tuas Port Phase 1 Reclamation Project, in November 2021, marked a major milestone in Singapore’s long-term plan to develop the Tuas next-generation port. Image: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

The WFEO’s H.J. Sabbagh Prize for Excellence in Engineering Construction aims to promote the important role of engineering in sustainable development, especially in the construction and infrastructure fields.

The ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Awards and the IES Prestigious Engineering Awards recognise exceptional engineering achievements that demonstrate outstanding engineering skills which have made a significant contribution to engineering progress and quality of life, in ASEAN and Singapore, respectively.

Project summary

• Completed in November 2021, the Tuas Port Phase 1 (TPP1) project marked a major milestone in Singapore’s long-term plan to develop the Tuas next-generation port. Tuas Port will be developed over four phases. When fully completed in the 2040s, Tuas Port will be fully automated.

• Sustainability is integral to the construction of Tuas Port. TPP1 is recognised for adopting several innovative and sustainable engineering solutions, as well as green initiatives to protect the environment and reduce the carbon footprint.

• The project involves the following initiatives:

- All four phases of Tuas Port will be built at least 5 m above mean sea level, to adapt to sea level rise in the coming decades.

- Prior to the commencement

of works in February 2015, MPA together with nature volunteers and non-governmental organisations, relocated 2,300 coral colonies from Sultan Shoal to St John’s Island and Sisters’ Islands. The coral conservation programme included coral relocation and setting up of coral nurseries at suitable habitats.

- Implementation of an Environmental Impact Assessment prior to the reclamation, to establish Environmental Quality Objectives (EQOs) to ensure there is no impact on marine intakes, seagrass and mangroves etc. An Environmental Management and Monitoring Programme was then put in place to ensure strict compliance of the established EQOs.

- Reuse of recyclable materials, such as dredged seabed material and material from land excavation, for reclamation filling and caisson infilling, thus reducing the need for imported fill and sustaining resource circularity. Reusing these materials for reclamation also eliminated long distance haulage of such materials to offshore disposal sites.

- Design of soil improvement works such as prefabricated vertical drains, preloading and sand drains, to expedite and reduce the time taken for consolidation of the soft clay reclamation filling.

- The use of caissons that perform a dual function. As a vertical seawall, more land was created up to the water’s edge, and it functions as a wharf structure

where ships can berth alongside the caissons. Concrete caissons were designed and fabricated on a site nearby, under a sheltered factory-controlled environment, thus ensuring consistency of the quality and strength of concrete, and providing a conducive working environment for the workers. The dual-lane production of caissons, using an innovative slip-form method, led to increased productivity and early completion of caisson construction.

- The adoption of Automatic Rebar Machine using Robotics System (ARMS) to automate bending and cutting of reinforcement steel bars to the desired design specifications, before transferring them safely onto an adjacent stacking area. This innovative solution eliminated the risk of exposing workers to mechanical hazards in the operation of rebar-cutting and bar-bending machines by conventional methods.

- The use of Temarock, a customised all-in-one marine equipment / vessel for rock laying, rock compaction and underwater surveying of caisson foundation, for greater safety and productivity.

- Dredged hard rock beneath the seabed was reused for shore protection and crushed for use as reclamation fill, which increased resource circularity.

• The scope of work for the project teams, from MPA, Surbana Jurong Corporation, and Dredging International Asia Pacific – Daelim Industrial Joint Venture Pte Ltd (MPA’s appointed main contractor), entailed soil improvement works for 414 hectares of land, including 294 hectares of newly reclaimed land; the fabrication and installation of 221 10-storey tall caissons, each weighing 15,000 tons, to form 8.6 km of seawall; and the deepening of the seabed to cater for larger ships of the future.

The project involved 34 million man-hours and the support of over 450 companies. TPP1 has 21 deep-water berths that can handle 20 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers annually, when fully operational.

The project presented opportunities for the teams from MPA and local as well as international engineers to find innovative solutions. Image: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Rail transport – enhancing commuters’ travel experience

by Service Readiness

Working

Group

(Transportation

Standards Committee): Co-convenors Alvin Kek & Simon Yan, and member

Lim Kim Chye

Enhancing Operation Readiness of Rail Operations for passenger safety and better commuter travel experience.

Reliability, safety and comfort are of paramount importance, in order to build trust and confidence in the use of MRT and LRT services, and to ensure a pleasant travel experience for our passengers.

Ridership has increased significantly for the rail network in Singapore over the years. With the increased connectivity in the local railway network, the operation of all transit lines requires close cooperation and coordination to ensure the safety of passengers travelling within the network.

Particularly during a train service disruption/delay, Public Transport

Operators (PTOs) play a crucial role and must respond promptly and coordinate with the relevant agencies/departments so that the safety of passengers is not compromised. The necessary information has to be disseminated in a timely manner to passengers and members of the public, so that they are aware of the situation and can plan alternative routes.

Whilst the reliability of the railway network has improved over the years, PTOs should always be ready in the event an incident occurs, and should seek continuous improvement of their processes to enhance their operational readiness.

Railway operations can be broadly classified into (but are not limited to) key aspects which are important for delivering an excellent train service and a better commuter experience for passengers. These aspects can range from operations of the station, trains and control centre, to gaining access to tracks and all the way to fault response strategies as well as incident management.

The various aspects require Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to govern railway operations, so that all personnel working in the railway environment adhere to

Reliability, safety and comfort of passengers and railway personnel are of paramount importance, in order to build trust and confidence in the use of MRT and LRT services. Images: SGTrains.

Lim Kim Chye

them, in order to perform their work/duties safely. SOPs should be stringent, in order to protect the safety of railway personnel, especially those who require access to the track during passenger service hours for emergency fault rectification, or access to the track during engineering hours to maintain the railway system/equipment.

As part of railway operations, it is important to have a process to develop, formalise, maintain and review the SOPs, so that potential risks are mitigated particularly for safety-critical tasks, and the SOPs are adequate for the protection of railway personnel and are practical to carry out. Railway operators need to develop and maintain operating rules and ensure they are up-to-date to support their railway operations.

However, to ensure reliability and safety of the local rail network and the safety of personnel and the public, there is a need to harmonise and consolidate all the good practices from local PTOs as well as overseas PTOs, so that the processes can be further enhanced, with the intent of improving passenger safety and providing excellent service to passengers. This could be done through the development of standards for Singapore, and potentially, for overseas use as well.

The Service Readiness Workstream, set up by the Technical Committee on Railway Systems, under the purview of the Transportation Standards Committee, aims to develop standards, with the goal of harmonising the existing and future railway practices in operations and services. The standards serve as a guide for the rail industry, as a whole. Their objectives are to allow the rail industry to seek continuous improvement of their processes, in order to enhance their operational readiness, with the goal of providing safe and reliable train services to passengers.

Formal and regular reviews of the national standards will take place, which will provide assurance for continuous improvement. In the long run, the standards could also ensure consistent performance/ service of railway operations and act as a base for more effective communication among PTOs and government agencies.

There are a number of standards related to rail, which have been published so far. The most recent ones are:

• TR 94: 2021 – MRT and LRT Operations – guide for assisted service kiosks in stations

• TR 98: 2021 – MRT Operations –guide for platform screen doors in stations

• TR 107: 2022 – MRT and LRT –Operations and maintenance guide for passenger lifts in stations

These standards cover the operational considerations and recommended functions that can be considered for the stations.

In addition, there is an upcoming webinar launch of these three standards, that would be beneficial for consultants, suppliers, contractors, developers and government agencies.

