The Singapore Engineer June 2016

June 2016 MCI (P) 002/03/2016

The Magazine Of The Institution Of Engineers, Singapore

www.ies.org.sg

SINGAPORE ENGINEER SINGAPORE ENGINEERRECOGNISING ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE: Revisiting Singapore projects that won CAFEO Awards

FEATURES: • Marine & Offshore Engineering • Project Application • Construction Management

Celebrating 50 Years of Engineering Excellence

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER

01June 2016 THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER

FEATURES04 INTERVIEW:

Revitalising the profession to serve community and country The newly elected IES President highlights some of the issues in engineering and the strategies to be adopted by the institution.

21 COVER STORY: Recognising Engineering Excellence An overview of the projects that IES has selected, over the years, as examples of outstanding engineering, demonstrates the growing expertise of Singapore engineers.

32 PROJECT APPLICATION: Southern Stack at Crespi d’Adda village Advanced materials technology contributed to the restoration of this defining feature at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

36 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: Managing risk The adoption of best practices is recommended for the delivery of major public works.

38 MARINE & OFFSHORE ENGINEERING: Asia Pacific Maritime 2016 registers strong participation In spite of the problems faced by the sector, the response to the event was positive.

39 MARINE & OFFSHORE ENGINEERING: Maritime leaders call for adoption of technology The findings of a survey are presented.

REGULAR SECTIONS

02 MESSAGE

08 IES UPDATE

40 EVENTS

42 INDUSTRY NEWS

CONTENTSChief Editor T Bhaskaran

[email protected]

CEO Angie Ng

[email protected]

Publications Manager Desmond Teo

[email protected]

Publications Executive Queek Jiayu

[email protected]

Media Consultants Roland Ang

[email protected]

Desmond Chander [email protected]

Published by The Institution of Engineers, Singapore

70 Bukit Tinggi Road Singapore 289758

Tel: 6469 5000 Fax: 6467 1108

Cover designed by Stephanie Kwan

The Singapore Engineer is published monthly by The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES). The publication is distributed free-of-charge to IES members and affiliates. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or IES. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine shall be reproduced, mechanically or electronically, without the prior consent of IES. Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the content at press time, IES will not be liable for any discrepancies. Unsolicited contributions are welcome but their inclusion in the magazine is at the discretion of the Editor.

Design & layout by 2EZ Asia Pte Ltd Printed in Singapore

Founded in 1966Celebrating 50 Years of Engineering Excellence

02 THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER June 2016

IES Council Members 2016 / 2017

President Er. Edwin Khew

Vice Presidents Er. Chan Ewe Jin

Mr Mervyn Sirisena Er. Ng Say Cheong

Er. Ong See Ho Er. Seow Kang Seng Dr Yeoh Lean Weng

Honorary Secretary Dr Boh Jaw Woei

Honorary Treasurer Er. Joseph Goh

Immediate Past President Er. Chong Kee Sen

Past Presidents Prof Chou Siaw Kiang

Er. Ho Siong Hin

Assistant Honorary Secretary Mr Joseph William Eades

Dr Lim Kok Hwa

Assistant Honorary Treasurer Mr Tan Sim Chuan

Council Members Prof Chan Eng Soon Dr Chew Soon Hoe

Mr Dalson Chung Mr David So

Prof Er Meng Joo Mr Goh Yang Miang

Ms Jasmine Foo Er. Joseph Toh

Mr Lee Kwok Weng A/Prof Lee Poh Seng

Mr Norman Lee Prof Ramakrishna Seeram

Er. Teo Chor Kok Dr Zhou Yi

Honorary Council Members Er. Dr Lee Bee Wah

Er. Ong Ser Huan Er. Tan Seng Chuan

MESSAGE

Message from the IES President

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which in-cludes developments in previously ‘disjoint-ed’ fields such as ar tificial intelligence and machine-learning, robotics, nanotechnology, 3-D printing, and genetics and biotechnol-ogy, is expected to cause widespread dis-ruption not only to business models but also to labour markets over the next five years, with skill sets having to change, to succeed in

the new environment. This is the finding of the report ‘The Future of Jobs’, published by the World Economic Forum in January, this year. There will also be a widening of the employment gender gap, with women losing five jobs for every job gained compared with men losing three jobs for every job gained. In dealing with these changes, the most popular workforce strategy across every industry is investing in reskilling current employees. Other practices, such as supporting mobility and job rotation, attracting female and foreign talent and offering apprenticeships, also scored high. Hiring more short-term or vir tual workers are much less popular responses. Against these somewhat ‘unsettling’ findings, the report predicts some positive trends, closer to home. ASEAN, GCC and Japan will have only 25% skills instability which is lower than in other parts of the world. Also, the highest ratios of jobs cre-ated per job lost is expected to be in ASEAN with 3.72 jobs gained per job lost. The survey respondents also expect strong employment growth across the Architecture and Engineering and Computer and Mathematical job families, a moderate decline in Manufacturing and Production roles and a significant decline in office and administrative roles. Other sizeable job families, such as Business and Financial Operations, Sales and Related, and Construction and Extraction have a largely flat global employment out-look over the 2015-2020 period.

Er. Edwin KhewIES President

INTERVIEW


The Singapore Engineer: Many congratulations on your eleva-tion to the position of Presi-dent of IES. It comes at a time of great challenges and per-haps of great opportunities, as well. There is also added sig-nificance since IES is celebrat-ing its Golden Jubilee this year, which follows the celebration of Singapore’s 50th year of in-dependence, in 2015. What are your thoughts on Singapore and IES crossing these important milestones? Er. Edwin Khew: The last 50 years have seen engineering losing its prominence as one of the most de-sirable career choices in Singapore. We are faced with the challenge of ensuring there are enough engineers to fulfill the huge demand in many industrial sectors to support our growth as a high-tech nation. As the President of the national society of engineers, I will have to steer IES in

playing our role in addressing this is-sue, just like the IES Presidents in the last 10 to 15 fifteen years have had to do. On the brighter side, Singapore has made significant achievements in terms of innovation, technology de-velopment and engineering, over the last five decades. Today, Singapore is the water hub of the world, a leader in many areas of R&D and a manu-facturer of many high-tech compo-nents and systems including phar-maceuticals, medtech robots and oil drilling rigs. I would say that Singa-pore is at the threshold of greater inventions and innovations and be-coming a leader in other fields and sectors, besides water. We stand at the cusp of an exciting future for Sin-gapore, for engineering and for IES. I am honoured to be the President during the Jubilee Year, to steer IES towards greater progress in the next 50 years. Q: The Government has point-ed out that as the country un-dergoes economic transforma-tion, there will be an increasing need to match the skills of the workforce with the jobs that are created. What changes do you see taking place, within the engineering sector, espe-cially with the increasing im-portance of the newer ‘disrup-tive’ technologies? What role could IES play in addressing these developments? A: Change is something we can count on as part of Singapore’s

transformation because of changes taking place in new and exciting dis-ruptive technologies. The engineer-ing sector will also have to evolve to manage these new technologies including additive manufacturing, ro-botics, new composite materials, AI (artificial intelligence) machines and autonomous vehicles. To be relevant, IES and its various technical commit-tees (TCs) will have to keep abreast and even ahead of these new de-velopments. Only then can IES be the engineering voice for these new technologies, in harnessing them for Singapore’s economic growth and in training engineers to use these tech-nologies to Singapore’s advantage. Q: On 22 April, this year, 175 parties signed the historic Paris climate accord. Climate change and the need to achieve sustainability is a subject that is very close to you. How can engineers, in general, and IES, in particular, contribute to at-taining this objective? A: Mitigation of the effects of cli-mate change is a collective effort, making the COP 21 held in Paris a significant move, as more than 130 countries signed the climate change agreement in New York on 22 April 2016. IES will continue to play its part to promote the mitiga-tion of the effects of climate change through engineering. We will con-tinue to organise the World En-gineering Summit bi-annually and the leaders’ roundtable annually, to facilitate important discussions on various aspects of climate change,

Er. Edwin Khew

Revitalising the profession to serve community and country Rapid technological developments have resulted in significant changes in the definition of engineering and the role of engineers. Er. Edwin Khew, the newly elected IES President, outlines the strategic direction for the institution, in order to ensure that engineering regains its importance as a career of choice.

INTERVIEW


from mitigation and adaptation to increasing the climate resilience of urban cities. Q: What do you think about the Government’s recent initiatives to improve the attractiveness of public-sector engineering jobs (eg better salaries and career development oppor-tunities)? A: The Singapore Government’s ini-tiative to raise salaries of engineers is a major step in demonstrating to our young the vital role being attached to engineering in Singapore’s future economic growth. I do hope that the private sector will follow suit so as to raise the importance and relevance of engineering as a career to where it should be. Engineering, in my opin-ion, is as critical a profession as medi-cine and law, in realising a matured and growing economy.Q: How can IES ride on this wave to help the engineering community be better recog-nised for its efforts? A: IES has organised the Engineer-ing Feats @ IES-SG50 competition to engage the public in recognising the contribution of engineers to Singapore’s past 50 years’ of de-velopment. Through the competi-tion, the public have had a chance to vote for engineering feats which have affected their lives and helped the Singapore economy over the last 50 years. IES will also continue to part-ner the Science Centre Singapore (SCS) and other private and public sector organisations and NGOs to promote engineering in schools, polytechnics, and IHLs. We will continue to hold activities such as the annual National Engineers Day (NED), engineering displays at SCS, engineering career talks, STEM competitions and those promot-ing hobbies related to science and engineering in schools. Our goal is to see the public and our younger generation embrace engineering as a key contributor to their quality of

life and the economic well-being of Singapore into the future.Q: What are some of the other major challenges for the engi-neering profession and for engi-neers, and how can IES assist? A: I see several major challenges related to the engineering profession: Firstly, we need to raise the value of engineers and their corresponding remuneration. Secondly, we need to be more ef-fective in attracting the younger gen-eration to take up engineering as a course of study in our universities, polytechnics and ITEs. Currently, engineering courses are perceived to be difficult to excel in, compared to other courses like social sciences, business administration and com-merce. Many students choose these other courses because of shorter course duration and yet offering equivalent remuneration to that for engineering graduates. Thirdly, we need to provide for an exciting and interesting career path-way for engineers to keep them in engineering. To address some of the above is-sues, IES has developed partnerships with the NTUC to provide leader-ship training for young engineers and advanced leadership training for senior engineers to assist them to advance in their careers in tech-nical or management roles. IES will also be looking at training techni-cians to equip them with skill-sets to be master craftsmen capable of servicing and maintaining machines, automated systems and robots and to increase Singapore’s industrial productivity. Q: What are the key organisa-tional initiatives that you would be spearheading, during your tenure as President, that would enable IES to represent, with greater effectiveness, larger numbers and more diverse groups of engineers?

A: In line with the three priorities outlined above, as President, I will develop a road map with my six VPs, as proposed by the in-coming Council members at the Away Day retreat held in May. In addition, I will also focus on the softer aspects of engineering - to promote greater environmen-tal consciousness and healthy living amongst our members. For exam-ple, I will be looking at organising weekend cycling trips from IES to the nearby Rifle Range road and even off-track cycling on our old railway track route from there. I also hope that our members will be more enterprising and that IES will develop more young engineer-ing technopreneurs through the En-terprise Development Committee. I also aim to encourage our mem-bers to be more socially responsible by volunteering to help the less for-tunate and the disabled through the community service outreach com-mittee. I believe that as engineers, our members can offer their engi-neering knowledge as practical ad-vice to help people address issues they face in their homes to enhance their quality of life.

Membership growthTo be more inclusive and to provide value and relevance to membersPromoting engineering as the profession of choiceTo enhance IES’ brand and imageIES as the preferred partner To become the focal and refer-ence point for all engineering-related matters.

Top three priorities for IES

INTERVIEW


Q: What is your vision for IES100? What do you hope we will become in the next 50 years? A: It is difficult to imagine what the world will be like, 50 years from now, but I reckon that technology will play a big role, based on today’s rapid technological developments. We are already talking about technologies such as the Internet of Things, au-tonomous vehicles and robots with artificial intelligence. So what we see in science fiction movies will become a reality. This means that future en-gineers will be different from the engineers of today as they will have to design, operate and maintain very complex systems. There might not be pure civil, electrical or mechani-cal engineers anymore but engineers who are totally integrated, trained in all disciplines of engineering to solve multifaceted, multi-disciplinary problems through smart machines, computers and tools.

IES Academy now operates from the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability (e2i), located near Jurong East MRT Station.

IES Green Building @ Bukit Tinggi, also known as the Brian Chang Building, was officially opened on 16 February 2016.

