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5 proposed designs for O’Hare airport’s huge expansion

Some of the biggest architecture firms in the world are competing for the contract, which will transform one of North America’s air traffic hubs.

Chicago’s O’Hare airport is one of the busiest airport in the U.S., and it’s only growing. The city recently approved a $8.5 billion expansion, which will balloon the airport’s indoor footprint from 5.5 million to 8.9 million square feet and require over 60,000 full-time workers to complete by 2026.

Now, as part of a public review process, the city has shared the five new terminal concepts for the first time, developed by the architecture firms Fentress-EXP-Brook-Garza, Foster Epstein Moreno, Studio ORD, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Santiago Calatrava.

The public proposals share many similarities: They are all buildings with sprawling footprints to connect across O’Hare’s terminals, with white bones, undulating ceilings, and windows covering every available surface. Their differences appear to be formal rather than functional, with few quibbles over the optimal flow of 200,000 human bodies trudging through body scanners daily.

But the designs are still fascinating to compare, and a few big differences definitely stand out.

The architects at Foster Epstein Moreno JV imagine the terminal as three straight tubes that lead to a single grand view of the runways, creating “a theater of aviation.” The giant, arched panorama would certainly be a sight to behold, but I suspect the inevitable influx of vendors could ruin sight lines to this scene throughout most of the terminal. I’m curious, could you ever actually take in that view all in at once?

Studio ORD, led by Chicago architect Jeanne Gang, shared a three-pronged design that Curbed points out is likely a nod to the city’s river system. It features the surprising use of wood beams across the entire ceiling–a material you don’t often find in airports or in buildings that range in the millions of square feet. Coupled with organically curved, branching interior columns, the effect seems to be that of standing beneath a calming canopy of trees rather than inside a stifling airport.

Meanwhile, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP–the same firm that brought Chicago the Willis Tower and the Hancock Building–proposed a glass-encased orchard at the center of the building, seeming to tease onlookers who would really prefer to be outside, vaping in nature. The green space is actually intended to be public, but one frame does feature a single traveler, enclosed in a glass box, with their feet up in a single hammock–as hundreds of grumps walk by in what I can only assume is seething, jealous rage.

Santiago Calatrava, LLC–perhaps most famous for the Oculus in New York City–imagines a future hotel and shopping complex complete with an expansive network of outdoor walkways (ahem, Chicago has a lot of winter, architects), but for the core indoor terminal area, it leverages Calatrava’s very recognizable architectural signature: an arrowhead footprint and fishbone ceiling.

Fentress-EXP-Brook-Garza didn’t see Calatrava’s proposal in advance, of course, but its proposal almost seems to answer back to it: “I can do exactly what you did, but without all the symmetry.” This proposal creates a space that twists more like a river, with roof supports that fly overhead like contrails rather than fishbones.

At this point, knowing what we do about these ideas–which is to say, very little–all we can really do is critique their look and feel. And they look and feel largely the same.

The public was able to vote on its favorite designs, but it’s unclear how, if at all, their votes will affect the final winner (the runner-up will also create a few new buildings at O’Hare, too). In fact, as the Chicago Tribune points out, the Mayor’s office has been entirely unclear on who is making a final call on these designs, at all. In any case, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is supposed to announce a winner before he leaves office this May. And whatever is chosen, it’s probably a huge upgrade from the O’Hare we have today.

Source: www.fastcompany.com

Top 10 civil engineering innovations

New materials and energy, design approaches, as well as advances in digital technology and big data, are creating a wave of innovation within the construction industry. Here are ten of the most exciting developments

1. Self-healing concrete

Cracks in concrete are a common phenomenon due to the relatively low tensile strength. Durability of concrete is impaired by these cracks since they provide an easy path for the transportation of liquids and gasses that potentially contain harmful substances. If micro-cracks grow and reach the reinforcement, not only the concrete itself may be attacked, but also the reinforcement will be corroded. Therefore, it is important to control the crack width and to heal the cracks as soon as possible. Since the costs involved for maintenance and repair of concrete structures are usually high, this research focuses on the development of self-healing concrete. Self-healing of cracks in concrete would contribute to a longer service life of concrete structures and would make the material not only more durable but also more sustainable.

