Institution Of Civil Engineers Research Articles

Briefing: What does the new Labour government mean for infrastructure – and what are the ICE’s priorities for engagement?

Laura Cunliffe-Hall is Lead Policy Manager in the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Policy and External Affairs team. She discusses the Institution’s plans for engaging the new government and the announcements of note for infrastructure and development.

Acoustic emission failure detection and localisation in historic fibrous plaster ceiling

Fibrous plaster (FP) is a composite material that has been used for suspended decorative ceilings in historical buildings since the late 19th century. Such ceilings are susceptible to failures, particularly in hard-to-access structural hangers (‘wads’). Due to a limited understanding of structural behaviour of FP ceilings, maintenance and reconstruction decisions are based on visual and tactile inspections. Such inspections are costly, intrusive and ultimately subjective. Non-destructive techniques are needed to detect and localise failures in FP ceilings. An Acoustic Emission system was recently developed to detect and localise damage sources in FP ceilings. The method processes data from AE sensor clusters with one-dimensional convolutional neural networks(1D-CNNs) trained to account for wave propagation anisotropy. This paper presents a case study conducted at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) building in London (UK) to validate the method. The results confirm the ability of the method to localise failures under real site conditions in 450 mm-by-450 mm monitoring areas. The method may enable non-intrusive detection of failures from the underside of ceilings during periodic inspections. The possibility of conducting pre-training in laboratories and covering large monitoring areas up to 1500mm-by-1500mm is established and may facilitate practical applications in the future.

Briefing: Closing the climate resilience infrastructure gap

Laura Cunliffe-Hall has been leading the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Policy and External Affairs team’s work on climate resilience and adaptation. She discusses the role of resilience and adaptation in developing a stronger and more innovative infrastructure system.

How civil engineers can support delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Civil engineers have a vital role to play in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the water, energy and transport sectors, says the Institution of Civil Engineers’ latest State of the Nation report. Director of engineering knowledge Mark Hansford reports.

A new strategy for securing the future of the engineering profession

EngineeringUK is a not-for-profit organisation driving change so more young people choose engineering and technology careers. Chief executive Hilary Leevers introduces its new 5 year plan to achieve this, which includes working closely with the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Leading a flagship civil engineering journal in changing waters: an editor’s perspective

In December 2023, Paula McMahon stepped down after 5 years as honorary editor of the Institution of Civil Engineers’ flagship journal Civil Engineering. She reflects on how both the journal and profession have changed – and discusses the ongoing challenges both now face.

Making connections for a nature- and people-positive world

This is an abridged transcript of the inaugural address of Anusha Shah, who became the 159th President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on 7 November 2023. Her full address, which included a short film, is available on the ICE website.

Institution of Civil Engineers awards first Chartered Infrastructure Engineer title

The Institution of Civil Engineers awarded its first Chartered Infrastructure Engineer title at the end of last year. Content strategy manager Anh Nguyen explains the background and significance of the Institution’s first new professional title in 100 years.

From the family of Italian masters

The article is devoted to the creative activity of Khabarovsk architect of the middle of the 20th century, V. M. Campioni, great-grandson of the famous architect and sculptor Angelo Campioni, who worked in Moscow and created a lot of architectural and sculptural works. The article traces the family network of the architect, his creative relationships with other architects of the Far East, who studied with him at the Odessa Civil Engineering Institute in the 1930s. His work as the main architect of the city and his buildings in Khabarovsk are analyzed in the article.

A chapter review: ICE manual of blue-green infrastructure

ABSTRACT This research note is a review of Chapter 1 of the new Manual of Blue-Green Infrastructure published by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in 2023. The publication of the manual by a leading civil engineering professional body is considered a significant milestone, suggesting the concept of blue-green infrastructure, which includes street trees, is becoming mainstream. This chapter of the manual sets out to demystify the multidimensional nature of the term which stems from its use across numerous contexts, professions, and disciplines. The chapter introduces the origin, definitions, and typologies of this umbrella concept. Its authors put forward key tenets about blue-green infrastructure, its function, value, and overall importance. In practice, they argue, for blue-green infrastructure to be on par with other critical infrastructure calls for a transformational transdisciplinary approach with emphasis on coordination and continuous learning.