IES UPDATE


IES held its milestone 50th Annual General Meeting at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre on 28 May 2016. It was attended by close to 120 members. Er. Chong Kee Sen, the 25th IES President, began the day’s proceed-ings with the President’s Repor t for Council Session 2015/2016. In it, he summarised the main highlights for the past year, such as the World Engineers Summit and National Engineers Day 2015, the opening of the IES Green Building @ Bukit Tinggi and that of IES Academy @ Jurong East, both of which took place in 2016. During the overview of the perfor-mance of the many IES Committees, Er. Chong also updated members about pertinent matters such as the progress of the Chartered Engineer Programme, and the upcoming review of the IES Constitution. He also spoke about ongoing ef-forts to engage with the public and enthuse the younger generation into engineering, such as the IES-SG50 Engineering Feats voting competition and the Golden Jubilee Scholarship Fund, and concluded his report by thanking members for their strong support of the various initiatives IES has undertaken to benefit the com-munity and engineers at large. Honorary Treasurer Er. Koh Beng Thong presented the Treasurer’s Report and Statement of Accounts next, bringing attention to impor-tant portions of the financial state-ments and clarifying IES’ fiscal poli-cies where questioned. Generally, the reports were well-received by members, who re-

IES Council Members 2016/2017

President Er. Edwin Khew

Vice President, Infrastructure Cluster Er. Chan Ewe Jin

Vice President, Education Group Mr Mervyn Sirisena

Vice President, Smart Nation Cluster Er. Ng Say Cheong

Vice President, Certification Group Er. Ong See Ho

Vice President, Manufacturing Cluster Er. Seow Kang Seng

Vice President, Integration Cluster Dr Yeoh Lean Weng

Honorary Secretary Dr Boh Jaw Woei

Honorary Treasurer Er. Joseph Goh

Immediate Past President Er. Chong Kee Sen

Past President Prof Chou Siaw Kiang

Past President Er. Ho Siong Hin

Assistant Honorary Secretary Mr Joe Eades

Assistant Honorary Secretary Dr Lim Kok Hwa

Assistant Honorary Treasurer Mr Tan Sim Chuan

Council Member Prof Chan Eng Soon

Council Member Er. Dr Chew Soon Hoe

Council Member Mr Dalson Chung

Council Member Mr David So

Council Member Prof Er Meng Joo

Council Member Dr Goh Yang Miang

Council Member Ms Jasmine Foo

Council Member Er. Joseph Toh

Council Member Mr Lee Kwok Weng

Council Member A/Prof Lee Poh Seng

Council Member Mr Norman Lee

Council Member Prof Ramakrishna Seeram

Council Member Er. Teo Chor Kok

Council Member Dr Zhou Yi

Honorary Council Member Er. Dr. Lee Bee Wah

Honorary Council Member Er. Ong Ser Huan

Honorary Council Member Er. Tan Seng Chuan

Annual General Meeting 2016Er. Edwin Khew takes over the reins from outgoing President Er. Chong Kee Sen; charts out three strategic thrusts to propel IES growth during his termby Queek Jiayu

IES UPDATE


The second National Young Pro-fessional (YP) Workshop was a one-day workshop organised by SPRING Singapore and the Stan-dards Development Organisation office at The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (SDO@IES). More than 50 young professionals from the building and construction industry

attended the workshop at the NUSS Guild House @ Suntec City on 13 May 2016. This workshop aimed to provide young and dynamic working pro-fessionals from the industry with a comprehensive insight into the Sin-gapore Standardisation Programme. It also highlighted the importance

of standardisation in supporting the national quality infrastructure and maintaining the competitiveness of the Singapore economy. Representatives from both the pri-vate and public sectors shared their perspectives on standardisation and how standards supported and ben-efitted their respective areas of work. Mr Jason Low from SPRING Singapore gave participants an in-troduction of the Singapore Stan-dardisation Programme. This was followed by an overview of the Sin-gapore National Young Professional Programme by Mr Benjamin Koh from the National YP Committee.

sponded with applause and took to the floor to express gratitude for the work of IES Council 2015/2016. In a simple ceremony that fol-lowed, Er. Chong passed the sym-bol of office – the President’s Medal – over to Er. Edwin Khew, formally installing him as the 26th IES President. “I am fully confident that IES will grow stronger under his (Er. Khew’s) leadership. We have worked so closely together in the past year that when he takes over, it will be a seam-less transition,” he commented. Taking to the podium, Er. Khew sketched out three strategic thrusts for IES, which he and the newly-ap-

pointed Council will strive to work towards: Membership growth, rais-ing the profile of engineering as the profession of choice, and to cement IES’ position as the preferred part-ner for engineering matters. In addition, Er. Khew will also focus on the softer aspects of engineering, especially in promoting social and en-vironmental responsibility amongst IES members and encouraging young engineers to be more enterprising. “We will place greater emphasis on using our engineering knowledge and skillsets to help the needy in the society and to make their lives better ; and to promote environ-

mental consciousness amongst our members. This will be very much in line with our mission, which is to enhance the well-being of mankind through engineering,” he said. Er. Khew ended his inauguration speech by encouraging all present to become more active contributors to IES as well as the engineering community.

IES Council Members for Session 2016/2017 (Back row, left to right): Mr David So, Mr Tan Sim Chuan, Dr Zhou Yi, Er. Ng Say Cheong, Mr Dalson Chung, Mr Joe Eades, A/Prof Lee Poh Seng, Prof Chan Eng Soon,

Ms Jasmine Foo, Mr Norman Lee, Er. Tan Seng Chuan. (Front row, left to right): Er. Ong See Ho, Dr Yeoh Lean Weng, Er. Dr Lee Bee Wah, Er. Chong Kee Sen, Er. Edwin Khew, Dr Boh Jaw Woei, Er. Joseph Toh,

Er. Chan Ewe Jin, Mr Mervyn Sirisena.

Er. Chong passing the baton over to Er. Khew.

continued on next page

Members are kindly reminded that the Annual

Report 2015/2016 is available online in the Members’ Corner

for your perusal.

TSE

National workshop held to let young professionals learn more about standards programme by Amy Sim and Jo Ng

IES UPDATE


Mr Lim Choon Keang (Manag-ing Principal of CKLi:et Architects), Mr Eric Ng (Managing Director of Absolute Instrument Systems Pte Ltd) and Ms Cadence Hsien (Envi-ronmental Engineer, ECOSOFTT) shared on standardisation from a company’s perspective. Next, Lieutenant-Colonel Tong Hong Haey, from the Singapore Civil Defence Force, gave a presentation on a regulator’s perspective on standardisation as well as emerging trends. Associate Professor Tham Kwok Wai from NUS’ Department of Building, School of Design and En-vironment, also contributed his per-spective on standardisation from an academic’s point of view. Mr Tan Kim Heng (Assistant Vice President, Mechanical Centre, Fire Property, TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd) was the final speaker of the work-shop. His topic was ‘Standardisation & Conformity Assessment – Quality Value Chain’. This was followed by a panel discussion led by Mr Chan Kok Way, Chairman of the Building and Construction Standards Committee. The par ticipants also benefitted from the networking oppor tunities and the interactive mock standards development session. With the guidance of the workshop facilita-

tors, Mr K Ramanathan (Director, Sprinkler Fire Systems Pte Ltd) and Mr Tan, the YPs had the first-hand experience of being par t of a Working Group. The workshop was well received,

with many finding the workshop informative and engaging. Through this activity, it is hoped that the YPs will participate in the Singapore Standardisation Programme in the future with less apprehension.

Mr K Ramanathan, guiding the participants on the mock standards development session.

Participants participated in the Mock Standards Development Session to have the first-hand experience of being part of a Working Group.

Speakers and participants of the 2nd National Young Professional Workshop at NUSS Guild House @ Suntec City on 13 May 2016

TSE

IES UPDATE


On its 50th anniversary, IES jour-neys back in time with its founding President, Er. Kenneth Gin, a man whose pioneering work had not only laid down enabling roots for the growth of a stellar institution, but shaped Singapore’s early years of nation-building through civil engi-neering excellence. Er. Gin’s became the founding president of IES at its historic in-augural meeting held at the Public Works Department Sports Club at Kallang on 1 July 1966. Aided by his steadfast stewardship in its early years and his longstanding contribu-tions in the succeeding decades, IES grew in stature as the premier engi-neering institution in Singapore.

Er. Gin’s hallmark selflessness and dedication have set high standards for his successors to emulate. As the first President, he tirelessly initi-ated the setting up of various com-mittees to look into various tasks that would define IES’ future roles. He also remained actively engaged in the institution’s affairs until the turn of the century, playing a key role in transforming IES from a humble set-up of just 166 engineers to the heart and voice of more than 5,000 members today.Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1924, Er. Gin moved to Singapore only in 1956, when he married Dr. Wee Kit Gin, a Singaporean medical doctor, out of a romance that blos-somed from a fishing trip! The relo-cation was a difficult decision for Er. Gin, as it meant foregoing a secure job and the prospect of becoming a partner of a large firm of engineer-ing consultants, Scott & Furphy. But looking back, Er. Gin has no regrets as his move to Singapore gave him the unique opportunity to play a leading role in establishing the basic infrastructure systems of a country that is to become a global economic powerhouse and one of the world’s most livable cities. Er. Gin’s contributions to Sin-gapore as a civil engineer star ted in 1956 when he was one of the project engineers for the Merdeka

The following three stories/interviews were first published in the IES 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Souvenir Magazine.

Er. Gin, first President of IES (1966/1968)

Er. Gin appointed as the general manager of the Public Utilities Board in 1966

Tribute to Er. Kenneth Gin, Founding IES President IES’ illustrious 50-year journey began with one of Singapore’s most eminent pioneer engineers: Er. Kenneth Y D Gin

IES UPDATE


Bridge over the Kallang River - the longest bridge in Singapore measur-ing 2,000-feet in length and with 80-feet spans. His job involved the manufacturing and erection of the pre-stressed concrete beams for the bridge. Er. Gin’s career turning point came when he was appointed the deputy director of Public Works, Singapore in 1959. Singapore was going through an exciting phase of infrastructure development then to support its rapidly growing popula-tion and expanding economy. During his seven years at PWD, Er. Gin saw the completion of note-worthy engineering projects includ-ing the Paya Lebar airport terminal, the iconic Market Street multi-sto-rey carpark, Singapore’s first pe-destrian underpass at Connaught Drive; as well as the initial phases of the Pan Island Expressway and the Mass Rapid Transit system. He continued to make remark-able contributions to Singapore over the next few decades, from public infrastructure to public utili-ties to building development. Dur-ing this period, he took on key roles as the general manager of the Public Utilities Board in 1966, group general manager of Singa-pore Land & Investment in 1970 and the first general manager of the Sentosa Development Corpo-ration in 1973. “I feel very lucky to be able to contribute to Singapore’s nation-building journey. It is a pleasure to have played a small role in helping Singapore transform from a back-water colony to a country with ex-cellent infrastructure,” Er. Gin said humbly. Looking at his extraordinary achievements, not many people would have guessed that Er. Gin’s engineering career did not star t easy. None of his family members,

relatives or friends had a background in engineering back in the 1920s. This meant that he had to find his own way to obtain a Civil Engineering degree at a young age to pursue his passion for mathematics. Upon grad-uating with an engineering degree from the University of Melbourne in 1945, he also had to wait five tedious months before landing his first job with a consulting engineer, due to the scarcity of jobs in post-war Australia.

Er. Gin hopes that the younger generation of Singapore will carry the same passion for engineering as Singapore crosses into its second 50 years of development. He be-lieves that Singapore’s future devel-opment will hinge on engineers and that the society will have much to benefit from engineers. “The rapid and successful de-velopment of Singapore over the last few decades is due in no small part to the contributions of engi-neers. The modern buildings, the new roads and highways, the port and airport developments and the mass rapid transit system are typical examples. Engineers can take pride that they have made very valuable contributions to Singapore's eco-

nomic development,” said Er. Gin. “Moving ahead, there remains in Singapore and the world around us, a huge reservoir of work for engi-neers, not restricted as in the historic past, to engineering alone. Today, we have different opportunities, which require changes in our thinking. With imagination, initiative and resource-fulness, such opportunities are well within the ambit of the engineers' capabilities,” added Er. Gin. On IES’ golden jubilee celebra-tions, Er. Gin believes that IES has made huge strides in its role as the heart and voice of engineers over the last 50 years. He hopes that IES will continue its good work and carry on the legacy laid down by its founders. To IES, their founding President is not just a link to the past but an inspiration for the newer genera-tion. His values, commitment and courage in steering IES through the unknown in its early years will serve as a driving force in advancing IES towards a brilliant future.

There remains in Singapore and the world around us,

a huge reservoir of work for engineers … Today, we have different opportunities, which require changes in our thinking. With imagination, initiative and resourcefulness, such opportunities are well within the ambit of the engineers' capabilities.

“

”– Er. Kenneth Gin

Er. Gin at home, April 2016

IES UPDATE


ABOUT SINGAPORE1. In your opinion, what are some of Singapore’s great-est achievements in engineer-ing during its first 50 years of growth?All the infrastructure around us - from the transport system, the wa-terworks, airports and seaports to the reservoirs and dams, you name it - they all involved engineering. So I can’t name just a few. 2. How has engineering changed our past?It is estimated that about half our economy relies on engineers. So Singapore’s remarkable success sto-ry and indeed world-wide progress to where it is today would not have been possible without engineers. And you can see the value of en-gineering not only in infrastructure development but in problem-solving, strategising and analysing. For exam-ple, many top leaders in politics and finance were trained as engineers. In our current Cabinet alone, DPM Teo Chee Hean, Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Minister Yaacob Ibrahim, Minis-ter Lim Hng Kiang, Minister Gan Kim Yong, Minister Masagos Zulkifli and

Acting Minister Ng Chee Meng all have engineering degrees. As men-tioned earlier, engineers are trained to look at problems holistically, anal-yse the issues, find solutions, trouble shoot and iron out the kinks – which are essential skills for leaders to have. 3. How will engineering change our future?Engineers will play a big part in our move towards a Smart Nation and continue to be essential to our econ-omy. We are moving into higher tech-nology, fintech, drones, audio recogni-tion, cyber security which will change the way we live. Hence, the govern-ment is recruiting more engineers and giving them better career paths, so that they will continue to play a big part in our government and the bulk of them will remain in the profession to contribute to our country. 4. Do you see female engineers playing a bigger role in Singa-pore’s future?Yes. More women are becoming en-gineers. I hope women will overcome stereotypes and become the equal of men in the engineering field. Engineering is not about gender. It’s about your aptitude for the profession; your ability to identify problems; as well as your analytical, communication, decision-making and leadership skills.ABOUT IES1. Do you think IES has ac-complished its vision as the heart and voice of engineers and the national body and home for engineers in Singa-pore in the past 50 years?I am very happy that IES has grown in its role as the voice for engineers in Singapore. IES has grown with our nation. As Singapore develops, the

quality, quantity and the need for dif-ferent disciplines of engineers will ex-pand and rise dramatically. IES must help our nation to achieve this. In the past, IES has done so by improving in-dustry standards, nurturing new fields of engineering, and improving the recognition for engineers. IES has also been encouraging engineers to take an interest in social causes, like caring for the disabled and the environment. The work of IES has helped to make engineers more visible in Singapore. 2. What do you hope for IES to achieve for Singapore’s future?As Singapore progresses into the next 50 years, engineers will continue to play a critical role in nation-building not just as professionals in their field of expertise but also in the social and political well-being of our coun-try. I hope IES as a professional body will continue to be the voice for en-gineers and play a bigger role in the national policies.3. What are your personal wishes to IES for reaching this milestone?I hope IES keeps up the good work in all the aspects mentioned and con-tinues to be a key part of Singapore’s success. I also hope that IES continues to engage the government through various platforms so that they can work together for the common goal of putting Singapore on the forefront in economic, infrastructure and tech-nological development. ABOUT YOURSELF1. What is the significance of your appointment as the first woman IES president in 2008, and the only woman president in IES’s 50-year history?It signifies that IES values woman en-

Er. Dr. Lee Bee Wah

IES 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Souvenir Magazine

Interview with Er. Dr. Lee Bee Wah, first female President of IES

IES UPDATE


gineers. Gender is no longer a handi-cap - women can be good engineers and contribute to society just like the men. I hope there will be another woman president soon!2. What are some of your proudest contributions during your two-year IES presidency? Can you recall some of the most uplifting moments?In the years when I was president, I believe IES was able to raise its profile and become more visible through the media, as well as in Parliament when I raised professional issues. I think to-day IES is in the good hands of a team of new leaders and it is for them to bring IES to the next level. 3. How did it feel to be the first female president of IES?