Technical References for Operations of a Rapid Transit System

Friday, 14 April 2023 (2:00 pm – 3:30 pm)

The webinar will introduce three new Technical References related to service readiness in railway systems. It aims to promote common understanding and consistency pertaining to service readiness in the railway industry.

The three new Technical References are:

• TR 94: 2021 – MRT and LRT Operations – guide for assisted service kiosks in stations

• TR 98: 2021 – MRT Operations – guide for platform screen doors in stations

• TR 107: 2022 – MRT and LRT – Operations and maintenance guide for passenger lifts in stations

The IOI Central Boulevard Towers

The iconic, biophilic development is set to usher the modern workforce into the future of work.

Located in the Marina Bay district, the IOI Central Boulevard Towers comprises the 16-storey East Tower, the 48-storey West Tower, a 7-storey Podium, and Central Green, located on Level 7, which encompasses 60,000 ft2 of green landscaping, an urban sky park which is the largest in the district, and rooftop planting.

CENTRAL GREEN

The size of this 160 m long, green oasis can be fully appreciated if one imagines it as three Olympic-sized pools laid end to end. It is developer IOI Properties Group’s bold and cutting-edge, yet elegant answer to the intensifying demand for workplaces, that prioritises health and well-being, productivity and sustainability.

Spreading across the Central Green is a host of thoughtfully designed nature- and people-centric spaces to create invigorating work, living and play experiences.

The 200 m jogging track, another first in the district, will benefit executives with hectic schedules.

For avid cyclists, end-of-trip facilities are in place, to support their aspirations to achieve active mobility and a greener commute, as well as reduce the carbon footprint.

Tenants can head towards cosy meeting pods or a cafe set amidst the verdant landscaping, for informal discussions or quiet contemplation.

Anchoring the Central Green is a signature restaurant where diners can gather to partake in culinary treats while enjoying the panoramic views across Marina Bay.

Botanical oasis

Akin to a miniature Singapore Botanical Gardens or Gardens by the Bay, Central Green will house more than 68,000 plants from 18 specially curated species, out of the 116,326

plants from 32 species in the entire development. From aromatic and air-filtering plants to trees with phytoremediation properties, this micro-habitat brings nature right into the heart of the city.

The increasingly popular biophilia concept is adopted at Central Green, connecting people to nature, while preserving biodiversity, purifying the air and cooling the urban built environment.

Landscaping ingenuity is woven into the layering concept to create a visual treat comprising different

colours, texture and forms. Tenants can also benefit from the therapeutic environment, designed to boost their psychological and spiritual well-being.

The verdant landscaping encompasses a collection of air-filtering species capable of removing air pollutants, in order to provide joggers and diners with fresh, clean air.

Rejuvenating views

Overlooking the Central Linear Park, Central Green offers spectacular views, all the way to the Marina Bay Promontory.

IOI Central Boulevard Towers comprises the 16-storey East Tower, the 48-storey West Tower, a 7-storey Podium and Central Green. Artist’s impression.

GREEN ACCOLADES

IOI Central Boulevard Towers has already achieved the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Platinum Award as well as the BCA Universal Design Mark Gold Award, ahead of its launch.

“Building a green, sustainable future is in the DNA of IOI Properties Group and we spare no efforts to set new benchmarks in urban green buildings, with the IOI Central Boulevard Towers. This commitment is illustrated throughout the construction of the building – we used certified green materials to minimise natural resource consumption and adopted sustainable construction practices. Our goals are to bring nature to the doorstep of our tenants and unleash unprecedented opportunities for vibrant communities to connect and thrive, while creating a positive impact on the environment,” said Mr Lee Yeow Seng, Executive Vice Chairman of IOI Properties.

PREMIER ATTRIBUTES

Apart from its green spaces, IOI Central Boulevard Towers offers a myriad of cutting-edge features and luxurious convenience, designed to cater to the many needs of modern corporate workers.

The Grade A office building in Singapore’s CBD offers connectivity, with sheltered connections to four MRT stations – Downtown, Marina Bay, Raffles Place and Shenton Way. The building thereby has access to five MRT lines. It also has easy access to One Raffles Quay and Asia Square, through link bridges.

The efficient central-core layout of the two towers, with column-free floor plans, provides spacious, uninterrupted areas that can easily be adapted to tenants’ needs. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow for ample natural lighting, while double-glazed façades effectively reduce solar heat gain to give tenants well-lit, cool workspaces.

Placing people at the centre of its design, the development integrates smart touchless technology and digital systems to create exciting daily experiences and a safer working environment.

The office complex also includes a childcare facility.

In all, IOI Central Boulevard Towers provides a total of 1.26 million ft2 of Grade A office space and 30,000 ft2 of retail and F&B spaces, to create an exceptional place to work, play and socialise.

“The epitome of a future workplace is its ability to cater to the topmost priorities of the modern

workforce – from easy commuting and taking care of their children to a healthy lifestyle and to reducing the carbon footprint. By embracing all these aspirations, IOI Central Boulevard Towers has achieved strong tenant interest and a robust occupancy rate, demonstrating that our design concept has struck a firm chord with the market,” said Karen Lau, Head of Business of IOI Properties.

Impression.

Central Green features thoughtfully designed nature- and people-centric spaces, including a jogging track and a signature restaurant. Artist’s impressions.

Civil & Structural Engineering highlights

The use of secant bored piles

The secant bored piles (SBP) serve two functions – as the earth retaining wall structure and as deep foundation elements.

The dual function of the SBP helped to eliminate the need for additional structures and reduce the overall cost of the deep foundation elements and earth retaining wall structures.

Innovative Observational Method for the deep basement excavation work

During the construction of the main tower basement for IOI Central Boulevard Towers, excavation depths of up to 8.5 m were required for the general areas and 11.5 m, locally, at the lift pit area.

The design took into consideration two scenarios, the Characteristic Scenario and the Probable Scenario, with different soil design parameters.

Instruments were installed for close monitoring, throughout, of the excavation process.

During the Decision Stage, the readings of various instruments were observed to be below the Observational Method Implementation Level (OMIL) for the Probable Scenario, as shown in Figure 2. Consequently, it was decided to omit the third level of struts, result-

ing in a single-stage completion of the basement pilecap.

This decision led to significant timeand cost-savings for the basement construction work.

Installation of a long span steel transfer structure

A long span steel transfer structure was installed to overcome

the ‘no pile zone’ created by the presence of the Common Services Tunnel (CST) and the PUB Collector Drain.

This inter-storey transfer steel truss is integrated into the building from Level 3 to Level 5 (the carpark levels), enabling minimal headspace occupation for such a deep transfer structure and maximising the spatial efficiency.

Figure 3: The Long Span Transfer Truss.

Figure 2: Instrumentation results and implementation of the OM.

Advancing the structural applications of bamboo

Project description

Atelier One’s ongoing journey with bamboo started 10 years ago. The practice was invited to visit the Green School in Bali. The school’s bamboo structures demonstrated the potential of a material that many had previously dismissed. Critically, a new treatment process had been developed, sustainably eliminating the risk of insect attack and thus increasing the lifespan. With the strength of bamboo significantly exceeding that of timber, and with only three years required for a culm (stem) to reach full strength, Atelier One was convinced that bamboo can make a significant contribution to the necessary transition to zero carbon construction.

The meeting could not have come at a more opportune moment. IBUKU, the architect for the Green School, was hitting engineering obstacles in its pursuit of bamboo structures. It had reached the limit of what its

engineer could justify with analytical methods. Thus started Atelier One’s journey to fully understand this remarkable material.

Over the next few years, Atelier One began to examine the material

in detail, talking to experts around the world and studying papers to build up the necessary knowledge, before attempting design. After this initial research phase, the engineers began carrying out

An exterior view of The Arc at Green School Bali.

