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Singaporean Students Lauded At National Engineers Day 2018 For Creating Life-Transforming, Smart Solutions

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(images courtesy of the The Institution of Engineers, Singapore – IES)

The National Engineers Day (NED) 2018 event in July 2018 celebrated the best of youthful creativity and passion in making a difference to the society through engineering. Mr. Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance presented the Energy Innovation Challenge (EIC) 2018 and the IES Innovation Challenge for the Community 2018 awards to winning students at the NED 2018 Prize Presentation Ceremony as the event guest-of-honour. He also witnessed the launched of the “I am a Young Engineer” Badge.

EIC 2018 Winners
EIC 2018 challenges students to design smart engineering solutions for health, living, mobility and services. This year’s EIC saw 120 teams participating across four categories, compared to only 73 teams in its inaugural year in 2015. This includes 18 overseas teams from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Philippines for Category 4 (Local and Overseas Universities).

After a networking party in March 2018, participating students from Category 1 to 3 went through a series of workshops and camps that equipped them with design, finance, marketing, logistics management and technical skills to build their solutions. They also had the unique opportunity to be personally guided by professional engineers as mentors over a four-month learning journey.

The judges had shortlisted 80 teams of more than 252 students for the final rounds of judging, whereby participants had to display their projects at NED 2018 from 26 to 28 July, 2018. The four champion teams who eventually emerged are:

  • Category 1 (Secondary Schools): Team (S-24) – River Valley High School – An Eco- Friendly Barbecue Pit System
  • Category 2 (Junior Colleges): Team (J-10) – Dunman High School – Micro Energy Harvesting (μ-EH) and Its Application in Water Desalination under Emergency and Stressed Situation
  • Category 3 (Polytechnics and Institution of Technical Education): Team (I-06) – ITE College West – Robotic Helper FETCH
  • Category 4 (Local and Overseas Universities): Team (U-01) – Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology – Cheap Braille Interface for Ebook Reading

In recognition of their outstanding performance, the top prize winning teams from Categories 1 to 3 will earn an overseas educational trip to be hosted by BMW Group in Germany, while the second, third and merit prize winners will be awarded with $1,000, $700 and $300 respectively. The champions of Category 4 will walk away with an $8,000 cash prize while the second, third and merit prize winners will be awarded $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000 respectively. This year’s popularity prize for all four categories constitutes $300 each.

Jointly organised by IES and Science Centre Singapore, EIC is a nation-wide competition that gives students the opportunity to create solutions that address global energy issues. It is supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore.

IES Innovation Challenge for the Community 2018
Tertiary students also received awards for applying their engineering knowledge and creativity to design practical, user-friendly solutions to enhance the quality of life of the elderly, the handicapped, the injured and the community-at-large. Participating teams from Category A have to cap their expenditure at $2,000 and demonstrate competence in the optimal use of materials and equipment.

This year’s challenge received a total of 35 project submissions across two categories. After a rigorous round of judging by a panel of academia and industry experts, 14 projects where shortlisted for presentations.

The 2018 Gold Award for polytechnics goes to Chua Chryston and Neo Yizhe from Singapore Polytechnic for building a “dementia patient tracking” using Sigfox, a LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) technology. The tracker periodically transmits its GPS location to a Cloud database and enables the patient’s care-taker to view the location on a Google map via a mobile app. The students hope that the invention can help dementia patients to move about without the fear of getting lost.

In the university category, the Gold Award winner is Subramanian Gowtham from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) for designing a portable image- based cytometer for rapid malaria detection and quantification. His invention detects and numerically counts Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells (iRBCs) from Giemsa- stained smears derived from infected blood. Subramanian’s aim is to provide a cost- effective, rapid and accurate alternative for antimalarial testing without compromising on efficiency.

Launch of “I am a Young Engineer” Badge
IES also launched the “I am a Young Engineer” Badge for primary three to six students at the event, with Minister Heng as witness. This new initiative is a collaborative effort by IES and Science Centre Singapore to encourage students to discover the fun of engineering and instill interest in engineering from a young age.

