Waterproofing Ingenuity

BRIGGSAMASCO DISPLAYS WATERPROOFING INGENUITY IN MULTI-APPLICATION AT BATTERSEA POWER STATION
BriggsAmasco delivered a huge, multiple-application waterproofing programme as part of a stunning regeneration of London’s landmark Battersea Power Station. Phase Two of the multimillion-pound project – one of the largest urban regenerations of its type in Europe – includes more than 250 residential apartments, approximately 100 new retail, food and drink outlets, a 2,000-capacity events venue and 500,000ft2 of new office space.

Appointed by Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) and MACE, BriggsAmasco’s ingenuity and skills were crucial to ensuring three key elements of the project’s second phase were supplied with a watertight solution that excelled in terms of workmanship and sustainability.

Main Energy Centre 
The power station’s main energy centre is pivotal to the Battersea Power Station development’s heating and cooling provision; hence a high-grade waterproofing system was essential to safeguarding its below ground service equipment. For BriggsAmasco, this meant designing and installing a solution with sufficient durability to withstand heavy motorised traffic. Rather than use traditional tarmac or concrete – which at approximately 150mm-thick was deemed too dense for the task – BriggsAmasco specified an IKO Permatec system. To protect this initial waterproofing layer, a 40mm-thick IKO Permapark mastic asphalt system was installed. To ensure the mastic asphalt – a 100% CO2 neutral solution – was laid to the correct tolerance and at rapid speed, it was installed using BriggsAmasco’s state-of-the-art asphalt finishing machine. The combination of asphalt over the primary waterproofing was an industry-first. It meant the below ground waterproofing’s protection layer could remain in-situ, thus saving removal and recycling costs, and the environmental impact.

Grade II-listed chimneys
BriggsAmasco developed a system to re-waterproof the station’s landmark white chimneys, which were taken down and rebuilt in identical fashion. Environmental concerns meant the company specified IKO Permaphalt, rather than lead, for the task. This certified carbon-neutral product is the same waterproofing solution originally applied to the four chimneys, with the addition of advanced polymers to increase its performance. The material was applied to the chimneys’ base at a 20mm thickness across a 750m2 area in an application involving new and traditional installation techniques. BriggsAmasco exceeded its project remit by designing a mastic asphalt solution to waterproof and line a Peregrine Falcon’s nest, providing the resident birds with a 1m x 1m2 permanent home within the chimneys. The product was used as it is rot and vermin-resistant, as well as being waterproof and non-toxic.

Terrace waterproofing 
In collaboration with the insulation manufacturers, BriggsAmasco devised a super-slim PIR/VIP panel to ensure a series of apartment terraces within the revamped power station achieved the required thermal requirements. In each case the waterproofing required minimal build-up to optimise floor-to-ceiling heights, hence the insulation needed to compensate its slim composition by demonstrating superb thermal performance. The resulting system achieved a lambda value of 0.006 W/mK, eliminating the risk of cold-bridging for the long-term protection of the apartments. The panels were installed by BriggsAmasco as part of a waterproofing build-up finished with IKO’s GoldSeal Built-up Felt Roofing.

These large, complex elements of the programme saw up to 70 full-time BriggsAmasco operatives – which ranged from a specialist mastic asphalt installation team to a host of designers and project planners – install 45,000m2 of waterproofing and insulation.

Additional sustainable features innovated by BriggsAmasco as part of Battersea Power Station’s redevelopment included the company’s design, commissioning and installation of a series of sun tubes. The 8m x 1.2m stainless steel units will introduce natural daylight to significantly boost the low-carbon credentials of the receiving retail outlets. Overall, a further 8000m2 of IKO Permatec waterproofing was installed using our own fleet of zero-emission plant. IKO Enertherm inverted insulation and sedum green roofs, were installed by BriggsAmasco across the project.

BriggsAmasco completed further detailing in the form of lead flashings and cappings, which were installed to the main power station building and apartment terraces. The waterproofing programme’s carbon-friendly aspect was bolstered by the use of locally-sourced products, 99.9% of which were manufactured in the UK.

