Test for CF

Issue 023 July 2014
WIRE
the latest news
from Water & Environment
Inside...
04 HS2 recognises
technical excellence
04 Atkins awarded Gold
Medal for safety
05 Ecologist reaps reward
for hard work
06 STEM kids see the
future of engineering
10 Briman reservoir:
quenching desert thirst
14 Young petrolheads get
whiff of victory
15 Atkins oracle divines
World Cup winner

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
Contents
News
04 HS2 recognises technical
excellence
04 Atkins awarded Gold
Medal for safety
05 Ecologist reaps reward
for hard work
06 STEM kids see the future
of engineering
08 Creative team impresses
MC’s clients
13 Going underground:
kids see the light
14 Young petrolheads get
whiff of victory
14 Imperial event extols
scholarship virtue
15 Atkins oracle divines
World Cup winner
Business
wins
These project wins have been reported
via Pipeline.
Project -
Meaford Energy Centre: Task
Orders Approved 2013-2014
Client -
Meaford Energy Ltd
Location -
UK - West Midlands
W&E business and team -
Land Development
Contact -
Darren Mace
Project -
Modderfontein
Client -
Shanghai Zendai Property Ltd
Features
09 High and dry. Are
businesses taking water
risk seriously?
10 Briman reservoir:
quenching desert thirst
13 Wise words from
a rising grad star
Regulars
02 Business wins
03 Neil’s update
15 W&E hot jobs
16 Landmark awards
17 In the media
18 Raising our profile
Location -
South Africa
W&E business and team -
Landscape and Urban Design
Contact -
Margot Orr
Project -
Sangachal Terminal (Flash Gas
Compressor – Define Stage)
Client -
BP/Azerbaijan International
Operating Company
Location -
Azerbaijan / UK
W&E business and team -
Energy Geotechnics
Contact -
Stephen Fort
Project -
Wrexham Energy Centre: Historic
(2011-2013) Tasks
Client -
Wrexham Power Ltd
The next issue of the WIRE will be published on 29 August.
Please send news, stories and content to
Steve.Bird@atkinsglobal.com
Location -
UK - West Midlands
W&E business and team -
Land Development
Contact -
Darren Mace
2

Neil’s business update
We recently hosted a client evening to preview CIWEM’s Environmental Photographer of
the Year competition, which Atkins sponsors. More than 10,000 photos were submitted
from around the globe showing the juxtaposition of the natural world and the built
environment and 21st Century living in the context of climate change, population
growth and water scarcity. The photos make compelling viewing: http://bit.ly/1nMqDUH
Good news to hear that our contractor partners Galliford Imtech have been successful
with their bid to Southern Water for the non-infra framework. As a result, we will be
designing a wide range of assets for Southern Water through AMP6 and possibly AMP7.
We have also just won a small commission in Johannesburg for the urban
masterplanning of a very large development area. If this first stage project is successful, it
could lead to significant follow-on work.
You will hopefully already have seen the recognition achieved recently by some of
our young professionals by their professional institutions. To this list, we can now add
Alison Crawford from our MarComms team. Alison is our Office Safety Champion at
Epsom Gateway and Group QSE have commended her for her alertness and proactive
contribution - well done Alison.
If you are taking a holiday in the coming weeks, do have a great break. Be safe in your
travelling and use sunscreen if appropriate!!
Watch out for my “between the Wires” emails mid-month where I aim to update you
on topical news. As ever, I’d welcome your feedback on content!
Neil