2. Thermal bridging

Efficient insulation material is becoming increasingly important throughout the construction industry. Heat transmission through walls tends to be passed directly through the building envelope, be it masonry, block or stud frame, to the internal fascia such as drywall. This process is known as “thermal bridging”. Aerogel, a technology developed by Nasa for cryogenic insulation, is considered one of the most effective thermal insulation materials and US spin-off Thermablok has adapted it using a proprietary aerogel in a fibreglass matrix. This can be used to insulate studs, which can reportedly increase overall wall R-value (an industry measure of thermal resistance) by more than 40 per cent.

3. Photovoltaic glaze

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glazing can help , by turning the whole building envelope into a solar panel. Companies such as Polysolar provide transparent photovoltaic glass as a structural building material, forming windows, façades and roofs. Polysolar’s technology is efficient at producing energy even on north-facing, vertical walls and its high performance at raised temperatures means it can be double glazed or insulated directly. As well as saving on energy bills and earning feed-in tariff revenues, its cost is only marginal over traditional glass, since construction and framework costs remain, while cladding and shading system costs are replaced.

4. Kinetic Footfall

Human body generates a lot of energy while doing the most-common activity walking. Every foot fall causes pressure when the foot hits the floor, which goes untapped. With the ground surface engineered to harvest the energy, power can be generated from the human footfalls, stored and used as a power
source or even fed to the power grid. For instance, a person dancing on an energy harvesting floor can generate 5–10 watts; in a packed dance club, the production can meet up to 60% of the total energy required for the club.

With this method energy harvesting proving its feasibility, developers of energy harvesting floors concentrating their efforts find the most-efficient way of harvesting energy from footfalls. As a result, several inventions are in the prototype stage. However, some industry players, with the aim to popularize
and establish this technology among varied consumer segment, have already initiated marketing of their products, which has been well received by environmental activists.

5. Kinetic Roads

Cars are a huge source of air pollution, but in the future they could also become a source of clean energy.

That is thanks to a technology called LYBRA, a special, tyre-like rubber paving that converts the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles into electric energy.

The idea and the project are the brainchild of an Italian start-up called Underground Power.

6 – Predictive Software

The structural integrity of any building is only as good as its individual parts. The way those parts fit together, along with the choice of materials and its specific site, all contribute to how the building will perform under normal, or extreme, conditions. Civil engineers need to integrate a vast number of pieces into building designs, while complying with increasingly demanding safety and government regulations. An example of this was work on the structural integrity of the arch rotation brackets at Wembley Stadium, undertaken by Bennett Associates, using ANSYS software, which simulated the stresses on the brackets that hold and move the distinctive arches above the stadium.

7. 3D Modelling

Planning innovation has been driven by the growth of smart cities. CyberCity3D (CC3D) is a geospatial-modelling innovator specialising in the production of smart 3D building models. It creates smart digital 3D buildings to help the architectural, engineering and construction sector visualise and communicate design and data with CC3D proprietary software. The models integrate with 3D geographic information system platforms, such as Autodesk and ESRI, and can stream 3D urban building data to Cesium’s open architecture virtual 3D globe. It provides data for urban, energy, sustainability and design planning, and works in conjunction with many smart city SaaS platforms such as Cityzenith.

8 – Modular Construction

Modular construction is a process in which a building is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – but in about half the time. Buildings are produced in “modules” that when put together on site, reflect the identical design intent and specifications of the most sophisticated site-built facility – without compromise.

9. Cloud Collaboration

Basestone is a system allowing the remote sharing of data on a construction site in real time. It is predominantly a review tool for engineers and architects which digitises the drawing review process on construction projects, and allows for better collaboration. The cloud-based collaboration tool is focused on the installation of everything from steel beams to light fittings. The system is used to add “snags”, issues that happen during construction, on to pdfs, then users can mark or add notes through basestone. Trials have revealed possible cost-savings of around 60 per cent compared with traditional paper-based review methods.

10. Asset mapping

Asset mapping focuses on operational equipment, including heating and air conditioning, lighting and security systems, collecting data from serial numbers, firmware, engineering notes of when it was installed and by whom, and combines the data in one place. The system can show engineers in real time on a map where the equipment needs to be installed and, once the assets are connected to the real-time system using the internet of things, these can be monitored via the web, app, and other remote devices and systems. It helps customers build databases of asset performance, which can assist in proactive building maintenance, and also reduce building procurement and insurance costs.

