What can we do to help Oxfordshire’s flooding issue?

Oxford’s Flood Alleviation scheme has provided a glimmer of hope for local business and property owners following severe flooding in 2003, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Oxfordshire Growth Board have recently announced the scheme has been put on an amber status, now there is a substantial financial gap in funds of £10m. Although the people of Oxford have been reassured the project will continue, allowing the construction of the four-mile flood channel, Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council’s deputy leader, has invited local businesses to contribute financially to the scheme. With some expressing doubt on the willingness of local people to do so. 

The plight of Oxford and its flooding issues, as well as the problems experienced by the rest of the UK, highlights the need to incorporate Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in any development, and that strategy is at the heart of all we do.

The necessity for Sustainable Drainage Solutions (SuDS)

Oxfordshire has seen its fair share of flooding in recent years, affecting roads, railway lines, schools, businesses and homes, and with substantial urban development and bodies of water in abundance, the issue is unlikely to ease any time soon. The aspects that need to be addressed when designing new developments are the quantity of water (flooding), quality of water (pollution), biodiversity (wildlife and plants) and amenities.

Sustainable Drainage Solutions, (SuDS), should mimic nature, managing rainfall where it falls, but also need to consider the affects they may have downstream on nearing communities; the idea is not to simply transfer the flood risk elsewhere. Creating zero, or minimal, long-term detrimental damage, SUDs are considered the environmentally friendly option.

It’s quite often felt that the look of such SuDS is crucial to its initial appreciation within the community, so not only do the designers need to consider the most effective way to incorporate SuDS, they also need to be aware of its appearance, taking into account the style of the area, ensuring it fits visually.

In order to optimise the benefits of SuDS, the planning and design needs to be incorporated at the start of the development process. Fitting in sustainable drainage mid-way through a project is likely to result in the SuDS being less effective than what it could have been if it was considered holistically, creating problems down the line when the heavy rainfall begins. Additionally, continual efforts to perform a sequence of management practices, control structures and strategies ensures the recurrent benefits of efficient and sustainably drained surface water, all while minimising pollution of any local water bodies.

What do we do to help?

Our designers believe in the importance of a holistic solution for the disposal of surface and foul water, working with the client to develop sustainable drainage techniques from the beginning. To us, sustainable drainage is not an afterthought, and there is no “one size fits all”, therefore each site needs to be assessed individually. 

Implementations from Gemma Design

Here at Gemma Design, we use the very latest hydraulic design software and computer systems, combined with detailed knowledge of current design standards, to deliver integrated solutions for challenging and complex sites.

Where off-site disposal is necessary, we demonstrate a proven track record of securing consent from statutory authorities, through both Section 104 and 106 applications, and land drainage consent, for discharging to watercourses, therefore actively adhering to all local guidelines.

Disposal of foul drainage can be challenging where no existing connections are present, or the infrastructure is at a shallow depth, and in these situations, treatment is needed. Our engineers liaise with the Environment Agency to obtain approval for any on-site treatment, and with sewage undertakers for the installation of pumping stations where necessary.

As flooding becomes an increasing problem, we will continue to carry out any necessary assessments, systems and procedures to continue to develop in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.

Aston Martin Dealership – Bristol

Client: Aston Martin

Architect: NC Architects Ltd

Gemma Design was commissioned to work on this split level dealership over three floors, for Aston Martin; a prestigious car manufacturer. The project called for sophistication within the design, emitting style and luxury, whilst tackling the geographical and logistical challenges of the site.

The proposed plot was on a long slope, so the major consideration for this scheme was the provision of level platforms for both the building and the surrounding parking areas. There was a difference in site levels of 8 meters across the site with three existing roads and one dwelling in the vicinity, so the design had to incorporate various access points and the neighbouring dwelling.

Gemma Design, along with NC Architects Ltd, were able to approach this design collaboratively using a 3D ground model, enabling them to maximise the use of the natural slope and incorporate it into the design, thereby eliminating the need for earth retaining structures. From the front of the building, the dealership appears to be of a single level, approached by a large gradient drive way. The wall to the right frames the glass fronted showroom, whilst hiding the falling slope to the back concealing two additional floors built in to the natural slope of the land.

