The Construction Industry in 2018: A Forecast A Fresh New Start For Engineers Tech Tech Skills Skills Every Every Millennial Millennial Engineer Engineer Should Should Know Know
The Latest Updates
66 Skills Skills That That Engineers Engineers Should Should Invest on Learning Invest on Learning
World World Cup Cup Stadium Stadium in in Qatar Qatar Will Will Be Be Built Built Using Using Reusable Reusable Shipping Shipping Containers Containers
Qualities Qualities Of Of An An Effective Effective Engineering Engineering Team Team
A A Multimillion Multimillion Dollar Dollar Skyscraper Skyscraper In San Francisco Is Sinking In San Francisco Is Sinking Fast Fast
Losing Losing Drive Drive In In Your Your Engineering Engineering Job? Job? Ask Ask Yourself Yourself These These Questions Questions
Where Where Is Is The The World’s World’s Longest Longest Pedestrian Pedestrian Suspension Suspension Bridge Bridge Located? Located?
How How Engineers Engineers Can Can Balance Balance Work Work With With Their Their Passions Passions
Researchers Researchers Have Have Invented Invented Earthquake-Resistant Earthquake-Resistant Concrete Concrete
Strategies Strategies For For Engineers Engineers Who Want To Gain Who Want To Gain New New Skills Skills
A A Famous Famous Engineering Engineering Firm Firm Wants Wants Food Food Wastes Wastes to to be be Used Used as as Construction Construction Materials Materials
JANUARY 2018 ISSUE NO. 010
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It’s a brand new year and we’re happy to say GineersNow has gone a long way since it was launched two years ago. From entertaining our readers with our featured stories to giving them the latest updates about several industry trailblazers, we have continued to gather important information to help every engineer who crosses our path. We have published several magazines earlier last year - focusing on five important industry fields such as renewables, HVACR, oil and gas, construction and power and water. On November, we’ve added a new magazine on our digital shelves - GineersNow: Social Impact Leaders, where we talk about several individuals and organizations who made an impact in their communities. We have also launched GineersNow Community where engineers can write their own stories and share important details about their work, their inventions and their ideas.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Now, as we start a brand new year, we are looking forward to bring you more exciting stories, more featured articles and more important news that create an impact on our communities wherever we are in the world. This month, read the forecast on the construction industry this 2018! Learn the latest trends in construction and find out what construction experts and analysts are saying about this year’s construction technology and infrastructure spending. Keep up with the latest updates on the industry as well. Find out how the World Cup Stadium in Qatar will be built using reusable shipping containers. Learn why a multimillion dollar skyscraper in San Francisco is sinking fast. Get acquainted with the world’s largest pedestrian suspension bridge and read more about the earthquake-resistant concrete researchers have recently invented. Lastly, find out why a famous engineering firm wants food wastes to be used as construction materials. In this issue, we also haven’t forgotten to include special articles to help engineers create a fresh new start for themselves. Whether you want to go the extra mile to be better at what you do at work or you just want to find a way to balance your work with your passions, we’ve got you covered. Learn important tech skills and find out what qualities your team must have to become an effective group. If you’re an engineer who wants to gain new skills, learn more about these strategies to help you achieve that goal. We have also prepared questions you need to ask yourself as a form of self-assessment if you’re losing the drive to pursue your career goals. For every engineer who is going through their own challenges at work, we have stories for each one of you. Our company still has a long way to go before we become the most preferred source of news and featured stories for engineers but we’re slowly starting to leave a mark in the engineering industry. So go ahead, scroll through our pages and learn the latest news, find out more about this year’s trends and get inspired with our featured articles. Start the year right with GineersNow: Construction Leaders.
Engr. Alice Hernandez Senior Editor-at-Large
Contents World Cup Stadium in Qatar Will Be Built Using Reusable Shipping Containers
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How Engineers Can Balance Work With Their Passions
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This Multimillion Dollar Skyscraper In San Francisco Is Sinking Fast
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Strategies For Engineers Who Want To Gain New Skills
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Researchers Have Invented EarthquakeResistant Concrete
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Tech Skills Every Millennial Engineer Should Know
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Dubai’s 55,000 New Homes To Push The $17.7bln GCC Interior Fit-Out Sector As DIFAC Kicks Off With Latest Technologies Bahrain’s Alba Is The First Aluminium Smelter To Use The GE 9HA GT
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A Famous Engineering Firm Wants Food Wastes 17 to be Used as Construction Materials 6 Skills That Engineers Should Invest on Learning
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“ESMA” Launches An Interactive Platform To Introduce UAE Standards And Regulations For The Construction Sector
DAMAC Properties Launches Sahara Villas To Pay Tribute To Rich Heritage of Region
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The Construction Industry in 2018: A Forecast
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Qualities Of An Effective Engineering Team
22
This is the World’s Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
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Losing Drive In Your Engineering Job? Ask Yourself These Questions
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Cladtech International Awarded Contract To 46 Manufacture And Install Facades For Jeddah’s Sail Tower Megaproject
World Cup Stadium in Qatar Will Be Built Using Reusable Shipping Containers Qatar has revealed their plans to construct a 40,000 seat modular arena for the 2020 FIFA World Cup. Qatar has revealed their plans to construct a 40,000 seat modular arena for the 2020 FIFA World Cup. The arena is designed by Fenwick Iribarren Architects. This massive circular structure, like all other arenas, will include 10
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seats, bathroom, concession stands and shops. What makes this arena special is that all of the previously mentioned will be housed in shipping containers which fit within a steel frame.