I felt very honoured and I hope I have become a role model for women engineers at large. I was also the first Singaporean to be awarded the title of Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers (“IStructE”) in the United Kingdom. 4. What advice would you give to young female students who are considering taking up en-gineering as a course of study or as a career? There is a perception that women are not as good in mathematics and science, making them not as good as engineers as men. This has been scientifically proven to be an errone-ous perception. If you are interested in engineering, take the plunge. It has been an interesting and reward-ing career for me, especially when

I could use my knowledge to help other people in the community. For example, I use my engineering training to solve problems and to improve the lives and living environ-ment for my residents. 5. What are some things you wish you had done as the IES President but did not get the opportunity to do so?I always believe in appreciating the moment and doing my level best. Never look back! So to me, nothing had stopped me from wanting to do what I could have done then. I ap-preciate the support that I had from my fellow council members, the staff and the general membership. It was a memorable experience to helm IES as its first woman president.

ABOUT SINGAPORE1. In your opinion, what are some of the biggest contri-butions that engineering has made to Singapore in its first 50 years of growth?Though having not experienced it personally, we have learnt of Singa-

pore’s transformation from a small nation, with little basic amenities and resources, to a thriving island city state that it is today. Some of the biggest contribu-tions made by engineering in Singa-pore are the very essential and fun-damental blocks needed for us to go about our daily lives comfortably. These essentials are sometimes overlooked and taken for granted. 2. What would you like to say to the pioneer engineers who have laid the foundation of growth for our nation’s econ-omy, infrastructure and our lives?I would like to sincerely thank our pioneer engineers for laying down the foundation for us to build upon. Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”.

3. How has engineering changed the lives of people of your generation?Engineering has improved our quality of life and will continue to do so. Engineering has allowed us to stay connected through physi-cal transpor tation of people and goods, information exchange, and mobility across countries and economies. This has opened up plenty of oppor tunities for our generation.

4. What do you think are the greatest opportunities for young engineers in Singapore?Great opportunities can be found in the civil infrastructure sector that is being expanded in Singa-pore, such as the air, sea and land transport sectors. For example, the eastern part of Singapore - Changi

IES 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Souvenir Magazine

Interview with Mr Tan Sim Chuan, Deputy Chairman, Young Engineers’ Committee

IES UPDATE


East - is introducing a new mega air-port passenger terminal, Terminal 5; while the western part of Singapore – the Tuas Terminal is seeing a mega seaport being developed. Additionally, smart nation ini-tiatives have given rise to oppor-tunities to enhance the “software” aspect of the “hardware” or the physical infrastructure that has largely been formed. There is much room for creativity and to explore ways of making better use of what is available to us. ABOUT IES5. Do you think that IES has played a significant role in Singapore’s past engineering achievements? IES plays a crucial role in foster-ing and maintaining the community spirit of engineers in Singapore. It is a place where engineers can gather and share ideas on an equal and neutral platform and with respect for each other as engineers. It is im-portant for IES to continue to bring engineers from various sectors and background together to discuss ideas and in doing so, contributed to Singapore’s past engineering achievements.

6. Do you think IES is keep-ing up its relevance for the younger generation of engi-neers?Personally, I see that IES is adapt-ing to the changes and needs of the younger generation. IES works with various partner agencies, in both private and public sectors, on many initiatives to enthuse and attract the young into the field of engineer-ing by conducting seminars, forums, technical visits and programmes. The launch of our Young Engineers Leadership Programme, jointly or-ganised with NTUC, is one such example.

ABOUT HIM7. How do you hope to make Singapore’s future better as an engineer?I believe that engineering is not about a job working in silo. Through IES, I hope to be exposed to di-verse engineering knowledge and ideas, meet like-minded engineers at conducive networking platforms and applying the multi-disciplinary knowledge acquired to enhance the engineering work that I do.

8. What motivated you to join IES? Why should young engi-neers do the same? As the national society of engi-neers in Singapore, IES is naturally one of the best places where one can network and interact with fel-low like-minded engineers and have opportunities to learn from the se-nior members in IES who possess a wealth of experience. Another great way to learn is to serve in the com-mittees that work together on the various initiatives carried out in IES.

9. In what ways do you think you have contributed to IES as the Young Engineers’ Com-mittee Chairman? What do you aim to achieve moving forth?I guess one of my biggest contribu-tions is lowering the average age of the membership profile in IES! On a more serious note, I hope to encour-age more fellow young engineers to join IES through its various initiatives and activities, give a little of our time and energy to add to the good work of IES, tap upon the experience to grow in our personal careers and ul-timately contribute to the society-at-large in various areas of engineering.

Mr Tan (second from right) hosting a visit by his counterparts from The Institution of Engineers Malaysia.

ADVERTORIAL

IES UPDATE


The “Bulletin of The Institu-tion of Engineers, Singapore” can be considered the mother of all publications – it con-tained technical articles, as well as membership reports and institution news.

ca. 1972 – 1983

ca. 1960s – 1990s

ca. 1997 – 2000 ca. 2000 – 2006

ca. 1984 – 1994

ca. 1990s – 2001

IES Publication HistoryOver the years, IES has made use of many platforms to communicate with and encourage participation from the membership base. In the final instalment of our six-part series on IES’ history, The Singapore Engineer looks at the how IES publications have changed over the years.

IES UPDATE


The list of members, as well as the President’s Report for the year, were consolidated in the IES Year Book. The first book was produced for Council Session 1972/1973. As IES grew in membership, it was only logical to have its list of members as a standalone publication. This became the IES Engineering Directory, which has lasted to the present.

Technical articles were consolidated into the IES Jour-nal, which focused on different disciplines in each issue, published quarterly. In 2008, IES partnered with interna-tional journal publisher Taylor & Francis to produce The IES Journal Part A: Civil & Structural Engineering. This journal had a print run of eight years, until the contract expired in 2015.

The Singapore Engineer had its beginnings in the late 90s as IES sought to provide a platform to advertise events and to report on those that have already oc-curred. As IES grew, the volume of editorial coverage increased, and the inaugural issue of TSE as a magazine was delivered in May 2000 (second from left). The masthead evolved over the years to become the one ever y member is familiar with today.

ca. 2006 – 2008

ca. 1995 – 2009

ca. 2002 – 2007

2010 – present

2008 – 2015

ca. 2008 – 2012 2012 – present

IES UPDATE


The IES Annual Repor t (2008/2009 edition pictured), which summarises the accom-plishments of each council session and the financial health of IES, has existed as a separate publication since the early 2000s. In our effor t to go ‘green’, a greater emphasis has been placed on delivering it through the Internet, saving on paper consumption.

To recognise the achievement of engineers and to showcase them as role models for the young, special publications such as “Who’s Who In Engineering Singapore” were pro-duced. Two editions were published in 2007 and 2013, containing the profiles of many eminent engineers of the time. IES has also produced special publications related to the flag-ship events we have hosted, such

as WES and NED (Summit pro-ceedings and programme booklet pictured respectively). Last but not least, as a physical record of our storied history, IES has come up with commemora-tive magazines for impor tant cel-ebrations such as the IES Annual Dinner (2015 edition pictured), and milestones such as the of-ficial opening of the IES Green Building @ Bukit Tinggi.

Other publications

COVER STORY


Recognising Engineering ExcellenceThe Singapore winners of the ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award represent the constantly increasing capabilities of the republic’s engineers, as well as the vision of organisations implementing these highly acclaimed projects.

The Institution of Engineers, Singa-pore (IES) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee which significantly, follows closely after Singapore’s 50th year of independence. It would be fitting, at this point, to try and record the nation’s engi-neering achievements and the con-tributions of engineers in the design, execution and operation of these projects. However, this is a daunting task as there are innumerable small, medium and large projects, imple-mented by public and private sec-tor organisations, and by academic and research institutions, as well as the work of individuals, all of which, have played and are playing an im-portant role in the economic and social development of the country. On its part, IES has been giving recognition to engineering achieve-ments in Singapore, through the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards, which are presented every year. Whilst honouring the organ-isations and individuals behind the award-winning projects, the awards also serve to encourage even great-er innovation and successful delivery of more complex projects. Further, IES submits projects, se-lected from among the winners of the IES Prestigious Engineer-ing Achievement Awards, for the ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Awards. Nominations are invited from all 10 national mem-ber organisations of the ASEAN Fed-eration of Engineering Organisations (AFEO) for these Awards which are also given out every year, at the Con-ference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (CAFEO). The conference is held with each AFEO national member organisation hosting it, on a rotational basis.

ASEAN-level honours for Singapore projectsThe Singapore winners of the ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Awards could be con-sidered as a representative sample of the country’s engineering capabilities. They clearly underline the expertise in such diverse areas as biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, educa-tion and research, urban planning, building & construction, marine &

offshore engineering, infrastructural engineering, and electrical & elec-tronics engineering.

ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award The ASEAN Outstanding Engi-neering Achievement Award rec-ognises organisations or persons responsible for projects that signif-icantly contribute to the progress of engineering and to the quality of life in ASEAN. In making the se-lection, special consideration is giv-en to the contribution to the well-being of people and communities; resourcefulness in planning and in the solution of design problems; pioneering use of materials and methods; innovations in planning, design and construction; unusual aspects; and aesthetic values.

AFEO The ASEAN Federation of Engi-neering Organisations (AFEO) in-cludes 10 member organisations from ASEAN. They are Pertubuhan Ukur Jurutera & Arkitek (PUJA), Brunei; Board of Engineers Cam-bodia (BEC); Persatuan Insinyur In-donesia (PII); Lao Union of Science and Engineering Associations (LU-SEA); The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM); Myanmar Engineer-ing Society (MES); The Philippine Technological Council (PTC); The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES); The Engineering Institute of Thailand (ETT); and Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA).

My Waterway@ Punggol. Image by HDB.

Eyefly 3D. Image by A*STAR.

COVER STORY


SINGAPORE WINNERS OF THE ASEAN OUTSTANDING ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Year Organisation / Individuals Project

2003Defence Science & Technology Agency, ST Electronics and Chartered Electro-optics

SARS-Combating Innovations: IFSS & C-T&T

2004 Aromatrix Technologies Pte LtdBioscrubbers: A Cost Effective and Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Chemical Scrubbers

2005 PUB Singapore Deep Tunnel Sewerage System In Singapore

2006 Professor Seeram Ramakrishna Nanofibres and their Applications

2007 PUB Singapore Marina Barrage in Singapore

2008 Housing & Development BoardEnhancing Sustainable Construction through Innovative Prefabrication Solution - The Spiral Connector System

2009 Keppel FELS LimitedSemi-Submersible Drilling Tender Designs (SSDT) Breakthrough New Deepwater Concept

2010 JTC Corporation and Jurong Consultants Pte Ltd Reclamation and Infrastructure Development of Jurong Island

2011 ST ElectronicsAdvanced Command, Control & Communication (C3) Solution For Railway Systems

2012 Housing & Development Board My Waterway@ Punggol

2013

JTC Corporation one-north

Nanoveu Pte Ltd, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering - A*STAR, and Temasek Polytechnic

Eyefly 3D - Making 3D Available for Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere

ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems), Changi Airport Group, and Institute for Infocomm Research - A*STAR

AgilFence Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS)

2014Singapore LNG Corporation

The Singapore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal

Institute for Infocomm Research - A*STAR WhiteRange Radio

2015

NUS and King Abdullah University of Science & Technology

Innovative Hybrid Membrane Dehumidifier (MD)-Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) System All-Weather Airconditioning Without Compressor

Institute for Infocomm Research - A*STAR Speak to Me in My Language

Samwoh Corporation Pte Ltd Samwoh Eco-Green Building

Building Research Institute, Housing & Development BoardTowards Better Living and Greater Sustainability through ‘Smart Planning’ - Urban Environmental Modelling (UEM)

JTC Corporation Jurong Rock Caverns

COVER STORY


Project: SARS-Combating Innovations: IFSS & C-T&T Organisations: Defence Science & Technology Agency, ST Electronics and Chartered Electro-opticsThe joint team of engineers from the Defence Science & Technology Agency, ST Electronics and Char-tered Electro-optics was honoured for harnessing technology innova-tively to develop solutions that con-tributed to Singapore’s fight against SARS. The award was given for two inno-vations - the Infra-red Fever Screen-ing System (IFSS) and the Contact Track & Trace System (C-T&T). The Infra-red Fever Screening System enables large groups of people to be screened for SARS efficiently, effectively and non-intrusively at the air, land and sea checkpoints in Singapore. It gener-ated world-wide interest and at the height of the SARS outbreak, it was deployed at Toronto, Hong Kong, Beijing, Taipei and other cities. The system thus helped to curb cross-border spread of SARS. The Contact Track & Trace Sys-tem records the movement of staff, patients and visitors at hospitals. In the event of a suspected SARS out-break, it provides a speedy and reli-able means for contact tracing. All relevant information of the contacts will be available at the touch of a computer button. The two innovations have several common attributes.• Both represent first-ever innova-

tive uses of relevant dual-use tech-nologies for purpose-built solutions to contain the spreading of disease. Both innovations provided timely, user-friendly and public-friendly solutions that overcame the short-comings of existing alternatives.

