Osmose's Mark Messenger presents on grid resilience at NESC Workshop

At CPKC, we never stop innovating to help keep our network safe. Our Geotechnical Engineering team worked with Tetra Tech to create an advanced waterbody monitoring system that uses artificial intelligence and satellite data collection to detect water-related hazards along our rail network before they pose a risk to safe rail operations. This month in Toronto, the Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards recognized this innovative safety work with two awards, including the highest honour of the night, the Schreyer Award, presented to the best technical entry of the year. Congratulations to Tom Bourgonje, Vice President Engineering, Mehwish Rahman, Director Geotechnical Engineering, and the entire team. Canadian Consulting Engineer #CCEAwards Learn more about the winning system at https://bit.ly/48KJSwy

To EGLA or not to EGLA — the philosophical utility question At the recent INMR World Congress, one of the most compelling project came from Glenn Stapleton and the Powerlink Queensland team, exploring the strategic adoption of Externally Gapped Line Arresters (EGLA) for lightning performance on transmission lines. While most utilities typically consider EGLAs as brownfield retrofit solutions—retrofitted on existing lines after lightning-related outages—Powerlink’s project stands out as a greenfield installation approach. This decision is far more than a technical preference; it represents a shift in design philosophy from our point of view. By integrating EGLAs directly into new line designs, Powerlink was able to: -Optimize tower geometry and clearances for EGLA integration from the start. -Simplify live-work and maintenance procedures, improving field safety. -Reduce retrofit complexity and outage time, ensuring high operational reliability. A key element of the project was its structured use of Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) to define design, installation, inspection, and lifecycle tasks. This ensures that EGLA systems remain low-touch yet fully traceable assets within the maintenance framework. The specifications also took into account the latest developments in the upcoming IEC/IEEE 60099-11 Line Surge Arrester standard, ensuring alignment with global best practice. To support this effort, comprehensive lightning studies were carried out, including Lightning Location System (LLS) data and Ground Flash Density (GFD) analyses, to optimize EGLA placement and evaluate risk reduction on targeted phases. This project sets an excellent reference for how utilities can strategically adopt EGLA technology—not only as a retrofit after failures occur, but as a planned design component of new transmission lines, where flexibility, safety, and performance can be fully optimized. Glenn Stapleton, “To EGLA or Not to EGLA? An Important Utility Question” Powerlink Queensland, presented at the INMR World Congress, Panama, 2025.

Are we still assuming our temporary works platforms are “good enough”? We analysed data from 41 Plate Load Tests across 7 sites in New Zealand and found that stiffness and strength don’t always tell the same story. By adapting established German PLT standards (DIN 18134) to New Zealand conditions, we’re helping the industry move from assumptions to measurements, improving safety, reliability, and cost confidence in temporary working platform design. Our latest article covers: • Why this issue matters for construction safety and performance • The limitations of current verification methods (DCP / NDM) • What our PLT results reveal about in-situ platform behaviour • Practical acceptance criteria for New Zealand conditions • How the upcoming EFFC / DFI 2025 Guide will shape best practice Read the full article to learn more about the findings and the road ahead: http://bit.ly/4nqMP8Y #GeotechnicalEngineering #TemporaryWorks #PlateLoadTest #GroundEngineering #InfrastructureNZ #ConstructionSafety #SoilMechanics #EFFCDFI #EngineeringNZ #CookCostello

Let’s reduce avoidable failures and keep our worksites safe. Take a moment to review this excellent work by Nick Barounis and the EFFC DFI on improving the design and verification of temporary working platforms. It’s an important read for anyone involved in construction safety.

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝. Underground infrastructure is evolving rapidly as cities grow denser and renewable energy networks expand. The global pipeline of tunnel construction projects now exceeds USD 1.26 trillion, reflecting both the scale and complexity of underground development. In the second edition of our “Beneath the Surface” series, SMEC specialists share insights from their latest research ahead of their presentations at the Australasian Tunnelling Conference (ATC 2025) later in November. The article explores how continuous ground intelligence, dependable strength testing, adaptive design, and advanced numerical modelling are transforming underground engineering. From high-resolution probe-hole imaging to realistic reinforcement modelling, the team explains how observation, design, and monitoring now work in a single adaptive loop to deliver safer, more efficient tunnels. Read the full article to explore how digital tools and adaptive design are changing the way we plan, design and deliver tunnels. https://brnw.ch/21wWOQH #EngineeringPositiveChange #Beneaththesurface #Tunnels Mahdi Zoorabadi | Alexandre (Alex) Gomes | Helen Baxter-Crawford | Amin Emadi (PhD, MIEAust, CPEng, NER, APEC, IntPE) | Ivan Ching | Kara Stariha | Ben Chapman | Albert Chen | Rani Susilo

Proud to see our tunnelling specialists leading in digital innovation and adaptive design. In the second Beneath the Surface article, they explore how data-driven insights and ground intelligence are transforming tunnel design, construction, and management, demonstrating how SMEC combines technical expertise and innovation to deliver safer, more efficient underground infrastructure.

As underground infrastructure grows in scale and complexity, digital tools are reshaping how we approach tunnelling. In SMEC’s latest Beneath the Surface article, our team explores how adaptive design and continuous ground intelligence are enabling more resilient, efficient tunnel systems. Proud to contribute to this series ahead of our presentations at the Australasian Tunnelling Conference (ATC 2025).

Proud to see our tunnelling specialists continuing to lead the conversation on digital innovation and adaptive design. In the second article of SMEC’s Beneath the Surface series, the team explores how data-driven insights and continuous ground intelligence are redefining the way tunnels are designed, built and managed. This is a great example of how our people combine deep technical expertise and creative problem-solving to deliver safer, more efficient underground infrastructure. Read more in the post below.

We’re excited to announce that SGN has begun trials for the Steve Vick International (SVI) Service Window Cutter - This tool offers a precise, safe, and efficient way to access polyethylene (PE) pipes encased within metallic services, making service extraction and renewal operations safer, faster, and more efficient. Key benefits of the Service Window Cutter: ✅ Precise and safe operation ✅ Single-operator functionality ✅ Low-profile design ✅ Impressive speed and efficiency This collaboration brings together SGN’s drive for operational excellence and SVI’s engineering innovation - putting the new Service Window Cutter to the test. The trials will evaluate performance, safety, and ease of use, helping shape the future of how we maintain and upgrade essential gas infrastructure. Together, we are proud to push the boundaries of what’s possible in utility innovation. #Innovation #Engineering #Utilities #GasNetwork #Infrastructure #SGN #GasServices #SteelCutting Katie Higgins Elliot Ross Andy Hutchison Iain F. Luke Hunter Keith Thompson James Hall

Remediation Partners presented a session titled "Evolving Remediation Technologies and Tools" at the AEHS Foundation East Coast Conference. -Modified Fenton’s Reagent – Still a Powerful and Dynamic Remediation Tool Paul M. Dombrowski (ISOTEC Remediation Technologies) -Treatability Studies To Improve Remedial Design Michael Lee (Terra Systems)   -Two Case Studies Demonstrating 10-Year Longevity of Fracture-Emplaced Microscale ZVI Chapman Ross, P.E. (FRx, Inc.) -Large-Scale Remedy Design and Implementation Coupling Zero-Valent Iron with In-Situ Bioremediation for Variable Site Conditions Christopher Jones -Assessing the Impacts of Permeable Reactive Barrier Installation in Overburden and Fractured Bedrock Ernest Ashley, PG -Perspectives in Bioremediation: Present Results and Future Developments Jason Hnatko Moderator: Will Caldicott (ISOTEC Remediation Technologies) #Remediation #Partners