The arena design will be modular which means that the whole area can be quickly disassembled and reassembled at a new site after the event. Which could mean that it could have new configurations, or maintain the same layout. It is also a greener and more efficient construction process than conventional stadiums. The components are to be shipped to a nearby port and will then be assembled on site at the Doha waterfront over a period of three years. The modular structure will be needing a few additional materials and will generate relatively little waste as it is being built. The creators believe that
this could earn a four star Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) certification. H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy for the World Cup, said “This venue offers the perfect legacy, capable of being reassembled in a new location in its entirety or built into numerous small sports and cultural venues. All of this in a stadium that delivers the atmosphere fans expect at a World Cup and which we will build in a more sustainable way than ever before.I’m delighted with this design and confident that Ras Abu Aboud will become a blueprint for future megaevent planners to follow.” Construction Leaders
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This Multimillion Dollar Skyscraper In San Francisco Is Sinking Fast Engineers are currently working to find the right solution to save the condos inside the massive building that is sinking over 17 inches already. In the South of Market district in downtown San Francisco, USA, stands the Millennium Tower. It is a high-rise luxury residential complex that stands at 645 ft and is considered as the fourthtallest skyscraper in the city. It contains over 400 multimillion-dollar condo units. Unfortunately, the massive skyscraper is rapidly sinking, and the engineers are still working on finding the solution to solve the problem. Since the skyscraper has been finished, the structure has sunk 17 inches and tilted 14 inches toward the street.
The building was completed in 2008, and has featured luxury amenities like a wine cellar and tasting room, top restaurants, a movie theater, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center. According to the San Francisco Chronicle in 2007, during the opening of the Millennium Tower, it has sold $100 million worth of condos in just five weeks. The units prices ranged from $1.6 million to over $10 million. The grand penthouse of the building was sold for $9.4 million. Unfortunately, the average multimillion-dollar condo has now lost its value by an average of $320,000 per unit.
Millennium Partners, the company who developed the skyscraper, blames the nearby construction which is the Transbay Transit Center, a transportation hub with broke ground in 2010. A terminal that was developed by Transbay Joint Powers Authority included a 60-foot hole for the train tunnel. According to the Millennium Partners’ engineers, the main issue was that the new terminal removed too much groundwater while building the tunnel. Transbay Joint Powers Authority on the other hand, released a statement saying that their company isn’t to blame. The transportation company blames the Millennium Tower’s use of concrete for construction instead of steel which is the reason for the base shifting. The company also said the faulty foundation started moving shortly after it opened in 2008.
According to Transbay, “The net pressure of the Millennium Tower loads the Old Bay Clay stratum that lies 90 feet below ground level below the tips of the piles used to support the 10-foot thick mat foundation of the Tower,” “These pressures are much larger than those caused by any adjacent buildings and likely caused the Old Bay Clay to enter a highly sensitive under consolidated state. This load has contributed to the excessive settlement at the Millennium Tower prior to the start of any underground construction of the Transit Center and has reduced the capability of the Tower to withstand any reduction in water table, regardless of the cause of that reduction in water table.” To be able to repair the foundation, engineering firms in the area has estimated that the cost would be around $100 million to $150 million.
Researchers Have Invented EarthquakeResistant Concrete The material has been engineered at the molecular scale for it to be strong, malleable and ductile just like steel. Researchers from the University of British Columbia have created a new seismic-resistant, fibre-reinforced concrete. This new concrete will be applied as part of the seismic retrofit of an elementary school at Vancouver. The researchers called the material eco-friendly ductile cementitious composite (EDCC). The material has been engineered at the molecular scale for it to be strong, malleable and ductile just like steel which is capable of enhancing 14
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its resistance to earthquakes of a seismically vulnerable structure when it is applied as a thin coating on the surfaces. The material was subject to earthquake simulation tests using intensities as high as the magnitude 9.0-9.1 earthquake that struck Tohoku, Japan in the year 2011. “We sprayed a number of walls with a 10 millimetre-thick layer of EDCC, which is sufficient
to reinforce most interior walls against seismic shocks,” PhD candidate in the department of civil engineering at UBC, Salman SoleimaniDashtaki said. “Then we subjected them to Tohoku-level quakes and other types and intensities of earthquakes—and we couldn’t break them.”
dynamic, modern B.C. economy that benefits all of us.” EDCC combines cement with flyash, polymerbased fibers as well as other industrial additives. According to University of British Columbia civil engineering professor Nemy Banthia, who supervised
EDCC has been added as an official retrofit option British Columbia’s seismic retrofit program. The research teal will be working with contractors in the next few months to upgrade Dr. Annie B. Jamieson Elementary School in Vancouver.
