BASF’s new smartphone application, MyConcrete is now available in Asia Pacific, allowing instant access to information on concrete properties. Intended for contractors, engineers, architects and producers, the free MyConcrete app serves as a channel to a range of information on the fundamentals of concrete use.
The app includes items such as concepts and design factors, provides answers to questions on concrete slump, air, finishability and set time and offers information on BASF products for concrete producers.
“MyConcrete is like having a textbook in your hand,” says Viswanath Mahadevan, Director of Admixture Systems Business Management, BASF Construction Chemicals Asia Pacific. “We want our customers to get the information they need, when they need it, wherever they are. With MyConcrete on their mobile devices, they’ll always have access to information about our products and how to use them – allowing them to achieve better productivity.”
MyConcrete app’s includes a Surface Evaporation calculator to determine the risk of shrinkage cracking and a Concrete Temperature calculator for freshly mixed concretes, which help professionals understand the effects of ambient conditions on concrete. Local weather conditions are considered in the calculators based on GPS or chosen location.
MyConcrete can be downloaded free of charge from Apple and Google Play stores by searching for “MyConcrete”. The app is available in English, Japanese and Vietnamese.
Surbana Jurong and AeroLion Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in April 2019 to further develop unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies for the built and natural environment. The MOU was signed at Unmanned Systems Asia 2019.
Under the MOU, the partners will jointly develop UAV solutions for various project applications, including land reclamation, workplace safety, site progression and fault detection in enclosed areas such as buildings and tunnels. Surbana Jurong aims to integrate these UAV solutions into its current processes to further increase its productivity.
At the same time, combining real-world data from Surbana Jurong’s operations with the UAV’s artificial intelligence platforms will allow Surbana Jurong to offer advance data-driven UAV solutions to its global clients.
The partnership brings together Surbana Jurong’s expertise and experience in planning, design and engineering in the global urban and infrastructure sectors, with AeroLion Technologies’ expertise in UAV technologies that are focused on the building and construction sector.
UAVs are one of several technologies transforming the engineering and construction industry. Its use not only boosts productivity, reduces overall project time and costs, provide more accurate data readings in shorter time and improve worker safety.
Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group CEO of Surbana Jurong said, “Surbana Jurong already uses UAVs as part of our project processes, from conducting inspections and surveillance, high-precision data collection as well as security-led activities by our subsidiary AETOS. Our collaboration with AeroLion Technologies will further ensure our leadership in the area of UAV applications.”
AeroLion Technologies is a leader in the application of UAV in infrastructure inspection and warehouse management. The Company has strong foundations in Artificial Intelligence (AI), UAV automation and advanced flight operations, and is slated to launch novel solutions for the built environment, following the success of its recent autonomous tunnel inspection UAV platforms.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge are using microencapsulation technologies developed by Dolomite Microfluidics to develop self-healing construction materials.
As highlighted in recent BBC News broadcasts, the Department of Engineering’s Geotechnical and Environmental Research Group is developing microcapsules containing ‘healing’ agents – such as minerals, epoxy or polyurethane – which can be added to building materials to allow self-repair of small cracks which develop over time.
Dr. Livia Ribeiro de Souza, a postdoctoral researcher in the group, explained: “Many composite building materials used in the construction industry – such as concrete – suffer fatigue over time, developing small cracks. We are hoping to overcome this problem by adding microcapsules filled with ‘healing’ agents to the concrete before it is used. The idea is that, as cracks begin to form, they rupture the microcapsules, releasing their payload and stabilising the material.”
“This approach requires the formation and functionalisation of double emulsion microcapsules, which we have been producing with the help of microfluidics. We have been using a Dolomite Microfluidics system since 2014, and find that microfluidics offers much better control of particle size and composition than traditional emulsification polymerisation techniques, simplifying the investigation and optimisation of particle properties.”
The Dolomite system has enabled the researchers to create functionalised microcapsules that bind more strongly to the cement matrix, while also having thinner shell walls and higher core retention, improving their self-healing properties. Livia continued: “It is good to be able to discuss any issues we’re having with the experts at Dolomite Microfluidics, helping to accelerate our research and move us a step closer to real world applications.”