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
HS2 recognises technical excellence
Following the submission of the
HS2 Hybrid Bill and Environmental
Statement, Atkins’ Water &
Environment staff are continuing to
work hard providing environmental
support on the HS2 Country North
section. In addition, three of our
teams have been asked to carry out
work across the Phase One route
between London and Birmingham,
commissioned ahead of our
competitors working on the project.
European protected species licensing
Atkins’ ecologists are working with
HS2 Technical Directorate and Natural
England to produce examples of
otter, great crested newt and bat
development licenses in relation to the
HS2 proposed scheme. These species
are all protected under the Habitats
Regulations and licences are required
for any development which have
negative impact on them.
The licence sets out the impacts from
the proposed scheme and the detailed
mitigation and monitoring which HS2
will commit to, to ensure no significant
impact on the favourable conservation
status of the species populations. These
examples will eventually be used as
templates for all EPS licensing
across the route.
Aquatic surveys
Atkins is currently undertaking routewide
ecological, hydrogeological and
hydromorphological surveys of rivers
and groundwater-dependant terrestrial
ecosystems. The surveys form a
baseline by which the scheme will be
assessed for compliance with the Water
Framework Directive. This is the core
legislation governing development of
the inland water environment in the
UK. Atkins has supported HS2 Ltd in the
development of survey methodologies,
and is now undertaking and managing
a number of technical work-streams in
support of the baseline surveys.
For more information please contact
Katrena.Stanhope@atkinsglobal.com
Atkins awarded Gold Medal for safety
4
Atkins has been awarded
the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
Gold Medal after receiving
a Gold Achievement Award
for excellence in occupational
health and safety for the fifth
consecutive year.
As winners of a RoSPA Gold Award,
Atkins has demonstrated a very high
level of performance, well developed
occupational health and safety
management systems and culture,
outstanding control of risk and very
low levels of error, harm and loss.
Richard Hulland, Group QSSE director
said: “We are delighted to have
gained the Gold Achievement Award
for the fifth year running, which
in turn has led to us receiving the
accolade of a RoSPA Gold Medal.
“Such a prestigious award for our
UK businesses demonstrates the
commitment and focus that our
people have on health and safety as
it continues to become a natural and
integral part of the culture of Atkins.”
The RoSPA Safety Awards are
internationally recognised and
one of the most highly respected
occupational safety awards
programmes in the UK.

Ecologist reaps reward for hard work
Smiles all round: Octavia with environmentalist Chris Baines (left), John Box and comedian Helen Lederer
Ecologist Octavia Neeves has been
named ‘promising professional of
the year’ by the Chartered Institute
of Ecology and Environmental
Management (CIEEM). The award
recognises an individual in the
early stages of their career
with a strong commitment to
professional development.
Octavia has developed a wide range
of key skills in survey, assessment
and reporting, and diverse technical
expertise around green infrastructure
and invasive species. She has worked on
many projects across Atkins including
HS2, the M25 road widening scheme,
Victoria ll resignalling, and several
school extensions.
MD Neil Thomas, said: “This is an
exceptional achievement by Octavia
and one that is well deserved. It’s
vitally important we profile innovative
and proactive role models within
the industry in the early stages of
their career. As we continue to face
challenges in the natural and built
environment we need to make sure
we support the best environmental
professionals and showcase best
practice examples of how we work
collaboratively and innovatively
for solutions.”
Receiving her award, Octavia said:
“It is a real honour to receive this
award. There are some truly amazing
and pioneering people within the
institute and I plan to continue to give
everything I can to my career, which I
really enjoy.”
Octavia is also a coordinator of specialist
environmental expertise for Atkins’ rail
engineering projects and is an advocate
of knowledge sharing, delivering a
number of workshops on GIS
survey tools.
Octavia’s academic qualifications
include a degree in zoology from
University College London and a
Masters in ecology and management
of the natural environment from the
University of Bristol. Outside work, she
is a supporter of Surrey Wildlife Trust,
and a volunteer with local bat, mammal
and reptile groups.
Atkins was also runner up on the
evening in the ‘best practice for
knowledge sharing category’ for the
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
wetland creation and river edge
enhancement project.
BACK TO CONTENTS
5