EDCC combines cement with polymer-based fibres, flyash and other industrial additives, making it highly sustainable, according to UBC civil engineering professor Nemy Banthia, who supervised the work. “By replacing nearly 70 per cent of cement with flyash, an industrial byproduct, we can reduce the amount of cement used,” said Banthia. “This is quite an urgent requirement as one tonne of cement production releases almost a tonne of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and the cement industry produces close to seven per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.”
According to Advanced Education, Skills and Training Minister Melanie Mark. “This UBCdeveloped technology has far-reaching impact and could save the lives of not only British Columbians, but citizens throughout the world. The earthquake-resistant concrete is a great example of how applied research at our public universities is developing the next generation of agents of change. The innovation and entrepreneurship being advanced at all of our post-secondary institutions is leading to cuttingedge technologies and helping to create a
EDCC can also be applied in pipelines, pavements, blast-resistant structures, as well as industrial floors.
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Tech Skills Every Millennial Engineer Should Know Knowing how to use technology is one thing, but learning how to use them efficiently is another. Other than the good old hard drives, there are already cloud systems that can back up your data for you. Just make sure to encrypt them with a strong password, especially if they contain important documents.
Know how to install an antivirus programs
Knowing how to use technology is one thing, but learning how to use them efficiently is another. For many, these skills may seem easy, but believe me there are a lot who lack them and as a result, they lose productivity at work. If you’re part of the latter group, then do your best to improve yourself. Here are the four main tech skills every millennial engineer should know.
Use the search engine in an advanced way While almost everyone knows how to search what they need in a search engine, it may be a good tip to learn how to use it in a more advanced way. Add quotation marks and the boolean operators OR, AND, and NOT. This will help you save a lot of time as well as remove the unwanted results from the beginning. Also make sure that as you scan through the search results, that you know how to distinguish a reliable resource from a bad one.
Back up your data Prevention is better than cure. You won’t know when your computer decides to crash or gets stolen. That is why it is important to back up all of your important files, photos or documents. 16
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This skill is essential since you need to protect your computer from external attacks to be able to protect your data. As our world is getting more and more advanced in digital technology, it gets even harder to protect our privacy. That’s why we need to learn how to install and update our antivirus programs for our computers to be safe from anything malicious.
Access your office from anywhere If you’re an engineer who works remotely, then good for you, you have your work wherever you go. But if you work in an office and need to travel on a business trip, or need to work from home, it’s important that you can access all of your work files remotely from any location. Most offices nowadays have a virtual network where their employees can connect to wherever they are on the grid.
A Famous Engineering Firm Wants Food Wastes to be Used as Construction Materials Arup is after a circular economy.
About 60 million tons of food end up in the trash, which is about half of all the food produced in the world. Instead of letting this number to grow, London-based engineering firm Arup thought of a solution: make use of these food wastes as construction materials. The company is after a circular economy, or “a continual feedback loop that aims to recycle as much as possible, throw away as little as possible, and use as few raw resources as possible.” In a report called The Urban Bio Loop, the company said that the buildings of the future will be made from pineapples, potatoes, mushrooms, corn, oranges, bananas, and more. “It is well known that the so-called ‘business as usual’ scenario does not represent a viable option for a sustainable future and that different development models have to be identified for our society to continue growing and prospering in the future,” Arup writes in its report. “The construction industry must reflect this
urgency of change–probably more than others. In fact, it is still permeated by a number of detrimental factors such as the use of high impact materials, non-reversible building solutions, lowefficiency processes and manufacturing.” Part of Arup’s advocacy is to lessen the construction wastes that they make. In the United States, the construction industry accounts for an estimated 39 percent of CO2 emissions and 534 million tons of waste. This is largely due to the linear economy, which is based on “take, make, waste” model, with little to no regard in recycling. The plans of Arup to use waste food in the construction industry in the future are not so far-fetched. Today, there are already food-based materials being experimented and even used for construction like bricks made from mushrooms by MoMA; boards made from corn cobs by Wood K Plus; Enviroboard’s walls made from compressed wheat; Organoid’s acoustic panels from a blend of seeds, stalks, and leaves; and boards from sunflower crops by Materia, among others.
6 Skills That Engineers Should Invest on Learning They might be soft skills, but they pay off forever. n college, engineering students are trained to be technically proficient so they can do their respective jobs later on and build a career on them. Rarely do engineering schools train the students on soft skills, or those which do not require formal technical training, as such can only be learned through work experience and exposure to organizations. This is why on their first jobs, engineers should have a mindset that it is not only the technical or engineering stuff that needs to be focused on. The soft skills are just as important, even if they are difficult to learn. Here are seven of those skills which might be quite challenging to learn but definitely worthy as they pay off forever: 18
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Knowing when to shut up To make suggestions and give comments is one thing, to talk mindlessly or without consideration is another. While it feels good to say what you want to say, engineers should also learn that not all receiving ends appreciate honest talks. Be mindful about the consequences of your words because it could create conflicts in your workplace.
Being emotionally intelligent We could never emphasize more how important emotional intelligence is for engineers. Perhaps equally important as the intelligence quotient, EQ affects how you manage behavior, navigate social
complexities and make personal decisions in and out of your job. The core of this skill is being able to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships.