Onsite training/development 
As a company revered for its nurture of industry trainees, BriggsAmasco sponsored 20 operatives whilst they studied for NVQ qualification during the Battersea Power Station regeneration, all of whom successfully achieved NVQ 2 / 3. Their knowledge was bolstered, particularly in relation to safety, building standards, emergency response and management, by working full-time on site during the three-year, Phase Two project.

The success of this frontline learning process was typified by the experience of one BriggsAmasco trainee, who joined as a graduate then via spells as an administrator and planner, progressed to Battersea Power Station development project manager whilst she earned an amazing NVQ7. A further four, full-time staff also achieved this level during the project.

Doug McWhinney BSc FRICS, Senior Commercial Director at Battersea Power Station, said: “BriggsAmasco displayed ingenuity, workmanship and professionalism throughout this incredibly large, complex project. Their operatives went above and beyond to ensure each roofing application was completed on time and to the highest specification despite having to overcome a number of challenges including Covid-19 restrictions and mid-project design changes. They were a pleasure to work alongside and we thank them very much for their performance on the Battersea Power Station programme.”

The Battersea Power Station development brought all of BriggsAmasco’s well-renowned roofing skills to the fore. Logistically and technically, this huge project was the very definition of a specialist roof waterproofing application.

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Chameleon-like Smart Material

A new chameleon-like building material can change its colour – and how much heat it absorbs or emits – based on the outside temperature, its creators have said.

Designed to provide a low-energy way of maintaining building temperature, the material was developed by researchers at the University of Chicago in the US.  On hot days, the material can emit up to 92% of the infrared heat it contains, helping cool the inside of a building. On colder days it emits just 7%, helping keep a building warm.

 

“We’ve essentially figured out a low-energy way to treat a building like a person – you add a layer when you’re cold and take off a layer when you’re hot,” said assistant professor Po-Chun Hsu, who led the research. “This kind of smart material lets us maintain the temperature in a building without huge amounts of energy.”

 

According to some estimates, buildings account for 30% of global energy consumption and emit 10% of all global greenhouse gas, the researchers said. About half of that energy footprint is attributed to the heating and cooling of interior spaces.

 

“For a long time, most of us have taken our indoor temperature control for granted, without thinking about how much energy it requires,” said Hsu. “If we want a carbon-negative future, I think we have to consider diverse ways to control building temperature in a more energy-efficient way.”

 

Researchers have previously developed radiative cooling materials that help keep buildings cool by boosting their ability to emit infrared, which radiates heat from people and objects. Materials also exist to prevent the emission of infrared in cold climates.

As global warming causes increasingly frequent extreme weather events and variable weather, buildings need to be able to adapt – few climates require year-round heating or year-round air conditioning.

Hsu and colleagues designed a non-flammable electrochromic building material that contains a layer that can switch between two ‘conformations’: solid copper, which retains most infrared heat, and a watery solution, which emits infrared. At any chosen trigger temperature, the device can use a tiny amount of electricity to induce the chemical shift between the states by either depositing copper into a thin film, or stripping that copper off.

In a new research paper, the team detailed how the device can switch rapidly and reversibly between the metal and liquid states. The ability to switch between the two conformations reportedly remained efficient after 1,800 cycles.

The researchers also created models of how the material could cut energy costs in typical buildings in 15 different US cities. In an average commercial building, they found that the electricity used to induce electrochromic changes in the material would be less than 0.2% of the total electricity usage of the building, but could save 8.4% of the building’s annual HVAC energy consumption.

 

“Once you switch between states, you don’t need to apply any more energy to stay in either state,” said Hsu. “So for buildings where you don’t need to switch between these states very frequently, it’s really using a very negligible amount of electricity.”

 

So far, Hsu’s group has only created 6cm-wide pieces of the material. “Many such patches of the material could be assembled like shingles into larger sheets,” the research announcement said. “The material could also be tweaked to use different, custom colours – the watery phase is transparent, and nearly any colour can be put behind it without impacting its ability to absorb infrared.”

The team is now investigating different ways of fabricating the material, and studying if intermediate states could be useful.

Source: Institute of Mechanical Engineers

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Cornish firm helps to deliver the UK’s first space launch facility

MWJV, a Cornish construction services consultancy, has been supporting the build of Spaceport Cornwall, which launched its first mission on Monday 9 January.

