ICE Tech Talks

Designing for adaptation, resilience and decarbonisation

How is the civil engineering sector building resilience, adaptation and carbon reduction into its projects? What are the implications for assets in the future?
 
In this podcast, experts discuss how engineers can put resilience and adaptation at the heart of their designs. They also highlight the importance of close collaboration with stakeholders to make complex plans workable, and how the sector is driving decarbonisation while meeting the needs of communities. 

Rethinking freight infrastructure

Civil engineers face multiple challenges in decarbonising infrastructure. Dealing with the emissions resulting from freight infrastructure is one such area of focus, particularly for the highways sector.
This episode features Justin Moss, head of business development at Siemens Mobility, and Andrew Watson, director for central government advisory at Costain Group, talking to ICE director of engineering knowledge Mark Hansford about the potential for electric road systems to provide some of the answers to the decarbonisation problem.

Explainer: The five-minute design risk management overview

Design risk management (DRM) should be part of a holistic approach to design on all projects, and those involved in any construction project should understand their duties relating to DRM under the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015.
This audio explainer explores what design risk management is and how it can be adequately and appropriately considered across all project stages.

The civil engineer’s role in tackling climate change

As we strive to reach net zero, carbon literacy is fundamental for ICE members as well as for the future of civil engineering. Which skills will engineers need to develop to reduce carbon emissions in their practice? How can we move fast enough to tackle carbon targets effectively?
In this ICE podcast, ICE director of engineering knowledge Mark Hansford and ICE knowledge content director Alex Wynne are joined by Costain's group climate change director Lara Young to examine how meeting carbon targets is a rapidly expanding field of work, offering new opportunities for career development and personal growth for those who are carbon literate.
Episode produced by Dr Joe Jackson and Amanda Rice.

Explainer: the four-minute carbon literacy overview

To avert the worst impacts of climate change and preserve a habitable planet, we must stop temperature rise. Civil engineers have a key role to play in doing this. This ICE audio explainer explores the relevant targets, the global commitments to tackling climate change, and how the way in which the construction industry designs, builds and manages infrastructure needs to change.Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn.

Explainer: The five-minute wider benefits of water infrastructure overview

Water infrastructure provides a vital public service by supplying clean water to communities, managing wastewater and minimising the impact of flooding. This is the primary purpose of water infrastructure. But all infrastructure has the potential to generate benefits that go well beyond this basic functionality. This ICE audio explainer explores what these greater benefits might be, and how they can be achieved.
 

Decarbonising the water industry: the journey to net zero

In 2019, following the UK government’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050, every water company in England agreed a Public Interest Commitment, setting five demanding goals, including a pledge to reach net zero on operational emissions by 2030. In 2020, this commitment was reaffirmed, and Water UK published the Net Zero 2030 Routemap, detailing how it would be achieved.  
One of the three senior industry figures leading on this commitment is Heidi Mottram CBE, Chief Executive Officer of the Northumbrian Water Group Limited and Northumbrian Water Limited since 2010. In this ICE podcast, Heidi joins ICE director of engineering knowledge Mark Hansford and ICE knowledge manager Steph Fairbairn to discuss how engineers can play their part in decarbonising the water industry.
Episode produced by Dr Joe Jackson.

Explainer: The four-minute decarbonising the water sector overview

Water is an essential resource, and water infrastructure is a fundamental component of prosperous, healthy economies. However, like all infrastructure sectors, the water industry has a responsibility to reduce its impact on climate change. 
This ICE audio explainer explores strategies to decarbonise the water sector, and how engineers can play their part.
Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn.

Explainer: The five-minute ground source heat pump overview

The term ‘ground source heat pump’ (GSHP) refers to a buried network of fluid-filled pipes that are connected to a compressor and pump unit to provide heating for buildings. GSHPs offer less carbon emissions, lower running costs and greater efficiency than gas boilers.
This audio explainer explores how GSHPs work, the application of them in both domestic and larger-scale settings, and the potential future of the solution.
Produced by James Crumly.

The transport sector’s journey to net zero

Transport is the UK's largest emitting sector. By adopting new technologies and overhauling old systems, the transport industry can drastically cut its carbon emissions. Civil engineers working to decarbonise transport must play a careful balancing act, generating value and increasing efficiency while also reducing risk. Where are there big opportunities for decarbonising the transport sector? And what obstacles are we still trying to overcome?
In this ICE podcast, ICE knowledge content director Alex Wynne is joined by Stephen Elderkin, director of environmental sustainability for National Highways, and Conor McCone, carbon manager at Skanska UK, to explore what needs to be done to decarbonise the transport sector, tracking the 'easy wins' for sustainability in transport and examining the complications that can arise on the journey to Net Zero.
Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn and Dr Joe Jackson.