Briefing: Engineering foresight from hindsight: why past knowledge is essential for future designers

This briefing is a personal view of the value to be gained by designers of future infrastructure from researching the history of engineering projects. It exhorts current designers to consider past practice as a key field of study. Research of similar projects, and their learning legacies, should be regarded as a key preparatory stage before embarking on new designs. This is advocated as an essential component of project risk mitigation. The briefing describes the network curated by the Institution of Civil Engineers that champions 'engineering foresight from hindsight' and its three pillars – the collection of useful data; the curation of the data; education and outreach that makes use of the data. Recent activities are listed that provide examples of these principles in action, and volunteers are invited to join the community.

Preface

The development of Geotechnical Engineering goes together through the Case Histories considering the geological and geotechnical condition of the site. The most primitive geotechnical case histories may be dated back to 4000 BC in Egypt and until today; Geotechnical case histories have been the backbone of the sustainable growth of the infrastructures for the city and other purposes. The conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering reflects the motivations of our engineers to exchange knowledge and ideas due to the many problems that arise in the last decade. The growth of the economy of Indonesia recently is amazing, and the same for most Asian countries. Together all these factors have caused the increasing need of geotechnical advisory. The awareness of the demand for keeping up with the geotechnical technology motivated our university with series of workshop and conference about Case histories in Geotechnical Engineering. In conjunction with this conference AsRTC6 (Asian Regional Technical Committee) of GeoUrban Engineering take part in the GEOCASE 2023 Conference to enhance the meaningful of this conference theme.Many universities, research institutions, contractors and geotechnical consultants have gained experience and knowledge which are suitable for particular site. Case histories are also of significant values for the state of the art practice. Hence the seminar is very important event for exchange of ideas and experience and for contribution all over the world..I would like to extend my appreciation to all of you who have been travelling from far distance and specially to the Keynote Speakers and authors who made their efforts to share their knowledge and experience to the audience. This conference cannot be successful without the support of Universitas Katolik Parahyangan – Indonesia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia – Malaysia, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology – Taiwan, National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), Taiwan, and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn – Malaysia. Also Himpunan Ahli Teknik Tanah Indonesia (HATTI), Himpunan Ahli Konstruksi Indonesia (HAKI), International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), and Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) for the cooperation and continuous support.Last but not least, to all members of the committee for their endless hard work and dedication, I have to acknowledge that they are the people behind the scene, for without them, this event will not come to reality.Finally to all participants, I wish you find this conference useful and beneficial to you, and your institution.Thank you.Prof. Ir. Paulus P. Rahardjo, Ph.D.Chairman of GEOCASE 2023 ConferenceList of Conference Co-Chair, Advisory Committee, Organizing Committee are available in this pdf.

Briefing: British civil engineering biography – 10 years on

Biography illuminates the lives of past generations of engineers and puts their engineering achievements in human context. It joins the dots between the design and construction of works by individuals and teams. Recognising that the civil engineering profession lacked a reference source on the lives and achievements of previous generations, the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Archives Panel established an editorial board under the initial chairmanship of Professor Sir Alec Skempton to create a biographical dictionary in 1995. Work on the project resulted in three published volumes, the last of which appeared in 2014. This paper reflects on what has happened in the world of civil engineering biography in the following decade and what more can be done to ensure the lives and achievements of civil engineers can be adequately recorded for posterity.

All civil engineers need to step up and engage with climate change

This is an abridged transcript of the inaugural address of Keith Howells, who became the 158th President of the Institution of Civil Engineers on 1 November 2022. His pre-recorded video address included a short film and is available on the ICE website.