• The innovations were conceptual-ised, developed, tested and opera-tionalised within a week. The results demonstrated the resourcefulness, teamwork and commitment of the engineers involved.

• Both innovations showcased the collaborative spirit of various gov-ernment agencies and private companies, and their ability to re-spond quickly to a national crisis.

• Both attracted extensive media coverage and contributed towards boosting public confidence and en-hancing Singapore’s reputation as a responsible country.

Project: Bioscrubbers - A Cost Effective and Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Chemical ScrubbersOrganisation: Aromatrix Technologies Pte LtdAroBIOS is a biological process tech-nology for the control of odorous gases, particularly from municipal waste water treatment facilities. Un-like conventional gas scrubbers, the AroBIOS technology does not re-quire the use and storage of chemi-cals, making it a more environmen-tally friendly odour control method. The AroBIOS process has been proven and tested at several waste-water treatment plants worldwide.

Project: Deep Tunnel Sewerage SystemOrganisation: PUB SingaporeThe Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) project is an innovative and cost-effective solution to meet Sin-gapore’s long-term needs for used water collection, treatment and dis-

posal. It is conceptualised as a means to relieve land use in land-scarce Sin-gapore and also to convey and treat used water reliably. The first phase of DTSS was com-pleted in 2008, and consists of a pan-is-land deep tunnel sewer and a network of link sewers to convey used water by gravity to a large water reclamation plant (WRP) at Changi for treatment. The treated effluent is then discharged through a deep-sea outfall, or further purified to produce NEWater (high-grade reclaimed water). PUB is now extending the system to cover the western part of Singapore under Phase 2 of the DTSS, which is expected to be completed by 2025. When fully completed, the DTSS will streamline the used water net-work with three centralised collection and treatment points: Changi WRP in the east, Kranji WRP in the north and Tuas WRP in the west. This will free up prime land used by the existing plants and pumping stations, as well as the buffer zones surrounding the plants, shrinking the land occupied by used water infrastructure by 50%. In the long run, due to econo-mies of scale, it becomes more cost-effective to implement DTSS than to continue to upgrade and expand existing plants. The DTSS forms an integral part of the water loop, allowing PUB to chan-nel used water to WRPs and then on to NEWater factories where high grade reclaimed water is produced thus securing a sustainable source of water supply for Singapore.

Deep Tunnel Sewerage System. Image by PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency.

COVER STORY


Project: Nanofibers and their Applications Individual Award Winner: Professor Seeram Ramak-rishna, FREng

Professor Seeram Ramakrishna, FREng, is the Leader of Future of Manufacturing Initiative, and Director of Center for Nanofibers and Nano-technology at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is well-known worldwide in the domain of nanofibers and nanomate-rials. He is a Highly Cited Researcher in Materials Science. Thomson Re-uters placed him among the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds. He co-authored ~1,000 articles which attracted ~55,000 citations and ~110 H-index. His research has been translated into products. Professor Seeram is an elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), UK; Singapore Academy of Engineering; and Insti-tution of Engineers, Singapore; Na-tional Academy of Engineering, and ISTE, India; ASEAN Academy of En-gineering & Technology; American Association of the Advancement of Science; ASM International; American Society for Mechanical Engineers; American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering, USA; Bio-materials Science and Engineering (FBSE); as well as Institution of Me-chanical Engineers and Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, UK. He has received numerous hon-ours and recognitions including the IFEES Presidents’ Global Visionary

Award; LKY Fellowship; NUS Out-standing Researcher, Singapore; IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award, and ASEAN Outstanding En-gineering Achievement Award. His academic leadership positions at NUS include that of Dean of Fac-ulty of Engineering, Vice-President (Research Strategy), Director of NUS Enterprise, Director of NUS Industry Liaison Office, Co-Director of NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, Director of NUS Bioengi-neering Initiative, and Chairman of Solar Energy Research Institute of Sin-gapore. He served as a board mem-ber of several national organisations in Singapore. He has also served the global community in various capaci-ties including as Founder of Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC), Vice-President of International Fed-eration of Engineering Educator Societies (IFEES), and Board Mem-ber of Asia Society for Innovation & Policy (ASIP). He writes Op-Eds and has authored the book ‘The Chang-ing Face of Innovation’. He received a PhD from the University of Cam-bridge, UK and has pursued general management training at Harvard University, USA.

Project: Marina Barrage Organisation: PUB Singapore Marina Barrage is a dam built across the Marina Channel, creating Singa-pore’s first reservoir in the city. The 15th reservoir, Marina Reservoir, has the largest and most urbanised catchment, at 10,000 hectares.

Marina Barrage is the result of former Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s vision of a freshwater reser-voir, created by damming the mouth of the Marina Channel. The barrage, which comprises a series of nine crest gates, is built across the 350 m wide Marina Channel to keep out seawater. With the barrage in place, the Marina Ba-sin has been turned into a body of freshwater through natural flushing over a period of time. The freshwa-ter is treated using advanced mem-brane technologies to ensure that it is safe for drinking. Water from local catchment is one of Singapore’s Four National Taps, with the other three being imported water, NEWater and desalinated water. Marina Barrage is also part of a comprehensive flood control scheme to alleviate flooding in the low-lying areas in the city, such as Chinatown, Boat Quay, Jalan Besar and Geylang. The barrage separates the reser-voir from the sea. During heavy rain, the steel gates are opened to release excess storm water into the sea when the tide is low. However, when it is not possible to do so during high tide, drainage pumps will pump out excess storm water into the sea, at a rate of up to 280 m3/sec. As the water in the Marina Basin is unaffected by the tides, its water level is kept constant all-year-round. This will make Marina Reservoir an ideal venue for all kinds of rec-reational activities such as boating, windsurfing and water-skiing.

Marina Barrage. Image by PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency.

Professor Seeram Ramakrishna

COVER STORY


Project: Enhancing Sustainable Construction through an Innovative Pre-fabrication Solution - The Spiral Connector systemOrganisation: Housing & Development BoardHousing & Development Board (HDB) has, over the years, devel-oped and implemented its own fully prefabricated building system, as part of its efforts to increase build-ability, improve productivity, reduce material wastage and ensure safety in construction works, in order to achieve sustainable construction. Towards the late 1990s, the use of precast concrete was extended to critical structural concrete ele-ments such as columns, beams and lift shafts. The Spiral Connector system was developed as a safe, reliable, cost-effective connection system for splicing precast components. It embraces the theory of ‘con-crete confinement and shear action’, to generate the required strength for connecting reinforcement bars efficiently. The connector system has under-gone rigorous tests to meet the high performance standards. Unique in its design, it has been patented in Singapore, China and India.

Project: Semi-Submersible Drilling Tender Designs (SSDT) Breakthrough New Deepwater Concept Organisation: Keppel FELS LimitedKeppel FELS’s purpose-built Semi-submersible Drilling Tender (SSDT) has established a proven track re-cord for strong operational perfor-mance particularly in Southeast Asia. The first KFELS SSDT, West Pelaut, was designed and built by Keppel FELS in 1994, and was con-ferred the highly coveted Shell Plat-form Rig of the Year award in 2004 and 2006. The trend-setting drilling ten-der’s successful performance in West Africa proved the design’s resilience and suitability to operate in a variety of challenging offshore environments across the world in-cluding offshore Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose-built KFELS SSDT revolutionalised the way in which drilling tenders operate, allowing them to be deployed next to deep-water floating platforms. With this technology break-through, the KFELS SSDT became the first drilling tender in the world to operate in deep waters of about 1,000 m, in the West Seno field, off-shore Indonesia in 2003, and to be deployed against a Spar platform in the Kikeh Deepwater Field, offshore Malaysia in 2008.

The KFELS SSDT provides mo-bile drilling facilities for wellhead platforms - the vessel has a crane which facilitates the transfer of mo-bile drilling equipment onto the wellhead platform in less than 12 hours. The deployment of mobile drill-ing facilities offers several important benefits, compared to the use of a fixed platform with permanent drill-ing equipment. They include optimi-sation of equipment lifespans, re-duction of environmental footprint and prevention of pollution. The KFELS SSDT has made it possible for two massive floating platforms to work in close proxim-ity of each other without the risk of a major collision. The KFELS SSDT’s superior hull form provides good motion characteristics needed for it to work alongside another floating platform. KFELS SSDT also features superior mooring capabilities and reliable station keeping for better control. In addition, the KFELS SSDT-assisted drilling concept operates on a ‘safety by distance’ principle, offering high levels of safety to operators, especially during a well control or fire incident. Only five to six people are required to run the KFELS SSDT at a time. Should an emergency situation occur, the KFELS SSDT is able to quickly dis-lodge from the other platform and enter into a safe standby position.

KFELS SSDT. Image by Keppel Corporation Limited.

The Spiral Connector System. Image by HDB.

COVER STORY


Project: Reclamation and Infrastructure Development of Jurong Island Organisations: JTC Corpora-tion and Jurong Consultants Pte LtdA group of islets, with a total area of some 118 ha, to the southwest of Singapore, was reclaimed indi-vidually, over the years, by JTC, after its formation in 1968, and allocated to oil refineries and petrochemi-cal companies. By 1986, these is-lets had been enlarged to provide a total land area of some 1,000 ha. But projections of the demand for industrial land showed that there would not be enough land to meet long-term needs. An idea was then put forward, which was to see if the land stock could be increased by joining up the islands, through the reclamation of land over the waters separating the islands, as well as to enlarge and ex-tend the reclamation in the south-west direction, and see to what ex-tent more land can be created over the sea. Working on the vision that it was not impossible, a preliminary plan was drawn up and tested. It was found that the idea was hydro-dy-namically workable.Birth of the petrochemical industryIn 1989, the decision was made to develop a full-fledged petrochemical industry in Singapore and turn it into a world class petrochemical hub. Land had to be found and almost all the infrastructure had to be built from scratch. JTC was already planning to reclaim Jurong Island which therefore turned out to be the perfect place to house this new initiative. JTC was appointed as the government agent to spearhead the project, with the support of many agencies including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Na-tional Development, Economic De-velopment Board, as well as the

then Public Works Department, Ministry of Environment, Public Util-ities Board, Singapore Telecom, and others, without which the project would not have been a success.

ChallengesThere were many challenges in the early days, that had to be dealt with. Engineering work had to be car-ried out to reclaim land from the sea, at the same time taking care of the existing tenants who had to maintain their operations while the reclamation work was being car-ried out. In particular, great care had to be taken to ensure that utility cables and pipes, and production lines, were not damaged; there were no disruptions to the jetty opera-tions; and silt was kept away from the cooling seawater intake system. Owing to the extensive reclamation required, some of the government regulations were ‘put to the test’ when work was carried out. Early in the planning process, a major change was made to the shipping basins. Two of the basins were removed and replaced with a much bigger basin, named the Ban-yan Basin. The feedback was that the two basins could cater for only 20,000 DWT to 40,000 DWT ships, and would not be able to support

a big logistics hub where ships up to 160,000 DWT would dock. The head of this basin was also made larger so that ships could turn around to sail out of the basin. More land was required than was originally planned. Hence, to adjust to the revised project needs, the original Jurong Island had to be enlarged. This could be done if the two single buoy mooring (SBMs) in the Sinki Fairway were removed. Equivalent replacements had to be found for the two SBMs that had to be removed in order to enlarge Jurong Island. The replacements were in the form of two fixed berths. The decision to link Jurong Is-land to the mainland by means of a causeway also presented challenges which were successfully addressed. CustomisationTo meet customers’ requirements, changes had to be made to the Ju-rong Island coastal profile, the exist-ing infrastructure, and private utility lines. As a result, the Jurong Island coastal profile had to undergo sev-eral modifications before it acquired its present shape. Completion The reclamation of Jurong Island was completed in September 2009.

Jurong Island. Image by JTC Corporation.

COVER STORY


Project: My Waterway@ PunggolOrganisation: Housing & Development Board A scenic waterway flowing through the heart of Punggol, My Water-way@Punggol is the town’s cen-trepiece and the key to its transfor-mation into a ‘waterfront town’ of the 21st Century. The first of its kind in Singapore, its design is anchored in environmental sustainability and embraces the three conceptual ele-ments of People, Water, and Green. Taking only two-and-a-half years to complete, the adoption of green construction and environmentally sustainable practices resulted in con-siderable cost savings.

This ‘Venice of Singapore’ is a pic-turesque sanctuary for play and rest. Setting new standards for a better living environment, its meandering 4.2 km promenade integrates seam-lessly with housing, amenities and communal spaces.

A testament to HDB’s commit-ment to create vibrant and sustain-able towns, as well as active and co-hesive communities, My Waterway@Punggol has transformed the aspira-tion of ‘Green Living by the Waters’ into reality.