Renzo piano reveals plans for genoa bridge reconstruction

Following the deadly collapse of genoa’s morandi bridge in august 2018, italian architect renzo piano had announced plans to donate a replacement design. on december 18, 2018, genoa mayor mario bucci announced that the project will take 12 months to complete once the site has been prepared. mayor bucci, the commissioner overseeing the reconstruction, also announced the selection of salini impregilo and fincantieri infrastructure, via a new company called PERGENOVA, for the construction of the bridge according to renzo piano’s design.

Piano comments on the spirit of the redesign: ‘the new bridge will have to be simple and parsimonious, but not trivial. it will look like a ship moored in the valley; a light and bright steel bridge. it will reflect the sunlight during the day and absorb solar energy to return it at night. it will be a sober bridge, respecting the character of the genoese.‘

The continuous steel deck will extend 1,100 meters across genoa’s polcevera river all images courtesy of renzo piano building workshop

Situated along italy’s northwestern coast, genoa is the sixth largest city in the country. the bridge serves as an essential element that will allow genoa to reclaim its role as a great port and trade city. the bridge is an important junction connecting the city with france, the port and, generally, with nearby areas. renzo piano building workshopdesigned the bridge with a continuous steel deck extending 1,100 meters (3,609 ft) with 20 spans. the 19 elliptical piers of reinforced concrete will be primarily positioned at 50 meter increments, although because of their location on the river and the railway, two of these piers will be 100 meters apart. construction will be led by collaborating companies, salini impregilo and fincantieri.

Salini impregilo and fincantieri will work together by creating a new company called PERGENOVAThe bridge over the polcevera is a key artery connecting the port and the wider coastal area to france

Public works are expected to kickstart the economy and begin to create jobs again

The bridge will reflect the sunlight during the day and absorb solar energy to return it at night

The project foresees completion 12 months from the moment work begins

World’s longest sea bridge opens between hong kong and china

The world’s longest sea-crossing bridge has been officially opened, connecting hong kong, macau and zhuhai. measuring 55-kilometer (34.2 mile) in length, the dual three-lane link, hong kong-zhuhai-macau bridge, is part of beijing’s plan for a greater bay area covering 56,500 square kilometers (21,800 square miles) across southern china, encompassing 11 cities in total. the city hopes to form a rival tech hub to san francisco bay out of the three coastal areas the structure directly connects.

The hong kong-zhuhai-macau bridge image © jīng jú jīng duàn

The bridge, which is made up of a 9.4km viaduct and 1km tunnel, posed a number of challenges to the project team. a 41m vertical clearance above sea level was required for the viaduct section in order to not obstruct marine traffic, a consideration that also influenced the construction process itself. the bridge is comprised of over 5,700 precast pile caps weighing between 75 and 225 tonnes that were used to minimize the amount of building works on sea.

the bridge structure includes two artificial islands that serve as entry and exit points for a 4-mile underwater sea tunnel west of the hong kong section of the bridge on lantau island. it is designed to last 120 years, withstand typhoons, and resist the impact of a magnitude-8 earthquake and a 300,000 metric ton vessel, according to the official in charge of the project’s construction.originally due to open in 2016, repeated delays pushed forward its completion and nine years after construction first began, it was declared open in a ceremony in zhuhai on tuesday, attended by chinese president xi jinping and hong kong’s chief executive, carrie lam.

The highway and undersea tunnel routes of the hong kong-zhuhai-macau bridge image © kellykaneshiro

The $20billion bridge will be open to public traffic on wednesday cutting journey times between the cities from four hours to 45 minutes, which officials say will enable commuters and tourists to easily move around the region. although it aims to bring the autonomous regions closer to mainland china, the bridge will only be accessible to a few. people from hong kong will need special permits and there have been reports that long-term permits to cross from hong kong to zhuhai will be granted to people who meet strict criteria, such as paying significant taxes in china, those who make large donations to charities in the southern chinese province of guangdong, or those who are members of one of several political organisations. a private shuttle bus can be used by other people however there is no actual public transport on the bridge.

Mumbai to Fujairah in 2 hours! UAE plans underwater bullet train to boost connectivity with India

Imagine not having to undergo hours of air travel and underwhelming flight meals to reach the UAE from India. Imagine hopping on to a train and reaching the coasts of UAE in a matter of two hours. That is exactly what is being explored in a concept by UAE’s National Advisor Bureau Limited.

