EG 15/2021

Stuck in neutral?

Accelerating the push to carbon neutral

Issue 15/2021 Seeing digital double How digital twins can improve processes and productivity Engineering "brain gain"?

Exploring the impact of returning Kiwis Improve infrastructure, improve lives Building better lives for New Zealanders

WINNER BEST MAGAZINE – TRADE

In this issue

14 Stuck in neutral? What more can engineers do to achieve a dramatic downshift and help key sectors adapt so New Zealand can be carbon neutral by 2050?

20 Seeing digital double Digital twin technology is already improving processes and productivity in New Zealand, but there are plenty of opportunities for further use.

56 Inside job Why Charles Perera loves his “very interesting but dangerous” engineering role.

62 Engineering genius

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Features

Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau PO Box 12 241, Wellington 6144 New Zealand P 04 473 9444 hello@engineeringnz.org engineeringnz.org

08 Engineering “brain gain”? Covid-19 has forced a number of Kiwi expats to return home, so what does that mean for our engineering sector?

14 Stuck in neutral? What more can engineers do to achieve a dramatic downshift and help key sectors adapt so New Zealand can be carbon neutral by 2050?

20 Seeing digital double Digital twin technology is already improving

28 Next stop: South Canterbury South Canterbury tales 32 Sustainable career goals Environmental engineer Ashleigh Dick plans to focus her career on making communities more sustainable.

34 Improve infrastructure, improve wellbeing The engineer leading the Infrastructure Commission believes better infrastructure will mean better lives for New Zealanders.

processes and productivity in New Zealand, but there are plenty of opportunities for further use.

EDITOR Jennifer Black editor@engineeringnz.org DESIGN MANAGER Alisa McGrath ADVERTISING SALES advertising@engineeringnz.org 04 473 9444 SUBSCRIPTIONS hello@engineeringnz.org CIRCULATION ABC audited net circulation for the six months ended 30 September 2020.

New Zealand 13,278 Print ISSN 2537-9097 Online ISSN 2537-9100 EG ONLINE PDF versions of EG are available for members on our website or through our EN.CORE app.

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This issue of EG was published in June 2021.

Best practice 39 Not so private lives How what you do in your private life can affect your career as an engineer.

40 Increasing environmental literacy How and why our attitudes to the environment have changed over time.

42 Rules of thumb 43 Intersection Crossing paths with engineers.

44 Airing concerns How concerned should commercial building landlords and tenants be about the risk of viruses like Covid-19 spreading through heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems?

46 The growing field of forensics Find out how to become an accomplished forensic engineer.

Shorts 52 Bedside table Donald MacKenzie MNZM CMEngNZ (ret.) talks to EG about his reading choices.

53 Review 54 The secret life of engineers A violin solo in Wellington’s Town Hall.

56 Inside job Why Charles Perera loves his “very interesting but dangerous” engineering role.

59 Leading questions 60 Obituaries 62 Engineering genius

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A century of trust.

What they said

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The desire for certainty

“Everything not invented

by God is invented by an engineer.”

His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh HonFEngNZ.

“I want to build a community through this, make maths fun for these kids because we know we can be good at it, but it’s not a subject that we often get supported on.”

University of Auckland Bachelor of Engineering Honours student Halaevalu Tu’ipulotu Halanukonuka​ gives free maths lessons to inspire other Pasifika students.

Nau mai koutou katoa. challenges the world faces.

I know the changes we all made to the way we live and work in the past year have reinforced the importance of people, community and connection, while at the same time decreasing our collective carbon emissions. I hope those changes provide a new acceptance of flexible work and an ongoing reduction in our carbon footprint.

I'm honoured to have been elected the 107th President of Engineering New Zealand and its third ever female President. I look forward to connecting with members and celebrating the work we all do to engineer a better New Zealand.

Finally, on behalf of our members and staff, I would like to offer condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of Tonkin + Taylor engineers Dr Peter Kirkwood MEngNZ and Richard Phillips who recently lost their lives in a mountaineering tragedy on Taranaki Maunga. I grew up in Taranaki and will think of them both when I next see Taranaki’s beautiful volcanic cone.

Jordan Walker CMEngNZ IntPE(NZ)

As I think about the year ahead, I reflect on our human desire for certainty, particularly after the challenges of the past year and a half. So, what am I certain about?

As the incoming President of Engineering New Zealand, I know the organisation has a great team, both on staff and on the Board, committed to supporting members as we all adapt to new ways of working. I’m confident the organisation will remain brave and creative, with a continued commitment to initiatives such as the Diversity Agenda and Accord, and the Wonder Project.

I’m also confident 2021 will see the organisation grow its cultural competence as it aims to more fully embrace te ao Māori. This journey will mean Engineering New Zealand/Te Ao Rangahau will be better placed to support members to practise in a manner that supports biculturalism. I've been increasing my own understanding of te ao Māori in recent years in my “day job” as Acting Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Auckland.

On campus, we’ve recruited our largest

applauds Kirk Roberts Consulting's move to a nine-day fortnight.

ever first-year engineering intake – people keen to make a contribution to the

Dr Rosalind Archer FEngNZ President, Engineering New Zealand

“The thing I love most about robot fighting is there are thousands of people out there all trying to do the same thing... it’s an engineering and piloting challenge where everyone has the same rules, you’re just trying to do it better than anyone else.”

Kiwi software engineer Jack Barker’s team won international robot fighting competition, Battlebots.

“I don’t really think about it.

I’m not boasting.”

First female head of mathematics and statistics in the University of Otago’s 150-year history, Associate Professor Sarah Wakes CMEngNZ.

“An extra day off will let me get the gardening done, or any extra work, so on the weekend I can spend it with the family.”

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14 Stuck in neutral?

20 Seeing digital double

28 Next stop: South Canterbury

32 Sustainable career goals

34 Improve infrastructure, improve wellbeing

Features

08 Engineering "brain gain"?

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WRITER KATHY CATTON

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Engineering “brain gain”?

Covid-19 has forced some of New Zealand’s one million or so expats to return home. But are returnees hitting our shores in large numbers, and what does this mean for the country’s engineering sector?

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Earlier this year, Stats NZ figures showed the annual net migration of New Zealand citizens was more than that of non-New Zealand citizens for the first time since citizenship data started in the late 1970s. In the year ended January 2021, there was a net gain of 20,800 New Zealand citizens, whereas historically we’ve lost New Zealand citizens.

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But while there was a general expectation of a “brain gain” here, with Kiwis returning home due to Covid-19, there is still a skills shortage within the engineering sector.

“It’s a bit of a fallacy that New Zealand engineers are returning in large numbers,” says Ben Lapworth, Divisional Manager at Eighty4 Recruitment, a boutique agency specialising in placing engineers across all sectors.

“We would like to see more, of course,” he says.

“Many employers are wanting us to secure them good quality engineers, as job adverts are just not working for them at the moment.”

Employers are doing everything in their power to win the battle of retention, he says.

“Employees are generally very well looked after, and so fewer are taking the time to review job adverts.”

Employers are being proactive and shoulder tapping engineers in the market, he says, adding it’s natural to see a lot of counter offers from employers who are reluctant to lose staff and are aware it’s cheaper to retain than recruit.

It’s a bit of a fallacy that New Zealand engineers are returning in large numbers.

– Ben Lapworth “A scarcity of engineers simply has a knock-on effect when it comes to remuneration, which is definitely on the increase,” says Ben. Adam Gibson, Development Manager at Rob Law Max Recruitment, similarly sees shortfalls everywhere and is concerned about candidates’ rising salary expectations.

It’s a perfect storm for them to test their employer.

“It’s those companies that are offering flexible benefits to their staff that appear to be winning out,” says Adam.

“A great culture and great projects may mean that engineers will stay where they are.”

He predicts salaries will increase and says if the candidate shortage continues, “we are heading for an untenable situation with projects”.

1. David Hogg, General Manager, New Zealand Water, Stantec 2. Fritha McCrimmon-Robinson talking to students during Women in Engineering Day in the United Kingdom

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Bubbles, borders and beyond David Hogg CMEngNZ, General Manager, New Zealand Water, Stantec, says as an employer of engineers, he’s seeing a gradual return, but not the influx that had been expected.

“For some, it may have been their time to return home after their OE anyway, and for others, there have been other factors at play, for example, the impacts of climate change on the oil and gas sectors which has resulted in some looking to leave that market.”

He says: “It’s not easy to see a path through with this. We have a skills shortage and we have immense investment coming into the water sector to improve our ageing assets. Also, we’re reliant on an international talent pool that can’t easily enter.”

As for the trans-Tasman bubble that opened in April, David says he sees this as a potential threat to New Zealand’s workforce as there could be a drive to attract Kiwi engineers across the Tasman.

Bronwyn Rhynd FEngNZ IntPE(NZ), Environmental Engineer and Director at CKL, says her firm recently ran a recruitment campaign and identified a great candidate from offshore. But the length of time to get them here was extended to include a long wait to get into Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) and confirm visas.

“This results in an additional wait time to onboard this person for the critical land development projects we intended their skills to be utilised.”

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Glen Tarrant, Recruitment Manager Australia and New Zealand for Stantec, is concerned when other countries reopen their borders and complete their vaccination rollout, New Zealand will start to lose engineers who look to do their OE. When considering the trans-Tasman bubble, Glen doesn’t believe it will help as he says Australia is in a similar state to New Zealand.

“If anything, it could cause more angst as engineers based in New Zealand look to broaden their experience by heading across the ditch.”

He believes the answer is a twofold approach.

“We need to tweak our workforce and look at how we can use graduates and intermediates in the long-term solution, developing training programmes to fast-track development of interns rather than wanting more experienced engineers all the time.

We also need to look ahead and ensure we are recruiting the right mix of skills in an ever-changing market,” he says.

“Secondly, we need to look at offshoring some of the work to design centres when it makes sense to do so. Getting the retention factors right is also crucial to navigating this storm,” says Glen, adding that keeping current talent engaged and happy is a must.

Recent returnee Fritha McCrimmon-Robinson MEngNZ has been back in New Zealand since February and is working for Stantec in Christchurch. She and her husband had always planned to return to New Zealand after time in the United Kingdom (UK), but Covid-19 delayed their plans.

Listed as one of the top 100 most influential women in engineering in the UK and Europe in 2019, Fritha graduated with a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Canterbury in 2011 then worked on the Christchurch rebuild. In 2015 she moved to the north-east of England to design wastewater infrastructure.

Fritha notices a shortage of engineers in New Zealand with more than 10 years of experience.

She was approached and headhunted by multiple people from within the industry, offering her roles.

“There’s definitely a shortage. I have observed this across civil engineering sectors but this may be across all sectors of engineering.”

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Supporting existing teams With a limited pool of incoming talent, some companies have focused on creating an environment that supports existing teams.

“We are encouraging our people to develop their career plans and we are supporting them with that,” says CKL’s Bronwyn Rhynd.

“We are recognising the benefits of being an employer of choice. We focus on the pastoral as well as the technical development. We are proud of our people and celebrate their successes with them.”

Cam Wylie CMEngNZ IntPE(NZ), Managing Director at RDCL, geotechnical engineers and consultants, agrees.

“We are rethinking how we work, using improved connectivity to better deploy resources and improve our productivity across offices and upskilling ‘unskilled’

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local people.”

We are encouraging our people to develop their career plans and we are supporting them with that.

– Bronwyn Rhynd

Returnee Ross Kaufusi CPEng CMEngNZ IntPE(NZ) and his finacée Maria Leon MEngNZ had always planned to return to New Zealand after living and working in the United Kingdom, but Covid-19 travel restrictions dictated their timing.

“Pre-pandemic, in an emergency we were able to return home in 24 hours. Nowadays, that would be impossible. To avoid the stress of finding a spot in MIQ, flights and quarantining for two weeks, we felt that it may be time to move home and be closer to family.”

During their five years abroad, the pair have been involved with some large projects, travelled around Europe and accomplished what they had initially set out to achieve. They will return to Auckland where their extended families live and begin new roles in June.