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
STEM kids see the future of engineering
boiler suits. If we want to inspire more
young people to choose engineering
as a career we need to help them
understand the reality of what we do
and the skills we need, now and in
the future.
“We are already using this technology
to help water companies to see what
physical assets they have and how they
can be designed better, saving them
time and money. The problems facing
the world are pressing, as the exhibition
pictures show, and we need inventive
minds to solve them. We know children
are comfortable with smart phones and
we wanted to engage with them in a
new and fun way.”
Atkins is combining the latest iPad
and smart phone technology with
the natural wonders of Wyre Forest,
near Kidderminster, to give school
children the opportunity to see
what a career in engineering could
be like in the future.
Experts predict that in the future,
engineers will carry out more of
their work in a virtual world using
computers, tablets and other smart
devices long before there is anything
physically to see on the ground. Using
this technology, Atkins has teamed
up with CIWEM (The Chartered
Institution of Water and Environmental
Management) and Forestry Commission
England to present a photography
exhibition in Wyre Forest, which is
invisible to the naked eye but can be
viewed through smart phones and
tablets via a special app.
After downloading the app, visitors
can enjoy a special trail that has been
created in the forest. Wooden markers
hung from trees line the route. By
pointing their smart device at the
markers, visitors can reveal striking
photographs of the built and
natural world.
Such technology highlights the tools
now available to engineers engaged
in tackling the very problems that
are highlighted by the Environmental
Photographer of the Year exhibition,
including climate change, urbanisation,
population and resource depletion.
6
Launched in its current format in 2007
by CIWEM, and sponsored by Atkins,
the exhibition is an international
showcase for the very best in
environmental photography and film.
From over 10,000 entries the exhibition
is a shortlist of images that examine the
world’s most acute environmental and
social challenges.
This year’s regional tour will see
the art works come to life in the
stunning natural surroundings of
Forestry Commission’s Wyre Forest,
one of England’s largest Ancient Oak
woodlands and home to a diverse range
of flora and fauna.
Designer Gareth Tissington, explained:
“Engineering is changing fast. We
know that our profession suffers from
a tired image of greasy hands and
Paul Horton, director of membership
and development, CIWEM said: “With
an ever changing environment it is
important that we have engineers that
can future think; engineers who can
adapt to the new reality and develop
the underlying competences to be able
to work in evolving circumstances. As
technology changes we become ever
more inventive and connected to our
world. This show demonstrates this
as we bring pictures to life within the
environment, pictures that challenge
our thinking and pose questions that
challenge the view of the world. We
want this exhibition to stimulate ideas
through technology and encourage
engagement with engineering and
the environment.”
The exhibition is on display at the
Wyre Forest until November.

On message: Gareth Tissington explains the benefits of AR to a film crew from BBC West Midlands.
BACK TO CONTENTS
7

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
Creative team impresses MC’s clients
W&E’s Creative Design team has
produced a video to help MC
sell to clients a simulator which
demonstrates the consequences of
a cyber attack on critical national
infrastructure.
The film shows the simulator in action,
which is thought to be the first such model
in the security sector in Europe.
Roger Cumming, technical director for the
Security business, said: “Our budget for
the film was tight and the Creative Design
team devoted much of their own time to
the project. That is commitment above and
beyond the call of duty for which we are
most grateful and they deserve additional
recognition. The technical press at the event
also seemed to be impressed.”
Principal graphic designer Julie Foard, said:
“The film has led to a great deal of interest
in our creative capability for new technology
and interest from MC. It has raised MC’s
profile in a way they didn’t expect and will
help them expand their propositions in the
field of cyber security.”
The simulator was developed by Atkins’
Security business with support from experts
in MC, DAC, D&E, Creative Design from
W&E, Group IS and facilities management.
With modern societies increasingly relying
on complex infrastructures for all aspects of
daily life there is an increasing reliance on
technology to provide an interface between
the physical and cyber worlds. These are
known as industrial control systems (ICS),
and enable water, gas and electricity to
flow; make trains run safely; improve
business productivity; and support domestic
and leisure activities.
Like all computers, control systems are
vulnerable to cyber attack. They can’t just be
turned off or rebooted – the focus is on the
availability and integrity of data rather than
its confidentiality.
The Atkins ICS demonstrator illustrates
some of the issues involved in protecting
control systems for rail, power and water.
By altering the configuration of these
systems, the results of poor or good security
techniques can be explored.
Atkins has been supporting the delivery
of a number of security related projects
across a range of clients in the UK and
internationally.
Russell Cameron, director of the Security
business in Atkins added: “Atkins has
the knowledge, skills and methodologies
essential for safeguarding valuable
information assets. Although it is impossible
to prevent all compromises from internal
and external threats, our methodology
provides the tools necessary to create a
resilient operation, respond to incidents
effectively and if necessary, adapt your
security posture.”
The model was unveiled at the flagship
CESG cyber security event in London
where it attracted much attention. It will
be permanently housed in the entrance
of the conference facilities in
Woodcote Grove, Epsom.
Watch an introductory
film of the model at
www.atkinsglobal.com/ics-demo
8
PRESS PLAY
for a short film