In this futuristic mode of transport, the bureau is looking at the possibility of connecting Mumbai to the city of Fujairah in the UAE through an underwater rail network. As mentioned in Khaleej Times, not only will this mode transport passengers, it could also be used to exchange goods and oil exports as mentioned by the bureau’s director and chief consultant Abdulla Alshehhi during the UAE-India Conclave in Abu Dhabi.

“This is a concept. We plan to connect Indian city of Mumbai with Fujairah through ultra-speed floating trains. The project aims to boost bilateral trade. There will be export of oil to India from Fujairah port and import of excess water from Narmada River, north of Mumbai. In addition, other GCC partners can also improve export and import,” Alshehhi told a gathering of businessmen and industry experts, as mentioned in the daily.

The total length of the rail network will be less than 2,000 km but the underwater part could pose unique challenges and a lot of aspects would need consideration. “We will do feasibility study of the project. This is concept but a cool project to look at,” he added.

The project that aims to boost bilateral trade will benefit UAE, India and others in the region, Alshehhi mentioned.

Meanwhile, India is already working on ambitious transport projects such as the bullet train and Hyperloop. Will this project see the light of day remains to be seen.

Concrete: 4 Innovations You’ve Never Heard Of

Concrete — a material that can trace its interactions with humans back to the Roman era more than 2,000 years ago — is the most popular material used today. When tonnage is compared, the use of concrete outweighs plastic, wood, aluminum and steel combined. What’s equally amazing about concrete is the material’s ability to continuously be the center of innovation. Here are some of the more exciting concrete innovations that are expected to change the industry.

1. Self-Healing Concrete

It’s the bane of every engineer and construction professional’s existence: concrete cracks. Once a concrete project cracks — which all will at some point — leakage can occur, disrupting the integrity of the material. Scientists at the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology have invented bioconcrete. This is concrete that is mixed using the same techniques as traditional concrete except that it also contains specific bacteria. These bacteria generate crystals that enclose their cells. When mixed with other secretions, such as proteins and sugar, a glue-like substance is generated. When the concrete cracks, these bacteria are activated and form either limestone or calcite, a process that seals the gaps.

2. 3D Printed Concrete

3D printing is a concept that has been getting a great deal of attention within the past few years with advancements being made. Not only can it be used to print items such as plastics ad auto parts, it can now also print concrete objects. In another project originating from the Netherlands — this time from a technology-focused university called TU Eindhoven — 3D printers can now be used to make items made of concrete. Using a huge printer manufactured by a Dutch company, Rohaco, this concrete printer looks like an overhead crane that has a swivel head that pushes the concrete out in a more focused and customizable way. While implementation within the industry is still in its infancy stages, 3D printed concrete has created pavilions and recyclable concrete products.

3. Eco or Green Concrete

With its continued focus on the environment, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the construction industry is developing materials that are more ecologically friendly. Concrete typically generates a great deal of carbon. In fact, it produces so much carbon that the typical carbon footprint of concrete is nearly as large as the weight of the material itself. When mixed with fly ash — a waste material that is generated by power stations that burn coal — and other materials such as concrete and Portland cement, many benefits become evident. Not only does using fly ash reduce the carbon footprint of the concrete by as much as 25 percent, it also requires less water. This eco-friendly concrete is creamier and easier to place within projects. Finally, using the fly ash helps keeps this waste product from being dumped in landfills.

4. Pervious Concrete

Another environmentally-friendly concrete solution that is poised to gain a great deal more traction within the construction industry is pervious concrete. Traditionally, concrete has been impervious — meaning water runs off of it, allowing architects to direct its flow in more focused ways. At least, that was the original intent. This strategy, though, led to numerous incidents of urban flooding, erosion, pollution and other problems. As a result of these serious ecological issues, a solution — pervious concrete — was developed. Sometimes called a porous pavement, pervious concrete is made of larger particles than traditional concrete. This creates voids within the concrete that allow for the gradual infiltration of rainwater into the ground below.

The above-noted innovations are just a few that are being tested within the concrete industry. As a material, concrete has been evolving for more than 2,000 years. All the evidence points to a continuation of exciting changes in the future as well.

The 10 Best Conferences for Civil Engineers to Attend in 2019

As an engineer, it is extremely important to stay current within your industry. Those who do not stay current will quickly find themselves left behind and will thus be unable to innovate on new technologies. Listed below are 10 civil engineering conferences to attend in 2019. The list is divided up into 4 categories namely; materials science engineering, water treatment engineering, new construction techniques and sustainable engineering.