The new Aston Martin Dealership upon arrival

The building has a number of interesting constraints, most notably an internal clear span of 32m at roof level, with the main showroom, above the workshop hidden from sight, spanning just 20m. The 8m cantilevered roof section to the front of the building adheres to the style and sophistication required for such a luxury brand.

The design was made more challenging by the request to reduce the height of the building by 1m, consequently reducing the available structural zones. The specifications weren’t possible using traditional rolled sections, therefore cellular beams were chosen to meet the client’s revised brief.

Incorporated cellular beams by Gemma Design

Careful consideration had to be given to the potential for the show room to vibrate, in resonance with V8 engines of the cars, when traversing the showroom. Using CellVibe, a software package developed by the SCI, the floor plate was analysed to look at the behaviour of the floor system. Gemma Design calculated the accelerations and response factors of the floor to demonstrate that the building didn’t vibrate and cause discomfort to the occupants every time a new car was rolled in or out.

The vibration of the floor is controlled by the system as a whole, i.e. not just the floor slab, but the primary and secondary beams as well. Therefore, it is essential to view the design holistically, understanding how they can work together rather than individually. Using an appropriate software package, allowed Gemma Design to do so.

Aston Martin Dealership 

To see the new dealership for yourself, the address is Vantage Point, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7TU or visit their website for more details: http://www.dicklovett.co.uk/aston-martin/

How BIM technology benefits clients – Part Two: When modern tech meets history with the Anstey Hall Project

BIM is a zero impact application and therefore beneficial for the entire life of a building, even those with a complex and delicate construction.

Although BIM reduces many complications and promotes advantages in the planning stages of construction, the difficulty remains in the interpretation of the components of features which were originally constructed before modern safety standards or before modern techniques – fireplaces, doors and windows for example.

In this instance, intelligent object recognition steps in, usually with an architect in tow, to measure and interpret the core of these features. BIM then comes in once again to receive this information and incorporate the 2 dimensional data, resulting in a comprehensive 3d map of the building and its constituents.

Digital Barn series by Gemma Design

A recent project by Gemma Design has brought about these very challenges. The Anstey Hall project involves the creation of 12 new bespoke dwellings and the restoration of eight listed timber and brick barns. BIM has been utilised from the first day of engagement, incorporating any 2d drawings already available.

Sensitive restoration in this case, is to be coupled with the addition of internal mezzanine steel frames and new extensions. The client is embracing the use of BIM, to ensure the mezzanine floors are fully independent of the existing structure and to map out the engineering solutions required to achieve this, whilst producing a striking and contemporary finished project.

Early engagement of technology

Applying BIM technology to historic buildings is part of Gemma Designs’ commitment to early engagement with technology. There is at this point in time very little research published on the use of BIM for historic buildings, which makes us feel like pioneers in the industry, although according to those at the ‘coal face’ if you use BIM, you will use it on all of your projects, wherever possible. So not only do we apply technology early on in projects, but we like to embrace the use of innovative technology as it emerges too.

This begs the question, why is there little data published on the use of BIM for historic buildings?

There is no real answer to this question, other than that BIM was initially adopted by industries to aid the modelling and collaboration of trades on new buildings, and since the roll-out of BIM as a tool has been staged in levels, it could be classed as still in it’s infancy.

BIM for all

The purpose of the innovation of BIM technology is to aid collaboration across the architectural, engineering and construction industries. It is a vital tool for accuracy as well. Virtual renovation and reconstruction allows for the structural integrity of the building and for the feasibility to be actualised before costly do-overs become necessary. Using BIM for historic buildings is as pertinent as it is for new buildings.

Read more about how BIM technology has benefited our client in the Anstey Hall project on our blog.

https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/bim-for-historic-buildings

What are sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and why do we need them?

Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs), is a philosophy that takes into account the long term environmental factors in excess water drainage and are becoming an increasingly important part of planning proposals, with the Government stating:

“The requirement to meet housing needs must be balanced against other important considerations, such as protecting the Green Belt or addressing climate change and flooding”

Plain English Guide to the Planning System

There three main benefits of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs)

Although the benefits to SUDs are far reaching, the three main benefits are as follows:

1.      Flood prevention

To sustainably prevent flooding of urban areas populated by homes, carparks and other infrastructure. With an increase in localised flooding in the UK over the last decade, legislation and design guidance is moving towards increased regulations in relation to surface water drainage. Sustainable urban drainage systems are a natural approach to resolving drainage issues associated with property developments and construction sites and working to prevent future surface water flooding in populated areas following the completion of building projects.

2.      Benefiting the environment

A natural process of pollutant breakdown allows the excess water to be re-directed back into the urban watercourses without risk of damage to the habitat or its occupants.

Filter drains and bio retention basins are just two examples of how SUDs can be implemented without harsh impacts on the local aesthetics. They consist of gravel and sand to filter out pollutants before the water enters the wider environment. Permeable paving and filter strips are other examples of how little impact SUDs has on the area in which it is utilised.

As well as keeping flood risks down and providing safer habitats for wildlife, the use of SUDs allows new development of houses and business where existing sewer systems are close to full capacity.

3.      Foul drainage

The purpose of using SUDs to support existing sewerage systems is to naturally treat water close to the source and allow drainage straight into water courses, rather than over burden the sewer systems. This prevents overflowing of sewers in the event of unusually heavy rain fall.

Gemma Design’s engineers frequently liaise with the Sewerage Undertakers over the adoption of new drainage systems and proposed connections to existing systems. We also have strong links with the Environment Agency for obtaining permits where septic tanks and package foul treatment plants are required.

How Gemma Design implements SUDs

With the philosophy behind sustainable urban drainage systems central to Gemma Designs’ own philosophy as civil engineers, we use Micro Drainage software, the industry specific software that produces cost effective solutions for all surface water and foul water systems. Micro Drainage allows us to design hydraulic systems that ensure all our projects stay compliant with relevant legislation.

Gemma Design is proficient in designing systems that include an assortment of interventions such as:

·         Soakaways

·         Pipes

·         Connections with existing systems

·         Flow control

·         Adaptation liaison

·         Headwalls

·         Culverts

Gemma Design keeps informed about the changes of regulations and legislation by staying up to date with the Flood Water Management act 2010, The Sewers for Adoption (7^th Edition), Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology).

For further information on the uses and benefits of SUDs please see our website, or get in touch with one of our engineers.

Gemma Design

Department for Communities and Local Government - Plain English guide to the Planning System

NetRegs - Environmental guidance for business

Demand for civil engineers increases

A recent report from New Civil Engineer, says that "almost half [of respondents to a poll] had seen demand for their services rise." According to the civil engineering on-line news provider, even though the figures showed a fifth of contractors were less busy in the second quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year, the industry on the whole was experiencing an increased demand for civil engineering services. This quarter marks the ninth consecutive quarter of growth.

Need for new homes

It appears that the growth this year was linked to the private housing, commercial and infrastructure sectors, with England leading, followed by Scotland and then Wales.

Gemma Design can concur that indeed there has been an increased requirement for the services of civil engineers. Projects such as Greenfields Extra Care, Tenison Road, Cintradel and Anstey Hall Barns have provided interesting and at times, challenging engineering projects.

The growing confidence in the economic recovery has resulted in an increased number of enquiries across all sectors of the residential market including residential care homes, affordable housing, developer led schemes and bespoke houses for individual clients.

Civil engineering - an attractive industry

Gemma Design is committed to investing and training in new technologies, such as SOFiSTik finite analysis software and have an ongoing interest in the use of BIM. BIM will soon be compulsory for all publicly funded works, meaning all civil engineering companies will soon be required to make use of collaborative working using BIM, encompassing all the main stake holders within a project.