High and dry. Are businesses taking
water risk seriously?
The Financial Times recently
published the first article in a
series looking at water scarcity. It
focuses on the financial risks to
businesses from future changes
in water availability and on how
companies are increasingly having
to address the issue to safegaurd
their operations and to protect
their brand.
In the last three years companies
including EDF, Coca Cola, Nestle, Ford
and Rio Tinto have spent more than
$84bn worldwide to improve the way
they conserve, manage or obtain water,
according to data from Global Water
Intelligence. Whilst the price of water
may be cheap, the cost of it not being
available in the right place, in the right
quantity, at the right time can be
very significant.
Many of our clients are starting to
recognise that the costs associated
with water scarcity risks materialising
can be high. A survey of over 500 of
the top global companies (including
many of our clients), undertaken on
behalf of investors controlling £57
trillion of assets in those companies,
was published last year and makes
interesting reading. Over 70%
of companies identified water as
a substantive business risk with
anticipated financial impacts from a
single event as high as US$1billion.
The table above shows the top three
water risks identified in the survey by
companies from different sectors.
However, although water risk is
increasingly being recognised by
businesses across a range of the sectors
in which we operate, many of them
still just have a short term focus on
their own operational water efficiency.
I am not saying this isn’t important, but
I believe businesses need to consider
water risk on a broader scale, looking at
the catchments in which they operate,
looking at their supply chain and
looking at future risk and resilience.
The last point is crucial if they are
to take into account factors such as
increasing population, urbanisation,
climatic variability and resource
availability. The importance of this is
highlighted by a prediction that by 2025
two thirds of the world’s population will
be living in water stressed countries (up
from one third today).
I think companies need to be
developing their awareness of water
risks to inform their strategy, business
plans, investments and their R&D,
increasing their resilience and helping
future proof their business. This is
something Atkins can help with and I
am leading an effort to promote how
we can help corporate organisations
address their water issues.
But what do you think? I am keen to
hear from others who see the potential
to help their clients address water risk.
Email...
Nathan.Richardson@atkinsglobal.com
If you would like to see a copy of the
Financial Times article the link is
below or get in touch and I will send
you a pdf.
http://www.ft.com/cms/
s/2/8e42bdc8-0838-11e4-9afc-
00144feab7de.html#slide0
BACK TO CONTENTS
9

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
Briman reservoir: quenching desert thirst
System hydraulics
The potable water supply to Briman reservoir
is supplied from Shoaiba desalination plant
via two large diameter transmission mains.
The new 2,100,000m 3 strategic storage
will be connected directly to the incoming
transmission mains and maintain a constant
top water level. Careful consideration was
given to the operation of the new strategic
storage under the scenarios detailed above
to ensure suitable operational flexibility and
simplicity of operation.
The rapid development of Jeddah in
recent years has seen an increase in
the population and a rise in demand
for water. Atkins has completed
the design of the world’s largest
internally post-tensioned circular
concrete potable water reservoirs,
which are of strategic importance
to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This is part of the first phase of a
programme of work commissioned
by the National Water Company
to provide a total water storage
capacity of six million cubic metres.
Three of the planned eleven
reservoirs are now complete and
operational, and construction work
continues on the remaining eight.
Conceived by the National Water Company,
Saudi Arabia, the project was delivered by a
consortium of Al Muhaidhib, Vinci with WS
Atkins International Ltd as sole consultancy
service provider. Working in partnership
with the National Water Company, the
consortium developed a solution which
would minimise land usage at the existing
Briman reservoir site allowing future
development to be considered.
The accepted proposal was to provide eight
circular tanks with sufficient storage depth
and spatial layout to limit the site footprint
to half that of the rectangular concrete tank
solution proposed in the tender design. The
National Water Company has extended the
scope to include a further three reservoirs.
The 3D site model was developed including
all above and below ground elements
and this has been packaged into Atkins’
augmented reality software and shared with
our construction partner and the client to
provide a real understanding of the project.
Design concept
Atkins worked with the National Water
Company in 2012 to develop a valueengineered
solution which would maximise
land usage at the existing Briman reservoir
site. A variety of solutions were considered
and techno economic appraisals undertaken
and it was agreed to adopt large scale
circular concrete post tensioned reservoirs.
The core walls were designed as vertically
and horizontally internally post-tensioned
walls, and able to move independently of
the base and roof slabs, to simplify the
construction process. The design allowed
the National Water Company to reduce
the land take footprint for the site by 50%
which ensured the original water capacity
could be retained.
An anchored flexible base design was
adopted between the core wall and the base
slab to accommodate seismic load effects.
The centre bulb water stop placed within
the anchored flexible base joint is capable
of withstanding 38 metres head of water.
Cast into the thickened perimeter beam,
it ensures a watertight connection whilst
accommodating the required movement
between the wall, base slab and roof slab.
Water quality
At client request the design was carried
out based on a target chlorine residual and
disinfection is provided by chlorine gas as
a client preference with the water quality
dosing and monitoring points at the inlet
and outlet of the facility. Computational
fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling was
undertaken to assess the existence of
large variations in water age throughout
the reservoir and the effect on water
quality within the facility. Therefore solar
powered mechanical mixers which operate
on a displacement / recirculation principle
method were specified to counteract
the generation of thermal strata whilst
providing sufficient water mixing to ensure a
homogenous water age was obtained within
the reservoirs.
Site excavation and ground preparation
Numerous trial pits were excavated from
which material was sampled and tested
locally and in the UK. Ground conditions
at the formation level of the reservoirs
consist of weathered and solid rock but
substantially this is diorite, granite and
granodiorite material.
The foundations where given great
consideration by the design and
construction team and a controlled
methodology was developed for the
preparation of the weathered rock, grout
washing, mass concrete filling, blinding
concrete. This procedure was undertaken
with extensive plate bearing tests and post
10

