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Seize the Opportunities of the Crisis As Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” A crisis generates as many threats as there are opportunities. We have two choices: live in a state of uncertainty and observe the dangers or seize the opportunity by actively managing the crisis and from time to time, enjoying certain benefits. We can all make a positive difference in the face of a pandemic! Seize the Opportunities of the Crisis

From two wheels to four legs: A14 upgrade How motorists, walkers, cyclists and horse-riders are all benefiting from the A14 upgrade. From two wheels to four legs: A14 upgrade

Economy plus ecology: A14 upgrade How wildlife habitat innovations are just one legacy of the A14 upgrade Economy plus ecology: A14 upgrade

Rethinking Minimum NFIP Requirements to Sustain Cooperative Federalism The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) marked its 50th anniversary in 2018. Designed by Congress to decrease the nation’s flood risk by offering a government-administered insurance program for homes in flood-prone areas, the NFIP insures about five million homes across the U.S., mostly in Florida and Texas. Despite a long history, the NFIP was never intended as a permanent federal subsidy for flood-prone properties along rivers and coastlines. It was intended that the NFIP would evolve over time as all levels of government worked together and flood risk improved. The NFIP is an example of cooperative federalism, where the federal government provides affordable flood insurance to homeowners, business owners and renters; in return, communities agree to adopt and enforce floodplain regulations, also known as “minimum NFIP requirements.” Rethinking Minimum NFIP Requirements to Sustain Cooperative Federalism

COVID-19 and Transport – White Paper II Since we published our first White Paper on COVID-19 and Transport, Keeping Our World Moving During and After the Crisis, in May 2020, Coronavirus has continued to spread across the World. It is now clear that the pandemic will spread wider, peak later and last longer than early forecasts. COVID-19 and Transport – White Paper II

Passing the data baton – why consistency is king This year, the Olympics event I’ve missed the most is the relay. What a compelling challenge to watch: each athlete has their own race, but they can’t reach a podium unless their teammates also succeed in theirs. Passing the data baton – why consistency is king

Re-thinking transport business cases in a post-COVID world Prior to the COVID pandemic, TfL had a significant number of projects under way that were predicated on a well understood assessment of passenger demand forecasting and modelling; what will the network need to address the congestion and capacity issues associated with future predictions of growth to the 5 million daily passenger journeys that the network currently supports? Re-thinking transport business cases in a post-COVID world

Now is the time to reimagine our approach to ULEV adoption In the latest article in the “reopen, recover, reimagine” series of pieces from Atkins, Joanna Bundy, a senior consultant in the transportation division in Atkins discusses the opportunities to reimagine our use of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) and what authorities need to consider in accelerating their adoption. Now is the time to reimagine our approach to ULEV adoption

Squashing the Misconceptions of BIM for Owners and Facility Managers Over the last decade, the AEC industry has made big progress in implementing building information modeling (BIM). While design firms were among the first to use BIM, contractors, subcontractors and some owner organizations are using BIM routinely. Most owners, however, have not yet realized the full potential of BIM because of misconceptions. Squashing the Misconceptions of BIM for Owners and Facility Managers

Borders of the future - is data sharing the answer? With the impact of COVID-19 on cross border traffic, there has never been a greater need reimagine the way our borders operate, with airline and port operators needing to find efficiencies to survive, and governments needing to understand and define biosecurity measures to protect travellers and their citizens. Borders of the future - is data sharing the answer?

Save, spend or invest – how the recovery journey is shaping airports’ futures As we seek out the new normal for the aviation industry, it is in the here and now, the recovery phase, that airports may make or break their future. The financial decisions made now will have implications far past the immediate Covid-19 era, giving the pandemic the potential to change the playing field. Save, spend or invest – how the recovery journey is shaping airports’ futures

GIS can revolutionise Operations & Maintenance BIM is reaching maturity in design and construction phases of projects, but in operational stages, the IM (information management) is frequently underused, often due to the data being so complex it’s inaccessible. But integrating geospatial methodologies into BIM with a focus on asset definition within building structures has the potential to transform Operations & Maintenance. GIS can revolutionise Operations & Maintenance

Flying in a pandemic: Do we listen to government advice or scientific guidelines? Following the success of our aviation survey in June, we launched a follow up survey across the entire SNC-Lavalin group, to gather global feedback regarding the evolving COVID-19 situation – had opinions changed on the topic? Flying in a pandemic: Do we listen to government advice or scientific guidelines?

Transport after Covid-19: what customers want now and how to respond In the fourth article in Atkins’ “Reopen, recover, reimagine” series of articles; Felicity Heathcote-Marcz writes about the impact of the virus on our travel behaviours and looks at the wider implications for the way we travel. Transport after Covid-19: what customers want now and how to respond

Engineering Smart Solutions in Environmental Protection to Save the Manatees The interaction between built and natural environments is not always an either-or situation. Growing populations require infrastructure designed to support human, plant and wildlife ecosystems. Therefore, engineers are challenged to find solutions to safeguard people, assets and the environment. That’s where environmental stewardship comes into play. In some cases, our solutions create unintended sanctuaries. Engineering Smart Solutions in Environmental Protection to Save the Manatees

Value Engineering: A Tool for Quality Control in Design Quality control (QC) is a major concern of today's design firms. However, quality alone is not enough in today's competitive marketplace. Clients expect a quality design. If they also perceive that quality design is cost-effective, they will likely hire you again. Value Engineering: A Tool for Quality Control in Design

New Paradigms for Today Through Value Engineering In this turbulent time of a pandemic and significant social change shaping a new normal, we need to change our paradigms. While this may sound like a challenge, we have a powerful in-house tool that has been helping our clients make changes for more than 50 years. Best known as Value Engineering (VE), it is actually a decision-making tool that can be applied to any decision, whether optimizing the use of available capital and facility and real estate portfolios or simply improving a standard procedure. VE brings the right people together to identify the issues, define the required functions, brainstorm the best ways to meet those functions, and then develop those ideas so they can be implemented. All decisions are made by consensus. New Paradigms for Today Through Value Engineering

Gathering the data to create the post-COVID workplace Now that COVID-19 has jump-started a global work-from-home experiment, many are speculating on the future office—what will it look like? Will we need an office at all? The benefit of working from home has long been at the employer’s discretion, but in the midst of a global health threat, the office poses safety risks that will put the employee in the driver seat to determine if the health threat is greater than economic security. Gathering the data to create the post-COVID workplace

Using data and technology to reimagine transport and support future mobility The response to Covid-19, both globally and more so in the UK, has been the perfect example of Data-Driven Decision Making. Using data and technology to reimagine transport and support future mobility

Next Cancer Research Advancement Coming from Unlikely Source Isotek Systems, LLC, has a mission to turn Cold War waste to medicine. In the process, their work will eliminate risks at one of the nation’s foremost research laboratories by removing Cold War nuclear material, help the DOE dispose of low-level nuclear waste, and provide thorium for potential cancer treatments. Next Cancer Research Advancement Coming from Unlikely Source

Transforming Aerospace — podcast This podcast series is intended to explore some of the trends, challenges, new technologies and societal pressures which are shaping the future of the aerospace and aviation industry. Transforming Aerospace — podcast

Accelerating Autonomous Operations In Oil & Gas: Building On The “New Normal” Prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the oil and gas (O&G) industry in the Middle East was faced with a number of challenges to maintain sustainable growth. This includes supply pressure from unconventional energy production such as shale oil and gas and a long-term global trend towards decarbonization. Many of these external conditions have been evolving over the years, pointing toward the necessity for traditional O&G operations to become more streamlined and efficient. Accelerating Autonomous Operations In Oil & Gas: Building On The “New Normal”

20/20 Vision for Drainage Asset Management Ageing infrastructure, doing ‘more for less’, greater public expectations, increased regulator scrutiny on performance, pressure to embrace new technology – water companies, local authorities and transportation operators face these challenges, and more, every day. 20/20 Vision for Drainage Asset Management

Integrating Social Distancing Life is beginning to return to our streets and public places. Integrating Social Distancing

Is rush hour a thing of the past? Using data to measure transport’s return to a ‘new normal’ Is rush hour a thing of the past?