Managing time It is important for engineers to be productive, deliver results, and beat deadlines. And the best way to do that is if you are able to manage your time effectively. Which tasks are the least and most important? Being able to prioritize is also a skill.
no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression. This is considered a skill since it is often difficult to say no, especially to a higherup.
Getting high-quality sleep Even in college, engineering students do not get enough sleep. Bad news is that it carries over in the workplace, making it indeed a skill for engineers. Enough rest is required for engineers to perform peak performance at work. This is backed by science.
Saying no
Staying positive
An engineer who is a yes man or a woman can have its consequences. For one, studies show that the more difficult you have saying
Engineering is difficult work. Tough times bring out the worst in you, so it pays to keep that mindset of staying positive and motivated.
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DAMAC Properties Launches Sahara Villas To Pay Tribute To Rich Heritage of Region DAMAC Properties, a leading luxury real estate developer in the region, announces the launch of Sahara Villas, within an international golf community and at the heart of Dubailand. Sahara Villas will go on sale on Saturday, 9 December, from 10am till 8pm across DAMAC’s sales offices including Park Towers, Ocean Heights, DAMAC Hills and Manara (SZR) Sales Offices. Units are attractively priced to start at AED 999,999, with a four-year payment plan. In celebration of UAE National Day, DAMAC is offering an exclusive five percent discount on the sale price, valid from now until December 9. Commenting on the new launch Niall McLoughlin, Senior Vice President, DAMAC Properties said: “Sahara Villas feature spacious living areas ideal for families of all sizes, with three and four-bedroom configurations in a variety of floor
plans to suit the needs of investors and endusers. The floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms ensure a year-round abundance of natural light and provide all-encompassing views of the golf course.” “This National Day we are also pleased to offer investors a special discount which is our way of saying thank you. At such competitive pricing, investors will be able to acquire a luxurious villa in a pristine setting and unmatched location, with the added-value of living in a golf community and enjoying the lifestyle benefits that it offers.” Set within AKOYA Oxygen, Sahara villas will also have access to the many amenities on offer in the master development including nature-inspired facilities, gourmet fare, retail boutiques, its own rainforest and an 18-hole international golf club.
Qualities Of An Effective Engineering Team Here are some tips for maximum productivity as a team What makes the perfect engineering team? While there isn’t such a thing as perfect, but we can try to be as close to it as possible. Strong engineering teams are the foundation of high-performing companies. If employees don’t cooperate and don’t work well with each other, many problems can happen like poor organization, missed deadlines, blaming and conflict in the workplace. So here are some qualities that can help you ensure that you and your teammates can have maximum productivity during your work as a team.
Effective Communication Don’t forget that communication is a two-way
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process. If you are more of a speaker, learn to listen. In contrast, if you are more of a listener, learn to speak up as well. When you are in a team, being able to communicate openly is the first step to effective communication. Share your thoughts, opinions and ideas with all the members of the team. Effective communication is needed to be able to keep track of progress and work together efficiently.
Focus On Goals And Results Effective teams set team goals based on outcomes and results, not just on the amount of work being done. A straightforward plan ca then be set on how the team is going to achieve their objectives, as a group and as an individual contribution.
Delegation and Contribution Each member is delegated a certain task, and in turn each member gives their contribution based on their task delegation. Good teamwork means every member contributes their fair share of workload and they fully understand what their responsibilities are. They know that their presence and work is necessary for the team to be successful.
They Offer Each Other Support Team members are ready to
assist their teammates when they need a helping hand with work.
Good Leadership Every effective team has a leader that they trust and respect. This person serves as a glue that holds the team together and is responsible for setting the pace, offers encouragement and motivation, and makes sure all members of the team are updated.
makes sure that their own tasks are organized, and the leader makes sure that everything is organized in an overall level.
Fun All work and no play? No way! This can lead to team burnout, lack of productivity, and loss of motivation from the whole team. That’s why it’s important to add some enjoyment. Effective teams get together outside of the office sometimes to socialize and have some fun.
Organized Organization is important for any project to run smoothly. Each member of the team Construction Leaders
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Losing Drive In Your Engineering Job? Ask Yourself These Questions Re-ignite your drive to push yourself forward or make a change?
There will be a point in our careers when we will need to stop and think about where we are, where we have been, why we are still here, and what lies ahead of us. It’s that point in time where you’re going to decide whether you need to reignite your drive to push yourself forward in your current career, or you need to make a change and find a new path. So what do we do when we get to this point in our careers? One of my mentors in the past taught me to ask myself a set of questions that I should ask myself every 6 months or whenever 24
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I’m starting to ponder about my love for my career.
#1 Am I Continuously learning? Learning isn’t confined in the four corners of a classroom. One way to know if your career is healthy is when you know that your are continuously learning. Are you gaining new skills? Are you encouraged to attend seminars? Are you finding ways to improve your work? Or are you learning new things at work, but feel dissatisfied and want to learn something that is more
and passion in our work. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to find a new job ASAP. It may mean you just need a breather like a vacation. Maybe you need a fresh project to work on, whether it’s a project at your company, or a personal project at home.