Record breaker? The Guinness Book of World Records is currently assessing the project’s claim to be world’s largest reservoir
testing finite element modelling verifying
the design to ensure that an appropriate
formation level was provided for the water
retaining base slab to the reservoirs.
Water-retaining concrete design
Given the size and capacity, the current best
practices in water retaining design were
applied to meet Eurocode and Ciria C660
requirements. The reservoir floor was cast in
pours of 2,000 square-metre sections, with
pre-defined shrinkage strips to take account
of current best practice. Additionally, the
floor slabs were thickened at the edge,
providing perimeter ring-beams to support
the 18-metre high core walls above while
cables were deployed to enable the
structures to withstand seismic loads and
disturbance. The roof slab is supported by
900mm diameter circular columns generally
on an 8.5m structural grid.
The column arrangement was rationalised
by Atkins during the tender design stage
to reduce the number of columns from
the original design by 25% resulting in
156 columns per reservoir. The 250mm
thick flat roof slab was slimmed to
reduce the dynamic effect of seismic
loading whilst being designed as a water
retaining element. A review of the various
international standards and guides was
carried out and the durability provisions for
the different exposure conditions accounted
for in the concrete mix design providing a
100 year design life.
Aggregate from quarries used by the local
ready mix concrete suppliers was sampled
and sent back to the UK for chemical
analysis and determination of the thermal
coefficient of expansion. It was essential
to determine the effects of heat expansion
and thermal cracking for the base slab of
the reservoirs. High strength results with
low expansion would be instrumental in
the decision to use PFA in the cement of
all structural concrete mixes on the project
in order to achieve the required 100 year
design life of the structures required by the
National Water Company.
Internally post tensioned core wall
The core wall is a reinforced placed in
situ wall with vertical post tensioning
placed within the core wall. Subsequently
horizontal post tensioning strands are placed
in HDPE ducts within the reinforced concrete
in situ core wall. Durability is provided by
the fact that the PT strands are both ducted
and are placed within the core wall with a
minimum cover of 150mm.
The post tensioning design was undertaken
by specialist contractor Freyssinet and
independently verified by WS Atkins
International Limited. All joints are
construction joints only and thus will limit
the need for inspection and repair. Repair
to non-accessible joints will be facilitated by
the inclusion of preinstalled grout tubes.
The wall sections are constructed in lengths
of approximately 125 metres and in three
pours each being six metres in height
(total 18 metres height). The wall pour size
was chosen to ensure the wall pour was
stable once poured, reducing the need for
propping and simplifying the process.
Contact...
Simon.White@atkinsglobal.com
for more information.
Fixing seismic cables and water stop
11