Embedding social distancing into our cities: we need a more long-term plan Life is beginning to return to our streets and public places. Embedding social distancing into our cities: we need a more long-term plan

Composites and their impact on MRO Operations Operational readiness is central for commercial and military aircraft. Advances in the reliability of aero-engines, aero-systems and avionics, and improved diagnostic capability have, over 50 years, transformed availability. Composites and their impact on MRO Operations

The four cornerstones of space-enabled urban air mobility The industries surrounding UAM and space share several similarities. Both exist within a rapidly evolving technological environment and players in both domains are using the power of partnership to remain competitive, with some of the more traditional, established organisations seeking collaborations and investing in start-ups and early stage new entrants into the market. The four cornerstones of space-enabled urban air mobility

The Importance of Effective Dashboard Design How many times have you seen a dashboard so full of information that it made your eyes cross? Or spent more time trying to figure out what the data is telling you than going to the source data itself? Or completely ignored the dashboard because the data was wrong or irrelevant? Everyone is using dashboards these days, and with access to popular tools like PowerBI or Tableau, dashboards are no longer just for the C-suite. The Importance of Effective Dashboard Design

PMOs: embracing digital transformation to accelerate growth There’s a real appetite for digital transformation in the Middle East, with the PMO driving progress. By Gavin Britton, Technology Director, UAE at Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group. PMOs: embracing digital transformation to accelerate growth

How do stations unlock growth? Transport investment has a proven track record for delivering more than just network improvements. How do stations unlock growth?

Economic growth and development in the construction sector Ensuring economic growth beneﬁts everyone, the concept of inclusive growth has become a political priority and over the last few years has been one of those buzzwords that has possibly been over used. Economic growth and development in the construction sector

Connecting our urban spaces with nature In an age of increasingly rapid urbanisation, we run the risk of disconnecting people from nature at the cost of our physical and mental health. Connecting our urban spaces with nature

Addressing top threats to cybersecurity in the railway industry Addressing top threats to cybersecurity in the railway industry

Reopen, Recover, Reimagine: Lessons from Lockdown In the first of our Reopen, Recover, Reimagine series, we discussed the critical issues facing transport during the COVID-19 crisis. Reopen, Recover, Reimagine: Lessons from Lockdown

Should passengers be the new ‘materials’ of just-in-time thinking? COVID-19 has disrupted the world in a way rarely seen before, with aviation as one of the hardest hit sectors. But as the industry looks beyond the immediate response phase and thoughts turn to recovery, we find ourselves with the unique chance to think differently. Should passengers be the new ‘materials’ of just-in-time thinking?

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories contribute to the ventilator effort Canadian Nuclear Laboratories contribute to the ventilator effort

Collaboration is key to supporting SMEs as we face economic recovery Modern times are proving testing for us all – but SMEs will be feeling the squeeze more than most. Supporting them is crucial, and we larger players in the construction sector have an important role to play in their survival. Collaboration is key to supporting SMEs as we face economic recovery

Optimizing resources to modernize your post-COVID workplace Limited availability of skilled personnel is an issue that has plagued the construction industry for years. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this issue even more difficult to overcome, with ballooning unemployment and reduced capital spending hitting owners and construction companies especially hard. Social distancing guidelines have led many employees to remain at home and work remotely far more than normal, leaving offices and work sites basically empty. The global economic downturn, currently in its early stages, has already resulted in huge numbers of layoffs, forcing many individuals into unemployment and their former employers to make do with fewer resources. Optimizing resources to modernize your post-COVID workplace

Stations as Places: Life beyond lockdown In the UK, ‘Stations as Places’ is a programme about developing local railway stations to be hubs at the centre of community activity, rather than simply access points onto the rail network. Stations as Places: Life beyond lockdown

Sustainability blog – Biodiversity and natural capital Sustainability blog – Biodiversity and natural capital

Productivity and placemaking: How good design transforms people’s lives We believe that well-designed places can have a transformative effect on a locality’s productivity, as well on the broader wellbeing of the people who live there. Productivity and placemaking: How good design transforms people’s lives

More than smart: designing cities with a heart Every day brings more change to our cities – electric vehicle charging points, augmented reality, mobile phone walking lanes, flexible working hubs, autonomous vehicles, the list is getting increasingly longer. More than smart: designing cities with a heart

Social housing version 2.0 Why learning from the past will help to innovative new social housing initiatives and regenerate communities. Social housing version 2.0

The evolving value of station investment and the importance of customer experience The evolving value of station investment and the importance of customer experience

The post-COVID-19 onsite construction workforce The construction industry is well known for its resistance to change and has fallen well behind other industries in recent years—especially those focused on development of new technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has forced historically conservative companies to make broad, sweeping adjustments, but will these lead to real change? The post-COVID-19 onsite construction workforce

Composite Aerostructures in a Changing World The goal of achieving zero net CO2 emissions by 2050 as laid out in the Climate Change Act of 2019 is one that severely challenges aerospace engineers. As David MacKay says, in his book Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air, 2009, “planes have been fantastically optimised - there is no prospect of significant improvements in their efficiency of 0.4kWhr/tonne-km.” If supporting evidence for Sir David’s view were needed, it is surely that the two best-selling airliners in 2019, the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 family, were designed respectively 55 and 35 years ago. Composite Aerostructures in a Changing World

Using digital technology remotely, safely and continuously Collect, visualise, automate: three ways to utilize digital tools for safe, remote work Using digital technology remotely, safely and continuously

Yielding Stronger Organizational Effectiveness and Winning the Talent War Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau once said, “When people with a variety of perspectives work together and think collaboratively, innovative, creative solutions emerge, [leading] to new growth and new prosperity.” We couldn’t agree more. Many companies dedicate significant time and dollars to leadership development programs, personality tests and cross-functional training to improve performance and groom their next generation of leaders. These are all valuable tools, and we advocate for all of them. But why are we investing so heavily in asking our mostly homogeneous leadership teams to learn new behaviors? Why not put that level of focus on attracting, engaging, retaining and promoting a more diverse workforce in the first place? More than just sound social policy, having a more gender-diverse workplace in the AEC industry (and any industry, for that matter) is crucial to operational effectiveness, financial performance and helping corporations win the current talent war. Yielding Stronger Organizational Effectiveness and Winning the Talent War

Using data to transform the way we interact with our cities As designers, we all want to create places that benefit the end-user. And thanks to new and emerging technologies, we can now embed digital ways of working into the world around us. Creating public spaces that benefit our daily lives. Using information to deliver tangible benefits to people. Using data to transform the way we interact with our cities

Digital transformation: locked-down, but far from locked-out The global Covid-19 pandemic has presented the world with challenges like never before. But by forcing our industry to change the way we work, it’s also given us an opportunity to use this time wisely to become better-equipped for the digital future. Digital transformation: locked-down, but far from locked-out

Transforming mobility Transforming mobility

Harnessing data to measure the impact of Coronavirus on UK roads Atkins, working with BT, has been using aggregated and anonymised mobile network data to uncover Covid-19’s effect on some of the UK’s major motorways and local roads. Harnessing data to measure the impact of Coronavirus on UK roads

COVID-19 and the New Normal for the A/E/C Industry In the immortal words of the great American philosopher and New York Yankee Yogi Berra, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Nonetheless, contemplating the future and game-planning for changes to the A/E/C industry because of the COVID-19 crisis is essential for our industry. These discussions prepare us as an industry to begin contemplating the ways in which we might engage our employees, stakeholders, clients and society at large to deal with the current crisis and its aftermath. COVID-19 and the New Normal for the A/E/C Industry

Avoiding the pitfalls of dashboard data Well-designed dashboards are an excellent tool for providing an overview of complex interrelated data. As users drill down and interrogate the data, they use the information provided in a visual manner to inform their decision making. Those who rely on dashboards must have absolute trust in the integrity of the data populating the dashboard, as well as in the dashboard designers to display the data accurately. Unfortunately, many times, well-meaning dashboard designers and those populating it with data make mistakes that challenge the integrity of the dashboard, which should be a single source of truth for the users. Avoiding the pitfalls of dashboard data

Digital transformation: how the lockdown is a catalyst to embracing new ways of working Experts suggest that even after the lockdown social distancing measures will stay in place for many months to come. So how can we prepare ourselves for that new normal as we strive to keep construction projects moving? Digital transformation: how the lockdown is a catalyst to embracing new ways of working

Four big discussions C-Suites need to have now to thrive after Covid-19 Soon we will be 'back' to our 'new normal'. All businesses will be licking their wounds, learning lessons, re-connecting with employees and customers and making-good some of the rapidly implemented decisions and changes of the past few months. From adversity, emerges opportunity, and businesses will need to rapidly re-evaluate their strategies and competitive position. The next big decisions that businesses take will have a lasting impact on their success - balancing short-term needs, with longer term positioning and strategy, will be the C-suite's challenge. Four big discussions C-Suites need to have now to thrive after Covid-19