The badge will provide students with introductory engineering skills and knowledge through self-directed engineering-related tasks listed on the activity card. Students can submit their completed works to their teachers or parents for verification to earn stars that will qualify them for the badge.

The badge is one of the outcomes from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that IES signed with Science Centre Singapore in 2016 to stimulate interest amongst students in engineering and is sponsored by HDB, PUB, Micron and ST Engineering.

NED 2018
The Prize Presentation Ceremony also marked the conclusion of the ninth annual NED, the largest engineering youth carnival in Singapore, organised by IES to celebrate the achievements of engineers, inspire young engineers and intrigue the young generation in engineering.

Besides EIC 2018, the three-day NED 2018 presented a concentration of talks and workshops to help students discover the wonders of engineering and rapidly growing career opportunities for those with an engineering education and an aptitude to discover, imagine and create.

Aurecon’s Smart Engineering Delivers Spectacular New Dubai Resort

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A view of the property's exterior.

A view of the property’s exterior.

Innovative structural engineering was needed to ensure Dubai’s newest tourism hotspot, the Jumeirah Al Naseem, took full advantage of its spectacular location. Construction of the Jumeirah Al Naseem was announced in late 2012 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai. At the time, he emphasised how Dubai’s tourism infrastructure must match the UAE’s increasingly strong position as an international tourism hub. Global infrastructure and engineering advisory firm Aurecon rose to the design challenges, helping ensure the venue delivers a truly five-star experience for its guests.

The opening of the new 430-room Jumeirah Al Naseem gives substance to the Ruler of Dubai’s ambition. The fourth luxury hotel within the Madinat Jumeirah Resort development, the Jumeirah Al Naseem links with the three existing Jumeirah resorts, which occupy a prime spot on the stunning local coastline. The Resort, Dubai’s largest, was recently named in the Top 3 hotels of the Middle East and Africa by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Aurecon started work on the Jumeirah Al Naseem in December 2012 when the company was invited to collaborate on a range of engineering disciplines by leading development and management company, Mirage Leisure and Development. Aurecon and Mirage have collaborated on several previous developments within the Madinat Jumeirah Resort. Other companies appointed to the project included South African architects, Northpoint, who delivered the concept, and the Dubai office of Woods Bagot, who served as executive architect.

Having been awarded several engineering disciplines within the project, Aurecon began its design work in 2013. Civil and structural work was led by the local Dubai office with support from Aurecon’s office in Cape Town, while acoustics design, vertical transportation, marine design, waste management and geotechnical design was handled by experts in other global offices in Australia and South Africa.

Wouter Brand, Technical Director of Buildings and the Project Director for Aurecon’s work on the Jumeirah Al Naseem, says the company’s previous experience in the region, particularly in hotels and resorts, proved invaluable in making this project a success.

The opening of the new 430-room Jumeirah Al Naseem gives substance to the Ruler of Dubai’s ambition.

The opening of the new 430-room Jumeirah Al Naseem gives substance to the Ruler of Dubai’s ambition.

“Our knowledge of the local construction industry was as important as our ability to provide engineering solutions to the many design challenges of the project,” he said. “Creating a seamless connection with the rest of the resort was essential, as was making the most of its geographic location, lying across the water from the spectacular Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and delivering incredible sea views to all guest rooms.”

Challenging Designs
One of the biggest challenges to the structural design was to accommodate the complex building geometry and orientation of the hotel rooms, which were not compatible with the structural grid of the supporting basement car park. The lower level car park was designed with a rectangular grid of supporting concrete columns and walls for effective traffic flow and generous parking bay sizes. However, the structural column grid for the superstructure was restricted by the orientation of the hotel rooms and corridors, as well as the siting of the public entrances, retail and services spaces on the ground floor.

Adjusting the orientation of the hotel was not an option because every room was required to have a sea view; while the grand entrance hall was situated to give guests a sweeping vista of the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. With numerous balconies and floor plates that stepped back with increasing height, the combined design challenges made for an intricate and highly detailed engineering process.

“The optimal solution to this engineering challenge was the introduction of a concrete transfer slab to overcome the differences between the column grid above and below the ground level” said Faan Calitz, Technical Director of Structural Engineering at Aurecon. “The transfer slab system, which in certain areas is in excess of a metre thick, proved to be one of the challenging technical aspects of the project.”