The company has been managing the construction of the spaceport facilities at Cornwall Airport Newquay, which first began in January 2022. Spaceport Cornwall is the first place in the UK to offer space launch capabilities.

Roger Hannaford, Financial Director at MWJV, said: “We’ve been working closely with Spaceport Cornwall and the contractors to ensure the project is delivered on time, on budget and to the highest possible standard. Our work has included project management, quantity surveying, health & safety management and the appointment of a NEC Supervisor.

“Working on Spaceport has been a fantastic opportunity and we’re now looking forward to finalising the project and celebrating its many future successful launches. It’s great to see such an innovative and nationally significant project come to life here in Cornwall.”

The spaceport project includes the construction of two new buildings and supporting infrastructure. The Space Systems Integration Facility (SSIF) was completed in September and is now occupied by one of Spaceport Cornwall’s customers, Virgin Orbit. The SSIF is where the rockets are assembled and includes a large cleanroom, crane, and airlock for satellite integration activities, as well as welfare facilities, meeting rooms, and a large final assembly area.

The second building, the Space Systems Operations Facility (SSOF), will be multi-purpose and is where on-site mission control will be based. The SSOF is currently being fitted out and is set to be completed by the end of March.

Construction has been carried out by two main contractors, each with a supply chain of subcontractors. The principal contractors are Kier, which has led the general construction, and specialist firm Bassaire, which has headed up the cleanroom elements.

MWJV Senior Project Manager Phil Knight said: “The project has been an interesting challenge for us to manage the delivery of the construction phase in readiness for Spaceport Cornwall’s first customer. The project has involved a complex supply chain comprising a multitude of specialist contractors required for the Space Systems Integration Facility fit out and supporting infrastructure.”

The project also involves the installation of specialist equipment, including a shipping container-sized frequency converter, groundworks for access and car parking, and a rooftop solar array to help meet the building’s sustainability requirements for its BREEAM certification.

 

Commenting, Ross Hulbert, Business Development Manager at Spaceport Cornwall said: “MWJV provided an excellent service in managing the delivery of these complex buildings. These facilities are key to attracting a sustainable space industry cluster on-site, bringing jobs and building local skills. We are also excited that we are providing great opportunities for local businesses, like MWJV, to expand their capabilities into the space industry.”

The spaceport is the first of its kind in the UK, allowing for horizontal launches of satellites with a modified Boeing 747 and detachable wing-mounted rocket. Previously, satellite manufacturers had to take their products to other countries for launch.

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NEW UK WIDE STANDARD FOR MMC

Boost for modern homebuilding as government launches work with industry to set UK-wide standard

 

  • Government will work with British Standards Institution to develop a new standard for homes built using modern methods of construction
  • The new standard will reduce costs and enable the industry to grow
  • New industry working groups to advise the government, ahead of a full consultation later this year 

 

More high quality new-build homes will be delivered through modern homebuilding, as the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities today (24 January) announced it has commissioned a new UK-wide standard for Modern Methods of Construction that will boost the sector.

Modern Methods of Construction are used by many homebuilders to deliver energy efficient homes more quickly, reducing waste while also creating a wider range of jobs in the construction sector.

The government has commissioned the British Standards Institution to develop a universally recognised standard for homes built using Modern Methods of Construction. This will reduce costs and allow more people to benefit from the technology – delivering more homes across the country and helping thousands of young people and families onto the housing ladder.

This week, industry representatives will come together for the first in a series of working groups to inform the new guidance and share best practise for using Modern Methods of Construction in areas such as manufacturing, logistics, design, and assembly of homes.

The move forms part of the government’s ambition to boost innovation in homebuilding and deliver more quality, future-proofed homes that communities across the country need.

 

The Housing Minister Lucy Frazer said:

“We want to help homebuilding step into the future. This means embracing the latest technology to deliver more high quality, energy efficient homes for generations to come.

“Our work with the British Standards Institution and the wider industry will help to do just that – allowing more homebuilders to take up modern methods of construction, creating new jobs and homes across the country”

 

 

Anthony Burd, Head of Built Environment at British Standards Institution Knowledge Solutions said:

“The British Standards Institution looks forward to working with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and industry on this hugely important standard. As society’s needs change and in light of the role all of us have to play on the road to Net Zero, improving levels of building safety and ensuring better design – Modern Methods of Construction will be key to meeting these future challenges.