`
WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
Collaborative working
Delivered from Atkins’ Belfast office, the multidisciplinary
design team included over 100 Atkins staff in nine
locations worldwide from across the Group:
• W&E (Water Ops; Capital Delivery Solutions;
MEP and Water Networks; GE; LEM; EP)
• Middle East and India (Saudi Arabia)
• Middle East and India (Bangalore and Delhi)
• Energy (Nuclear; Oil and Gas Europe; Power)
• Highways & Transportation (Consultancy)
• North America (UV Water)
• Design & Engineering (P&D regional offices)
• Atkins Ireland (Dublin)
Atkins Middle East provided invaluable support to the UK
technical team including design coordination, logistics
and client support. This collaboration has strengthened
our client relationship and the potential for additional
work streams in the region.
Briman strategic reservoir
project in numbers
• 11 reservoirs
• 187,500 m3 capacity in each
• overall potable water storage volume of 2 million
cubic metres
• 120-metre internal diameter
• 18-metre reservoir wall height (a total of 4.15km
across all reservoirs)
• 31km of columns
• 6 km of large diameter (up to 2.6m diameter)
GRP pipework
• over 250,000m2 of floor and roof slab.
• Over 1,500 staff working in shifts on a 24-hour basis
• Nearly 3.5 million cubic metres of weathered rock
excavated and removed
Working directly with Al Muhaidib
Vinci Joint Venture, Atkins provided
multidisciplinary design services with
a fee exceeding £2m:
• Multidisciplinary technical advisory services
• Hydraulic assessment, design, surge analysis and site
masterplanning
• Geotechnical assessment, site inspections and ground
movement analysis
• Pipework assessment, design and detailing for large
diameter GRP pipework up to 2.6m diameter
• Enabling works design and diversion of critical operational
large diameter water mains
• Civil engineering and infrastructure detailed design and
construction detailing for all below ground services
• Site planning, roads design and development of site
wide facilities
• Design and detailing of over 125 water retaining buried
value houses
• Site drainage catchment and storm and operational
flow modelling for site wide area including
2D infoworks modelling
• Design of all in situ and precast water retaining elements
for reservoirs base slabs, columns, roof slab
• Design verification of internally post tensioned reservoir
walls working with specialist sub-contractor Freyssinet
• Seismic analysis and detailing for strategic reservoir
• Mechanical, electrical and process design for site wide
area including design of chlorination system, detailed
design of all mechanical and electrical works and
specification of mixing system
• Computational fluid dynamics modelling for numerous
operational flow scenarios and assessment of proprietary
mixing systems
• Multidisciplinary design and detailing of administration
building and chlorination building, including architecture,
civil and structural design, and mechanical, electrical and
process design
• Co-located site based design coordination and delivery of
technical presentations to National Water Company
12

Wise words from a rising grad star.....
Jason Tsimplakos joined the
Atkins Glasgow office in
September 2013 as a graduate
geotechnical engineer in W&E
after finishing his Masters (MSc)
in Earthquake and Offshore
Geotechnical Engineering at the
University of Dundee.
Moving from university to a corporate
environment was a challenge for me
as a fresh graduate. The stereotypical
notions of an oppressed employer,
being confined behind a desk, and
working to deadlines and timesheets
were embedded in my mind for as
long as I can remember. However, I
could not have been more wrong.
Since joining Atkins in Glasgow, I have
received constant support, assistance
and guidance from my colleagues.
The office atmosphere is great and
everyone is constantly motivated and
striving for technical excellence and
clients’ expectations.
In my relatively brief period of time
with the team, I’ve contributed to a
number of projects – mainly involving
offshore geotechnics – with varying
levels of responsibility. The novel
concepts that often relate to these
types of projects are very interesting
and challenging indeed. Being able to
apply knowledge acquired throughout
my academic career to real-life
projects is extremely rewarding.
I am focusing on achieving chartered
status, and believe there is no
better place for me to do this than
Atkins, which takes great care of its
graduates and provides great support
and services.
Going underground: kids see the light
Evan Passaris and Tracey Radford
visited Furzefield Primary
School in Surrey recently to give
children an understanding of the
principles of tunnel construction.
Students learned the importance
of understanding the ground and
watched an animation of a tunnel
boring machine. Then they donned
high vis jackets and created their
own tunnel in a construction
zone guided by two geotechnical
scholarship students.
Constructed from a mound of
sand and piping and supported
by an embankment, the tunnel
was tested for efficiency through
tunnel road construction with
the ultimate aim of transporting
a car safely through it.
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13