The design had to ensure low deflection of the transfer slab and provide structural redundancy against earthquake loads. It was made more demanding because the transfer slab does not have a uniform thickness or a uniform top level, as it also has to support landscape, planting and pool areas, which lie at different levels around the ground floor of the hotel.

Geotechnical and Marine
Early involvement with the geotechnical and enabling works contractor was also crucial to the success of the project. Aurecon recommended the site be vibro-compacted to improve soil conditions and reduce the risk of liquefaction, which can occur during a seismic event. This compaction lowered the ground level by 400 mm and was an effective ground improvement solution.

Aurecon started work on the Jumeirah Al Naseem in December 2012.

Aurecon started work on the Jumeirah Al Naseem in December 2012.

In addition, Aurecon carried out a Marine Study for the project, which assessed the vulnerability of the coastal development to severe storm surges. The study included a risk assessment of possible flooding and associated inundation and run-up levels, and care was taken to ensure that ground floor levels of the hotel were above possible flood levels. Aurecon also designed marine protection elements, which included sheet piling to the front of the property to prevent undermining of the structure.

Local Knowledge
As with all projects in Dubai, Aurecon’s design had to be approved by Government authorities before any construction could proceed. This approval process is aimed at ensuring the highest standards of design and construction quality are maintained in Dubai.

“Aurecon understands the importance of achieving an approved design within the available timeframe, because this is essential if a contractor is to commence construction on time,” said Ben Hawkes, Senior Structural Engineer who was based at the project site. “The Middle East is well-known for the scale and spectacular nature of its designs, as well as ambitious timeframes that are set for development. This all adds to the importance of ensuring that the execution of any project includes a robust plan for achieving authority approvals.”

“At Aurecon, we are committed to engineering solutions that suit the designs and dreams of our clients,” he concluded. “Although it’s only one part of the overall development, the location and guest experience of Jumeirah Al Naseem is crucial to ensuring Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah Resort remains one of the world’s leading tourist destinations for many years to come.”

Autodesk expands availability of Revit’s collaboration service

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Autodesk recently announced the expanded distribution of A360 Collaboration for Revit, a service that works with Revit software to connect project teams with centralized access to BIM project data in the cloud. Released and available in North America only since December 7, 2014. Collaboration for Revit will be available for commercial global use as of today.

Collaboration for Revit helps project teams conquer the barriers of corporate firewalls and physical location by enabling centralized access to Revit models. Team members in all disciplines from multiple firms or sites worldwide can access and work in models hosted in the cloud. This virtual colocation is an improvement over costly and inefficient workarounds for sharing models such as use of FTP sites, sharing software, or email, and adds up to significant benefits that are amplified for global building project teams.

A360 Collaboration for Revit revolutionizes project collaboration by connecting team members within the Revit models where they work.

A360 Collaboration for Revit revolutionizes project collaboration by connecting team members within the Revit models where they work.

Centralized access to project data contributes to more efficient and easily managed collaboration whether within a firm or for projects involving remote participants. “Collaboration for Revit provides us greater flexibility,” says Leo Gonzales, BIM Manager at Newman Architects. “If they’re on the road, at a job site, or just working from home, our users can access their Revit projects as if they’re sitting in one of our offices.”

A360 Collaboration for Revit opens doors to participate in joint ventures and multi-location projects. “Seamless information sharing between joint ventures and project partners is the future of doing business,” says Gonzales. “And Collaboration for Revit gives us that future… today.” The reduced need for in-person meetings or co-location of teams translates to lower travel expenses and better work-life balance for project team members.

Physical distribution of teams enabled by Collaboration for Revit can relieve the requirement for office space for all project team members. Finally, with location not a limiting factor, project leaders have more options for accessing people with the right skill set for a project, resulting in better allocation of team resources

With the Communicator for Revit chat tool that comes with Collaboration for Revit, project team members can communicate directly with each other in real-time, within the project models. A designer in any location can chat with other team members and attach files, images, or Revit screen captures. Using real-time chat within project models helps designers not only to stay in touch but also to know instantaneously who is working in the model and what they are doing.

