The Construction Avengers Robotics Revolution - Construction Leaders magazine, May 2019

M AY 2 0 1 9

The Construction

Robotics Revolution NEWS

AECOM

Otis

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Black & Veatch

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EDITOR‘S NOTE

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utomation and robotics have slowly taken over different fields of work, may it be for farming and agriculture, industrial tasks in factories, and even for recreation and sports. The construction industry, however, seems to had lagged behind the others in terms of adopting these technologies. Given the fact that construction sites are not appropriate for robots and that tasks in this field are much more complex than they seem, manual laborers are always the best choices. But with the staggering decrease in hiring qualified skilled workers to do construction works, robots then take over.

Different tech startups are starting to develop models fit for various kinds of construction works. One such startup is San Francisco-based Built Robotics founded by a former Google engineer, Noah Ready-Campbell. It aims to automate construction vehicles like bulldozers to make it a lot faster, cheaper, and safer.

Another noticeable robot in the industry is a Semi-Automated Mason (SAM) by Construction Robotics which can do the work of a bricklayer several times faster. Using its mechanical arms to lay around 3,000 bricks within a single shift, SAM is still 4

Robotics Revolution

operated by manual bricklayers who had undergone weeks of training.

Drones are also very helpful in the construction field. Most of them are used for surveying sites. Not only are they faster, but they can also generate much more reliable data as it can convert said data into usable 3D maps.

Not only are robots used in the building process, but they are also preferred over manual laborers when it comes to demolition. They are safer to use and, although slower than workers, can still get the job done.

Speaking of 3D, the construction industry is also

starting to deploy 3D printing robots that can fabricate 3D-printed building with just a pre-programmed set of instructions. This has gradually changed the game of the industry.

CON TENTS

NEWS

16 Ground Breaking Robotics: A Revolution in the Construction Industry

32 AECOM recognized as a top friendly employer for veterans and military spouses

36 Otis Releases ‘Gen2 Care’ with Special Antimicrobial Features

38 Black & Veatch joins CharIN to advance electric vehicle charging standards

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F E AT U R E S T O RY

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How to Comply with Height Safety Regulations

46 265 Hectare Pasay Harbour Reclamation Project is bigger than Palm Jumeirah Dubai

54 Successful WORLDBEX Event for TOSOT Philippines

58 Is the Philippines Ready for Electric-Powered Jeepneys?

60 Top 6 Most Popular Universities In 2019

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S P E C IA L F E AT U R E

This Rechargeable Stand Fan is a Cost-Effective Cooling Solution in the Philippines With summer almost around the corner, portable air coolers are now taking the spotlight. Here’s everything you need to know and more why they are a definite buy this coming season.

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bout a third of the total energy consumed by the average home is solely dedicated to air conditioning.

In fact, Filipinos are addicted to aircon, using them even during the cold months of the year. And while this surely brings more comfort to the occupants especially during the merciless heat wave of the long summer days, it can also wreak havoc on their monthly electricity bills. It is a no-brainer how the regular use of aircon is already consuming a large portion of your bill. What more for an aircon open 24/7 during the hot days?

But have you asked yourselves this: does it need to be that expensive to feel comfy at home this summer season? Here are a few other reasons why switching to TOSOT Rechargeable Stand Fan will be the greatest decision you will ever make this summer.

It Lessens Your Monthly Bills While one fan may not be enough to suit your cooling needs when the temperature 8

starts spiking up, did you know that you can buy around five to six floor fans for the price of a single window type air conditioning unit? Of course, this may only be an approximate as the actual prices can vary,

but having six well-placed fans in a room can actually provide the same comfort an aircon can bring, and for a much lesser cost!

A regular electric fan in the Philippines has an estimated

cost per hour of about Php0.50 to Php0.70 in contrast with the Php2.00 to Php7.00 of the typical aircon used in Filipino homes.

Doing the math, six stand fans with an estimated cost per hour of Php0.70 can only amount to a total of Php4.20, far lesser than the maximum estimated cost per hour for aircon. This approximate may still vary depending on the speed settings and wattage output of your fans, but the difference between the costs of fans and aircon is still significantly greater.

It is Energy-efficient As reported by the Saving Electricity website, the hourly consumption of a medium-sized window type aircon is about 900 watts while a floor fan only consumes nearly 100 watts per hour. The smallest aircon does consume less energy (with about 750 watts per hour) but is still a significant burden in the electricity nonetheless.

Newer fans, on the other hand, are manufactured for around 60 watts consumption only. Inverter type ones are less eaters at about 30 watts consumption. With this fact alone, fans are obviously the better choice in terms of energy efficiency, with it being more than 10 times energy-efficient than typical aircon in the market.

It Is Environmentfriendly If you’re an environmental steward, fans are, of course, the crowd favorite. While the modern-day aircon did evolve to exclude harmful and toxic refrigerants in their systems, they can still affect the environment just by simply running all day long. Since most of the

electricity produced comes from carbon-rich coal, it is a great thing that fans are less electricity-eaters than aircon.