“We’ve both been extremely fortunate with jobs, as engineers are in high demand. We both got a few offers and I have accepted a role at KiwiRail and Maria has accepted a role at Beca."

1. Bronwyn Rhynd, Environmental Engineer and Director at CKL 2. Cam Wylie, Managing Director at RDCL 3. Professor Rosalind Archer, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Auckland 4. Ross Kaufusi in London

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Dedicated MIQ spaces Earlier this year, the Association of Consulting and Engineering (ACE) New Zealand called for a targeted and skills-based approach to immigration to meet the skills shortages existing in the sector.

A recent ACE New Zealand survey shows its member firms expect to hire 2,100 staff over the next 12 months to meet current and future needs. Already, 39 percent of firms have experienced challenges finding suitably qualified staff in the New Zealand market and 33 percent of firms have experienced increased competition for personnel within New Zealand.

ACE New Zealand Chief Executive Helen Davidson says: “The shortage of specialist staff sits across large market sectors, like water and transport. Because consulting and engineering activity largely occurs before construction begins, if we can’t access the right talent now, we’ll see significant downstream effects including the cost and time to complete projects.”

Helen notes the ability to recruit specialist talent from overseas is key to how many firms address the

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skills shortage and sits alongside investing in upskilling the existing market. Yet, 25 percent of firms have also experienced challenges attempting to bring suitably qualified staff into New Zealand.

In May, the Government announced the allocation of a number of MIQ spaces over the next 10 months, many for skilled and critical workers to support the country’s economic recovery. These include spaces for 300 specialised construction workers between June and October.

Helen is hopeful the Government’s announcement will help ease the pressure for skilled and critical workers in these sectors.

Graduates “a captive audience” Meanwhile, there are opportunities for graduate engineers. Professor Rosalind Archer FEngNZ, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Auckland is seeing positive signs from employers.

“We are hearing from lots of employers they are positively marketing to graduates,” she says.

“It’s a captive audience at the moment, with graduates unable to disappear offshore.”

Employer Liaison Manager at the University of Auckland, Jonathan Culley, says anecdotally, most companies he comes into contact with have either kept recruitment the same or increased numbers over the past year.

“With the uptick in the economy and closed borders, the skills shortage is becoming acute but this should advantage our students and graduates in the marketplace.”

The University of Auckland gets regular feedback from companies on changing recruitment practices and labour market trends, which feed into the workshops and engagement activities it runs with students.

“This year in our career development workshops, we will be emphasising the increasingly dynamic nature of the labour market and the blurring of many traditional career paths and job roles,” says Rosalind.

“Students and graduates will need to adapt to new working practices, such as more remote working, and many companies are now hiring a much broader range of specialisations to take advantage of the different skill sets and experiences.”

She says many companies are undergoing substantial changes which will benefit students.

“For example, Beca has been expanding their digital services, hiring software and computer systems students.

We will therefore be encouraging students to be more proactive with their job search and consider widening their scope when it comes to their ideal graduate role, considering different industries and job types.”

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WRITER MATT PHILP What more could engineers be doing to achieve a dramatic downshift and help key sectors adapt to help the country become carbon neutral by 2050?

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>> “Unflinching” is the word that comes to mind when you hear Susan Krumdieck MNZM MEngNZ’s analysis of what New Zealand must do to become carbon neutral.

The world won’t be saved by more solar panels, says the Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury, who has been consumed with how engineers should respond to the existential threat of climate change since she was a youthful researcher.

We have so badly overshot the mark, she argues, that business as usual with a green tinge just won’t cut it.

Instead, this country along with everyone else is going to have to dramatically downshift our energy use. How dramatically? Try 80 percent in the next 10 years.

She recites the canon of sustainability solutions – renewable energy, sustainable development, green chemistry, recycling.

“We’ve been doing all those things for a long time, and yet here we are. So, it’s time for rethinking.

Basically, the level of energy use we need to get to is about the same as it was in the 1950s.”

“We engineers need to step up” It’s an analysis that springs not from fatalism but from years of research. Susan has crunched the numbers on formulae such as Energy Returned on Investment (EROI) and concluded that, with the exception of hydro and possibly geothermal energy, climate-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels don’t add up – and New Zealand is no exception.

Earlier this year, the Climate Change Commission released draft advice for consultation, with recommendations on how to cut emissions to ensure New Zealand is carbon neutral by 2050. Susan believes the Commission hasn’t grasped the nettle.

“But then I wouldn’t expect them to. And this is where we engineers need to step up: we need to show what this downshifted energy future looks like, and how it can be a better place. It’s actually our job to transition these systems,” she says, stressing it will be young and future generations of engineers who do the heavy lifting making these decarbonisation changes.

“They now get to redo everything.”

In Susan’s 2019 book, Transition Engineering: Building a Sustainable Future, she provides the insight that safety engineering is a useful model for understanding how engineers can tackle unsustainable development. Just as safety engineering arose in response to the failure of manufacturing systems to address workplace hazards, this century’s

If all engineers were speaking the same language and were able to lay out to clients ‘Here’s the process we’re going to follow’ then we could start leaving behind last century’s thinking and figure out how to make the changes that are needed.

– Susan Krumdieck engineers can take responsibility for leading the transition to zero carbon, innovating, and developing new methodologies.

Her book addresses the latter point with a seven-step transition engineering method (she calls it InTIME) to help engineers put energy downshift projects into action. It’s a framework for innovation, and a process that recasts a potentially overwhelming problem into a manageable process.

Susan also stresses the need to embed these principles and practices in engineering education.

This year, she’s running a new online professional development course in transition engineering.

“We reckon that we could get all New Zealand engineers through that in a couple of years,” she says.

“If all engineers were speaking the same language and were able to lay out to clients ‘Here’s the process we’re going to follow’ then we could start leaving behind last century’s thinking and figure out how to make the changes that are needed.”

Transport transition What will those changes look like in key sectors such as transport and the built environment? Engineering New Zealand Transportation Group Chair Bridget Burdett CMEngNZ collated the group’s submission on the Climate Change Commission report. The starting

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point, she says, is rejecting the assumption we can keep growing car traffic in New Zealand. Yet that car-centric paradigm wasn’t addressed with any vigour in the Climate Change Commission blueprint, which Bridget describes as “underwhelming”.

Take its proposal for a 95 percent increase in walking for active travel, which sounds like a big number.

“But we’re coming from such a low base that in essence it means going from one percent of trips to two percent,” Bridget says.

“We need a lot more ambition than that. And we know we can do it. Around half of all people crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge in peak time are in the single bus lane. Without buses, the bridge would need to be 16 lanes wide to carry the same number of people.”

As for electric vehicles, Bridget says there’s quite a bit of disagreement in the transport sector about “how passionately we should advocate for them”.

“In our submission we say that electric vehicles are better [than petrol or diesel], but the fact they’re promoted gives people an out clause to avoid the harder planning that we need.”

Much of that planning is about fundamentally changing the way we live in our towns. The Transportation Group’s submission favourably cited the “20-minute city” concept, which holds that the bulk of what you need should be within a 20-minute walk or cycle of your home.

“These liveable communities are the transition option for transport. We want people to live, work and play as locally as possible. And if people need to go further, then because so many cars are now off the streets you can have more efficient public transport.”

Related schemes known as low-traffic neighbourhoods are already being piloted in Auckland suburbs Onehunga and Glenn Innes, using bollards, planter boxes and other traffic-calming measures to prevent motorists using the streets as rat-runs.

“They essentially become longer cul-de-sacs within a one-kilometre-square block. The idea is that trips are now more direct if you’re walking or biking, and easier, safer and more fun.”

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1. Susan Krumdieck, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Canterbury 2. Bridget Burdett, Engineering New Zealand Transportation Group Chair 3. Monique Cornish, Engineering New Zealand Sustainability Society Co-Chair

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1. Local shopping centres 2. Local health facilities and services 3. Local schools 4. Lifelong learning opportunities 5. Local playgrounds and parks 6. Green streets and spaces 7. Community gardens 8. Sport and recreation facilities

Features of a 20-Minute Neighbourhood

9. Safe streets and spaces 10. Affordable housing options 11. Ability to age in place 12. Housing diversity 13. Walkability 14. Safe cycling networks 15. Local public transport 16. Well connected to public transport, jobs and services within the region 17. Local employment opportunites

1. 20-minute neighbourhood concept supplied by the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, Victoria, Australia, 2019.

2. Wellington city traffic at peak hour. Image: Stuff Limited 3. Bridget Burdett in Hamilton.

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One recent development that could be a useful catalyst for the 20-minute city concept is the advent of e-bikes. Bridget is a huge fan.

“They’re a market-driven response to so many different challenges and they could be transformational.”

On the flipside, political leadership at local and national level is still often at odds with the best engineering solutions, and there’s not enough urgency about reducing car trips.

“A lot of us working in this area feel we live in an echo chamber. We keep seeing new streets being built that are old-fashioned and not fit for purpose for any kind of transition. We’re constantly undermined in the delivery system, because transport always interacts with politics and land-use planning decisions,” says Bridget, citing her own rapidly growing hometown, Hamilton.

“Even on new greenfields subdivisions, elected representatives and some staff will say ‘Oh, but some people will still want a two-car garage’.”

She says smaller houses are needed to provide the density that supports public transport and walkability, so people don’t need to own a car.

“Our biggest challenge as engineers is to stand up to these car-centric attitudes that are not evidencebased and say ‘actually, this is a really complex problem, we’re trained to deal with complexity, let’s work on this together’.”

We keep seeing new streets being built that are old-fashioned and not fit for purpose for any kind of transition.

– Bridget Burdett

Decarbonising buildings What about the built environment? What can engineers and others do to transition that sector to net zero carbon emissions? Engineering New Zealand’s Sustainability Society Co-Chair Monique Cornish says the trick is to build less – in other words, to repurpose and use existing assets in a smarter way “so we don’t actually need to build”.

But that’s only ever going to be part of the answer.

The good news regarding new builds, she says, is we already know what to do when it comes to decarbonising.

The hurdle is not lack of knowledge, it’s resistance based on a perceived economic downside and a business-asusual mindset.

She gives the example of pouring concrete. On large building projects, a slower-to-cure, low-carbon concrete could be used for the majority of a foundation, then finish with a higher ratio of fast-curing Portland cement.

While on a construction site time is money, a building programme can be staged to make a lower-carbon approach work.

As for creating energy-efficient buildings: “We absolutely know how to do that. Things like tightness of the building envelope, taking advantage of passive design opportunities, they’re almost formulaic now.

Truthfully, the barrier to building better is a sense of the extra up-front cost.”

It’s up to engineers, she says, to help clients understand that while they may pay more initially, the expense is recouped in reduced lifetime operating costs if it’s a well designed and constructed, sustainable building.

Another important role for engineers is to reduce embodied carbon – emissions from the materials and products that form the building and can occur right across the building’s life cycle.

“Whether it’s simple tweaks to construction methodology like the concrete pour example, or handling projects and assets in a way that prioritises dematerialisation and looks for low carbon solutions, that is the work of the engineer,” she says.

“No one else can do that for clients.”

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Seeing Seeing digital double digital double WRITER RACHEL HELYER DONALDSON While the idea of a digital twin – an identical, simulated, dynamic model of a process, product or service – may still sound rather futuristic, the technology is being used in New Zealand to improve processes and productivity. And there are plenty of opportunities for further use.

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The concept of using pairing technology is not new.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) used a mirrored system to rescue the troubled Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970, and now uses digital twins to create, build and test equipment. American professor and manufacturing expert Dr Michael Grieves coined the term digital twin two decades ago.

Engineering consultancy Beca describes a digital twin as “a high-fidelity representation of the real world that looks like, behaves like and is connected to the real world, to improve understanding for decision making”.

One of the most widely used digital twins is Google Maps, a simulation of the built and natural environment that can give users real-time updates, for example on traffic and transport.