“The standard will provide essential requirements and guidance for best practice in the residential building sector and much needed assurance for the growing off-site sector.”

 

The government will also be inviting key stakeholders to specialist advisory groups, before launching a consultation on the proposals later this year.

The new requirements will be introduced by the British Standards Institution via a Publicly Available Specification. This specification will set out the recommended technical standards when building homes using a range of Modern Methods of Construction categories, as well as defining quality assurance and compliance processes for the sector.

A universally recognised standard will help increase choice and access to product warranties, insurance and mortgages – reducing costs for homebuilders and consumers when using Modern Methods of Construction. The changes aim to encourage greater adoption of Modern Methods of Construction, by levelling the playing field with traditional homebuilding.

 

Further Information:

  • The British Standard Institution will run working groups with 30 industry stakeholders to begin the process of developing the Publicly Available Specification for Modern Methods of Construction homebuilding. The first three working groups will run on 24, 25 and 31 January.
  • The government will also run specialist advisory groups with key stakeholders as part of this process.
  • A wider range of stakeholders will then be invited to comment on the Publicly Available Specification during a formal consultation process later this year.
  • More information on Modern Methods of Construction is available in the definition framework here.

 

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‘HIGHLY ENERGY EFFICIENT’ HOMES

KINGDOM Housing Association has announced it has acquired eight ‘highly energy-efficient’ homes for mid-market rent in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, from Scotia Homes.

The two and three-bedroom properties are Kingdom’s first mid-market rent homes in the Blairgowrie area and will be let and managed by Kingdom Initiatives.

The £1.5 million project is part of the larger private Hazelwood site and has been part- funded by the Scottish Government with a contribution from Perth & Kinross Council. The remaining balance has been financed by Kingdom Housing Association.

Bill Banks, Kingdom Group chief executive, said, “The new homes at Hazelwood mark Kingdom’s first mid-market rent offering in the area and have been completed to an extremely high standard. Modern methods of construction mean these homes are highly energy-efficient and the inclusion of solar panels means tenants will be able to make the most of renewable energy. The homes also benefit from fast fibre internet connectivity which is ideal for home working.

“Kingdom has a great track record of collaborative working and through our partnership with Perth & Kinross Council and Scotia Homes, Kingdom Initiatives is able to offer these new homes to help meet current housing needs in the area. Demand for the properties was very high with around 130 people enquiring about the eight homes.”

Councillor Tom McEwan, Perth & Kinross Council’s housing and social wellbeing convener, added, “These excellent mid-market homes for social rent will help to meet a particular housing need in Blairgowrie. They have been built to an extremely high-standard, with a range of energy-efficiency measures included to help keep tenants’ energy bills down and reduce the carbon footprint of the development. I am delighted that the council was able to make a significant contribution towards the cost of the homes.”

Lesley Lindsay, development lead from Scotia Homes, commented, “Scotia Homes are delighted to deliver Kingdom Housing Association with eight high-quality homes. Our on-going development at Hazelwood, Blairgowrie gives us great pride, and the delivery of multi-tenure homes helps to further enrich the development. Kingdom Housing Association have been a delight to work with, and we look forward to further building our relationship with them.”

Source: Project Scotland

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COLLEGES ADOPT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

UK colleges are increasingly incorporating drones into their curriculums – and are turning to heliguy™ for consultancy, supply, and training. Find out how Oldham College and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are introducing drones to help students working towards qualifications such as T Levels and HTQs.

  • Rising number of UK colleges are incorporating drones into their curriculums – and turning to heliguy™ for consultancy, supply/support, and training;
  • Drones are being integrated into a range of syllabuses to help students work towards qualifications such as T Levels and HTQs; 
  • Find out how and why Oldham College and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have introduced drones into their teaching provision, and how heliguy™ is supporting them;
  • Oldham College is using drones within its new T Level Construction curriculum, and will also introduce UAS as part of its HTQ construction qualifications and the Introduction to Modern Methods of Surveying course;
  • SRUC is utilising drones to bolster its course delivery of Forestry and Arboriculture, and Agriculture – with qualification levels including Certificate, Advanced Certificate, HNC, and HND;
  • heliguy™ has a track record of working with the education sector, supporting universities such as Cranfield, Cambridge, and University College London (UCL).

