Best Use of Technology: Carbon Reduction in Construction and Management

This category recognises teams using artificial intelligence-driven technology to improve project planning or delivery. This may be in infrastructure or on a building project and can cover areas such as improving the design, management or construction through artificial intelligence or being used to aid clients to better plan infrastructure or construction investment.

Converge

Data Hub

Converge's Data Hub uses AI to enhance carbon tracking and reduce emissions in construction. It automates data capture, analysing concrete delivery, mix designs, and carbon content to minimise errors and waste. By providing real-time access to carbon data, it supports informed decision-making and strategic planning. Early adopters like Morrisroe Group praise its impact on sustainability and productivity. Data Hub is essential for optimising low-carbon concrete construction and advancing the industry towards net-zero emissions.

IBE Partnership

ConstructCO2

With 8% of all UK emissions attributed to the Construction Delivery Process, Construction organisations must manage their carbon emissions from their own direct activities in their offices and their projects. These include:

• journeys made by Admin, Management, Operatives, Deliveries, Waste, and Visitors

• Utilised gas, water, electricity and plant fuel

ConstructCO2, (www.constructco2.com) is a web based tool providing simple, practical and systematic approach to measuring organisational and project carbon emissions that enables companies and Project Teams to re-engineer their business, design, procurement, logistics and construction processes to minimise their carbon footprint to meet and demonstrate objectively their Net Zero by 2050.

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure

Achieving carbon, cost and safety enhancements using Sign Asset Monitoring System

To make traffic management safer, more efficient and reduce carbon, Morgan Sindall worked collaboratively with HW Martin, Fewzed and Virtus to identify, trial and implement an innovative technology. Our Sign Asset Monitoring System (SAMS) tracks real time locations of traffic management signs, enabling immediate maintenance deployment, if movement is detected. The system eliminates the need for two-hourly traffic management patrols, minimising exposure to live traffic and significantly reducing maintenance costs. Utilising multi-network sims, signs are continuously mapped and provide real time information to promptly guide the traffic management team to the exact locations. We have demonstrated a 5.61 tonne carbon reduction on a highways project on the A12, with a further 127 tonnes predicted to be saved on our current project on the M27. We are sharing this technology to enable every highways project to achieve the same carbon savings.

Mott MacDonald, Balfour Beatty Vinci and Systra

GEOBIM to support mass haul optimisation

A new digital engineering technique that combines 3D ground modelling and numerical analysis has been developed to unlock the optimisation of the mass haul strategy across HS2 Ph1 Area North. This has enabled the Integrated project team to achieve mass haul efficiencies and associated carbon reductions while also reducing residual risks during construction (particularly the need to import additional fill to site. The scale and nature of N1N2 has warranted this hi-tech advancement. However, the technique can be readily applied to any infrastructure project that involves mass movement of material. It is particularly useful for obtaining a more accurate picture of the volume and location of key material classes within an excavation allowing teams to better plan their mass haul strategy and drive sustainability across the project.

SMR UK

Melton Mowbray case study, with WH treatment and Severn Trent Water

SMR UK pioneers sustainable solutions in civil and utilities, SMR (Structural Material for Reinstatement), a revolutionary product for construction and reinstatement. SMR combines with excavated spoil to crease NFSMR (Non Flowable Structural Material), increasing density and strengthening by up to 600% when compacted. An alternative to traditional backfill methods like Type 1, SMR eliminates importing aggregate and exporting material to landfills, reducing costs, lorry movements, and CO2 emissions. Our highly skilled team delivers tailored solutions, ensuring exceptional results, committed to quality and environmental responsibility. Our cementitious Binder meets industry standards, Appendix A9 approved, fully complaint with SHW industry standards.

TEAM2100

The Canvey Island Southern Shoreline Revetment

The Canvey Island Southern Shoreline Revetment Project is part of the Thames Estuary Asset Management (TEAM) 2100 Programme. The project involves renewing and improving the revetment on the tidal defences along the Canvey Island shoreline. Construction commenced in January 2023. Innovating with renewable energy reduced carbon consumption in line with the project’s net zero ambitions, and generated value for money. We closely monitored energy expenditure and costs during the period trialling solar panels and battery storage. This saved 1,782L diesel and associated carbon emissions (~1tCO2e/week) and £2,316. The solar-powered cabins are fully operational, and we anticipate saving 19,000L of fuel and 43tCO2e annually. *[The following text is confidential and not to be shared publicly]: Furthermore, an EODev hydrogen fuel cell was trialled at a site compound. The site consumed 202.5kg green hydrogen, generating 3,310kWh energy and saving 4.26tCO2e in avoided diesel and eliminating all emissions associated with powering the cabins.*

VolkerStevin

Rother tidal walls east

The Kings Avenue project team showcased remarkable innovation in overcoming construction challenges due to limited space and the need to widen the existing embankment. They employed a spider excavator to install a 5m-deep steel sheet pile wall through the embankment crest, marking a pioneering use of this technology. The spider excavator's unique ability to stabilize itself on the embankment slope without an engineered platform, coupled with its power to lift and drive 5m-long steel sheet piles, made it ideal for the Kings Avenue site. This inventive approach, being the first of its kind, significantly streamlined the construction process. Furthermore, the team introduced additional innovations and a change in capping beam material, leading to a substantial 65% reduction in costs and an impressive 82% decrease in carbon emissions, slashing CO2 output from 333 tons to 61 tons. These advancements underscore the team's commitment to sustainability and efficiency through inventive engineering solutions.