The future of engineering is set to become more interesting to the next generation of engineers with BIM and the new modelling and analysis software packages that come along with it. And as the demand for new housing increases, so will the demand for highly trained civil engineers.

Apprenticeships for future engineers

In order to satisfy the demand for new housing and the associated infrastructures, the civil engineering industry must create new job opportunities and training. A number of apprenticeship schemes have been devised by large employers such as Balfour Beatty and Ibstock Brick. On offer is vocational training to those who wish to earn while they learn, gaining nationally recognised certification at the end of it.

It's not just employers that are championing apprenticeships, the Government has shown their backing for the initiatives and offered support to employers who want to take on young engineers in training.

The future looks bright

The Institute of Civil Engineers has a section of their website dedicated to the next generation of civil engineers and offers advice on A-Levels, apprenticeships and other qualifications. Civil engineering is an industry that is not only dedicated to excellent standards and quality, but ensuring those standards go on into the future.

For further reading about how the industry is developing, apprenticeships and careers in civil engineering follow the links below.

Engineering Careers

New Civil Engineer

Institute of Civil Engineers

Increasing design productivity with a collaborative 3D BIM approach

The benefits of a collaborative approach to any kind of project have long been recognised. And in the construction industry where so many disparate elements and professions come together to create a single end result collaboration is not only beneficial but saves time, budgets and oversights. The Government recognises this and from 2016 all government funded projects must include BIM. But Gemma Design has long believed that putting the 3D BIM approach to full operational use makes the best use of the technology available and is one of the structural engineering firms leading the way ahead of the government’s deadline to embrace this technology. 

Project profile - Barns Road, Cowley, Oxford

Barns Road was a project that required a mix of load-bearing masonry and steel framed construction for the ideal structural design. The completed project, by developers Haboakus, is to provide 40, one and two bedroom apartments, with a roof garden for residents and a community garden at ground floor level. The Barns Road building will also be the new location for a furniture recycling store, operated by homelessness charity, Emmaus.

Barns Road, Architect's impression courtesy of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Haboakus is the joint venture between HAB and GreenSquare. British designer and Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, MBE heads up HAB with projects that focus on sustainable buildings and affordable homes. GreenSquare is a major provider of housing, regeneration, care and support commercial services across Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Barns road is part of a larger regeneration scheme within Oxford City.

Linking design models and data sharing

The engineers at Gemma Design linked the 3D BIM model, used to create the drawings and the analytical model, used for analysing and designing the structure.

Linking the two types of model this way meant that the engineers could then share the data with the steel frame subcontractor, Feltham Construction and the award winning architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.

Three ways design productivity increased

1.      Time saving

All parties involved with the project were receiving real time changes to the models, eliminating the necessity for lengthy email threads or telephone conversations between numerous people.

2.      Increased accuracy

With only one set of data submitted for checking, the accuracy is improved and all three parties are notified of recommendations and changes.

3.      Improved collaborative relationships

The working relationships between the agencies involved in the data link are improved with the introduction of sharing real time data.

Gemma Design - Ahead of their time

Although this collaborative approach is fairly new to the design industry, Gemma Design have been applying it to all their projects since the publication of The Government Construction Strategy in 2011, in which a collaborative 3D BIM approach is required on all of its funded projects by 2016.

Rhys Skym, Technical Director for Gemma Design said,

"We believe the collaborative approach will streamline the processes, both in design and execution, which the construction industry have to go through when a multiple stakeholder project is underway.

The use of BIM encourages project teams to work in a co-operative manner to identify and address problems before they arise on site. This leads to a reduction in errors, cuts down on waste and results in an increase in productivity across the board. This will make working in the construction industry a less confrontational and more enjoyable experience for all."

For further reading on the construction strategy and the Barns Road project, follow the links below:

The Government Construction Strategy 2011

Feltham Group - Barns Road Project

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

HAB Housing - Barns Road Development

GreenSqaure Group

Kevin McCloud - Wikipedia