#5 Am I happy?
challenging? It’s important to know whether you are learning new things at your current career and if what you are learning is sufficient enough to make you a better professional.
#2 Am I growing? In any career, not just in engineering, career growth is one of the most important aspects that should be checked every now and then. Is the path clear for you to be able to get to the next level at your company? Are you being trained for leadership roles? Do you see a different department where you could use your skills more? Take note of the path you are taking. We all have different ways to interpret growth. There are people who see growth as climbing up the career ladder and become a boss or manager in their company, while there are others who want to find growth elsewhere– such as a different department or a different company or field.
#3 Is respect present? Never settle in a company that makes you feel degraded and unappreciated. Always choose to be in an organization where your opinion matters.
#4 Am I doing my best? There will be occasions wherein we will lose our drive
There is no perfect job. Even your dream job will have it’s consequences and difficulties, as a matter of fact, ALL jobs have their difficulties. That’s why, it’s always better to choose a job that is close to your passions. It will definitely have difficulties along the way, but all your hard work will be worth it because you know you’re working for what you love. It’s difficult to have a definite yes to all these questions, but if you have answered “no” to most of them, then it may be time to ponder if you need to take a new direction in your career.
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How Engineers Can Balance Work With Their Passions While we love our jobs as engineers, we also have other passions that we want to give some of our time to.
A lot of people have different passions that aren’t related to their professions, such as art, dance, photography, music, etc. In an ideal world, our professional jobs and our passions would be one and the same. However, while we love our jobs as engineers, we also have other passions that we want to give some of our time to, and the problem lies there. Working full time as an engineer while trying to give time for your passions can be difficult to balance. So here are some tips on how you can balance work with your passions.
Be Strict With Your Schedule If you really want to balance your work and passion and you’re the type of person just chooses to “go with the flow”, then this is the time you should be strict with your schedule. The best way to balance any activity is to practice disciple. Make sure you set a time every week for finishing work (including a leeway for emergency overtime), so that you also have time for your passion.
Start A Bit At A Time Having a jam packed week of full time work and 26
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your passion activity can really take its toll on you. So start slow. Schedule your passion activity only once a week for the first month, and slowly increase the frequency of your passion activities as time goes by. By doing so, you would lessen the possibility of physical and mental burnout.
Choose A Day Off You should have a day in the week wherein you will neither work nor do your passions. This will be your day for ultimate relaxation, pampering, resting, and recharging for the next week to come. While this is not entirely possible because of the demanding day jobs, do your best to schedule some days in a month for this.
Count Your Hours of Sleep No matter what your work and passion schedule is, always make sure you have enough sleep–that is 6-8 hours. Remember, if you are not able to recharge your body, you won’t be able to function properly throughout the next day. Prioritize your body, it will thank you.
Strategies For Engineers Who Want To Gain New Skills They say to be able to excel in your career, it’s important to pick up new skills that can help you grow professionally.
They say to be able to excel in your career, it’s important to pick up new skills that can help you grow professionally. However, not many of us know where to start, so here are some strategies that can help you learn new skills.
Memory Tricks Engineers are naturally talented when it comes to creating memory tricks, it’s a skill we’ve all nurtured since engineering school. Use this skill when you are learning a new skill at work as well.
Accept Both Sides of The Coin When you are learning something new, it’s important to remember that you will need to accept not only the good sides of learning, but the bad sides as well. You will need to accept failure. You will need to be willing to have some sleepless nights. You will need to accept that it’s not going to be fast and easy. You will need to be resilient.
Practice This is where many people give up. Constant practice can be difficult, but it is needed for you to develop your new skill. There will be other people who are more talented than you are, and will be able to master the same skill in a shorter period, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep up with them. Run your own race and concentrate on your progress instead of other people’s. Soon, you’ll be able to master your new skill.
Find a Mentor One of the best ways to master a new skill is to find a mentor who can show you the ropes. It’s always better to have a mentor than learn it yourself because you will be able to learn the skill more than just its theory. You will also be able to learn the skill through your mentor’s experiences. These tips can also be applied in skills other than for professional purposes. Hopefully, these tips will be able to help you learn and master your chosen skill quickly. Construction Leaders
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Dubai’s 55,000 New Homes To Push The $17.7bln GCC Interior Fit-Out Sector As DIFAC Kicks Off With Latest Technologies The addition of 55,000 new housing units in Dubai in 2017-18 will boost the region’s US$17.7 billion fit-out sector as thousands of families move into their freehold homes that require furniture, household items as well as interior décor products.
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A total of 25,000 residential units are expected to be delivered in Dubai this year and a further 30,000 in 2018, according to Jones Lang LaSalle, a global real estate advisory. Dubai will see a further 163,840 properties being built over the next five years from 387 projects.
