The Singapore Engineer July 2018 by The Singapore Engineer

THE MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER

www.ies.org.sg

July 2018 | MCI (P) 009/03/2018

COVER STORY: PUB INVESTS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR FUTURE WATER SUSTAINABILITY

PLUS

ENVIRONMENT & WATER ENGINEERING: CDE promotes manufactured sand as the construc on material of the future HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING: Blast protec on of infrastructure openings CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: BEYOND SOFTWARE: are we ready for construc onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s digital transforma on?

CONTENTS FEATURES COVER STORY 24 PUB invests in research and development for future water sustainability The aim is to acquire the ability to meet tomorrow’s water demand at today’s energy and sludge footprint.

ENVIRONMENT & WATER ENGINEERING

26 CDE promotes manufactured sand as the construc on material of the future Elimina ng the use of river sand in the produc on of concrete successfully addresses ecological issues and also improves project eﬃciency. 28 Monitoring drinking water quality in real- me Simultaneous measurement of physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters enables quick ac on to be taken when necessary.

29 PUB and Grundfos to jointly develop sustainable water technologies The objec ve is to find new solu ons in water treatment, water quality monitoring, pump performance and digitalisa on.

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING 30 Exhibi on and forum to address workplace safety and health The exchange of ideas will help companies to achieve zero-harm and accident-free opera ons.

President Prof Yeoh Lean Weng Chief Editor T Bhaskaran t_b_n8@yahoo.com Publica ons Manager Desmond Teo desmond@iesnet.org.sg

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

Assistant Publica ons Manager Fenda Ngo fenda.ngo@iesnet.org.sg Publica ons Execu ve Queek Jiayu jiayu@iesnet.org.sg

Editorial Panel Er. Chong Kee Sen Dr Chandra Segaran Dr Ang Keng Been Mr Gary Ong Dr Victor Sim Mr Syafiq Shahul Media Representa ve Mul Nine Corpora on Pte Ltd sales@mul 9.com.sg

Design & layout by 2EZ Asia Pte Ltd Cover designed by Irin Kuah Cover images by PUB, Singapore’s na onal water agency Published by The Ins tu on of Engineers, Singapore 70 Bukit Tinggi Road, Singapore 289758 Tel: 6469 5000 I Fax: 6467 1108 Printed in Singapore

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HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING 31 JLG launches low-level access equipment and operator safety training Boos ng workplace produc vity and safety. 32 BCA recognises design and engineering safety excellence Professional Engineers as well as their respec ve projects and project teams were recently honoured. 38 Blast protec on of infrastructure openings Innova ve improvements can be made to conven onal blast mi ga on solu ons for openings of buildings.

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT 42 Beyond so ware: are we ready for construc onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s digital transforma on? Transforming the construc on sector to take advantage of the opportuni es presented by digital technologies is a global challenge.

BUILDING MANAGEMENT

45 Smart cleaning solu on to be tested in industrial and commercial proper es It can poten ally help building managers improve manpower deployment and minimise the use of energy and water.

REGULAR SECTIONS 04 18 46 48

INDUSTRY NEWS EVENTS IES UPDATE VIEWPOINT

The Singapore Engineer is published monthly by The Ins tu on of Engineers, Singapore (IES). The publica on is distributed free-of-charge to IES members and aďŹ&#x192;liates. Views expressed in this publica on 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 me, IES will not be liable for any discrepancies. Unsolicited contribu ons are welcome but their inclusion in the magazine is at the discre on of the Editor.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

INDUSTRY NEWS

SINGAPORE’S LARGEST ARTIFICIAL REEF PROJECT TO BE PILOTED AT SISTERS’ ISLANDS MARINE PARK JTC and the Na onal Parks Board (NParks), in partnership with local marine research and interest group communi es, will be crea ng an ar ficial reef habitat at the 40-hectare Sisters’ Islands Marine Park in Singapore. This will be the country’s largest ar ficial reef project to date, and will see ar ficial reef structures pre-fabricated off-site and sunk in the waters off Small Sister’s Island, within the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. The project is expected to contribute some 500 square metres of addi onal reef area to the Marine Park, suppor ng exis ng habitat enhancement and reef restora on efforts to conserve marine biodiversity. Each ar ficial reef structure is conceptualised to minimise impact to the exis ng marine environment, u lising materials that promote a achment and growth of corals, and recruitment of fish species. The maintenance-free structures would sit on the seabed without piling or

major works that would otherwise disturb the underwater environment. The structures would also occupy the en re water column from sub-surface to the seafloor, hence providing numerous and unique habitat niches for a wide variety of marine life. The proposed site for the project was chosen in consulta on with relevant government agencies, academic experts and members of the Friends of the Marine Park community. The seafloor in the area iden fied for the project is mostly bare, with sandy substrate. The structures will form the base for reef slopes over the flat sandy seabed. Mr Ng Lang, CEO of JTC, further revealed that the corpora on was planning to work with NParks to double the ar ficial reef areas created at Sisters’ Islands to 1,000 square metres by 2030.

LTA UNVEILS FIRST THOMSON EAST COAST LINE TRAIN The Land Transport Authority oﬃcially unveiled the first Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) train on 4 July 2018. Having arrived in Singapore on 25 May, the train’s carriages have since been undergoing tests at Mandai Depot. A total of 91 new four-car TEL trains were purchased for close to SGD 750 million from a consor um made up of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, CSR Qingdao Sifang (now part of CRRC Corpora on) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Singapore). These fully automated trains will be the first in Singapore with five doors on each side of every train car (current train cars have four doors on each side) to facilitate commuter boarding and aligh ng. Other features include a LCD dynamic route map display, which displays route informa on graphically and the side for doors opening/ closing to commuters, a sensor-based, automated track inspec on system, and p-up seats that provide greater passenger carrying capacity during peak hours. Following the arrival of the first TEL train, the remaining 90 trains will be delivered from August 2018, with approximately two trains arriving per month. All 91 trains are expected to be delivered by 2022.

The train being unloaded upon arrival at Singapore. Photo: LTA

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

About one-quarter of the seat bays per train will be fi ed with p-up seats, which provide more standing space and hence greater passenger carrying capacity, during peak hours. Image: LTA

INDUSTRY NEWS

MHE DEMAG INSTALLS SOUTHEAST ASIA’S FIRST FULL CLIMBING

BUILDING MAINTENANCE SYSTEM IN JAKARTA Li ing solu ons provider MHE-Demag has completed the installa on of Southeast Asia’s first full climbing Building Maintenance System on Menara Astra, the third tallest skyscraper in Jakarta with a height of 260m. Menara Astra consists of a 51-storey oﬃce tower and three apartments, with a curved façade topping it oﬀ. MHE-Demag was selected to customise a solu on for the building due to its track record, having handled similar solu ons for iconic, yet challenging buildings in the region such as Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, KL Tower in Malaysia and Okada Manila in the Philippines. “The unique roof of Menara Astra is aesthe cally striking but very challenging to develop a building maintenance system for,” said Mr Karl Tilkorn, Regional Managing Director, MHE-Demag. “It requires a very special track to be customised and installed, and a special stun ng card system that is seamlessly integrated into a 3D rail layout.” To meet the challenge, MHE-Demag designed and installed 550 meters of round track around a complex 3D beam layout covering a floor space of 38 by 56 square meters underneath a helipad. According to the company, 90 per cent of the track secons were unique, having been tailored to the profile of the building. The tracks had to be fi ed on-site and welded at the specific loca ons they were intended for.

The development of the building maintenance system for the 260m high Menara Astra was a challenge, due to its unusual roof design. Photo: MHE-Demag

The maintenance system is completed by an automated shun ng cart system that connects two building maintenance units (BMU) running on separate sets of tracks, which have a totally diﬀerent layout and eleva on. This design feature allows the BMUs to switch to either side of the tracks to increase up me and availability to all areas of the facade should one BMU be scheduled for maintenance. MHE-Demag supplied two units of its MHE-Manntech climbing building maintenance system (BMS), one unit of shun ng cart for the interchangeable building maintenance system, safety lines for every canopy and balcony, and a MHE trolley with Chameleon I cradle for the oﬃce tower. For the apartments, three MHE-Manntech BMSes with two telescopic jibs and a monorail with the Chameleon I cradle were installed.

COWI WINS DEEP TUNNEL SEWERAGE SYSTEM DESIGN CONTRACT In partnership with CPG Corpora on, Denmark-based consul ng group COWI has been awarded a contract for design works of Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS). The scope of the contract includes the design of a 7.9 km-long sec on of sewer tunnel, with a 6 m internal diameter, as well as sha s, hydraulic structures and other facili es associated with the sewerage conveyance system. The contract is the first win for the mul na onal engineering consultancy’s newly established Singapore oﬃce. In a press statement, COWI noted that the work site would be highly constrained, with deep sha s required in challenging geology adjacent to major civil infrastructure. “COWI and CPG will work closely with Leighton Asia to devise solu ons to these challenges, including inves ga ng op ons to combine temporary work sha s to minimise land take and designing ground improvement measures

to reduce any impact on adjacent structures,” said the company. The DTSS is being built to meet Singapore’s long-term needs for wastewater collec on, treatment, reclama on and disposal. Phase 2 will include the construc on of 40 km of deep tunnel sewers stretching across the western part of Singapore, star ng under Keppel Road at 35 m below ground and following the Ayer Rajah Expressway all the way to Tuas Road, where it will be 55 m below ground. COWI’s work incorporates a key central sec on of the tunnel in the Pandan Gardens area. The Phase 2 tunnels will be lined with Microbiological-Influenced Corrosion-Resistant Concrete and High Density Polyethylene, which will protect against corrosion. Fibre op c cables will be embedded in between this concrete lining to enable remote monitoring of the tunnels’ structural integrity.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

ON ROAD TESTING OF AUTONOMOUS

SHUTTLES BEGINS AT SENTOSA this trial will allow us to be er understand how the technology can be deployed to strengthen intra-town connec vity and enhance mobility for commuters, parcularly the elderly and persons with disabili es.” To inform the public of the trials, signboards have been put up along the test routes. In addi on, all autonomous shu les will bear electronic signages to signal that they are opera ng autonomously, for easy recogni on by road users and pedestrians.

The autonomous 22-seater mini-bus currently undergoing tes ng. (Photo: ST Engineering)

Visitors to Sentosa will be able to call for on-demand autonomous shu les to bring them around the island, when the public trial for the locally-developed vehicles takes place next year. As part of tes ng of opera onal systems and safety protocols before the trial opens to the public, ST Engineering has begun tes ng of the on-demand service along a kilometre-long stretch of the service road at Sentosa’s Tanjong Beach. It will be progressively extended to a two-kilometre route linking Palawan and Siloso beaches by the end of this year, with public trials slated to begin in 2019. By then, visitors and staﬀ in Sentosa will be able to hail the autonomous shu les via their smartphones or at kiosks, along a longer, five-kilometre route. The autonomous mobility-on-demand solu on is being developed by the Land Systems arm of ST Engineering, in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Sentosa Development Corpora on. The trial will involve two types of autonomous vehicles, namely, two units of a 22-seater mini-bus, as well as two units of a smaller, 15-seater shu le. A variety of technologies such as radar, lidar (light detecon and ranging), GPS, odometry, and computer vision have been combined to grant the electrically-powered vehicles the capability to sense its environment and navigate without human input. The advanced control systems interpret fused sensory informa on and iden fy appropriate naviga on paths, as well as obstacles and relevant signage. Another key feature is ST Engineering’s pla orm-agnos c Autonomous Vehicle Management System, which analyses passenger demand and op mises route management for such ride-sharing services. Permanent Secretary for Transport and Chairman of the Commi ee on Autonomous Road Transport for Singapore, Mr Loh Ngai Seng, said, “The insights gained from 06

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ST Engineering adopts masterbrand for its subsidiaries to drive growth ST Engineering has undertaken a group-wide branding exercise to adopt a single brand approach by harmonising all its corporate brands by using “ST Engineering” as a masterbrand. This, together with the alignment of company legal names, has taken effect since 1 June 2018. According to the company, the brand harmonisa on will help drive higher brand visibility and posi on the Group for greater commercial impact and marke ng presence as it expands into new global markets and industry segments. “A single brand approach is as important a strategy as innova ng or crea ng new products or solu ons,” said Mr Chew Men Leong, Chief Marke ng Officer, ST Engineering. “With two-thirds of ST Engineering’s growth over the next five years projected to be from overseas, uni ng all our corporate brands into a masterbrand will enable us to leverage scale and enhance compe veness, and at the same me help cement the reputa on of the Group as a global technology, defence and engineering group.” The first phase of the branding exercise covered ST Engineering subsidiaries in Singapore and its global subsidiaries in the Aerospace sector. This will be followed by other local and overseas subsidiaries with the ST Engineering brand. The corporate brands of ST Aerospace, ST Electronics, ST Kine cs and ST Marine will be dropped as they take on the masterbrand with sector descriptors of Aerospace, Electronics, Land Systems, and Marine respec vely. The holding companies of these four business sectors have also adopted “ST Engineering” into their exis ng company legal names. ST Engineering has indicated that the brand harmonisa on and company legal name change of the affected en es will not impact any exis ng contracts, rights and obliga ons of the par es under these contracts.

INDUSTRY NEWS

SP GROUP TO BUILD SINGAPORE’S LARGEST PUBLIC ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING NETWORK In a boost for electric vehicle adop on in Singapore, SP Group has announced plans to launch Singapore’s largest public electric vehicle (EV) charging network, with 500 charging points na on-wide by 2020.

app that will allow EV users to make payment electronically and receive real- me informa on such as the locaon and availability of charging points, and automated updates on charging dura on.

EV users can conveniently access the charging points at loca ons such as shopping malls, residen al areas, business parks and industrial sites. The first batch of 30 charging points will be in opera on by end-2018.

The island-wide network will be fully compliant with Singapore’s na onal charging standards and comprise both direct current (DC) and alterna ng current (AC) chargers, with power ra ngs ranging from 22kW to 50kW.

This pervasive charging network will plug a cri cal gap in scaling up EV adop on in Singapore by reducing range anxiety in EV drivers.

Of the 500 charging points, more than 100 will be 50kWDC charging points, based on a fast charge technology that can fully charge an EV in as li le as 30 minutes. SP Group said that the network will significantly boost the number of DC chargers in Singapore, which has fewer than five DC chargers today.

To ensure that the charging network is accessible and convenient for public usage, SP is developing a mobile

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INDUSTRY NEWS

IMDA IMPLEMENTS AI GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS INITIATIVES In order to drive awareness of the benefits and understand the ethical and legal challenges arising from the use of data and ar ficial intelligence (AI), the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is engaging key stakeholders including the government, industry, consumers and academia. This will collabora vely shape the Government’s plans for the AI ecosystem, and comprises three interlinked ini a ves, which were announced at the smart technologies fes val Innovfest Unbound in early June.

