Sustainable infrastructure: principles into practice (2nd ed.)
Sustainability is a frequently used word nowadays, but what exactly are sustainable practices and how can we implement them in our work as construction professionals? This Institution of Civil Engineers publication answers these pressing questions, providing extensive guidance with real case studies from the UK and around the globe.
It is an intense read, with almost 400 pages divided into 13 chapters full of facts, figures and practical applications. Sustainability is covered at all stages of a project, from early planning through to operation, maintenance and decommissioning. Although the book emphasises the benefit of incorporating sustainable practices at the earliest stages of a project to reap the greatest benefits, it explains how sustainable practices can be incorporated at any stage despite the diminishing return.
It also introduces the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for which infrastructure has a direct or indirect influence on all of the 17 goals and 121 of the 169 targets. This is a critical read for all professionals involved in the development of construction projects. It brings the level of urgency to our attention, as well as the responsibility we all have – irrespective of our role or level of experience – to ensure the SDGs are kept at the forefront of all projects for the whole life cycle.
The invested investor: the new rules for start-ups, scale-ups and angel investing (3rd ed.)
Author Peter Cowley graduated in engineering from Cambridge University, became an entrepreneur and then an angel investor. He has put over 40 years of experience into this book by giving simple, frank and valuable advice for angel investors and entrepreneurs involved in innovative start-ups and scale-ups.
The book covers the whole cycle of angel investment, from defining aims to successful exits and all the author’s valuable lessons learnt from the journey in between. Successful exits, as well-put in this book, can be car-changing, house-changing or life-changing. The author has come across all of them as well as some losses.
There are fewer start-ups in the civil engineering industry compared to other sectors, which could be seen as an untapped opportunity. There is a strong need for solutions to help the profession to become more agile, innovative and sustainable. I therefore recommend this book to everyone who is interested in putting their innovative ideas into practice, and then hopefully to the successful business case.
It will also be useful for experienced senior professionals who are comfortable with making high-risk investments and sharing their experience and networks to mentor and support entrepreneurs who aim high.
High Speed Two (HS2): infrastructure design and construction – vol. 3 design and engineering
Volume 3 of the book series High Speed Two (HS2): infrastructure design and construction, contains a collection of papers submitted in HS2 Ltd’s technical papers competition 2022. There are eight papers on ground engineering and five papers on structural engineering.
The geotechnical papers cover assessments of ground movement, ground settlement during tunnelling, ground water impact for drainage attenuation, risk of ground contamination and piled solutions.
The structural engineering papers cover effects of tunnelling under existing bridges, a twin-arch solution for green tunnels, a steel–concrete bridge with double composite action, automation for drainage elements and viaduct foundation design.
The papers were submitted by stakeholders engaged in various capacities to deliver this prestigious project. As such they reflect the learnings of these individuals and organisations, and will serve as an invaluable source of knowledge for countless future professionals.
an invaluable source of knowledge
NEW BOOKS
The ICE Library maintains one of the most comprehensive collections of civil engineering books in the world, including all titles from ICE Publishing (shown in bold below). New books acquired in the past 3 months include the following (* indicates e-book only).
All books can be borrowed through the library’s online catalogue at www.ice.org.uk/knowledge-and-resources/ice-library or from the ICE Members’ Resource Hub at 1 Great George Street, London, SW1P 3AA, Monday to Friday, 9.15 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., email library@ice.org.uk. Recent ICE Publishing titles can be ordered online from www.icebookshop.com.