The Arc is the gymnasium for the Green School.

engineering design for simple post and beam structures. However, it became clear that these structures were not exploiting the true potential of the material. Due to the low

shear strength of bamboo, connections were dominating design.

Atelier One progressed to exploring gridshell structures. The natural flexibility and axial strength of bamboo

make it ideal for such surfaces. The practice developed a number of these structures for the Green Village alongside IBUKU (the architect) and PT Bamboo Pure (the builder).

Structural elements. Image: Atelier One.

General arrangement. Image: Atelier One.

In 2019, Atelier One met with one of the bamboo craftsmen who had been advising it, Jorg Stamm, and Elora Hardy of IBUKU. The Green School was looking for a replacement for its existing gymnasium which had reached the end of its life. The new structure had to utilise the existing foundations. Together they devised the Arc, a 14 m high by 19 m span roof, consisting of a series of bamboo bundle arches connected by bamboo lattice anticlastic saddles, topped with a bamboo mat surface. The structure’s strength would come from its form, with the arches and saddle surfaces acting compositely.

The composite behaviour of such a structural system needed to be fully understood. Due to its unprecedented form, the lack of available test results and the material variability of bamboo grown under different con-

ditions, a progression of load tests was completed. First, single culms were tested, then bundles lashed in a variety of different configurations, to check the level of composite action that could be considered. Next came testing different patterns of ‘reb-reb’, a process of notching the bamboo to allow increased curvature. Finally came full-scale load testing of a sample arch and saddle, to check the composite action, allowing calibration of Atelier One’s analytical models.

The Arc has received attention from around the world. It stands as testament to the amazing potential of bamboo.

Sustainability

Bamboo grows to full height in 12 months and reaches its mature strength in three to four years,

compared to 20 to 30 years for timber. As a natural material, bamboo has the potential to sequester carbon whilst oxygenating the air. Once a culm is cut, a new culm grows in its place, and this can be repeated five or six times. It means that a single bamboo clump can produce 1000 m of bamboo. These factors combined mean that a properly managed bamboo plantation can sequester phenomenal amounts of carbon, dwarfing that possible, per hectare per year, for a forest.

For the Arc, whole culms harvested from near the site were used. This means that the emissions due to processing and transportation are minimal. The quantity of bamboo required is drastically reduced, due to the structurally driven form, with the arches and saddle surfaces all contributing to the strength.

Elevations and cross-section. Image: Atelier One.

Combined with the use of existing foundations, the resulting carbon footprint of the building is negligible. This is demonstrated by the A++ rating.

Bamboo can be grown on previously degraded land. It binds the soil together, regenerating it and allowing other plant species and wildlife to prosper. Clumping bamboo, rather than running bamboo, should be chosen, and a multiculture must always be considered.

Bamboo has the potential to make a huge contribution to a more sustainable construction sector, both in its natural form and laminated. Atelier One believes that the time is right for the widespread adoption of bamboo, based on its strength and speed of growth. Work carried out on the Arc has helped demonstrate the possibilities of the material to a wider audience.

Impact on people

When it began exploring bamboo, Atelier One developed relationships with local craftspeople in Bali, learning from the bamboo expertise that had been handed down through generations. Now, with a better understanding of the material, Atelier One has been able to introduce new typologies and structural principles to them. This two way information exchange is a hugely satisfying experience for all involved.

The Arc is the gymnasium for the Green School – the right environment for teaching symbiosis with the environment and cultivating future sustainability leaders.

The Green School has close links with BambooU, a series of residential courses designed to train people to use bamboo. The Arc is an inspiration to the participants.

Technical achievement and innovation

Once it was decided to pursue the structural use of bamboo, Atelier One realised that it was necessary to fully understand the material. The practice dedicated significant time to developing its own technical guide to bamboo and an index of key players in bamboo. Many of

in order to learn from their insight and experience.

As a result of 10 years of study, Atelier One feels it is now in a position to help make sure bamboo is properly utilised. Bamboo is sometimes referred to as ‘vegetable steel’. However, it must not be considered as a straight substitute for steel, or even timber. It is closer to ‘vegetable carbon fibre’, and it must be detailed as such.

The material strength of bamboo far exceeds that of timber, as indicated in the tabulation.

As an example, Atelier One has been able to develop forms that work in tension and compression rather than bending. The forms utilise the

rather than fighting it. Atelier One has helped move away from the use of dowelled connections that are limited by the low relative shear strength of the material. It has also helped to introduce the use of geometric stiffness, with forms drawing on nature rather than traditional post and beam construction.

Name Dendrocalamus bamboo Timber (C24)

The Arc is Atelier One’s most successful implementation of these principles to-date. The form is extremely material-efficient, with the entire surface contributing.

The novel form and infancy of bamboo codes meant that extensive testing was required to justify the structure of the Arc. Working closely with the builder, PT Bamboo, Atelier One carried out a series of load tests. These started off with checking the mechanical properties of the individual culms to account for the specific growing environment and progressed in scale. Bundles of

culms and notched beams (reb-reb) were then tested.

Finally, a full scale prototype of a single bay enabled the checking of the performance of the composite arch saddle structure under dead and wind loading, with recorded deflections used to confirm and calibrate the analytical models.

Summary

It has taken significant research and development, over a period of 10 years, to reach this point. The Arc provides a valuable precedent and

PROJECT DATA

Length

41 m

Width

23.5 m

Height

14 m

Floor Area

760 m2

Construction Time

8 months

PROJECT CREDITS

Project

The Arc at Green School Bali

Location Bali, Indonesia

Client Green School Bali

Design IBUKU

Conceptalisation

Jörg Stamm

Structural Engineer

Atelier One

Builder

PT Bamboo Pure Website for further information

www.greenschool.org/bali ibuku.com

www.atelierone.com

All images by Tommaso Riva, unless otherwise stated.

is an important milestone in the aim to champion bamboo as a mainstream construction material.

The Arc has already won a number of design awards and has received considerable media attention.

The combination of arches and saddle surfaces working compositely in this way is novel. Also, due to structural bamboo being in its infancy, design guidance is limited. The load testing that was carried out has facilitated both the justification of the design and a better understanding of the composite behaviour of bamboo bundles.

Close-up exterior view.

Remotely designing the expansion of a wastewater treatment plant

by Sandra DiMatteo, Director,

Industry Marketing, Water, Bentley Systems

Software solutions were used to accurately visualise existing conditions, improve decision-making and reduce modelling time.

Improving wastewater treatment methods

Gwinnett County, northeast of Atlanta, USA, has a population of 950,000. The Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (GCDWR) provides wastewater treatment services to these residents via the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center. Originally constructed in 2000, it utilises advanced ozone, granular activated carbon, and membrane treatment processes to return high-quality effluent to the Chattahoochee River and Lake Lanier while going beyond regular water quality requirements. Since it began operations, the facility has received a number of awards from water associations, including the Platinum 18 Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water, and has never received a water quality violation.

Gwinnett County has experienced the second-fastest population growth in Georgia, at 19.18%, from 2010 to 2022. Even with a maximum flow of 60 million gallons per day, the plant frequently experienced flow issues that had to be addressed to keep the effluent flow constant for the increasing number of residents. In addition to fixing existing flow issues, GCDWR wanted to improve the capacity of the membrane treatment process.

The organisation tasked Jacobs Engineering with designing the renovation of the plant, such that it would address both needs.

