ICE Tech Talks

Explainer: The five-minute decarbonisation in transport overview

The transport sector accounts for the largest proportion of the UK’s carbon emissions, and infrastructure is responsible for more than half of the UK’s total carbon emissions. While engineers  have a variety of tools and options available that can support carbon reduction within the transport industry, much more still needs to be done.
This ICE audio explainer explores how a shift in principles will be required – both now and in the future – to effectively and efficiently decarbonise transport.
Speaker: James Crumly
Producer: Dr Joe Jackson

ICE in conversation with Grenfell Next of Kin

The Grenfell Tower tragedy, its causes and its consequences cut to the heart of the practice of civil engineers. In 2021, the ICE received a request for support from Grenfell Next of Kin, a grassroots support initiative representing immediate family members of the disaster’s victims. The ICE called on John Carpenter, an ICE member at the forefront of driving competence around safety in construction, to assist.
In the support he provided the group, John embodied the ICE’s Code of Professional Conduct, demonstrating how members can enact their ‘overriding responsibility to the public good’.
In this ICE podcast, ICE director of engineering knowledge, Mark Hansford, and knowledge content director, Alex Wynne, are joined by Kimi Zabihyan, an advocate of the Grenfell Next of Kin group, to discuss the support John provided.
Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn and Dr Joe Jackson.

Explainer: The seven-minute ICE Code of Professional Conduct overview

Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers should always be aware of their overriding responsibility to the public good. This includes care and respect for humanity's cultural, historical and archaeological heritage and a duty to protect the health and wellbeing of present and future generations, and show due regard for the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources. 
These obligations form the basis of ICE's Code of Professional Conduct, which is explored in this explainer, including thoughts from Gordon Masterton, chair of future infrastructure at the University of Edinburgh School of Engineering and ICE past-president and Micheala Chan, assistant engineer at Arcadis and ICE sustainability champion.
Episode produced by Steph Fairbairn.

Structural resilience and the role of the civil engineer

Whether it be from deterioration and ageing, a change of use, or the impacts of climate change, modern day structures must be more resilient than ever to hazards and stressors. But what are these hazards? How resilient are current structures? And how important is it to consider resilience in a holistic sense?In this podcast, Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis, senior fellow at the University of Birmingham and Sotirios Argyroudis, lecturer at Brunel University London – founders of InfrastructuReseilience and bridgeUkraine – join hosts Mark Hansford, ICE director of engineering knowledge and Alex Wynne, ICE knowledge content director, to explore these questions, and discuss the civil engineer's role in ensuring structural resilience.
Episode produced by Dr Joe Jackson.

Explainer: The four-minute structural resilience overview

Whether it be a change of use, increase in load, or hazards caused by climate change, modern buildings and infrastructure are subject to a number of hazards to which they must be resilient. This audio explainer explores what resilience really means, and the civil engineer's role in ensuring structural resilience, and resilience in a more holistic sense.
 
Produced by Steph Fairbairn and Dr Joe Jackson.

Explainer: The five-minute health and wellbeing overview

The mental health and wellbeing of those working in the construction industry should be a key priority for organisations, leaders, and individuals alike.
This audio explainer looks at the elements impacting mental health and wellbeing in the industry, how these are exacerbated for those working in remote locations, and what can be done to improve the status quo.
Content warning - please note, this audio explainer makes reference to mental ill-health, and briefly mentions suicide.
 
Speaker: Steph Fairbairn
Producer: Dr Joe Jackson
 
This audio explainer relates to the CPD framework sector Maritime.

Manchester’s Mayfield Depot project – retrofit in action

ICE director of engineering knowledge Mark Hansford and ICE knowledge content director Alex Wynne are joined by Stephen O'Malley, chief executive and co-founder of Civic Engineers, for a discussion about the approach taken to retrofit Mayfield Depot. This former railway station in Manchester is undergoing regeneration as an arts, music, culture and community space - and retrofitting plays an integral role. 
Episode produced by James Crumly and Steph Fairbairn.This podcast relates to the ICE CPD framework sector Core.
 

The circular economy and Team 2100: how is it impacting the project?

In this audio explainer Jo Guy, environment and sustainability manager at TEAM2100 explores what has driven the project’s approach to the circular economy, how it’s principles have been applied in practice and what impact it has had for how the integrated team approaches design and supply chain engagement.  
  
Episode produced by James Crumly. 

Challenging engineers to embrace the circular economy

ICE knowledge manager James Crumly hosts as guests Janvi Shah, head of asset management strategy at National Highways and Janet, Dunnett, programme development manager (sustainability lead) at Network Rail explore how the principles of the circular economy can change how engineers design infrastructure and what impact it is already having in the industry. 
 
 
  
Episode produced by James Crumly. 

Challenging conservatism in order to drive efficiency and outcomes in geotechnical projects

ICE knowledge manager James Crumly hosts as guests Lynn Masterson, technical director, ground engineering at Aecom and Tony O’Brien, global practice lead, geotechnics at Mott MacDonald discuss how engineers can challenge conservative design in order to drive efficiency and outcomes in geotechnical projects.
 
Episode produced by James Crumly.