Opportunities for engineers Digital twin technology is taking engineering to another level, resulting in better infrastructure outcomes that are more rapidly delivered, says Beca’s Chief Digital Officer Dr Thomas Hyde CMEngNZ. “It provides a much more effective means of helping people visualise and understand something that’s being proposed. It’s also about breaking down silos – digital twins allow many different stakeholders to work on something simultaneously. It’s a platform you can bring everyone in on, work together, and hopefully make better decisions.”

In addition, he says, digital twins represent a chance to improve productivity in the general construction sector.

“There’s an opportunity to build a lot more automation and standardisation into that process and tackle some broader sustainability challenges.”

To date, Beca has developed digital twins for Fonterra, Bay of Plenty District Health Board and Watercare, as well as global multinationals including pharmaceutical companies.

Thomas believes a national digital strategy, including a digital twin of the entire country, is needed “quite urgently” to pull together New Zealand’s fragmented building plans. The Government’s Covid-19 infrastructure stimulus plans provide the greatest opportunity since the Great Depression in the 1930s to truly improve the built environment, he says.

“A digitally built New Zealand that brings all the digital information together in a national way would better inform decision making.”

It could incorporate all proposed projects and look at, for instance, land-use strategies across forestry, farming, urban intensification and transport. The initiative would tie in with the Government’s aim of stimulating the digital economy and also represent a crucial chance to consider carbon reduction.

Thomas unveiled his proposal at the ReBuilding Nations 2020 infrastructure conference in Auckland last

A digitally built New Zealand that brings all the digital information together in a national way would better inform decision making.

– Thomas Hyde

November, where Beca also ran an industry survey.

The highest scored response was to the question: “Is a national digital twin an important thing to have, to support infrastructure?”, whereby 90 percent of survey participants said “yes”. Around 40 percent thought the Infrastructure Commission would be the best entity to oversee it.

Building a national digital twin would not mean starting from scratch.

“There’s a lot happening in the digital space in the various agencies already; it’s about creating a framework that allows everyone to share information and build up a combined picture.

“It will be complex but it’s quite achievable,” Thomas says, adding the country’s engineering industry has “a lot of capability”.

New Zealand could also look offshore for resources – such as to the United Kingdom, where the Centre for Digital Built Britain plans to build a British national digital twin over 30 years.

“The technology is there now, it’s more about the will and the organisational framework. But if you leave it too long, the opportunity to inform decisions will be lost.”

Working smarter Classical simulation models of production processes have been used by engineers for some time, says Dr Jan Polzer, a senior lecturer in mechanical engineering at the University of Auckland. Known as digital siblings, these can be handy to identify “what if” scenarios. Even real-time simulations of processes “have been out there for a while now” he says, adding it’s the real-time connectivity and processing of data streams that defines a digital twin.

“Feeding real-time measurements, using sensors, into your model is what makes your digital twin an

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One of Kawerau sawmill Sequal’s mantras is “every millimetre counts”. As part of its custom-cut service, it aims to eliminate all waste. In 2018, the Tauranga-headquartered company implemented a digital twin that significantly helped reduce loss of raw material. The product digital twin scans each radiata pine log and generates a 3D model. It then combines that with real-time data from the ordering system to identify the most efficient way to produce its cut-toorder boards.

Sequal also needed to solve an issue with the temporary storage of various-sized boards. There are just 18 bins available, which can result in bottlenecks, says automation engineer Elizabeth Kulasingham.

“Every day is different, so deciding which bins are dropped and stacked is important in order to achieve a continuous flow. If the bins are full we have to stop the entire sawmill and this can lead to substantial financial losses.”

In 2020, Elizabeth, then a fourth-year mechatronics engineering student, decided to create a digital twin that would provide Sequal with a decision-making tool to solve the bottleneck issue. For their final-year project, supervised by the University of Auckland's Dr Jan Polzer, Elizabeth and research partner Yeeteng Lo developed a simulation model of the production flow. Their process digital twin interacts with the product digital twin and predicts throughput, based on real-time data related to the individual boards that are arriving on the shop floor.

The new digital twin is already helping Sequal operators in their decision making, says Elizabeth, resulting in a higher production flow. Sequal aims to fully implement the technology later this year, making it an automated process that should have big benefits.

“We hope to decrease downtime and increase productivity. As a result, company revenue could increase by $1 million a year.”

1. Dr Thomas Hyde, Chief Digital Officer, Beca.

2. Elizabeth Kulasingham, Automation Engineer.

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1. Digital twin of products 2. Interaction of digital twins in the process.

3. Dr Jan Polzer, Senior lecturer in mechanical engineering at the University of Auckland.

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Embracing Industry 4.0 Originally from Germany, Jan’s background is in automation and throughput optimisation in steel production. Prior to moving to New Zealand in 2018, he

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alive, real-time version of your product or process.”

Meanwhile New Zealand cities, including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, are exploring ways to make their centres function more efficiently using real-time technology and interconnectivity. They include everyday uses such as safe swimming advice based on live updates, and rubbish bins that use sensors to alert the council when they’re full, to allow better city planning.

Smart cities offer a range of benefits for entire metropolises, says Jan. “Smart cities make more efficient use of physical infrastructure like roads or public transport and provide sophisticated simulation tools and better opportunities for planning. A digital twin of public transport, with real-time data of bus positions, can dynamically determine the best possible travel route/interchange options, taking into account current traffic jams and delays.”

In terms of manufacturing, using digital twins leads to greater opportunities for improving productivity, Jan says.

“It gives you a deeper insight, leading to better decisions and faster decisions.”

A digital twin enables businesses to do a throughput optimisation in a more systematic way. It also provides a more efficient way to make a root cause analysis.

Traditionally, Jan says, quality issues are measured at the end of the production line. Faulty products analysis could take weeks while all the process data was assembled.

“With a digital twin, you press a button and straightaway you get all the process signals. You can start your root cause analysis immediately.”

led research and development teams working on digital twins in Düsseldorf. As a project manager he developed and implemented digital twins for factories “to solve realworld problems”. Digital twins are used a lot in Europe, particularly Germany, and in China, he says.

By contrast, the uptake in New Zealand has been slow.

Meanwhile it is “alarming”, he says, that Gross Domestic Product per capita in New Zealand is 30 percent under the average of the OECD’s top half. To survive long-term on the global market, it is essential we improve productivity.

It is particularly crucial in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0. This has “transformed traditional shop floors into smart factories and is overcoming the shortcomings of current manufacturing systems”, Jan says.

So, could digital twins be the gamechanger Kiwi companies need? With recent advances in sensing and communication technologies, the Internet of Things has made digital twins more cost effective. Using the data collected by sensors and building a computer model of a product or process will enable the creation of a digital twin. This gives businesses real-time status updates on products and processes – bottlenecks can be identified, for example. It also helps with scheduling and predictive maintenance, without putting any assets at risk.

One challenge can be a lack of skillset among IT people and engineers. The University of Auckland’s engineering faculty is aiming to change that, by incorporating Industry 4.0 topics into lectures, and establishing the Laboratory for Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems. Meanwhile, Callaghan Innovation is working with Beca and the Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Association to roll out a mobile showcase of Industry 4.0 nationwide.

Jan acknowledges a big challenge for many Kiwi businesses, certainly small- to medium-sized businesses, is a lack of digitisation.

“But all of the companies who have started their digitalisation journey have demonstrated it’s worth the effort.”

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Digital Engineering Solutions Starting in a small Auckland office back in 1961, McConnell Dowell has always been synonymous with innovation across its market sectors.

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Digital Engineering is another capability that enables McConnell Dowell to harness the power of new technology, to continue to change the way in which it works and the value it provides to our customers, with greater confidence and collaboration.

Join our digital journey to: • transform O&M practice • increase customer, community and stakeholder engagement • increase collaboration to improve productivity • protect people with immersive technologies and machine control.

1. Māngere TARP LiDAR scan informs complex renewal works and limits person entry to hazardous and restricted environments 2. Old Māngere Bridge Replacement innovatively combines D.E. and machine control to actively manage the critical risk of 110kV powerlines crossing the site 3. Papakura to Pukekohe Electrification LiDAR scan post processed to digital terrain and features models provides a solid foundation for design development 4. St Marys Bay Water Improvement real time dashboard enabled a step change in resource consent compliance and stakeholder management 5. Modbury Hospital Project Information Model was an essential element in the successful upgrade of this existing facility

mcconnelldowell.com/60years

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Next stop: South Canterbury

South Canterbury tales

Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo

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WRITER RACHEL HELYER DONALDSON

Geographically, South Canterbury is defined by four natural boundaries – the Rangitata and Waitaki rivers, the spectacular Southern Alps and the vast Pacific Ocean. Port city Timaru is its most significant hub, but its varied service towns include Geraldine, Temuka and Waimate. Local engineers say it offers both a balanced lifestyle and innovative industry.

New technology at heart of water supply scheme upgrade

Population

61,500 Land area

13,745km2 Engineering New Zealand Branch membership

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Did you know…

South Canterbury has New Zealand’s largest amount of Māori rock art. Images and patterns including moa, dogs, fish and people were drawn on the walls of limestone overhangs and caves, in charcoal and red ochre.

A $27.3 million upgrade to the Downlands Water Supply Scheme is one of the most significant works undertaken on the extensive rural water supply scheme in its 80-year history, says Timaru District Council Drainage and Water Manager and project lead Grant Hall CMEngNZ. The Downlands scheme services 2,500 farms and homes and supplies stock water to 78,000 hectares of land. The bulk of its supply area – around 82 percent – is in the Timaru District as well as parts of the Waimate and Mackenzie Districts. The upgrade is needed to improve drinking water standards, and to increase supply and resilience, says Grant.

“Stock water allocation is increasing from 56 to 65 litres per hectare per day, and there will be capacity for 500 additional domestic connections. All in all, it’s quite a major upgrade.”

The upgrade, which began last August, includes a new intake at the scheme’s main source, the Te Ana Wai River, the building of new raw water storage ponds, a water treatment plant and a treated water reservoir. One of the largest parts of the project is the main trunk renewal from the new water treatment plant to Cave. The 15.3km pipeline is the “backbone of the whole system”. Local contractors Rooney Earthmoving are installing a new fully welded, 450mm diameter polyethylene pipe and construction will be carried out over the next 12 months.

The next 3.5km section of pipe from Cave is currently being relined using SaniTube. It’s a pipe lining technique from Germany that handles high pressures and can be installed in lengths longer than 1km with minimal disruption to water supply.

“It’s a very effective piece of technology,” says Grant. “It’s an extremely thin wall material so we don’t lose significant volume in the pipe, and it improves the hydraulics immensely.”

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1. Artist's impression of St John Timaru building.

2. Entrance of St John Timaru building.

Images: Thompson Ltd

Another piece of innovative engineering work includes the treatment plant. Grant says UV will be the treatment process used most of the time.

“But a membrane filtration system will be used to treat the infrequent poorer quality raw water, after storms for example.”

The system is being designed and constructed by Pall Marshall Water Consortium. Meanwhile, Invercargill company Reliant Solutions is installing a glass-coated steel-treated water reservoir at the treatment plant.

Other contractors include consultants WSP and project managers Octa.

Emergency response hub St John’s new state-of-the-art Timaru headquarters gives South Canterbury a vital and purpose-built hub for emergency response thanks to the building’s design and engineering. The station, which officially opened in March, was built to Importance Level 4 (IL4) specifications to ensure it can withstand significant seismic events and remain fully operational following a major disaster. It was designed and built by Thompson Construction and Engineering, with fellow Timaru contractors Chapman Consulting Engineers providing structural engineering expertise.

The building is clad in local Timaru bluestone and includes a staff lounge, six bedrooms, an administration area and a training room. The ambulance bay can house eight ambulances and boasts doors that open within two seconds. The station also has a backup generator and water supply to ensure it remains fully operational post-disaster.

Chapman’s Founding Director Andrew Chapman CMEngNZ IntPE(NZ) says his engineering team started work in April 2020 during lockdown, with a brief to create an IL4 building with increased capacity for seismic loads and more stringent deflection criteria.