The year after could see 19,850 units and 17,754 further homes in 2020. So far in 2017, Dubai has seen the launch of 90 projects consisting of 36,556 units According to Ventures Middle East research, interior-based design and fit-out spend in the GCC has risen from $15.5 billion in 2016 to $17.7 billion this year. The sector will also benefit from a larger construction project pipeline to the tune of US$2.4 trillion (Dh8.8 trillion) at a time hundreds of exhibitors from all over the world showcase the latest products and innovation at the Dubai International Furniture Accessories Components, Semi-Furnished Products (DIFAC) exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre from March 12-14, 2018. The exhibition showcases innovative furniture technologies, products and brands. At display by the global players of the furniture industry, it gives the visitors a chance to educate themselves about the latest products in surfaces and fittings, elements and systems, semi-finished products and materials, furniture fabrics and upholstery materials. In order to capture the market, more than 300 exhibitors from 100 countries are all set to showcase their innovative solutions at the next edition of DIFAC Show in 2018, running in conjunction with Dubai WoodShow, which will showcase new designs, style and product innovation on managing home space in an innovative ways. Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO, Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, organiser of the DIFAC, says, “As the economic growth accelerates with an increase in oil price, we see a strong growth in the region’s furnishing, accessories, components, interior fit-out, home furnishing, home textile sectors, especially when home buyers move into their new homes, they are expected to spend
more on decorating their homes to suite their tastes. “DIFAC provides a wonderful opportunity for the industry and other stakeholders to showcase the best on offer in the market.” Shezawi says, the growth of the furniture and interior fit-out industry will also be driven by innovation and creativity and the greater comfort and convenience provide by the manufacturers to the home owners. “Smart furniture or space-saving furniture that helps families to save space would be in high demand in the years to come, or foldable or wall-mounted beds that could be tucked on to the wall during the daytime and released through a lever to be used as a bed at night, offer greater convenience and extra space within a small budget home,” he added. In addition to the residential sector, Dubai will add 40,000 hotel rooms and service apartments to meet the growing demand of tourists as part of the build-up to the Expo 2020, which is less than three years away. Dubai currently has 100,000 hotel rooms and service apartments. By October 2020, the emirate will host 140,000 hotel rooms and service apartments. “Hotels and hospitality assets are also customising their interior décor based on customer choice and trends. While some opt for traditional look and feel, others are looking at young and trendy as well as green products to make hotels more environmentfriendly,” Shezawi says. “Hotel operators also look for wall paintings, stuffs like flower vases and fresh flowers, small water fountains and water features to offer freshness within the four walls. Customer tastes will also create a demand for new products in these sectors.”
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January 2018
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Alba’s Chairman of Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa and Board Directors -- Dr. Mohamed Kameshki, Mr. Yaser E. Humaidan and Ahmed Mohammad A. Al Jabr with officials from Alba, GE and GAMA during the ceremony held today, 28 November 2017, to celebrate the successful installation of the first H-class General Electric (GE) 9HA Gas Turbine (GT) at Power Station (PS) 5.
Bahrain’s Alba Is The First Aluminium Smelter To Use The GE 9HA GT 32
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January 2018
Alba has become the first aluminium smelter in the world to use the largest and most efficient gas turbine produced by GE. Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), homebase of the Line 6 Expansion Project, set the benchmark for sustainable power generation with the successful installation of the first H-class General Electric (GE) 9HA Gas Turbine (GT) at its Power Station (PS) 5. With this, Alba has become the first aluminium smelter in the world to use the largest and most efficient gas turbine produced by GE. A ceremony was held to celebrate this occasion today, 28 November 2017 under the Patronage of Alba’s Chairman of Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa and was attended by Alba Board Directors -- Dr. Mohamed Kameshki and Mr. Yaser E. Humaidan from Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and Ahmed Mohammad A. Al Jabr from Sabic Industrial Investments Co. Alba’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali, Chief Power Officer Amin Sultan, Alba Executive Management along with senior officials from GE Power: the President & CEO Power Services, MEA Joseph Anis; the President & CEO Gas Power Systems Sales, MENA Ghassan Barghout; the President & CEO Gas Power Systems Projects, MENA & India Mohammad Ali and the Global Projects Leader, Gas Power Systems Manuel Valverde as well as the CEO of GAMA Ahmet Ligvani were amongst the key attendees at this ceremony. Speaking on this occasion, Alba’s Chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa said: “Line 6 Expansion Project is our pride. This Project will be transformational as it will raise the bar for sustainability in the global aluminium industry by using cutting-edge technology, both for Potline 6 and the Power Expansion Project.
The successful installation of the GE 9HA GT is a significant milestone for Alba and underlines our commitment to environment preservation and sustainable development. We thank GE-GAMA Consortium for their continuous support and look forward to successfully achieving all milestones together as per schedule. I thank Alba Executives for their support, and especially Amin Sultan and the PS 5 team for their diligent efforts towards this landmark achievement.” During the ceremony, Joseph Anis presented a token of appreciation to Alba Chairman to mark this significant occasion. President & CEO of GE’s Power Services Business in MEA, Joseph Anis added: “GE has supported Alba’s vision of growth and operational excellence since the 1970s when we first supplied Frame 5 units for Power Stations 1 and 2. Today, it is our honor to equip and set-up Power Station 5 for Alba in collaboration with GAMA. We are particularly excited that GE’s HA gas turbine technology, which has set industry efficiency benchmarks in the conversion of fuel to electricity, will help Alba’s Power Station 5 become one of the most efficient combined cycle power plants in the Gulf region. As Alba continues its mission to position itself as a leading global smelter, GE remains committed to supporting this journey.” Alba’s PS 5 is a 1,792 megawatts (MW) Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant with an efficiency of 54%. GE and GAMA Consortium is the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor PS 5 wherein GE will provide three 9HA gas turbines, three steam turbines and three high recovery steam generators (HRSGs) for PS 5.