CapitaLand has successfully topped out the eighth and final skyscraper of Raffles City Chongqing as the Group enters the final lap of preparation works to open the highly anticipated 1.12-million-square-metre megastructure in the second half of 2019. This achievement follows the structural completion of the development’s 250-metre-high sky bridge – The Crystal, which enjoys the distinction as the world’s highest sky bridge linking six of Raffles City Chongqing’s eight skyscrapers.
Mr Lucas Loh, President (China & Investment Management), CapitaLand Group, said: “The successful topping out of Raffles City Chongqing represents a new milestone in CapitaLand’s track record of building well-designed integrated spaces. Upon Raffles City Chongqing’s structural completion, we are now focusing on the interior fit-out works, including transplanting trees to enliven The Crystal sky bridge, which will feature the tallest observation deck across Western China. Positioned as a must-visit destination for local residents as well as domestic and overseas travellers, Raffles City Chongqing has been garnering strong response from our customers.”
To date, Raffles City Chongqing has launched three residential towers with a total of 772 units, out of which 72 percent have been sold. The development’s five-storey shopping mall will house some 450 retailers offering a great variety of fashion, dining, lifestyle and entertainment options. We will continue to engage homebuyers, retailers and companies who are keen to be a part of this prestigious development.”
Anchor retail tenants committed to date include Chinese electric vehicle company NIO, which will open its largest NIO House in Chongqing at Raffles City. More than just a showroom, the 1,500-sq m NIO House also serves as an exclusive clubhouse for NIO car owners. Leading movie theatre chain CGV will operate its national flagship at Raffles City Chongqing. Spanning a massive 5,600 square metres, the multiplex will feature state-of-the-art screens with superior sound quality.
Popular bookstore chain Yanjiyou will open a regional flagship at the mall, packed with a lifestyle café and other creative and experiential offerings catering to bibliophiles. In addition, well-known purveyor of fine foods Ole’ will operate a gourmet supermarket with a food hall serving a wide range of fresh produce and international specialties.
Fulfilling its role as an advocate of Chongqing’s rich local culture with more than 3,000 years of history, the mall will feature a dedicated zone to promote authentic Made in Chongqing products such as local delicacies, handicrafts and souvenirs. This is in line with the wishes of local residents, who provided enthusiastic feedback about the development during the popular preview tours conducted by the Raffles City Chongqing project team.
Occupying 9.2 hectares of site area, Raffles City Chongqing brings together a 235,000-square-metres shopping mall, 150,000 square metres of Grade A office space, about 1,400 residential apartments, Ascott Raffles City Chongqing serviced residence and InterContinental Raffles City Chongqing hotel. It has a total construction floor area of 1.12 million sq m and gross floor area (excluding car park) of about 817,000 square metres. The development is strategically located on Chaotianmen at the confluence of Yangtze and Jialing rivers in Yuzhong District. It is also sited at the nexus of three Central Business Districts, namely Jiefangbei, Jiangbeizui and Danzishi.
Raffles City Chongqing comprises eight skyscrapers. Two of these are 350-metre-high supertall skyscrapers known as Chongqing’s tallest buildings; one of which also holds the honour of China’s tallest residential tower. The other six skyscrapers are about 250 metres tall each. Known as Raffles City Chongqing’s ninth “horizontal skyscraper”, The Crystal is an enclosed sky bridge nestled above four of the 250-metres-tall skyscrapers and links two adjacent skyscrapers by cantilevered bridges. Measuring 300 metres in length, 32.5 metres in width and 26.5 metres in height, it is the world’s highest sky bridge linking the most number of towers. Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, Raffles City Chongqing’s form is inspired by the historic images of great Chinese sailing vessels and pays tribute to Chongqing’s noble past as a trading centre.
Raffles City Chongqing has received an Honourable Distinction for the China Tall Building Innovation Award. It is also Chongqing city’s largest development to be accorded the LEED-CS pre-certification (Gold Level) by the United States Green Building Council, which recognises best-in-class building strategies and practices.