In support, the Personal Data Protec on Commission (PDPC) has put forward a discussion paper on how a possible reference AI and data governance framework for industries could look like. Meant to create common frames for dialogue between stakeholders, the paper recommends a transparent, fair and human-centric system, in which AI supports or facilitates human ac ons and decisions. It can be accessed through the PDPC website.

Firstly, an “Advisory Council on the Ethical Use of AI and Data” will be formed. It will assist IMDA in engaging relevant stakeholders, such as commercial en es and consumer advocates, on the areas of responsible AI development and deployment.

The paper was compiled in consulta on with key government and industry stakeholders and can also be applicable to trade associa ons and chambers, professional bodies, and businesses that are interested in the ethical implica ons of AI for their industry.

It will also establish legal, technical and interna onal expert panels to tap on further insights and gain global perspec ves into the ma er.

Lastly, a five-year research programme on AI governance and data use will be set up at Singapore Management University to conduct scholarly research on policy, legal, regulatory, governance, ethics and other related issues.

Furthermore, the Advisory Council will assist the Government to develop ethics standards, reference governance frameworks, advisory guidelines, and codes of prac ce, which industry players may voluntarily adopt. Former A orney-General V K Rajah has been appointed as the Advisory Council’s inaugural Chairman. The full list of council members, which will include private sector thought leaders and consumer interest representa ves, will be made available at a later date.

This will support the work of the Advisory Council and inform Government and industry discussion on AI challenges through research and academic conferences. In addi on, the research programme enables Singapore to con nue to drive thought leadership and discourse, develop a body of AI knowledge, and be a knowledge exchange centre with interna onal experts.

ROBOTIC BARISTA BARTENDERS A FIRST FOR SHANGHAI Shanghai’s first robo cally-enhanced cafe and cocktail bar has been given the go-ahead to operate by the local authori es. At Ra o, located inside the K11 shopping centre at Huangpu District, customers order drinks via popular Chinese social media app WeChat. Robo c arms handle coffee prepara on, cocktail mixing, as well as service. According to the establishment, the robo c barista and bartender is about 70 per cent more efficient than a human worker. The Ra o is the first business of its kind in Shanghai. More than 60 drinks are on its menu, such as la es for RMB 28 (SGD 5.70) and cocktails for RMB 58 (SGD 11.80). Customers can customise their order by selec ng the ra o of coffee beans, milk and sweetness, or even design an en rely new cocktail from scratch. Tapping on the power of ar ficial intelligence, each individual customer’s orders are stored and their preferences analysed, so that the system will be able to make recommenda ons on future visits.

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Ra o offers coffee during the day and cocktails at night. On average, its machines can serve a cocktail in 90 seconds. It can also produce two la es in an equal amount of me, according to its owners. “We conducted several thousand tests on grabbing different types of glasses by the robo c arm, because grabbing glasses is much more difficult than paper cups,” said Mr Gavin Pathross, the cafébar’s founder.

The robo c arm at Ra o

making a cocktail. Photo: Ra o “We want to relieve staﬀ from repe ve work and spend more me developing new recipes and helping consumers pick the best ra o of drinks and the best flavour … At the same me, the use of machines also ensures that the coﬀee and cocktails we serve are standardised,” he added.

INDUSTRY NEWS

CONSULTING FIRM LAUNCHED TO SERVE

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS TEMBUSU Asia Consul ng Pte Ltd (TEMBUSU Asia) oﬃcially launched its business at an event held on 7 July 2018, at Suntec City Guild House in Singapore. The Guest-of-Honour on the occasion was Prof Dr Shahbaz Khan, UNESCO Representa ve and Director for Regional Sciences Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.

Also at the launch, Memorandums of Understanding were signed by TEMBUSU Asia, with interna onal and regional organisa ons, to s mulate collabora on in consul ng, research and capacity building.

The new company has been formed in collabora on with local SMEs, each of whom is a specialist in a par cular area, and leverages on global exper se, to service the energy and environmental markets in the region. With its knowledge, network and experience, TEMBUSU Asia hopes to be a strategic partner in Asia to local and global companies. In par cular, the company intends to share its business strategy with other local Singaporean SMEs who seek to interna onalise their opera ons. A statement from TEMBUSU Asia says that the company aspires to be the leading sustainability consul ng company in Asia and that it will provide one-stop innova ve sustainability solu ons and integrated services, using a combina on of science and engineering exper se, to meet the needs of the United Na ons Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - par cularly in Water, Energy, Waste, Environment, Climate Change, Infrastructure, Sustainable Ci es, and Educa on.

Er. Tan Seng Chuan, Managing Director, TEMBUSU Asia, welcoming the guests.

The Guest-of-Honour, Prof Dr Shahbaz Khan delivering his address.

“At TEMBUSU Asia, we place the United Na on Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of everything that we do. The SDGs embrace strategies that build sustainable growth, whilst addressing a range of sustainability goals that emphasise the nexus between energy, water and food security, and tackling climate change and promo ng environmental protec on”, said Er. Tan Seng Chuan, Managing Director, TEMBUSU Asia. The event also provided the pla orm for the announcement of the ‘Banyan Eco Oasis Resort’ project in Adonara, Flores, Indonesia. The 200-ha project is based on a sustainable, leisure and health integrated development concept.

TEMBUSU Asia’s team comprises experts who are proficient in their respec ve fields and who are working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Er. Tan Seng Chuan, Managing Director, TEMBUSU Asia, signed Memorandums of Understanding, with Mr Omar Chris an Thomsen, Director, Interna onal Water, NIRAS Gruppen A/S, Denmark (image on le ); Prof Alex R Melbourne, President Director, PT Asia Global Raya, Indonesia (image in the centre); and Ms Wang Heng, Chief Execu ve Oﬃcer, Sapphire Corpora on Limited, Singapore/China (image on right). TEMBUSU Asia has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cranfield University, UK.

All images by TEMBUSU Asia Consul ng Pte Ltd THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

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INDUSTRY NEWS

CDL CONFERRED INAUGURAL BUILT ENVIRONMENT LEADERSHIP PLATINUM STAR AWARD At BCA AWARDS 2018, presented by the Building and Construc on Authority (BCA), City Developments Limited (CDL) became the first and only private sector property developer to be conferred the inaugural Built Environment Leadership Pla num Star Award. This award is accorded to organisa ons that have received the Built Environment Leadership Award (Pla num) for at least five years. It recognises their excellence and leadership in shaping a safe, high quality, sustainable and friendly built environment in Singapore.

Most awarded private sector property developer With 25 awards, CDL also became the most awarded private sector property developer at BCA AWARDS 2018. These include 12 Green Mark Awards that recognise the strong environmental performance of CDL’s projects. For more than a decade, CDL has set targets to achieve, at least, a Green Mark GOLDPLUS for all its new projects - two ers beyond BCA’s mandatory cer fica on level. CDL’s newly launched condominium in Tampines, The Tapestry, clinched the Green Mark Pla num Award in 2018. It will be built using the innova ve Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construc on (PPVC) method. Some 2,500 building modules, complete with finishes, fixtures and fi ngs, will be prefabricated offsite and then assembled onsite, boos ng produc vity by up to 30%, compared to conven onal construc on methods. Furthermore, The Tapestry’s various energy-efficient features are es mated to save about 3.8 million kWh annually. In addi on, CDL has con nued to retrofit its exis ng commercial buildings through ini a ves such as chiller plants upgrading, introduc on of modern sensors to reduce ligh ng consump on, installa on of energy-efficient ligh ng, and recladding of facades to reduce solar heat gain. The energy-efficient retrofi ng and ini aves implemented in eight of its office buildings have achieved more than SGD 20 million savings in electricity charges, since 2012. Today, all CDL-owned and CDL-managed office buildings have a ained Green Mark GOLDPLUS and Pla num (the highest er cer fica on). Republic Plaza, 7 & 9 Tampines Grande and Fuji Xerox Towers, for instance, were recer fied Green Mark Pla num, at BCA AWARDS 2018.

Tenant engagement As user behaviour is equally important for achieving a building’s overall energy eﬃciency, CDL has ac vely engaged commercial tenants to adopt low-carbon prac ces. In 2014, the CDL Green Lease Partnership Programme was introduced to support and encourage its commercial tenants to reduce their energy consump on and environmental footprint. Under the programme, CDL Green Lease Ambassadors guide tenants on greening 12

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

At BCA AWARDS 2018, CDL’s City Square Mall received the Green Mark Pearl Pres ge Award and the inaugural BCA-MSF Universal Design Mark for Family-Friendly Business.

their offices and act as their consultants for BCA Green Mark Office Interior cer fica ons. By the end of 2017, the programme achieved 100% tenant par cipa on. For its tenant engagement efforts, CDL’s City Square Mall became the first mall to receive the Green Mark Pearl Pres ge Award at BCA Awards 2018. This also makes CDL the only developer to receive this top- er award for four consecu ve years. One of City Square Mall’s tenants, spor ng goods retailer, Decathlon, for instance, has received the BCA Green Mark Pla num Award. During the fi ng out of Decathlon’s premises, CDL provided guidance on building an efficient ligh ng system that encompasses LED ligh ng and mo on sensors, and the selec on of products cer fied by the Singapore Green Building Council, including low-VOC paints which reduce toxins for improved indoor air quality. To encourage zero-waste, City Square Mall also provides Decathlon and other tenants with facili es and collec on points to recycle paper, plas cs, electronic waste, and food waste. In a similar spirit, Decathlon stopped giving customers plas c bags at its store and instead provides re-usable and recyclable shopping bags, as an op on, and which are available at a small fee.

Accessible and family-friendly spaces CDL’s City Square Mall also became the first mall to be conferred the inaugural BCA-MSF Universal Design Mark for Family-Friendly Business. Launched by BCA and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), this new Universal Design (UD) Mark category recognises businesses that incorporate user-friendly infrastructure and family-friendly services and processes in their facili es. Since receiving its UD Award (Gold) in 2010, the highest- er BCA UD recogni on then, City Square Mall has con nued to incorporate more family-friendly facili es and make its open spaces more conducive for community ac vi es and family bonding.

INDUSTRY NEWS

HDB RECEIVES TOP HONOURS AT

BCA AWARDS 2018 The Housing & Development Board (HDB) received top honours for its eﬀorts in championing a sustainable and quality built environment. The Built Environment Leadership Pla num Star Award and the BCA Green Mark Pla num Champion Award were conferred on HDB at BCA AWARDS 2018. The BCA Built Environment Leadership Award recognises outstanding developers and builders who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in Singapore’s built environment. The inaugural Built Environment Leadership Pla num Star Award was conferred on organisa ons that have received the Built Environment Leadership Award (Pla num) for at least five years running. HDB became the first public sector recipient of the award. To achieve BCA Green Mark Pla num Champion Award, a developer would have to deliver at least 50 Green Mark projects with Gold or higher ra ng, including 15 Green Mark Pla num projects. As at April 2018, about 360 HDB projects have met the Green Mark standards, with about 140 building projects awarded BCA Green Mark Gold or higher. HDB is the first public agency recipient of the BCA Green Mark Pla num Champion Award.

Homes for residents of different abilities This year, HDB received a total of 33 BCA Awards for shaping a safe, sustainable, friendly and high quality built environment in Singapore. To create homes for residents of diﬀerent abili es and ages, to live comfortably in, HDB has adopted Universal Design (UD) features, since 2006. All HDB projects are designed with UD features, such as barrier-free routes within the precinct, ramps at the entrance to the flat and toilets, as well as wider internal corridors for wheel-chair movement. This year, three HDB projects received the Universal Design Mark Awards, with Kampung Admiralty clinching the Pla num Award (highest honour for Universal Design) and The Verandah @ Ma lda receiving the GOLDPLUS Award.

HDB’s eﬀorts in improving the quality of its flats have seen results over the years. In the past three years, public housing projects a ained an average CONQUAS (Construc on Quality Assessment System) score of almost 90, on par with the private sector’s na onal average. For its eﬀorts in construc on excellence and produc vity, HDB received six Construc on Excellence Awards, and one Construc on Produc vity Award under the residen al non-landed buildings category, this year.

Sustainable and liveable homes A key facet of HDB’s sustainability eﬀorts is harnessing solar energy to power common services such as lighting, li s and water pumps. Today, HDB is the largest stakeholder in the installa on of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore, having commi ed to fulfilling over 60% of the 350 MWp of solar capacity that Singapore has planned to achieve by 2020. This will be achieved progressively by rolling out 220 MWp of solar panels across 5,500 HDB blocks by 2020. Through this, 265GWh of clean energy can be generated annually. In yet another significant step towards sustainable development, every new HDB flat launched, since January 2014, will be an eco-friendly home. Each flat will come with a standard suite of eco-features that help to manage water, waste and energy more eﬃciently. They include centralised chutes for recyclables, to promote recycling; eco-pedestals in bathrooms, to recycle water for toilet flushing; LED ligh ng with mo on sensor controls at staircases; and regenera ve li s that help to lower energy consump on by up to 20%, through the harnessing of renewable energy. Going forward, HDB will con nue to make strides in crea ng a sustainable living environment for residents.

Improving construction productivity To boost construc on produc vity, HDB has incorporated the Prefabricated Bathroom Unit (PBU) and Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construc on (PPVC) methods which help to increase construc on quality and eﬃciency, while reducing the need for manpower onsite and mi ga ng nega ve environmental impact. By 2019, newly launched HDB flats will be fi ed with bathroom units prefabricated oﬀ-site, where feasible. Complete with finishes such as par al ling, window frames, and a waterproofing system, the PBU will be transported to the work site, and hoisted onto the blocks for installa on. Along with the adop on of PBUs, HDB will also implement the concrete PPVC method in 35% of its projects, by 2019.

The Verandah @ Ma lda has incorporated Universal Design features which allow easy access in the precinct. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

ADVERTORIAL

TALENTS TO ORCHESTRATE MODERN ENGINEERING Systems are prevalent in our modern society. Today’s systems are expected to perform at levels unimagined previously, and to provide enhanced capability at reduced costs within shorter timeframe. These attributes increase the complexity of systems and demand tight integration of different engineering domains. Systems engineering plays a critical role in developing complex systems that serve our needs. These systems often require an integration of hardware, software, data, people and facilities. With such complexity, a systems engineer needs to balance the technical effort of multiple engineering domains in response to diverse stakeholder needs. To produce engineering talents who can orchestrate the development of such systems, the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and DigiPen Institute of Technology jointly launched the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Systems Engineering (ElectroMechanical Systems) programme, also known as SEEMS, in 2015. SEEMS is a multidisciplinary degree programme which focuses on developing systems through integration of various engineering disciplines within a system life cycle context. Mathematics and physics form the foundation, while knowledge in mechanical, electrical, electronic and computing engineering are developed and integrated through systems engineering. SEEMS adopts a ‘learn-integrate-apply’ approach where multidisciplinary knowledge and skills are applied in multiple projects. This project-based applied learning pedagogy helps to equip students with practical skills based on sound theoretical knowledge to take on complex challenges at the workplace. The curriculum of the SEEMS degree was developed in close consultation with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), as well as industrial experts from the marine industry (SempCorp Marine), transport industry (Land Transport Authority), port operations (PSA International) and IT industry (IBM) using a systemic framework. In addition, SEEMS was the pioneer programme endorsed by the German Mittelstand companies, including Feinmetall, Festo, Heraues, Infineon, Pepperl & Fuchs, Rohde & Schwarz, SICK and Uhlmann, for the Dual Studies Industry Sponsorship Pioneer Programme - a scholarship initiative that localises the German’s dual studies model in SIT. Through this programme, SEEMS’s students are offered an attractive education and career pathway, while the German companies have access to practice-oriented systems engineering talent from Singapore. 14

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

Minister Khaw Boon Wan interac ng with SIT students during a tour of the Systems Engineering labs at SIT.