Collaboration for Revit is tightly integrated with Autodesk A360, providing Revit design and engineering teams a centralized cloud-based workspace in which to work together more efficiently on projects and make more effective decisions. External team members and project contributors who do not use or have access to Revit software can view, search, and socially interact on models, discuss challenges and successes, and stay current with project activities. This is ideal for building owners or others who want to have visibility to the project status, but don’t need full access.

Timely feedback and input from an extended team speeds communication timelines and can help ensure project understanding and buy-in. A360 Collaboration for Revit revolutionizes project collaboration by connecting team members within the Revit models where they work.

T.Y.Lin bags top honours for VTVCH restoration works

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The firm received top honours for its role in restoring the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. Image courtesy of T.Y. Lin Internatinoal.

The firm received top honours for its role in restoring the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. Image courtesy of T.Y. Lin Internatinoal.

T.Y. Lin International Pte Ltd (TYLI) received the 2015 Structural Award (Structural Heritage Category) of The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) for their role in the restoration of Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall (VTVCH). Dr. Tan Guan, TYLI’s Director of Building Structures, Qualified Person (QP) and Project Manager for the project accepted the award at the recent 2015 Structural Awards ceremony held on 13th November 2015 in London.

Judges from the Structural Awards 2015 called the restoration project a “bold structural undertaking,” and noted that “the structural work was carried out with sensitivity and great care for the historical features, further enhancing the building.” They were impressed with the structural interventions of the project in restoring an intricate 150-year-old concert hall and upgrading it to modern times. The 2015 judging panel was comprised of some of the industry’s finest and their collective knowledge spans a variety of disciplines including academia, architecture, construction, sustainability, innovation and research.

TYLI provided civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering services for the restoration of VTVCH. The structural challenges managed by TYLI included: reinforcing and strengthening the Theatre’s footings and foundations, to create two new underground basements; replace the Concert Hall’s timber floor with a concrete surface, to achieve the acoustic requirements of a 21st century performing arts venue; removal of the non-original columns from the foyer to create an open, welcoming space.

Further, a key element of the works was the restoration of the façade walls, which had deteriorated over time. The beams were exposed for structural strengthening with steel plates and the application of protective coatings. A new steel beam was installed where no lintel beam was provided.

The facade wall at the loading bay area was also strengthened by the installation of new steel beams and columns to allow the door openings to be enlarged for direct access to the new service lifts. In providing access for irregular shaped and large objects, the access at the loading bay area was enlarged and new service lifts were constructed.

In ensuring the safety and the preservation of the conserved structures & façade walls, TYLI stipulated several measures for the construction phase including: acontrolled demolition methodology and work sequence that was carefully planned, controlled pilling workforthe basement construction and extensive monitoring to manage any potential displacements of the conserved structures during the basement excavation, underpinning and construction.

Dr. Tan Guan, commented, “We are honoured to receive such a prestigious international award and to have our work recognised by international industry experts is extremely rewarding.” He continued, “Delivering the project was challenging, working in conjunction with the National Arts Council (NAC), we developed a preservation scheme to overcome many structural challenges while protecting the integrity of the sensitive structure.

For more information, visit www.tylin.com

Arup bags top structural engineering award for Singapore Sports Hub

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Singapore Sports Hub shines in the night. Image courtesy of Arup.

Singapore Sports Hub shines in the night. Image courtesy of Arup.

Arup, a multidisciplinary engineering and consulting firm with a reputation for delivering innovative and sustainable designs, was recognised with the highest accolade at the The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Structural Awards 2015 on 13 November 2015.

The Singapore Sports Hub, for which Arup was the structural engineer, won the Supreme Award for Structural Engineering Excellence. This is the highest accolade of the ceremony and is given at the judges’ discretion, to the project that has distinguished itself from all submissions in 2015, and for being the finest global example of structural engineering design in the year.

Stunning retracting roof at Singapore Sports Hub in action. Image courtesy of Arup.

Stunning retracting roof at Singapore Sports Hub in action. Image courtesy of Arup.