Materials Science Engineering

4th International Conference on Civil Engineering and Materials Science (ICCEMS 2019)

17-19 May 2019
Bangkok, Thailand

“ICCEMS 2019 will bring together the top researchers from Asian Pacific nations, North America, Europe and around the world to exchange their research results and address open issues in biomaterials, biomedical manufacturing, casting and solidification, characterisation, coatings and surface engineering, composite materials, etc. It is one of the leading international conferences for presenting novel and fundamental advances in the fields of civil engineering and materials science.”

Concrete Structures & Concrete Technology 2019

18-19 October 2018
Dallas, Texas, USA

“Concrete Structure 2019 conference will make the perfect platform for global networking as it brings together renowned speakers, researchers, business persons across the globe to a most exciting and memorable scientific event filled with much enlightening interactive sessions, world-class exhibition and poster presentations. Advances in the field of Concrete Technology are one of the crucial factors in the economic prowess of developed and developing countries. Also for the developing countries, adoption of innovative Concrete construction techniques and various versatile steel structures is paramount for the advancement of their economies.”

21st International Conference on Self-Healing Concrete in Civil Engineering

22-23 March 2019
Tokyo, Japan

“ICSHCCEA 2019: 21st International Conference on Self-Healing Concrete in Civil Engineering Applications aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Self-Healing Concrete in Civil Engineering Applications. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Self-Healing Concrete in Civil Engineering Applications.”

Water Treatment Engineering

New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA)

27-30 January 2019
Boston, Massachusetts, USA

“This prestigious conference, which consistently attracts over 2100 engineers, consultants, scientists, operators and students features a variety of technical sessions and over 200 exhibitor displays. The conference provides an opportunity for professional exchange of information and state-of-the-art concepts in wastewater treatment and other water environment issues. The NEWEA Annual Conference is a great forum to meet colleagues, professional allies, make new friends and exchange information.”

21st International Conference on Concrete Engineering and Technology (ICCET)

19-20 September 2019
Paris, France

“ICCET 2019: 21st International Conference on Concrete Engineering and Technology aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Concrete Engineering and Technology. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Concrete Engineering and Technology.”

World Water Congress & Exhibition 2019

Copenhagen, Denmark
18-23 September 2019

“Five days of critical discussions into the future of sustainable water management. Thought-leadership permeated workshops, debates, business forums, keynote speakers, technical and training sessions. Networking opportunities enabled new insights and partnerships, showcasing new ideas and solutions to solve the global water crisis.”

New Construction Techniques

3rd International Conference on 3D Printing Technologies and Innovations

25-26 March 2019
Rome, Italy

“3D Printing Conference 2019, Rome, brings an Opportunity to attend the presentations delivered by eminent scientists, researchers, experts from all over the world and Participation in sessions on specific topics on which the conference is expected to achieve progress. It brings Global networking in transferring and exchanging Ideas. Share your excitement in promoting new ideas, developments and innovations in the field of 3D Printing Technology & Innovations.”

4th Modular Construction and prefabrication ANZ

27 February – 1 March 2019
Sydney, Australia

“The 4th edition of the conference will focus on international & well known Australian OSM & DfMA exemplars, the industry’s best practices and new innovative techniques & technologies that will strengthen and enhance the uptake of modular construction methodology in the ANZ construction industry.”

Sustainable Engineering

2nd RILEM Spring Convention & International Conference on Sustainable Materials, Systems and Structures

18-22 March 2019
Rovinj, Croatia

“SMSS2019 conference is organised as a supporting event of RILEM Spring Convention. The scope of the conference is to gather scientists, practitioners, members of technical committees and users of technical recommendations, to jointly at the same place discuss and envision the future sustainable development of materials, systems and structures in a holistic, global way.”

73rd RILEM Annual Week & International Conference on Innovative materials for Sustainable Civil Engineering (IMSCE)

25-30 August 2019
Nanjing, China

“The RILEM Annual Week & International Conference on Innovative materials for Sustainable Civil Engineering will discuss the topics such as- Fresh concrete and chemical admixtures, Hydration and microstructure characterization, Sustainable cementitious materials, Deformation and crack controlling, Durability and service life prediction, and more.”