Funan is racing ahead to open Singapore’s first online-and- offline (O&O) shopping mall integrating online, offline, data and logistics aimed at empowering retailers’ omnichannel strategy and transforming the customer experience. The retail as well as its office components are now slated to open in 2Q 2019, instead of the earlier announced 3Q 2019. The opening of lyf Funan Singapore, a coliving serviced residence component within Funan, managed by The Ascott Limited, has also been brought forward from 2020 to 4Q 2019.
Owned by CapitaLand Mall Trust and managed by CapitaLand Retail, Funan recently celebrated its structural completion ahead of schedule. The topping out ceremony held at Funan Showsuite was officiated by Guest of Honour Mr Heng Swee Keat, Singapore’s Minister for Finance. From groundbreaking to structural completion, Funan took about 19 months. To date, 72 percent of the overall construction has already been completed.
At the topping out event in September 2018, Minister Heng Swee Keat was given a preview of a range of digital innovations coming up at Funan. These include a smart interactive directory that uses facial recognition to provide shoppers with customised recommendations, video analytics that studies shopper traffic and crowd density and an all-in-one app for Ascott’s lyf coliving serviced residence – the first app by a serviced residence company that will allow social networking and room booking; and will also serve as a mobile key.
CapitaLand also showcased its groupwide innovations as part of its digitalisation strategy, including a merchant dashboard that enables retailers to tap consumer insights generated by CapitaLand’s CapitaStar loyalty programme and eCapitaVoucher, the digital version of CapitaVoucher – Singapore’s most popular shopping mall voucher – launching this November.
Funan’s innovation journey has scored several “firsts” in Singapore. These include the first to deploy automated guided vehicles to provide shoppers with a hands-free shopping experience and the first to utilise a robotic arm for its twenty-four-hour drive-through click-and-collect service. As part of Funan’s tech-enabled user experience, building users can also expect conveniences such as app-based booking of facilities within the development, video-based smart carparking facilities and facial recognition turnstiles at its office towers.
Pump manufacturer Grundfos has launched its new generation of CR pumps – which exceeds current energy efficiency limits for multi-stage in-line pumps. Grundfos’ renowned range of CR pumps are the world’s first vertical multistage centrifugal inline pumps, which line up pump pressure and pump suction port in a straight pipe.
The centrifugal CR pumps can transport corrosive, hot, and high-pressure liquids used across various applications including water supply, water treatment and almost all industrial solutions.
The new generation of Grundfos CR pumps introduces three new flow sizes (CR95, 125 and 155) and increases the maximum water flow to 220 cubic metre per hour.
Gary Flanagan, Regional Product Manager – Multistage, Grundfos Asia Pacific Region said the pump manufacturer is dedicated to continuous development and innovation to ensure that this new generation of CR pumps is meeting the evolving needs of industries in Asia and globally.
“The world has changed in many ways since the CR was first introduced many years ago. But our drive to set new standards for our customers has always remained the same. That is why we are so proud to announce the launch of this new generation of Grundfos CR pumps.
“Today, our new CR pump design features a full range of sizes and literally millions of customised solutions to suit the specific needs of companies and engineers.”
Based on extensive research, development and testing of new hydraulic designs, the CR pump is engineered using state-of-the-art production methods – including a fully automated and flexible production line.
Gary Flanagan added, “As industries in Asia expand to meet the growing consumption demand of the region, they need to take a smarter manufacturing approach to make sure their industrial processes are able to produce more with less, while reducing energy consumption and limiting their carbon footprint.
“Sustainability is a very important part of Grundfos’ DNA and we aim to create cleaner and more energy efficient technologies to help our customers reduce their carbon emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement commitments.”
JCB has won a four-year contract to supply recovery equipment to the Formula One 2018 Singapore Grand Prix. The high profile race takes place in the heart of Singapore’s central business district from 14-16 September 2018 and – as the only Formula One event scheduled for Southeast Asia – it is often described as the region’s crown jewel. This spectacular night race is a highlight of the Formula One season and offers JCB a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate their renowned products to a global audience of millions.