Squeezing new equipment into tight spaces

The scope of the project includes various improvements at the

Membrane Building and East Chemical Building. For the Membrane Building, Jacobs is designing and building additional membrane

cassettes, permeate and back pulse pumps and piping, high-capacity drum screens, HVAC equipment, and electrical and variable fre-

Using Bentley Systems’ applications to create both a connected data environment and a federated model, all project stakeholders greatly improved communication and collaboration. Working in the federated model facilitated at least 20 major design decisions that would have required an additional 300 hours of modelling to resolve, using older design methods.

The reality mesh provided a detailed representation of every area and angle of the project, eliminating the need to travel to the worksite.

quency drive equipment. The East Chemical Building improvements include chemical tanks, chemical pumps and piping, and an architectural canopy over a fill station. Both buildings would also receive various architectural and structural improvements.

The project posed numerous challenges to Jacobs. Since the new design and equipment would be incorporated into an older building, the design team needed to carefully build the new elements alongside existing features that could not be moved. Since this was a retrofit project, it was essential for the design team to have a thorough understanding of existing space and equipment placement, particularly in the Membrane Building where space is limited.

It was necessary to tie into the building’s original piping, avoid or incorporate existing structural elements, and create complex spatial arrangements that would push the design accuracy to the limits. The team could not easily import older, limited 3D models created for the plant. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the team could not visit the site, preventing them from collecting specific information on building conditions. Jacobs needed an alternative method for the team to view and interact with the as-built conditions of the site.

Visualising the impact of the design work in a 3D model

The design team determined that the project’s challenges could be overcome by using Bentley Systems’ applications to create a federated digital model that included accurate data for both the existing conditions and the new equipment. First, a laser scan of the project areas was performed and the point cloud data was imported into ContextCapture, thereby creating a reality model of the current site. Next, ProjectWise was used to establish a connected data environment for both the reality model and models of the new components. By providing current conditions and all project data to the design team and stakeholders,

the modelling and design review could be done at a central location, without having to visit the job sites. Within the reality mesh, the team visualised the combination of the legacy plant data, as-built conditions, and proposed improvements. Because the applications were open and interoperable, it was also possible to incorporate older 3D models that had been created with AutoPLANT and update them with the current operational conditions of the facility. In the process, the models were updated to correct errors and architectural elements that were missing were built, ensuring that the team worked with a complete, accurate digital replica of the work site. Using OpenBuildings, OpenPlant, OpenRoads Designer and other Bentley applications, the team members modelled new elements for the renovation. Since the federated model helped them to immediately see how each aspect of the design would impact the piping, equipment and structure of the existing facility, they could make adjustments to correct clashes.

Working remotely to improve collaboration

By establishing both a connected data environment and a federated model, all project stakeholders were able to greatly improve communication and collaboration. The design team and stakeholders reviewed the model’s development during weekly calls, facilitating discussion of any project concerns and improving decision-making. These team calls and screen-sharing proved invaluable to the success of the project, and utilisation of the new reality mesh produced real value-adding design decisions. In total, working in the federated model facilitated at least 20 major design decisions that would have required an additional 300 hours of modelling to resolve, using older design methods.

Going digital during design also produced strong environmental benefits. As the reality mesh provided a detailed representation of

every area and angle of the project, the team had little need to travel back to the work site, preventing carbon emissions from transportation. Additionally, adjustments to the design will improve the capacity to discharge reclaimed water to Lake Lanier, which will boost water levels at one of Georgia’s most popular recreational lakes. Due to the success of designing within the federated model and incorporating all asset information, Jacobs and the project owner now plan to use them to improve construction and operations.

“The collaboration between the design team and Bentley to drive the use of a high-quality reality mesh resulted in many design decision improvements through the life of the project. Continuous positive feedback from the client further validated the ambitious decision to capture the original laser scan of the highly complex facility,” said Nathan Meade, Design Manager, Jacobs Engineering.

PROJECT SUMMARY Organisation

Jacobs Engineering Solution

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants

Location

Buford, Georgia, USA

Project objectives

• To improve the flow of reclaimed water at an advanced wastewater treatment plant.

• To incorporate new elements around existing assets within a tight space.

Bentley Systems’ products used –AutoPLANT, ContextCapture, MicroStation, OpenBuildings, OpenPlant, OpenRoads Designer, Pointools, ProjectWise 365

All images by Jacobs Engineering

Fit-out of educational facility in Singapore

Technology enabled remote meetings with multiple stakeholders and project completion on schedule.

DPR was awarded the contract to fit out 5,000 m2 of existing space for Curtin Singapore, the Singapore-based campus for Australia’s Curtin University.

The challenge for DPR was the project deadline which was only 114 days away from completion. This was compounded by the fact that many project stakeholders were based nearly 2,500 miles away, in Australia. Therefore, keeping alignment among project partners was a key challenge to the schedule.

Mr Richard Kimber, DPR’s Managing Director for Singapore and Southeast Asia, said, “For this project, time and information-sharing were key challenges. We also faced supply chain issues. Managing any issues that came up with providing progress reports in a timely way was vital to the completion of the project.”

DPR’s solution to the project was using Matterport, a tool at hand, in a new way – to capture immersive 3D models of the space in real-time, as the project progressed.

A Matterport camera scans a space to create a 3D point cloud that is less accurate than laser scanning, but is captured and processed at a fraction of the time. The capture process also produces high-resolution 360° photos. Matterport also has a cloud-based software for viewing 360° photos and 3D photogrammetry models.

Mr Sean Hillier who led the DPR’s project team, said, “Matterport is a tool we have used in a variety of applications for 3D modelling, as part of our virtual design and construction efforts. It was designed to do that and we thought, may be, this can be applied to solve our communication challenge.”

The team provided 3D scans of the space, as weekly visual updates, to keep remote customer stakeholders informed on progress, throughout the project. Stakeholders from the

school, as well as from Navitas which is a leading global education provider, could virtually walk the spaces with DPR’s team, in almost real-time, as opposed to experiencing a one- to two-day time lag, with a more traditional approach. This also meant faster discussion of design and / or operational challenges arising from COVID-19, as well as incorporation of systems to support hybrid teaching platforms.

Mr Hillier added, “The scans allowed the clients’ remote stakeholders, many of whom are unable to visualise layouts from design plans, to view controllable walkthroughs and provide spatial awareness, in order to better understand the implementation of the project. This also enabled operational and construction changes to be made within the shortest possible timeframe.”

The client was better informed about how the project was pro-

gressing and was able to bring even

sible. This is especially significant, as virtual design and construction (VDC) tools are not yet widely adopted in Singapore, especially for interior projects.

DPR’s scope of work for this project included advanced mechanical and structural works (internal stairs and slab opening), partitions, ceilings and floors, floor finishes, joinery, loose furniture signage, AV and teaching aid technology, and associated MEP works.

All of it will support a new space, spread across three floors in an existing building, that includes classrooms, office space, a seminar room, a library, collaboration spaces, IT labs and nursing labs.

DPR’s team worked nearly 70,000 worker hours over the course of the project, without incident.

The library area after completion.

The Santa Lucia Tunnel

A range of chemical products were used in the construction of the longest three-lane tunnel in Europe.

The Apennine stretch of the A1 Milan-Naples motorway between Bologna and Florence in Central Italy is a winding road with numerous climbs and descents, that can be hazardous for both cars and lorries. The 37 km-long A1 ‘Variante di Valico’ link-road between La Quercia and Aglio, which opened in 2015, has reduced drive times.

The upgrade to the A1 along this stretch included the construction of a new lane on the south-bound carriageway towards Rome and a complete rebuild of the two existing lanes on the north-bound carriageway for traffic heading

towards Milan. The Santa Lucia tunnel, along the stretch running between Barberino di Mugello and Firenze Nord, is one of the largest works carried out on the southbound carriageway.