The Singapore Sports Hub is home to the world’s largest free-spanning dome of 310 metres, the approximate width of four A380 aeroplanes parked wing to wing. The roof, which covers the 55,000-seat sports stadium, also sets new benchmarks in efficiency of design and material usage, utilising a third of weight of steel normally used in a span of this size.

“It is a rare honour to have worked on and led the design for the Singapore Sports Hub – a fantastic project, with contributions from so many talented people. I am elated with the recognition the project and team have received, and am particularly proud of the work Arup has done on the National Stadium roof. Working under intense pressure, the team delivered exceptional technical work with a brilliant outcome. They pushed the boundaries of technology and thoroughly deserve this recognition,” said Andrew Henry, Project Manager at Arup.

The firm also won in four other categories: the Award for Sports or Leisure Structures, again, for the Singapore Sports Hub; the Award for Arts or Entertainment Structures for the Vegas High Roller in the USA; the Award for Regional Groups for the SSE Hydro in Glasgow; and the Housing for Low-Income Communities project in El Salvador was presented with the Award for Sustainability.

For more information on The Structural Awards 2015, visit www.istructe.org/structuralawards/2015/home.

IES awards outstanding engineering projects and professionals

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The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) presented the IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award 2015 and the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards 2015 at the World Engineers Summit (WES) on Climate Change 2015 Gala Dinner and Awards Night today. Mr. Chan Chun Sing, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) graced the event as the guest-of-honour.

International and local engineers and climate change experts and professionals gathered at the dinner, after two days of discussion on ‘Sustainable Urban Development for Global Climate Resilience’ at the second WES hosted by IES.

IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award

 

IES awarded Er. Tan Gee Paw with the third IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award in recognition of his significant contributions to Singapore in ensuring the sustainability of its water supply. The award is conferred upon individuals whose lifetime accomplishments and achievements have made profound impact on the engineering industry and community and have brought national or international honours to Singapore.

“Er Tan Gee Paw has dedicated a great part of his life to ensure that our island, which lacks one of the most essential natural resources, is assured of a sustainable water supply. For his exceptional foresight, dedication and accomplishments, he is a fully worthy recipient of the IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award. Er. Tan has proven himself to be a great role model to raise the profile of engineers amongst the public and interest the young to take up engineering as a career,” said Er. Chong Kee Sen, President, IES.

“One of the best traditions of the engineering profession is the quiet dedication of engineers to nation building and service to society with little thought of recognition. My colleagues who have worked with me for the past five decades uphold this fine tradition. The IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award is therefore an award for all my colleagues in the engineering profession who have given many decades of their lives in service to society and the nation,” said Er. Tan.

IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards

 

To recognise outstanding engineering projects which have made a significant contribution to the engineering progress and quality of life in Singapore, IES awarded 13 engineering teams with the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards. These winners have been selected from 25 entries based on their contribution to the well-being of people and communities; resourcefulness in the planning and solving of design problems; pioneering use of materials and methods; innovations in planning, design and construction as well as unique aspects and aesthetic values.

“The winners of the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards 2015 demonstrate the diversity of engineering, from innovating materials that significantly reduce the requirements for air-conditioning to enabling cost-effective eye-screening for glaucoma detection. Regardless of their engineering discipline, each winning team exhibits distinctive value in enhancing the quality of our lives and our environment. We congratulate every one of them and hope that the awards will motivate them to continue to scale even greater heights,” said Er. Ho Siong Hin, Chairman, Awards Committee, IES.

With five winning entries, A*STAR emerged as the biggest winner of the night for the third consecutive year. Winning projects submitted by A*STAR include ‘The Future of Audit: Predictive Analytics on Irregularities and Risks in Bank Branches’ and ‘Speak to Me in My Language’ translation technology.

“A*STAR is delighted to be recognised at the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards. These awards underscore A*STAR’s commitment to undertake innovative research leading to products and processes that can be adopted by companies to raise their competitiveness. We are dedicated to drive for excellence and forging partnerships with companies to grow our industries,” said Dr Raj Thampuran, Managing Director of Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

 

Danfoss Develops New Global Brand Position

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Danfoss-ET-infrastructure

 

Danfoss, a world-leading supplier of  technologies for refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, motor control and mobile machinery, will launch a new global brand profile on September 15 under the headline, ‘Engineering Tomorrow’.