Ecological Uplift Through Engineering – Tidal Circulation and Old Tampa Bay In highly urban areas, large transportation projects often spend tens of millions of dollars purchasing right-of-way for stormwater management, including the purchase of developed property to be demolished to construct ponds. In lieu of traditional stormwater best management practices, Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) looked at an area of Old Tampa Bay (OTB) that historically has had poor water quality and evaluated improving this offsite area to compensate for other projects that drain to Tampa Bay. Ecological Uplift Through Engineering – Tidal Circulation and Old Tampa Bay

Virtual reality meetings from home People around the world are adapting to modified working conditions in response to the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. In some cases, teams are making use of technology that hadn’t been fully realized for collaboration and connectivity. Virtual reality meetings from home

The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market – Responding to an Evolution The API market is evolving, and whether manufacturers are looking to modify or expand facilities to accommodate higher potency, a wider range of molecules or an increase in production volume, the greatest value of an expansion comes with the least impact to ongoing operations. The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market – Responding to an Evolution

Construction’s ‘New Normal’: Understanding Barriers to Working Time on the Post-COVID Construction Site In the early months of 2020, the declaration of the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic brought about drastic changes to the way we all live and work. Almost every industry has been impacted to some degree, especially construction. We are no longer asking if we will we be affected. Now we are asking, “How much are we being affected, and what can we do about it?” Construction’s ‘New Normal’: Understanding Barriers to Working Time on the Post-COVID Construction Site

Vicky’s story: Supporting STEM home-schooling during COVID-19 Meet Vicky, National STEM Lead at Atkins. Vicky’s story: Supporting STEM home-schooling during COVID-19

Reopen, Recover, Reimagine: Transport’s roadmap out of lockdown The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in global challenges on a scale that we have never previously encountered, straining healthcare systems, restricting travel and creating deep economic impacts, compounded by loss of life and impacts on our social and mental wellbeing. Reopen, Recover, Reimagine: Transport’s roadmap out of lockdown

COVID-19 and Transport – White Paper I The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) an international health emergency on 30th January 2020 and a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. Compared to previous global pandemics such as SARS or Ebola, the current COVID-19 Crisis is a global event without precedent, possibly in a generation, and exerts a number of specific impacts over and above conventional disaster management and recovery. COVID-19 and Transport – White Paper I

A new approach to data management in water Neil Walker, Technical Director and Head of Atkins Asset Management Systems Service line argues that a commitment to recording and collating data in consistent formats and strengthening digital cultures could help the water regulator cut consumer costs and boost infrastructure investment in future price reviews. A new approach to data management in water

Creating Flexible Workspaces for Varying Workstyles and Social Distancing As organizations prepare for employees to return to the workplace, many are faced with new space limitations and configurations after weeks of social distancing. From site selection, to repurposing current space, to reevaluating the floorplate for your staff’s wellbeing, engaging a consultant early on ensures you have the right strategy and approach and maximizes your budget. Creating Flexible Workspaces for Varying Workstyles and Social Distancing

First rule of Asset Management: Define your Assets! Confusion, frustration, wasted time and money, failure—these are words I often hear from public-facing organizations that have attempted to implement asset management. The downward spiral typically happens in that order. The major contributor to bad outcomes in asset management is profoundly ironic: the key stakeholders do not know what their assets are. How does an organization implement an asset management system when no one can agree on what constitutes an asset? First rule of Asset Management: Define your Assets!

GISCorps’ Support During COVID-19 People are sharing stories around the world about coming together to support each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. From sewing face covers for friends and family, to transforming manufacturing processes to create hand sanitizer instead of whiskey, we are all definitely #inthistogether. GISCorps’ Support During COVID-19

Lockdown is taking digital collaboration to the next level Delivering essential projects in difficult times reveals technology’s ability to bring us closer together in a crisis. Lockdown is taking digital collaboration to the next level

Perspectives on working from home In the latest release from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Labour Force Survey (LFS) data revealed that disabled people were over a third less likely to be employed than non-disabled people, with an employment rate for disabled people (aged 16 to 64 years) of 53.2% in 2019, compared with 81.8% for non-disabled people. Perspectives on working from home

Keeping the country moving in times of need Within our local communities, our roads are a critical part of ensuring life-saving medicine, equipment, supplies and frontline staff can travel to wherever they are needed most, and will play a crucial role in the transport of essential goods to supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitals and other critical services. Keeping the country moving in times of need

Restarting Troubled Projects One day this crisis will be over. When the dust starts to settle, and the world starts to slowly return to normal, projects will inevitably restart, and we may find ourselves facing new realities in the world of project delivery. Restarting projects will be a daunting task, with clients asking questions: Where did we leave off? What’s the risk look like now? And the inevitable big questions: How much will all this cost? And what is the schedule impact? Restarting Troubled Projects

COVID-19 drive-through clinic built in record time While the outbreak of COVID-19 spreads across Canada, SNC-Lavalin’s Infrastructure team has built a drive-through screening clinic outside the Montreal McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). COVID-19 drive-through clinic built in record time

Net Zero 2050: How resilient is industrial and private sector commitment? "We can go back to the world as it was before or deal decisively with those issues that make us all unnecessarily vulnerable to crises. Our roadmap is the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The recovery from the COVID-19 crisis must lead to a different economy." UN Secretary General, 31st March 2020 Net Zero 2050: How resilient is industrial and private sector commitment?

How can airports better protect themselves against cyber attacks? We are in the midst of a technologically-driven revolution. For airports and their passengers, this has the potential to bring substantial opportunities and benefits; the World Economic Forum (WEF) reported earlier this year that artificial intelligence alone is expected to boost global economic growth by 14% by 2030. How can airports better protect themselves against cyber attacks?

Remote capabilities in manufacturing: How the case suddenly got made Over the past few years, manufacturing facilities began adopting certain remote capabilities. Each company had their own reason to do so and timeline—some charged in full force, while others have been doing it slowly and in piecemeal. Enter COVID-19. Remote capabilities in manufacturing: How the case suddenly got made

CNL takes small-space experience to Lingen decommissioning Canadian Nuclear Laboratories are testing the waters in new markets outside of Canada and the decommissioning of Lingen, Germany, is an opportunity for them to bring their know-how to the international stage. CNL takes small-space experience to Lingen decommissioning

How to Re-Start the Economy After COVID-19 the Smart Way To help our clients measure how resilient their communities are to climate change and sea level rise, Atkins has developed City Simulator, a map-based software tool we use to create a digital twin of the community and then evolve the community day-by-day into the future. Over the course of the simulation, we hit the community with projected disasters like storms, heat waves and sea level rise. With the global coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic effectively putting every major economy in the world in an induced coma, the City Simulator team has turned its attention to modeling epidemics to explore how we can wake these economic patients while keeping communities safe. How to Re-Start the Economy After COVID-19 the Smart Way

What’s in your disaster mitigation action plan? In the fall of 2017, a trifecta of monster hurricanes (Maria, Irma and Harvey) swept through the Southeastern United States and the Caribbean, causing extensive damage and devastation throughout the affected region. The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were hit particularly hard, with the storms directly or indirectly causing the deaths of almost 3,000 people. Three years later, hard lessons have been learned from the local, state and federal responses to the storms, and with those lessons come opportunities to help the affected areas mitigate disaster risk and prevent future losses. What’s in your disaster mitigation action plan?