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S P E C IA L F E AT U R E

Why try TOSOT? While the above benefits may already be enough to make you switch to the fan side, this TOSOT rechargeable fan offers you even more. Manufactured with high quality and powerful cooling performance, TOSOT rechargeable fans comes with high efficiency and energy saving capabilities perfect to cool Filipino homes this summer. It comes with a built-in Lithium battery with a five-hour capacity that is suitable for places with frequent power interruptions throughout the year. Its adjustable height and stepless speed adjustments give more freedom and flexibility to the users.

Aside from its elegant stylish design, the stand fan is manufactured with a double mesh safety grill, a 360 waterproof protection, and the all-new generation ultra-slim fan head, making it both safe and attractive at the same time. Users will also love the handy infrared remote control that comes with the unit, together with its other features such as silent operation, soft and gentle wind blow, eight-hour timer, and its DC inverter motor that is known to consume even lesser electricity than AC motors.

Surely, we can never let go of air-conditioning units in our homes. But with the savings and benefits that come with TOSOT Rechargeable Stand Fan is undoubtedly your best bet for a 10

cheaper yet equally refreshing solution to beat this summer’s heat.

To find out the best rechargeable stand fan for your home, office or party event venue, visit TOSOT showroom located at 2162 FB Harrison St., San Jose, Pasay City, Philippines or call +632-8330000 to book an appointment. You may also visit their website (click here) to get more information about the best stand fan in the Philippines.

S P E C IA L F E AT U R E

PH Elected Officials Must Have This Lighting System During Election Filipino Politicians Should Have At least One Pelican RALS

It’s a privilege for the Filipino people to choose the country’s leader. This 2019, we will once again practice our right to vote. Everyone is involved which is apparent on social media where most people share their views and opinions. Even those who are loitering in the streets talk about their favorite candidates.

Sunday drinking sprees also become an avenue to share views and exchange ideas about a particular candidate’s platform.

Yes, Filipinos are very much 12

concerned about the future of our nation. Each one wants to make sure that their vote will not be wasted on the wrong candidate. But what worries most of them is the possible cheating which may mean that their votes intended for their candidate might go to another politician whom they do not like.

Aside from that, politicians and voters alike are anxious about what may transpire during the election day. It’s not just the result that worries everyone but the possibility of a power

outage which will conceivably have a huge impact on the turnout of votes as well as the end result of the election.

Power Outage During Election Brownout or blackouts is imminent in the Philippines, especially during an election.

Others believe that this is intentional while electric companies claim that this situation is inevitable. Many fear that the power interruptions will affect the poll outcome. Although many are complaining about this perennial problem, it appears that the government’s solution is not enough.

In 2016, the Luzon-based Power Task Force Election (PTFE) and the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) were developed aiming to guard over 1,736 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

These groups also gave assurance of uninterrupted power to about 54 million voters. However, power outage still occurred in different areas.

Some brownouts last for 15 minutes while others last for 10 hours.

Apparently, this has a huge impact on the election process. Voting machines will not be able to function and it would be extremely dark in voting precincts. There will also be delayed transmission of votes from voting machines due to brownouts. As a solution, generators are on standby while others opt for paper ballot voting.

Another worrisome scenario is the increase in crimes during the election. There are shooting incidents for both the politicians and their supporters. Others would illegally acquire guns while the lights are out despite the gun ban.

The situation is heartbreaking.

It is obvious that many unfortunate situations happen during a power outage. That is why it is important that politicians should acquire Remote Lighting Systems so they have a backup source of lighting when power interruptions arrive.

Benefits of Using Remote Lighting System and Tactical Flashlights The Pelican Remote Lighting System (RALS) and Tactical Flashlights will definitely come handy for politicians this

election. They can use it as backup lighting in their own homes and headquarters, thus ensuring safety not just for themselves but also for their supporters and families. When an area is well-lighted, it is easy to deter criminals since they fear that their personalities will be identified.

There are polling places and voting precincts where lighting is not available. The 9430 Remote Area Light can be used here. It can light up an entire room or even a place as wide as a soccer field.

The bright beam from Pelican RALS will make voting more convenient. Voters will feel safe to cast their votes while poll officials will feel secure in counting the ballots even during late nights. In most cases, poll officers need to stay overnight in their respective precincts. Even with the absence of power, they will feel safe because of assured lights at the premises.

It is better if each polling precinct or election watchers have a Pelican RALS like the 9460 Remote Area Light with dual telescoping LED light heads. Once power outage happens, there is an immediate backup lighting.

This will avoid the possible loss of ballot boxes once the precinct resorts to paper ballot voting in case of brownouts.

Theft of ballots is a known dilemma during elections which usually happens during power interruptions.

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S P E C IA L F E AT U R E The group of a particular politician may also carry out roving and inspections in different areas during the election. The Pelican RALS will be very helpful to check dark areas both day and night. It is even more useful during brownouts or blackouts.