Project: Advanced Command, Control & Communication (C3) Solution for Railway SystemsOrganisation: ST ElectronicsEvery modern city has a plan for a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network to tackle the problems of congestion and pollution. The implementation of an MRT system and its subsequent operation and maintenance involve large-scale system planning, project management, engineering development, system safety, testing, and integration with multiple sub-systems. The complexities and challenges presented opportunities to ST Elec-tronics, to leverage on its domain knowledge and years of experiences in implementation of MRT systems in Singapore, to develop an Advanced

Command, Control and Communi-cation (C3) Solution for Railway Sys-tems. C3 is a collection of distributed software and hardware systems en-gineered to work collectively to re-alise the three key needs of Control, Command and Communication, in-tegrated into one single and homo-geneous solution for the operator to manage the MRT system efficiently. This high level of integration be-tween the various major compo-nents of a MRT system increases the responsiveness of the system, facili-tates the sharing of information be-tween operators and with the com-muters, and enhances the overall operability of the system on a day-to-day or incident management basis. A team was assembled, whose members possessed expertise from

various disciplines, to embark on the large-scale system development. The team included a Project Management team to manage the schedule, coor-dination with the customer, contrac-tors, interfacing parties and the large resources required for the project, System Engineering team, Soft-ware Engineering team, Safety team, Quality and System Assurance team, Installation team, EMC team, Test and Commissioning team and Safety and Software Assessment team. The journey started in 2003, with the initial funding from the Economic Development Board Innovation De-velopment Scheme. The system was developed in phases to overcome the complexities and meet the cus-tomer’s needs. It was deployed in multiple cities along the way. The major deployment of the Ad-vanced C3 system is in Singapore’s Circle Line. The successful implementation of this system enabled ST Electronics to contribute its expertise in the deploy-ment of MRT supervisory systems overseas, notably for the Beijing Traf-fic Control Centre during the 2008 Olympic Games and for the Guang-Fo MRT lines during the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

My Waterway@ Punggol. Image by HDB.

The C3 Solution for Railway Systems. Image by ST Electronics.

COVER STORY


Project: Eyefly 3D - Making 3D Available for Anyone, Anytime, AnywhereOrganisations: Nanoveu Pte Ltd, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering - A*STAR, and Temasek PolytechnicEyefly 3D, is a thin, flexible screen protector which, when affixed to a high resolution device, turns mun-dane 2D into a glasses-free 3D viewing platform. This extraordinary plastic film of-fers minimal 2D pixelation and is also said to be the first ever acces-sory to achieve 3D in both portrait and landscape modes.

Project: AgilFence Perimeter Intrusion Detection SystemOrganisations: ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems), Changi Airport Group, and Institute for Infocomm Research - A*STARAgilFence is an indigenously de-signed and developed system that

uses Fiber Bragg Grating technology and a unique intelligent adaptive sig-nal processing algorithm. AgilFence is a high performance and cost-effective system, field-proven in Changi Airport and in more than 10 other sites. It is a force multiplier that allows security forces to reli-ably detect, pinpoint and respond to any attempt at perimeter intrusion.

one-north. Image by Ministry of National Development.

Eyefly 3D. Image by A*STAR.

AgilFence. Image by ST Electronics.

Project: one-northOrganisation: JTC Corporationone-north is a 200-hectare master development by JTC Corporation. Strategically positioned near ter-tiary institutions and science parks, its world-class business park facili-ties are built to promote research and development in Biomedical Sci-ences, Infocomm Technology, and Media, supported by strong science and engineering capabilities. The one-north master plan, en-abled by engineering innovations and capabilities, consciously adopts a work-live-play-learn concept for inspiring minds to congregate, col-laborate and create.

COVER STORY


Project: Singapore LNG TerminalOrganisation: Singapore LNG Corporation Singapore LNG Corporation was incorporated by the Energy Mar-ket Authority (EMA) in June 2009 to develop, build, own and operate Singapore’s first LNG terminal. This S$ 1.7 billion terminal is sited on a 40-hectare plot of reclaimed land located next to the Temasek Fair-way, on the south-western end of Jurong Island. It is said to be the first open-access, multi-user LNG terminal in Asia. As a fuel source, LNG plays an important role in helping to address Singapore’s energy challenges of energy security, economic com-petitiveness and environmental sustainability. The Singapore LNG Terminal is therefore a strategic and critical na-tional infrastructure. It allows Sin-gapore to strengthen its energy security by making it possible for LNG to be shipped to Singapore

from anywhere in the world, and then regasified for use by power generation companies and other industries. This reduces the nation’s reliance on piped natural gas. The terminal also serves as a platform and catalyst for LNG to potentially become the country’s next major economic driver and for Singapore to establish itself as

an LNG hub for the region. It can help generate more LNG-related business oppor tunities and create new jobs in the energy sector. In addition, the terminal also suppor ts Singapore’s carbon emis-sion reduction effor ts as natural gas is less carbon-intensive and has lower carbon emissions than oil or coal.

Project: WhiteRange RadioOrganisation: Institute for Infocomm Research - A*STARInstitute for Infocomm Research and Power Automation jointly de-veloped and deployed TV White Space (TVWS) technology, a new paradigm for accessing underuti-lised and precious frequency spec-trum for wireless communication. TVWS devices, with a small form factor and low power consumption, were deployed for smart metering, wireless backhaul, rural connectivity and video surveillance in Gardens by the Bay, NUS and other parts of Sin-gapore as well as in The Philippines and Taiwan. This important achieve-ment puts Singapore in a worldwide leadership position in TVWS deploy-ment and indirectly supports Singa-pore as the second nation, after the US, to have TVWS regulated.

The Singapore LNG Terminal. Image by Singapore LNG Corporation.

TVWS. Image by A*STAR.

COVER STORY


Project: Innovative Hybrid Membrane Dehumidifier (MD)-Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) System For All-Weather Airconditioning Without CompressorOrganisations: NUS and King Abdullah University of Science & TechnologyThe patented MD-IEC cooling technology is both disruptive and game-changing. It serves to reduce carbon and water footprints for megacities and reduces total en-ergy consumption. MD-IEC technology is strategi-cally poised to enable Singapore and the world to improve energy efficiency in all buildings (resi-dential, commercial and industrial sectors). In addition, it has great potential for applications also in confined spaces and mobile ve-hicles, where removing moisture from moist air is critical for both

human comfort and operation of del-icate equipment within field hospitals, armoured personnel carriers, cock-pits of naval vessels and aircraft etc.

Project: ‘Speak To Me In My Language’Organisation: Institute for In-focomm Research, A*STAR‘Speak to Me in My Language’ aims to develop and deploy machine

translation technology to break down the barriers between South-east Asian languages, and enable text and voice communications. The technology represents state-of-the-art translation performance in the US National Institute of Standards and Technology international evalu-ation. The technology has been ad-opted locally and internationally by leading internet companies.

Project: Samwoh Eco-Green BuildingOrganisation: Samwoh Corporation Pte LtdSamwoh Eco-Green Building is said to be the first building in the region to be constructed with up to 100% recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) which is derived from construction and demolition waste. Extensive laboratory testing was done to evaluate the performance of RCA concrete and the findings were published in two renowned journals - Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers, and Magazine of Concrete Re-search, published by ICE Publishing of the UK. An advanced smart structural monitoring system was installed in the building for structural analysis and validation of the performance of RCA concrete. Extensive fibre optic

sensors were embedded in the key structural columns to measure their deformation since the construction phase. The real-time deformations are measured regularly and the col-lected data is checked against the theoretical deformation. The data

collected convincingly proves that RCA concrete performs as well as conventional concrete. The completion of the building marked a breakthrough in concrete technology and has shown the wayto greater sustainability.

‘Speak to Me in My Language’. Image by A*STAR.

Samwoh Eco-Green Building. Image by Samwoh Corporation.

COVER STORY


Project: Towards Better Living and Greater Sustainability through ‘Smart Planning’ - Urban Environmental Modelling (UEM)Organisation: Building Research Institute, Housing & Development BoardSmart Planning aims to help plan-ners improve living comfort of residents and achieve sustainability goals set for towns. Through exten-sive research, HDB developed the Urban Environmental Modelling (UEM) technique, to enable plan-ners, architects and engineers to better understand how urban forms interface with nature and how plan-ning and design can be optimised to enhance the living environment.

It allows planners to simulate the development plans on a ‘Virtual Plat-form’, and enables architects and engi-neers to use the results to develop up-

stream measures to improve human comfort and enhance environmental qualities to achieve a sustainable and highly liveable residential town.

Project: Jurong Rock CavernsOrganisation: JTC CorporationLocated 150 m below the ground, the Jurong Rock Caverns (JRC) is said to be the deepest known un-derground public works endeavour in Singapore to-date, making it an engineering and construction feat. Adding to the complexity was the challenge of having to construct the caverns 130 m beneath the seabed. To bring this project from drawing board to reality, developer JTC as-sembled an international team of ex-perts and specialists and employed cutting-edge construction methods to build five 9-storey high caverns, 9 km of tunnels, and piping networks with supporting utilities. The caverns will be used to store 1.47 million cm3

of liquid hydrocarbons such as crude oil and condensate. The JRC is located beneath Ju-rong Island, Singapore’s energy and chemicals hub. Conventionally, above-ground steel storage tanks are built to store liquid hydrocar-

bons, but these tanks occupy large tracts of land. By utilising subter-ranean storage spaces, the JRC not only ensures the security of the products in storage, it also trans-lates to a saving of approximately 60 ha of land for higher value-add-ed activities such as petrochemicals

manufacturing activities. As a com-mercial underground storage facil-ity, the JRC will complement and enhance the existing network of integrated infrastructure on the island, and further reinforce Singa-pore’s position as a leading global energy and chemicals hub.

Urban Environmental Modelling. Image by HDB.

Jurong Rock Caverns. Image by JTC Corporation.

PROJECT APPLICATION


Advanced technology, combined with the latest generation of inor-ganic matrix composites, includ-ing the Mapei FRG System and the Mapei FRP system (fibre-reinforced, polymer matrix composites), were used for the static consolidation and structural strengthening of the Southern Stack in the workers’ vil-lage of Crespi d’Adda in Capriate San Gervasio, Northern Italy. The Mapei products were used on this project under the constant supervi-sion of the company’s highly qualified technicians, working alongside the Studio Ing. Giovanni Battista Scolari design studio and the S.M.V. Costru-zioni Srl. construction company, right from the very first phases such as taking samples of the materials.

The Crespi d’Adda village takes its name from the Crespi family, cot-ton magnates from Northern Italy. At the end of the 19th century, the industrialists built a modern, “ideal workers’ village” next to their textile factory along the banks of the River Adda. The employees of the factory were each provided with a house with its own garden and vegetable plot and all the utilities required to run the house. Only those who worked in the factory were allowed to live in the village and the life of each person and the entire community rotated around the factory, according to the pace and needs of the factory. On 5 December 1995, UNESCO added Crespi d’Adda village to its

World Heritage List as an “outstand-ing example of a workers’ village, the most complete and best conserved in the whole of Southern Europe”.Structural strengthening and static consolidationThe chimney stack is almost 140 years old and used to be part of the power station. Today, it stands as an imposing symbol of the village of Crespi d'Adda. Taking into account the fact that the chimney was built in 1878, the aim of the project was to intervene on the masonry structure and im-prove its static performance char-acteristics, thereby eliminating the weak points in the structure and making it safer. The renovation work on the tower, which star ted at the

Southern Stack at Crespi d’Adda villageTechnology was combined with high added value for the renovation of this symbolic tower in a workers’ village that has been listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Originally built in 1878, the symbolic tower in the Crespi d'Adda village was recently renovated. The work included structural strengthening and static consolidation.

PROJECT APPLICATION


end of November 2014 and was completed in 2015, also included the restoration and protection of the external terracotta facing wall. The first step was to take samples of the materials and then to check the state of the materials by car-rying out pull-off tests. Then, after carefully preparing the substrates with water jets to remove the ef-florescence and loose material, a layer of PLANITOP HDM MAXI high ductility, pozzolan-reaction, fibre-reinforced mortar was applied by spray, with MAPEGRID G220 alkali-resistant glass fibre mesh embedded in the mortar. The product was ap-plied by starting at the top and work-ing downwards along the length of the chimney. The aim of this first phase was to strengthen the masonry and even out its surface before apply-ing MAPEWRAP C UNI-AX carbon fibre fabric. Metal platforms, made up of a fixed part and a mobile part, were then in-stalled inside the chimney, so that the workers could enter the structure to carry out the maintenance work. The strengthening phase involved applying eight strips of twin-layered MAPEWRAP C UNI-AX carbon fibre fabric (in its 300/20 version) vertically along the entire length of the stack. The next step was to place a series of hoops made from a double layer of the same MAPE-WRAP C UNI-AX fabric inside the chimney, at a pre-set pitch. Four double-layered strips of MAPE-WRAP C UNI-AX fabric were then applied in a spiral pattern along the stretch of the chimney, run-ning from 48.5 m to 65.74 m above the ground (the highest part of the tower). The points where the fabric crossed over were reinforced with extra strengthening ties made from MAPEWRAP C FIOCCO carbon fi-bre cord. The holes used to house the ties, which were necessary to avoid

having to make holes in the strength-eners applied afterwards, were drilled where required before inserting the ties and then sealed temporarily with removable markers. The application sequence, using the wet-on-wet technique, began with the application of a layer of MAPEWRAP PRIMER 1 two-com-ponent, epoxy primer, followed by MAPEWRAP 11 two-component, thixotropic epoxy grout; MAPE-WRAP 31 two-component, me-dium-viscosity epoxy adhesive to impregnate the fabrics; and, finally, MAPEWRAP C UNI-AX fabrics. The last operation was to broadcast

the surface with quartz sand. To form the ties, the stiff part was moulded into shape by impregnating it with MAPEWRAP 21 two-com-ponent, super-fluid epoxy resin, af-ter which the surface was broadcast with quartz sand. Once the resin had set, they were inser ted in the holes and fixed in place with MAPEFIX VE SF styrene-free, hybrid vinyl resin-based chemical anchor. The dry part of the ties was then splayed out and fixed in place over the fabric applied previously with MAPEWRAP 31 and broadcast with quartz sand.

