Graphene seems to be making headlines across various industries and Highways England has also joined in. They are partnering with the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) in Manchester to investigate the use of graphene on surfaces. The idea is to find out whether adding graphene to roads and pavements could result in decreased deterioration.
It all started when Prof Sir Andre Geim and Prof Sir Kostya Novoselov first isolated the material at Manchester University in 2004. GEIC opened in December 2018 to specialise in the rapid development and upscaling of graphene and other applications for 2D materials.
For some time now, many industries have taken to Augmented Reality (AR), or at least, thought about the technology. And why not as the AR market is expected to reach $60,55 billion by 2023 as more tech giants are linked to investments pushing the growth. Some of the major players involved in Augmented Reality investments and acquisitions include Google, Apple, Facebook, Samsung and Intel.
Augmented Reality is also known as spatial computing which is rapidly growing and expanding into several business and industrial applications. Spatial computing is a broad term used to describe how humans interact with computers in the same surroundings. This means that an Augmented Reality system makes it feel as if digital media is physically present thanks to interactive design and gesture.
Image Credit: VA
The Directorate General of Highways commissioned the Danjiang bridge in Taipei that will span the mouth of the Tamsui River. Construction of the world’s longest single-mast, asymmetric cable-stayed bridge is already underway and is generating quite a buzz.
Designed to connect to the national highway system, the Danjiang bridge will help ease congestion on the Guandu Bridge situated further upriver. The Danjiang bridge construction will also facilitate the expansion of the Danhai Light Rail Transit which is part of the city’s public transport system.
The construction industry has evolved significantly and with it, many new and improved methods including steel fabrication. If you think about skyscrapers, warehouses and shopping malls, almost every aspect in construction consists of structural steel. Steel framed structures are common across many construction projects including garages, residential properties and short-term temporary structures.
Steel fabrication is used to create various components and products with different qualities for different applications. Fact is, structural steelwork has been the primary choice for most builders, engineers, contractors and structural steel fabricators. Many industries rely on steel fabrication because of the quality, reliability, flexibility, cost effectiveness and sustainability that it offers.
Img credit: ultimatescience.org
Dams in themselves are engineering and construction marvels that use the flow of water predominantly for irrigation and generating hydroelectricity. The Three Gorges Dam in China is by far the largest hydroelectric plant on earth but it’s not without controversy. While it certainly looks like an engineering masterpiece, there are a few things you may not have known. We take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly truth behind this man-made marvel.
Img Credit: Horizon Nuclear Power
Hitachi has suspended construction of the new nuclear power stations in Anglesey and Gloucestershire. The decision followed some speculation that Hitachi’s nuclear development plans were on hold after failed negotiations with the government based on financing. The Japanese conglomerate concluded that more time is needed to develop a financial structure for the Wylfa Newydd Project. That assessment also included the conditions for construction and operation of facilities.
The nuclear power stations were intended for Wylfa Newydd Anglesey in North Wales and Oldbury on Severn in South Gloucestershire. Horizon Nuclear Power, which Hitachi acquired in 2012, had planned to develop at least 5,800MW of nuclear power across the sites. Adding insult to injury, both sites would have created around 850 full-time positions and 9,000 jobs during construction.
Image Credit: Honda
Honda is making headlines once again as they seeking potential business and technology partners for their prototype off-road vehicle. Honda’s Autonomous Work Vehicle combines the automaker’s all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and advanced autonomous technology. Honda R&D Americas have designed the Autonomous Work Vehicles to improve efficiency and safety.
They aim to target public, commercial and consumer enterprises with the potential to support a host of industries. Some of these include search and rescue, firefighting, construction, agriculture, landscaping and snow removal. Honda will feature their Autonomous Work Vehicle at CES 2019 in Las Vegas Convention Center from January 8-11, 2019.
Metalwork fabrication is a broad term referring to processes involving cutting, shaping or moulding metals into a final product. It is a specialist process that requires expertly trained staff and cutting-edge machinery. Metal components are widely available in a variety of dimensions and materials including sheet metal, metal rods and metal bars.
For the most part, good metalwork fabrication shops can produce products in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Manufacturers often require a non-standard component or a unique metal product which means they need custom fabrication services. It provides them with design and production assistance for built-to-order parts.
The world of construction and technology is advancing at a rapid pace achieving what no-one thought possible only a few years ago. A split-pylon concept bridge is the focus of an EPSRC-funded project at Sheffield and Brunel University. Partnering with a long span bridge expert, Ian Firth, the team of UK engineers used mathematical modelling techniques to identify new bridge designs. They claim that it could beat the current record of a 2 km single span bridge.
Newly identified bridge structures could allow for the construction of significantly longer bridges in the near future. The possibility to make a crossing over the Strait of Gibraltar, from the Iberian Peninsula to Morocco is very real.
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