SIT has also signed a number of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance and build up systems engineering capabilities in Singapore. In an MOU between LTA, SIT and INCOSE, LTA will work with SIT on rail systems research and development, and share domain knowledge on rail systems engineering. SIT will provide systems engineering training for working professionals from LTA and other practising engineers, while INCOSE will facilitate professional certification such as the Certified Systems Engineering Professionals (CSEPs). In a partnership with PSA, SIT will deliver a 16-month systems engineering training programme to equip PSA engineers and ICT professionals with the competencies to design, develop and maintain complex integrated systems which are vital for PSA’s new generation of intelligent container terminals. In return, SIT students and faculty will be exposed to PSA’s inner workings, with specialists from PSA delivering guest lectures on port technology and operations. These collaborations with industry ensure that our graduates are industry-ready, as well as enhance academiaindustrial synergies.

INDUSTRY NEWS

BENTLEY SYSTEMS ACQUIRES

PLAXIS AND SOILVISION Bentley Systems recently announced the acquisi on of Plaxis, a leading provider of geotechnical so ware, based in Del , Netherlands, and the agreement to acquire soil engineering so ware provider SoilVision, based in Saskatchewan, Canada. The acquisi ons, together with Bentley’s borehole repor ng and data management so ware gINT, serve to make Bentley a complete source for geotechnical professionals ‘going digital’. BIM advancements can now be extended to the essen al subsurface engineering of infrastructure projects. Projects necessarily begin with geotechnical surveys and sampling, captured with gINT for versa le documenta on and repor ng. Next, professionals perform engineering related to soil proper es, soil behaviour, and groundwater flow, using SoilVision’s SVOFFICE applica ons, supplemented by Plaxis’ oﬀerings. Then soil-structure interac on is analysed through Plaxis’ design, simula on, and engineering so ware (eg PLAXIS 2D, PLAXIS 3D). The new opportunity, by way of digital workflows enabled through Bentley’s comprehensive modelling environment, is for geotechnical applica ons to be integrated with Bentley’s structural applica ons (such as STAAD, RAM, and SACS) for improved geo-structural engineering performance. As changes may occur in owner requirements, structural strategies or site condi ons (con nuously surveyed through UAVs and Bentley’s ContextCapture for reality modelling), geotechnical analysis can be done con nuously, for improved outcomes, as managed through ProjectWise collabora on services. For today’s infrastructure demands, geotechnical considera ons are coming to the fore. Urbanisa on, for instance, drives growth both ver cally and underground, with emphasis on the capacity of founda ons and tunnels. And new infrastructure projects of every type depend upon constructed dams, embankments, dykes, levees, and reservoirs, to improve their resilience. Moreover, new asset types, such as oﬀshore wind turbine structures, require new geotechnical analysis capabili es which, in this case, can be accomplished with Plaxis’ forthcoming MoDeTo so ware. Since infrastructure assets are crucially linked to subsurface environments, they are vulnerable to geo-environmental risks including seismic ac vity, subsidence, and weather impacts. Leveraging new digital workflows which incorporate real- me monitoring and analy cs during implementa on and opera on of infrastructure developments, geotechnical professionals can contribute to achieving geo-environmental resilience. 16

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

Bentley Systems’ Year in Infrastructure 2018 Conference to be held in London from 15 to 18 October Bentley Systems Inc, a leading global provider of comprehensive so ware solu ons for advancing infrastructure, recently announced that the company’s ‘Year in Infrastructure 2018 Conference and Awards Gala’ will be held at the Hilton London Metropole, London, UK, from 15 to 18 October 2018. Presented by Bentley Ins tute, the conference is a global gathering of leading industry execu ves and prominent thought leaders in the design, construc on, and opera on of the world’s infrastructure. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Going Digital: Advancements in Infrastructure’. The conference will feature nearly 70 speakers and more than 50 informa ve sessions, including keynotes by leading industry experts, interac ve workshops, forums, panel discussions, and product demonstra ons. A endees can also visit the Technology Pavilion which will feature exhibits and presenta ons from Bentley Systems and its strategic partners, Microso , Siemens, Topcon, and Bureau Veritas. On the first day of the conference, Bentley Ins tute will host Digital Advancement Academies, featuring presenta ons and interac ve discussions with subject ma er experts who will provide insights and best prac ces in their areas of exper se including reality modelling, BIM strategy, and construc oneering. The conference also includes the selec on and announcement of the winners of Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure 2018 Awards (formerly known as the Be Inspired Awards) which honour extraordinary infrastructure projects by users of Bentley so ware throughout the world. During six industry-focused forums to be featured during the conference - Buildings and Campuses, Digital Ci es, Industrial Infrastructure, Rail and Transit, Roads and Bridges, and U li es and Water - more than 55 awards finalists will present their projects to independent panels of jurors, more than 100 members of the press, and conference a endees. From those presenta ons, winners are selected by the jurors, and will be announced at the conclusion of the conference on 18 October, during an evening ceremony and gala. In October 2019, the Year in Infrastructure Conference will return to Sands Expo and Conven on Centre, Marina Bay Sands, in Singapore.

INDUSTRY NEWS

FAITHFUL+GOULD WINS PRESTIGIOUS PROJECT MANAGEMENT AWARD Faithful+Gould, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, was crowned winner in the Engineering & Construc on Category, at the Project Management Ins tute Singapore Chapter’s (SPMI) 4th Project of the Year 2017-18 Awards, for its work on the FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX project.

racing circuit and suppor ng facili es such as ligh ng, grandstands and corporate facili es.

The SPMI Project of the Year Awards honour outstanding completed projects from Singapore.

Although construc on begins four months before the race takes place, this is a year-round project that requires me culous planning, careful scheduling and extensive communica on and collabora on with race promoter, Singapore GP Pte Ltd, and mul ple stakeholders, to ensure mely delivery.

Held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX is the only night- me street race in the Formula 1 calendar, a rac ng an average of over 254,000 spectators annually, since its debut in 2008. Faithful+Gould is responsible for overseeing the seamless construc on and removal of the 5.065 km street

SNC-Lavalin acquired Faithful+Gould, part of WS Atkins plc, in July 2017.

Faithful+Gould will con nue to provide project management services for the world-class event, following Singapore GP Pte Ltd’s four-year contract extension to host the FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX, up to 2021.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

EVENTS

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL WATER WEEK 2018 CONCLUDES WITH HIGH VALUE BUSINESS DEALS Held from 8 to 12 July 2018, Singapore Interna onal Water Week 2018 (SIWW 2018), the global water conference recorded close to SGD 23 billion in total value of announcements on projects awarded, tenders, investments and MOUs. SIWW 2018 and the concurrently held World Ci es Summit 2018 (WCS 2018) and CleanEnviro Summit Singapore 2018 (CESS 2018), a racted more than 24,000 par cipants from 110 countries and regions. Among them were high-level speakers from government, industry and interna onal organisa ons. SIWW 2018 provided a pla orm for key stakeholders within the water industry to come together to discuss and co-create solu ons to global water challenges, focusing on emerging themes such as smart technology, resource-eﬃcient water treatment and the accelerated commercialisa on of innova ve water technologies.

improve opera onal excellence and meet future water needs. • A three-year agreement between PUB, Singapore’s naonal water agency, and Grundfos to create intelligent products and solu ons for Singapore that are intui ve, connected and eﬃcient. This agreement builds on a previous collabora on inked in 2014. • Launch of Singapore Envirotech Accelerator (SEA) by Ci c Envirotech Ltd (CEL), aimed at iden fying promising small and medium-sized enterprises with innova ve technologies to be brought to market. CEL will invest SGD 30 million over four years and employ at least 35 technology personnel for SEA.

“SIWW 2018 marks 10 years since the first event in 2008, and this year’s edi on is the culmina on of the last decade’s eﬀorts in driving industry growth, and helping to shape a much more sophis cated and forward-looking water industry”, said Mr Bernard Tan, Managing Director of SIWW. “The depth of the discussions, the landmark announcements that pave the way for industry accelera on, the number of water companies that have grown with our event, and the con nued pipeline of commercial deals all combine to form a strong testament to the event’s cri cal role as a key driver of the global water industry in the last decade”, he added. SIWW 2018 saw a number of key ini a ves that will accelerate the future of the water industry - from an industry roadmap for smart water to a number of new facili es to challenge our innova on fron ers, and to programmes that create a growth strategy for new water companies. These include: • Call for upcoming tenders for the works in Tuas Nexus the integra on of PUB’s Tuas Water Reclama on Plant (TWRP) and NEA’s Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) - es mated at a total value of more than SGD 5 billion over the next five years. • The launch of Singapore Water Exchange, a facility designed to build a collabora ve ecosystem across the water value-chain, that allows for poten al synergies in pushing the fron er of water innova on and business growth. • Unveiling of the 5-year SMART PUB Roadmap, a key pillar in Singapore’s water resource management, to 18

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

SIWW 2018 provided a pla orm for key stakeholders within the water industry to come together to discuss and co-create solu ons to global water challenges.

EVENTS

• Opening of Memstar’s first membrane manufacturing plant outside Asia in Conroe, Texas, USA. The USD 15 million facility will manufacture the company’s latest product, the Memstar Advance Reverse Osmosis and Nano Filtra on (RO/NF) Membrane. • Establishment of a new R&D centre in Singapore by Gradiant Corpora on, which will also serve as its Asia-Pacific headquarters, enabling it to expedite the development of solu ons in industrial desalina on, brine minimisa on and water reuse. • The World Bank’s announcement that it will be carrying out 18 water projects worth SGD 3.5 billion in FY19/FY20 in East Asia & The Pacific and South Asia Regions, while Andhra Pradesh, in India, will invest SGD 8.4 billion in water infrastructure from 2016 to 2029.

Avenues, which made their debut at SIWW 2016, were back at SIWW 2018, joining 18 other pavilions to provide a gateway for their companies to enter the growing Asian water market. To commemorate a decade of innova on and excellence, SIWW 2018 unveiled NEWBrew, a special beer made using NEWater - Singapore’s brand of high-grade, ultraclean recycled water.

The next edi on SIWW will return for its 9th edi on, from 5 to 9 July 2020. As a testament to its status as the leading global pla orm for business, technology, and solu ons in the water industry, returning exhibitors have already commi ed to taking up more than 50% of exhibi on space, well ahead of SIWW 2020.

High-powered mee ng and summit With 2018 officially declared as the Year of Climate Ac on for Singapore, climate change and its impact on water systems was one of the topics of discussion at SIWW this year. This was underscored by the Special ASEAN Ministerial Mee ng on Climate Ac on (SAMCA), a regional pla orm hosted by Singapore to discuss climate ac on efforts. At the mee ng, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli launched the Climate Ac on Package, a slew of Singapore-led programmes from this year un l 2020, as part of efforts to help ASEAN countries tackle climate change. The Water Leaders Summit played host to some 500 water leaders from governments, u li es, interna onal organisa ons, academia and private companies, including, ministers, u lity leaders and CEOs of the world’s biggest water companies. Distinguished delegates at the summit included Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka; Ban Kimoon, 8th Secretary-General, United Nations; Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates; Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework on Climate Change; Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer, World Bank; Zhuang Guotai, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China; Sue Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Water Corporation of Western Australia; Steve Demetriou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jacobs; and Jean-Louis Chaussade, Chief Executive Officer, SUEZ.

Integrated exhibi on As an integrated component across SIWW 2018, WCS 2018 and CESS 2018, City Solu ons Singapore 2018 brought together more than 1,100 par cipa ng companies and innova ve start-ups over more than 35,000 m2 of exhibi on space, to showcase cu ng-edge solu ons for urban development, water, and waste management. With 28 country and group pavilions, this is the biggest exhibi on to-date. The four country / regional pavilions, from Turkey, Spain, Scotland and the EU Business

Cu ng-edge products and technologies for water were presented at City Solu ons Singapore 2018 which also featured the latest solu ons for urban development and waste management.

Images by Singapore Interna onal Water Week THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

EVENTS

WORLD CITIES SUMMIT 2018

EMBRACES FUTURE READY CITIES Over 130 mayors and city leaders from 128 ci es gathered at the World Ci es Summit 2018 (WCS 2018) held in Singapore to share knowledge and to address challenges and innova ons for future-ready ci es. Sixteen Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements were inked, paving the way for collabora ons between ci es and stakeholders in the public, private and people sectors. Interac ons at this global pla orm, a ended by more than 1,700 delegates, provided opportuni es for city leaders, industry experts and leading academics to explore how ci es can be made more liveable and sustainable, through be er urban governance, planning, building resilience and leveraging on innova ons.

Innova on and collabora on

Held from 8 to 12 July 2018, WCS 2018 went beyond the broad themes of urban governance and liveable ci es, to embrace the future of ci es through innova on and collabora on. The summit showcased integrated urban solu ons necessary to address pressing challenges faced by ci es, forged new partnerships, and brought together the top echelons across the public, private and people sectors.

The next World Ci es Summit will be held in 2020, from 5 to 9 July, in Singapore. The World Ci es Summit Mayors Forum 2019 will be held in Medellín, Colombia, from 10 to 12 July.

“Out of the 128 ci es that par cipated in WCS 2018, 67 ci es are first- me par cipants and 61 ci es are returning par cipants. The strong show of support from city leaders, industry experts and leading academics alike bear testament to the increasing pres ge and appeal of WCS as the leading interna onal pla orm for urban sustainability conversa ons and innova ons”, said Mr Michael Koh, joint spokesperson for WCS 2018, SIWW 2018 and CESS 2018.

The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2018 and the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2018 were presented, respecvely, to the city of Seoul, South Korea, and to American microbiologist, Prof Rita R Colwell, by the President of Singapore, Madam Halimah Yacob, at the Lee Kuan Yew Prize Award Ceremony and Banquet, held at The Ritz Carlton Millenia Hotel in Singapore, on 9 July 2018. The audience at the event included global water industry leaders, mayors and city leaders, and city experts.

The key theme of innova on was further reinforced by the collabora ons and MOUs announced during WCS 2018. “We are seeing greater collabora on eﬀorts with the best minds in urban planning and development from private companies, interna onal organisa ons and government agencies at WCS”, said Mr Koh. “The combina on of urban governance, planning, resilience, and innova on will form the founda on of a liveable and sustainable city for the future - one that addresses and meets future demands of ci es amid rapid urbanisa on”, he added.