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
Young petrolheads get whiff of victory
Run by the Greenpower Education Trust, which
sells the Goblin car kits, the initiative gives
pupils the opportunity to design and build the
body and fit the Goblin engine. Youngsters
also develop an awareness of key aspects of
engineering including electronics, friction,
forces and materials.
When students have built a car their team can
enter events around the country and compete
against other schools and clubs in driving tests
and races.
The kit is designed to be dismantled and
tuned, and upgraded and rebuilt each year to
allow more and more youngsters to complete
the project from scratch.
Pit lane chic: the IET Formula Goblin project introduces youngsters to the
thrills of competitive racing
W&E and H&T are supporting a STEM
initiative to encourage children to
become interested in engineering
through motor racing.
Camelsdale Primary School in Haselmere is
taking part in the IET Formula Goblin project,
funded by Atkins, with 9 to 11-year old
petrolheads completing their maiden race
recently at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth.
The team also attended the Goblin Gathering
at Goodwood race circuit in West Sussex this
month where over 85 Goblins from more than
30 schools raced against each other.
Head teacher of Camelsdale Primary school
Mrs Palmer, said: “It is so lovely to see all the
children so engaged and working as a team to
build and race the car.”
Imperial event extols scholarship virtue
Year 12 students attending Imperial
College’s summer school got an
insight into engineering recently from
our colleagues in Ground Engineering.
The STEMNET event introduced students to
opportunities within the sector, and were
encouraged to apply for Atkins’ Ground
Engineering Scholarship Scheme.
Paddy Curran, geotechnical engineer with
Atkins, said: “Events such as this are a
fantastic way to attract bright enthusiastic
students to civil engineering. This can only be
beneficial to the future of
our industry.”
Companies including Atkins, BP, Dyson and
Glaxo Smith-Kline took part in the event
where students were split into seven groups
and moved from one company table to
another every 15 minutes.
14

Atkins oracle divines World Cup winner
The demise of Paul the Octopus sees the rise of a new visionary: Alex
Bates (right) with Jez Downs from Southern Water
One person who appreciated
Germany’s World Cup victory more
than most was Alex Bates, who
won the Southern Water World Cup
predictions league and bagged a
replica England top signed by
Geoff Hurst.
Alex, from Epsom’s Wastewater Networks
team, predicted that Germany would beat
Argentina in the final. This, plus his consistent
point scoring during the group stage, saw him
finish at the top of the table with 247 points,
ahead of second place with 229 points.
The competition was organized by Southern
Water’s Jez Downs and required participants
to predict the scores of all the group stage
matches and then the winners of each of the
knockout matches.
Southern Water donated the signed shirt
and 103 people took part, raising £515 for
WaterAid.
W&E HOT JOBS
Process engineer - Derby -
WE-001216 - £1,000
Senior water engineer / modeller –
Reading - WE-001498 - £1,000
Senior mechanical engineer –
Reading - WE-001572 – £2,000
Solution engineer -
Derby - WE-001356 - £2,000
Waste management consultant -
Epsom - WE-001682 - £1,000
Mechnical engineer -
Derby - WE-001567 - £1,000
Technical director geotechnics -
Energy - Epsom -
WE-001545 - £3,000
Principal geotechnical engineer -
Glasgow - WE-001600 - £3,000
Experienced seismic geotechnical
engineer – Energy - Epsom - WE-
001601 - £2,000
Please contact Paul.McMurtrie@
atkinsglobal.com for more info
‘The fifteen blillion pound railway’
15

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
Landmark Awards
Atkins’ long service Landmark award for UK employees recognises staff
who have reach their 10+ year milestone. Congratulations to all.
10 years
Peter Gilbert,
Technical director
in GE, reached his
landmark 20 years
on 4 July
Maider Gantxegi,
Land surveyor in GE,
reached her landmark
10 years on 5 July
Neil Manthorpe,
Principal landscape
architect in EP, reached
his landmark 10 years
on 5 July
Neil Breton,
Senior hydraulic
modeller in EWM,
reached his landmark
10 years on 19 July
Kat Perry,
Senior engineer in
EWM, reached her
landmark 10 years
on 1 July
John Weir,
Senior engineer in
LEM, reached his
landmark 10 years
on 5 July
Don Lamont,
Principal engineer in
EWM, reached his
landmark 10 years
on 19 July
Michael Shone,
Senior engineering
geologist in GE,
reached his landmark
10 years on 19 July
16