How to Make the Right Civil Engineering Career Decisions

Align your civil engineering education with future expectations so you have the best chances of being the top candidate.

You have a long, but interesting road ahead of you. With civil engineering as your chosen career, you’ll enjoy being innovative and purposeful on a daily basis.

The term ‘civil’ is taken from ‘civilisation’. It’s the responsibility of civil engineers to plan, create and maintain the buildings & structures communities use:

Roads and transportation
Water infrastructures
Tunnels
Bridges

This is a noble cause to work for.

If you want satisfaction and enjoyment as part of your career path, read on. There’s much to learn. The civil engineering path doesn’t start the day you get your first job. You need to align your current decisions with where you want to end up.

We’ll help you get there.

Before You Decide—Read What it’s All About

Are you sure this is what you want? It’s important you understand all facets of civil engineering jobs. When you have a realistic expectation of your future, it will be less challenging and more enjoyable.

Does this sound like a job you’ll relish?

See the difference you’re making, by planning and creating different structures in & around cities.
Help cities function well by helping improve infrastructures.
Benefit the environment while engineering civil projects.
Work with many people and occasionally lead them as part of management.
Take initiative during planning and on site to solve & prevent problems.
Use computer software to design structures.
Offer consulting services.
Research civil engineering projects.

Are there enough aspects you’ll love doing, making this the right long-term decision for you?

If your answer is yes, your preparation starts now.

Make the Right Decisions at School

How well are you doing at school?

A civil engineering degree is a tough course. Because universities don’t want to waste resources, they only allow students into these courses who prove their capability.

And how do learning centers gauge this? They look at your subjects and marks.

These are required civil engineering subjects during school years:

Mathematics: Algebra, Geometry, Statistics and Calculus
Science: Advanced Physics and Chemistry, Applied Biology, Physical Science

Make sure 2018 marks are better than 2017’s. You must achieve top marks for these subjects, or universities may not even consider you.

Does that motivate you to study more for your next test?

Alternative Option

Are you already studying, but you’re considering doing a civil engineering course? The good news is universities may consider you if you already have BTech qualifications.

Pick the Right Course

What do you do if a university selects you? Do you know what course to pick?

Civil engineering can be approached from two angles:

-Doing a BEng

-Start with a BSc in civil engineering

Here is where it gets complicated. If your goal is to be accredited as an engineer, the BEng is the safest route. Some BSc courses don’t meet the requirements and may not be recognized for this honor.

This is why researching your course options is so important. Also, make sure your course is accredited by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).

If these civil engineering subjects interest you, you’ll enjoy your coursework:

Physics
Chemistry
Ethics
Structural mechanics
Surveying
Engineering math
Statistics and analysis
Design
Engineering materials

Students usually study for four years. If they pass they’re qualified to act as engineers, but still need to be supervised. Further experience and licenses are necessary to obtain senior positions.

The Next Step

Additional Studies

An additional option—which can open the career door you’re aiming for—is doing a MEng. You need to graduate a basic degree first. Occasionally the MEng aspect is built into undergraduate coursework.

But if you need an MEng degree, be prepared for even higher performance expectations than you faced getting in for your first degree.

Practical Experience

One of the best parts of studying civil engineering is the interesting coursework. Practical laboratory work and partnering with people in the industry are common features at most universities.

While practical experience takes place throughout your study years, you’ll enjoy your ‘sandwich year’ the most. This is your year out in the field where you see what civil engineering systems are all about. You may even get the opportunity to do yours internationally. And if you impress your temporary bosses with your skills, they may offer you a full-time position.

You can see civil engineering requires you to give your best from school years until you land your first job. Are you ready to start building your career today?

The Goal

What are the titles you’ll put on your business card one day?

When your studies and practical education are finished, you’re eligible for roles such as:

-Construction manager

-Site engineer

-Quality engineer

-Research engineer

-Development engineer

-Analyst

-Lecturer

-Geotechnical engineer

Which of these roles do you covet?

Is this the career that makes your heart beat with excitement? Start preparing today. Align your education with future expectations so you have the best chances of being the top candidate. You can one day change the world around you. And it starts today.

SELF-HEALING CONCRETE

Mineral-producing bacteria have been found that could help mend micro-cracking in concrete. Dr Henk Jonkers, a micro-biologist at Delft University, talked to Ingenia about research developments in producing bioconcrete that could bring benefits for civil engineering projects.