“The main structure is steel-portal frames in the lateral direction, with pre-cast concrete shear walls in the longitudinal direction. The design is two gables and we tied those together with another beam to strengthen it further. The builders commented that this building just feels so much more solid.”

Significant effort was also put into designing nonstructural parts of the building, such as ceilings, he adds.

“They are better restrained to make sure they don’t collapse.”

Andrew describes it as “an amazing space.

The glazed, rapid-opening doors look really good and it’s a great functional building for St John, with ambulances

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It’s also good for engineers, adds Andrew.

“We can get in there at the project’s onset and make suggestions that have beneficial consequences all the way through. Plus we learn from the market about, for example, where the costs are coming in. That doesn’t tend to happen so much on projects where the architectural concept is almost fully resolved.”

Wheels in motion for cycle network A new South Canterbury cycling network will have a host of benefits for the region, says one of several engineers behind the voluntary project. Longtime cyclist Simon Bird CMEngNZ Int(PE)NZ says the planned Timaru to Tekapo trail will encourage more people to bike, connect the

able to come in one end and go out the other. It also makes a nice work environment that will hopefully attract staff to the region.”

Thompson operates a design-build model, managing all aspects of the project. Design-build is becoming more common in New Zealand as it offers big benefits, says Thompson project facilitator John Wilson.

“It’s more streamlined and delivers projects faster than the traditional design-bid-build (horizontal siloed process); value-engineered solutions can be tested,

region’s communities and townships and should boost economic growth through job creation and tourism.

The idea of a network of cycle trails in South Canterbury has been talked about “for many years” he says. But in March 2020, a group of cyclists formed Central South Island Trails. Over lockdown, they put together a proposal and successfully sought funding to build the first stage.

They received around $225,000 from the Timaru District Council’s Covid-19 stimulus fund, as well as $550,000 from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s walking and cycling fund. The 13km route from Washdyke, just north of Timaru, to inland Pleasant Point, is due for completion in the middle of this year. The full Timaru to Lake Tekapo trail is likely to take around 10 to 15 years and cost around $8–10 million.

The ultimate aim is to join up with the existing Alps to Ocean trail from Aoraki Mount Cook to Oamaru, says Simon, who is the group’s deputy chair.

“Our vision is to construct a multipurpose trail [that] acts as a spine that can then connect other South Canterbury communities and townships. This will enable and support the branching out of a network of trails in and around the Central South Island.”

Simon, who is GHD’s New Zealand Road Network Management Leader, says the group also includes accountants, lawyers and marketers. Their combined skills benefit the project.

His professional relationships with local district councils, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Land Information New Zealand, for example, have helped secure funding and land.

“As engineers, understanding all the planning aspects is key and having good relationships with key stakeholders is really what gets the job across the line.”

Yet it’s also “pretty neat” when the Mayor of Timaru stops him in the street to ask him how the project is going.

“Building the cycle trail has professional benefits, but

implemented and realised sooner, adding real value to a project.”

there’s also personal benefits as well, in terms of the investment into our local region. It’s really exciting.”

As engineers, understanding all the planning aspects is key and having good relationships with key stakeholders is really what gets the job across the line.

– Simon Bird

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Sustainable career goals WRITER ALEXANDRA JOHNSON With a passion for the environment and a keen interest in using engineering to increase equality and living standards, Ashleigh Dick plans to focus her career on helping communities become more sustainable.

Ashleigh Dick is among the first cohort of students who graduated from the newly established degree in environmental engineering at the University of Waikato. It's a multidisciplinary course teaching students how to identify and solve problems associated with the environment, resources and sustainability through engineering.

“I always wanted to do engineering as a career,” says Ashleigh, an Emerging Professional Member of Engineering New Zealand.

“My dad is an engineer so I grew up helping him build things.”

With a love for geography and looking at how the environment works with societies, when she heard the University had introduced an environmental engineering degree, she knew it was the right course for her. It prepared her for the world of work because it was practical, “and over the summers you have to do 800 hours of work placement”.

As her honours year project, Ashleigh analysed the Hamilton city stormwater drainage network.

“I modelled what the stormwater network and flooding patterns would look like if we had increased rainfall levels as reflected by the climate change projections.”

Despite intensive course and work placements, she was also involved in a variety of initiatives. These included establishing Engineers without Borders at the University of Waikato, and working as an ambassador for the Wonder Project, Engineering New Zealand’s free programme for schools, designed to get young Kiwis excited about science, technology, engineering and maths.

In 2020, Ashleigh was selected for the YWCA Y25 programme which celebrates 25 trailblazing women under the age of 25. She believes this recognition propelled her career and helped her secure a job at Stantec after graduating.

“I think having something like the Y25 on my CV really helped. I didn’t expect to get such a good job with an international company which has a really big focus on people and diversity and sustainability – I think Stantec is one of the top five most sustainable corporations in the world.

I can already see it will offer me lots of opportunities in the future, to work overseas or perhaps get involved with volunteer engineering work.”

While Covid-19 disrupted Ashleigh’s plans to go on an OE after she’d finished studying, there is a silver lining.

“I can take a couple of years to really get my technical skills up to standard and then I’ll be in a position where I can work when I’m travelling.”

As a graduate engineer at Stantec, Ashleigh is working with the water engineering team.

“I help out wherever I’m needed. At the moment I’m designing a culvert. It’s my

first independent design project there, which is exciting.”

Ashleigh believes the focus of engineering is broadening.

“What I have noticed coming through university recently, is that engineering has started to shift away from just maths and physics to include the people aspect. For example, it used to be ‘work out the forces on the bridge and build it for two cars’, but now we consider who the bridge is for and how we enhance the experience of the people who need it.”

She says it’s that people focus that will help drive sustainability.

Ashleigh says one of her big hopes is that the engineering industry will be more environmentally conscious and find ways to do more, with fewer resources.

She believes the world won’t be fully sustainable until “every society across the globe has access to the basic necessary resources required for an acceptable standard of living, and sustainable processes to ensure they always have access to these resources”.

Ashleigh is passionate about working in developing countries where people are struggling to get resources and wants to help them become sustainable.

“But I don’t want to go into a community and put in a water pump that someone will have to change in 20 years’ time. My dream is to make a difference – teach people how they can do this themselves. I want to be able to help people in the long term.”

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What I have noticed coming through university recently, is that engineering has started to shift away from just maths and physics to include the people aspect.

– Ashleigh Dick

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The future of New Zealand’s infrastructure The Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, is seeking feedback to help develop a 30-year infrastructure strategy. Consultation runs until 24 June. Find out more and have your say at infrastructure. govt.nz/strategy/have-your-say/

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Improve infrastructure, improve wellbeing WRITER ALEXANDRA JOHNSON

The engineer at the helm of the Infrastructure Commission believes better infrastructure will mean better lives for New Zealanders.

The enormous impact infrastructure can have on health, education and society as a whole was a lesson Ross Copland MEngNZ, Chief Executive of the Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, learnt very early in his career.

“I joined a few volunteer projects in the Pacific and that was some of the most rewarding work I’ve done. In Vanuatu for example, we designed a gravity-fed water scheme which meant young women in the village could attend school as their days were no longer occupied carrying water. It was really exciting seeing the huge social change made possible by such basic infrastructure.”

Throughout his career, Ross has held a variety of roles from helping establish Engineers without Borders New Zealand to executive positions in construction, property and the ski industry.

“I particularly enjoyed complex building projects on mountains. I love the outdoors and skiing, so working in the ski industry on new chairlifts, gondolas and buildings with the added challenges of the mountain environment was a lot of fun.”

New Zealanders through better infrastructure. He’s excited about having a mandate to lift the performance of the institutions that oversee, govern, fund and finance infrastructure. Te Waihanga is currently involved in the Resource Management Act reform and is focused on reducing the time, cost, complexity and risk of consenting so “important infrastructure projects can move forward at the rate New Zealand desperately needs”.

Ross says the organisation’s brief is broad, but the goal is not to become subject matter experts on any one sector.

Rather, to optimise the system itself, acknowledging infrastructure is made up of intrinsically interconnected systems.

“We are looking at the cross-cutting themes that run through all of the sectors to understand what can be done to improve performance and share learning from one sector to another.”

Matters include ownership and governance, consenting and planning, funding and finance, and climate change.

“Fundamentally, the climate crisis is an infrastructure problem, so our team is focused on how sectors like transport and energy can be transformed to help New Zealand meet its climate commitments.”

Ross says his steepest learning curve

understanding of the mechanics of government.

He says the boom-and-bust cycles in infrastructure investment are a significant problem for the sector and these have been exacerbated by different political views of the priorities, and how and when to invest.

“But as an autonomous Crown entity that works in a bipartisan way, we aim to engineer out the politics that have influenced or constrained decision making in the past.”

Across the political spectrum there is an appetite for change, he says.

“If you take the Resource Management Act reforms, there’s cross-party support for a better planning system, which is really encouraging.”

He feels strongly about the role engineers will play in New Zealand’s future.

“When we look at the challenges we are facing and the scale of our infrastructure deficit, we are going to need our best and brightest engineers to find that sweet spot between the tensions of managing risk and responding to the need to innovate.

“We need to decarbonise cement, steel and ready-mix concrete production. We need to develop aggregate resources closer to markets, find alternatives to hydrocarbon products for building roads

His newest challenge is to lead bold reforms to improve the wellbeing of

moving from the private sector into a Crown entity has been getting a better

and we need to adopt greater use of structural timber in our construction – all

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of these problems engineers will have a huge role in solving.”

He says: “My only fear is that we stifle our designers and engineers by loading them up with risk.”

And the burden of risk around innovation needs to be reallocated, Ross says.

“How do we manage the risk of innovation to the engineering profession and share that risk equitably between clients, the designers, consenting authorities, suppliers and construction firms? That needs work, thinking about conditions of contract, the insurance market and the role of the intelligent client who understands life cycle analysis.”

When we look at the challenges we are facing and the scale of our infrastructure deficit, we are going to need our best and brightest engineers to find that sweet spot between the tensions of managing risk and responding to the need to innovate.

– Ross Copland

He believes engineers are uniquely placed to take on careers in leadership, particularly if they develop their soft skills.

“Engineers are often responsible for large budgets, leading multidisciplinary teams, managing risk and contractual issues – all essential skills for a career in leadership. The key challenge is balancing the IQ with an essential dose of EQ or emotional intelligence.

“Engineers are smart people but we need to become better listeners, better coaches and better communicators and we need to lift our game on encouraging women and Māori to join our profession.”

When asked about the legacy he would like to leave at Te Waihanga, Ross’s focus is neither on himself nor on the Infrastructure Commission.

“It’s about New Zealanders getting affordable access to electricity, housing and safe drinking water, to be able to get home in time to read a book to their kids rather than sitting in traffic, to be able to swim at the beach and enjoy access to world class health care, to stream a movie, and to know that our essential networks will keep running after an earthquake or storm. I think a lot about the legacy we are leaving for our kids: what sort of New Zealand will they inherit?”

40 Increasing environmental literacy

42 Rules of thumb

43 Intersection

44 Airing concerns

46 The growing field of forensics

Best practice

39 Not so private lives

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Getting your investment in order

SPONSORED CONTENT

WRITER JAMES BLAIR

The Government recently announced some major changes to tax policy that will be wide reaching. When considering your own financial situation, it might be a good time to make a slight course correction.

Many Kiwis are drawn to a tangible investment class like property. So, what do recent announcements mean for people who own rentals now, or would like to invest in property in the future?

1. If you invest in property, plan to be in for a decade.

The bright line property rule or test means anyone who sells a residential property might need to pay income tax on any profit. The test has been extended to 10 years – this is only applicable to second properties, not your family home. If you buy a rental or a holiday home now, you’ll pay income tax on your gains if you sell it within 10 years.

However, it’s worth noting new builds still have a five-year bright line period.

2. New tax rules may upend your cashflow.

If you already own an investment property, the tax deduction on mortgage interest payments will be phased out over a fouryear period. Buy an investment property now and you won’t be able to deduct interest on mortgage payments. This might throw a spanner in the works of your cashflow equations so it could be an opportune time to reassess your properties and your plans if you own several properties with mortgages.