A complex feat of engineering Inaugurated in March, 2022, the Santa Lucia road tunnel is 7,734 m long. An EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), with a diameter of 15.87 m, was used to bore the tunnel –the largest in Europe at the time of commencing work. The project was particularly complex due to

local geological conditions and the potential presence of explosive underground gases.

The area that had to be bored, around 200 m2, enabled the construction of three lanes with a width of 3.75 m each, as well as an embankment, a pavement, ventilation and lighting systems and, under the road itself, an escape tunnel to evacuate drivers, in the event of emergencies.

As tunnelling with the TBM advanced, segments made up of nine precast reinforced concrete elements were installed in sequence.

Construction of the Santa Lucia Tunnel in progress.

The tunnelling technology adopted by the main contractor enabled the tunnel to be constructed at a rate of 9 m per day.

Constant control of hydraulic loads during tunnelling was fundamental in preventing any impact on the water resources, both during tunnelling operations and from a more long-term perspective. In addition, the tunnel was constructed without interfering with the flow of traffic on the surface.

Two aspects characterised this site – the actual dimensions of the tunnel and its impact on the environment. One of the largest in Italy and in the world, right from the start, the Santa Lucia tunnel project was particularly focused on minimising the impact of the products, used to condition the soil during tunnelling, on the environment.

Mapei UTT provided continuous support during tunnelling operations, constantly checking and ensuring that the optimal dosage rates of the products selected were applied, in order to condition the

soil correctly and in the injection of the backfill grout.

Products for tunnelling and conditioning the soil

To make the precast reinforced concrete elements for the segments

(each one measuring 2.2 m long and 55 cm thick, and weighing 16 tonnes), the mix designs used were formulated with DYNAMON NRG 1015 SC and DYNAMON NRG 1037 superplasticisers, developed specifically for this site. MAPEFORM W60 universal form-release agent was

With a diameter of 15.87 m, the TBM used was the largest tunnel boring machine ever used in Europe, at the beginning of the works.

The TBM breaks through.

used for the formwork.

During tunnelling operations, the soil in the area around the shield was conditioned with POLYFOAMER ECO 100, a foaming agent made from surfactants combined with a natural lubricating polymer. This product differs from traditional foaming products, due to its low environmental impact on water and on the ground conditioning. It was chosen for this project because it offered the best performance and environmental properties from amongst all those tested during the preliminary phase.

Testing was carried out in the laboratories of Politecnico di Torino university, where conditioning tests were performed, and in the CNR (Italian National Research Council) laboratory in Rome, which carried out environmental biodegradability and eco-toxicity tests.

Muck excavated and conditioned with POLYFOAMER ECO 100 could be taken from site and transported to its destination quickly. Using POLYFOAMER ECO 100 for the whole of the tunnel excavation enabled the contractor to carry out tunnelling quickly and safely,

and also to reduce its environmental impact on the ground to a minimum. In total, around 1.7 million m3 of soil were excavated and conditioned with POLYFOAMER ECO 100. The backfill grout was injected through 10 individual lines at an average flow rate of 30 litres/minute to 50 litres/minute, depending on the advance rate of the TBM. Keeping the injection pressure slightly higher than that of the EPB guaranteed that the mortar completely filled the annular voids and gaps between the concrete blocks and the ground.

The annular voids between the segments and the ground were filled with a two-component cementitious mix containing two Mapei admixtures – MAPEQUICK CBS SYSTEM 1L retardant and MAPEQUICK CBS SYSTEM 3 accelerator.

Any defects found in the concrete were repaired with mortars from the MAPEFER, MAPEGROUT and PLANITOP ranges.

Injections of RESFOAM 1 KM FLEX one-component, flexible polyurethane resin were carried out behind the concrete segments where infiltrations of water were found.

PROJECT DATA

Project

Santa Lucia tunnel

Location

A1 Milan-Naples highway, between Barberino di Mugello and Firenze Nord, Italy

Owner

Autostrade per l’Italia SpA

Contractor

Pavimental SpA

Period of construction

2016-2022

INTERVENTION BY MAPEI

Period of the intervention

2016-2022

Contribution by Mapei

Supply of admixtures for concrete, and products for soil conditioning and concrete repair

Application of Mapei products

Concrete admixtures –DYNAMON NRG 1015 SC, DYNAMON NRG 1037, MAPEFORM W60

Ground conditioning –POLYFOAMER ECO 100, DEFOAMER XP/IO 1

Backfill grout admixtures –MAPEQUICK CBS SYSTEM 1L, MAPEQUICK CBS SYSTEM 3

Concrete repair – MAPEFER, MAPEGROUT EASY FLOW GF, PLANITOP 200, PLANITOP SMOOTH & REPAIR R4, RESFOAM 1 KM FLEX

Website for further information

www.mapei.com/sg utt.mapei.com

This editorial feature is based on an article from Realtà MAPEI INTERNATIONAL Issue

95. Images by Mapei.

The storage silos containing POLYFOAMER ECO 100 foaming agent.

Low-carbon concrete to be used in major project

Pan-United Corporation Ltd (Pan-United) will be supplying 360,000 m3 of carbon dioxide (CO2) mineralised concrete, over a 2.5 year period, for Tuas Port. This specialised low-carbon concrete is a building material for the berths and stacking yards at the Phase 1 container berth project by PSA Corporation Ltd (PSA).

Pan-United is a listed Asia-based technology company that is active in the ready-mix concrete and logistics space.

Upon completion, Tuas Port Phase 1 will effectively become a man-made carbon sink that prevents the emission of over 113.8 million kg of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

When fully completed in the 2040s, Tuas Port will be the world’s largest fully automated port. It will be capable of handling 65 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers annually.

Ms May Ng, CEO of Pan-United, said, “We are delighted at PSA’s commitment to the use of our CO2 mineralised concrete for its Tuas Port Phase 1 project. It will contribute to PSA’s efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We will continue to champion sustainability in Singapore and globally, and work alongside fellow industry leaders in our journey to reach new frontiers in decarbonising Singapore’s built environment.” Unlike operational carbon emitted from buildings in use, embodied carbon is emitted throughout the construction process before a building is completed, i.e. from the manufacture of building materials right up to onsite work on a new building project. This fact makes it possible, during the design stage, to choose building materials and methods that can lower embodied carbon. Once a building is oper-

ational, carbon emissions can be reduced by increasing reliance on renewable energy sources and minimising the energy consumption by building services such as lighting and air-conditioning.

Ms Ng added, “So far, greening initiatives have focused largely on reducing operational carbon after the building is completed. Yet the best results can be achieved as early as the design stage, if builders opt for low-carbon materials such as CO2 mineralised concrete, to incur the lowest possible embodied carbon footprint for a building even before it comes into use.”

The production of CO2 mineralised concrete is a carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technology that permanently embeds industrial waste CO2 as a mineral in concrete, making it a carbon sink for embodied carbon emissions.

Pan-United’s CO2 mineralised concrete has been inducted into the Singapore Green Building Council’s new Ready-Mix Concrete (Carbon Capture & Utilisation) category. In the BCA Green Mark, CO2 mineralisation technology is listed within a newly-created ‘Whole Life Carbon’ category under the ‘Innovation’ section.

The Tuas Port Phase 1 project will use 360,000 m3 of low-carbon CO2 mineralised concrete.

Pan-United’s batching plant and trucks.

Tower cranes are helping to build the largest timber campus in Europe

Coordinated movement as well as easy and safe access for operators and maintenance personnel characterise their operation.

Ten Liebherr EC-B series tower cranes are being used in the EUR 650 million ‘Arboretum’ development project in Nanterre near Paris, France. The campus is designed to create a new connection between nature and the workplace, and is sustainable, thanks to its solid wood construction.