Unlocking the third dimension in transportation Unlocking the third dimension in transportation

Virtual Meetings and the Future of Public Engagement As social distancing has become the new normal for business across the world, companies are embracing virtual and online meetings to keep employees safe and operations functioning. For those of us engaged in developing public infrastructure projects, this means changing the way we think about public engagement. With large public gatherings out of the question for the foreseeable future, traditional approaches such as in-person public meetings and town halls are no longer tenable. As a result, new tools will need to be developed to keep stakeholders and the public engaged about the status of infrastructure projects and to solicit their input. Virtual Meetings and the Future of Public Engagement

Atkins Foundation donates $100,000 to aid hunger relief in the wake of COVID-19 impacts The Atkins Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization funded by donations from SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business employees in the US that are matched by the company, is making a $100,000 donation to Feeding America, a “US-based nonprofit organization that is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies.” Atkins Foundation donates $100,000 to aid hunger relief in the wake of COVID-19 impacts

UTMB Accelerates Activation of New Patient Tower in Response to COVID-19 Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) League City Campus was in the middle of a major expansion and activation of its new South Tower. Scheduled to open in May 2020, the new tower connects directly to the League City Hospital and includes a medical-surgical unit; intensive care unit; sterile processing department; laboratory and blood bank; a pharmacy; a new café and dietary services offices; and many other support service departments throughout all floors in the new building. UTMB Accelerates Activation of New Patient Tower in Response to COVID-19

How Value Management Strengthens Program Management and Client Trust When you anticipate issues, or if problems arise unexpectedly on your projects, having a Value Management (VM) Services Team as part of your toolbox will help you reach thoughtful decisions. The team makes decisions based on consensus to solve those problems. How Value Management Strengthens Program Management and Client Trust

Emergency Response: Continuity of Operations and Analytic Dashboards Three months ago, no one knew that COVID-19 existed. Now the virus has spread to almost every country, infecting at least hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people who we know about, and many more who we do not. It has crashed economies and stressed health-care systems and filled hospitals. It has disrupted modern society on a scale that most living people have never witnessed. Soon, most everyone in the world will know someone who has been infected. Emergency Response: Continuity of Operations and Analytic Dashboards

Possible Impacts of COVID-19 on Construction Markets As the number of global cases of COVID-19 increases, its impact on the construction industry is anticipated to evolve over the coming months. Based on observed events in China and Europe, the U.S. construction industry is predicted to experience similar difficulties with material supply chain disruption, labor shortages and the city-wide shutdown of construction sites. Possible Impacts of COVID-19 on Construction Markets

Providing Essential Services: Traffic Management Centers Before COVID-19 reached pandemic status, many of us were watching other parts of the world and wondering when and how the virus would affect the U.S., and how we would continue to support our clients. Providing Essential Services: Traffic Management Centers

A salute to IT in the time of COVID-19 The very sudden spread of COVID-19 prompted almost a sudden change in work environments around the world. During the last month, we have seen an influx of government restrictions and health & safety recommendations in every region around the world. A salute to IT in the time of COVID-19

Why DOTs Embrace Data Governance When the nation’s state departments of transportation (DOTs) came together at the GIS in Transportation Conference in Florida in April of 2019, more than half of the agencies agreed data governance should be a priority of the coming decade. Why are they converging so strongly around this point? Why DOTs Embrace Data Governance

Terri’s Story: Staying Healthy and Working from Home COVID-19 has many of us working from home for the first time. However, working from home is a trend that’s been growing for years. Employees have been making this transition for a variety of reasons and employers have been adapting new technologies and practices to accommodate this new reality. With the trend of working from home now at an all-time high, other SNC-Lavalin employees are now learning from Terri’s experience and adopting their won best practices. Terri’s Story: Staying Healthy and Working from Home

Journey to Industry 4.0 – The Landmarks and the Travelers who Make the Difference Industries across the world are facing challenges such as labor shortages and increased competition. Accordingly, many have been looking for ways to differentiate and increase efficiencies by optimizing operations and eliminating waste, in order to succeed in such a landscape. In response, many companies and industries over the past few decades adopted operational excellence programs using Lean Six Sigma principles. With an added desire to facilitate monitoring and control, communication and make quick, data-driven decisions, digital transformation has become a key enabler to stay ahead of the curve. However, many companies find it challenging to start this transformation. The key to succeeding in digital transformation is to recognize it as a journey with landmarks that requires a change of culture from the company’s travelers. Journey to Industry 4.0 – The Landmarks and the Travelers who Make the Difference

Business resiliency during COVID-19 Faced with COVID-19, businesses including our own must adapt to a new normal. Organizations are faced with either adjusting and learning how to remain operational during this trial or temporarily ceasing activities. Business resiliency during COVID-19

Skype for Business vs. COVID-19 When you plan to deploy Skype for Business infrastructure, one of the many key considerations is how much of your workforce is remote (or outside of your corporate network). This influences many factors, not least the number of servers you deploy, the location of these servers and the bandwidth requirements for both the users and the servers. Skype for Business vs. COVID-19

Is the aviation industry taking cyber security seriously? If you think cyber security in the aviation industry means merely protecting websites and online booking systems from malicious hackers, it’s time to think again. Is the aviation industry taking cyber security seriously?

Improved Station Design through Virtual Reality (VR) and Lifecycle Modelling - TransitNEXT – Trillium Line South Extension Project The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies on construction projects in Canada is still very much an emerging phenomenon, yet it is one the TransitNEXT team has fully embraced for the Trillium Line South Extension. Improved Station Design through Virtual Reality (VR) and Lifecycle Modelling - TransitNEXT – Trillium Line South Extension Project

Why are wetlands vital for people and biodiversity? World Wetlands Day is celebrated every 2 February - this year’s theme was “Wetlands and Biodiversity”. Why are wetlands vital for people and biodiversity?

Winds of change: key insights gleaned from clean power projects A little over 25 years ago, Atkins engineers started working on the earliest designs and requirements for an emerging wind energy market. Winds of change: key insights gleaned from clean power projects

Digital Twin – a Virtual Revolution in Oil & Gas As digital technologies make deep inroads into the oil and gas industry, the concept of a ‘digital twin’ is coming under the spotlight as a significant driver of business value. Though coined in 2002 and applied by NASA for its space missions since 2010, the concept’s popularity in the business world is a recent phenomenon. Digital Twin – a Virtual Revolution in Oil & Gas

Energy Matters - podcast Every part of our day depends on a reliable source of energy, from the first cup of coffee, how we commute to work, heat our homes and keep the lights on. Welcome to ‘Energy Matters’, a regular podcast highlighting the issues, challenges and opportunities of the energy industry to make sure we secure supply, demand and a low carbon future. Energy Matters - podcast

Why isn’t digital improving productivity? From BIM to digital twins, technology has spread rapidly throughout the construction industry. Why isn’t digital improving productivity?

Po’boys and Sazerac: Rethinking Airport Concessions for the Modern City Some of the biggest changes in airports over the past 10 years have been in concessions. Airport concessions used to be a wasteland of fast food chains and souvenir shops, but now they frequently include specialty coffee shops, steakhouses, wine bars, local retail brands and organic food markets. Po’boys and Sazerac: Rethinking Airport Concessions for the Modern City

Towards sustainable operation and maintenance Sustainability planning and green standards have become the key pillars of the design and construction process that deliver the efficient operation and maintenance (O&M) of new and existing assets. Towards sustainable operation and maintenance

Cultivating a culture of learning and development to build future leaders in Oman Investing in human capital development is a fundamental necessity for businesses and economies to thrive. We now see more companies coming to grips with the fact that productivity, innovation, technology and growth depend on a skilled and an empowered workforce. Cultivating a culture of learning and development to build future leaders in Oman

District cooling - Driving efficiency and sustainability in the GCC In line with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, the GCC has as large a role to play in meeting this challenge as anywhere in the world, and its climate makes it ideally equipped to do so. District cooling - Driving efficiency and sustainability in the GCC

The P-equation that Really Counts - Lessons Learned for Peace of Mind After many years in a successful career as a process engineer, raising two boys, founding and running a non-profit serving impoverished kids and women in Tibet for over a decade, and even surviving several manpower rightsizing reductions and restructuring at my company, I still find myself struggling to come to terms with the new challenges and life events recently thrown at me. At the end of 2018, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in September 2019, my oldest son was diagnosed with amnesia. I recognize that life is full of ups and downs, but do I have the skills to deal with all these new life challenges positively and hopefully resolve the issues along the way? The P-equation that Really Counts - Lessons Learned for Peace of Mind

How To Make Sense of a Water Analysis Report In successful powerplant projects, either in the early project bidding or the engineering execution stage, before designing any water distribution, production or treatment system, you must know the water. The only way to fully understand the water type and its characteristics is with a thorough study of the water analysis report. How To Make Sense of a Water Analysis Report

Should Designers and Contractors Become Technology Companies? This was the question posed to a panel that I participated in at a recent AEC industry CEO conference. As technology disruption continues to accelerate in our industry, it’s a topic that’s likely being discussed in boardrooms around the world. Personally, I think design firms and construction companies absolutely should become technology companies, but becoming a tech company is much different than becoming a software company. Should Designers and Contractors Become Technology Companies?