Winners honoured at Lee Kuan Yew Prize Award Ceremony

Crea ng people-centric ci es Besides combining good governance and engagement of their ci zens, ci es are also looking to become inclusive, crea ve and sustainable, and with a high quality of life. At the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2018 Lecture, the winner, Seoul, South Korea, shared on how leveraging smart technology and the collec ve input of its ci zens have helped tackle issues associated with rapid urbanisa on. Hamburg, Kazan, Surabaya and Tokyo (the four ci es accorded Special Men ons) further demonstrated how they have overcome planning challenges, to develop ci es of opportuni es for their ci zens. Ci zen involvement and proper communica on with stakeholders are crucial in shaping people-centric and liveable ci es. Beyond urban infrastructure, ci zen engagement should be integrated for all plans, and groundup processes should be incorporated into day-to-day opera ons. Big data presents the opportunity to allow decision-making on the finest details, providing transparency to all ci zens and ensuring no one is le out. 20

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

At the Lee Kuan Yew Prize Award Ceremony 2018 are, from le , Mr Loh Chin Hua, Chief Execu ve Oﬃcer and Execu ve Director, Keppel Corpora on; Dr Lee Boon Yang, Chairman, Keppel Corpora on; Mr Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, South Korea (Seoul is the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2018 Laureate); Mdm Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore; Prof Rita R Colwell (Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2018 Laureate); Prof Leo Tan, Chairman, Temasek Founda on Innovates; and Ms Koh Lin-Net, Chief Execu ve Oﬃcer, Temasek Founda on Innovates. Keppel Corpora on is the sponsor of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, while Temasek Founda on Innovates is the sponsor of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize.

EVENTS

CLEANENVIRO SUMMIT SINGAPORE 2018 ACCELERATES INNOVATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS Industry leaders, global stakeholders and par cipants gathered at CleanEnviro Summit Singapore 2018 (CESS 2018), to iden fy, develop and share prac cal, replicable and scalable solu ons that address environmental challenges in the context of the waste-water-energy nexus in ci es of tomorrow. The summit concluded with over SGD 5.5 billion worth of projects and business deals announced. These new announcements highlight the global opportuni es for novel innova ons in the environmental services industry, to address the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability. Organised by the Na onal Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore, the fourth biennial CESS was held from 8 to 12 July 2018, in conjunc on with the World Ci es Summit 2018 (WCS 2018) and Singapore Interna onal Water Week (SIWW 2018). The number of CESS exhibitors, at City Solu ons Singapore 2018, grew by 46% over the last edi on. In terms of floor space, this year’s environment exhibi on saw a 2% growth from that in 2016. In both the conference and exhibi on, the theme of ‘Transforming Tomorrow’s Ci es with Clean Environment Solu ons’ was embraced. In addi on to the Waste Management and Cleaning industry streams, which were the focus in previous edi ons of CESS, three more streams - Pest Management, Sustainable Energy, and Pollu on Control - were highlighted through commercialised solu ons by businesses in Asia, Europe, USA and beyond. Innova ve projects by start-ups and research teams were also showcased, throughout. The summit also witnessed thought leadership discussions, insights-driven conversa ons and knowledge exchanges facilitated through various forums and high-level plenaries.

op mising upcoming technologies and implemen ng best prac ces. At the Environment and Water Leaders Forum (EWLF), Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore, spoke on cross-disciplinary environmental and water policies and governance issues, alongside other world leaders. Given the increasingly close rela onship between environment and water, the discussion of innova ve solu ons via cross-disciplinary collabora on reiterated how leaders across both segments must mirror that real-world link with their collabora ve rela onships across these disciplines.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Masagos Zulkifli (fourth, from le ), is shown a model of a mechanical biological treatment facility at the JinJiang Environment booth.

“It is the bringing together of the brightest minds and varying perspec ves across the ecosystem, to leverage the latest trends and derive solu ons that tackle complex challenges, that truly enables the co-crea on of noteworthy solu ons”, said Mr Dalson Chung, Managing Director, CESS 2018. “Singapore plays a cri cal role as a hub for advanced technologies, thought leadership and collabora on. These high-level plenaries and forums at CESS 2018 help to further advance cleaner and more sustainable solu ons in response to climate change, deple on of natural resources, and rapid urbanisa on”, he added.

Sharing of knowledge to address environmental challenges Government and academic leaders par cipated in high-level discussions on developing a skilled industry, 22

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Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, opened Session One of the Clean Environment Leaders Summit on Policy & Regula on. The panellists included Dr Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of World Bank and Mr James Shaw, New Zealand’s Minister for Climate Change.

EVENTS

The Clean Environment Leaders Summit (CELS) allowed delegates to connect and exchange ideas surrounding policy and regula on, business innova ons and green growth models, as well as global trends in environmental technologies, in order to look at best prac ces and possible ways to drive new innova on more systemically across the total ecosystem - both locally and globally.

clean and liveable environment for tomorrow’s ci es, Mr Chung said that the Innova on Pitch exemplifies how Singapore is a talent hub for CleanTech test beds and solu ons, because of its significant investments in research and development, strong engineering and project development capabili es, as well as good market connec vity.

The Leaders-Experts Forum (LEF) served as a plenary session that kicked oﬀ the Clean Environment Convenon (CEC) which took a deep dive into environmental technologies, focusing on automa on, op misa on, behavioural sciences and smart grids and sensors, against the backdrop of increasing smart solu ons in the industry.

“The technologies showcased at CESS 2018 provide just a glimpse of the plethora of breakthrough innova ons that will soon transform the future of the environmental services industry”, he added.

Senior environmental policy makers were also given opportuni es to discuss unique case studies at the Clean Environment Regulators Roundtable (CERR). Par cipants discussed poten al solu ons to key emerging challenges that they face in their home countries, such as pollu on arising from local and transboundary sources, and breakthrough technologies for the monitoring, control and enforcement of environmental pollu on. Among the discussion highlights were Iskandar Malaysia’s Green-focused Agenda and the Public Waste Agency of Flanders’ soil remedia on eﬀorts.

Also announced were interes ng collabora ons, such as a two-year Memorandum of Understanding signed between Pestech, a pest control company, and LiveLabs, an SMU research laboratory. Pestech will now be able to tap on LiveLabs’ Urban Lifestyle Innova on Pla orm. The next CleanEnviro Summit Singapore will be held from 5 to 9 July 2020 at the Sands Expo and Conven on Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

Innova ons and cross-border collabora ons In the spirit of accelera ng innova on in the industry, the returning Innova on Pitch held at the NEA Innova on Pavilion provided opportuni es for promising start-ups and research teams to network with and pitch the latest in environmental Research & Development (R&D) and innova ons to a community that included venture capitalists, businesses, experts in the field and regulators, to see how ideas can be further conceptualised and brought to life more quickly.

Senior environmental industry players and policy makers discussed unique case studies and solu ons to emerging environmental challenges at the Clean Environment Regulators Roundtable.

At the same me, delegates were able to discover new ideas and concepts and explore various prototypes and products that have yet to be commercialised, while connec ng with researchers who shared perspec ves on key environmental challenges. Noteworthy projects featured at the NEA Innova on Pavilion included NEA’s Smart Gravitrap, a series of shape-shi ing cleaning robots developed by the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and a PV module recycling project by Singapore Polytechnic (SP). On accelera ng such innova ons to solve unique challenges and ensure a

Nanyang Technological University researchers pitched their novel phase change material that can improve eﬃciency in waste-to-energy plants. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

COVER STORY

PUB INVESTS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

FOR FUTURE WATER SUSTAINABILITY PUB, Singapore’s na onal water agency, has been able to deliver for Singapore a robust, clean and sustainable water supply over the decades because of its strong commitment to research, technology and innova on. With a belief in nurturing con nuous innova on for the long run, it aims to further harness R&D to meet tomorrow’s water demand at today’s energy and sludge footprint. PUB has set long-term targets to drive the next phase of innova on, namely to reduce energy used in desalina on by more than two-thirds, increase NEWater recovery to 90% at low energy levels, and make used water treatment fully energy self-suﬃcient while halving sludge genera on. It has also iden fied several promising technologies which will contribute towards reaching each of these targets.

Since 2002, PUB together with research partners and the Na onal Research Founda on have invested SGD 453 million in over 600 water R&D projects, in collabora on with partners from 27 countries.

THE CHALLENGES

“R&D is the process of looking for solu ons today to solve problems of the future. As we become increasingly reliant on desalina on and water reuse, the challenge is to ensure that technological advancements con nue to keep up with increasing water demand so that these sources remain sustainable”, said Mr Harry Seah, Assistant Chief Execu ve (Future Systems and Technology), PUB.

R&D has been key to Singapore achieving a robust and sustainable water supply today. The country’s environment, which combines limited natural water resources and land to collect rain with the vagaries of dry weather, requires innova ve solu ons. NEWater and desalinated water were made possible by technological breakthroughs, following decades of R&D eﬀorts to short-circuit the natural water cycle, so as to make water supply more weather-resilient. Together, they meet up to 70% of today’s water demand and are expected to meet up to 85% in 2060. The challenges faced in producing potable water varies with the type of source water used. While seawater and used water streams oﬀer a poten ally inexhaus ble supply of water, the current desalina on energy requirement and NEWater recovery rate pose the greatest barriers to their sustainable use. These unconven onal sources require between five and 17 mes more energy to produce, as compared to the conven onal treatment of rainwater. In addi on, producing treated used water, before it is channelled to NEWater produc on, generates sludge which is costly to dispose. Mee ng future water demand with today’s technologies will see PUB’s energy footprint quadruple from the current 1,000GWh/year to 4,000GWh/year, and the amount of sludge generated double from the current 300,000 t/ year to over 600,000 t/year, by 2060. This is unsustainable and can be overcome only by leveraging technological innova ons.

INNOVATING FOR TOMORROW To stay ahead of the curve, PUB spearheads na onal water R&D ini a ves and invests in the development of new, innova ve technologies across the water loop, to sustainably increase future water resources and improve the eﬃciency of water treatment processes and opera ons. 24

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

These projects span across the technology readiness spectrum, from basic research to lab-scale prototypes, pilot studies and demonstra on plants, before full-scale deployment and commercialisa on.

“PUB is pushing the fron er of water technology to tackle the pressing challenges in energy and sludge management eﬃciency and is on track to meet its long-term targets. The key to this is collabora on with the local and global research community to develop real, applicable solu ons, to keep water supply secure and aﬀordable”, he added.

R&D TARGETS AND KEY PROJECTS For almost two decades, PUB has been working with water industry partners and ins tutes of higher learning, to accelerate the development of new technologies to be tested and implemented in its facili es. It is focusing its R&D eﬀorts on increasing water resources while reducing energy usage and sludge genera on. In line with this, PUB has set long-term targets to drive the next phase of innova on.

Low energy desalina on Desalinated water is Singapore’s fourth na onal tap and is its most energy-intensive source. It currently meets up to 30% of water demand and will meet 30% of future demand in 2060. PUB’s target is to reduce the energy consump on of the desalina on process by more than half, from the current 3.5 kWh/m3 to 1.5 kWh/m3 in the short-term, and eventually to 1 kWh/m3, as a system, in the long-term. Seawater reverse osmosis (RO), the current desalina on method, pushes seawater through membranes which

COVER STORY

filter out salts and impuri es. PUB is demonstra ng Electrodeionisa on (EDI) technology at its R&D Facility in Tuas and tes ng the use of biomime c membranes, which are new and more eﬃcient methods inspired by science and nature, to desalinate water at low energy levels.

Increasing NEWater recovery at low energy Singapore produces high-grade reclaimed water on a scale unprecedented anywhere in the world. NEWater currently makes up to 40% of water demand and will meet up to 55% of future demand in 2060. NEWater is produced from treated used water which is put through an eﬃcient three-stage process of microfiltra on, RO and ultraviolet disinfec on. PUB’s short-term target is to increase the NEWater recovery rate from the current 75% to 90%, at the same energy consump on of 0.4 kWh/m3 for its energy-intensive RO treatment stage. The long-term target is a 90% NEWater recovery at less than half the energy consumpon rate for RO treatment.

Energy self-suﬃciency and sludge management are inextricably linked. Thus, PUB also aims to reduce the amount of sludge generated by the used water treatment process by more than 50% in the long term, through harnessing the biogas genera on poten al of sludge. This will allow double the amount of used water to be treated in the long term at today’s sludge footprint. A novel combina on of energy-eﬃcient technologies for used water treatment is being validated at the Ulu Pandan Wastewater Treatment Demonstra on Plant. Sludge reduc on and enhanced biogas produc on is being demonstrated by a Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THP) at the Jurong Water Reclama on Plant. These technologies will be deployed in the future, at Tuas Water Reclamaon Plant, a highlight of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Phase 2.

The flow reversal technology demonstrated at the Kranji NEWater Factory and the Electrodialysis reversal-reverse osmosis (EDR-RO) system piloted at the Ulu Pandan Water Reclama on Plant have the poten al to reach PUB’s long-term target sustainably.

Energy self-sufficiency and sludge reduc on in used water treatment Used water treatment is a cri cal part of protec ng public health and the environment, as well as the backbone of NEWater produc on. PUB is ac vely tes ng technologies which have the poten al to make the used water treatment process energy self-sufficient, producing as much energy as it uses. PUB has set the target for its water reclama on plants to move from the current 25% energy self-sufficiency to 75% in the short term, and ul mately to 100% energy self-sufficiency in the long term.

PUB is demonstra ng electrodeionisa on (EDI) technology at its R&D facility in Tuas.

Images by PUB, Singapore’s na onal water agency.

