A raft of civil engineering projects across the region have been recognised in this year's East Midlands Merit Awards (EMMAs).
Some 26 engineering projects were shortlisted for the five main awards with the winners announced at Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) East Midlands gala dinner.
More than 200 members and guests came together to celebrate the regions civil engineers.
This year’s event was co-hosted by ex-England and Leicester Tigers rugby star Rory Underwood, who was also the guest speaker. Kyle Clough, regional director for Kier Construction and Infrastructure Services, and an ICE vice president, was the compère for the evening, with Matt Huddleston, ICE East Midlands’ regional chair, presenting the awards.
Jo Barnett, ICE East Midlands’ regional director, said: "The standard this year was, as always, extremely high.
"Our judges had a diverse range of projects to consider from all sectors of the industry, drawn from right across the region. Many entries this year also included evidence of the use of innovative techniques and technological developments, such as using drones for the planning of major infrastructure projects.
"Our annual awards play an important role in not only demonstrating the importance of our civil engineers, whose hard work and dedication can often go unnoticed, but in also celebrating the positive impact that civil engineering has on our everyday lives."
These are this year's winners and highly commended projects along with what the judges though of the projects.
The Small Project Award (projects up to £750,000)
Duke’s Lake at Stanford Hall, near Loughborough, in Leicestershire, which was delivered by Cain Bio-Engineering and Arup, scooped the Small Project Award for the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
The team’s soft engineering solution was to repair and upgrade the former country house’s lake to provide surface water attenuation for the newly constructed medical rehabilitation centre.
Using sustainably sourced hardwood in a traditional king post retaining wall design, the project featured bio-engineering techniques to control erosion and for long-term slope stability.
During the programme of works, the team resolved a number of issues including the provision of technical calculations working to Eurocodes (European technical standards), planning activities to work around ecological constraints and effectively communicating with the client, main contractor and general public.
The Medium Project EMMA (£750,000-£10m)
The Medium Project EMMA was awarded to the Birstall Footbridge, in north Leicestershire, which was delivered by Danaher & Walsh Civil Engineering, William Saunders Partnership and Nusteel.
The judges felt that the £1.5m project across the A5 was extremely well-planned, with minimal disruption to the public.
The new bridge made use of innovative engineering techniques and the team delivered “an impressive looking structure” that provides safe pedestrian and cycle access over a busy dual carriageway.
Other projects that were considered for this award included the highly commended river water quality improvement works of Bevercotes Beck, near Walesby in Nottinghamshire, which the judges agreed was “a highly innovative project.”
An upgraded sewage treatment works at Earl Shilton in Leicestershire was commended and praised for its use of digital delivery techniques (BIM, Virtual Reality and 4D planning) to deliver a scheme that benefits around 12,000 residents.
Large Project Award (over £10m)
Won by The Newark Waste and Water Improvement Project, which was designed to prevent sewers from flooding, which safeguards 400 homes and businesses.
The scheme also provides a secure and stable water supply system to the town.
The judges praised the team’s approach to collaborative working, combined with extensive local public consultations, which helped to reduce the impact of the new sewage system that was built below the town centre, which involved the construction of new shafts and tunnels.
The programme of temporary works at Buxton’s Crescent Hotel and Thermal Spa was highly commended for its innovative engineering solutions, including the use of non-destructive survey technology to provide an in-depth analysis of the 230-year-old listed structure, enabling the implementation of appropriate design solutions.
Also considered for the large project award was the Smart Motorways Programme M1 J23a-25, which was also highly commended.
The scheme was engineered to reduce congestion and to improve the reliability of journey times on this critical section of the national motorway network.
Studies and Research Award
The studies and research award was presented to the team, led by Dr Rolands Kromanis from Nottingham Trent University, which compiled a research paper entitled: Applications of Low-cost Cameras for Measurement Collection.
Their submission presented research findings from several case studies to demonstrate the successful application of low-cost tech such as smartphones and GoPro-type cameras to assess structural performance of both laboratory and real-world structures.
Traditionally, such assessments required engineering personnel, often working at height, to install expensive sensor systems.
The judges agreed that this concept had significant potential for planning, sustainability and health and safety impacts, using a piece of technology that engineers keep in their pockets, smartphones.
Melton distributor road was highly commended. A research project formed part of a public consultation study, which AECOM developed using 3D visualisation comprising drone video footage overlaid with a computer-generated model to show how the proposed new road would sit within the landscape.
The judges praised the innovative approach for planning and communicating a complex engineering project to deliver effective community engagement, which enhanced the delivery of the project.
Team Achievement
The EMMAs merit award, for team achievement went to the Wolverhampton Steel Logistics Centre. Judges were impressed with the project team's extensive local operational knowledge and a flexible, but well coordinated management approach.
The project, commissioned by DB Cargo (Ƶ) Limited, included the remodelling of the terminal sidings, together with track renewals, ground remediation, a new rail-connected warehouse, provision of two 40-tonne cranes and the refurbishment of the welfare and office facilities to provide a modern and functional space.
The new facilities will ensure that a wide range of materials are available for ‘just in time’ delivery to the local factories and also mitigate any potential disruption to the supply of the essential raw materials.
The restoration of the Grade II listed Highfields Park in Nottingham was highly commended.
The judging panel praised high-quality teamwork and extensive cooperation between the partners. That collaborative approach had a very positive impact on the restoration of one of the city’s oldest public parks for current and future generations to enjoy.