The Advantages of Modularization and Prefabrication Achieving optimum project execution is the goal of every engineering professional, mitigating challenges and overcoming obstacles every step of the way. In the thermal power world, challenges such as limited space at the construction site, skilled labor shortages and expensive site manpower costs have become the driving factors to finding innovative solutions to stay on the path of optimal delivery. Incorporating modularized and prefabricated critical power plant components is proving to be the efficient, cost-effective solution. The Advantages of Modularization and Prefabrication

Delivering Real Value with Virtual Reality Waste time, waste money and make projects less safe are three goals never listed on a project execution plan. But are we doing enough to prevent them? Knowing these risks are real, and understanding that in the U.S., the cost of construction re-work is estimated at nearly $2B per year, failing to leverage the latest technical design review practices is almost like accepting them—planning on them—as part of the project’s scope. Delivering Real Value with Virtual Reality

Unlocking data to save time and money Delivering capital infrastructure upgrades can be expensive. Delivering them in London can be extraordinarily expensive, as well as disruptive to the millions of people who live and work there. There’s nothing more frustrating for customers than seeing a road dug up once, then dug up again by a different team. What we found was astounding. Unlocking data to save time and money

Three benefits of focusing on the IM in BIM I believe we’ve moved beyond the B (Building) in BIM and are now in the age of Information Management (IM). Founding BIM in the building world almost made us forget the big picture – our assets. It’s distracted us from the fundamental of surviving this digital age: information management. It’s good information management that will help us get the most from common data environments (CDEs) and 3D models. Three benefits of focusing on the IM in BIM

The bigger picture One of my favourite lines in Jurassic Park is Jeff Goldblum’s classic: “Just because you could, doesn’t mean you should’’. This line is just as applicable to the people who build the infrastructure around us as it is to the fictional scientists who created dinosaurs. The bigger picture

How we collected data from over 10,000 homes in rural Africa in just 9 weeks In 2016, the Kenyan Government undertook a nationwide renewable energy assessment. They knew they wouldn’t be able to have informed policy without data. In just nine weeks, Atkins and Acuity completed over 10,000 door to door surveys to give them a picture of what renewable energy people have, use and want. How we collected data from over 10,000 homes in rural Africa in just 9 weeks

Five ways data can help us protect people and places Everything happens somewhere. That seems like a simple enough concept. But when I speak to people about what I do (Geographic Information Systems) I’m often met with complete bafflement. Five ways data can help us protect people and places

Seven ways GIS adds critical project value I used to call GIS (Geographic Information Systems) the infrastructure sector’s ‘best kept secret’. But I can’t really say that anymore. At Atkins, GIS is now involved in almost every infrastructure project, from nuclear to transport to buildings and renewable energy – in the UK and around the world. Seven ways GIS adds critical project value

Upskilling for an effective CVI capability Taking a new concept and quickly delivering successful outcomes is difficult. Upskilling for an effective CVI capability

Secure by Design Digital technology is transforming the way we work. Secure by Design

Who will protect the UK’s critical infrastructure? Finding the cyber security experts of the future We don’t have enough people with the skills we need to protect our digital assets. The current shortfall of around 2.9m is expected to increase to 3.5m within the next two years. Who will protect the UK’s critical infrastructure? Finding the cyber security experts of the future

The OT honeypot: reloaded Operational Technology (OT) controls the production and distribution of energy and water, the smooth running of our transport systems (air, road, rail and sea) and the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The OT honeypot: reloaded

Supply chain challenges in Critical National Infrastructure When the Network & Information Systems (NIS) Regulations came into effect, the organisations that operate our critical national infrastructure (CNI) became legally responsible for cyber risks from their supply chain that impact the provision of essential services. Supply chain challenges in Critical National Infrastructure

Working in cyber – a woman’s perspective With women estimated to make up only 10% of the cyber industry, and the cyber skills shortage predicted to reach more than 3 million by the year 2021, it’s evident that more needs to be done to promote such an exciting and growing field to this largely untapped market. Working in cyber – a woman’s perspective

Building cyber resilience into our railway’s DNA As we move into the age of the digital railway, retro-fixing digital systems to protect them against cyber-attack is no longer enough. Building cyber resilience into our railway’s DNA

The Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations one year on Strict new laws were introduced in May 2018 to protect the UK’s essential services from the increasing risk of cyber-attack. The Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations one year on

Can we unlock the value of ‘free’ data? Can we unlock the value of ‘free’ data?

How open should we be? Open standards are becoming the norm. Instead of designing systems that are heavily regulated by the controller of the hardware or software, businesses are choosing to make their platforms open for their supply chain to access, to understand and to propose upgrades. How open should we be?

Could blockchain help prove military airworthiness? Blockchain has been making headlines in recent years as the technology that underpins the controversial cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. But does blockchain also have a place in proving military airworthiness? Could blockchain help prove military airworthiness?

5 ways virtual planning is solving fast-moving construction challenges Organisations are operating in an increasingly uncertain and resource-constrained world. They’re often required to respond – at short notice – to fast-moving military, humanitarian and construction challenges. And they need to be able to act with certainty whenever and wherever the need arises. 5 ways virtual planning is solving fast-moving construction challenges

Adopting asset managment standards: taking inspiration from Australia? Asset management is now growing in popularity in the Defence sector, with Australia and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leading the way. Adopting asset managment standards: taking inspiration from Australia?

Building towards a digital future The future of engineering is digital. Digital toolsets are creating digital models of assets, providing not only the ‘as designed’ information but also following them throughout their lifecycle to capture the ‘as built’, ‘as operated’ and ‘as maintained’ status of an asset in the form of a digital twin. Building towards a digital future

Shortening the Innovation Runway An oft-cited 2001 study says it takes seventeen years for a discovery in the medical research world to make its way into the hands of doctors. Seventeen years! That’s a long time to wait, particularly if you’re sick. And while there’s some validity to the so-called research-to-practice gap in medicine (rigorous testing, review by regulators, etc.), the common perception is that the runway required for an idea to take off is too long, and not just in medicine. Shortening the Innovation Runway

5 steps to demistify data in Defence Data has created vast new technology corporations as powerful as any company in history; enabled huge leaps in efficiency from healthcare through to transport and retail; and transformed our day to day lives for the better. And it’s only just getting started. 5 steps to demistify data in Defence

Protecting assets - why language matters I began my engineering career in a simpler world. We developed and designed with dependability in mind, the idea being that even when a failure occurred, the platform would continue to operate in a safe and predictable way. Protecting assets - why language matters

Cyber security in the nuclear sector – five ways to address the global challenge A cyber-attack on a nuclear facility could have a devastating effect and, unfortunately, increased digitalisation within the sector makes an attack more likely. In this article, Atkins’ Technical Director for Cyber, Ian Buffey, outlines some of the steps business leaders can take to safeguard their infrastructure and assets. Cyber security in the nuclear sector – five ways to address the global challenge

Asset management in the nuclear sector In the nuclear sector, the decisions we make today will affect people and our planet for many years to come. Many industries can legitimately lay claim to the phrase ‘intergenerational impact’ but, arguably, none more so than the nuclear sector, writes Rhys Davies. Asset management in the nuclear sector

The augmentation of people and the anatomy of robots Many people fear automation. The rise of the robot is a hot topic in the media. But is it true? Will people lose their jobs because of intelligent machines? Neil Thompson considers the history of automation and its impact on, and potential for, exploitation in engineering. The augmentation of people and the anatomy of robots

Seeing is believing: the case for communicating complexity, clearly We operate in a highly regulated environment delivering specialised technical solutions. So how do we explain the complexity and importance of our work to colleagues outside the nuclear sector or to members of the public, asks Sarah Easthope. Seeing is believing: the case for communicating complexity, clearly

Back to the drawing board: we celebrate 25 years at Sellafield It’s been 25 years since our team started work at Sellafield. Adam Bliss and Iain McInally have been speaking to colleagues to find out what’s changed over the past two decades, and what remains the same. Back to the drawing board: we celebrate 25 years at Sellafield

Digital: delivering value across the nuclear lifecycle The nuclear sector is embracing rapid advances in technology. We’re using new tools and approaches to drive down costs and speed up delivery, and to solve decades-old engineering challenges explains Sam Stephens. Digital: delivering value across the nuclear lifecycle

Engineering the Net Zero System No one facet in the energy industry or technology can be taken in isolation; our system is extraordinarily complex and dynamic, and impacted by short term political and economic disruptions. Engineering the Net Zero System

Cheaper Boiler Feedwater Systems Don’t Always Cost Less Before you make a decision on this major capital expenditure, arm yourself with all the options. Cheaper Boiler Feedwater Systems Don’t Always Cost Less

Digital skills gap: is upskilling the answer? The pace at which digital technologies are being adopted and exploited is ever increasing. So how do we ensure our workforce can keep up? Could the answer be to change the way we attract and develop people with digital skills? Digital skills gap: is upskilling the answer?