JCB successfully managed to secure the rights to supply recovery equipment following a competitive, high-level tender process. The race organising committee were particularly impressed with JCB’s products, and the role of Aly – JCB’s newly appointed Singapore dealer – in negotiations; as well as JCB’s commitment to motorsport through its existing sponsorship agreement with Williams Martini Racing.
Albert Foo, Executive Director Corporate Strategy, Aly JCB – JCB’s exclusive dealer for Singapore – states: “Supplying equipment to the Singapore Grand Prix is a big opportunity for JCB. It’s a statement of intent, which shows our customers that Aly and JCB are rapidly growing in Singapore ready to support them. If such significant, high profile customers as the Singapore Grand Prix have confidence in JCB to provide the solutions for their operations, and are making the switch to our brand, our customers will trust us to provide them with the same world class solutions.”
JCB will exclusively supply the Singapore Grand Prix with 20 Telescopic Handlers – ranging from the 527-58, all the way up to the 540-170 and the 560-80 models – in a package that also includes JCB’s flagship model, the 541-70 Telescopic Handler. These machines will be deployed at several prominent locations within the race track area for the full three days of the race weekend.
The Telehandlers will be used in the event of a crash or car malfunction. They will lift and remove the affected race cars from the track into the holding area. Familiarisation training is being provided using machines with appropriate jibs and spreader bars, while both JCB and Aly’s technical resources are on standby for the whole event.
Max Lytle, Managing Director JCB Southeast Asia, comments: “The local knowledge and insight of Aly JCB played a crucial part in JCB winning the race for this contract. It is another string to our bow that shows customers we are serious about the Singapore market and are a world class manufacturer of construction equipment. What better way to demonstrate our products than in a high profile event such as the Singapore Grand Prix that will attract vast global interest and provide an excellent opportunity to raise our brand visibility?”
Max continues: “The Telehandler concept is one that can revolutionise customers’ applications across Southeast Asia. The ability to quickly and easily pick up and move a load – be that a Formula One car, brick pack, or whatever it may be – is the very essence of a Telescopic Handler.”
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) recently announced that Roxy Limited, a subsidiary wholly-owned by New World Development Company Limited, has been awarded the right to develop and manage a world-class destination commercial development (Site A2 and A3, the Development) in SKYCITY at Hong Kong International Airport.
The Development is a crucial part of the overall long-term development of HKIA. The award follows an open tender exercise held earlier, which received a number of strong bids from local and international developers and retail operators.
Scheduled to be opened in phases from 2023 to 2027, the Development, adjacent to HKIA’s passenger terminals, will provide a maximum gross floor area of 350,000 square metres, with retail, dining and state-of-the-art entertainment facilities tailor-made for visitors and local residents of different ages. Under the agreement, Roxy Limited will design, construct, finance and manage the Development, which will be the largest integrated retail, dining and entertainment development in Hong Kong.
Apart from the Development, a hotel is being developed on another site of SKYCITY(Site A1a), for which Regal Hotels Group has been awarded the development and management right earlier. The new hotel is scheduled to be opened in the year 2020-2021.
SKYCITY occupies approximately 25 hectares of land and benefit from the customer base of HKIA which served 72.9 million passengers in the past year. The passenger traffic at HKIA is projected to rise to more than 100 million by 2030 with the completion of the Three-runway System. SKYCITY will also tap into the full potential brought by the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge that will greatly enhance the connectivity is well-positioned to of the SKYCITY not only within Hong Kong, but also the Pearl River Delta.
Hamad International Airport has been ranked the 5th best airport in the world at the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2018, which took place during the Passenger Terminal Expo 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. HIA has also been honoured with the title of ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the fourth year in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the third year in a row.
The award recognises HIA’s innovative facilities, five-star customer service and state-of-the-art terminal which can accommodate more than 30 million passengers annually. The terminal has been described as the most architecturally significant terminal complex in the world, as well as being the most luxurious.
Commenting on the results of the Skytrax World Airport Awards, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport stated: “HIA sets itself apart from other airports with its optimised passenger journey, unmatched retail offering, five-star customer service, punctuality, cleanliness, iconic architecture and unique art programme, making the airport a destination on its own. These Skytrax results mark yet another milestone in HIA’s journey in solidifying its position as one of the world’s best airports. We are grateful to our passengers who gave us their trust and endorsement during the voting process.
