Insights

Solving storm release spills with systems thinking
The recent press coverage around sewage spills into watercourses has highlighted the scale of the challenge faced by water companies coping with the impacts of climate change and population growth. Delivering a better service to customers and the performance improvements required by Ofwat through the Outcome Delivery Incentives (ODIs) are driving the need to innovate and implement affordable solutions at pace.

The role of digitalisation in achieving net zero
Few people would dispute the fact that the planet is fast-approaching a ‘tipping point’ when it comes to carbon emissions, which explains why achieving net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050 if not before, isn’t just a UK target, but a legally binding responsibility. This ambitious decarbonisation commitment will force multiple industries to undergo transformational change, and a shift in mindset and approach is key among organisations large and small. But what role will digitalisation play?

Delivering complex infrastructure programmes – the A19 story
The UK’s Road network is the backbone of the country’s transport infrastructure. It provides real and direct economic benefits: to business, to workers, to users. Better connections support individual towns and cities and the surrounding communities. Keeping traffic moving through faster, safer, greener, and more efficient project delivery is encapsulated in the A19 Testos junction improvement scheme.

The digital eye in the sky. How drones are helping Costain deliver faster, safer, greener, and more efficient complex projects
When designing for major programmes of complex engineering, technology plays a vital part in increasing safety and efficiency and reducing cost and programme delay. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone technology provides a valuable perspective or a bird’s eye view to monitor the programme and progress.

You see a busy site, we see safer and more efficient construction through video analytics and AI
Tackling the need to adapt and find new and innovative ways to support communication, planning, and safety activities on construction sites, Costain is collaborating on a digital research and development project, partly funded by Innovate UK to help improve productivity, reduce costs, and enhance the safety and security of all workers.

How an ‘Alexa’ for infrastructure is emerging
We’ve seen what a single source of truth and collaborative data sharing can do on a major programme like the A14 but how might this be applied across a number of programmes, a framework or even an enterprise? Here we discuss how setting up the right data sharing platform can help transform programme or business performance and meet carbon reduction targets.

How cultural and digital initiatives enhanced integrated working and delivery of the A14
The first phase of the Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme was completed a year ahead of schedule, and the second eight months early with £196m in efficiencies realised against the client target of £108m. One of the questions Mark Berg is often asked is ‘how?' Read more to learn how the A14 Integrated Delivery Team exceeded expectations.

How better data gathering can help enhance social value and build trust (part two)
This is the second in a series of articles that explores the potential of technology to help us maximise the impact of our social value initiatives through better gathering and management of data. In this article, we look at how digital technology is improving the conversations we are having with communities and the data that demonstrates we are improving people’s lives.

Better social value data management for building back better
This is the first in a series of articles that explores the potential of technology to help us maximise the impact of our social value initiatives through better gathering and management of data. In this first article, we look at how standardising, sharing and managing social value data is being improved through digital technology.

Engineering Matters Podcast #74 Weaving a new data fabric for infrastructure
Our expert, Tim Embley and has teamed up Neil Robertson from the National Skills Academy for Rail, Stuart Harvey from Transport for London and Engineering Matters to talk about a major programme that is being spearheaded by the UK’s transport sector: The Transport Infrastructure Efficiency Strategy Living Lab (TIES Living Lab, or just ‘the Living Lab’ for short).