A brief commentary on my route to Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers

A brief commentary on my route to Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers

Researcher of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra: to the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of M. V. Kholostenko

December 7, 2022 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Ukrainian architect, historian of national architecture, researcher and restorer of architectural monuments, teacher Mykola Viacheslavovych Kholostenko (1902—1978). After graduating from the Kyiv Institute of Architecture in 1929, he taught at the Kyiv Institute of Civil Engineering and Art Institute, managed the design workshop of the Kyiv City Council (1938—1941), worked at the Kyivproject Institute (1953—1958, 1961—1977), held the position of chief architect of the Republican Special Research and Restoration Production Workshops State Construction Committee of the USSR (1959—1961). In addition to the development of projects of residential and public buildings in Kyiv, M. V. Kholostenko had done a lot of work on the study, protection and restoration of architectural monuments of the 10th—18th centuries of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Putyvl, Novhorod-Siverskyi. M. V. Kholostenko’s contribution to the study of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is significant. Many years of research (1952—1954, 1962—1963, 1969—1972) allowed him to trace the architectural and construction history of the entire ecclesiastical complex. M. V. Kholostenko found out the construction and technical features of the ancient part of the cathedral — the technology of making plinths, the method of masonry of the main walls, arches, vaults. He was the first who systematized and classified the bricks of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the 11th—17th centuries. During the research, new, previously unknown elements of the architecture of the ancient part of the cathedral were discovered, hidden behind later extensions. M. V. Kholostenko developed a scheme of dimensions and proportions of the cathedral of the 11th century and corrected the general plan of the temple and its individual parts. The results of architectural and archaeological research of the remains of the cathedral and the analysis of iconographic sources provided sufficient grounds for the scientific reproduction of the entire cathedral complex. M. V. Kholostenko was one of the first to recreate the original appearance of the Cathedral of the Dormition and reconstructed the Church of St. John the Baptist. The results of his research became the basis for the development of the project for the restoration of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, implemented in 1998—2000.

A review of issues considered by ICE’s new ethics committee during its first year

The Institution of Civil Engineers’ new ethics committee has discussed a wide range of topics in its first year, ranging from competence to climate change. Richard Bayfield, ICE fellow and trustee for ethics and professional conduct, reports.

New set of global principles for resilient infrastructure will reduce disaster risks

Supported by the Institution of Civil Engineers, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction published global principles and actions for achieving resilient infrastructure earlier this year. Liz Varga of University College London explains.

Resilient modulus of crushed stone material reinforced with geogrids

Unbound base layers can be stabilized with geogrids that reduce lateral movement of granular material thus improving its stiffness through particle interlocking inside geogrid openings. Good particles-geogrid interlocking depends significantly on the ratio of geogrid aperture size to the average soil particle size. This paper describes testing of a resilient modulus and a permanent deformation of geogrid reinforced granular material. Biaxial and triaxial geogrids made with 3D printer were used in which geogrids were of different aperture sizes and rib thickness. It was thus possible to test parametrically the effect of geogrid geometry and rib stiffness on the resilient behaviour and permanent deformations. Experiments were conducted on cylindrical specimens of 160 mm diameter and 320 mm height and were reinforced with one or several layers of geogrids. The results of cyclic triaxial tests for unreinforced and reinforced specimens with created geogrids are presented in the paper, as well as the results of the previous research on commercially available geogrids. It is observed from the presented results that resilient behaviour of the tested granular material was not improved with the use of geogrids, while geogrids gave certain improvement with respect to permanent deformations. Presented research is a part of the ongoing project at the University of J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek and the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute.

A pragmatic derivative method to assess the condition of a public health built infrastructure portfolio

The 2006, 2011 and 2017 Report Cards on the condition of built environment fixed infrastructure in South Africa were the product of cooperation between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE). Their purpose has been to draw the attention of government, and of the public at large, to the importance of maintenance, and to factors underlying the condition of public sector infrastructure. One of the ten public infrastructure sectors assessed in all three report cards was the health sector, comprising hospitals and clinics. This paper describes how the collection and analysis for the 2017 infrastructure report card of health sector condition data was conducted. In particular, it describes how, in the absence of a comprehensive reasonably up-to-date database, and the way, without their interrogation and integration in mind, in which available datasets had been compiled, the CSIR formulated a pragmatic derivative method to assess the condition of the public health built infrastructure portfolio.