Mr. Al Meer continued: “In spite of the challenging situation in the region, HIA succeeded in proving its resiliency by maintaining 5 Star passenger’ experience, and smooth operations.
As we are gearing up to welcome more than 50 million travellers by 2022, we will continue to invest in our facilities, services and the newest technologies to provide a world-class passenger experience.”
The Skytrax World Airport Awards are a global benchmark of airport excellence, based on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and include 410 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product – from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, through to departure at the gate.
HIA – The Gateway to Qatar and to the World
Positioned at the edge of the Arabian Gulf, Hamad International Airport’s tranquil waterside setting provides a perfect backdrop for its stylish architectural elements, underpinned by advanced airport systems in line with its ‘Smart Airport’ vision.
Operating 24/7, the airport features two runways, a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower and currently processes 30 million passengers per year and 360,00 aircrafts per year. With over 40,000 square meters of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, unmatched spa facilities and a collection of unique art pieces from internationally acclaimed artists, HIA is a destination on its own, designed for the modern traveller.
John McAslan + Partners and Woods Bagot are the architectural partners delivering the Sydney Metro upgrade to Central Station, a key component of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.
The renewal of Australia’s biggest railway station is underway, with a recent announcement that Laing O’Rourke has won the $955 million contract for the Sydney Metro City & Southwest upgrade of Central Station, including Central Walk. The station is a key one within the $20 billion Sydney Metro project, Australia’s biggest public transport infrastructure project.
Jointly leading the multi-disciplinary, international design team are architects John McAslan + Partners and Woods Bagot, whose bold, can-do architecture will give the station an entirely new functional and experiential vibe.
Key heritage qualities of the 112-year-old station will be emphasised along with the introduction of new architecturally-inspiring elements as part of a scheme that amplifies Central Station as a Sydney icon. Signalling a step-change in the station’s functional, urban and cultural contributions to the city, the project will trigger much higher levels of people-movement and energy, and wider civic and commercial renewal.
The design team has impeccable credentials. Renowned UK architect John McAslan + Partners designed the highly celebrated and multi-awarded regeneration of London’s King’s Cross Station, restoring the 170-year-old station and adding a highly innovative concourse to accommodate up to 150,000 passengers per day. Woods Bagot’s exemplary transformation of Sydney’s Wynyard Walk commuter link injects civic, cultural and commercial energy by connecting Wynyard Station with Barangaroo and the waterfront.
Below ground, the atmospheric qualities of volume, surface, and natural light characterise the design scheme for the Central Station upgrade. With respect to existing hierarchies of arches and materials, the proposal has a clear relationship with Walter Vernon’s architecture of the station above. While the interfaces between old and new will be quite distinct, they will be architectural segues rather than jump-cuts.
The Central Station metro upgrade includes the main concourse, Central Walk (connecting the Sydney Metro platforms to Chalmers Street), northern concourse (interface between the new metro and the existing station) and the metro box platforms.
Central Station is the backbone of Sydney’s public transport network, with more than 250,000 people passing through the station every day. That number is forecast to grow to 450,000 in the next two decades. The Central Walk concourse will better connect customers to trains, buses, light rail and the new Sydney Metro. Features of Central Walk include:
A 19-metre wide tunnel from Chalmers Street, linking to new metro platforms under Central
New, easy access points to Sydney Trains platforms 16 to 23
Escalators directly to suburban platforms for the first time.
As Sydney director Domenic Alvaro explains, the project is a significant win for Woods Bagot and the result of the firm’s deliberate expansion in the Australian transport sector.
Sydney Metro is Australia’s largest public transport project. It will transform Sydney, delivering more trains and faster services for customers across the network. A new stand-alone railway network, Sydney Metro is the solution to clearing the city’s public transport bottlenecks and will deliver a quality of rail service never before seen in Australia.
Sydney Metro City & Southwest will extend metro rail between Chatswood and Bankstown, including a new crossing beneath Sydney Harbour, new railway stations in the lower North Shore and CBD, and the upgrade and conversion of the current line between Sydenham and Bankstown.