UK colleges are increasingly incorporating drones into their curriculums, recognising the technology’s value to real-world applications and helping to prepare students for a digital future.

With UAS playing an ever more important role in the world of work, drones are fast-becoming an integral component within higher and further education, as colleges aim to bolster career development pathways, provide authentic learning experiences, and cultivate skills in industries where drones are driving accurate, efficient, and safe data collection.

As such, a rising number of colleges are seeking drone supply, support and training from heliguy™, who has a track record of working with the education sector, including universities such as UCL, Cranfield, Nottingham, Cambridge, Newcastle, and Stirling, to facilitate ground-breaking research.

heliguy™ is helping colleges integrate the technology and associated workflows into courses such as construction, forestry, and agriculture – for students working towards a range of qualifications, including T Levels and HTQs (Higher Technical Qualifications).

This blog will focus on two colleges: Oldham College and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) – highlighting why they are incorporating drones into their curriculums, and how heliguy™ is supporting them.

Oldham College Introduces Drones For T Level Construction Course

Oldham College – which offers an extensive range of technical and professional qualifications – is a recent adopter of drones, having purchased the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and DJI Mini 3 Pro, as well as the Emlid RS2+ GNSS receiver, from heliguy™.

 


As part of the offering, drones will be used within the new T Level Construction curriculum: A sector that is increasingly benefiting from the deployment of UAS.

T Levels are two-year courses which are taken after GCSEs and are broadly equivalent in size to three A-Levels. They are developed in collaboration with employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship, or related technical study through further or higher education.

 

Tom Leahy, Oldham College’s Head of Department for Building Services Engineering, said: “Drone technology sits within the Building Technology Principles topic and will be used on our T Level provision, which includes Design, Surveying and Planning – where drones will be used throughout the full course – and Building Services Engineering, where they will be used during the core year.

“Learners are required to understand the benefits of using technologies from other industries and how the construction industry is incorporating these technologies, such as drones.

“The course content will cover surveying using drones and how they can be used for construction – including thermal imaging – as well as site security, site inspections, and virtual walkarounds.”

Oldham College will also introduce drones as part of its HTQ construction qualifications and the soon-to-be-launched Introduction to Modern Methods of Surveying.

 

As well as drone hardware supply and support, the staffing team at Oldham will benefit from heliguy™ training, including dedicated surveying tuition from the in-house GIS team, and the Ofqual-regulated TQUK Level 4 drone pilot training course – an advanced version of the GVC (General Visual Line of Sight Certificate) – delivered by heliguy™’s training instructors.

 

Tom said: “We chose heliguy™ due to their experience with drone technology and wide range of testimonies.

“The service provided gives us the technology, and more importantly, the continuing professional development required for all of our delivery staff.

“It is very important that all our staff are fully up-to-date with industry developments and current methods used within the construction industry. Staff also need to be confident in the delivery of drone technology, so using a reputable company like heliguy™ that can provide the drones and the required training, is essential.”

SRUC Adopts Drones For Agriculture And Forestry

SRUC is Scotland’s national provider of college and university-level education in the land-based sector.

The institution has turned to heliguy™ for the DJI M300 RTK drone and L1 LiDAR and photogrammetry sensor; the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced; and the Phantom 4 Multispectral, to bolster its course delivery of Forestry and Arboriculture, and Agriculture – with qualification levels including Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

 

 

Lecturer Philip Sage, who specialises in land management, forestry and land-based engineering, said it was vital that students were au fait with drone technology, given its ever-increasing role in forestry management, monitoring tree health and characteristics, and capturing precise and accurate spatial data.

He said: “Drones have become an everyday bit of kit within the sector, and more and more students are asking about using drones as a tool for forestry and ag-tech.

“So we have decided to introduce them as part of our courses to help students feel comfortable around them and understand how to maximise their capabilities within the industry and properly analyse the data they collect. For example, the image below shows a point cloud of our walled garden and orchard.