The Ulu Pandan wastewater treatment demonstra on plant enables PUB to test and validate advanced technologies. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

ENVIRONMENT & WATER ENGINEERING

CDE PROMOTES MANUFACTURED SAND AS THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL OF THE FUTURE Elimina ng the use of river sand in the produc on of concrete successfully addresses ecological issues and also improves project efficiency. In Peninsular Malaysia, Batu Tiga Quarry Sdn Bhd, YTL Corpora on Berhad’s quarry division, operates 15 quarry sites with 25 crushing and screening plants, producing more than 21 million tonnes of quarry products per year. The division produces various sizes of quarry products including 20 mm aggregate, 10 mm aggregate, quarry dust, crusher run, ballast, armour rocks and other customised sizes, and is the largest producer of manufactured sand in Malaysia. The division has enhanced the quality of manufactured sand for use in the produc on of ready mixed concrete, by improving the par cle shape and controlling the silt content, and by using proven world class technology and equipment. For this sole purpose, the CDE manufactured sands technology was first introduced at the Batu Tiga quarry situated near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The process of producing manufactured sand begins with the crushing of hard rocks into smaller frac ons in a controlled manner to achieve good par cle shape. However, the crushing opera on generates varying levels of ultra-fines that lower the commercial value of the crushed material and creates technical challenges for its use in concrete produc on. To alleviate these challenges, advanced wet processing techniques from CDE are used to consistently grade sand, making it free from adulteraon and impuri es, and further improving the project’s efficiency by reducing the consump on of cement. “We have almost eliminated river sand in our projects through subs tu ons and wherever sand has to be used, we have switched to manufactured sand. It not only addresses ecological issues but also improves project efficiency significantly”, explained Mr Patrick Pereira, Execu ve Director, YTL Group Quarry Division. “The CDE Combo technology has helped us to enhance the quality of manufactured sand by controlling the level of silt and delivering the right grada on. It also gives us the flexibility of adjus ng the fineness modullus of sand as per our project requirement”, he added. Sand accounts for 35% of the volume of concrete used in the building construc on industry and as the Asian region rides a growth trajectory, demand has ballooned and led to the over-exploita on of river beds. The supply of sand from tradi onal sources, such as rivers and creeks, is being restricted by several countries in Southeast Asia, causing significant shortages. The destruc on of riverine ecosystems by indiscriminate sand mining is gradually giving way to a lightly regulated, industrial-scale produc on of manufactured sand, with the support of large conglomerates such as the YTL Group. It is 26

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

A pile of manufactured sand

lending some respite to city administrators and aﬀected communi es. Manufactured sand has not only helped to address environmental issues but also improved the delivery and aided in the cost reduc on of construc on projects. CDE Asia is crea ng this en rely new marketplace across Asia with over 280 installa ons spread over India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. “Our sustainable technology of producing washed and graded manufactured sand is helping to replace natural sand, which is fast becoming scarce and expensive. It will benefit sand manufacturers by providing top quality graded construc on sand and sustainable opera ons by reusing up to 95% of water used. By u lising normally low-value crusher fines for sand produc on, we can extend the life of natural resources and also add huge commercial value to our customers’ enterprises”, shared Mr Manish Bhar a, Managing Director, CDE Asia.

CDE CDE is a leading provider of washing equipment for quarries, mines and recycling opera ons on the global market. The CDE equipment range has applica ons across a wide range of materials and is delivering significant eﬃciencies in the construc on and recycling, mining, specialist industrial sands and environmental sectors.

ENVIRONMENT & WATER ENGINEERING

Working across five sectors and eight regions, CDE has been co-crea ng with customers for over 25 years to deliver advanced processing systems.

US. CDE also has teams based in sub-Saharan Africa and other countries in the Middle East.

YTL Corpora on Berhad

The CDE Global Design Headquarters is located in Northern Ireland, UK, and the company also has bases in Kolkata, India; SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil; Ormeau, Australia; Dubai, UAE; and North Carolina and Texas, both in the

YTL Corpora on Berhad is an integrated infrastructure developer with extensive opera ons in countries including Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Japan and China.

CDE launches mobile wash plant At Clean Enviro Summit Singapore 2018 (CESS 2018), CDE Asia launched its mobile wash plant and also presented the CDE ReUrban recycling system for construc on, demoli on and excava on wastes. With a capacity range of 30 t to 200 t of materials per hour, the Combo mobile wash plant combines the advantages of CDE sand washing technology with the advantages of mobility. The CDE Combo combines feeding, grading, washing, water recycling and stockpiling onto one compact chassis. The Combo does this with a wide capacity range to suit most material washing applica ons. According to CDE, with the CDE Combo, there is no wastewater released (95% of the water is recycled) and there is no noise or dust pollu on. Further, the sludge produced is converted into bricks and blocks. The CDE ReUrban construc on and demoli on waste recycling technology uses the latest wet processing methods to recycle waste materials from construcon sites, to create a range of cer fied sand and aggregates for reuse in construc on projects. The CDE ReUrban recycling range of equipment uses physical and aqueous methods, involving high intensity surface scrubbing of material, to dislodge adhering fines, which is necessary to reduce water absorp on in recycled sand and aggregate. The fines are graded and recovered as manufactured sands.

The CDE Combo can be used to produce manufactured sand.

The CDE ReUrban Prime recycling plant.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

ENVIRONMENT & WATER ENGINEERING

MONITORING DRINKING WATER

QUALITY IN REAL TIME Simultaneous measurement of physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters enables quick ac on to be taken when necessary. The performance and safety of drinking water supply systems are at the heart of public health challenges. SUEZ leverages on its long-standing exper se in water services and digital technologies to oﬀer AQUADVANCED Quality Monitoring, a solu on for the real- me monitoring of drinking water quality in distribu on networks.

Combining innova on and know-how Drinking water is the most closely controlled food product, as it can easily be exposed to accidental pollu on. To an cipate varia ons in drinking water quality and increase responsiveness in the event of anomalies or poten al pollu on, SUEZ has designed AQUADVANCED Quality Monitoring, a modular and customised solu on to enhance the monitoring of water quality in the context of increased compliance and safety issues. AQUADVANCED Quality Monitoring detects and locates drinking water quality anomalies in real- me, thanks to probes placed at strategic check points in the distribu on network. These probes simultaneously measure up to eight physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters and make it possible to act, as soon as possible, when a risk is confirmed. For installa ons without a power supply, the solu on comes with a patented self-powered power supply that provides electricity to the equipment.

AQUADVANCED Quality Monitoring monitors drinking water quality in distribu on networks, in real- me.

Adapted to every local need AQUADVANCED Quality Monitoring has many applicaons. It enables con nuous monitoring of water supply to ‘sensi ve’ buildings (such as nurseries, schools, hospitals and re rement homes) or areas that host spor ng, cultural or fes ve events, through the installa on of permanent or temporary reinforced monitoring devices. It is also a valuable tool that can monitor and op mise the chlorine dosage required to disinfect drinking water supplies, so as to reduce the residual chlorine content in the water. The device is currently being deployed in Paris, in the La Défense business district, as part of the network management for the Gennevilliers water syndicate. “AQUADVANCED Quality Monitoring is a unique solu on to con nuously monitor the drinking water quality in the distribu on networks for the benefit of local authori es and water operators. This innova on, unique to the market, is an addi on to our range of AQUADVANCED solu ons that use digital technologies to op mise the performance of water networks and provide new services to local authori es and individuals. This range of solu ons has already proven itself and has been deployed in more than 600 contracts worldwide”, said Mr Loïc Voisin, Director of Innova on, Marke ng and Industrial Performance, SUEZ. 28

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

AQUADVANCED Quality Monitoring was presented at Singapore Interna onal Water Week 2018.

Images by SUEZ

ENVIRONMENT & WATER ENGINEERING

PUB AND GRUNDFOS TO JOINTLY DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE WATER TECHNOLOGIES The objec ve is to find new solu ons in water treatment, water quality monitoring, pump performance and digitalisa on. Grundfos, a global leader in pumps and PUB, Singapore’s na onal water agency, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development of efficient water technologies and solu ons. The MOU was signed by Mr Harry Seah, Assistant Chief Execu ve (Future Systems and Technology), PUB and Mr Kim Jensen, Regional Managing Director Asia Pacific, Grundfos, and witnessed by Mr Ng Joo Hee, Chief Execu ve, PUB and Her Excellency Mrs Dorte Bech Vizard, Danish Ambassador to Singapore. Signed at Singapore Interna onal Water Week A er the signing of the MOU are, from le , Mr Harry Seah, Assistant Chief Execu ve (Future 2018, the three-year agreement supports PUB’s Systems and Technology), PUB; Mr Ng Joo Hee, Chief Execu ve, PUB; Her Excellency Mrs mission to ensure a robust and sustainable water Dorte Bech Vizard, Danish Ambassador to Singapore; Mr Kim Jensen, Regional Managing supply in Singapore, by working together to innoDirector Asia Pacific, Grundfos; and Dr Gao Xin, Head of Innova on Hub, Grundfos. vate new solu ons in water treatment, water quality monitoring, efficient pump solu ons, and use in local treatment processes. Grundfos is currently digital water solu ons. The MOU builds on the agreement exploring possible applica ons of the technology. between Grundfos and PUB, announced in 2014. The BACMON++ project is aimed at demonstra ng and “Water demand is rising across homes and businesses, evalua ng the opera onal value of installing Grundfos and it is set to double by 2060. To meet this demand BACMON sensors in PUB’s water supply system. Grundefficiently, it is impera ve for Singapore to con nue fos BACMON technology offers on-line monitoring of inves ng in research and development to secure our total bacteria concentra on in near real- me, improving water supply for future genera ons. We are excited to current bacterial monitoring of the water network. Several strengthen our collabora on with Grundfos by sharing BACMON sensors will be installed at suitable PUB service our exper se to develop sustainable water treatment reservoirs for further tes ng. If successful, the BACMON solu ons together”, said Mr Seah. sensors could be applied within PUB’s water supply network to ensure safe water storage and delivery. “This strategic agreement aligns to both PUB’s and Grundfos’ agenda on developing sustainable water supply solu ons. We realise that this collabora ve partnership can lead to poten al solu ons that will support not only Singapore’s efforts in ensuring a sustainable water supply, but can become a case study for other countries and ci es as well. As a company, Grundfos is firmly Grundfos has launched its new genera on of CR commi ed to becoming a true global role model within pumps, which is said to exceed current energy efficienwater and climate”, said Mr Jensen. cy limits for mul -stage in-line pumps, and which can

New range of pumps from Grundfos

The 2014 agreement saw the development of two water innova on projects - the Cake Filtra on project and the BACMON++ project. Completed last year, the Cake Filtra on project was pilot-tested at the Kranji Water Reclama on Plant and explored a new wastewater treatment concept that used sludge generated from the treatment process to filter the wastewater. It oﬀered an alterna ve solu on for wastewater treatment with poten ally lower opera ng costs and lower cost of materials, compared to conven onal filtra on systems, but requires further development for

be used to provide a range of customised solu ons.

The company’s CR pumps are ver cal, mul stage, centrifugal inline pumps which line up pump pressure and pump suc on port in a straight pipe. The centrifugal CR pumps can transport corrosive, hot, and high-pressure liquids used across various applica ons including water supply, water treatment and almost all industrial solu ons. The new genera on of Grundfos CR pumps introduces three new flow sizes (CR95, 125 and 155) and increases the maximum water flow to 220 m3/hour.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

EXHIBITION AND FORUM TO ADDRESS WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH The exchange of ideas will help companies to achieve zero-harm and accident-free opera ons. OS+H Asia 2018, the 11th Occupa onal Safety+Health Exhibi on for Asia, will be held from 29 to 31 August 2018, at Suntec Singapore. Organised by Messe Dusseldorf Asia Pte Ltd, the exhibi on will showcase the products and solu ons of 200 companies from 25 countries. The companies will showcase more than 1,500 products, services and solu ons.

The keynote address will be delivered by Er. Ho Siong Hin, Commissioner for Workplace Safety & Health, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore.

OS+H Asia 2018 will highlight seven key areas - Crisis & Emergency Management, Fire Protec on, Health at Work, Smart Technologies, Work at Height, Environmental Control, and Workplace Ergonomics.

Increased focus required on preven ng workplace deaths

With first- me par cipants coming from as far away as Brazil, Poland, and Russia, trade visitors can expect to encounter highlights such as ‘live-line’ working experts and a self-contained self-rescuer that is maintenance-free.

There were 144 fatali es in Bri sh workplaces in 2017-18, up from 135 in the previous year, according to figures published recently by the UK’s Health and Safety Execu ve.

Commi ed to establishing itself as a regional pla orm for the exchange of exper se and informa on on workplace safety and health, OS+HA Asia 2018 will also be oﬀering a forum, seminars and technical presentaons, serving a mul tude of applica on sectors across diﬀerent industries, from building and construc on, automo ve and oil & gas, to marine, hospitality and pharmaceu cals.

Mr Craig Foyle, President of the Ins tu on of Occupa onal Safety and Health (IOSH), has urged businesses to ensure that protec ng employees is at the heart of their opera ons.

Forum on workplace safety and health Jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia and the Singapore Ins tu on of Safety Oﬃcers (SISO), the Forum on Workplace Safety & Health 2018, to be held on 31 August, will provide a pla orm for regional WSH experts, specialists and manufacturers, to share insights on workplace safety and health. It will also provide opportuni es for discussing emerging issues, as well as competency requirements for professionals, and the latest technological advances and innova ons. Topics at the Forum on Workplace Safety & Health 2018 include: • Zero Harm Strategies & Prac ces in the Pharmaceu cal Industry •Management Strategies to Help the Workforce from Falling into Depression • An Ageing Workforce • Total Workplace Safety & Health (WSH) and Return to Work (RTW) for a healthy and produc ve workforce • SnapSAFE@TP: Paperless TWSH Inspec on - Our Journey • TWSH Services Centre: Vision for Tomorrow 30

• Resilience and Resolve: Transna onal Terrorist Threats • SGSecure and the WSH Community

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

The provisional figures cover the period from the start of April 2017 to the end of March this year. While there has been a slight increase in deaths, compared to the previous 12 months, there has been an overall decline in recent years - in 2011-12, 171 people were killed at work. Nearly half of the fatal accidents in 2017-18 occurred in construc on and agriculture, with 38 and 29 deaths, respec vely. The three most common causes of fatal injuries were falls from height (35), being struck by a moving vehicle (26) and being struck by a moving object (26). Of those who were killed, 40% were aged 60 or over, despite that age group accoun ng for only 10% of the working popula on. Meanwhile, 100 members of the public were fatally injured in incidents connected with work, with just over half of these occurring on railways. The release of annual fatal workplace accident figures was accompanied by figures for the number of deaths from mesothelioma, a deadly cancer usually caused mainly by past exposure to asbestos. In 2016, a total of 2,595 people died of mesothelioma in Great Britain, a figure which dwarfs the 144 lives claimed by workplace accidents that year. The UK con nues to suﬀer the highest rate of asbestos-related deaths in the world, nearly 20 years a er its use was finally banned.

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

JLG LAUNCHES LOW LEVEL ACCESS EQUIPMENT

AND OPERATOR SAFETY TRAINING Boos ng workplace produc vity and safety. JLG Industries Inc, a leading interna onal designer and manufacturer of mobile eleva ng work pla orms and telescopic material handlers, unveiled its new, low-level access equipment at the IPAF Asia Conference and Showcase 2018, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 18 and 19 July 2018. The company also launched its new operator safety training courses focusing on operator safety at height. At the event, which was organised by IPAF (Interna onal Powered Access Federa on), JLG presented EcoLi which is part of a new family of low-level access equipment, and the 660SJ, a model in the new 600 Series boom li range. JLG’s low-level access li s are safe, quiet, easily manoeuvrable and intui ve to operate, thereby making them suitable for use in indoor spaces, for a host of trades in construc on, maintenance and facility work. The li s are said to reduce effort and increase efficiency, when compared with alterna ves such as the use of ladders and scaffolding, and give workers the ability to use both hands on the job. Ecoli uses the patented ‘stored power system’ which requires no ba eries, no power and no hydraulic oil, making it easy to use, and it is environment-friendly. The 660SJ boom li has a pla orm capacity of 340 kg and a small footprint which allows it to be shipped in a 40 container, hence reducing shipping cost. “JLG is at the forefront of understanding the factors impac ng mega trends and is developing cu ng-edge technologies to lead the industry in innova on in those areas”, said Mr Shashank Bha a, Director of Engineering, Scissors and Ver cals Product Development, JLG Industries.