Self-healing concrete could solve the problem of concrete structures deteriorating well before the end of their service

life. Concrete is still one of the main materials used in the construction industry, from the foundation of buildings to the structure of bridges and underground parking lots.

Traditional concrete has a flaw, it tends to crack when subjected to tension. A healing agent that works when bacteria embedded in the concrete convert nutrients into limestone has been under development at the Civil Engineering and Geosciences Faculty in Delft since 2006.

The project is part of a wider programme to study the self-healing potential of plastics, polymers, composites, asphalt and metals as well as concrete. Dr Henk Jonkers, a microbiologist who specialises in the behaviour of bacteria in the environment, has developed self-healing concrete in the laboratory and full-scale outdoor testing will start in 2011. The

first self-healing concrete products (successful research results permitting) are expected to hit the market in two years’

time and are expected to increase the lifespan of many civil engineering structures.

Jonkers has worked closely with civil and structural engineers to learn about the properties of concrete and steel reinforcement, and develop the concrete. “For a biologist to work with civil engineers to incorporate living matter into

structural concrete material is in itself a great innovation,” he says.

WHY THE NEED ?

Concrete will continue to be the most important building material for infrastructure but most concrete structures are

prone to cracking. Tiny cracks on the surface of the concrete make the whole structure vulnerable because water seeps in to degrade the concrete and corrode the steel reinforcement, greatly reducing the lifespan of a structure.

Concrete can withstand compressive forces very well but not tensile forces. When it is subjected to tension it starts to crack, which is why it is reinforced with steel; to withstand the tensile forces.

Structures built in a high water environment, such as underground basements and marine structures, are particularly vulnerable to corrosion of steel reinforcement. Motorway bridges are also vulnerable because salts used to de-ice the roads penetrate into the cracks in the structures and can accelerate the corrosion of steel reinforcement. In many civil engineering structures tensile forces can lead to cracks and these can occur relatively soon after the structure is built.

Repair of conventional concrete structures usually involves applying a concrete mortar which is bonded to the damaged surface. Sometimes, the mortar needs to be keyed into the existing structure with metal pins to ensure that it

does not fall away. Repairs can be particularly time consuming and expensive because it is often very difficult to gain

access to the structure to make repairs, especially if they are underground or at a great height.

HOW DOES BIOCONCRETE WORK ?

Photo credit: http://www.readymadeseminar.com/2015/06/bacteria-based-self-healing-concrete.html

Self-healing concrete is a product that will biologically produce limestone to heal cracks that appear on the surface of concrete structures. Specially selected types of the bacteria genus Bacillus , along with a calcium-based nutrient known as calcium lactate, and nitrogen and phosphorus, are added to the ingredients of the concrete when it is being mixed. These self-healing agents can lie dormant within the concrete for up to 200 years.

However, when a concrete structure is damaged and water starts to seep through the cracks that appear in the concrete, the spores of the bacteria germinate on contact with the water and nutrients. Having been activated, the bacteria start to feed on the calcium lactate.

As the bacteria feeds oxygen is consumed and the soluble calcium lactate is converted to insoluble limestone. The limestone solidifies on the cracked surface, thereby sealing it up. It mimics the process by which bone fractures in

the human body are naturally healed by osteoblast cells that mineralise to re-form the bone. The consumption of oxygen during the bacterial conversion of calcium lactate to limestone has an additional advantage. Oxygen is an essential element in the process of corrosion of steel and when the bacterial activity has consumed it all it increases the durability of steel reinforced concrete constructions.

The bioconcrete healing itself (Image Courtesy of Delft University)

The two self-healing agent parts (the bacterial spores and the calcium lactate-based nutrients) are introduced to the concrete within separate expanded clay pellets 2-4 mm wide, which ensure that the agents will not be activated during the cement-mixing process. Only when cracks open up the pellets and incoming water brings the calcium lactate into contact with the bacteria do these become activated. Testing has shown that when water seeps into the concrete, the bacteria germinate and multiply quickly. They convert the nutrients into limestone within seven days in the laboratory.

Outside, in lower temperatures, the process takes several weeks.

FINDING THE RIGHT BACTERIA

The starting point of the research was to find bacteria capable of surviving in an extreme alkaline environment.

Cement and water have a pH value of up to 13 when mixed together, usually a hostile environment for life:

most organisms die in an environment with a pH value of 10 or above.

