NEWS
HDR and Mott MacDonald named finalists for 2024 Going Digital Awards for driving project delivery efficiencies
A team of digital delivery leaders and experts from HDR and Mott MacDonald has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2024 Going Digital Awards , presented by Bentley Systems . The team is being honored in the Enterprise Engineering category for its work on Metrolinx ’ s Ontario Line , a nearly 16-kilometre subway through downtown Toronto .
The project is one of 36 finalists across 12 categories , selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by organisations in 36 countries . For the Ontario Line , the project team developed and delivered a comprehensive digital delivery strategy to improve information sharing across a multiteam programme . The CA $ 27 billion mega-programme involves 28 separate but interrelated contracts , delivered through multiple contract approaches . With more than 19,000 design deliverables already issued , efficient information sharing , particularly across contract interfaces , is crucial to staying on schedule .
The common data environment that was established allowed organisations to efficiently access the right information at the right time , improving early engagement and communication among the thousands of individuals working on the programme . Custom dashboards helped senior leadership track user access and project progress . And by integrating digital models , construction logic and scheduling , the project team produced weekly updated 4D models that were available to the entire project team . This allowed members to independently review and analyse the construction logic at their convenience , resulting in optimisation of construction sequencing in the office rather than in the field , helping reduce the impact to the community .
“ Programmes like this are fundamentally changing how clients use their digital tools ,” said Cameron Schaefer , HDR ’ s Transportation Digital Delivery and Data Acquisition Director . “ We ’ re helping introduce custom scripts , connected dashboards and automation to enable exciting new capabilities as agencies continue their digital transformations .”
Heriot-Watt leads the charge in sustainable electronics through REACT initiative
H eriot-Watt University is proud to play a pivotal role in the new Responsible Electronics and Circular Technologies ( REACT ) Centre , a £ 5.5 million initiative funded by UK Research and Innovation ( UKRI ) that will position Scotland ’ s Central Belt as a global leader in sustainable electronics .
Based at Edinburgh ’ s newly opened Futures Institute , the Centre aims to drive practical , sustainable solutions that address both economic and environmental challenges , especially for housing that accommodates some of the UK ’ s lowest earners , including public sector and key workers . These groups often spend a disproportionate amount of their income on energy bills and face health issues due to cold , damp housing , highlighting the need for innovation in affordable , energy-efficient solutions .
REACT brings together expertise from Heriot-Watt University , the University of Glasgow , the University of Edinburgh , and the Compound Semiconductor Catapult , marking a major step toward a low-carbon , circular economy . The Centre will use Edinburgh and Glasgow as test grounds for sustainable housing innovations , given their high proportion of flats and diverse building stock . Researchers estimate that these areas may require £ 35 billion in investment for low-carbon retrofitting and construction over the next 25 years to reach net-zero goals .
The REACT Centre will work closely with SMEs across the Central Belt to develop market-led solutions and demonstrators that showcase sustainable practices in electronics and housing .
Among the innovative approaches being explored are net-zero heating systems , sustainable construction methods , and natural insulation materials derived from plants like hemp and sisal , which can be manufactured locally in Scotland to reduce reliance on plastic-based insulation .
The project will also trial low-carbon heating technologies , offering energy-efficient alternatives to traditional boilers and faster installation options compared to heat pumps . �
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