The top-slewing cranes, which will remain in operation until mid2023, have to be coordinated with one another so that they do not interfere with each other’s lifts. The flexibility of Liebherr’s EC-B series is demonstrated at the site, where flat-top cranes with different hook heights, jib lengths and load capacities are required.

Liebherr customer, GCC, has two 220 EC-B 10s, two 250 EC-B 10s, one 250 EC-B 12, two 285 EC B 12s, two 340 EC-B 12s and one 370 EC-B 12 in operation. The jibs in use are between 47.5 m and 60 m in length. Hook heights range from 41m to 59 m. As a result of these configurations and their flat-top design, the cranes can rotate above each other, without encountering any problems. The transport and assembly-opti mised cranes can, depending on the model, lift a maximum of 10 t or 12 t. A 280 EC-H 12 high-top crane is ad ditionally in use for the construction of the service centre.

Anti-collision system and crane operator lift

To ensure optimal safety, each crane is equipped with an anti-collision system from the French manufacturer, AMCS technologies. The machines also include Liebherr LiUP operator lifts which particularly benefit crane operators and service engineers working at high hook heights, as is the case here. LiUP is designed to transport two people or a load of 200 kg. It gives crane operators quick access to their workplace and service engineers can avoid a strenuous climb during maintenance work.

The Arboretum project, on the banks of the Seine, will provide 125,000 m2 of office and service space and will be mostly built of solid wood. The offices are set to be spread over five buildings and each of them will be named after a tree –Almond, Pine, Cedar, Fir and Spruce. A park, a fruit and vegetable garden for the use of campus restaurants, and two renovated industrial buildings will complete the area.

Precise positioning with Micromove

The construction of the new office buildings involves 20,000 m3 of wood from sustainably managed forests, as well as 55,000 m3 of concrete. All loads, some of which weigh several tonnes, have to be moved, and this is where the Liebherr tower cranes come in.

The top-slewing cranes are being used for positioning timber and concrete elements such as posts, beams, columns, staircases and lifts. This work is supported by the Micromove fine positioning mode. The assistance system makes use of Liebherr’s own high-performance drives so that loads are moved with precision over the course of several minutes and positioned with accuracy. This protects precast filigree concrete parts and existing constructions on site.

Ten Liebherr flat-top cranes are involved in the construction of the Arboretum in France.

The crane operator lift LiUP, from Liebherr, transports employees and service engineers quickly and safely up the crane.

ENGINEERING SINGAPORE’S GREEN FUTURE

Celebrating World Engineering Day through sustainability innovation at the Science Centre

4 March 2023 marked the day of the inaugural IES Green Festival, which was jointly organised by IES and Science Centre Singapore in celebration of the World Engineering Day (WED) for Sustainable Development.

Curated alongside the WED 2023 theme “Engineering Innovation for a more Resilient World”, the Festival attracted some 500 students and members of the public in attendance.

WED, proclaimed by UNESCO in 2019, celebrates engineering and the contribution of engineers for a better, sustainable world. Through various interactive and fun-filled activities, the IES Green Festival 2023 provided opportunities for attendees to learn and explore engineering possibilities for a sustainable future.

Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Amy Khor, graced the event as guest-of-honour, where she engaged the audience on sustainability issues in the Singapore context during her fireside chat, moderated by Mr Aditya Kumar, President of the IES-NTU Student Chapter.

An interactive exhibition showcase by various IES Student Chapters from NTU, SUTD, the Temasek, Nanyang, Ngee Ann, and Singapore Polytechnics, as well as ITE College East, wowed attendees with their ingenious demonstrations of their innovative and sustainable solutions.

The Sustainability Drones Challenge by IES-SUTD attracted curious festival-goers, particularly families with young children, to challenge themselves in planning the most efficient flight path on a ‘map’ featuring the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. This in turn helped to raise awareness of the UN SDGs.

Active participation was encouraged throughout the entire event, of which the Bicycle Dynamo

Challenge proved to be the most popular. Participants lit up “W.E.D” alphabets (signifying World Engineering Day) using the accumulated power generated from pedalling three bicycles.

The last leg of the ‘journey’ was accomplished by IES Green Festival Organising Committee Chairman Dr Boh Jaw Woei, IES President Dalson Chung, and Science Centre Singapore Chief Executive Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, to cheers and applause from the crowd.

IES Vice President for Professional Engagement, Ms Jasmine Foo, and

Science Educator Kripa Rajkumar Naidu, were also on hand to introduce the Green Trivia Challenge where participants trailed their way around the space looking for

Dr Khor engaged the audience on sustainability topics during her Fireside Chat, moderated by Aditya.

(From left) Powering up the green way – Assoc Prof Lim Tit Meng, Science Centre Singapore Chief Executive, Mr Dalson Chung, IES President, and Dr Boh Jaw Woei, IES Green Festival Organising Committee Chairman combining their efforts to bring WED to life!

The IES-Temasek Polytechnic Student Chapter explains their project to a young attendee.

the questions posed. The winners walked away with Starbucks Gift Cards worth $50 each and earned points towards the Young Engineer and Young Sustainability Champion badge programmes.

Tech Talks on Future Green Technologies and Innovation for a Sustainable Future

Executive Chairman of HOPE Technik, Mr Peter Ho, warmed up the Festival’s Tech Talks segment, introducing food-for-thought ideas on sustainability and paving the way for a net-zero world through engineering. Mr Atem S Ramsundersingh, Founder, CEO and Board Director of WEnergy Global, followed next, inspiring the audience with thought-provoking insights on green technology, encouraging everyone to become “future-neers” (future engineers) of the world.

The Green Nation Pledge Festival attendees were also encouraged to take the Green Nation Pledge, an initiative of the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, to become active participants in helping to make Singapore a green, liveable and climate-resilient home. A digital map of Singapore was filled with images of many committed pledge-takers by the end of the festival.

Signing of MOU with Persatuan Insinyur Indonesia (PII)

On the sidelines of the Festival, IES signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Persatuan Insinyur Indonesia (PII; the Institution of Engineers Indonesia), to

further strengthen the professional relationship between both parties. IES and PII agreed to collaborate on business community cooperation, internship exchanges, technical visits, and mutual support in engineering MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) events.

Streamed live on the WED Global Stream

The IES Green Festival 2023 represented Singapore on the 24-hour Live WED Global Stream, along with other high-profile events, interviews with thought leaders

and discussions on key engineering topics.

The live stream also announced the winners of the 2023 WED Hackathon, and presentations by the finalists showcasing the use of theoretical knowledge in a fast-paced simulation of a real-world project, with teams from Temasek Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic among the selected finalists from Singapore.

IES wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to all sponsors, Institutes of Higher Learning, and green partners for their support for the IES Green Festival 2023.

An image of pledge takers during the IES Green Festival 2023 filled up and plotted against the Singapore map signifying unity in their green efforts.

The MOU was signed by Mr Chung and Mr Danis Hidayat Sumadilaga, President of PII. Witnessing the ceremony were (from left) Mr Andi Tjong, PII Singapore Branch Chairman; Er. Edwin Khew, IES Emeritus President; His Excellency Suryo Pratomo, Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore; and Dr Boh.

Mr Peter Ho (left) of HOPE Technik and Mr Atem S Ramsundersingh of WEnergy Global during the Tech Talk at IES Green Festival 2023.

IES Vice President (Professional Engagement) Jasmine Foo and Ms Rajkumar Naidu from the Science Centre led the Green Trivia Challenge.