The search concentrated on microbes that thrive in alkaline environments which can be found in natural environments, such as alkali lakes in Russia, carbonate-rich soils in desert areas of Spain and soda lakes in Egypt. Samples of endolithic bacteria (bacteria that can live inside stones) were collected along with bacteria found in sediments in the lakes. Strains of the bacteria genus Bacillus were found to thrive in this high-alkaline environment. Back at Delft University the bacteria from the samples were grown in a flask of water that would then be used as the part of the water mix for the concrete.

Different types of bacteria were incorporated into a small block of concrete. Each concrete block would be left for two months to set hard. Then the block would be pulverised and the remains tested to see whether the bacteria had survived.

It was found that the only group of bacteria that were able to survive were the ones that produced spores comparable to plant seeds. Such spores have extremely thick cell walls that enable them to remain intact for up to 200 years while waiting for a better environment to germinate.

They would become activated when the concrete starts to crack, food is available, and water seeps into the structure.

This process lowers the pH of the highly alkaline concrete to values in the range (pH 10 to 11.5) where the bacterial spores become activated.

Finding a suitable food source for the bacteria that could survive in the concrete took a long time and many different nutrients were tried until it was discovered that calcium lactate was a carbon source that provides biomass.

If it starts to dissolve during the mixing process, calcium lactate does not interfere with the setting time of the concrete.

Bio-bricks made from human urine could be environmentally friendly future of architecture

University of Cape Town researcher Suzanne Lambert has created a zero-waste building material made with human urine, which hardens at room temperature, as an alternative to environmentally taxing kiln-fired bricks.

Lambert, a masters student in civil engineering, used recovered human waste and living bacteria to make the bricks, which can be fabricated in different sizes, shapes and strengths.

She believes the bio-bricks could be a real alternative to traditional bricks, which are heated at temperatures of more than 1,000 degree Celsius, producing huge carbon dioxide emissions.

“I see so much potential for the process’s application in the real world,” said Lambert. “I can’t wait for when the world is ready for it.”

The bio-bricks have been developed by a researcher at the University of Cape Town

The process utilised is called microbial carbonate precipitation, which Lambert’s supervisor at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Dyllon Randall, likens to “the way seashells are formed”.

Human urine, loose sand and a bacteria that produces the enzyme urease are combined in a brick-shaped mould. The urease triggers a chemical reaction, breaking down the urea in urine, while producing calcium carbonate — aka limestone, the main component of cement.

This solidifies the bricks, and the longer they’re left in their moulds, the stronger they get.

The bricks are created with human urine, loose sand and bacteria

“If a client wanted a brick stronger than a 40 per cent limestone brick, you would allow the bacteria to make the solid stronger by ‘growing’ it for longer,” said Randall.

“The longer you allow the little bacteria to make the cement, the stronger the product is going to be. We can optimise that process.”

Lambert builds on previous work, and particularly credits the foundational research by Jules Henze, a Swiss student who spent four months working with Randall on this concept in 2017. Testing was conducted with the help of UCT civil engineering honours student Vukheta Mukhari.

In contrast to previous efforts, Lambert’s product is the first of its kind to be brick shaped, and also the first to use human urine instead of a synthetic compound.

Designed as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional bricks, the bio-bricks harden at room temperature

This was important to the UCT team, who wanted the bricks to be part of a holistic waste recycling effort. The bio-brick process creates nitrogen and potassium — good for fertiliser — as by-products, and is ultimately zero-waste with 100 per cent of the urine converted into something useful.

“No-one’s looked at it in terms of that entire cycle and the potential to recover multiple valuable products,” said Randall. “The next question is how to do that in an optimised way so that profit can be created from urine.”

Urine is collected using a special fertiliser-producing urinal. Randall says there are hurdles to scaling up the idea — such as how to collect from people who don’t use urinals — but fortunately, another of his masters students is working on the transport logistics of urine collection and treatment.

Engineers around the world have turned their attention to bricks that are grown rather than manufactured in an attempt to lower the carbon footprint of construction.

A MoMA PS1 gallery pavilion by The Living in 2014 featured towers built from bricks that were grown from corn stalks and mushrooms.

Mushroom mycelium is a perhaps the most celebrated of these bio-materials, featuring in experimental structures like the MycoTree exhibited at the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism and the Shell Mycelium pavilion in India.

Source : https://www.dezeen.com