New innovations that will transform your projects
Innovation News
STRUCTURES
Timber heavy housing block for Hamburg docks
A 19-storey timber frame residential building, containing 181 apartments, is being built with what are claimed to be world-record quantities of construction timber.
The “Roots” building is set to regenerate an area of former dockland in Hamburg, Germany, and is using 5,500m3 of construction timber. It is presently rising from the city’s old docks and warehouses and will feature 181 apartments with views of Hamburg, the harbour, and the Elbe waterways.
Designs for the waterside location incorporate an unusual basement level that rises to 9m above sea level. This is inspired by the traditional North Sea “warft” model, and doubles as flood protection and underground parking.
ENERGY
Funding released for tidal turbine development
A Jacobs-led consortium is to develop a new type of water turbine designed to improve the viability of UK tidal range projects.
UK Research & Innovation has awarded a SMART grant to the group to research, develop and test new technology which could significantly reduce the cost of harnessing the UK’s tidal range power potential.
The UK has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world and wants to harness 20GW energy in the coming years.
The consortium includes Severn Estuary Tidal Bar, Cardiff University, Liverpool John Moores University and the Tidal Range Alliance.
WATER
3D printed structure for wastewater works
The first 3D concrete printed drawpit structure has been installed at Yorkshire Water’s second-largest wastewater treatment works near Bradford.
Finnish technology company Hyperion Robotics, working in collaboration with Tarmac and Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), created four 3D printed versions of a drawpit for Esholt Wastewater Treatment Works on the outskirts of Bradford.
The project is intended to strengthen understanding of how sustainable materials can be used more widely in the construction process.
SAFETY
Body worn hazard warning tech to be used by track workers
Overhead power line contractor SPL Powerlines UK has used geofencing technology to make trackside work safer.
The new technology was developed by specialist firm Tended. It uses wearable technology and mapping technology to alert workers if they stray from safe working locations.
Trackside work often takes place close to live railways and electrical hazards and the new technology replaces physical barriers which are often awkward to position.
- More news newcivilengineer.com/innovative-thinking