JLG’s EcoLi is a manoeuvrable, low-level access li that is suitable for use in indoor spaces.

“We are inves ng significant amount of research dollars to innovate in areas such as safety, produc vity and total cost of ownership, and transforming the access industry with our accident-free, highly eﬃcient and service-free machines”, he added. As part of its eﬀorts to improve safety standards in the industry, JLG is introducing a series of training courses in Malaysia. Besides free, online, product training courses, operators can also sign up for Operator Safety Training conducted by JLG’s appointed distributors in Malaysia. Using classroom-based tutorials, demonstra ons, handson training and assessments, these courses aim to help operators to safely use mobile eleva ng work pla orms (MEWPs) and aerial work pla orms (AWPs). “JLG has collaborated with several partners in the industry and is analysing data and developing tools to ensure the safety of its operators. With an eye to building the safe workplace of the future, we are inves ng in technologies around aspects that range from operator injury preven on to workplace accident avoidance”, said Mr Bha a.

The 660SJ boom li has a pla orm capacity of 340 kg. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

BCA RECOGNISES DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SAFETY EXCELLENCE Professional Engineers as well as their respec ve projects and project teams were honoured at BCA AWARDS 2018. For their excellent and safe engineering solu ons in Singapore’s built environment, ten Professional Engineers (PEs) received the BCA Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Awards 2018, at BCA AWARDS 2018. Commenting on this year’s award winners, BCA Group Director (Building Engineering), Er. Chew Keat Chuan said, “We are commending ten P rofessional Engineers who have displayed great skill and professionalism in overcoming engineering challenges and bringing their projects to completion safely. Their accomplishments underscore the importance of engineering careers in Singapore and demonstrate good opportunities are available for aspiring Singaporeans who wish to pursue engineering careers in the built environment”. The BCA Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Award

The award categories are: • Residen al • Commercial • Ins tu onal & Industrial • Civil Engineering • Small-scale projects (Project cost is less than SGD 30 million) • Overseas

Qualified Persons (Professional Engineers)

Category

Project

Engineer Lai Huen Poh

Award - Ins tu onal & Industrial

Changi Airport Terminal 4

Engineer Tan Yoong Heng

Engineer Cheryl Lee Zi Du

Award - Civil Engineering (joint winners)

DTL3 C937 Fort Canning Sta on and Associated Tunnels

Engineer Chia Wah Kam

Award - Commercial (joint winners)

Tanjong Pagar Centre

Award - Ins tu onal & Industriall

The Wave

Engineer Jason Tan Bok Leng

Engineer Teh Hee Seang

Engineer Foo See Lim

Merit - Civil Engineering

i. C922 - Construc on and Comple on of Expo Sta on for DTL3 ii. D&B Entrance C and D at DTL3 Tampines East Sta on

Engineer Leong Meng Sun

Merit - Ins tu onal & Industrial

Na onal Gallery Singapore

Engineer Kam Mun Wai

Merit - Ins tu onal & Industrial Merit - Residen al

Sengkang General Hospital Watertown & Waterway Point

Engineer Dr. Shahzad Nasim

Merit - Residen al

The Venue Residences & Shoppes

Winners of the BCA Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Awards 2018 32

recognises the eﬀorts of Qualified Persons (Professional Engineers) for structural works, their firms and the project teams, for ingenious design processes and solu ons in overcoming project challenges and ensuring safety in the design, construc on and maintenance of building and civil engineering projects locally and overseas.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

CHANGI AIRPORT TERMINAL 4 Recogni on: Award Winner Category: Ins tu onal & Industrial

DOWNTOWN LINE 3 CONTRACT 937 FORT CANNING STATION AND ASSOCIATED TUNNELS Recogni on: Award Winner Category: Civil Engineering

Changi Airport Terminal 4

Challenges • Tight design and construc on schedule for construcon of five blocks of buildings and airport facili es within 37 months. • The crea on of a 60 m, large span roof structure at the departure check-in area with a 18.5 m can lever roof at the departure kerbside, and massive transfer trusses at the arrival immigra on hall to achieve a spacious and column-free environment. • The finger pier and 21 fixed gangway structures located within the airside, with live aircra parking stands, were designed and implemented to comply with strict security requirements and airside opera onal needs.

Downtown Line 3 Contract 937 Fort Canning Sta on and Associated Tunnels

Solu ons and Features

• Adop on of Building Informa on Modelling (BIM) and prefabricated volumetric design and construc on. • Adop on of a full precast system approach with use of advanced, precast mechanical beam shoe connectors. precast beams and planks, designed for both temporary and permanent stage loads, to eliminate the necessity of 9 m high scaﬀoldings and props. • The use of repe ve, simple plane frame steel roof trusses with secondary beam system simplified detailing and allowed for oﬀ-site prefabrica on, thereby enabling erec on and other work to proceed simultaneously. Innova ve addi on of ‘knee braces’ between trusses at roof level provided the lateral restraint for con nuous truss bo om chord in compression at supports. • Innova ve and game-changing ‘Advanced L2’ floor and ‘hat first’ construc on methodologies implemented by Takenaka Corpora on.

• An innova ve, first-of-its kind temporary diversion of the Singapore River was designed to facilitate removal of all underground obstruc ons well in advance, so as to reduce construc on risk during tunnelling works. • As opposed to crea ng stand-alone structures for cripple sidings on a separate land parcel, Arup developed an innova ve and cost-eﬀec ve solu on by loca ng them within the sta on box. This overcame space constraints in a congested area, and avoided the need for extensive construc on within Fort Canning Park. • Value engineering resulted in the design of a shallower sta on which translated into enhancing the overall safety and produc vity of the project. • A stringent tunnelling regime applying ght volume loss controls and real- me monitoring was implemented during tunnel construc on.

• Contract 937 - Fort Canning sta on and associated tunnels were constructed within a very dense and congested urban network, and avoiding impact to it was cri cal to the project’s success. • The key challenges included the temporary diversion of the Singapore River, tunnel construc on overcrossing/ undercrossing exis ng MRT lines at minimal clearances, and tunnelling in very close proximity to numerous exis ng underground structures.

PROJECT CREDITS

PROJECT CREDITS Qualified Person Er. Lai Huen Poh C&S Consultant RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd Builder Takenaka Corpora on

Challenges

Developer Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd Architectural Consultant SAA Architects Pte Ltd

Qualified Person Er. Tan Yoong Heng Er. Cheryl Lee Zi Du

Developer Land Transport Authority

C&S Consultant Arup Singapore Pte Ltd

Architectural Consultant Aedas Pte Ltd

Builder GS Engineering & Construc on Corpora on

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

TANJONG PAGAR CENTRE

THE WAVE

Recogni on: Award Winner Category: Commercial

Recogni on: Award Winner Category: Ins tu onal & Industrial

Tanjong Pagar Centre The Wave

Challenges • Rela ng to Tanjong Pagar Centre, a vibrant mixed-use development, being one of the tallest buildings in Singapore, at 290 m. • Rela ng to the development si ng on a congested site bounded by a few roads, the busy Tanjong Pagar MRT sta on and a number of other historic shophouses. • The tall, slender and inclined building geometry exerts opposing forces at diﬀerent levels, posing unique engineering challenges.

Solu ons and Features • A top-down construc on approach was adopted, so that the progress of superstructures was advanced within a robust design of temporary supports and sequence of works. This allowed the op misa on of basement construc on, which translated to me- and cost-savings. • To work around the challenge of space constraints, steel was adopted for the oﬃce podium and basement structures - an unusual but prac cal solu on to achieve speed and ease of construc on. • Pre-se ng was done to take into account the building’s movement, overcoming the inclined building geometry. • At the upper levels, where the building transits from oﬃce to residen al space, an innova ve transfer and belt-truss system was designed to achieve stability of the overall tower structure. PROJECT CREDITS Qualified Person Er. Chia Wah Kam Er. Jason Tan Bok Leng C&S Consultant Arup Singapore Pte Ltd Builder Samsung C&T Corpora on Singapore

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

Challenges • Rela ng to the fact that this is Singapore’s first largescale Mass Engineered Timber Building. • Rela ng to building a huge mber arched roof that spans 72 m, which places it amongst the world’s longest roof span of its kind.

Solu ons and Features • The use of innova ve and sustainable glulam and cross-laminated mber (CLT) which has a high strength-to-weight ra o. • The choice of three-pin arched roof beams enabled construc on without scaﬀolding and within a short period of me. This resulted in safe and fast construc on. • Simplicity of construc on was ensured due to high levels of prefabrica on and there was minimum waste, as the mbers were precision-cut at factory and delivered to site. • A systema c and coordinated approach was adopted to research and understand the fundamental technical characteris cs and behaviour of mber, and consultaons with regulatory agencies and technical committees led to the achievement of safe and acceptable design solu ons. PROJECT CREDITS

Developer GuocoLand Group

Qualified Person Er. Teh Hee Seang

Architectural Consultant Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Architects 61 Pte Ltd

C&S Consultant T.Y.LIN Interna onal Pte Ltd Builder B19 Technologies Pte Ltd

Developer Nanyang Technological University Architectural Consultant Sembcorp Architects & Engineers Pte Ltd Toyo Ito & Associates, Architect

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

C922 CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION OF EXPO STATION FOR DTL3

D&B ENTRANCE C AND D AT DTL3 TAMPINES EAST STATION

Recogni on: Merit Category: Civil Engineering

D&B Entrance C and D at DTL3 Tampines East Sta on C922 - Construc on and Comple on of Expo Sta on for DTL3

Challenges • The Interchange Sta on is located underneath a T-Junc on at Expo Drive and Changi South Avenue 1. It undercrosses the exis ng East-West Line (Changi Airport Branch) viaduct perpendicularly, causing considerable impact on the exis ng MRT structure. • The sta on construc on was obstructed by the exis ng piles of East-West Line piers. A new founda on system had to be introduced to transfer the exis ng structural loads prior to construc on. • There were exis ng East-West Line piers with short pile lengths within the influence zone. Strengthening the pile group was required to withstand addi onal forces and deflec on induced by deep excava on.

Solu ons and Features • The design used the concept of ‘Strengthening in advance of undermining’. The construc on sequence was set to follow the design strictly. • New founda on members were designed and installed to competent soil stratum, to resist forces induced by excava on as well as imposed loads from the new and exis ng MRT structures. • Transfer beams were constructed below exis ng pilecaps, to facilitate preloading to ensure load transfer is eﬀec ve, before proceeding with deeper excava on. • Incremental deforma on of the aﬀected MRT structures was predicted at every stage of excava on. The predic on was used to assess the structural performance through real- me monitoring. PROJECT CREDITS Qualified Person Er. Foo See Lim C&S Consultant Meinhardt Infrastructure Pte Ltd Builder Samsung C & T Corpora on Singapore

Developer Land Transport Authority Architectural Consultant GreenhilLi Pte Ltd

Challenges • Entrance C & D undercrossing the road junc on at the intersec on of Tampines Avenue 2 and Tampines Avene 9 were added at the halfway mark of the construc on. • There were numerous underground u li es clashing with the original tunnel Earth Retaining / Stabilising System (ERSS). These cri cal u li es needed to be protected during excava on.

Solu ons and Features • The mining method was introduced to construct the alterna ve T-shaped subway instead of the conven onal braced excava on method which is me-consuming and involves massive traffic and u lity diversions. • The mining tunnel was formed by a series of interlocking steel pipes installed using micro-tunnelling technology. It was op mised to have steel pipes on three sides and precast concrete foo ng at the base. • The excava on within the tunnel was facilitated by temporary steel frames installed with regular spacing, based on a modular design. The overall construc on me was reduced significantly with excava on taking place from both ends of the tunnel. • Sequen al block cas ng of the reinforced concrete lining was carried out, to ease the retrieval of temporary steel frames prior to sealing off the construc on joints. • Incremental deforma on of the affected MRT structures was predicted at every stage of excava on. The predic on was used to assess the structural performance through real- me monitoring. PROJECT CREDITS Qualified Person Er. Foo See Lim C&S Consultant Meinhardt Infrastructure Pte Ltd Builder GS Engineering & Construc on Corpora on

Developer Land Transport Authority Architectural Consultant ONG&ONG Pte Ltd

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NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE

SENGKANG GENERAL HOSPITAL

Recogni on: Merit Category: Ins tu onal & Industrial

Na onal Gallery Singapore

Sengkang General Hospital

Challenges

• To retain and protect exis ng decora ve façade walls (24 m high free-standing walls a er demoli on). • To excavate and construct the 16 m deep basement structures within the building perimeter and in very close proximity to the preserved façade. • To suspend the en re exis ng structures (such as the CH Chamber) at the 3rd storey with its columns removed below, while excava ng and construc ng the basement beneath these preserved structures.

• Deep excava on of 12 m in poor ground condi ons.

Solu ons and Features

• Innova ve hybrid retaining wall system consis ng of diaphragm wall and secant pile wall to overcome difficult ground condi ons, and for be er control of ground movements, and yet offering an overall costeffec ve design.