For the structural strengthening of the chimney stack MAPEWRAP C UNI-AX fabrics were used after applying MAPEWRAP PRIMER 1.

MAPEWRAP C FIOCCO cord was applied with MAPEWRAP 21 epoxy resin. Once the resin had set, they were inserted into the holes and fixed in place with MAPEFIX VE SF.

PROJECT APPLICATION


Static consolidationFor the external part of the chim-ney, consolidation work included injecting the cracked areas with a slurry made from STABILCEM su-per-fluid, cementitious binder. The masonry structure of the chimney was repaired by pointing it with MAPE-ANTIQUE MC lime and Eco-Pozzolan based mortar. The same product was used to rebuild the missing areas of brick-work, by mixing the render with special oxides to give them the same colour as the original bricks. CONSOLIDANTE 8020 consoli-dating product was used to anchor the final broadcasting of sand, and then the entire chimney was pro-tected with a coat of ANTIPLUVI-OL S water-repellent impregnator.

Unique challengeThe thing that made this strengthen-ing project special was the logistics involved, because the only way of reaching the top of the chimney was to use scaffolding almost 70 m high.

Also, the choice to use composite materials for strengthening proved to be the only possible route, thanks to their low weight and easy handling, which are particularly im-portant properties, when working at such a great height.

A slurry made with STABILCEM was used to repair cracks on the external sections of the chimney. Final

protection was ensured by ANTIPLUVIOL S.

View of the inside of the chimney after completion of the works.

PLANITOP HDM MAXI is a two-component, ready-mixed, high ductility, pozzolan-reac-tion fibre-reinforced mortar. PLANITOP HDM MAXI is used in combination with Mapegrid G120 and Mapegrid G220 primed alkali-resistant glass fibre meshes or Mapegrid B250 primed alkali-resistant ba-salt fibre mesh, to structurally ‘reinforce’ stone, brick, tuff and mixed masonry structures. The system follows the ap-proach defined by the guide-lines for the approval of FRCM (Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Matrix) systems which stress the importance of obtaining ap-proval for the entire strength-ening package. It may also be used on its own, to restore the texture of masonry or to level and even out the surface of reinforced concrete and masonry.

PLANITOP HDM MAXI

PROJECT APPLICATION


PROJECT DATA

ProjectRenovation of Southern Stack at Crespi d’Adda Village, Capriate San Gervasio, Northern Italy(Year of original construction - 1878)Owner and ClientOdissea SrlProject DesignerStudio Ing. Giovanni Battista ScolariMain ContractorS.M.V. Costruzioni SrlMasonry Restoration ContractorCocciopesto Restauri Sas di Casula RobertoTesterMSC Associati Srl, eng. Danilo Campagna

INTERVENTION BY MAPEI

Period of the Intervention2014 - 2015Contribution by MapeiSupply of products for structural strengthening and static consolidationApplication for Mapei ProductsStructural strengthening -PLANITOP HDM MAXIMAPEGRID G220MAPEWRAP C UNI-AXMAPEWRAP C FIOCCOMAPEWRAP PRIMER 1MAPEWRAP 11 MAPEWRAP 21, MAPEWRAP 31MAPEFIX VE SFStatic consolidation - STABILCEM, MAPE-ANTIQUE MC, CONSOLIDANTE 8020, ANTIPLUVIOL SWebsites for further informationwww.mapei.itwww.mapei.com

A highlight of the strengthening project was the logistics involved, because the only way of reaching the top of the chimney was to use scaffolding almost 70 m high.

This editorial feature is based on an article from Realtà MAPEI INTERNATIONAL Issue 57. All images by Mapei.

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT


The tools of risk registers, heat maps, risk dashboards and so-called ‘war rooms’ are only part of an inte-grated risk management approach that needs to be not only owned by senior management but must percolate and be part of an entire organisation’s risk culture. An integrated risk management system comprises five key parts:• Risk Transparency• Risk Ownership and Strategy• Risk Decisions and Processes• Risk Governance• Risk Culture By adopting these steps, project managers, together with senior design, engineering, commercial and planning personnel, are allowed to focus on the pro-active control and mitigation of risk. Risk is allocated to the best risk owners across the project, allowing risks to be monitored, controlled and mitigated. Risk governance led by top management is the driver of the constituent parts, making risk management a priority in day-to-day work activities. Every organisation strives to con-trol and reduce costs associated with

risk which is unsurprisingly prevalent on major public sector projects. The type of procurement and form of contract should be carefully selected by the client and other stakeholders, to ensure risks are managed by the most appropriate party. There is an ever-increasing demand by clients to transfer the risk of design using Design and Build (D&B) contracts and guarantee cost certainty through the use of Guar-anteed Maximum Price (GMP). Thus, contractors must ensure subcontracts and supply agree-ments reflect the correct level of obligations, liabilities and risks, as contained in the head contract. It is essential for contractors to engage with technically competent and experienced supply chain enti-ties, from subcontractors to suppli-ers and vendors that have a proven track-record of executing projects, on time, to the necessary standards and workmanship. Management should also give due regard to the importance of programme management. The re-cording of actual progress against plans has to be more systematic, with regular updates showing the effects of delays and the impact on overall project completion. The con-trol of time is paramount to effective risk management. In general, most time and cost overruns are avoidable and can be solved by a robust risk management regime that manages risk in all stag-es of the value chain and through-out the life cycle of a project. An integrated risk management system identifies possible risks and assesses the likelihood of occur-rence and impact on a project’s time and cost parameters that are

ultimately controlled by the appro-priate risk owners. Organisations in the construc-tion industry should remain bold and embrace best practices to en-sure nothing is left to chance. By managing risk and providing solu-tions for the delivery of projects, competitive advantage will become the norm.Hill International Hill International is a leading con-struction consultancy firm providing programme and project manage-ment, management consulting, ten-der assistance, dispute mitigation/resolution and construction consul-tancy services to public and private clients worldwide.

Mr Andrew Merrilees

Managing riskby Andrew Merrilees, Director, Hill International Inc

To execute and deliver major public works, it is incumbent that supply chains are properly set-up at the outset and projects are managed appropriately to control risk.

The Aon Asia Market Review 2016 provides a review of events that shaped the insur-ance and reinsurance market in Asia during 2015 and what risk and insurance managers can expect in 2016. The report addresses new risk management solutions to emerging risks that may present challenges to cor-porate entities. It also reiter-ates the impor tant role data & analytics plays in the creation of risk solutions. Within this publication are repor ts on the specialty classes of: Aviation, Captives, Construction, En-ergy, Financial Lines & Casualty, Health & Benefits, Marine, Min-ing, Power, Property, Reinsurance, Structured Credit & Political Risk, Terrorism, and Trade Credit.

Aon Asia Market Review

ADVERTORIAL

MARINE & OFFSHORE ENGINEERING


Asia Pacific Maritime 2016 registers strong participation

Asia Pacific Maritime 2016 (APM 2016), Asia’s premier trade exhibi-tion and conference for internation-al marine, workboat and offshore communities, concluded on an up-beat note amidst strong headwinds and conservative sentiments. Held from 16 to 18 March 2016, the three-day event attracted 14,954 visitors. A total of 1,521 ex-hibitors from over 60 countries and 17 official pavilions showcased their cutting-edge products and technol-ogies on the exhibition floor. Despite the industry slowdown, exhibitors reiterated the impor-tance of participating in a maritime trade exhibition that is Southeast Asia’s largest. One good example is leading maritime engine player, Cummins, who leveraged APM 2016 and unveiled its QSK95 diesel engine in the Asian marketplace for the first time. APM 2016 also saw active Asian participation, including a strong pres-ence from Chinese companies. Wei-chai Power Co Ltd is one such com-pany that believed in the value of participating in APM 2016. The exhibition ground also saw the debut of an Indonesian pavilion, marked by the participation of key associations including the Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA) and the Indonesia Ship-

building and Offshore Association (IPERINDO). A conference track dedicated to Indonesia was also held for the first time at APM 2016 to harness available opportunities in the country. Yeow Hui Leng, Senior Project Director, Reed Exhibitions, organis-ers of APM, said, “The strong par-ticipation from international exhibi-tors and visitors on the ground is especially encouraging. As a plat-form that facilitates networking with prominent players, we believe that such robust interaction has helped establish the momentum for the industry to sail forward when the economy eventually recovers".Conference sessionsThe three-day conference com-menced with an opening keynote by Peter Williams, Secretary of the International Association of Classifi-cation Societies (IACS), who talked about the IACS quality system and highlighted the importance of qual-ity control in today’s more complex and commercially demanding land-scape. Leading APM’s first LNG session was Dr Gan Shaowei, national LNG project leader from the China Classification Society, who shared on harmonising the LNG thrust in the industry. He said that industry

players must star t by first "identify-ing the issues that hinder the pro-motion of LNG. It is only after that, can the industry keep improving and revitalise their policies to make it attractive to the market". Exciting and insightful exchanges were also heard at the market land-scape conference ‘6 questions in 60 minutes’. Peter Sand, Chief Shipping Analyst, BIMCO, said that Asia is at the helm of the world shipping economy, and that it is in a prime position to influence global shipping. He added, “We hold the key to the solutions in the shipping industry, and can balance out the demand situation in the market”. Fellow speaker Mark Charman, CEO of Faststream Recruitment Company, highlighted the glut of jobs available in certain segments of the maritime industry. He said that opportunities abound for electrical engineers, as well as crew on liquid natural gas carriers, cruise ships and oil tankers. He added that workers must work efficiently and constantly enhance their skills to remain em-ployable, concluding, “Change is the common factor in the maritime sec-tor at the moment. We can fight it, or we can roll with it”. The next edition of APM will be held from 14 to 16 March 2018.

Asia Pacific Maritime 2016 featured the products and solutions of 1,521 exhibitors from over 60 countries and 17 official pavilions. The event attracted 14,954 visitors.

Cummins unveiled its QSK95 diesel engine at APM 2016.

MARINE & OFFSHORE ENGINEERING


Maritime leaders call for adoption of technologyMaritime leaders are calling on the industry to adopt new technology as a way to capitalise on opportuni-ties and navigate today’s increasingly complex operating environment. This is the response from CEOs, chair-men and directors of maritime and offshore companies, to a survey con-ducted by Sea Asia in the lead up to Sea Asia 2017. Nine in 10 (94%) of the leaders surveyed believe that it is time for the industry to make the move towards smart shipping while another 81% recognise the importance of Big Data to the future of the shipping and mar-itime industry. Leaders surveyed also highlighted that new technological developments are crucial in helping industry players transform the way their businesses operate sustainably. Chairman of BW Group and the Singapore Maritime Foundation, An-dreas Sohmen-Pao said, “The global economic, political and technological environment is changing, and the mari-time industry needs to change with it. As we look for ways to adapt our business model, forums like Sea Asia provide a good opportunity to ex-change ideas and find new solutions”. Group Chairman of Taiwan’s U-Ming Marine Transport Corp, Douglas Hsu, added that the industry is still at the beginning of this journey. “A small number of industry players are shifting towards smart shipping. However, with technology develop-ing at a fast pace today, it is important that the industry adapts quickly. To encourage this shift, industry players need to realise the benefits of wel-coming technological changes in the industry”, he said. Across the region, the industry is working alongside government and private sector par tners to drive the development of technol-ogy and innovation to help ensure it is well positioned to capture new oppor tunities and navigate new trends and challenges. In Singapore, for example, the

Maritime & Port Authority of Singa-pore’s Maritime Innovation & Technol-ogy (MINT) Fund has been enhanced to include the MINT-PD (Product/Solution Development) scheme. This scheme supports up to 50% of quali-fying costs for projects that seek to develop technology products or solu-tions for the maritime industry. Through this scheme, companies are encouraged to build on existing research and development (R&D) ac-tivities and harness technologies from other industries to develop new in-novations for the maritime industry. Meanwhile, China is encouraging the development of smart ships. In May last year, the State Council an-nounced the ‘Made in China 2025’ policy which highlights the develop-ment of the world’s first smart ship as a priority. Managing Director of Precious Shipping Ltd, Khalid Hashim high-lighted the benefits smart shipping technology can provide. “Smart technologies in shipping will help optimise ship operations and improve ship-to-shore communi-cations and vice versa. For example, new technologies can better enable the communication of loading and discharging schedules, and more im-portantly, give crew members the op-portunity to stay in touch with their loved ones on shore", said Mr Hashim. Industry leaders also commented on the importance of harnessing Big Data. Mr Hashim said: “The collection of Big Data is important in helping ship owners evaluate the performance of their vessels. By utilising the data collected in areas like machinery pa-rameters, fuel consumption and ves-sel speed, ship owners can then look into how they optimise further the capabilities of their vessels”, he said. Big Data is another area where the industry is working with governments and other partners. In Indonesia, for example, the government is bringing together data from 24 ports, to monitor perfor-

mance and ultimately reduce waiting time for ships and cargo. This data will also allow ship owners to monitor their containers in real-time, enabling them to see if they have arrived safely and on time at destination ports. In Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is collaborating with leading IT com-pany, IBM, to create a unified platform which will integrate real-time data and provide a consistent view of data points across MPA. This platform will collect information such as vessel po-sitioning and weather data. Leaders surveyed said that while there are significant benefits from this technology, the initial cost of integrat-ing it is a barrier to adoption. Seatrade Chairman, Chris Hayman, said the industry needs to work to-gether - and with technology compa-nies - to embrace new technologies and find ways to make smart shipping infrastructure more accessible. “Technological developments in the maritime sector, smart shipping and the utilisation of Big Data will be among the topics of discussion at Sea Asia 2017. Maritime leaders will be debating with one another, as well as with experts in the technology field, the benefits of smart shipping and Big Data and exploring opportuni-ties on how best to leverage these new trends with others in the mari-time sector. Sea Asia has traditionally drawn high-level leaders in the global maritime scene, and next year will be no different with some of the big-gest names in the industry debating, discussing and analysing key issues shaping the industry at the three-day event”, he said.Sea AsiaThe 6th edition of Sea Asia, an inter-national conference and exhibition for the maritime and offshore industries, will be held from 25 to 27 April 2017, at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Sea Asia is co-organised by Seatrade and the Singapore Maritime Foundation.