Today, Danfoss enjoys a strong business position within several important growth areas, delivering innovative products that help make a big difference for the citizens and communities of the future – in terms of sustainable infrastructure, food supply, energy efficiency, and climate-friendly solutions. With Engineering Tomorrow Danfoss will ensure that the company’s position in the market stands out.

 “I am very happy to share our sharpened profile which enables Danfoss to move to our mission of Engineering Tomorrow. Our customers here in Asia Pacific have also been involved in the process and with a sharpened profile we will continue to make a difference in the areas of infrastructure, food supply, energy efficiency, and climate-friendly solutions. We will grow our business by continuing to provide more advanced solutions for the future needs of modern societies and from Asia Pacific’s point of view this is part of our regional development agenda. I look forward to delivering the fruitful results together with the Asia Pacific team,” says Asia Pacific president Ted Wen.

The new global brand position has been developed after a thorough process, where Danfoss has asked existing and potential customers throughout the world about their perception and expectations to Danfoss now and in the future. Based on these insights, the Engineering Tomorrow concept has been developed and now the company is ready to present this to the market.

Danfoss’ new brand concept is closely in line with the group’s strategy, ‘Core & Clear’, which was introduced in 2010, and in the present phase is focused on accelerating profitable growth. In addition to several activities in Danfoss’ largest markets, the corporate site danfoss.com will be re-launched to reflect the new brand. Also, Danfoss’ aspiration for ‘Engineering Tomorrow’ will be illustrated in a new corporate movie directed by the Cannes-winning director, Christoffer Boe.

Turkey’s Tallest Structure Relies on Platform SCP for Faster Construction

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Project : Skyland Office Tower, Istanbul / Turkey

"Skyland – All-in-One at the Heart of Istanbul": at 284 m height each, the Skyland Office Tower (image r.) and Residence Tower will be Turkey's tallest buildings upon completion. Photo: Eroğlu

“Skyland – All-in-One at the Heart of Istanbul”: at 284 m height each, the Skyland Office Tower (image r.) and Residence Tower will be Turkey’s tallest buildings upon completion.
Photo: Eroğlu

Scheduled to reach 284 m height upon completion, construction of the Skyland Office Tower under way in the heart of Istanbul Building contractor of what will be Turkey’s tallest structure selected Doka’s Platform SCP for construction. Known to provide a significant edge when going head-to-head against other systems available in the market, the highrise-core forming machine ensures rapid construction progress. Doka also provides protection screen Xclimb 60 for both, the Skyland Office and Residence Towers.

Istanbul / Turkey — A new project of superlatives under the slogan “All-in-One at the Heart of Istanbul” is creating a buzz in the Turkish metropolis. Builder Eroğlu selected the evocative name “Skyland” for his three skyscrapers: at 284 m height each, the Skyland Office and Residence Towers will be Turkey’s tallest buildings upon completion. The Skyland Hotel completes the highrise-triad designed to meet the requirements of modern living, working and playing in the European part of the city that is home to millions.