Tops tips for scaling up to achieve digital transformation Transforming your organisation to capitalise on the potential of new technology, big data and hyper-connectivity can feel daunting. To mix metaphors: what if you put all your eggs in one basket and find out you’ve backed the wrong horse? Tops tips for scaling up to achieve digital transformation

The rise of the digital knowledge worker In today’s digital age, it has never been more important for organisations to unlock the potential of our human resources and unleash the power of the team. Technology continues to present opportunities for transforming how people live and work. But organisational hierarchy and the way we think about leadership needs to catch up and join us in the digital age. The rise of the digital knowledge worker

Enabling your employees to reach 'innovana' Digital transformation isn’t a new concept; we’ve been doing it for years. But it’s the transformation’ part we need to focus on right now – how do we transform our products and services, and take our workforce on the journey to where a digital mindset is the norm? Enabling your employees to reach 'innovana'

Business Strategies: digital by default Digital innovations are bringing exponential opportunities to our society. Business Strategies: digital by default

The Personal Data Antidote to Disconnected Transport Disorder How people travel is close to a radical change and intelligent mobility is the innovative engine leading the change. It’s a new way of thinking about how to use technology and data to connect people, places and goods across all transport modes. The Personal Data Antidote to Disconnected Transport Disorder

Exploring other avenues of funding for infrastructure projects in the GCC The top-line numbers of the GCC infrastructure sector tell a story of a sector at the forefront of economic growth. Exploring other avenues of funding for infrastructure projects in the GCC

Meeting Florida’s Growth Challenges through Collaboration Florida is booming. We welcome approximately 930 new residents every day. This translates to about 340,000 each year—that’s like adding a city slightly larger than Orlando every year. In addition, Florida had nearly 127 million visitors in 2018, up more than 50 percent from just 10 years ago. According to the governor’s office, nearly 70 million people visited in the first six months of 2019, an increase of 5.6 percent over 2018. And there is no sign of a slowdown, as the popular central Florida theme parks all have major new attractions scheduled to open soon or are in the planning stages. Meeting Florida’s Growth Challenges through Collaboration

Advantages of a Catenary Converter in a Sulphuric Acid Plant SNC-Lavalin’s Sulphur and Emissions Solutions (SES) Group has been designing and constructing sulphuric acid plants for over 50 years. Sulphuric acid is one of the world’s top chemical commodities, with a wide range of applications in different sectors, from a catalyst in the petroleum industry to a leaching chemical in the mining industry. Advantages of a Catenary Converter in a Sulphuric Acid Plant

Improved floodplain standards lead to better resiliency As we learn from history to help shape the future, words from the late Dr. Gilbert F. White, founder of the internationally recognized Natural Hazards Center, still ring true today: “Floods are acts of nature, but flood losses are largely acts of man.” In other words, the interface between built infrastructure and naturally occurring high water events is very real. Improved floodplain standards lead to better resiliency

The Apple effect: What E&C might look like when platform equivalents of the iPhone open our marketplace A data scientist recently told me they ‘didn’t get’ why everyone is making such a big deal about digital transformation in the engineering and construction world, because (in their words) ‘these industries have always used computers and technology, are already digital, and it's workflows that have held them back'. The Apple effect: What E&C might look like when platform equivalents of the iPhone open our marketplace

Technology will only get us so far Is there a danger of valuing new technologies over stakeholder collaboration when trying to combat capacity issues at Airports? Technology will only get us so far

Thinking big: How an airport can capture the essence of a city Daniel Taylor discusses the terminal design at New Orleans International Airport and how we were able to capture the unique aspects of the city and help create a welcoming, inimitable and inspiring first impression for every new arrival. Thinking big: How an airport can capture the essence of a city

The digital airport Dan Jones, Client Director with Atkins sat down with Passenger Terminal World to talk about digital transformation in the airport sector and a very exciting project we’re working on with Heathrow Airport. The digital airport

Mobility as a service One of the biggest considerations facing the transport industry today is passengers’ desire for end-to-end journeys tailored specifically to their need – and this is about more than just car travel. So, how can Mobility as a Service (Maas) help? Mobility as a service

Putting ourselves in the passengers’ shoes A look ahead to the changing expectations of railway passengers in the digital age and how the industry and the supply chain need to work closer together to meet future demand. Putting ourselves in the passengers’ shoes

The human, digital connection Caroline Paradise explores people’s connection with technology and how we can use it to understand how people respond to environments. The human, digital connection

Born in the USA How is the USA approaching the future of mobility? Born in the USA

Journey's friend? We’ve all been there. Stranded at the back of a long queue, waiting to check in for a flight; squeezed onto a train that’s running far later than it was supposed to; or desperately trying to hail a cab in the rain. Journey's friend?

Connect without catastrophe Demand for an interconnected passenger experience is growing, but what are the cybersecurity risks and how can we ensure passengers have a connected and cybersecure experience? Connect without catastrophe

The grand mobility challenge How Intelligent mobility and data-driven technologies offer the best chance to change the way we travel and overcome the future mobility challenge. The grand mobility challenge

Making Data-Driven Investment Decisions a Reality In striving to operate efficiently, improve decision-making, and ensure good stewardship of public funds, state transportation departments (DOTs) rely on vast amounts of data to make investment decisions, provide accurate, timely information to internal and external customers, and meet state and federal mandates. Making Data-Driven Investment Decisions a Reality

Beyond buzzwords: digital twin maturity spectrum The digital twin maturity spectrum has now been published as part of a whitepaper in collaboration with the Institution for Engineering and Technology (IET). Download the whitepaper and flyer here, or visit www.theiet.org/digital-twins for more information. In the first article of this series, I explored the basic concept of digital twins. Fundamentally, they are a digital replica of a physical thing - a ‘twin’. But depending on maturity, this replica can range from a simple 2D or 3D model of a local component, all the way to a fully integrated and highly accurate model of an entire asset, facility or even a countryi, with each component dynamically linked to engineering, construction, and operational data. Beyond buzzwords: digital twin maturity spectrum

Smart use of nuclear power While demand for nuclear power continues to grow, managing nuclear waste cost-effectively to ensure that it is immobilized from the environment is a critical part of the nuclear energy development process. Smart use of nuclear power

Delivering the vision for tomorrow’s transport infrastructure There is a lot of talk about FMZ’s – Mike Batheram, Atkins’ client director for local transport, contemplates what this might mean for future travel. Delivering the vision for tomorrow’s transport infrastructure

Smooth Operator: Repaving the Busiest Single Runway in North America If a smooth landing is a test of a pilot’s skill, then exams just got a little easier at San Diego International Airport (SAN). A newly rehabilitated runway is helping to ensure safety and improve reliability by mitigating recurring pavement maintenance issues and reducing associated operational impacts and closures. Smooth Operator: Repaving the Busiest Single Runway in North America

Emergency responsiveness: connecting tunnel ventilation systems to CBTC High capacity modern mass transit and urban rail systems serving established cities and their central business districts invariably run below the neighbourhoods they serve. It’s the quickest way to move large numbers of people without disrupting road traffic on the surface. The Eglington-Crosstown project in Toronto is a good example. It has 19 kilometres of track, with 10 of those running in twin-bore tunnels. Underground, there are also 12 stations, two pocket tracks, and three diamond cross-overs. Once completed in 2021, 76 vehicles will share the tracks. Eglington-Crosstown will also have one of the most advanced safety systems of any transit project in Canada. Emergency responsiveness: connecting tunnel ventilation systems to CBTC

What Companies are Really Looking for in Today’s Engineer You update your resume. You pull out your best suit. Your palms are sweaty. You do your best to answer the questions you’re asked. And then you wait. The waiting is over, you find out you didn’t get the position. And you ask yourself why. Your GPA is excellent. You’ve studied hard to make sure you’d be successful come interview time. And you just don’t understand. Why? What Companies are Really Looking for in Today’s Engineer

Hunting Hazards: Real-time Management of Safety and Security on the Canada Line 38.5 million people rode the Canada Line in 2010. That was the first full year of operation for the line, which was also the first full year statistics associated with public and worker injuries were developed. Since then, ridership has increased to 45 million in 2018, with over 600,000 worked hours, while injuries of passengers and workers have decreased to an all-time low. Hunting Hazards: Real-time Management of Safety and Security on the Canada Line

Asset Management & Maintenance: A Process-based Approach In the Operations and Maintenance sector, there is a lot of buzz around intelligent asset management tools. These tools, be they data analytics suites, real-time data acquisition tools or other systems, are proving invaluable in moving from reactive to predictive maintenance operations. Asset Management & Maintenance: A Process-based Approach