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“ESMA” Launches An Interactive Platform To Introduce UAE Standards And Regulations For The Construction Sector 34
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January 2018
quality of life and sustainability in the UAE society. The platform presents the most important specifications and technical regulations related to the construction sector and buildings through the classification of assets and buildings in two phases. Eng. Essa Al Hashemi, Director of conformity affairs, said. The first phase is relates to the buildings under construction and includes the technical specifications, whether at the level of building materials, storage and use of materials, and the standards to be implemented during the construction phase, ensuring the labors safety & personal protective equipment on the site. He added. The second one, includes the awareness of individuals and institutions, about the management of assets and buildings after construction, through comprehensive information related to the provision of appropriate environment, which corresponds to the legislative and legal requirements and technical standards and directions of the government strategy for the sustainability of buildings.
The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) has launched an interactive platform for the public and business institutions, to raise awareness of asset management in buildings, In order to improve the concepts of
As well as measuring and reviewing building performance indicators that contribute to the development of plans to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the building, reduce risks, and focus on the life cycle of the building in general. He said.
Arabic & English, to ensure that all necessary standards & regulations are clearly identified, allowing the public to identify materials, tools, equipment needed for a period before construction, then in the construction phase, and finally the post-construction and sustainability considerations. The list of options in the “interactive platform” includes an explanation of more than 12 UAE technical regulations and issued by “ESMA”, which contains data for Emirati systems in renewable energy products, water fixtures, Escalators & travellators, lighting products, paints and varnishes, LPG cylinders, cables and wires, trailers and semitrailers, personal protective equipment and safety and occupational health equipment for employment in the sector. It allows the audience of visitors at the “Big 5 exhibition” to be able to identify UAE technical regulations that help the business sector and enhance the quality concepts in the UAE community by looking at the registration of products and systems in the specifications. Al Hashemi added. The general public, can get more information by going to the ESMA stand at the Big 5 events, experimenting with the interactive platform themselves, learning about UAE regulations, Protect them from hazards and raise efficiency indicators in equipment and materials, in a way that enhances safety and standards in the community and enhances the capacity of the national economy.
ESMA has launched the design of the interactive platform, in Construction Leaders
January 2018
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The Construction Industry in 2018: A Forecast 2017 marked a great year for the construction industry as two factors have drastically improved: technology and infrastructure spending. Construction experts and analysts see that 2018 will be no different, and the two will continue to soar.
integration of mobile and cloud applications are changing the way engineers work in construction sites. More 3D printing, drone usage, and selfdriving vehicles are seen to flourish next year, to add to the expansion of virtual and augmented reality and automation in the field.
Trends in Construction
More importantly, construction companies are incorporating sustainability in their engineering solutions and building methods. This is a hot
Gradually, technological advancements like the 36
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January 2018
topic of discussion over the recent years, and 2018 marks a critical year for this sector to cooperate. For this, we should expect more green buildings. Another thing to look out for in 2018 is the increase in modular and prefabrication construction projects. With on-site construction being a lot more expensive and time consuming, this construction option will become a lot more attractive to builders and contractors. The Construction Sector by the Numbers The global construction industry in 2017 was expected to remain slow from 2.4% in 2016, according to a report called Global Construction Outlook 2021 by Market Research Hub. In the next five years, the sector’s growth will be averaging at 2.8%. The same report indicated that the global construction output reached US$8.8 trillion in 2016 up from US$7.9 trillion in 2012 and will stand at US$10.1 trillion in 2021. China, Japan, and India remain to be large construction markets, allowing the Asia-Pacific region to have the largest share of the global construction industry. The United States has overlapped China at the top spot, while the United Arab Emirates still an active construction market with significant construction growth. For United States construction starts for 2018, the growth is expected to climb 3% to $765 billion as reported in the 2018 Dodge Construction Outlook, a mainstay in construction industry forecasting and business planning. “The U.S. construction industry has moved into a mature stage of expansion,” stated Robert Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics, North America’s leading provider of analytics and software-based workflow integration solutions for the construction industry. “After rising 11% to 13% per year from 2012 through 2015, total construction starts
advanced a more subdued 5% in 2016,” the analyst said. “An important question entering 2017 was whether the construction industry had the potential for further expansion.” He went on to say that total construction starts in 2017 are estimated to climb 4% to $746 billion. “For 2018, there are several positive factors which suggest that the construction expansion has further room to proceed,” Murray added.
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“The U.S. economy next year is anticipated to see moderate job growth. Long term interest rates may see some upward movement but not substantially. While market fundamentals for commercial real estate won’t be quite as strong as this year, funding support for construction will continue to come from state and local bond measures. Two areas of uncertainty relate to whether tax reform and a federal infrastructure program get passed, with their potential to lift investment.