In the media
Public space
La Tarde (web), El Diario
Firms picked for £1.5
billion United Utilities
work
Further coverage that Atkins has signed an
agreement with the City of Pereira in Columbia to
prepare studies and a masterplan on public space
and mobility in the city.
Building (web), Construction
News (web), Construction
(web), Cheshire Today (web),
Sage Construction (web),
United Utilities has announced the successful
bidders awarded contracts for the provision of
construction and engineering services for the
next capital investment period (2015-2020).
The successful bidders include LiMA (Laing
O’Rourke, Imtech and support from Atkins).
What is innovation?
New Civil Engineer (web), Local
Government Chronicle (web)
The Angles opinion piece written by Atkins’ UK
director of innovation, Elspeth Finch, has been
published by NCE and LGC. You can read her
thoughts on innovation here: http://angles.
atkinsglobal.com/opinion/what-is-innovation.
Augmented reality
BBC Regional News
Children from two Midland schools took part in a
high-tech project aimed at encouraging an interest
in engineering. Atkins is running the scheme which
is using the latest virtual techniques to demonstrate
how building will be done in the future. The
children learnt about augmented reality, where a
paper plan can be turned into 3D. The technology
can also be used for lots of other things, and the
children visited a woodland exhibition in Wyre
Forest near Kidderminster, where the photography
can only be seen after they download an app.
Atkins’ Gareth Tissington explained: “Using the
QR code technology that we’re using in the forest,
they [engineers] can have an idea of what they’re
about to step into. We can put those onto manhole
covers so they can use the application to show the
QR code, get some information about what’s under
there, and they can see it and walk into it before
they actually open the manhole.”
BACK TO CONTENTS
Development and
testing of rapid
wetland and stream
functional assessment
methods in North
Carolina
National Wetlands Newsletter
Atkins’ senior project manager, Matt Cusack, is one
of seven authors of this article. The development
of rapid wetland and stream functional
assessment methods in North Carolina has led to
improvements and modifications to both federal
and state programs, benefiting both permitting
and mitigation processes. The comprehensive
development process outlined in the article has
the potential to be adapted and replicated in other
states with similar wetland and stream systems.
17

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
Raising our profile
Details of recent events where W&E staff have spoken or presented, and
future events where we have a presence. Please let us know if you are
speaking at an event.
July
Navil Shetty and Geoff Darch
spoke at the Institute of Asset
Management Annual conference,
Liverpool, 14-16 July.
August
Paul C Reynolds will be speaking
about ‘Generating Revenue:
Stations, Real Estate, and
Capturing Value’ at the Federal Rail
Authority Rail Programme Delivery
conference, Washington DC,
5 August.
September
Sean Pearce, Andrew Hart, Giorgio
Maderni and other members of the
Rampion ground modelling team
have written a paper called ‘Integrated
3D ground models for cost-effective
foundation design, construction
and risk reduction of offshore
wind farms.’ It has been accepted
for the European Association of
Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE)
conference, Athens, Greece, 15-17
September.
November
World Cities Conference
“By 2050 around three quarters of the
world’s population will live in cities –
that’s approaching seven billion people
on a mere 2% of the global land mass.
Urbanisation will pose tremendous
challenges, not least in how to make
cities safe, secure and resilient for
their inhabitants.
To help future-proof world cities, an
international conference will take place
in London. The two-day event that will
take a holistic look at how cities can
be made safer, more secure, smarter
and more resilient by better predictive,
protective and responsive measures.
The major themes will be urban
challenges, crisis responses, building
resilience, and integrating technology.”
British Library, London, 9-10 October
Innovate UK 2014
The event programme is taking shape
with key themes in 2014 to include:
Agri-Food, Built Environment, Digital
Economy, Energy, Healthcare, High Value
Manufacturing, Space and Transport.
Old Billingsgate, London, 5-6 Nov-14
CIWEM are holding their UDG Autumn
conference, Blackpool, 11-13 Nov
Alan Wisdish has submitted a paper
for the Sustainable Stormwater
and Wastewater Management
Conference. The main theme of the
Conference is “Sustainable Stormwater
and Wastewater Management”. Hong
Kong, 12-14 Nov
Event tracker
We keep track of all the industry
events happening throughout the year.
Click here to access the event tracker.
To publicise events you are attending,
speaking at, sponsoring or
facilitating please contact
Alison.Crawford@atkinsglobal.com
Any suggestions?
Please send feedback and suggestions
for stories, features and content to
Steve.Bird@atkinsglobal.com
18

WIRE > Issue 023 July 2014
Editor
Steve Bird
Atkins
Epsom Gateway 2
KT18 5AL
Tel: 01372 756 298
Email: Steve.Bird@atkinsglobal.com
© Atkins Limited except where stated otherwise. The Atkins logo, ‘Carbon Critical Design’ and the strapline ‘Plan Design Enable’ are trademarks of Atkins Limited.