 

“Using drones in this way helps to prepare the students for the real-world application of drones in forestry and agriculture – whether it is conducting mapping for land management, using multispectral drones for managing crops and monitoring their health or efficient nutrient applications, or utilising thermal cameras for deer surveys.”

The drones will also be used for SRUC’s research and survey work.

“Drones are a great enabler for conducting scientific research – feeding into work addressing health and productivity in animals, animal welfare and crops; and wildlife conservation, promoting low carbon farming and increasing farm output through efficiency and innovation,” said Philip.

One such project includes a joint initiative with Forest Land Scotland to assist a study into the management of individual ash trees affected by ash dieback.

Philip added: “This research will provide the students with an opportunity to see the drones being used on a real-world project and show how UAS can make a difference. For example, the thermal drone image below is of an ash stand which was taken to assess the extent of ash dieback.”

 

 

To provide the students with comprehensive tuition, SRUC’s six-strong forestry staffing team has completed the UK CAA-approved A2 CofC drone training course through heliguy™.

Philip has also undergone dedicated surveying training – including RTK and PPK, and LiDAR data capture and processing – delivered by heliguy™’s surveying specialists, as well as heliguy™’s Ofqual-regulated Level 4 Drone Training Course, which includes the completion of workbook assessments.

 

He said: “It was important to complete the Level 4 course, as well as the specialist surveying course, as it adds credibility, deepens understanding, and widens knowledge about surveying workflows, which in turn benefits our students and enables us to pass on more information to raise the standard.

“heliguy™ was recommended to me: We have received really good support and have benefited from a two-way service, where their consultants have worked with us to provide the best drone solutions tailored to our course requirements. The training has also been excellent.”

Summary

Drones have become an essential tool for a range of industry verticals, so it is no surprise that more and more colleges are starting to introduce the technology into their educational provision. In doing so, they are laying the foundations to provide students with the skills required for a modern-day working environment.

Having played a leading role within the drone sector for almost 20 years, heliguy™ has witnessed the evolution of UAS as commercial tools and understands the value of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning and how drone adoption can pave the way for enhanced opportunities and employment credentials.

As such, heliguy™ takes pride in supporting educational establishments and is committed to help colleges, schools, and universities integrate the technology into curriculums to facilitate the development of an innovative and tech-savvy workforce of the future.

Richard Dunlop, part of the heliguy™ surveying team, said: “Aerial drone surveying is embedded into a number of industries, and it has a growing role in AEC, forestry and agriculture.

“It has been a pleasure working alongside Oldham College and SRUC with our drone technology and training, and it is great to see educational bodies opening themselves up to the benefits of drone surveying, showing them how drones can be used to complement and elevate existing workflows. “heliguy™ looks forward to supporting education and the new T Level courses with a variety of courses planned for the year ahead.”

 

Source:

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UNIVERSITY LEADS THE WAY WITH ‘ROBOT DOG’ INVESTMENT

The School of Civil Engineering and the Built Environment, at Liverpool John Moores University, leads the way with ‘robot dog’ investment.

LJMU is the first university in Europe to acquire Spot and the 3D Laser Scanner with software as a package and plans to use its £150k investment for teaching and research.

 

Engineers at LJMU have gone out and bought a dog!

 

It’s four-legged and likes a little walk but ‘Spot’ won’t be barking or looking for cuddles because it’s a robot dog designed for all terrains and ideal for construction and civil engineering surveys.

‘Spot’ is prepped with a Trimble 3D Laser Scanner at the BuildingPoint UK and Ireland Service Centre

Supplied and adapted by BuildingPoint UK and Ireland (the construction arm of Liverpool based mapping and surveying equipment specialists, KOREC), the robot dog has been developed by American robotics company, Boston Dynamics, in conjunction with Trimble who are the manufacturers of Spot’s 3D Laser Scanner payload. The end result is an agile, fully autonomous, four-legged robot that can be used to enter buildings which are unsafe for humans or to survey building projects as they progress.

The robot dog can either undertake fully autonomous pre-programmed missions or can even be operated remotely and controlled off-site. Both options will ensure that Spot is a perfect fit for survey requirements in hazardous conditions or for carrying out repetitive survey tasks, freeing up a skilled surveyor to work elsewhere.