• Underpinning conserved structures with a network of needle beams, underpinning beams and micropile founda on. • Installing a stabilising shoring system to hold up the 24 m tall, free-standing façade walls a er demoli on works. Top-down construc on u lised together with a s ﬀ diaphragm wall minimised movement of the basement retaining walls. • A very detailed construc on sequence needed to be worked out between the structural engineer and contractor to ensure the robustness and stability of the preserved and conserved structures. • Transfer structures were installed to support the elevated and preserved CH Chamber, with jacks and pre-loading applied to ensure proper load transfer. PROJECT CREDITS Qualified Person Er. Leong Meng Sun C&S Consultant CPG Consultants Pte Ltd Builder Takenaka-Singapore Piling Joint Venture

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Developer Na onal Gallery Singapore Architectural Consultant CPG Consultants Pte Ltd Studio Milou, Singapore

• Congested surroundings, access constraints and close proximity to Cheng Lim LRT sta on and viaducts, public housing and schools, as well as widening of exis ng roads along Sengkang East Road, Sengkang East Way and Anchorvale Street. • Low floor-to-floor height due to AMSL limit

Solu ons and Features

• Careful planning and integra on of temporary construc on access and storage into the ERSS design enabled smooth uninterrupted access, excava on and earth disposal. • The flat slab system provides high flexibility for rou ng of M&E services and maximises headroom in an otherwise very low floor-to-floor height configura on. • Innova ve beam s tching technique for the LRT link bridges, enabling uninterrupted access for commuters using the LRT. • Extensive use of prefabrica on where possible. PROJECT CREDITS Qualified Person Er. Kam Mun Wai C&S Consultant Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd Builder Penta-Ocean Construc on Co Ltd

Developer Ministry of Health Architectural Consultant DP Architects Pte Ltd

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

WATERTOWN & WATERWAY POINT

THE VENUE RESIDENCES & SHOPPES

Recogni on: Merit Category: Residen al

Watertown & Waterway Point

Challenges • Deep basement excava on of more than 20 m in poor ground condi ons. • Undula ng ground terrain resul ng in unbalanced excava on on three sides of the development. The level diﬀerence is in excess of 15 m. • Integra on with an exis ng can levered diaphragm wall that was constructed to facilitate the excava on for the waterway. The Venue Residences & Shoppes

Solu ons and Features • The ERSS adopted for the unbalanced excava on comprised a hybrid of diaphragm walls and secant pile walls. Diaphragm walls provided eﬀec ve resistance and enabled transfer of the unbalanced lateral loads to the ground. The diaphragm walls not only acted as a retaining wall, it also acted as shear walls to resist and transfer the lateral loads to the ground. • Cross diaphragm walls were introduced along strategic loca ons in the basement, to transfer the lateral loads due to the lack of passive resistance from the waterway. They were also designed as load bearing founda on elements to support the retail and residen al structure above. • Localised ground improvement was carried out where Kallang Forma on was encountered to improve the soil shear strength and s ﬀness, to be er control ground movements. PROJECT CREDITS Qualified Person Er. Kam Mun Wai C&S Consultant Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd Builder Hyundai Engineering & Construc on Co Ltd

Developer Emerald Star Pte Ltd FC Retail Trustee Pte Ltd Architectural Consultant RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd

Challenges • Very congested site next to heavy-traﬃc along Upper Serangoon Road, Macpherson Road and PIE, and in close proximity to sensi ve shop houses, next to MRT tunnels, DTSS tunnels etc. • Poor ground condi ons with so marine clay. • Building founda on and basement structures had to be designed to safeguard adjacent exis ng shop houses, DTSS tunnels, MRT tunnels, road tunnels, expressway bridge etc.

Solu ons and Features • Innova ve development and use of peanut-shaped selfsuppor ng strut-free diaphragm wall reten on system for three-level basement excava on and construc on. • Extensive use of precast beams, slabs and wall systems, and integra ng Reckli facade finishes with precast RC wall.

PROJECT CREDITS Qualified Person Er. Dr Shahzad Nasim C&S Consultant Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd Builder Dragages (S) Pte Ltd

Developer Crescent View Development Pte Ltd (JV between CDL and Hong Leong Holdings Limited) Architectural Consultant Aedas Pte Ltd

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HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

BLAST PROTECTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE OPENINGS by Ang Choon-Keat, Lin Yadong, Justus Goh and Lim Jiunn-Jie, Prostruct Consul ng Pte Ltd, Singapore Structural or non-structural openings are common features in buildings. However, in the event of an explosion, they can also be vulnerable points through which blast debris and fragments can enter and cause injuries and damage. This ar cle explores the innova on and improvements that can be made to conven onal blast mi ga on solu ons for openings. INTRODUCTION

WINDOW OPENINGS

This article is the second in a three-part article series being published in ‘The Singapore Engineer’ magazine, on infrastructure protection against terrorist attacks. The first article, which appeared in the April 2018 Issue, gave a brief introduction to the Infrastructure Protection Act (IPA) and the Security-by-Design (SBD) concept. Under the IPA, buildings designated by MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) will have to go through a SBD process to integrate security measures in their design, before they are built or renovated, in order to protect against terrorist attacks.

For windows openings, various methods may be used to enhance window glazing protection. Conventional methods include specifying laminated glass for new construction or applying anti-shatter film to existing glazing. Designers may also adopt other approaches, such as installation of curtain walls, blast energy-absorbing systems, cable catcher systems etc, to reduce the post-damage behaviour of the glazing system. Figure 2 gives an example of an installed cable catcher system.

The first ar cle also gave a flavour of some common mi ga on strategies to enhance building protec on, one of which is to enhance protec on at building openings. Doors or windows installed at building openings would be a vulnerability if they are not designed to withstand high pressure impact caused by an explosion. Hence, during an explosion, substan al damage can be caused in areas that do not have blast-resistant units installed. Sha ered glass and debris from windows and doors can pose a significant threat to life and equipment that are cri cal for opera ons.

As protec on of openings is a very wide topic, it is not the intent of this ar cle to discuss every method in detail. This ar cle will focus on protec on at door openings, and on Prostruct’s in-house innova on eﬀorts to develop an alterna ve solu on to blast doors.

In addi on to the risk of doors and/or windows becoming flying hazards, blast waves could also penetrate into the building and cause damage to assets or injuries to occupants inside the building.

DOOR OPENINGS At personnel and equipment ingress/egress loca ons, strengthening of the doors units may be used as a mi gaon measure. Conven onally, doors are engineered to resist certain blast loadings and func on as blast-resistant doors (Figure 1). They can be manufactured from a variety of materials, such as aluminum, concrete and mber. However, for high-level blasts, steel is o en used. Such blast door systems are normally tested to determine their performance under blast load condi ons, according to interna onal standards, and are cer fied with a blast ra ng. 38

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Figure 2: An installed cable catcher system.

Figure 1: Typical blast door, commonly installed to protect building openings.

HEALTH & SAFETY ENGINEERING

LIMITATIONS OF BLAST DOORS

Tes ng and model valida on

With the introduc on of the IPA in 2017, more buildings, both new and exis ng, are expected to comply with blast protec on requirements. These may include various industrial buildings where openings are common and are larger in size.

Pressure transducers and accelerators were set up to record the blast pressures and the transient deforma on of the roller shu er door during the event. A er the test detona on, it was observed that the roller shu er remained in its guide rail and no visible permanent deflec on was observed across the front face of the roller shu er. Figure 4 shows the test specimen a er the blast.

Although it is possible to protect these loca ons using blast doors, it may not be viable or economical to do so. This is because blast doors are rela vely bulkier and heavier than roller shu er doors and hence more cumbersome to operate, as opposed to motorised roller shu er doors. Moreover, blast doors are typically customised and installed during the building construc on phase. It would not be straigh orward to retrofit a blast door into an exis ng structure, to enhance protec on of the door opening. Very o en, roller shu er doors are used in front of industrial building openings. Normal roller shu ers, including heavy duty ones, however, are not designed and tested to withstand blast pressure. Depending on the blast pressure ac ng on the roller shu er that is subjected to an explosion, the horizontal shu er slats or panels may detach from the shu er guide rails, resul ng in the whole roller shu er door becoming a flying projec le. Hence, if roller shu er doors are to be used at openings that require blast protec on, they would need to be blast-resistant. With this in mind, Prostruct invested much eďŹ&#x20AC;ort into developing blast-resistant roller shu er doors.

Figure 5 shows the mid-span peak transient deforma on, extracted from the simula ons. Both the blast test and the LS-Dyna model show negligible permanent deforma on of the roller shu er a er the blast event. There were also no penetra ons and perfora ons observed, indica ng that the roller shu er is s ll operable a er the event.

Figure 3a

Figure 3b

Figure 3: LS-DYNA model of blast-resistant roller shu er

DESIGN OF BLAST-RESISTANT ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS In the design phase, LS-DYNA was u lised as an op misa on tool for the design of the blast-resistant roller shu er doors and their guide rail systems. LS-DYNA is a general, high performance, mul -physics and finite element solver that is widely used, both in the civil and defence sectors. It has been used in applica ons such as blast loads on buildings and infrastructure, IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blasts on vehicles, penetra on mechanics etc, and has a vast library of empirical models for explosive loads. A er various design considera ons, two blast-resistant roller shu er systems were developed and field-tested to validate the LS-DYNA models. The blast loads used to impact the test specimen were based on actual project threat scenarios.

Figure 4a Figure 4: Test specimen post-test detona on.

Figure 5a

DESIGN A - SUITABLE FOR NEW INSTALLATIONS

Figure 5: Finite element modelling of blast-resistant roller shu er (Design A).

In this design, strengthening features were incorporated into a roller shu er, for it to resist blast loading, such that the roller shu er remains within its guide rails, even a er a blast. Figure 3 and Figure 4 show the 3D LS-DYNA model simula ng a blast-resistant roller shu er system. The actual roller shu er was set up in a reinforced concrete frame.

Figure 4b

Figure 5b Figure 4a

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DESIGN B - SUITABLE FOR RETROFITTING EXISTING DOOR UNITS For exis ng openings where it is not possible or economical to replace the exis ng unit with a new blast-resistant shu er door, a retrofit approach was adopted to enhance the protec on. In this approach, Prostruct’s in-house protec ve design is integrated with the exis ng unit (exis ng door or roller shu er door), in order to restrain the unit in its original posi on. Hence, the exis ng opening unit will not disintegrate into flying projec les that can enter the building, although it may fail due to the blast load. Figure 6 shows a normal roller shu er being set up in a blast test, with the blast-resistant design retrofi ed at the back.

Tes ng and model valida on A er the test detona on, some minor permanent deflecons were observed, but the roller shu er remained in its guide rail. It was established that the blast-resistant design was ac vated upon blast impact, to prevent derailing of the roller shu er door. Figure 7 shows post-test observa ons of the specimen.

SUMMARY In summary, the importance of protec ng building openings in a building under a blast threat is discussed. While blast doors are conven onal mi ga on solu ons, Prostruct’s in-house innova on efforts have shown that blast-resistant roller shu er doors could also be used to achieve a certain amount of the required protec on. They can par cularly be used in many exis ng commercial or industrial buildings, where roller shu ers are prevalent. REFERENCES [1] Ang C K, Lin Y, Goh Justus: ‘Protec ng Cri cal Infrastructure against Terrorist A acks’, ‘The Singapore Engineer’, April 2018. [2] Ministry of Home Affairs: ‘Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report 2017’, Press release, 1 June 2017. Retrieved from: h ps://www.mha.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/Singapore-Terrorism-Threat-Assessment-Report-2017.aspx [3] Ministry of Home Affairs: ‘Infrastructure Protec on Bill 2017’, Press release, 11 September 2017. Retrieved from: h ps://www.mha.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/Infrastructure-Protec on-Bill-2017.aspx

Figure 6a

[4] Zaihan Mohamed Yusof: ‘Industry welcomes new law to protect buildings against a acks’, The Straits Times, 5 October 2017. Retrieved from: h p://www.straits mes.com/singapore/ courts-crime/industry-welcomes-new-law-to-protect-buildingsagainst-a acks [5] Ministry of Home Aﬀairs: ‘Guidelines for Enhancing Building Security in Singapore’, 2018. [6] ASTM F2927: Standard Test Method for Door Systems Subject to Airblast Loadings. Retrieved from: h ps://www.astm. org/Standards/F2927.htm [7] Robert Smilowitz: ‘Designing Buildings To Resist Explosive Threats’, Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), 2016.

Figure 6b Figure 6: Blast-resistant roller shu er Design B 40

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Figure 7: Finite element modelling of blast-resistant roller shu er (Design B).

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

BEYOND SOFTWARE: ARE WE READY FOR CONSTRUCTION’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION? by Eugene Seah, Senior Director (Special Projects - GCEO’s Oﬃce), Surbana Jurong Transforming the construc on sector to take advantage of the opportuni es presented by digital technologies is a global challenge. Singapore has a vision to meet this challenge, but is the industry prepared for the scale of change required? Introduc on The use of digital technologies is transforming the global construc on industry. New data-led tools and processes are available, with the capacity to boost produc vity in design and construc on, and they are already enabling new levels of eﬃciency and collabora on across the supply chain. Singapore’s Building and Construc on Authority (BCA) is embracing this opportunity and responding to other global challenges such as climate change and rapid urbanisa on, with its recently launched Construc on Industry Transforma on Map (ITM). The inten on is to power Singapore’s construc on industry into the modern world, by suppor ng supply chain skills to underpin compe veness. The widespread use of Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD), as illustrated in Figure 2, is one of three key ini a ves driving the transforma on announced by BCA on 24 October 2017. IDD sits alongside the adop on of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) techniques and the development of Green Buildings, as key investments that the government hopes will radically change Singapore’s approach to construc on.

Figure 1: Digital technologies oﬀer several benefits.

Yet, this transforma on is a global challenge. As such, BCA’s ITM ini a ve looks to support exis ng homegrown design and management systems exper se and posi on Singapore’s industry such that it is ready to compete across other interna onal economies. Changes to the syllabus taught in Ins tutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), should see some 80,000 personnel trained to create a new na onal skill base, ready to tackle these cri cal global challenges.

Figure 2: Scope of Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD). Image by Building and Construc on Authority. 42

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CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Pu ng IDD at the heart of construc on

A new approach to design

IDD describes the use of digital technologies to integrate all processes and relevant ac vi es of stakeholders throughout the construc on lifecycle. It is a process which, using cloud-based technologies, enables a single, up-to-date source of project data, to be accessed by all.

The use of the powerful, shared modelling design and visualisa on technologies is the central benefit of IDD processes. They provide clients and developers with more op ons to interrogate and virtually ‘see’ finished designs, and provide designers with an excellent opportunity to showcase and contrast a range of design op ons and considera ons.

The adop on of Building Informa on Modelling (BIM) is the key to the success of IDD, enabling all par es and stakeholders to collaborate using advanced Informa on and Communica on Technology (ICT) and Smart Technologies. However, there are also many design and dimensional uses of digital technologies, and IDD encourages and enables informa on sharing, while also reducing the risk of error and duplica on. Technologies that underpin this delivery include: • The use of BIM and all its diﬀerent dimensions, such as 4D ( me and scheduling), 5D (cost management), 6D (asset management) and 7D (simula on). • Coupling peripheral technologies such as the use of drones for inspec ons. • The use of Virtual, Mixed, Immersive, and Augmented Reality for visualisa on. • The use of Computa onal Science to analyse data and op mise or even solve design challenges. The BCA’s ITM puts these technologies at the heart of construc on’s transforma on to deliver more sustainable design and construc on prac ces.

Making the case for digital change

Significantly, this ability to rapidly assess mul ple op ons across the design process, provides commercial opportuni es. In effect, the firm capable of designing and demonstra ng the best value solu ons, with the best op ons and designs, should be be er-posi oned to win the job. As a result, we also now see IDD, and in par cular, the use of 4D BIM (Figure 3) and 5D BIM, driving a new approach to design, in which construc on and constructability are kept top of mind. This so-called Construcon-Led-Design (CLD) boosts efficiency by integra ng the design and construc on processes, thereby enabling contractors to avoid redesigning of proposals to suit their specific methods or working preferences. Inevitably, the sector will shi more and more towards the CLD approach, as developers quickly realise that in a world of high land prices, that requires quick product-to market mes, such techniques will improve yield, rates of return and profitability. Embracing IDD processes should also underpin greater use of off-site fabrica on and DfMA principles (Figure 4), to create a win-win across construc on - from the client down through the supply chain. And from Singapore’s na onal economic perspec ve, this approach will improve produc vity as measured by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

One of the biggest global challenges facing the construcon sector, as it prepares for digital transforma on, is overcoming the inherent social resistance to the use of new technologies. In such an established and conserva ve sector, establishing a robust plan for change is essen al.