3. New builds are more appealing.

Investors will also look at new builds more favourably, as these have a five-year bright line test and look likely to retain some degree of interest payment tax deductibility. New builds already have lower equity requirements and lower maintenance; hopefully this will help to address our woeful housing undersupply.

It cannot happen fast enough for some.

While the intention of these changes is to “level the playing field” for first home buyers against investors, the real losers are renters. This is because costs to investors have gone up, so inevitably those costs are eventually passed on to renters.

4. Review your financial direction.

This is a vital reminder of the importance of diversification. Far too many Kiwis put all their money into their houses and the property market, leaving them exposed to sudden legislative changes. While investment property can be a solid part of your financial plan, it’s essential to consider other factors.

— Invest in your future The bigger the gap you can create between your outgoings and your income, the faster you can get ahead.

Pay down high-interest debt and then invest to grow your financial freedom.

— Make the most of your KiwiSaver Be in the right fund for your stage of life and make sure you always get the maximum government contribution, even if you’re self-employed. Shop

around. Review your provider to ensure you’re getting the best result out of your fund.

— Invest in managed funds or index funds Diversify across industries and around the world with managed funds and/or index funds. These give you exposure to a wider range of markets as well as high liquidity so you can access your money instantly.

James Blair, Wealth Director at Lighthouse Wealth, has spent a decade working in financial services. He cohosts a podcast, Cheques & Balances, available on all major platforms.

Contact James on (09) 320 4947 or email him at james@lighthousefinancial. co.nz

DISCLAIMER Engineering New Zealand does not assume any responsibility for giving financial advice and disclaims any liability arising from the use of the information in this article. If you require financial advice you should seek assistance from a professional advisor.

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Not so private lives CHRISTINE ANDERSON

Recent Disciplinary Committee decisions against engineers show how what you do in your personal life can affect your registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer, and your membership with Engineering New Zealand.

behaviour towards their clients, including outside working hours”.

Code of Ethical Conduct Your conduct or actions may breach the Code of Ethical Conduct, even if they are not related, or tangentially related, to your engineering activities. In one of two recent Disciplinary Committee decisions against Joseph McGirr CPEng (a member of Engineering New Zealand at the time of the decision), he was disciplined for being convicted of drink driving on a third or subsequent occasion. The second decision concerned an incident in which he entered a former client’s house with a friend, uninvited, while intoxicated. The Disciplinary Committee found the duty to treat people with respect and courtesy “in connection with” engineering activities had a broad interpretation. It said its decision was “an important reminder for

Criminal convictions Chartered Professional Engineers may be disciplined if they’ve been convicted of an offence punishable by six months' imprisonment or more, and if the offence reflects adversely on their fitness to practise. You must disclose the detail of any convictions punishable by a term of six months' imprisonment to the Registration Authority in your application for assessment or reassessment as a CPEng. Convictions can raise concerns about an engineer’s professional judgement and decision making, even if they arose from their personal life.

Engineers regularly undertake work which involves risk assessment and life-safety considerations, so the exercise of sound judgement is particularly important.

In another Disciplinary Committee decision, engineer Stephen Borlase was disciplined after being convicted of eight charges relating to corruption and bribery of an official about roading contracts.

The Disciplinary Committee considered that as his offending happened over a seven-year period, the convictions were for dishonesty, the offending was serious, and they took place in the course of his job, they did reflect on his ability to practise.

It held Mr Borlase’s convictions raised serious questions as to his ethics and professionalism and that his actions, if

the profession that the Code of Ethical Conduct always applies to engineers’

condoned, would undermine the public’s trust in the engineering profession and

Members of Engineering New Zealand and Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) are obliged to comply with the Code of Ethical Conduct in connection with their engineering activities. They may be disciplined for criminal convictions, and for failing to act in a manner consistent with being a fit and proper person to be a member of Engineering New Zealand.

reduce public confidence in the Chartered Professional Engineer title.

If you’re a member, the standard for possible disciplinary action for criminal convictions is lower. Members may be disciplined if they’ve been convicted of any criminal offence punishable by imprisonment or a fine exceeding $2,000.

There is also no requirement that the offence reflects adversely on a member’s fitness to practise.

In Mr McGirr's case, the Disciplinary Committee held that his three convictions for drink driving, and failure to comply with a supervision order, “indicate poor decision making, disrespect for the law and a serious lack of judgement”. While these offences didn’t occur while he was undertaking engineering work, their seriousness meant they could not be separated from his professional life.

In addition, members must conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with being a fit and proper person to be a member of Engineering New Zealand (the “good character obligation”). In Mr McGirr’s case, the Disciplinary Committee considered that members are always required to comply with the good character obligation, and this was not limited to engineering activities.

You can read more about the Code of Ethical Conduct and the Disciplinary Committee decisions at engineeringnz.org Christine Anderson is Legal Manager at Engineering New Zealand.

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Increasing environmental literacy CINDY JEMMETT Engineers have always played a role in technical and social changes that have greatly impacted how people live, work, communicate and travel. Faced with our current climate challenges, it’s useful to reflect on how and why our attitudes to the environment have shifted over time, and how engineers have helped to achieve change.

Post-World War II in New Zealand was a time of rapid development and urban expansion. New Zealand’s population grew from 1.9 million in 1951 to 2.4 million in 1961.

Expanding cities put pressure on existing infrastructure and changed the character of surrounding countryside.

In the 1960s, most sewage received only primary treatment and environmental issues such as water pollution and land use reached the eyes – and noses – of the ratepaying public. Large engineering projects in development were also drawing national attention. Opposition to raising the level of Lake Manapouri for the generation of hydroelectricity grew from the mid-1960s and gained further momentum with the launch of the “Save Manapouri” campaign in 1969.

Engineers too, were discussing these issues and looking for solutions.

A series of engineering conferences from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s focused on environmental issues and the responsibility of engineers to consider environmental impacts and to balance present development against future needs.

The New Zealand Institution of Engineers’ 1967 conference, which had the theme “The Countryside in 1980”,

identified issues of concern including a lack of integrated planning for future

Environmental advocate and President of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers

development. The committee formed at the time of the conference lobbied the Government to incorporate environmental and social concerns into the upcoming National Development Conference. The result was the Physical Environment Conference (1970) run in conjunction with the New Zealand Institution of Engineers.

The conference recommended policy and practice changes in a number of areas, resulting in the establishment of the Environmental Council in 1970 and the Commission for the Environment in 1972.

1979–80, David Thom, championed the need to build an environmentally literate profession.

More weight on ethics As well as advocating planning and legislative changes, engineers of the 1960s and 1970s were also considering their own personal ethical responsibilities as professional engineers. The committee that had remained active following the 1967 “The Countryside in 1980” conference proposed a new clause to the New Zealand Institution of Engineers’ Code of Ethics which stated that the engineer “shall strive to relate his work to the preservation or enhancement of the environment…” While the wording was rather timid, it signalled the beginning of a shift in attitude.

In the 1980s, a working party of engineers from a range of disciplines in partnership with the Commissioner for the Environment developed a Code of Practice for engineering and the environment that aimed to integrate environmental assessment into engineering practice.

This was adopted in 1989.

Education was another topic close to the hearts of those aiming to inspire change.

Evidence of social change In New Zealand today, it would be unthinkable to plan and implement an infrastructure project without consideration for the environment. But only a few decades ago, this was standard practice. The environmental challenges that gained attention in the 1960s and 1970s were visible, tangible, smelly and touched people in ways that were local and personal. Climate change has been harder for us to come to terms with, but the shifts in thinking and behaviour needed are the same – the public will to make change, legislation to enforce it and technical solutions to enable it.

Most importantly we need the ability to imagine new ways of being in the world.

Discussing climate change in 1988, David Thom wrote that without social solutions, the success of our technical solutions to climate change would be severely limited.

He questioned the narrative of continual growth and urged engineers to use their expertise to inform policy decisions that would result in positive outcomes for the environment, upon which our wellbeing depends.

Cindy Jemmett is Heritage Advisor at Engineering New Zealand.

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Street demonstration against the proposed hydroelectric scheme at Manapouri Lake, Fiordland National Park. Image: New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation

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EG 15/2021

Rules of thumb MARTIN PRATCHETT MEngNZ

What are rules of thumb, and when should they – and shouldn’t they – be used?

Have you ever been around engineers who seem to solve complex issues quickly, sometimes without even a pen and paper?

Know the type who can look at a design and tell you whether it’ll work, or that you should be looking more closely at your assumptions? They’ve accumulated enough experience and knowledge to understand intuitively what should and shouldn’t work. They’ve amassed an internal rule book and can use those rules to break down complex problems to solve them quickly.

There’s a risk less experienced engineers don’t always have the fundamental ability to see errors. This can be for a range of reasons, including:

As geometry became more widely understood, engineers and architects used it to proportion structures following the rules of thumb they were devising.

By using these principles, spectacular engineering feats were built, from

However, these rules only work within specific parameters; there can’t be too much backslope, and it changes with surcharge, a slope at the toe or a vehicle impact barrier at the top. It takes a certain amount of experience to become aware

aqueducts and bridges to castles and cathedrals.

The great Scottish engineer Thomas Telford, who lived from 1757 until 1834, used several general rules and concepts to design a wide variety of structures. In his lifetime, he designed roads, bridges and ports and was the first president of the Institute of Civil Engineers.

He didn’t use calculation as we would recognise it. He relied on experience, rules of thumb and building scale models to check his designs. Many of his structures, such as the Menai Bridge, still stand today.

of where these parameters lie. Casually designing without understanding them leads to engineering failure, so you must still check your work carefully.

How it all began Engineering has been around in one form or another since humans began to use tools and understand the power of the lever and uses of the wheel. Before modern mathematics and understanding of material properties, people designed and built using the question “does it look right?” As designs either succeeded or

The advantages of rules of thumb Using rules of thumb enables you to work heuristically, meaning while the answer won’t be perfect, it’ll be in the right ballpark. It means you’re less likely to be out by an order of magnitude and lets you quickly understand whether or not a computer model is accurate. That knowledge can be constructive whether you’re looking at your work or checking others'.

These concepts exist in every engineering discipline, from traditional civil engineering to modern computing and robotics.

An example I used every day was when designing timber pole retaining walls. I know the pole should go as deep as it is high, the diameter should be one-tenth of the height, the pole spacing should be about 1m apart. If the wall is more than about 2m high, the whaling planks require

failed, we learned from the mistakes and general rules of thumb emerged.

doubling up. If the design doesn’t work like that, then I want to know why.

— a lack of “hands-on” experience — not understanding the basics before using computer models — not understanding what to look for when checking their work — business pressures resulting in less investment in staff training — tips, tricks and rules of thumb not being passed down to younger engineers.

The disadvantages of rules of thumb Rules of thumb are only valid within strict parameters. When the designer exceeds these, the system fails. There are multiple examples of these failures throughout history, from the failures of the Aqua Claudia, to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the various failures of Beauvais Cathedral.

You or your checking engineer must have sufficient experience to understand where you can use rules of thumb, and the parameters. Where you make assumptions, you must state these so they stand out to any checking engineer.

Tips and tricks project Engineering New Zealand is working with various technical groups and engineers from multiple disciplines to compile tips, tricks and rules of thumb. We’re collating some of the wisdom of more experienced engineers, looking at common mistakes they see, information on how these can be avoided, and information on how engineers can quickly estimate the sizes of components.

If you have any tips, tricks, or rules of thumb, please contact Martin Pratchett at martin.pratchett@engineeringnz.org Martin Pratchett MEngNZ is Engineering New Zealand’s Engineering Practice Leader.