 

Sam Hough, BuildingPoint UK and Ireland Business Manager, said:

“LJMU is really at the forefront of what is happening within the construction industry which is currently undergoing a digital revolution. Not only is Spot an important addition to construction sites from a health and safety perspective, but also a significant reminder that if the construction industry is to overcome a skills and labour shortage, then this is just the sort of technology to attract a new, motivated generation of engineering surveyors.

Spot is presently active on several construction sites following investment by major construction companies so for LJMU to already be preparing the next generation of engineers in this way will be of considerable importance for the industry as a whole.”

 

Dr Fiona Borthwick, Interim Subject Head of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, said: “We’ve been excited about Spot for a very long time, so we’re pleased that we now have our robot dog up and running. It’s a great plus for our students that they will be familiar with this technology before they go full-time into the industry, and we look forward to further exploring Spot’s capabilities and options for different payloads.”

KOREC GROUP

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£1b Offshore Energy Windfall Should be used for the ‘Wider Public Good’ in Wales

Plaid Cymru has renewed calls for the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales, following the Estate’s confirmation of six new offshore wind energy lease agreements, worth an estimated £1 billion.

In response to the bonanza, announced on 19 January, the King had asked for profits from the new leases to be used for the “wider public good” rather than as a funding boost for the monarchy.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “In view of the offshore energy windfall, the Keeper of the Privy Purse has written to the Prime Minister and Chancellor to share the King’s wish that this windfall be directed for wider public good, rather than to the Sovereign Grant, through an appropriate reduction in the proportion of Crown Estate surplus that funds the Sovereign Grant.”

Welsh communities

Ms Saville Roberts has long called for profits from renewable energy generation off the Welsh coastline to be reinvested into the communities of Wales rather than to go to the UK Treasury.

Plaid Cymru has also pressed for the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales, as has been the case in Scotland since 2017.

In a letter to Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, Ms Saville Roberts said that given the King’s support for profits to be directed for the “wider public good”, and that environmental matters and natural resources are devolved matters, that the Palace should consider directing the money to the people of Wales, via the Welsh Government, rather than to the UK Treasury.

In her letter, the MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd writes: “In light of the offshore energy windfall from which the Crown Estate will benefit in coming years, I understand that the King has indicated his preference for the percentage of the Sovereign Grant to be reduced so that more of the Crown Estate’s profits can be ‘directed for wider public good’.

“This comes following the news that the Crown Estate has signed leasing agreements for six offshore wind projects which together will result in revenue of close to £1bn for the Crown Estate every year. One of the six projects will be located off the North Wales coast, reminding us of the historic opportunity offshore wind represents for the Welsh economy.

“As I understand, the Crown Estate is also developing plans to lease further areas of the seabed in the Celtic Sea to floating offshore wind developers.

“As you may be aware, management of the Crown Estate in Wales is reserved to Westminster, while in Scotland management of the Crown Estate has been devolved to Scottish Government since 2017.

“There is growing support in Wales for Welsh Government to receive the same powers as Scotland so that the people of Wales are able to benefit directly from the economic opportunities presented by the potential for renewable energy production on land held by the Crown Estate.

“My Private Member’s Bill, the Crown Estate (Devolution to Wales) Bill, received cross-party support in the 2021-22 parliamentary session. Given that environmental matters and natural resources are devolved to the Senedd, we believe that profits from renewable energy generation should be reinvested into the communities of Wales – not to Treasury coffers.

“I would urge you to explore further the devolution of powers over the Crown Estate in Wales to Welsh Government, in particular with your fellow Royal Trustees; and ask that this matter is raised in any further communication with the Treasury regarding the Sovereign Grant.”

Millions

It is not clear as to the exact amount of taxpayer funding the King has passed up and asked to be used for public good, but it is likely to be many millions.

The Crown Estate – an ancient portfolio of land and property – belongs to the reigning monarch ‘in right of The Crown’ but it is not their private property.

The monarch surrenders the revenue from the Estate – more than £312 million a year – to the Treasury each year for the benefit of the nation’s finances, in exchange for the Sovereign Grant which covers the running costs of the royal household and events such as official receptions, investitures and garden parties.