“Overall, the year 2018 is likely to show some construction project types register gains while other project types settle back, with the end result being a 3% increase for total construction starts. By major sector, gains are predicted for residential building, up 4%; and nonresidential building, up 2%;
while nonbuilding construction stabilizes after two years of decline.� Meanwhile, ConstructConnect, a collaborative network providing complete, accurate, and actionable preconstruction data, believes that construction starts forecast for 2018 is a 4.8%
increase to $773.1 billion. Their forecast for construction starts in 2017 is a 7.9% growth over 2016 to $737.8 billion. Other than the United States, the Gulf Cooperation Council, composed of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Construction Leaders
January 2018
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Oman, is also on the construction market map. It has exhibited growth in 2017, recording a 30% rise in its year-to-date performance. A study by MENA Research Partner indicated that projects worth $130 billion have so far been completed in the region, $30 billion more compared to $100 billion for the whole of 2016, despite headwinds that extended from low oil prices to budget adjustments in many GCC countries. It noted that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia account for 70% of the value of active projects. A top official at Khansaheb Civil Engineering sees that the construction in the UAE will have its awaited growth moment in 2018, expected during the four to five months before the summer. Abdulrahman Khansaheb, director of the company, believes the flood of new projects will start hitting the UAE construction sector that time. “We all know the end date (in 2020) — the volume of work is there and orders will start flowing,” he said. “This year, we were all expecting orders to flow through more smoothly. That didn’t happen — in fact, 2015 and 2016 had much better project flow. “This year, everybody were reevaluating their projects … how to get more for their buck. The crunch period will be before next summer,” he added. The construction industry in all countries can only hope that 2018 will be a progressive year.
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January 2018
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January 2018
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This is the World’s Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
Remember that glass-bottomed suspension bridge completed last year in China? That was the longest pedestrian suspension bridge, spanning 430 meters traversing the vast Zhangjiajie Canyon in Hunan province. It has a 300 meters drop beneath it.
It offers incredible views of the Swiss Alps.
But that bridge doesn’t hold the record anymore after a much longer one opened this year. In July 29, the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, also called as Europabrücke (Europe Bridge), has been opened to the public in Switzerland. Spanning a record-breaking 494 meters long, it runs 86 meters above the ground at its highest point in the Swiss Alps near the village of Randa. The steel bridge connects Grächen and Zermatt on the Europaweg foot trail. Making this suspension bridge took the engineers Swissrope and Lauber cableways just 10 weeks to erect. The world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge runs between 1,600 and 2,200 meters above sea level. It is only 65 centimeters wide, taking 10 minutes to cross – but could be longer if you decide to take pictures along the way. And why not? It offers incredible views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn, and the Bernese Alps in the distance. The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, which was named after its chief sponsor who is a psychologist and co-owner of a Swiss winery, serves as a replacement to a previous bridge which was damaged by rock falls. Without the bridge, people have to go through a difficult hike which lasts for three to four hours, said Edith Zweifel, a spokesperson for the travel board. Because of its height over a valley, the office of tourism in Zermatt recommended that those with a strong feat of heights should not even attempt to cross the bridge. At least you have been warned.
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January 2018
Under the Patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces
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Cladtech International Awarded Contract To Manufacture And Install Facades For Jeddah’s Sail Tower Megaproject
Al Rajhi Building Solutions Group, announced that Cladtech International LLC (CTI), a civil engineering and construction company, awarded a contract from Al Saad General Contracting Company for the manufacture and installation of curtain wall facades for ‘Sail Tower’ megaproject in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The Tower covers the construction of a 60-storey tower that will contain a 242 luxury hotel rooms; 104 serviced apartments and parking spaces for 600 cars. Dr. Khalid Al Rajhi, Chairman, Al Rajhi Building Solutions Group, said, “Cladtech International is highly regarded as one of the region’s leading curtain wall experts and a world class manufacturer of aluminum and glass facades and curtain walls. We are proud to be part of this mega project, which will play a key role in the efforts to enhance Jeddah’s business and investment environment. This contract win also demonstrates our commitment towards fostering strategic partnerships with companies like Al Saad General Contracting Company--wishing them continued success as we move forward in the completion of this project.” 46
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January 2018
Meanwhile, Eng. Ahmed Al Bassam, CEO, Al Rajhi Building Solutions Group, noted, “Our partnership with Al Saad General Contracting Company reflects our continuing efforts to provide world class construction solutions across some of today’s leading mega projects. We remain confident that the facades to be constructed and installed by Cladtech International will add high aesthetic value to the Sail Tower as it stands majestically overlooking the Red Sea.” Eng. Essam Qoronfel, Chairman, Al Saad General Contracting Company, expressed his confidence in the newly formed partnership with the Al Rajhi Building Solutions Group. He explained that the contract was awarded to Cladtech International because of its leading reputation as a highly distinguished curtain wall expert firm. In line with the high number of mega projects currently ongoing in the KSA and the rest of the GCC region, Cladtech International has revealed its move to play a key role across these super construction undertakings, which in turn, will lead to more success and growth in the rapidly thriving construction segment.