EVENTS


Events on sustainable urban development to be held from 10 to 14 July 2016WCS 2016, the 5th World Cities Summit, SIWW 2016, 7th Singa-pore International Water Week, and CESS 2016, the 3rd CleanEn-viro Summit Singapore, will be held concurrently at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, from 10 to 14 July 2016. The three events will provide an integrated global platform for indus-try leaders, policy-makers and ex-perts to engage in interactions that will help shape the global sustainabil-ity agenda. They will also share best practices for sustainable urban de-velopment, and explore and show-case the latest innovations in water and clean environment technologies. Developing young talent is an-other key pillar, with a series of ini-tiatives that will inspire and nurture future leaders in sustainable urban development. Underpinning all these and tak-ing the integration of WCS, SIWW and CESS to the next level, is the inaugural City Solutions Singapore, a seamless global marketplace to drive end-to-end sustainable devel-opment and enable stakeholders to better meet the growing demand for integrated solutions to address sustainability issues. Since WCS, SIWW and CESS were first organised as an inte-grated global platform in 2012, the events have grown in reach and influence, attracting over 20,000 par ticipants from 133 countries and regions in 2014. Close to S$15 billion worth of projects, tenders, investments and other deals were also announced in 2014, demonstrating the role of this global platform as a market-place to showcase innovative inte-grated solutions across urban plan-ning, water sustainability, and waste and cleaning management.

“Rapid global urbanisation is making it increasingly complex and challenging to plan, build and main-tain the cities in which we live,” said Mr Khoo Teng Chye, joint spokes-person for WCS, SIWW and CESS, and Executive Director of the Cen-tre for Liveable Cities. “To make our cities better for people, we must create synergies across global dialogues, innovations and talent to deliver integrated urban solutions that form the foundation of healthy and resilient cities”, he added.

Shaping the global sustainability agenda Prominent personalities including ministers, mayors and city leaders, NGO representatives and business leaders from around the world will gather at WCS 2016, SIWW 2016 and CESS 2016 to engage in dialogues on improving liveability, sustainability, governance, planning and the use of smar t technolo-gies to create the resilient cities of tomorrow. Key conversations will also be held that will expand be-yond the traditional focus on urban infrastructure. Delegates and participants can be part of these discussions including the Opening Plenary and In-Con-versation sessions, led by high-level dignitaries who will shape the agen-da for the global landscape of cities, water, environment and sustainable development today, against the back-drop of dynamic and complex forces of change. These dignitaries include Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, Singapore; His Excellency Dr Han Seung-soo, United Nations

Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Water, Special Adviser to the High Level Panel on Water, and Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea; Mr Charles O Holliday, Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc; Mr Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chair-man of the Board of Directors, Nestlé S.A; and many more. Mr Larry Ng, Managing Director of World Cities Summit, said, “These high-level discussions and interac-tions will form the foundation for a concerted and integrated effort by global stakeholders to ensure that our cities remain sustainable and liveable. World Cities Summit 2016 is about Innovative Cities of Oppor-tunity and it aims to showcase cities that are models for liveability, with a focus on co-creation between public, private and people sectors to pro-duce innovative solutions for sustain-able development. The summit will also explore smart city innovations and the role of the ‘software’ of the city such as social resilience, com-munity and culture in creating to-morrow’s liveable cities”. City Solutions Singapore presents an integrated platform for dynamic synergies through innovation. The inaugural City Solutions Singapore expo will bring together leading companies and innovative start-ups in the business of urban develop-ment, water, and waste and cleaning management to showcase new and cutting-edge solutions for smart na-tions and urban environments. City Solutions Singapore is a catalyst for new partnerships and business op-portunities with close to 1,000 par-ticipating companies, making it an international marketplace of choice

EVENTS


for stakeholders across the value chain of sustainable development. Visitors can look forward to game-changing technologies and innova-tions at City Solutions Singapore which will include group pavilions such as the Innovation Pavilion and the Smar t Water Solutions Show-case. This year, new country pavil-ions will be included from Turkey, Spain, Scotland and the EU Busi-ness Avenues in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the EU Business Ave-nues in Southeast Asia Pavilion will feature selected European small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) that will use City Solutions Singa-pore as its inaugural platform to launch its business missions in this region. Mr Bernard Tan, Managing Di-rector of Singapore International Water Week, said, “The complex-ity of water issues across the world requires not only the latest tech-nologies, but also a combination of best practices and innovative busi-ness models to address the unique set of challenges faced by different countries and cities. City Solutions Singapore is a step in the right di-rection to bring together the cross-disciplinary technologies, innova-tions and best practices to achieve urban sustainability. Water is one of the most impor tant ingredients for a truly liveable city, and the Sin-gapore International Water Week will continue to be a leading global platform to facilitate and showcase integrated water solutions that can be harnessed and woven into urban planning for more resilient and sus-tainable cities of the future”.

Next-generation industry talents Increasing populations and grow-ing consumption rates indicate the imperative for new innovative smar t technologies that can foster

sustainability in a world of finite resources. The launch of CESS In-novation Pitch at City Solutions Singapore this year is aimed at accelerating commercialisation of exciting new ideas and innovations by the industry’s young talent. It is not only a springboard to poten-tial commercial success for aspiring entrepreneurs, but also a platform for discovering and nur turing ideas and innovations which may even-tually solve real-world sustainable development issues. The Innovation Pitch, a critical pil-lar to complete the integrated sus-tainability value-chain, will feature 10 entrepreneurs and their exciting technologies aimed at converting waste to resources and developing smart solutions for the environment. These include smart systems to reduce food waste, reduce energy consumption and save manpower, and processes to turn waste such as food, plastics, cellulosic material, metal sludge and ash residues into value-added products.

Mr Dalson Chung, Managing Director of CleanEnviro Summit Singapore said, “The interplay be-tween the circular economy of waste and the Internet of Things presents significant oppor tunities for the waste and cleaning indus-tries to boost resource efficiency and bring about broader social benefits. With the next genera-tion of environmental leaders, today’s industr y captains have the scope to co-create practical en-vironment solutions that can ad-dress future needs and strength-en the suppor t infrastructure for commercialisation”. Venture capitalists can inter-act with representatives of en-trepreneurial organisations such as Winnow Solutions, EcoWor th Tech, Envichem Technologies and many more. More information can be ob-tained from www.worldcities-summit.com.sg, www.siww.com.sg, www.cleanenvirosummit.sg

From left, Mr Khoo Teng Chye, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities; Mr Larry Ng, Managing Director, World Cities Summit 2016; Mr Bernard Tan, Managing Director, Singapore International Water Week 2016; and

Mr Dalson Chung, Managing Director, CleanEnviro Summit Singapore 2016. Image by Experia Events.

INDUSTRY NEWS


At BCA AWARDS 2016, held on 26 May at Resor ts World Sen-tosa, 424 awards were given out for achievements in safety, quality, sustainability, productivity and uni-versal design. The event was attended by more than 2,000 industry players. In his Welcome Speech, Mr Lee Fook Sun, Chairman, BCA, elaborat-ed on three factors as being essen-tial to future-proof Singapore’s built environment. These are strong industry part-nership, the industry’s commitment to continue raising overall standards, and the need to continue working

with the industry to transform the sector and attract more locals into the sector. In his speech, Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development, said that we can be proud of the achievements made in the areas of quality and safety, but that we should also look ahead to other areas. He highlighted three broad di-rections for Singapore’s future built environment - an accessible and connected built environment, a green and smar t built environment, and a productive and high-tech built environment.

Built environment industry’s best honoured

EXCERPTS OF SPEECH BY MR LAWRENCE WONG

An accessible and connect-ed built environmentFirst, we must design buildings for all ages and all abilities. I think this is an integral part of what we want to be as an inclusive society. It is also an important strategy to meet the needs of an ageing population. Our demographics are changing very quickly, our popula-tion is ageing and by 2030, the proportion of seniors will double. Gentle sloping ramps, acces-sible toilets - all sorts of things that will go towards Universal Design - these are features that Singapore’s society will need in the future. Today, most of these features are already installed or implemented in our public sector infrastructure, but it still can be better, and certainly in the private sector buildings, there is scope for improvement. For new buildings, certainly Universal Design can be incor-porated at the design stage. We should also make efforts to ret-rofit existing buildings. Besides improving accessibility within the

buildings, we also need to look at accessibility between buildings. A green and smart built environmentThe second strategy is to look at how we can have buildings that are more environmentally friendly. Buildings account for one quarter of total carbon emissions in Singapore. That is not sustain-able and we should really think of being more environmentally friendly. That means having to cut back on energy usage and carbon emissions from buildings. That is why we have been making this push for green build-ings and having all these differ-ent Green Mark cer tifications, to encourage building owners and developers to push for green building features.A productive and high-tech built environmentFinally, we need to push forward with changes to the way we build - how we can be more produc-tive and how we can adopt more high-tech solutions in the way we build. I think we have already

made some improvements in this area, but many of our construc-tion methods are still labour-in-tensive and time-consuming. We must accelerate this move towards a more productive and high-tech built environment sector supported by a skilled workforce. One way to achieve this is to adopt the Design for Manufactur-ing and Assembly approach, or the DfMA approach. Basically, to think about construction as a way of design and manufacturing, so that it can be more productive and high-tech. With the works being mechanised and done off-site, we can build faster, safer, with a leaner workforce and with less impact to the surrounding environment. By changing the way we build, it will not only help us in the built environment sector, in the out-comes that we see for our build-ings and our urban landscape, it will also create better career op-portunities for Singaporeans. It will change perceptions of what this sector is about, and poten-tially it can attract more young people to join the sector.

Mr Lee Fook Sun, Chairman, BCA, welcomes the audience.

Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development, the Guest-of-Honour at the event, delivers his speech.

INDUSTRY NEWS


Onshape introduces full-cloud CAD to SingaporeOnshape, a company that is 100% focused on cloud and mobile CAD, has opened regional offices in Pune, India and in Singapore, signalling its entry into the Asia Pacific markets. “Even though Onshape is only a few months out of beta, engineers and designers in more than 150 coun-tries are already experiencing the benefits of full-cloud CAD”, said Mr John McEleney, CEO of Onshape. “The design and manufacturing world has dramati-cally changed. More often than not, design teams are spread across multiple countries and time zones - and Onshape is the first and only CAD system specifically built for distributed teams”, he added. Built from scratch, using a cloud-based technical ar-chitecture, Onshape has already achieved, what the company claims as ‘historic firsts’ for professional 3D CAD. The company’s 3D CAD system:• Runs on any computer completely within a web

browser (on PC, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook).• Delivers full CAD functionality on phones and tablets

(Apple iOS and Android), and not merely a mobile view.• Provides instant and controlled collaboration and shar-

ing. It is said to be the first CAD system enabling multi-ple people to simultaneously work on the same model.

• Includes built-in version control, eliminating the need for a PDM system.

• Requires absolutely zero IT support (no installation, no licenses and no updates to manage).

• Will soon allow users to customise their CAD sys-tem with FeatureScript, a new programming language that allows one to create one’s own built-in features for Onshape and modify existing ones.

• Offers multiple choices of fully-integrated, cloud-based CAM, Rendering and Simulation tools.

Onshape customers report that the benefits of full-cloud CAD include speeding up production, improving collaboration, increasing innovation, saving time, boost-ing security of one's IP, and saving money on software and hardware. Engineers and designers who use Onshape also say they are now enjoying their jobs more. With no installs, downloads or data management to worry about, CAD users can now primarily focus on the creative process instead of administrative tasks. “Because there are no files to copy - your CAD data and CAD system lives in one central place in the cloud - your intellectual property is now far more secure. You can easily grant and withdraw permission to access your models in Onshape, in contrast to files shared by email”, said Mr McEleney. With automatic upgrades in the cloud every few weeks, Onshape has also eliminated the software in-

compatibility problem that slows down many design and manufacturing partners who share files. Every On-shape user in the world is always on the same version of Onshape - the latest one. Over the last year, On-shape has released 20 ma-jor product updates with more than 175 new fea-tures and enhancements. Users do not need to download anything, they just re-fresh their browsers. The full-cloud CAD system is now approaching 1,000,000 user hours. As a complete engineering solution, Onshape now offers integrated cloud-based CAM, Rendering and Simulation tools through the Onshape App Store. With the convenience of using the Apple App Store or Google Play, Onshape users can try and compare solu-tions for free and only buy what they need. Additional technology partners will be introducing new products in the App Store soon. Onshape’s pricing, which includes a Free Plan and a US$100 monthly Professional Plan, lowers the econom-ic barriers for entrepreneurs and star tups to succeed. But established companies of all sizes are also discov-ering Onshape’s benefits alongside their existing CAD systems. They find value in simultaneous editing, branch-ing with intelligent merging, version control, and having a complete edit history of all activity. Companies worldwide are using full-cloud CAD to speed up the design of consumer electronics, mechani-cal machinery, medical devices, machine parts, industrial equipment, and many other products. More information can be obtained from Onshape.com/customers.

