These days no self-respecting Hollywood blockbuster is complete without the embarrassment of Buddy Holly 3D glasses.  Add this to the increase in sales of 3D technology for the home and we’re all led to believe that 3D is the latest thing.

However, when it comes to managing large-scale, complex projects within the construction industry 3D is so turn of the century.  So what’s OUR new thing?  4D modelling!  

We take the traditional three dimensions of height, depth and width and adds a fourth – time.  We model and monitor the programme and logistics of projects, effectively managing multiple designers and contractor, highlighting to project teams and clients potential problems and solutions - such as altering the build programme of a particular initiative to avoid a clash.

In practice, 4D is working wonders at a major airport where we have responsibility for co-ordinating all construction activity in a substantial ongoing project.  Effectively, we’re removing negative impacts on passengers during the remodelling.

Planning ahead, using the latest technology to demonstrate how redevelopment can be delivered efficiently and with minimal inconvenience to passengers, seems, to me, just common sense.

4D is here to stay and will be increasingly used by engineers and project managers so that major and sometimes complicated projects can be delivered faster and at lower cost.

Without doubt, the 4D age has arrived in design and engineering long before the world of movies and TVs.  But, given the pace of technological advances, I guess that’s only a matter of time too.

George McBride is our Aviation Sector Leader, based in the South he looks after our key aviation customers.

The all day event, held to raise awareness and funds for the cancer charity, was enthusiastically supported by the teams with some elaborate costumes on show.   The office raised a total of £1,700 throughout the day through activities including a raffle (with prizes including a corporate hospitality box at Chelsea, a ViewPad7 Touch Tablet and a bath time hamper from John Lewis), office busking and bake stalls to raise money for the cause. 

The “Best Dressed Award” was given to Graduate Civil Engineer Mark Hughes, who, in a team effort with other Graduate engineers Chris Bowler and Jonathan Cleaver, donned matching blue Morphsuit’s for the occasion.

The selection for the guide is based upon corporate social responsibility, training, staff turnover and company benefits including maternity and paternity pay, pensions, career breaks and healthcare. Assessed by independent panels of judges including Graham Watts of the Construction Industry Council and Rachel Done of the UK Contractors Group.

In this London Constructing Excellence Club event, the Morgan Sindall energy and waste team provided an overview of the current market, its’ drivers and current challenges, funding models, the major players and an overview of the traditional and emerging technologies.

The energy from waste (EfW) sector is a growing market with a projected £10-15bn investment in new facilities by 2020, and a further £5bn investment anticipated in the biomass market. Turning our wastes into resources, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, providing energy security and cost certainty, whilst lowering carbon footprints are all attractive incentives for a growing number of businesses and public sector clients.

Two representatives from Morgan Sindall’s Energy & Waste Team discussed the burning issues. Andy King (Energy & Waste Sector Leader) and provided an overview of the current market, its’ drivers and current challenges, the major players and an overview of the traditional and emerging technologies. Dave Bradley (Operations Manager - Energy and Waste) provided an insight into the innovative energy and waste schemes and how Morgan Sindall are helping to future-proof our client's energy needs by integrating renewable technologies.

>> Download the presentation here

For more information

Please see the London Constructing Excellence blog please click here

The free YCF relaunch event offers individuals and companies the opportunity to influence and shape the future of the chemicals sector in the UK.  The event includes networking, presentations and brainstorming sessions and provides a direct link to tell YCF what their agenda for future development and discussion should be.

To find out more about the event please click here.

Committed to a bright future

As part of our commitment to innovation and the industry we are exhibiting at YCF. Our resident process intensification expert, Mark Dickson, will be on hand to answer questions and support YCF to drive best practice. 

Want to know more about what we do?  Have a look at our process and manufacturing pages.

Making energy from waste beautiful

His webinar explored the need for better design for energy from waste infrastructure.  Andy presented some successful examples of how the innovative designs of infrastructure developments have changed the public perceptions of waste management facilities from ‘Not In My Back Yard’ to ‘Please In My Back Yard. 

To view the recording of the webinar please click here.

About 2 Degrees Network

2 Degrees Network is a sustainable, online business community committed to sharing best practice within the industry.  To find out more please click here.

The beauty of waste

Andy King presented the case for the beauty of waste. His seminar addressed the benefits that thoughtful, exceptional design can bring to help the industry win over a sceptical public in the localism era - creating PIMBY from NIMBY.  If you missed Andy’s seminar you can pick up a copy of his presentation here or sign up for to his upcoming 2Degrees network webinar.

• Download his presentation here
• Sign up for the 2 Degrees webinar
   

Our industry poll results

Our poll results highlighted some new trends and opinions developing within energy and waste.  With over 200 respondents, 77% agreed that creating energy from crematoria was a good idea and 33% believed that anaerobic digestion would be one of the most important technologies in helping to achieve the UK’s renewable energy targets.  Overwhelmingly 80% believed investing in BREEAM and sensitive architecture would speed up the planning process. 

Download the full report here

Did you miss meeting our expert?

Our waste expert, Ian Hargraves, provided free consultation and advice on technologies, waste streams and funding.  If you weren’t able to meet Ian during the event you can still book a meeting with him.  Please click the link below.

Book your appointment here

This four-year, £150 million phase forms part of South Lanarkshire Council’s £850 million primary schools modernisation programme which will see all 124 of the area’s primary schools rebuilt by 2016.

Morgan Sindall Professional Services has successfully delivered earlier phases of the programme, providing M&E services for the schools; they have been designed to provide modern, natural learning environments that feature a range of sustainable features such as biomass boilers, natural ventilation and high levels of daylight.

Free entry

Everyone likes a freebie

You can gain free entry to the event by clicking here and entering priority code X2940.

RWM in partnership with The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management combine forces for the global environmental technology, recycling and waste management sector.

RWM in partnership with CIWM
13 - 15 September 2011
NEC Birmingham
http://www.rwmexhibition.com/X2940
 

So why should you make time to see us?

The King of Waste

Andy King will be making the case for the “Beauty of Waste” in a presentation at 2pm in the Commerce & Industry theatre on Wednesday 14 September.  Following up from his recent articles in Building and Local Authority Waste and Recycling he will discuss how thoughtful, exceptional design can help give the industry the product it needs to win over a sceptical public in the localism era - creating PIMBY from NIBMY.   Want to know more?  Please click here for more details

Want to discuss your options? Book your slot with our industry expert

Our industry expert Ian Hargraves will be available throughout the exhibition to answer any questions you have on creating energy from waste, from technologies to waste streams and funding.  To book your free 20 minute slot with Ian please click here or come and see us on stand 2940, right near the networking hub.

What do you think? Come and complete our industry poll

We’d like to know your thoughts.  We will be asking questions on topical industry topics from using energy created by crematoria to what technology you think will have the biggest role to play within the UK?  Come along and give us your opinion.  The results of our poll will be published in after the event.

RWM 2011 will be an exciting event for the energy and waste sector.  We hope to see you there!

Following the traction of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) during boom times was the creation of the BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone).  This time of austerity has created the PIMBY (Please In My Back Yard).

David Rycroft argues that in the current climate both large corporates and communities are recognising the advantages in embracing development  –making decisions with their heads and not just their hearts.  Communities are accepting developments if they felt there were increased home ownership opportunities or if new housing would help local economies. 

The desire and drive for private investment across all sectors is essential to boost our economy, combined with the changing face of industrial buildings, communities are embracing sensitively designed projects for their roles in job creation and local empowerment – this has to be good news for all of us.

For the full article, click here.

• PIMBY - Please in my back yard
• NIMBY - Not in my back yard
• BANANA - Build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone