The Engineers Collective

It’s January 2020 and the start of a new year. The general election is over, Brexit is on-course for delivery in January and the upcoming twelve months will be fascinating for infrastructure. Co-hosts Mark Hansford and Alexandra Wynne discuss all this and more, including infrastructure abroad, net zero and climate change and the progress being made at Heathrow re: the third runway project.

Later, the pair are joined by Heathrow Airport’s Expansion Programme Director, Phil Wilbraham. Phil talks about the ‘master plan’ and the DCO which will be submitted this year. The interview with Phil Wilbraham begins at 08:20.

The trio also talk about the consultations, community and stakeholder involvement and net zero in the context of the third runway project, as well as how the project will be delivered.

Italferr S.p.A. is responsible for delivering the EUR 6.2 billion Napoli-Bari railway, part of the Trans European Network set to shorten travel times by several hours in the south east of Italy. In response to challenges that included complex geology, hazardous terrain, and complicated tunnel configurations along its route, Italferr needed interoperable modeling applications to optimize collaboration and coordination among the multiple disciplines and stakeholders involved.

Using Bentley technology it implemented a lifecycle BIM approach incorporating digital twins to deliver improved visibility, insight, and efficiency throughout the entire design and build process. The inspirational project was the winner of Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure 2019 Awards for going digital advancements in Rail and Transit. Find out more at www.bentley.com/napoli-bari

This month, Mark and Alex discuss bridge catastrophes, HS2 being back in the news via the leaked Douglas Oakervee report, and the UK’s recent flooding.

Keith Clarke CBE, chair of Forum for the Future joins our hosts to explain why ‘business as usual’ is unacceptable and how attitudes, actions and methods must change.The message though, is not all negative! Keith explains why there’s cause for optimism about the challenge of Net Zero.

Keith Clarke CBE is appearing on The Engineers Collective fresh from his keynote at The Year in Infrastructure Conference in Singapore. The interview with Keith Clarke begins at 21:53.

The Year in Infrastructure Conference is where industry leaders gain insight into how advancements in infrastructure, supported by Bentley technologies, are changing the world and accelerating possibilities. From main stage keynotes, through industry forums, to exclusive invite-only summits, the conference affords attendees ample opportunities to interact with more than 1,500 industry leaders and like-minded professionals to connect, collaborate, and share perspectives. If you missed the 2019 conference in Singapore its not too late to see the highlights.

Check out all the keynotes, including ‘The Means and The End’ delivered by Keith Clarke CBE during the event, at www.yii.bentley.com/en/video-gallery#guest and save the date for next years conference in Vancouver – October 12-15, 2020.

This month Mark and Alex are joined by National Infrastructure Commissioner and co-founder of dRMM Architects Sadie Morgan to discuss the value of high quality design – picking out what is currently being done well and what is being done less well. The HS2 mega-project comes under the spotlight as Sadie reminds us why it remains of such critical national importance.

The interview with Sadie Morgan begins at 12:02.

Mark and Alex also reflect on the early opening of the A14 upgrade and what that says about the way the construction industry is transforming itself.

The podcast also touches on the recent British Construction Industry Awards, of which Sadie was Chair of Judges. The trio discuss some of the shortlisted and winning projects and ask "what makes a BCI Award winner so special?".

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for the infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment. Together, we are advancing infrastructure.

This month The Engineers Collective deviates from its usual format as an unprecedented political situation unfolds in the United Kingdom. As Prime Minister Johnson is found to have broken the law in his prorogation of Parliament, regular co-hosts Mark Hansford and Alexandra Wynne from New Civil Engineer discuss what all of this actually means for the immediate future of infrastructure in our country. 

The pair outline three possible directions for the current government, and try to avoid focusing too much on the giant Brexit-shaped elephant in the room. Will Mr. Johnson focus on infrastructure to boost the economy? Will he even last long enough to have that input? All this and more is up for discussion. 

The Engineers Collective is bought to you by Bentley Systems. Bentley's Year in Infrastructure Conference will be held between 21-24 October 2019 in Singapore. Find out more by visiting yii.bentley.com. 

As the operator of Brazil's Governador Jose Richa Airport, infraero - Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuaria needed a better way to organise its data and share information among different areas of the company and external stakeholders. Using BIM and GIS technology, along with Bentley applications, the project team created a digital twin of the airport that includes a reality mesh and central repository for all airport data. Its digital twin is streamlining all future internal airport infrastructure projects, as well as planning and management processes, and the project was a winner of Bentley's 2018 Year in Infrastructure Award for Advancing Digital Twins for Airports. Find out more at www.bentley.com/londrina/

This month on The Engineers Collective, Mark and Alex are joined by the managing director of Crossrail 2, Michèle Dix. The trio, of course, talk Crossrail 2 and the impacts of lessons learned by Crossrail 1. Innovation, embracing new technologies and the future of large infrastructure projects are all under the microscope as Michèle offers a fascinating insight into her observations about the industry.

The interview with Michèle Dix begins at 12:02.

This episode also looks at the new HS2 review, talks dam safety in the wake of Whaley Bridge and asks: is Boris Johnson going to be our infrastructure champion?