Mr John McEleney, CEO of Onshape.

The Onshape 3D CAD system runs on any computer within a web browser and delivers full CAD functionality on phones and tablets.

INDUSTRY NEWS


Aurecon helps recreate Macau’s skyline

A faithful replica of one of the world’s most recognisable structures now stands in the midst of Macau’s busy centre. The tower is half the size of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and retains many decorative features of the original, including cornice scrolls, balustrades, gussets plates, lattices, staircases and mesh screens around the observation decks. Construction of the Macau Eiffel Tower was completed with a topping out ceremony held on 15 October 2015. The tower will form part of The Parisian Macau, an integrated resort, which is currently under develop-ment by Sands China Ltd, a subsidiary of resorts giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. Global engineering consultants Aurecon was closely involved in the planning and design for the distinctive new structure. The company provided full structural engineering consultancy on the job and helped manage the difficulties of maintaining an authentic design while addressing the challenges caused by extreme weather, a congested construction site, and the anticipated high number of visitors. At the project’s outset, Aurecon provided the draft-ing of the tower using Revit software, which allowed the team to visually represent the complicated design connections in 3D. This made it easier to detect any potential challenges or clashes that might arise during construction even before building work had begun. As a result, time-consuming amendments at the shop drawing preparation or fabrication stage were avoided.

“The key to recreating this iconic landmark has been strong team work and the close collaboration between the design and construction teams”, said Dr Alecs Chong, Aurecon’s project leader on the Macau Eiffel Tower. Dr Chong said the close co-operation between the design and construction teams started at the earliest stages of the project, and delivered efficiency improve-ments from the beginning. “The original structural performance criteria for this project were specified at an early stage and were largely based on the criteria commonly used for conventional office or residential buildings”, he explained. “However, given that the tower behaves as a slen-der, open-lattice structure, some of the serviceability performance criteria were too conservative and after consultation with stakeholders, these were subsequently relaxed. So, clear communication between the design and construction teams, supported with sound technical evidence, delivered an outcome that would allow the de-sign team maximum flexibility”, Dr Chong added.Wind-loading for typhoons Among the biggest challenges for the design team was addressing the issue of typhoons which occur seasonally in Macau. In particular, the design team had to ensure it made the correct critical wind loading calculations for the tower in the event of a direct hit from a typhoon. “We used the Equivalent Static Wind Loads (ESWL) approach developed for towers to determine the critical wind loads”, said Dr Chong.

The Macau Eiffel Tower will form part of The Parisian Macau, an integrated resort, which is currently under development by Sands China Ltd, a subsidiary of resorts giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. Image by Hsin Chong Engineering Macau.

INDUSTRY NEWS


“We also ran a series of studies to investigate the wind-induced dynamic response at the tower’s top peak at various wind speeds. And we then looked at the subsequent impact on human comfort in terms of potential vibrations. Our thorough investigations and scenario planning allowed the project team to ensure not only an aesthetically pleasing and accurate design, but also a safe one”, he added. A further challenge for the design team was account-ing for the very high number of visitors the attraction is likely to draw. In particular, said Dr Chong, they focused on the footbridge that will connect the tower with an adjacent casino complex. “After discussions with the developer, we knew that anticipated visitor traffic on the footbridge would be high as it is the main access point between the ho-tel complex and the tower. As a result, we adopted an acceleration-based vibration assessment method to re-view the bridge’s design, taking into account the loading caused by crowds walking. We used superposition to look at responses caused by various vibration modes to get to an overall vibration response, which we then es-tablished was within acceptable human comfort levels”, he added.Materials and equipmentOutside of the challenges directly linked to the tower’s design, Aurecon and its partners also had to contend with some more practical difficulties related to the con-struction work - specifically, how to get the large steel sections needed for the tower’s construction to the job site and, once there, how to assemble them. “The port of Macau is neither large enough nor deep enough for the vessels that would normally deliver the oversized steel sections needed. As a result, the job had to request for shallow-hulled vessels, but this limited delivery capacity. This, in turn, meant we had to plan the size of the delivery racks, to maximise delivery capacity and minimise delivery costs which were estimated as being anything up to a quarter of the overall material cost”, said Dr Chong. And on the job site itself, there was a challenge pre-sented by the selection of the tower crane needed to place the steel and other building materials. “On a traditional concrete building, the tower crane is attached to the construction as it climbs, offering lateral rigidity so the crane can be raised higher and higher. But because the replica Eiffel Tower is such a slender structure, the suppor t for a regular tower crane is not there. The tower crane selection was therefore a complicated process that required full collaboration between the construction manager, the design engineer and the tower crane manufacturer because we had to select a crane and configuration that would avoid large lateral loads being transferred to the tower”, Dr Chong explained.

The solution came in the form of a luffing jib crane, which can articulate its jib between the horizontal and near vertical angles. Using such a crane, and fitting it with a shorter jib, meant less of the lifting force was distributed laterally and more was directed down the crane’s mast. With a maximum hoisting capacity of 28 t, the crane facili-tated the modular construction method on site, oversee-ing the fast and safe installation of building elements. Overall, being involved in the recreation of the Eiffel Tower at the Parisian Macau Integrated Resort has been a hugely challenging yet rewarding venture for the team at Aurecon. “Recreating the Eiffel Tower using modern steel construction technology is vastly different from work-ing with the wrought-iron that features on the original. Extensive consideration had to be given to disguising the modern steel construction while, at the same time, achieving a cast-iron lattice appearance. It has been im-mensely satisfying to see this truly inspired structure come to fruition. And it has been rewarding to see how the extensive use of advanced techniques such as fi-nite element analysis and 3D drafting and shop drawing preparation have delivered successful solutions for the design, fabrication and erection of the complex lattice geometry on this project”, said Dr Chong.Spectacular viewsStanding next to another distinguishable Sands devel-opment, The Venetian Macau, the replica Eiffel Tower at the Parisian Macau is set to become a landmark feature whilst offering guests and visitors alike spectacular views of Macau’s bustling Cotai Strip.

Construction of the Macau Eiffel Tower in progress. Image by Aurecon.

INDUSTRY NEWS


Autodesk and Trimble sign agreement to increase interoperabilityAutodesk and Trimble have entered into an interoperability agreement aimed at saving customers time and reducing project costs typically as-sociated with workflow inefficiency across different suppliers’ technolo-gies. This will benefit architects, en-gineers and contractors, and impor-tantly, project owners, by enabling more freedom to optimise technol-ogy workflows needed to meet the complex requirements of construc-tion projects. Autodesk and Trimble have a shared goal of meeting the evolving needs of the building and infrastruc-ture industries. Their collaboration demonstrates an ongoing commit-ment to support open industry standards such as Industry Founda-tion Classes (IFC) and Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie), and can enable Autodesk and Trimble customers

working on the same projects to work together seamlessly through optimised file compatibility across applications. Under the terms of the agree-ment, Autodesk and Trimble will take steps to accelerate interop-erability by exchanging Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and developer tools to build and mar-ket interoperable products. This al-lows the two companies to improve upon existing data exchanges, as well as open up new workflows between their products. Tighter product-to-product integration can enable design and construction pro-fessionals to share models, project files and other data between select Autodesk and Trimble solutions both in the office and the field, and allow for the reuse of information throughout all phases of the project, from design to construction.

“The strength of a company is best measured by its willingness to do what is right for its custom-ers and the industry at large. This interoperability agreement, like others we have signed, speaks to Autodesk’s commitment to open-ness. This collaboration with Trimble speaks to our shared dedication to making the building process more efficient and productive for all in-volved”, said Amar Hanspal, Senior Vice President, Autodesk. “This collaboration demonstrates our mutual commitment to provide design and construction profes-sionals with a seamless experience from both Autodesk and Trimble design-build-operate solutions. As a result, all stakeholders across the construction lifecycle can optimise their workflow efficiency”, said Bryn Fosburgh, Vice President at Trimble.

New I-Shift with crawler gears can start off from standstill with 325 tonnes

In the I-Shift with crawler gears, from Volvo Trucks, the new gears, which are added to the automated transmission, provide exceptional startability for trucks carrying heavy loads in demanding situations. Volvo Trucks’ new version of I-Shift makes it possible to add up to two new crawler gears. This means, among other things, that the truck can move off from standstill and transport a gross combination weight (GCW) of up to 325 tonnes. “I-Shift with crawler gears of-fers an entirely new scope for heavy trucks with automated transmission to regulate their speed when crawling slowly and reversing. The driver can haul a heavy load without getting into

situations that may lead to costly standstills”, said Mr Peter Hardin, Product Manager FM and FMX, Volvo Trucks. With the new crawler gears, the truck can drive at speeds as low as 0.5-2 km/h. This helps during pre-cision manoeuvres such as in con-struction and maintenance tasks. “The vastly improved driveabil-ity and startability with the new crawler gears make the driver’s job far easier when operating in dif-ficult terrain on slippery surfaces with heavy loads, such as at con-struction sites, in mines or in for-ests. The heavier the transport op-eration and the poorer the surface or the terrain, the more the driver gains from a truck with crawler gears”, explained Mr Hardin.

Depending on the application area, I-Shift with crawler gears is available with one or two forward

crawler gears. It is also available with or without two reverse crawler gears.

INDUSTRY NEWS


Integration between MAGNET 4.0 and ProjectWiseTopcon Positioning Group and Bent-ley Systems have announced a new level of direct communication be-tween Bentley’s design applications and Topcon mobile work force prod-ucts with the upcoming MAGNET 4.0 release. With the direct commu-nication from MAGNET Enterprise to Bentley’s ProjectWise, users of Topcon’s industry-leading family of MAGNET and 3D-MC software so-lutions can now, while working in the field, access or receive i-models cre-ated by Bentley’s OpenRoads design modelling technology. Furthermore, the survey data and as-built conditions captured by Top-con's field devices can be brought

back into Bentley's design applica-tions using the same MAGNET to ProjectWise direct connection. “The direct connection to Bent-ley’s ProjectWise in MAGNET En-terprise allows project managers to distribute i-models directly to their Topcon field devices”, said Mr Jason Hallett, Topcon’s Vice President of Global Product Management. “With this drag and drop func-tionality, i-models from Project-Wise easily move from the MAG-NET Enterprise Data Manager to your mobile work force”, he added. This integration will allow for di-rect import and export of i-models in MAGNET Field and MAGNET Office products.

Mr Dustin Parkman, Bentley’s Vice President of Product Devel-opment, said, "The integration be-tween ProjectWise and MAGNET Enterprise has opened up endless new possibilities for construction-driven engineering workflows using OpenRoads and MAGNET Office". Bentley SystemsBentley Systems offers software so-lutions for the design, construction and operation of infrastructure.Topcon Positioning GroupTopcon Positioning Group designs, manufactures and distributes pre-cise positioning products and solu-tions for the global surveying, con-struction and other markets.

INDUSTRY NEWS


The first Liebherr 540 HC-L 16/32 Litronic luffing jib crane to be used in Hong Kong has been installed on the re-provisioning of Kennedy Town Swimming Pool. The original pool, which opened in 1974, was displaced by the construction of the MTR West Island Line. A second Liebherr luffing jib unit, the newly released 357 HC-L 18/32 Litronic, has recently been installed. The main contractor on the project is Paul Y Construc-tion Co Ltd. The company is undertaking the work on a HK$671 million contract from the MTR Corporation. Both of the cranes are being used on a rental agree-ment with Liebherr Singapore. The 540 HC-L is one of the heaviest-lift luffing jib cranes in the Liebherr range, having a capacity of 32 t at a jib reach of 15 m, and 5.2 t at the full 60 m jib length. The 357 HC-L can handle a maximum load of 32 t, and 4.0 t at 55 m radius. Mr Wilson Chan, Manager, Liebherr Singapore, said that there is a strong trend in Hong Kong now towards the use of prefabricated building elements, which means that heavier lift cranes are increasingly needed. “Seven Liebherr luffing jib units were brought into Hong Kong last year, including the two that are being used on this project, and that is a record. We have never taken delivery of so many luffing jib cranes in such a short period of time”, he added. Mr Chan said that the restrictions on the site, with busy roads on either side, together with overhead cables supplying power to the trams, meant that luffing jibs were essential. Two cranes are needed because of the long, linear footprint of the site. Architects TFP Farrells have designed the new pool complex, which covers 11,782 m² and is being built in two phases. Phase I, which includes an outdoor secondary pool and a leisure pool, opened in 2011. Phase II is now under construction and will include a multi-purpose pool, a teaching pool and a Jacuzzi. The sleek modernist structure is set beside Victoria Harbour, with views of the ocean from the pool deck, and is located at the entrance to Kennedy Town when approached from Central district. Phase II is currently at foundation stage, with piling, excavation and lateral support being undertaken. Bored piles, mainly 2 m diameter, are being installed, using a rotator for casing installation and reverse circulation drill for rock drilling.

Hong Kong debut for Liebherr heavy-lift luffing jib crane

ADVERTISERS’ INDEXDELTA ENERGY SYSTEMS ––––––––––––––––––– PAGE 37 (SINGAPORE) CO LTD

IMI HYDRONIC –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– PAGE 7 ENGINEERING PTE LTD

INSTITUTION OF –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– PAGE 47 CHEMICAL ENGINEERS (ICHEME)

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SUPER GALVANISING ––––––––––––––––––––––––– PAGE 3

Architects TFP Farrells have designed the new Kennedy Town Swimming Pool complex in Hong Kong as a sleek modernist structure. Two Liebherr heavy-lift

luffing jib cranes are deployed for the construction work.

The Singapore Engineer June 2016

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Transcript of The Singapore Engineer June 2016