IES SPRING FESTIVAL AND APPRECIATION & AWARDS NIGHT 2023

After a hiatus of two years due to the pandemic, IES was finally able to organise the Spring Festival and Appreciation & Awards Night to celebrate Lunar New Year as One IES, as well as to acknowledge the efforts of all IES volunteers.

The celebration took place on 2 February 2023, over a sumptuous eight-course dinner at Qian Xi Restaurant, which is located at the Civil Service Club @ Tessensohn Road.

In his welcome address, IES President Dalson Chung thanked all volunteers, partners and staff, and spoke about the Institution’s achievements and highlights in the past year, focusing on the launch of the IES Green Plan 2030 that happened two weeks prior, and outlining the Institution’s green aspirations in support of the national imperative.

A raucous lion dance performance from the Singapore Polytechnic lion dance troupe then trooped in to bless all present, before members dug in with an auspicious lou hei session.

Members were also treated to a melodious presentation of several Lunar New Year tunes, played

interning with IES. Bingo, a crowd favourite, also made its return this year in digital form.

IES also appreciated its volunteers for all the excellent effort they put in to advance the Institution’s interests, as well as the engineering community, over the past year. Several awards were given out: The IES Outstanding Volunteer Awards, Friends of IES Award, Best Student Chapter Award, Outstanding Committee Awards, and Special Recognition Awards (see list for full details).

All in all, our members had a great time catching up with each other

sustainable 2023 ahead!

Mr Chung receives blessings from the lions on behalf of all members. May everyone have good health and wealth in 2023!

Lou hei in progress! Huat for a successful year ahead!

Jin Cheng, who interned at IES, selftaught himself to play the flute.

IES Appreciation & Awards Night – Full list of award recipients

Outstanding Volunteer Award 2022

Name Committee / Interest Group Served

Dr Chandra Segaran

National Engineers Day Organising Committee (OC)

Mr Desmond Ng Asset Management Technical Committee (TC)

Mr James Bautista Young Engineers Committee

Mr Lee Long Guang Civil & Structural Engineering TC

Er. Leong Cheng Wee

Ms Liu Ziyue

Mechanical & Electrical Engineering TC

IES-IStructE Joint Committee

Er. Lily Yeo Civil & Structural Engineering TC

Er. Lim Gim Seng, Paul Mechanical & Electrical Engineering TC

Er. Lucas Ng Chemical and Process Engineering TC

Dr Ronnie Teo Electronics & Computer Engineering TC

Prof Seeram Ramakrishna

National Committee of Engineering Organisations / Charles Rudd Distinguished Public Lectures OC

Er. Dr Sun Jianping Civil & Structural Engineering TC

Er. Winston Ho Boon Chye Mechanical & Electrical Engineering TC

Friend of IES Award 2022

Name and Organisation Committee / Interest Group Served

Ms Edwin Ang, NTUC

IES-NTUC Engineering Leadership Programme

Mr Loh Yew Chiong, Singapore Polytechnic Chartered Engineering Technologist and Technician Accreditation Board

Best Student Chapter Award 2022

IES-NTU Student Chapter

Outstanding Committee Award 2022

World Engineers Summit OC 2021

Special Recognition Awards

Charles Rudd Distinguished Public Lectures 2022 OC

National Engineers Day 2022 OC

Innovative solutions for sustainable road construction

Wirtgen presented a cross-section of its premium cold milling, recycling, soil stabilising and concrete paving products in the joint booth shared by Wirtgen Group and John Deere, at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023. Alongside nine exhibits from three product sectors, the focus was also on digital system solutions and assistance systems.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023, a leading construction show, was held in Las Vegas, USA, from 14 to 18 March 2023.

Cold milling for all construction site sizes

With the W 50 Ri, Wirtgen presented its powerful half-metre cold milling machine with rear loading. Its winning features include a simple operating concept and automatic functions. The W 120 Fi front loader has been designed for working widths of up to 4 ft 3 in (1.3 m). The F-Series compact milling machine is fitted with a John Deere engine that has been customised to meet the special demands of cold milling applications. Two large F-Series milling machines completed the cold milling machine range on show.

A broad spectrum of applications can be covered using the W 210 Fi, spanning everything from surface layer rehabilitation or complete paving removal to fine milling work. The W 250 Fi, a powerful large milling machine, was developed with an eye on material loading capacity and performance to maximise productivity.

F-Series cold milling machines are available with the innovative Mill Assist machine control system as well as the Wirtgen Performance Tracker for digital construction site documentation.

Sustainable and economical cold recycling and soil stabilising

The responsible use of resources is a key element of the W 380 CRi

as well as the WR 200 XLi and WR 250i. The W 380 CRi with rear loading and a mixing performance of up to 800 t/h is used for rehabilitating wide roads. It can be deployed in both cold in-place recycling (CIR) and in full-depth reclaiming (FDR) projects. Besides cold recycling, the WR-Series wheel-driven recyclers can also carry out soil stabilising tasks. With a working width of 7 ft 10 in (2.4 m) as well as high milling and mixing performances, they are well-equipped for use in demanding projects with high daily outputs. The digital system solutions, the AutoTrac steering system and the WPT (Wirtgen Performance Tracker) documentation system further increase process efficiency.

Flexibility during inset and offset concrete paving

With the SP 15i and SP 94i, Wirtgen showcased two customisable concrete paving machines. The SP 15i allows flexible slipform paver positioning, which is a huge advantage when producing monolithic profiles in an offset process. The machine also has a telescopic operating platform extension for a better view of the working area and the paving result. Furthermore, the machine can be controlled without a stringline, using the specially developed

SP 94i is a fully modular inset slipform paver in the 30 ft class. The 4-crawler paver with the TeleMold system was presented at the show. This paver allows fast and flexible working width changes up to 3 ft on each side, making a total of 6 ft.

Innovative cold milling technologies

The Mill Assist machine control system increases process efficiency during cold milling. In automatic mode, this system establishes an optimum ratio between performance and operating costs. The engine speed and therefore the milling drum speed are controlled automatically. The lower speed range enables fuel consumption and pick wear to be significantly reduced. In the upper speed range, an optimum milling pattern can be achieved, even in the case of higher area performance rates. The operator can also select one of three operating strategies, ‘ECO’, ‘performance-optimised’ or ‘milling pattern quality’.

The milling performance can be documented precisely and reliably using Wirtgen Performance Tracker (WPT). The laser scanner defines the cross-sectional profile to be milled. Surface milling performance and milling volume

Wirtgen compact and large milling machines of the F-Series are available with Mill Assist and Wirtgen Performance Tracker.

are then precisely defined using GPS positioning and other sensors. Important information is displayed on the machine’s control panel. An automatically generated report can be sent by email to the machine operator. This reduces the time and costs involved in job processing.

Resource-saving technologies for recycling and soil stabilising

The satellite-based AutoTrac steering system used in Wirtgen WR-Series recyclers makes precise and efficient project processing easier. It steers the machine accurately within tolerances of a few centimetres, on the basis of a previously determined reference strip and a specified overlap of adjacent strips, enabling consistent utilisation of the machine’s ideal working width. This results in greater process efficiency and therefore a higher degree of environmental compatibility.

The Wirtgen Performance Tracker is also available with WR-Series machines. The system balances all relevant working parameters on a site-specific basis to provide a comprehensive database for construction site analysis and documentation. For soil stabilising projects, this includes working width and

depth, area and distance worked, fuel consumption, and much more.