Unleashing the power of collabora on

The move away from 2D design to embrace technology started with 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD). More recently, the widespread adop on of BIM has caused a major shi in thinking, prac ce and process, across the sector.

Tradi onal contracts can be adversarial, se ng firms head-to-head, with clear winners and losers. In contrast, collabora ve contracts such as, for example, the New Engineering Contract, take a fairer approach; sharing informa on and working with a ‘blameless culture’.

The shi towards the use of centralised, cloud-based data storage as the founda on of IDD, presents new challenges for a sector used to working locally. It will require industry professionals to adopt an open mind and to thoroughly ques on what and how processes should be changed, to maximise poten al gains. Embracing this change should also include working to iden fy the poten al gaps in knowledge or any immediate prac cal issues that might arise from the use of a cloud-based system. Staﬀ will need to be trained to embrace this new world. Helping a genera on accustomed to exis ng technologies and processes will require focus, to steadily change their mind-set towards the use of new technologies and new ways of working. Awareness of the likely immediate impact on staﬀ mo va on is vital, along with establishment of a change management programme, designed to break down any barriers to adop on.

Singapore’s ITM vision also calls for greater collabora on across the construc on supply chain, in the way that contracts are set out. The use of IDD is central to delivering this vision.

The increased use of IDD in Singapore will inevitably accelerate the move towards more such collabora ve contracts. But it will also prompt new roles in the industry - roles that help facilitate collabora on and help to avoid and/or decide on disputes faster, so that the projects can move on. This change will require a new breed of professionals with facilita on and coaching skills, to help foster be er communica on between the project team members. These individuals will not only have to be proficient in contracts, media on and facilita on, but also have the technical skills to spot poten al issues early. The move to embrace digital technology will also change the way that construc on professionals interact, with oﬃce spaces changing to accommodate Teleconferencing and Virtual Reality workshops. Co-loca on will be commonplace in construc on teams and so-called WAR (Work Ac on Resolu on) rooms will enable geographically separated teams to collaborate and interact virtually. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

rooms. Each has its specific purpose, capital and operaonal cost, and maintenance regime, which need to be thoroughly understood. Similarly, there are also several types of collabora ve pla orms, with diﬀerent brands serving diﬀerent purposes. Choosing the wrong so ware can not only be costly but may also cause users to dislike the so ware, thereby taking them longer to embrace new work processes.

The need for educa on Greater use of digital technology in construc on has prompted a transforma on in the way professionals are educated and a change in the subjects taught at universies and technical colleges. Globally, it is vital that industry works closely with academia to set out the requirements of a modern construc on syllabus. Singapore’s IHLs are now adop ng a mix of academic and prac cal learning and they are increasingly seeking personnel from industry, to transfer their prac cal knowledge into educa on. There is also an increasing trend towards the crea on of corporate laboratories in schools, by private and public sector firms, in which academics and prac oners sit together, to resolve technical and management issues. Figure 3: 4D BIM model versus actual progress in the Wisteria Mall project, a mixed-use development at Yishun Avenue 4, Singapore.

However, as more and more of engineering design becomes computerised and modelled, there are growing calls from industry for IHLs to focus on the basics and ensure that the founda on is laid well. Without these basic skills, the use of IDD processes could propel the producon of poor or even ‘life-threatening’ designs.

Conclusion The use of IDD will see future designs op mised, with buildings hos ng a wide array of high-tech Internet-of-things (IoT) sensors and monitors, to improve building performance, boost the quality of life for occupants and aid Facili es Management. Yet, embracing the required change will not be straightforward for many in this tradi onal sector. Leadership is vital to embed new technologies into process management, and to encourage the adop on of new work prac ces and tools by staﬀ. Figure 4: Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) concept using Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construc on (PPVC).

Choosing the right hardware and so ware As the construc on sector embraces the new digital world, it becomes increasingly important that professionals understand and manage the impact of their so ware and hardware choices and the associated costs. The market for construc on-focused hardware and so ware has grown rapidly. For example, in the Virtual Reality field, there are already a mul tude of solu ons available, based around products such as the Microso HoloLens and HTC Vive headsets, and many other platforms exist to create bespoke immersive Virtual Reality 44

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To maximise the opportuni es that this change presents, industry must shape the sector, to capitalise on the digital journey. That means making investments not only in the vital hardware and so ware tools necessary to embrace a digital future, but also in the educa on required to provide professionals with the right skills. However, it is also clear that for construc on to embrace its digital future, educators cannot overlook the imparting of core engineering knowledge. While digital processes can certainly enhance design and communica on, there will s ll be a vital need for human par cipa on, leadership and engineering skills. (This ar cle is an edited version of an original ar cle co-wri en by Mr Eugene Seah and Surbana Jurong Academy. More informa on may be obtained by emailing Eugene.Seah@surbanajurong.com).

BUILDING MANAGEMENT

SMART CLEANING SOLUTION TO BE TESTED IN

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES Scrub 50, jointly developed by JTC, WIS Holdings (WIS), and Gaussian Robo cs, is said to be Singapore’s first fully autonomous cleaning soluon. Equipped with laser detectors, a 3D-depth camera and ultrasonic sensors, to provide truly autonomous cleaning capabili es, Scrub 50 can autonomously navigate to its docking sta on where it can automa cally be charged, discharge water used for cleaning, rinse its tank, and refill with fresh water. This not only greatly minimises the need for human interven on, it also allows the solu on to be seamlessly integrated into the cleaning workforce. Scrub 50 is said to represent the next genera on of cleaning robots. The facili es management industry today faces many challenges, such as manpower constraints, genera on cleaning robots not only means incorpora ng a focus on more sustainable opera ons, rising custhe latest in advanced sensor technology, it also takes tomer expecta ons and increased opera ng costs, among into account the opera onal requirements and diﬃculothers. To overcome these challenges, JTC started to transes faced by end-users such as JTC, as well as service form the way it manages buildings and estates, through a providers such as WIS Holdings”, said Mr Aloysius Chong, three-pronged approach that seeks to upskill manpower, Director, Gaussian Robo cs. leverage technology and streamline processes.

To con nue upholding building hygiene standards, in spite of a declining workforce, JTC collaborated with WIS and its technology partner, Gaussian Robo cs, to develop Scrub 50, though its second Open Innova on Call. Launched in 2016, the second JTC Open Innova on Call focused on sustainable and innova ve solu ons to enhance facili es management and maintenance, and improve occupants’ comfort level and experience. Besides improving manpower deployment, the smart cleaning solu on can also poten ally help building managers minimise the use of resources such as energy and water. The technology is currently test-bedded in JTC CleanTech One, located at CleanTech Park in Jurong Innova on District. CleanTech Park is Singapore’s first eco-business park and a living lab for industries to testbed and showcase innova ve and sustainable urban solu ons. “We are con nually on the lookout for more innova ve solu ons to help us manage our buildings and estates in a more efficient and sustainable manner. Facili es cleaning is very labour-intensive and tedious, but it is a key part of facili es management that directly impacts building occupants’ comfort. Together with WIS and Gaussian Robo cs, we are excited to not only see how the Scrub 50 can improve the efficiency of our facili es management opera ons, but also look at how it can free up the opera ons staff to focus on higher-value du es”, said Mr Mark Koh, Group Director, Facili es and Estate Management, JTC. “Scrub 50 was designed from the onset to break all barriers that current robots are limited by. Building the next

“Scrub 50 will no doubt provide a huge boost to our opera onal workflow, where we can now be er upgrade the skillsets of our 15,000-strong workforce globally, with cu ng-edge technology and change the way we perform our cleaning du es with technology-driven opera onal SOPs”, said Mr Kelvin Lee, Chief Commercial Oﬃcer, WIS Holdings.

JTC Set up in 1968, JTC is the lead government agency responsible for the planning and development of industrial infrastructure to support and catalyse the growth of industries and enterprises in Singapore.

WIS Holdings WIS Holdings Private Limited holds and manages a por olio of companies specialising in the provision of integrated services to clients from all sectors, including commercial, hospitality, healthcare, oil & gas and conservancy, among others. The company has more than 20 subsidiaries and branch oﬃces opera ng in 12 ci es, globally.

Gaussian Robo cs Since 2014, Gaussian Robo cs has been working with leading cleaning service providers and manufacturers, to successfully develop the ECOBOT series of autonomous cleaning machines. Incorpora ng design-thinking principles focused on produc vity and an intui ve user experience, Gaussian Robo cs has been well received globally, with successful deployment of products in places such as Australia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Qatar. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

IES UPDATE

IES REPUBLIC POLY STUDENT CHAPTER VISIT The IES-Republic Polytechnic Student Chapter visited the Ins tu on’s headquarters building at 70 Bukit Tinggi Road on 7 June 2018. The purpose of the visit was to enhance the student members’ awareness of IES as the na onal society of engineers, as well as providing with a case study of the applica on of sustainable engineering technology. Ms Agnes Ong, the Membership Manager, was on hand to give an overview on the Ins tu on, its mission, its strategic thrusts and future direc on. The students were also updated on the various exci ng ini a ves and upcoming ac vi es organised by other Student Chapters. This was followed by a tour of the building, which was conducted by Mr Ong Tiong Leng, the IT Manager. The students were shown the various features of the building, such as the bio-reten on basin for stormwater management (also known as the rain garden), the roo op solar farm, as well as the high-tech energy management system that the building used.

The RP students being introduced to the bio-reten on basin feature by Mr Ong.

Having understood what it took to make the building more environmentally sustainable, they gained a greater apprecia on of the IES Green Building’s BCA Green Mark Pla num ra ng, the highest ra ng for non-residen al buildings in Singapore in terms of environmental impact and performance, as well as the engineering considera ons that went into it. The students capped oﬀ their visit by touring the recently completed roo op garden, where they marvelled at the diﬀerent plants being grown there, such as the curry and chilli plants, as well as the basil herb. It was certainly a fun and insigh ul visit to IES HQ.

Having fun at the IES Roo op Garden

A group photo for posterity!

This ar cle was contributed by the IES-Republic Polytechnic Student Chapter. 46

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

IES UPDATE

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES FOR

ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS What makes a successful tech entrepreneur? Undying passion for the cause? Unshakeable faith and limitless perseverance? Killer sales pitching skills? Then-IES President Er. Edwin Khew shared his insights into some of these ques ons during the Engineering Networking Session that was held on 17 May 2018 at the A*STAR Science Café. Themed “Challenges of being a Tech Entrepreneur”, the event a racted about 50 A*STAR scien sts, researchers, engineers, as well as IES members. At the in mate, informal gathering, Er. Khew talked about his journey and the various circumstances and decisions he had to make before taking the plunge to be a technopreneur. He also shared the challenges and the risks he had taken in his career, which spanned over 40 years and saw him move from chemical engineer to tech entrepreneur. Queried about his successes and failures, he candidly oﬀered nuggets of wisdom from the lessons he learnt and reflected on what he would have done to be more successful or if he was given a second chance. Having witnessed the impact of science and engineering on society and the economy, Er. Khew was convinced that for those willing to take some calculated risk, the

poten al for success as a tech entrepreneur today is much be er than it was 40 years ago. He hoped that the event par cipants would be able to understand from his sharing and be encouraged to commit to the same path, with the knowledge that today’s technopreneurs have the benefit of mentors, leadership courses, government support, financial support from angel investors and venture funds, and the large number of IPs available for them to tap and be involved in a start-up. Moreover, IES has started its own incubator/accelerator to provide many of the benefits men oned above. He closed by encouraging poten al technopreneurs to act, since technology would certainly disrupt and change today’s norms. Becoming disruptors would enable one to resist the de and lead the wave of change. Apart from the “fireside chat”, the par cipants also had to group up to brainstorm solu ons to a real-life business problem statement provided by Er. Khew. It was an enjoyable networking session and relaxing evening, as everyone learned from each other amidst the good food, and music from a live band formed by some talented A*STAR personnel.

Er. Khew sharing his experiences with the event par cipants. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER July 2018

VIEWPOINT

TRANSLATING DEEP TECH IN SINGAPORE

FROM RESEARCH TO COMMERCIAL OUTCOMES Mr Fong Saik Hay, Chief Technology Oﬃcer, ST Engineering and President, ST Dynamics Before World Cup 2018 recedes into the deeper recesses of our consciousness, it is opportune to use soccer as an analogy to reflect on what it will take for Team Singapore to succeed. Team Singapore, comprising government agencies, institutes of higher learning (IHLs), research institutes (RIs) and industry partners, is currently enrolled in a “Game of Translation for Deep-Tech” – driving deep tech research towards commercial success. Members of Team Singapore are mostly well-funded and skilful. In fact, Singapore ranks fifth in the 2018 Global Innovation Index. However, as we witnessed in the World Cup, skilful teams such as Germany and Brazil did not necessarily emerge victorious. Our game plan, formulated by the Committee on the Future Economy and accompanied by the various Industry Transformation Maps, lays a very good foundation. To “score” better, it is imperative for Team Singapore to be flexible, leaning forward and reaching back, and be street smart in the field. In the context of R&D, the Holy Grail is commercial success. But how do we grow our soccer team’s “strikers” to achieve this? For deep tech to move from research to commercial output, it generally faces three obstacles: long time-to-market, high capital requirement and technical complexity. These can be challenging for start-ups to overcome, unless they are strongly backed. Even bigger SMEs and large local corporations will face trouble with bolting-on new deep tech. This is likely due to being fixated on their core businesses, a lack of technical and business expertise, or inadequate investment capacity. Team Singapore can lower its adoption risks by translating deep tech into a more commercial-ready stage in the RIs or IHLs. Integrated translation teams of engineers and scientists can be formed to achieve this outcome. In this way, clear market potential and full-scale development risk can be better assessed. Furthermore, newer fields such as quantum technologies, 2D materials, medtech and biotech may face difficulties in being adopted by local enterprises. In such an instance, a case can be made for a Venture Builder Platform (VBP) to nurture and grow new deep tech companies for Singapore, akin to training a new striker type. The VBP differs from existing investment funds in that it is active and assumes management control. With their deep capital and long-term outlook, VBPs can also aggregate talents, capabilities and start-ups on a portfolio basis for each deep tech class in order to accelerate scaling and sustainability. The ultimate goal of VBPs is to build new, deep tech companies anchored in Singapore, especially home-grown companies. In conclusion, Team Singapore has been investing heavily in R&D, and it is timely to anchor successful research outcomes here for a greater share of the returns. In addition to existing government schemes, Singapore can increase its success rate by working towards building deep tech to reach higher commercial readiness and setting up VBPs to facilitate this process. Team Singapore will need to shift beyond expecting industry partners to have their “skins in the game” or leaving it to market forces to drive action in translating deep tech to commercially-viable solutions and applications. Otherwise, it may risk leaving good R&D outcomes stranded on the shelf, unable to cross the valley of death and ending up being exploited elsewhere.

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