Staying on the rails: Montreal’s megaproject Montreal’s transit megaproject, the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), encompasses a fully automated, driverless system. Trains will run for 20 hours a day, carry up to 24,000 passengers per hour per direction, and connect 26 stations, 105 bus platforms, +/-9,500 parking spots, +/-1,400 bike racks, and three maintenance and storage facilities. Staying on the rails: Montreal’s megaproject

Cyber Resilience in Transportation – Unique Challenges Like many industry sectors across the globe, transportation is evolving rapidly thanks to massive growth in the use of digital technology and widespread connectivity through the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Cyber Resilience in Transportation – Unique Challenges

Hurricane vs. Oil Spill: Studying the Impacts to Marshland Erosion Louisiana is home to 40 percent of the country’s wetlands. To many, Louisiana’s wetlands are just the home of the Swamp People on the History Channel. However, these wetlands are vital to Louisiana and even to the US. From oil and gas production to recreational and commercial fishing, we need the coastal wetlands, and we are losing them. Hurricane vs. Oil Spill: Studying the Impacts to Marshland Erosion

Innovate or become irrelevant: On earthquakes, buzzwords and rail drones At SNC-Lavalin, innovation is one of our core values. Innovation keeps us on the right path for solving our day-to-day problems. It ensures we evolve and constantly improve in everything we do. Innovation is the answer to overcoming obstacles that pose impediments to improvement. Innovate or become irrelevant: On earthquakes, buzzwords and rail drones

5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Adding a Fuel Gas Compression System With the power generation market shifting its fuel mix to an increased dependence on natural gas, the decreased downstream volume and unreliable gas pressure can wreak havoc on legacy power generation facilities. How can an aging plant remain a relevant, competitive and reliable resource for power? 5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Adding a Fuel Gas Compression System

Preparing for Disaster: Recommendations for Hurricane Resilience Nearly two years after hurricanes Irma and Maria slammed into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (PR) and the US Virgin Islands (USVI), recovery and rebuilding efforts continue. Though much of the political debate is focused on the response and recovery mission, as engineers and planners, our thinking must be to the future and what can be done to prepare the islands for the next disaster. Preparing for Disaster: Recommendations for Hurricane Resilience

Oil and gas: Adopting an all-embracing approach to navigate digital transformation Technological advancements are reshaping the oil and gas industry at varied levels. Companies that are able to exploit the full potential of digital transformation will be better placed to deal with future challenges and achieve greater financial performance and business growth. Oil and gas: Adopting an all-embracing approach to navigate digital transformation

If these walls could talk: The era of the cognizant asset If these walls could talk: The era of the cognizant asset

Building lifecycle management to enhance your assets Building lifecycle management to enhance your assets

What is Building Lifecycle Management? What is Building Lifecycle Management?

Put simply: How the digital twin fits your ecosystem Organisations working across the lifecycle need context to understand how VR, AR, IoT, BIM - and the hundreds of other things lauded as changing our industry - can make more than just incremental differences. Put simply: How the digital twin fits your ecosystem

Under Pressure and Feeling the Heat: Autoclave Technology at the Heart of the Metal Extraction Process Gold and nickel are two of Canada’s most valuable commodities by production value. A key piece of equipment found on many of the flowsheets used to extract nickel and gold from ores is the autoclave. Under Pressure and Feeling the Heat: Autoclave Technology at the Heart of the Metal Extraction Process

How an airport can capture the essence of a city Arriving at the airport is like entering a gateway into a new world. It’s the first place most people see when they arrive, the first place where they will breath the air, eat the food, or meet a local. How an airport can capture the essence of a city

The Green Approach: Stormwater and Courses and Trails Most natural disasters recorded over the last decade were flooding events, and landlocked states experienced more flooding than coastal ones, according to FEMA. As a result, cities all over the U.S. are focusing on resiliency and planning for the next big storm. The Green Approach: Stormwater and Courses and Trails

Preparing for the Future of Mobility When the topic of autonomous vehicles (AVs) or driverless cars comes up nowadays, you get a mixed bag of opinions. Some people cringe at the thought of not being in control of their vehicle or their journey. Others are excited for the day they can relinquish that control in favor of a relaxed, productive morning commute. Opinions vary, but the fact is the future of mobility is changing, and it’s coming sooner than you think. Preparing for the Future of Mobility

Cost Estimating: Accuracy Does Not Equal Quality As we continually strive to improve the quality of estimates, we first must recognize that quality is not the same as accuracy. Estimate quality is established during the estimating process. Accuracy is established after the estimate has been completed and a Monte Carlo risk analysis has been performed. If, however, we focus on quality first, improved accuracy should naturally follow. Cost Estimating: Accuracy Does Not Equal Quality

When Traditional Solutions Don’t Measure Up, Fire Protection Engineers Can Help When Traditional Solutions Don’t Measure Up, Fire Protection Engineers Can Help

Beyond buzzwords: the true meaning and value of "digital twins" Beyond buzzwords: the true meaning and value of "digital twins"

Podcast – Internet of things Podcast – Internet of things

Transforming airport design with artificial intelligence Transforming airport design with artificial intelligence

Augmenting the People Augmenting the People

Social and environmental disclosure and the risk of inconsistency Social and environmental disclosure and the risk of inconsistency

Taking BIM to the Infrastructure Level Building Information Modeling, or BIM, is the proverbial glue that holds building projects together. Accurate digital modeling of a project from start to finish enables firms to design and build quality projects efficiently, saving time and money during the construction phase while enhancing operations & maintenance (O&M) and facility management applications, ensuring a project is not only well-built but also sustainable for the long term. But while BIM has been a staple in vertical construction for well over a decade, the industry has been slower to adopt BIM more broadly to infrastructure projects. Taking BIM to the Infrastructure Level

A systems approach to Integrated Water Resource Management Since the first Roman aqueduct was introduced in 312 BC, civilizations thrive to the degree they manage their water systems. While the fall of Rome cannot be blamed on its infrastructure, demand for more water, climate change, aging infrastructure, population growth, and land use changes influence water systems and affect the health of cities. As we increasingly experience more weather-related catastrophes, engineers should consider a holistic approach to water management. A systems approach to Integrated Water Resource Management

Eight strategies to minimize capital expenditures for a better bottom line The following are eight strategies to help reduce engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project costs, along with tips to maximize the value of both existing assets and new investments for refiners and producers. Eight strategies to minimize capital expenditures for a better bottom line

A winning approach to public engagement in mass transit Planning for urban transit projects takes place on multiple levels. There are the route, design, costs, risks and safety concerns that planners and city managers typically consider. One element that cannot be overlooked is the importance of public involvement (PI), the success of which can mean the difference between completing a project on time or waiting years and burning through taxpayer funds as it sits in development purgatory. A winning approach to public engagement in mass transit

The evolving uses of digital scanning and immersive technology The evolving uses of digital scanning and immersive technology

SNC-Lavalin in partnership with UCL - driving research into the real world By Will Squires, Digital Lead, Cities and Development, SNC-Lavalin SNC-Lavalin in partnership with UCL - driving research into the real world

The Adaptation Guidebook: Building Resilient Communities Toes in the sand, fresh seafood, the sound of ocean waves and Instagram-worthy sunsets— residents in coastal communities have found their paradise and aren’t going anywhere. But, coastal living isn’t without its risks. With ever-changing environmental factors at play, how can we assess, adapt and implement methods for more resilient communities? The Adaptation Guidebook: Building Resilient Communities

Automation and artistry AI and automation are advancing to the level where we can create a Rembrandt using robots and hear JFK’s speech that he never had the chance to read. These rapid improvements are undoubtedly going to change the workplace and are already influencing industries. From transforming factory floors to sorting suitable candidates for a job role, automation is already streamlining processes. Automation and artistry

Using AI to bring Dark Data to Light If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no-one around to hear it, does it make a sound? If an as-built drawing collects dust in a records room and there’s no-one to digitize it, did it ever exist? As paper, vellum, and microfiche records of infrastructure continue to decay, organizations are struggling to figure out how to preserve this dark data and extract its value. Using AI to bring Dark Data to Light

Forgotten data: Why is our most important asset often overlooked? The media seems incessantly full of articles about data breeches, privacy legislation and the mystery about how our own personal data is being used. Forgotten data: Why is our most important asset often overlooked?

Looking for a crack in a city: Could machine learning make this easier? Part of our ‘idea to scale’ series Looking for a crack in a city: Could machine learning make this easier?