Formwork technology is also expected to live up to all demands with respect to speed and safety during the construction process. For this reason, the building contractor Alcen decided on a global leader among formwork suppliers for erecting the Skyland Office Tower: Doka.
Best engineering solution wins out.
The challenge presented by the office tower in terms of formwork technology is twofold: For one, the architects decided on a triangular ground plan and therefore also building core. For another, the risk of earthquakes in Istanbul presents special challenges related to static engineering. Thus, lower level walls are 1.5 m thick, at 100 m they measure 1.1 m, with the wall thickness reduced to 60 cm in the final storeys. Additional stability is created thanks to monolithic construction, where walls and floors are reinforced in one go. Given these demands, Doka’s sophisticated formwork concept and the self-climbing Platform SCP came in ahead of the competition. “We got introduced to this system during the Ağaoğlu Maslak 1453 project; now we are using it to erect the entire primary core of this skyscraper. Doka submitted a better engineering solution”, so Alcen Owner Alparslan Sabanci: “The head-to-head comparison proves us right. The construction progress shows that we made the right decision when selecting the Platform SCP.” As the Skyland Office Tower is continuing to grow taller, the adjacent Skyland Residence Tower built with an alternative commercial system available in the market, is noticeably lagging behind.
Optimised platform for highrise cores.
Doka’s self-climbing Platform SCP is virtually predestined to meet these challenges. Any ground plan can be formed quickly and flexibly with the new version of this modular highrise core forming machine. A few high-performing hydraulic cylinders raise the wall formwork – in this case Doka’s large-area formwork Top 50 – along with the working platform in one lift to the next casting section. With its newly developed lifting unit, the Platform SCP now adapts even more flexibly to complex layouts. As well as anchoring the lifting units to the structure on both sides (like in shafts), there is also an extended solution which makes it possible to transfer the forces on one side only. This makes it easy to use the system where there would not otherwise be enough walls, or where there are openings in the opposite walls.

In order to even further optimize and accelerate the construction progress, Doka experts pulled out all the stops during planning and divided the forming jobs between two platforms. They can therefore be climbed independent of each other to the next casting section and add more flexibility to the processes. Thus, the planned weekly cycle is within close reach.

Safety is the deciding factor.
Apart from that, the self-climbing Platform SCP offers a high level of safety on the entire site. The all-round enclosure of working surfaces allows work to take place safely and unaffected by weather conditions. Giant platform surfaces are ideal for depositing reinforcement and site equipment.

It is not only the building core that benefits from Doka’s safety systems. The building contractors put their trust in the protection screen Xclimb 60 with trapezoidal sheet enclosure at both, the Skyland Office Tower and the Residence Tower. This flexible enclosure for all highrise projects consists of a hydraulically climbed system that can also be quickly repositioned by crane if sufficient crane capacity is available. Protection screens can be dimensioned very flexibly, permitting last-centimetre adjustment to any layout. This Doka System ensures safe working conditions at any height on 15 tower constructions in Istanbul.

Doka Formwork Instructors deployed on the construction site see to it that the Platform SCP is assembled properly and the construction crew receive instruction. Formwork planning was executed by Competence Center Highrise experts at Doka Headquarters in Austria in cooperation with the engineering team of Doka Turkey.

Project Facts:

Skyland Office Tower
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Builder: Eroğlu
Construction company: Alcen
Construction start: 2013
Scheduled completion: 2016
Type of structure: Office building
Height of structure: 284 m
Storeys: 65 + 5 basement levels
Used: Products: Platform SCP, Large-area formwork Top 50, Column formwork Top 50, Protection screen Xclimb 60, Framed formwork Framax Xlife
Services: Formwork planning, Competence Center Highrise, Formwork Instructor

 

The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) Presents Distinguished Engineering Pioneer with Prestigious Accolade for Lifetime Contribution to the Industry and the Nation

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Dr Vivian Balakrishnan presents the second IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award at the IES 48th Annual Dinner to Professor Lui Pao Chuen

IES also confers IES Honorary Fellowship upon three eminent engineers for their outstanding contributions and rewards engineering students with medals and scholarships for excellent academic achievements

 The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) will commemorate 48 years of championing engineering excellence and celebrate major engineering milestones achieved in the past year at the IES 48th Annual Dinner this evening at the Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources will grace the event as the guest-of-honour and deliver the opening address to more than 900 guests comprising members of the institution, industry professionals, academics and students.

In recognition of his lifetime accomplishments and achievements which have made profound impact to the industry and community and brought honours to the nation, Professor Lui Pao Chuen will receive the IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award, one of the highest engineer honours in Singapore.

Leveraging on his roots as a systems engineer, Professor Lui has pushed Singapore’s defence, social and economic frontiers forward in significant ways in the past five decades. His key achievements include training and development of more than 5,000 professionals in defence engineering as the chairman of Engineering and Scientific Personnel Committee (ESPC); planning and development of the network of radars, surface-to-air missile and civil defence shelters for the Singapore Air Defence Artillery (SADA); and creation of underground space for Singapore. Prof Lui was appointed by the Ministry of Defence as the Chief Defence Scientist in 1986.