Non-stringline control increases efficiency and safety

The AutoPilot 2.0 is a control system developed by Wirtgen for non-stringline paving as an alternative to conventional scanning along a stringline. The system, which precisely controls both the machine’s height adjustment and steering, is available for all offset

pavers and placers/spreaders. A GNSS signal and, depending on the configuration, various local sensors, such as an ultrasonic sensor on the machine, act as a reference. The stringline is completely eliminated and, with it of course, the time needed to set it up and take it down. It also enables fast and precise paving of tight radii and complex geometries. The Wirtgen AutoPilot 2.0 system provides machine control and remote control from a single source.

AutoTrac and Wirtgen Performance Tracker make a significant contribution to resource conservation during soil stabilising.

The Wirtgen AutoPilot 2.0 for non-stringline paving increases process efficiency and safety.

Expanded range of attachments increases application versatility

Caterpillar has announced a range of new Cat attachments available for backhoe loaders and mini excavators, increasing application versatility for these machines. Rugged and reliable, the new models span the range of demolition and sorting grapples, multipurpose grapples for Cat Tiltrotators, vibratory compactor plates and cold planers.

Expanded demolition and sorting grapples

Expanding the Cat demolition and sorting grapple line, the new G306 and G308 models are designed for 5 t to 6 t and 7 t to 10 t mini hydraulic excavators respectively. These new models excel in waste, recycling and heavy-duty material handling applications where precise material placement is required. With open and close functions controlled by the machine’s first auxiliary function and rotation head handled by the second, these grapples deliver fast and productive material handling with 360° of bidirectional rotation.

A slim design makes it easier to get into tight spaces, and material capacities range from 160 l (0.21 yd3) with the G306 to 240 l (0.31 yd3) for the G308. Vertical perforated shelves offer high wear resistance, positive penetration, good load visibility and easy positioning, while the oversized heavy-duty cylinder with load holding valve delivers constant clamping force, even when manoeuvring the grapple or machine. Providing reliable operation with low maintenance intervals, the swing bearing features a single-ball heavy-duty, internally driven design. For longer life, the weld-on base edge is made of HB500 Brinell equivalent material and bolt-on cutting edge (BOCE) from high-strength, abrasion-resistant steel.

A first for Cat Tiltrotators

The first hydraulic attachment

expansion for the Cat Tiltrotator (TRS) product family, the new Cat G206 and G208 Multi-Purpose Grapples expand the grapple technology in combination with the TRS6 and TRS8 models for 5 t to 10 t mini hydraulic excavators. These models allow maximum manoeuvrability with TRS attachments, and an integrated bracket provides minimal offset to optimise grapple functionality.

The G206 is sized for 5 t to 6 t excavators and the G208 for 7 t to 10 t models. These multi-purpose grapples deliver 14.5 kN (3,260 lbf) and 18.4 kN (4,136 lbf) maximum closing force, respectively. An integrated cylinder load holding valve maintains grapple closing pressure with no leakage, while the hard-mounted piston accumulator maintains grapple arm closing forces with shifting loads. Optimal

Cat G206 Multi-Purpose Grapple on Cat 305 Mini Excavator.

Cat G308 Demolition and Sorting Grapple for mini excavators.

routing of the integrated jumper lines and hoses safeguards against damage and dirt infiltration for long-term reliability.

The grapple design is optimally matched to the tilt rotate system, and the rotation of the TRS allows for quick and easy material engagement. To avoid any bending torques in the radial direction, these grapples feature a welded box structure. Since the grapple arms and arm edges are built with AR450 steel, they offer high abrasion resistance for longer wear in extreme conditions.

Performance-matched vibratory compactor plates

Caterpillar has expanded its Cat Vibratory Plate Compactor line with the new CVP28 and CVP55 models and relaunched its CVP16 and CVP40 compactors with new design enhancements. Well suited for the compaction of soil, sand, gravel and asphalt, the compactors’ flexibility delivers lower investment and maintenance costs for contractors engaging in residential, commercial and industrial work.

The Cat CVP range is performance-matched to Cat machines, covering all backhoe loaders and excavators ranging from the Cat 302.7 to the 313. They offer com-

paction widths from 304.8 mm (12 in) to 660.4 mm (26 in) and compact areas ranging from 0.19 m2 (2 ft2) to 0.53 m2 (5.7 ft2) at vibration frequencies from 33.3 Hz to 40 Hz (2,000 vpm to 2,400 vpm). Delivering best-in-class performance, optimised compaction frequency combines with force to drive material particles close together for solid, stable compaction.

Their heavy-duty steel frame delivers maximum power to the ground. Rubber mounts isolate vibrations from the compactor attachment, minimising vibration feedback to the rest of the machine. The high efficiency gear-type hydro motor is vibration-driven, for consistent, reliable power. The design’s access cutouts are laser cut for easy access to hardware when mounting the top bracket. The compactor is simplified with standard auxiliary hydraulics.

Expanding the flexibility of the CVP range, post and plate driver attachments bolt to the bottom of the CVP28 for specialised applications. All models can be equipped with a backfill blade to help spread out material in the ditch, prior to compaction, and a swivel mount rotates 90° in each direction to minimise machine movements.

Milling precision

Designed for small paving jobs in residential and commercial

applications, new Cat Cold Planers deliver economical restoration of asphalt and concrete surfaces. They efficiently mill imperfections prior to resurfacing and remove deteriorated pavement and traffic lane stripes.

Offering a working width of 350 mm (13.8 in) and 120 mm (5 in) maximum milling depth, the new PC35 is designed for operation with side-shift backhoe loaders and 5 t to 6 t mini hydraulic excavators. The new Cat PC45 replaces the PC404 with its 450 mm (17.7 in) cutting width and 150 mm (6 in) cutting depth and is ideal for use with backhoe loaders. The planer's compatibility is extended to 7 t to 10 t mini hydraulic excavators. The cold planers come with a cut depth indicator, giving the operator a quick view of set depth. Delivering consistent depth control, milling depth is manually adjusted and locked in. Their heavy-duty gear motor provides high torque and efficiency across the speed range, while a hydraulic relief valve limits pressure to the motor for increased longevity. Helping to maximise productivity, a standard pressure gauge provides feedback to the operator to allow for ground speed adjustments. Simplifying operation, the PC35 and PC45 reuse existing hammer lines and are equipped with drum centre and width indicators.

Cat PC35 Cold Planer on a mini excavator.

Cat CVP55 Vibratory Plate Compactor for mini excavators and backhoe loaders.

Remote controlled excavators deliver increased safety and versatility

An advanced, short range remote control solution, designed by Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and CE Engineering Solutions, is opening up new opportunities for excavator operation – delivering increased safety, visibility and flexibility.

Now offered on request on the EC250E, EC300E and EC350E excavators, the technology provides a solution for customers working in dangerous or difficult jobsites – or for those working in environments where operators need an up-close view of the task itself.

With this solution, customers can operate their excavator in areas where there is a risk of falling objects or where the machine may roll over, such as on demolition jobs.

movement of the machine, for example in areas with poor ground conditions.

Other situations, where the short range remote control can be put to use, include tasks where operators need to keep a closer eye on the tool attached to the excavator, for example, in piling and drilling applications. This not only provides a better view with increased precision, but also replaces the need for another worker. In addition, the system also enables an improved view for the operator, in situations where the view from the cab is deficient, such as during demolition.

The new solution was demonstrat-

The remote operation mode can function over a 100 m distance –more than sufficient, in order to still maintain a close view of the machine. Two-way communication, via a radio transmitter and radio receiver, allows the operator to communicate electronically with the machine.

The system can be easily turned on and off, via a switch inside the cab, and a light beacon on the outside of the machine alerts those on site as to whether or not the remote operation mode is in use.

The agile system development by CE Engineering Solutions allows for the remote control solution to be completely customised, on request.

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The Volvo EC250E excavator with remote control operation.