The Grant goes up if Crown Estate profits increase, but it does not fall when they decrease.

The capital value of the portfolio is more than £15 billion.

 

Source: Nation-Cymru

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£60m A Drop in the Ocean

In response to the announcement that £60m will be made available to revive brownfield sites, Mark Powell, managing director of EDAROTH – a wholly owned subsidiary of Atkins – said: “Any investment in housing is a positive move. But looking at the scale of the problem across the UK today, this is barely a drop in the ocean, especially compared to the £1.6bn spent on temporary accommodation from 2021 to 2022, according to government’s own figures.

“There are currently in excess of one million households on social housing waiting lists across England, so an extra 5,800 homes by 2027 as quoted in the statement is in no way adequate. And it is a long way short of widely accepted estimates that we need to build at least 90,000 new social homes per year.

“It’s a challenge that requires a proportionate response. However the recognition that brownfield sites have a role to play in the solution is welcome, as we have been calling for, and integral to that development is the use of modern methods of construction.

“In addition to traditional methods, MMC represents a very real opportunity to accelerate the delivery of new homes across the UK which are not only energy efficient but can also be built faster with greater cost certainty.

“But the MMC sector needs a strong pipeline of developments in order to sustain it and make it viable in the UK, which we would hope funding announcements like this will support.”

Source: Building Design & Construction

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Oxford says YES to FUSION POWER

Illustrative image of nuclear fusion concept

South Oxfordshire District Council Planning Committee approves fusion energy project; construction to start this year at UKAEA’s Culham Campus.

The fusion demonstration will be built to 70 per cent scale of a commercial power plant at UKAEA’s Culham Campus. The fusion machine is expected to be commissioned in 2026 and fully operational by early 2027.

Following the resolution to grant planning permission by the South Oxfordshire District Council Planning Committee, construction of General Fusion’s demonstration at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Culham Campus is expected to start this summer.

When construction of the 10,500m2 building is complete, General Fusion will lease the building from UKAEA. The company’s fusion machine is expected to be commissioned in 2026 and fully operational by early 2027.

Built to 70 per cent scale of a commercial power plant, the demonstration will create fusion conditions in a power plant-relevant environment, achieving temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius. This is a crucial step on the path to eventually powering homes, businesses and industry with zero-carbon fusion energy. The facility itself will not generate power.

Siting the facility at the UKAEA’s Culham Campus, part of the thriving UK Fusion Cluster, enables General Fusion to access world-leading science and engineering capabilities, such as knowledge and experience in designing, constructing and operating the record-breaking Joint European Torus. In addition, the company will benefit from the UK’s existing fusion energy supply chains.

“The UK has been a longstanding leader in fusion energy development. We are thrilled to join the Culham Campus and the UK’s Fusion Cluster, and anticipate creating 60 long-term jobs at the site,” said Greg Twinney, CEO of General Fusion. “In addition, we expect the project will generate approximately 200 jobs during construction.”

“The UKAEA welcomes this milestone as it aligns with our strategy to create clusters that accelerate innovation in fusion and related technologies, and support public-private partnerships to thrive,” said Professor Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of UKAEA. “It also builds upon our heritage of hosting major fusion facilities here at our Culham Campus.”

The building was designed by architects, AL_A, led by Stirling Prize winner Amanda Levete and Ove Arup Engineers, and has been developed to exemplary design and sustainability standards.

“Receiving planning permission is a huge milestone and testament to the close collaboration between our team, General Fusion, and the UKAEA. The building will not only be highly efficient but one that also expresses the technological optimism of fusion to solve the energy problems of the world,” said Amanda Levete, founder and principal of AL_A. “The design projects a confident message to the public about the extraordinary potential of this technology. It represents a clear shift in the relationship between environment and industry, moving from one of opposition to one of symbiosis.”

The design of the fusion demonstration facility is intended to enhance the surrounding biodiversity. The building will achieve BREEAM excellent accreditation through a mix of strategies that include reusing waste heat, natural ventilation to minimize cooling loads, as well as a large green roof and extensive photovoltaics.

 

Source: Built Environment Network

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