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. MRT Corp was established to deliver the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project, a planned three-line modern railway system in the Greater Kuala Lumpur-Klang Valley region of Malaysia. With the first line completed in July 2017, MRT Corp was the first metro project in Asia to adopt BIM Level 2 standards plus cloud-based collaboration to streamline workflows and improve efficiency, productivity, and performance on its second line, the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) line. Establishing a connected data environment using Bentley applications as its foundation, MRT Corp has reduced rework, improved multi-discipline design collaboration, and increased productivity by 35 percent due to its ability to seamlessly share accurate information in real time. Find out how MRT Corp is Going Digital with Bentley and learn more about the project by visiting: www.bentley.com/sspline

In this special episode of The Engineers Collective, Mark and Alex are joined by Bentley Systems’ Chief Product Officer, Bhupinder Singh.

The trio talk Digital Twins. What are they? What can they be used for? What does the future look like for Digital Twins?

As well as debunking myths about the technology, Bhupinder talks about some of Bentley’s new partnerships and the innovation taking place around the world with Digital Twins at the heart.

This episode also touches on Bentley Systems’ Year in Infrastructure Conference which will be held between 21-24 October 2019 in Singapore.

Find out more by visiting yii.bentley.com.

As the operator of Brazil’s Governador José Richa Airport, Infraero – Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária needed a better way to organise its data and share information among different areas of the company and external stakeholders. Using BIM and GIS technology, along with Bentley applications, the project team created a digital twin of the airport that includes a reality mesh and central repository for all airport data. Its digital twin is streamlining all future internal airport infrastructure projects, as well as planning and management processes, and the project was a winner of Bentley’s 2018 Year in Infrastructure Award for Advancing Digital Twins for Airports. Find out more at www.bentley.com/londrina/

This month Mark and Alex reflect on the one year anniversary of the catastrophic Polcevera viaduct collapse in Genoa, Italy and they ask: is the UK safe from a Genoa-style collapse? Also up for discussion is Crossrail 2 and Network Rail’s future project pipeline.

The co-hosts then introduce our special guest: HS2 strategic advisor Andrew McNaughton. Andrew was the chief architect of the HS2 mega-project responsible for determining the route and setting the much-commented on design speed. Andrew takes a wider look at the future of rail worldwide, questioning the role of hyperloop and stressing the ongoing need for light rail and traditional rail for many years to come. 

The interview with Andrew McNaughton begins at 11:20.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. MRT Corp was established to deliver the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project, a planned three-line modern railway system in the Greater Kuala Lumpur-Klang Valley region of Malaysia. With the first line completed in July 2017, MRT Corp was the first metro project in Asia to adopt BIM Level 2 standards plus cloud-based collaboration to streamline workflows and improve efficiency, productivity, and performance on its second line, the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) line. Establishing a connected data environment using Bentley applications as its foundation, MRT Corp has reduced rework, improved multi-discipline design collaboration, and increased productivity by 35 percent due to its ability to seamlessly share accurate information in real time. Find out how MRT Corp is Going Digital with Bentley and learn more about the project by visiting: www.bentley.com/sspline

This month regular co-hosts Mark Hansford and Alexandra Wynne are joined by Henrik Rothe who runs the Urban Turbine out of Cranfield University, and is rethinking how airports of the future will operate and integrate with the towns and cities that they serve. Tune in to hear Henrik explain how rapid changes to the way we check-in, deal with our baggage and move through security will transform how airports are accessed and used. Henrik will cite examples from Europe and worldwide and discuss the hottest topic of them all – is expanding Heathrow the right solution to the capacity issue in south east England?

The interview with Henrik begins at 20:28.

Mark and Alex also discuss the ongoing questions around the validity of High Speed 2 and the national disgrace that is the three-year closure of the historic Hammersmith Bridge in London.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. As part of its ongoing digital transformation, Infraero Airport is using Bentley Systems Software to create a digital twin of José Richa airport in southern Brazil. Including an engineering ready reality mesh and central repository for all its data, Going Digital with Bentley is saving the organisation in excess of £120,000 per year. Find out more at www.bentley.com/londrina/

In Episode One co-hosts Mark Hansford and Alexandra Wynne discuss the projects in the headlines including Heathrow, HS2, the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon Project and tall buildings in New York. Later, they're joined by Institution of Civil Engineers Vice-President and Director of Expedition Engineering, Ed McCann, to discuss the future of digital skills within our industry. 

The interview with Ed McCann starts at 18:45.

The Engineers Collective is powered by Bentley Systems. Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and owner-operators are using Bentley’s software solutions to accelerate project delivery and improve asset performance for the infrastructure that sustains our economy and our environment.  Together, we are advancing infrastructure.

The Engineers Collective is the podcast for those who are curious about the future and how engineers will keep our towns and cities running. Each episode is hosted by editor of New Civil Engineer, Mark Hansford, and deputy editor, Alexandra Wynne, and features an interview with a different special guest.

This trailer is a little teaser of what you can expect from each episode. The Engineers Collective is sponsored by Bentley Systems: Advancing Infrastructure.