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n I tersection

Intersection Mike Jensen Based in: Auckland Role: GM Industrial Design, Fisher & Paykel Appliances Education: Diploma in Industrial Design, Wellington School of Design, 1993

After leaving design school, Mike Jensen started at Fisher & Paykel Appliances as a graduate industrial designer. He says in a lot of ways it was like a continued education where he learnt the realities of what could be tooled, assembled, and manufactured. Industrial designers learnt to take a product from initial concept through the development process and on to the retail floor. After about 17 years, he took on a role with Altitude Aerospace Interiors designing the interior of aircraft for commercial and private sectors. He returned to Fisher & Paykel six years ago, where he leads a team of 15 industrial designers in Auckland and Dunedin who work closely with the engineering team of approximately 400.

How do engineering decisions at Fisher & Paykel Appliances impact on your work?

We work very closely with the engineering teams as we develop products and generally decisions around project direction are made together. It’s fair to say though that sometimes engineering constraints do make it difficult to get a solution that is aesthetically pleasing.

Often a new engineering technology can add great value to a product, so we work together to find a way to solve the problem.

How does your work impact on engineers?

Customer insights can lead us to create concepts that result in quite a lot of change for a product or pose some technical challenges, leading to more work for the engineering teams. This needs to be a balance between project scope, timing and the value it offers to the business.

What are three observations you’d make after working with engineers?

I’ve had the privilege of working with many very talented engineers. They have an amazing ability to think in three dimensions and develop mechanisms to solve complex mechanical problems.

Equally, electrical engineers create magic that I don’t even begin to try to understand.

Prototyping is an underestimated process to facilitate fast and reliable product development.

Designing great products is very much a team sport. It’s important to have an aligned vision and work together towards that goal through collaborative teamwork, balancing the values of both form and function, to create solutions that are truly desirable to the end customer.

What do engineers all seem to do well?

Think outside the box and be agile.

What do you wish all engineers understood better about the role of industrial designers?

The more understanding an industrial designer has of engineering, the better they will be as an industrial designer.

The same applies with an engineer’s understanding of design. A product needs to work well, be manufactured reliably and made at the right price. But it also has to be desirable for customers and competitive in the market. This takes balance and understanding from both parties.

What’s your favourite Fisher & Paykel appliance?

That’s a little like asking if you have a favourite child! I don’t have a favourite, but I do get a great deal of satisfaction from watching these appliances “grow up” to become world leading in their individual categories.

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Airing concerns

O PINIO N

MARTIN WEMYSS CMEngNZ

How concerned should commercial building landlords and tenants be about the risk of Covid-19 infection spreading through heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems?

Since the start of the global pandemic, government bodies and industry associations have been reviewing scientific evidence and publishing guides specific to building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

It’s generally recognised that the most likely transmission path inside buildings is via near-field (less than 2m) exposure to respiratory aerosols exhaled by infected people, or via contact with contaminated surfaces. This is because the size of most respiratory aerosols is such that, at least in still air, they typically settle out of the air and onto surfaces within the near field. Therefore, we have the fundamental principles of isolating infected people, social distancing, sanitation and sound hygiene measures.

Minimising the risk of transmission There is also evidence localised air currents generated by HVAC systems can carry some smaller respiratory aerosols beyond the near field. They can remain airborne for several hours and poor ventilation can cause sufficient build up of far-field (more than 2m) airborne aerosols to increase the risk of exposure for susceptible individuals.

This risk appears to increase when people are performing activities such

as high-intensity exercise, singing, or loud talking. Ventilation rates less than 2 litres per second per person (L/s/p) have been cited for a number of reported outbreaks overseas. This is significantly less than the current New Zealand building code standard of 8–10 L/s/p for most commercial buildings and 5 L/s/p for some variable and shorter term exposure environments such as retail. So current building code compliant ventilation is expected to minimise the risk of far-field transmission.

In older buildings with lower ventilation rates, it may be prudent to consider increasing ventilation rates where practicable (the benefits being most significant the lower the existing rates), while taking into consideration factors including energy use, thermal comfort, noise, exposure to external pollutants and financial consequences.

Ventilation systems should be checked to confirm they are functioning as designed, and typically operating continuously while the building is occupied (including by cleaning, maintenance, or construction workers).

Consideration should also be given to running ventilation an additional hour or so either side of occupation to preand post-purge the room air. In the case of demand-controlled ventilation, consider lowering control setpoints if this assists with maximising ventilation in favourable seasons.

Filter efficiencies In air conditioned spaces, some room air is typically recirculated and mixed with outdoor ventilation air before being filtered, heated or cooled and returned to the occupied space. This recirculated air may increase the risk of cross-infection between spaces. While this risk is currently considered lower than that associated with far-field airborne transmission from an infected person in a single space, it can be further managed by the use of higher-efficiency filters in the HVAC system.

Multi-pocket bag filters with efficiencies of “ePM1” (to ISO16890) or “F7” (to EN779) or better remove a significant percentage of the smaller respiratory aerosols that could be entrained in recirculated air. Having said that, these filter efficiencies are typically only practicable with central air handling systems as used in medium to high-grade commercial buildings. And even then, upgrading lower filter efficiencies in existing systems needs to consider the potential for the increased filter pressure drop to reduce system airflow and therefore thermal performance.

Multi-pocket bag filters are not typically practicable with “unitary” air conditioning systems such as fan coil units, split systems, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) and the like. These systems are more common in lower to medium-grade commercial buildings, plus specific occupancies that are not suited to central air handling systems such as hotel bedrooms. They typically have insufficient fan pressure capability to cater for the high pressure

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A simple sneeze, pathways of respiratory droplets

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Room one

Smallest droplets can remain suspended in air for one or more hours

Return air vents

Room two Supply air vents

Walls and ducts between rooms

Live virus clusters within droplets Medium droplet 2.5 microns

Small droplet 1 micron

Large droplet 10 microns

drop associated with the above filters.

On the plus side, “unitary” systems only recirculate air around the one or a small number of adjacent spaces served by each unit, thereby limiting the potential for cross-infection via the HVAC system to the spaces so served.

Disinfection equipment Health care facilities are seeing increasing use of UV-C light or ionisation disinfection technologies within HVAC systems, and the global pandemic has seen a proliferation of similar equipment being marketed for use in commercial buildings. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) in the United Kingdom suggest consideration of disinfection equipment in commercial buildings. However, CIBSE notes it should be seen as a supplement rather than an alternative to adequate ventilation, and that where there is adequate ventilation, the cost benefit may be limited.

Beca’s discussions with international health ministry infectious disease experts and commercial building landlords also suggest any decision to include disinfection equipment in commercial buildings is, at least at this point in time, being driven more by marketing objectives than evidence of their additional cost, energy and maintenance being warranted on top of ventilation and filtration basics.

Small, portable in-room air cleaners typically include high-efficiency filters

and in some cases UV, ionisation or other disinfection technologies. There is currently little evidence they provide effective control of coronavirus, but air cleaning principles suggest they may be suitable for example, in smaller spaces with insufficient ventilation that cannot readily be improved, or spaces with particularly vulnerable occupants. ASHRAE recommends using portable air cleaners “for which evidence of effectiveness and safety is clear”. Be cautious of equipment that produces ozone or other chemicals as these may be a respiratory irritant.

Duct cleaning and thermal environments Unlike other pathogens such as bacteria and fungi, viruses require a host cell for replication, and therefore become unviable over time outside such a host.

CIBSE recommends no change to normal HVAC duct cleaning and filter replacement protocols, other than using personal protective equipment while doing so.

There is evidence viruses survive better in colder and drier environments, so spaces should be maintained at a comfortable temperature with relative humidity above about 40 percent where practicable.

In summary, HVAC systems should be considered as part of a hierarchy of risk controls, including distancing, face masks, sanitation, hygiene and contactless technologies such as lift destination control, smart lighting, automatic doors and touchless bathroom equipment. As noted by the UK Government Environmental and Modelling

Group, “assessing HVAC systems in many environments requires engineering expertise, and mitigation measures are setting-specific, taking into account the nature of the building and users, HVAC type, length of exposure and activity. Unlike distancing and hand washing, HVAC requirements cannot easily be distilled into one simple approach that everyone can follow”.

Martin Wemyss CMEngNZ is a Senior Technical Director and Technical Fellow (Building Services) at Beca, responsible for the continuous improvement of Beca NZ building services technical practices. His areas of special interest include emerging technologies and new engineering service offerings, client technical risk management, consultation on regulations and industry standards,building services seismic.

Find out more Guides for building owners, users and engineers can be found on the Covid-19 section of the following websites: — ashrae.org — cibse.org — gov.uk/government/publications

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EG 15/2021

The growing field of forensics

O PINIO N

DAVID BIGGS

While engineers have been solving problems and investigating disasters forever, the field of forensic engineering has developed into a specialty since the 1970s.

Forensic structural engineering is comparable to the forensic science used in crime scene investigations. It is applying engineering principles to the investigation of failures and performance problems including the evaluation, assessment, and restoration or strengthening of structures.

Investigations can result in legal action where the forensic engineer is an expert witness.

The field continues to grow and offers new opportunities for structural engineers.

The knowledge derived is useful in New Zealand and worldwide to diagnose and solve structural problems that may produce building settlement, cracking, leaks and more. It is also valuable in the aftermath of extreme events such as earthquakes, fire, wind events, flooding and human-made disasters.

More than just buildings My specialisation in forensics was a result of circumstance. There was no formal training available, only problems and opportunities to work through those problems. At university, I assisted a professor who was a licensed professional engineer in structural engineering. With him, I was asked to diagnose various problems including a retaining wall failure, a wall leaking in a recently completed four-storey dormitory, replacing a culvert

that collapsed due to flooding, and strengthening a steel-truss pedestrian bridge. Since then, my projects have grown to include uncovering design problems with the 1980 Winter Olympic Stadium roof in Lake Placid, evaluating bomb damage at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park in 1996, assessing the 2001 World Trade Center disaster and evaluating heritage structures in Egypt, Turkey, Italy and other countries. In addition I’ve assessed fire, hurricane and flood damage, performed CBD assessments after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and led 16 engineers to Nepal to assess damage from the 2015 Gorka earthquake. It’s not just about structures. In each case, there is an element of helping people.

engineer starts small and works up to more advanced designs, the forensic engineer should stay within their level of expertise and grow. Mentoring is very valuable for training. Students aspiring to be project engineers will benefit from a forensic engineering course since common errors in designing, detailing and specifying structural work will be highlighted. It’s worth understanding how your work might be forensically evaluated.

Even experienced engineers can use forensic knowledge to improve designs and in-house review processes to avoid problems before construction.

Education and experience How do you become an accomplished

Opportunity to develop forensic skills For me, developing forensic skills has been a challenge and a continuing effort.

But, those skills have been useful for my design projects, peer reviews, forensic evaluations and heritage projects.

Hopefully, the path to proficiency will be shorter for today’s students.

In July, with the start of Semester 2, the University of Auckland is running a course on Forensic Structural Engineering for graduate students and practitioners. This course is an extension of seminars that were offered throughout New Zealand in 2011 and 2019 and were co-sponsored by the University with support from the Structural Engineering Society New Zealand (SESOC), Engineering New Zealand and Fulbright New Zealand.

The course will emphasise the “forensic

forensic engineer? Education and experience. Just as a new graduate design

process” – how to approach a thorough investigation. The skills are transferable to

Old technology meets new Forensic techniques apply to any structure, including heritage structures.

Heritage structures can be very challenging to diagnose due to age and the lack of written documentation.

Engineers resort to testing and analysis to evaluate deterioration or damage. An evolving investigative field within forensics uses non-destructive testing, drones and artificial intelligence (AI). As techniques improve, engineers will become more comfortable restoring heritage structures rather than recommending replacement.

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any category of structural and building problems. Reviewing case studies of past failures is an essential component of learning the process.

Examples will be international in scope and taken from events including bridge collapses, earthquakes, snow overload and building vibrations.

A forensic structural engineer needs a solid education in the design and performance of structures, construction and maintenance. While students have the education, they usually lack practical experience; the course focuses on the need for that practical experience. Even practitioners with substantial design and construction experience will benefit greatly from understanding the forensic process.

Why gain forensic skills?

— Self-assess and improve design skills.