Realizing major savings through combining engineering and data analytics for effective inventory optimization Realizing major savings through combining engineering and data analytics for effective inventory optimization

How data-driven mobility can change the way we travel As the world around us changes, so too is the way we travel through it. Whether you move through the heart of a busy metropolitan city, or commute regularly between city, satellite and the countryside, intelligent mobility’ – data-driven technologies and new services – will already have transformed your relationship with transport and mobility. How data-driven mobility can change the way we travel

Digital 3.0 in Higher Education Disruption is coming from all directions to what historically was a relatively protected sector. By moving to study fees and an increasingly competitive global, regulated and digital marketplace for education, institutions of learning increasingly need to change to a service-orientated model to excel, with IT Departments at the forefront of digital leadership, disruptive innovation and change. Digital 3.0 in Higher Education

Blockchain will revolutionize asset management. Here's how. What if we could build an asset database that the asset owner had full visibility and control over, even if they weren’t active in its upkeep? What if asset ownership was transferred with a single click? It turns out we can do this, right now, using blockchain. Blockchain will revolutionize asset management. Here's how.

Demystifying the digital twin I’m a rock climber. After my wife and kids, climbing is my passion. Of course, there are inherent risks to climbing (as to anything in life), so I try to manage and mitigate those risks as best I can. And managing risk is all about information. Demystifying the digital twin

The true reality: Whether to go augmented or virtual? Perhaps sensibly, it’s not a widely known fact that I am on level 32 of Pokémon Go. In fact, I’ve caught 293 out of the 376 Pokémon available, evolved no less than 2 Magikarp’s, and have over 3 million XP at the time of writing. The true reality: Whether to go augmented or virtual?

Big gains ahead as digital signalling gets the green light On 10 May 2018 the UK Secretary of State for Transport and the Chief Executive of Network Rail announced the UK’s new Digital Railway strategy. Big gains ahead as digital signalling gets the green light

Harnessing the complex with Agile How can adopting Agile approaches help organisations meet the challenges of doing business in an ever more complex and volatile world, where change is the norm? Harnessing the complex with Agile

Transport and AI – Exploring the new crystal ball Public transport today is no longer seen as merely a means to get people from A to B, but more as an experience or a service, similar to what one would expect from hospitality or retail outlets. Transport and AI – Exploring the new crystal ball

From 3 weeks to 1 day: How robots are reducing the time spent analysing what’s under our feet Understanding what’s under the ground before anything is built, or understanding the quality of your established assets, is an essential part of any successful engineering and asset management. From 3 weeks to 1 day: How robots are reducing the time spent analysing what’s under our feet

North Avenue Smart Corridor North Avenue Smart Corridor: Intelligent Mobility Innovations in Atlanta Improving Safety and Efficiency. North Avenue Smart Corridor

Current and emerging trends in the aerospace sector As major aircraft manufacturers and tier one suppliers get into full execution mode to meet record demand, we assess a number of exciting developments on the horizon that the aviation industry is set to embrace as demand grows and trends shift. Current and emerging trends in the aerospace sector

Protecting our critical infrastructure Operators of the UK’s essential services face fines of up to £17 million if they fail to comply with strict, new cyber security laws. Protecting our critical infrastructure

What is the autonomous and electric highway for 2032? At SNC-Lavalin we’re peering into the future to try and understand what the transport ecosystem could look like, what advancements in technology there might be, when key decision points will occur and the value of investing in specific technology solutions to deliver improved transport networks. What is the autonomous and electric highway for 2032?

Immersive visualisation technology – The Podcast Immersive visualisation technology – The Podcast

Taming the Beast: Improving Federal Project Delivery When we think of major projects within the federal government, one of the first words that comes to mind is inefficiency. Taming the Beast: Improving Federal Project Delivery

City Simulator: Preparing Our Cities for Natural Disasters As we view with horror the devastation wrought by recent hurricanes in Florida, South Texas, and the Caribbean, questions are rightly being asked about what city planners and government agencies can do to better prepare communities for natural disasters. City Simulator: Preparing Our Cities for Natural Disasters

Asset Recycling: Can it close the infrastructure gap for future generations? To close the infrastructure gap, the world needs to invest in $100 trillion worth of infrastructure over the next 25 years, but it doesn’t stop here... Asset Recycling: Can it close the infrastructure gap for future generations?

Keeping the Stormwater Asset Backbone Strong On September 5, 2017, Hurricane Irma reached Category 5 as it whipped the eastern Caribbean with force not seen before in the Atlantic. The operators at the emergency operations center of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD or the District) were busy implementing the measures they had just practiced during their hypothetical Hurricane Freddy exercise a few months earlier: pump water out to sea, and drain all storage as much as possible to make room for the deluge to follow in just a few days. Keeping the Stormwater Asset Backbone Strong

Governance: the vital fourth component of successful transport planning and delivery Early on in my career, an officer from a major UK local authority remarked that securing approval for any transport – or other infrastructure – project requires three basic elements. Governance: the vital fourth component of successful transport planning and delivery

Cities, Our Nation’s Beating Hearts, Need a Stress Test We’ve all seen movie clips of stress tests: someone running on treadmill, a mass of sensors and monitors attached, a doctor watching and jotting notes on a clipboard. Cities, Our Nation’s Beating Hearts, Need a Stress Test

Small Businesses: The Power of Partnership Responsible for roughly 80 percent of our nation’s job growth, small businesses are engines of innovation and are an invaluable asset to our economy. Small Businesses: The Power of Partnership

CMAC: The “Smart” Stormwater Management Solution Our approach to managing stormwater, and the implementation of stormwater infrastructure, hasn’t kept pace with our digitally enabled environment. CMAC: The “Smart” Stormwater Management Solution

Using Adaptive Management to Restore Damaged Ecosystems Environmental restoration projects are a complex undertaking—for good reason. Using Adaptive Management to Restore Damaged Ecosystems

Know Your Assets: Resisting ‘Run-to-Fail’ Picture the scene; you put on a virtual reality (VR) headset to find a bird’s eye view of your institution. All of your assets are here. It’s a perfect simulation—a perfect 3-D model of your buildings, structures, underground infrastructure, and landscape. An exact model you can virtually wander through, swooping around the intricate web of your facility's infrastructure, efficiently able to discern which systems need maintenance, which are fully functioning, and which might be in danger of failing. This isn't science fiction. It is the very real and contemporary potential of living data. Know Your Assets: Resisting ‘Run-to-Fail’

Innovation is a shade of purple SNC-Lavalin has been breaking new ground with rolling-stock projects on opposite sides of the world, both of which have new railway systems called the Purple Line. Innovation is a shade of purple

Deliver a New Era with 3D Point Clouds There is an iconic scene in the 2002 film “Minority Report” in which Tom Cruise’s police detective protagonist furiously maneuvers content around a wall-sized computer screen by waving his hands. Deliver a New Era with 3D Point Clouds

Visualizing the 4th Dimension – Time – for Better Decision-Making How can designers start solving the unsolvable problems from just a few years ago; how can we stretch the limits of what is possible? Visualizing the 4th Dimension – Time – for Better Decision-Making

One Belt One Road: Seven factors to attract private sector investment One Belt One Road (OBOR) is arguably one of the biggest stories in today’s Asia business sector, covering 60 countries and accounting for about 65 per cent of the world’s population, one-third of the world’s GDP, and about a quarter of all the goods and services the world moves. One Belt One Road: Seven factors to attract private sector investment

Direct Procurement – Look east As Ofwat starts to drive competition into the water sector through direct procurement – consortia across the UK are preparing themselves to deliver the industry’s biggest and most exciting projects. Direct Procurement – Look east

Getting closer to a small modular reactor reality We’ve talked about small modular reactors (SMR) before, looking at what they are and what the benefits and potential drawbacks of the technology are. Getting closer to a small modular reactor reality

Why don't we see more women in engineering? By a woman in engineering One of our engineers, Jessica Green, discusses why there are not enough women in engineering and what we can do about it. Why don't we see more women in engineering? By a woman in engineering

Cyber security in a nuclear world – addressing the global challenge In late 2016 the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) launched a new report entitled “Outpacing Cyber Threats: Priorities for Cyber Security at Nuclear Facilities”. Cyber security in a nuclear world – addressing the global challenge

The Integrated Airport - a new golden age for aviation In a new era of mass personalisation, can synergies between the design of airport facilities and the use of digital innovation and automation within them allow us to rediscover the personal touch in a way that is accessible to all? The Integrated Airport - a new golden age for aviation