“I am very honoured to be bestowed with the IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award as it recognises my contributions to Singapore as an engineer. Throughout my working life, I have been inspired to continually break new grounds so as to create a better future for Singapore. I hope that young and future engineers will dare to do things that others have not done because that will be the way to drive Singapore beyond being world-class in identified areas and make our island nation a home of choice for Singaporeans and foreigners and a business haven for employers,” said Professor Lui.

“A most deserving recipient of the IES Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award, Professor Lui pioneered systems engineering in Singapore and has been instrumental in the transformation of our nation’s defence engineering landscape, creating a safe home for Singaporeans. In addition to achievements in the public and private sectors, Professor Lui has also contributed in academia as a passionate teacher, nurturing young talents to become engineer-leaders of tomorrow,” said Er. Chong Kee Sen, President, IES.

At the dinner, IES will also be conferring three eminent engineers with the IES Honorary Fellow title for their outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and the nation. Mr Brian Chang, Er. Dr Lock Kai Sang and Er. Dr Foo Say Wei will be joining the ranks of illustrious Fellows, such as Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean; Ms Ho Ching, Executive Director & CEO of Temasek Holdings; and Mr Choo Chiau Beng, CEO of Keppel Corporation, to serve as role models for the engineering community and as inspiration for the younger generation to take up engineering and contribute to the growth of the nation.

To encourage engineering students who have achieved excellent academic results to further their engineering studies or pursue an engineering career, IES will be presenting the IES Gold Medals to 12 NUS students, five NTU student and the top UniSIM student in Bachelor of Engineering, and the IES-Yayasan MENDAKI Scholarships to two selected students.

IES Drive Higher standards for M&E Works

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The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) launched the Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Resident Engineers (RE) and Resident Technical Officers (RTO) Registry today, in partnership with the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore (ACES).

Functioning as an accreditation scheme to institutionally recognise M&E REs and RTOs who possess the necessary professional competence, skills and experience to perform their duties, this new registry will assist the built environment sector in ensuring that building projects are completed according to high safety standards and quality.

Although it is not a statutory requirement for M&E REs and RTOs to be accredited, the scheme will help in setting out the necessary requirements for a site supervisor so that qualified candidates can be identified and selected to assist Professional Engineers (PEs) in the supervision of contractors to meet required standards at work sites.

The scheme will also emphasise on the ability of REs and RTOs to implement energy-saving equipment or materials for building projects across the island, paving the way for meeting the target of at least 80% of green buildings by 2030.

 

For the individual M&E RE and RTOs, the scheme provides a career advancement platform for these supervisors, one through which they can share experience and network with their counterparts, voice their challenges or concerns, and acquire new knowledge through courses jointly organised by IES and ACES.

To be registered, an M&E RE or RTO must possess the required academic qualifications, relevant on-site experience and pass an interview.

“As the people on the ground supervising construction works, M&E REs and RTOs play extremely important roles in the development of safe and high-quality buildings in Singapore. With its rigorous entry requirements, the registry will serve as a competency benchmark for employers and Professional Engineers looking to hire qualified casino pa natet REs and RTOs,” said Prof S.K. Chou, President of IES.

“The setup of the registry is timely and critical in our push for a future-ready built environment by ensuring high standards in the M&E works in the industry. Besides green building development, another area where M&E REs and RTOs can contribute is raising construction productivity. With technologies ever advancing, the M&E sector can work with BCA to explore and introduce innovative and productive mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) technologies, systems and work methods to achieve high degree of buildability and constructability in all construction projects,” commented Dr John Keung, CEO, Building & Construction Authority (BCA), who was the guest-of-honour at the event.

In 2009, IES introduced the Civil and Structural (C&S) REs and RTOs Registry to enable employers to fulfil the statutory requirement under the Building Control Act for C&S REs and RTOs to be accredited. To date, in partnership with ACES through a Joint Accreditation Committee, IES has registered 5,000 C&S REs and RTOs.