— Evaluate and understand construction materials.

— Identify errors during construction.

— Investigate structural problems.

— Assess and restore heritage structures.

— Volunteer for disaster assessment for humanitarian purposes.

— Help mediate disputes.

To find out more about the Forensic Structural Engineering course, get in touch with Max Stephens at max.stephens@auckland.ac.nz or on 09 923 8126.

United States-based engineer David Biggs was invited by the University of Auckland to become an Honorary Associate Professor to develop the Forensic Structural Engineering course after he lectured throughout New Zealand in 2011 and 2019. He has lectured at numerous universities including the Czech Technical University in Prague for the Advanced Masters for Structural Analysis of Historic Construction (SAHC). biggsconsulting.net

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Te Ahi Tupua, designed by artist Stacy Gordine, is a collaboration between Gurit, Rotorua Lakes Council, Kilwell Fibretube, Te Puia, New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and WSP.

Snapshot Majestic, spiralling Te Ahi Tupua – The Eternal Fire – is the new cultural gateway to Rotorua at the Hemo Gorge roundabout at the city’s southern entrance.

The 12m sculpture combines inspiration from an erupting geyser with traditional carving design elements to contemporarily commemorate a number of local Māori narratives.

Construction included using 3D printing and composite materials after initial attempts with steel. The large-scale but relatively lightweight sculpture (the complete outer section weighs less than two tonnes) was transported to the roundabout by helicopter. Image: Stephen Parker

53 Review

54 The secret life of engineers

56 Inside job

59 Leading questions

60 Obituaries

62 Engineering genius

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52 Bedside table

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edside table

Donald Mackenzie is a retired Senior Lecturer in Natural Resources Engineering at Lincoln University, having taught there for 37 years. Since retiring, he has worked on projects with the Centre for Advanced Engineering and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. He is Chair of Engineering New Zealand’s Canterbury Heritage Chapter and Vicar’s Warden for the Parish of Fendalton. Donald was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to athletics. For more than 50 years, he has officiated for Athletics Canterbury and continues to officiate at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships. He’s a Life Member, previous President and Board Chair of Athletics New Zealand. Using his engineering skills, Donald made a major contribution to the design and construction of the Chevron all-weather track, laid at Queen Elizabeth II Stadium for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.

Donald Mackenzie MNZM CMEngNZ (ret.)

Based in: Christchurch Education: Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), the University of Canterbury, 1964

The Times Codeword – a present from

Let’s focus on those books, why did you choose them?

Full Steam Ahead: How the Railways Made Britain, by Peter Ginn and Ruth Goodman,

my granddaughter who is planning to be an engineer. I enjoy the challenge of many types of puzzles.

The Rodchenkov Affair – How I Brought Down Putin’s Secret Doping Empire by Dr Grigory Rodchenkov. This relates to my interest in athletics and is on loan from a friend.

Port to Plains; Over and Under the Port Hill, the Story of the Lyttelton Railway Tunnel. Purchased from the author David Welch at the unveiling of an Engineering New Zealand Heritage-sponsored information panel.

Victoria Square – Cradle of Christchurch by Geoffrey W Rice. A Christmas present from my sister, a

purchased at a book sale. Relates to engineering heritage.

retired librarian who understands my interest in engineering heritage.

What’s on your bedside table?

A lamp, two stacks of books/magazines, thermometer (interior/exterior), mat for mug of tea.

How do these books help you?

As a retired engineer, they keep me busy.

I spend about four hours a day reading.

What publication has most influenced the way you work?

The SESOC Journal published by the Structural Engineering Society New Zealand. This was essential reading as part of my teaching design to Agricultural/ Natural Resources Engineering students for 37 years.

What is the top publication you would recommend all engineers read?

The then Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand’s Engineering to 1990. Reading the achievements of engineers past should be rewarding for all.

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R

eview

Free public lectures New Zealand universities

What books are you looking forward to reading?

More heritage books and books relating to walks in New Zealand.

What do you read for leisure?

The Press – typically in bed with breakfast, as I get it delivered. I flip most pages, check the family notices and do various puzzles. I spend enough time at the computer without reading news online.

Speed read Ebook/paper copy?

Library/own?

Bookmark/turn down page?

There’s a lot to be said for online learning and its many different forms. You can access it when and where you want and it offers the flexibility to learn a little – or a lot – depending on time and interest levels. A number of our universities hold free public lectures and many are posted online. Along with more recent lectures, there’s typically a good back catalogue of lectures on a vast range of topics, whether you’re looking for work-related content, or an area of personal interest.

For an inspirational story, check out the University of Auckland’s 2020 lecture by world-leading neonatologist Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding where she outlines her remarkable career and achievements. She also highlights her belief in the importance of taking opportunities in a lecture that will appeal to a wide range of professionals, regardless of their field.

Or, if you’re keen to hear from a former International Space Station (ISS) flight engineer, go to Victoria University of Wellington’s website and watch the lecture from Dr Alex Gerst, “Beyond horizons... and forward to the Moon”. He's a volcanologist, astronaut and Victoria University of Wellington 2019 distinguished alumni award recipient who has undertaken two missions to the ISS. Victoria University also has shorter sessions on offer, such as Māori language mini webinars.

The University of Canterbury also has some great offerings, such as a 2020 UC Connect public talk by Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase FEngNZ, Professor Geoff Rodgers MEngNZ and Professor Alessandro Palermo FEngNZ.

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The secret life of engineers

Laura Whitehurst CMEngNZ Role: Project Director, Holmes Consulting Based in: Wellington Education: Bachelor of Science (Civil Engineering) (Honours), Cornell University, USA, 2007; Master of Science (Structural Engineering), Stanford University, USA, 2008

Shorts

Laura Whitehurst CMEngNZ worked for engineering consultancy Walter P Moore in San Francisco in the United States for nine years, then moved to New Zealand and joined Holmes Consulting in 2017. In both earthquake-prone cities, she’s had a strong focus on seismic design, though while in San Francisco it was mostly new buildings, in Wellington it has been mostly retrofits. After studying at the University of Canterbury for a semester when she was an undergraduate, Laura had always hoped to move to New Zealand and the opportunity with Holmes arose at a conference in Hawaii. Outside of work, Laura is an avid violinist. She is pictured here in the Wellington Town Hall, where she’s leading Holmes Consulting’s work on a large-scale strengthening and redevelopment project.

What do you love about being a violinist?

I love being able to play a piece and put my own interpretation on it. I love being able to create music that I like to hear and the challenge of learning a hard piece and performing it (or not!). I love collaborating with other musicians to make something greater than the sum of the parts.

What’s your earliest memory of music?

I remember my first classical concert very clearly – I was about seven years old and my Dad took me to see the local orchestra performing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

We were seated in the upper reaches of the performing arts centre and I was terrified of falling over the balustrade. But I loved it so much I drew the orchestra on a poster to depict my favourite part of my home state for a festival that year.

What first sparked your interest in violin?

I took piano lessons for years as a kid but

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when I was 11, I was at a friend’s house and she had a violin that fascinated me. I convinced my parents to get me a cheap violin and I learned at middle school.

high pressure (getting the ensemble right on short rehearsal time) and low stakes (everyone knew we were doing it for charity on a single rehearsal).

How did you get a place in Cornell

Do you have a favourite violin piece

and Stanford’s orchestras?

Both orchestras required an audition to get in. They were pretty high-quality university orchestras and we performed a lot of interesting and challenging repertoire. I got to tour internationally with both orchestras which was a highlight – so much music, so much fun, so little sleep…

to perform?

I love the tune “Ashokan Farewell”, which is just a simple fiddle tune but makes me really happy to play. I hope my neighbours like it too because they have to hear it a lot. In terms of orchestral pieces, Sibelius Symphony No. 2 and Beethoven Symphony No. 7 are two of my favourites.

Tell us about your current violin.

I bought it in 2003, so I’ve had it throughout my university and adult life.

When I moved to New Zealand I had it as carry-on luggage – partly because I didn’t trust the shipping company with it, but mostly because I wanted to be able to play as soon as I got here. I found an orchestra to play with two weeks after arriving and it was a great way to meet people and make friends in a new home.

Do you have a particular routine you carry out before a performance?

Nothing specific – rosin the bow, check the tuning, warm up on the nasty passages of that performance.

How are you involved with music nowadays?

I play with a small chamber orchestra in Wellington called the Capital Band, which formed last year after lockdown. I also play with the Wellington Chamber Orchestra off and on, depending on my schedule.

You’ve played for Enzemble NZ, how does this differ from other orchestras?

It was an orchestra organised by my friend Sam Burstin to benefit Alzheimers NZ – a mixture of professionals from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and competent amateurs. The concerts were performed after a single rehearsal that morning, so they were simultaneously

How does being an engineer affect the way you approach playing an instrument?

Engineering is creatively applied science, and music is creatively applied science.

They’re just different in the mechanics and the goals. I think having a mathematically inclined brain is really useful in understanding music – especially rhythms and intonation. Expression is the missing piece, and that comes with experience and training.

What’s a secret about violinists that might surprise people?

We have a “tell” – a lot of violinists have a permanent mark under our chins on the left side, from the pressure of holding the violin there.

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EG 15/2021

Charles Perera Based in: Wellington Role: Chief Engineer at NIWA Vessel Management Ltd Education: National Diploma in Technology in Marine Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 1987; Bachelor of Engineering (Marine), University of Northumbria, United Kingdom, 2003

Shorts

Inside job

I describe my role to non-engineers as… a very interesting but dangerous role where I used to contribute to world trade, and at present, contribute to science.

The part of my job that always surprises people is… how I work away from home, at sea, for extended periods of time. The longest I’ve been away was 10 months.

The best emoji to sum up me on a typical workday is…

The best thing I’ve introduced in my role is… work smart, but not necessarily too hard (but sometimes you can’t avoid working long hours due to operational issues and emergencies).

In my role, I always challenge… the status quo and outdated/inefficient work practices that are not safe.

At work, I’ve never been afraid to… adopt new technology after doing a lot of research regarding its suitability for an application.

I admire engineers who… can think outside the box, who are not hesitant in accepting new technology and who do not succumb to pressure.

At school, teachers always described me as… a good student who was polite and studious.

My luckiest break was… after doing my degree in marine engineering. It opened lots of doors allowing me to get into ship management, ship building and surveying ships/marine structures working on shore.

Prior to my degree, I was only working onboard ships as a chief engineer.

The bravest thing I’ve done to get where I am today is… being flexible enough to work in any part of the world and getting my degree (at a considerable financial cost).

The best career advice I’ve received… came from within myself when I was suddenly made redundant as chief engineer on-board ships. I did a degree which was a gamble at the time, but it paid off in a big way later on in life.

I’d advise other people interested in my type of role to… be bold, take calculated risks, gain wide experience in the field working worldwide and get a degree in marine engineering.

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3

things I love about my job: — Unlike in many other engineering jobs, when there’s a major technical issue we must solve it quickly using the most appropriate safe solution – there’s no room for error. Otherwise, lives of people on-board the ship could be in danger. I always enjoy the challenge.

— I have a vast knowledge of marine engineering, having worked in five countries over 33 years on almost all types of ships and offshore structures (rigs), working on-board/ managing/building/surveying these assets. I can pass on my knowledge and experience to younger engineers and others I work with, even senior management ashore.

— I have the qualifications, knowledge and transferable skills to allow me to work either on-board ships/rigs or ashore in the marine engineering industry or other engineering fields.

2

reasons why I chose to study engineering: — From an early age I had a great passion for working on technical equipment and systems. As a result, I have worked on household equipment, cars and tractors, helping my parents and neighbours.

In particular, I used to help my Godmother a lot and she always said I should become an engineer.

— The opportunity to work around the world – I’ve gained invaluable experience in marine engineering and been exposed to different cultures and religions.

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thing I wouldn’t change about my workday: — I normally work from 7.30am until 5pm every day on-board (no weekends or public holidays), but as the chief engineer, I’m always on call. The work rota is roughly a month on-board followed by a month off the ship on leave at home.

Brüel & Kjær’s mission is to help our customers measure and manage the quality of sound and vibration in their products and in the environment.

Brüel & Kjær’s vision is to be the first choice and long-term business partner, delivering innovative technical solutions, which create sustainable value for our customers.

Envirosuite is a global leader in environmental intelligence, using proprietary technology and real-time localised data to help industries and communities thrive.

Envirosuite delivers flexible solutions for challenges of air and water quality, noise, and vibration.

Contact Diatec for more information including service & calibration

T: 09 279 8833 | F: 09 279 8883 | E: info@diatec-diagnostics.co.nz | W: diatec-diagnostics.co.nz

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eading questions

New Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, Professor Dan Zhao, is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Royal Aeronautical Society. He’s a tenured full professor and Director of Master of Engineering Studies at the University of Canterbury. In addition, he is Chief Editor of the International Journal of Aerospace Engineering; Associate Editor of Science Citation Indexed (SCI) journals, including AIAA Journal, Aerospace Science and Technology and the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. His research interests and experience include propulsion, aeroacoustics, aerodynamics, energy harvesting, noise control and renewable energy.

What attributes make you a good leader?

To me, a good leader should have attributes like empathy, passion, integrity, commitment and vision.

At the end of each day, what tells you whether you’ve been successful?

If I have time for a family dinner and to play with my son and daughter, then it is a perfect day.

What inspired you to become an engineer?

The spaceship in Star Trek movies. It was a big question for me how the spacecraft could fly and I wanted to design such a machine and fly to outer space.

Who opened a key door for you?

My PhD advisor at the University of Cambridge, Professor Dame Ann Dowling (currently a Deputy Vice-Chancellor of

the University of Cambridge and Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering), and Dr Alexander Quayle. Both of them were working on the Silent Aircraft Initiative, aimed at developing a conceptual design for an aircraft whose noise would be almost imperceptible outside the perimeter of an airport during daytime.

The project was sponsored by CambridgeMIT Institute and industry partners.

How do you connect your work with a sense of greater good?

Asking myself if I make my colleagues, friends and students feel good/happier. As an aerospace engineering lecturer, my job is about teaching, serving and changing young students’ lives.

What mistake have you learned the most from?

Short-term vision and no long-term planning and preparation. For example, with the Covid-19 lockdown, teaching and exams were suddenly changed from face-to-face to online overnight.

Students felt quite stressed, overloaded and uncertain about many factors. How they would feel couldn’t be well predicted.

We offered voluntary online meetings and tutorials but it wasn’t enough. Finally, an online forum was created so students could ask questions or provide feedback anonymously in real time.

Professor Dan Zhao FEngNZ Role: Director of Master of Engineering Studies Based in: Auckland Education: Bachelor of Engineering, Northeast Dianli University, China, 2002; Master of Engineering, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, 2004; PhD, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2009

Who is a leader in New Zealand you admire and why?

I respect and admire Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. She successfully stopped Covid-19 from spreading in New Zealand, saving hundreds (maybe thousands) of lives.

How have you changed your leadership style since the onset of Covid-19?

More commitment, more resilience and more long-term vision by trying to predict what is unpredictable. Online courses and degrees may be the way of the future.

When I prepare propulsion lectures now, I prepare both face-to-face and online lectures and use more engineering animations/videos to explain how the turbomachines/propulsion systems work.

How do you start a difficult conversation with someone you lead?

By doing anything I can to make the person feel better by being considerate, compassionate and showing empathy.

What questions have you been asking yourself lately?

What can I do to contribute more to young students and anyone who has a passion

Constructive conversations can be brought about with respect and reflection.

for, and a strong interest in, aerospace engineering in New Zealand?

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Obituaries

awarded a scholarship to study engineering construction in the United Kingdom. His fiancée joined him and they married in London in 1950. Back home later that year, Bob returned to the Civil Design Office of what had become the Ministry of Works, where he was involved in many new developments including the use of pre-stressed concrete structures. He spent about 15 years there, with time out

“Think Big” projects. He was a leader in the growing environmental movement, a member of the Environmental Council and was involved with UNESCO and United Nations meetings.

A former President of Engineering New Zealand (1981–1982), Bob was also very involved with engineering heritage, spearheading the “Engineering to 1990” project.

working in the Napier district office, and on a Harkness scholarship travelling widely, studying bridging techniques.

Bob considered his time in the Design Office, where he became Chief Designing Engineer, the most fruitful and rewarding of his engineering life, with work including involvement with the Harbour Bridge “clipon” additions.

In 1967, he became a State Services Commissioner. He made his first visit to Antarctica which was the start of a lasting contribution to the continent.

In 1969, he returned to the Ministry of Works as an Assistant Commissioner of Works, providing advice for some of the

After his retirement in 1985, he continued with a wide variety of projects and environmental matters, including becoming Chair of the Ross Dependency Research Committee and then later with the Antarctic Heritage Trust.

He was a prolific technical paper writer and an entertaining speaker. He gave four major public lectures: Newnham in 1970, Dobson in 1977, the Presidential Address in 1982 and Hopkins in 1986.

His interests included tennis, fishing, music and writing poetry. He published five books, two of which were mainly poems. See engineeringnz.org for a more comprehensive biography.

Dr Francis Small CNZM DistFEngNZ was a significant force in the engineering world,

New Zealand from 1996–1997.

Described as “one of the great railwaymen of his era”, Francis had a long railway career, starting as a junior civil engineer and working his way up to become Managing Director of New Zealand Rail and subsequently Tranz Rail.

He was responsible for many innovations and improved practices such as the Māori network, Te Kupenga Mahi (a group that works to increase understanding of te ao Māori); single person crewing of trains; Interislander Ferry reforms; North Island Main Trunk electrification and remote controlled shunting.

Francis had a wide, detailed knowledge of rail and he was willing to make changes when necessary. With integrity

together the wide constituency of interests that form a modern railway. He expected hard work from staff, but many say working for Francis was the most enjoyable part of their working life.

He was made a Distinguished Fellow of Engineering New Zealand in 2000 and received the organisation’s President’s Award in 2001. He was on the Engineers Registration Board and was Chair of the Centre for Advanced Engineering. He had a range of other governance roles including Chair of Meridian Energy and MetService, and his community involvement included being former National President of Scouting New Zealand. His contributions to the Engineering New Zealand Foundation

from his PhD thesis on bridge pier scour, through to his Presidency of Engineering

and professionalism, he brought key leadership skills to all his roles, bringing

further highlight his commitment to the profession.

Robert George (Bob) Norman QSO DistFEngNZ 1923–2021 With Honours degrees in civil engineering, and later mathematics, from the University of Canterbury, Robert George Norman QSO DistFEngNZ joined the Department of Public Works before enlisting in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He served in Italy then Japan, returning to New Zealand in 1946.

He was then posted to the Department’s Civil Design Office, and in 1948 was

Dr Arthur Francis (Francis) Small CNZM DistFEngNZ 1946–2021

Obituaries

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joined the Department of Civil Engineering staff at Ardmore, which moved to the city campus in 1969.

As a member of the National Roads Board Road Research Committee, Bruce encouraged and supervised research projects on basecourse properties, road structural elements and road surfacing.

In the mid-1970s, he chaired an Engineering New Zealand Auckland

replacing ageing bridge infrastructure in Indonesia. A great teacher, he was engaged as an expert who knew how to get things done and understood crosscultural nuances.

Bruce had a passion for sailing and was an early member of the Classic Yacht Association. He was a well loved and respected father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, teacher, mentor, professional

Branch Committee that produced a Code of Practice for subdivisional land development. This was first adopted by Auckland councils but later evolved to a New Zealand Standard.

Bruce also made a significant contribution to the profession through the continuing professional development courses he developed, including the long-running “Contractual Aspects of Construction Projects”.

For four years prior to his retirement in 1993, Bruce taught an annual, monthlong course in Construction Management at the University of New South Wales, Australia, to support a programme

engineer and a trusted friend.

strong connections with universities in Thailand, advising there, and hosting Thai postgraduate students at Massey.

By the end of the 1990s, she and husband Richard Earle DistFEngNZ were working from home as Professors Emeritus, writing separately and jointly, bringing their unique, integrated approach to food product and process development.

Mary was known for generous pastoral care for students and visitors, and for philanthropic activities, establishing scholarships and grants in technology, engineering and the arts. She has been described as a distinguished and pioneering academic and a true scholar.

Chemical engineer Mary Earle HonFEngNZ (née Cameron) was a much-respected

North, nationally and internationally.

Born in Scotland, Mary began her career in product development in the United Kingdom’s food industry. She came to New Zealand in 1961 and first worked at the Meat Industry Research Institute.

She joined Massey University in 1965 and went on to make the university a leader in product development. She also took the lead developing the Food Technology Research Centre, where industry could bring their issues to the University for expert help. Mary was an Honorary Fellow of Engineering New Zealand and of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, also winning its J C Andrews Award. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and received an Honorary

technologist, product developer, teacher and mentor to many in Palmerston

Doctorate from Khon Kaen University in Thailand. Throughout her career she built

Bruce Hillier Cato FEngNZ 1929–2021 Bruce Cato FEngNZ has been described as a generous, modest man with a great sense of humour. After graduating from the University of Auckland’s School of Engineering at Ardmore in 1951, he joined an Auckland design office, then accepted a post as a resident engineer in what was then Malaya. There, he worked for the British Government, then as a district engineer for the Malaysian Government.

Back in New Zealand, in 1967 Bruce

Mary Davidson Earle HonFEngNZ 1929–2021

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Engineering genius

Safety takes a front seat High-resolution VR headset for depth perception and a 360° view of road environment.

CoDriVR is the flagship project for Dunedin-based software company Gfactor, which works on innovative graphics technologies and virtual reality (VR) product development.

CoDriVR has been developed to make road safety lessons, and driving practice, available to young people without the consequences that can come with inexperience on the roads. To support simulator installations in New Zealand secondary schools later this year, Gfactor’s team needed an ergonomic chassis design that looked dynamic and exciting, without looking like a racing simulator. The chassis needed to be cost effective, use organic materials where possible, and be capable of flat pack packaging for easy shipping. Finding no suitable options to purchase, Gfactor developed the concept in house. The design is now being further refined before going into production.

Re-creations of New Zealand roads with traffic and points systems that reward safe driving.

Dynamic linkage style seat mechanism which changes angle, shape and position of seat in one fluid movement to adapt to drivers 140–190cm tall.

Integrated gaming PC with high air flow for cooling.

Closed cell foam inserts for comfort.

Integrated pedals

New Zealand plywood,

and steering wheel with indicators.

waterjet cut by Dunedin’s Zoom Tech.

Develop your building design technical and collaboration skills Architectural Engineering Postgraduate courses in 2021–22 tailored for at-work building engineers, architects and designers • Whole Building Behaviour and Performance • Collaboration Design Studio • Structural Design Practice • Structural Assessment and Retrofit • Sustainable Building Design Practice • Building Modelling and Integrated Design • Building Envelope Design and Engineering • Building Sustainability Assessment Our courses are taught by industry experts and senior academics. Flexibility to study part-time while working (minimal time required on campus) or you can study fulltime. Most courses run for 6–8 weeks and are available in first and second semester.

Engineering Te Rāngai Pūkaha

Find out more about the course content and dates at www.canterbury.ac.nz/marcheng

We live in a world where the data we generate is growing exponentially and increasing in complexity day by day.

Are you making the most of it?

Connect with us and challenge our Master of Applied Data Science students with the projects that will help your business grow, innovate, and maximise your data.

To find out more about the opportunities on offer, email engindustry@canterbury.ac.nz or visit www.canterbury.ac.nz/engineering/industry

Engineering Te Rāngai Pūkaha

WATCH IT. We’re taking the ENVI Awards online with a one hour live TV show celebrating the best of engineering in Aotearoa – think fewer speeches, more great visuals.

Watch free at a viewing party or anywhere you like on your phone, tablet or laptop.

4pm Thursday 1 July envis.nz/watch

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