On the other hand, two of the best Pelican pocket size lighting are the 2350 Tactical Flashlight and 2360 Tactical Flashlight has 4 Selectable Programs with a lifetime guarantee. The 2360 Flashlight has 375 lu-

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mens while the 2350 Flashlight has 178 lumens. Constructed with the most durable of materials, an aerospace grade aluminum body and an impact resistant LED lamp module, the 2350 and 2360 LED keeps you on point without equipment failure.

Both the 9430 Remote Area Light and the 9460 Remote Area Light, which are available at Coby’s Gear and Gadget and Cobankiat Hardware, can be operated via Bluetooth making it more convenient to use. The versatility of these lightings and its long battery life are another positive thing about it.

All Pelican lighting solutions are sturdy and it can withstand any significant abuse. Even when there is heavy rainfall, the Pelican RALS and Tactical Flashlights can still be used since it is water resistant.

Using a Remote Lighting System is imperative for those who are running for public office. This will not only guarantee them that they get the right results during election despite the power outage, but this will also ensure their safety. We cannot doubt the fact that proper lighting plays a vital role in the security of everyone- politicians or not.

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G ro u n d B re aking Robotics: A R e v o lu tion in the C o n s t r u c tion Industry

How robots are taking over the construction business is beyond our expectation How robots are taking over the construction business is beyond our expectation The construction industry is one of the most laborious and manual work there is to date.

Requiring hundreds, if not thousands, of laborers to finish one small building, it is quite puzzling that it has not yet fully

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evolved into automation and robotics to lessen the cost and manpower involved. Why not make the robots do all the dirty work while humans get to supervise only? But taking into consideration that most con-

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COVER STORY

struction tasks are complicated and that the work environment is not quite suitable for robotic machines, it is understandable why the industry chose to stick to traditional methods rather than go with the fast-paced world of technology.

Then again, when you cannot 18

find any skilled worker to do the job for you, the industry had no choice but to switch into robotics. One survey made by Associated General Contractors of America revealed how around 70% of construction firms have a shortage of skilled workers.

Nobody wants to work in the field anymore when they have

COVER STORY

a choice of working in nice, clean offices.

Although this industry is still very foreign to the field, the robotics revolution has crept into the business little by little.

Presently, there are several robots under development and deployment that are changing the course of the construction industry for the better.

One of the forerunners in this robotic breakthrough is a startup by former Google engineer, Noah ReadyCampbell. According to Ready-Campbell, automating construction vehicles, such 20

as excavators and bulldozers, make construction cheaper, safer, and more importantly, faster. Built Robotics aims to do just like that. With some venture capital on hand, the startup, based in San Francisco, is slowly converting the old-fashioned construction tasks into modern-day robotics. Ready-Campbell foresees the construction world, not as a fully automated industry, but rather a joint venture of smart machines and skilled humans.

While 80% of the monotonous, tedious work is made by robots, human operators perform much more skilled

work, eventually increasing productivity and profit.

Having robots do all the tedious work does mean less work for humans, but transitioning from manual labor (mixing cement, leveling the ground, etc.) to supervisory work (operate the robot, do basic troubleshooting) means a lot of retraining as well. At Berich Masonry, Colorado, their workers were trained for several weeks on the know-how of operating a Semi-Automated Mason (SAM), a robot equipped with mechanical arms which basically lays bricks autonomously. Although SAM, a product of New York-based Construction Robotics, Victor, costs $400,000, it will eventually pay off as it can do the job of a regular mason several times faster.

Apparently, it can lay roughly 3,000 bricks within eight hours.

That being said, skilled bricklayers welcome the change and are not, in any way, threatened that the robot will replace them anytime soon. As per the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, SAM is still not fully capable compared to a regular bricklayer.

Not only huge machines are of use in this industry, but even drones also serve a purpose in surveying. A company in

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Demolition robots are much preferred over manual labor since they are a lot safer and cheaper.

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COVER STORY

Sunol, California deploys drones to their mining plant simply to gather measurements of the massive piles of sand and rocks sold for construction. Allowing the quadcopter to survey 90 acres of land saves their workers lots of time and money.

Surveying the entire site for only 25 minutes yields them lots more of data compared to a full day of scanning the area with a truck-mounted laser. The drone, developed by

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Kespry based in Silicon Valley, has a nifty feature wherein it can transform the data from the survey into 3D maps. While the drone does have an annual subscription fee, the money saved from hiring additional workers to manually do the survey is already worth its services.

In addition to construction robots, 3D-printing robots are also an asset in the building industry. Basically, it is capa-

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ble of erecting enormous buildings faster and relatively safer. A pre-programmed mobile robotic arm manipulates a 3D printer and 3D prints a whole structurally-safe building. Not only buildings can be built with this technology but also other construction infrastructures like bridges. The Netherlands just recently constructed the first 3D printed bridge in the world.

Similarly, demolition robots are conquering the construction industry as well. They are much preferred over manual labor since they are a lot safer and cheaper. Even though automated demolition robots are slower than regular demolition troops, there is no doubt that they can absolutely do the job with the highest quality.

The robotics revolution might not reach the whole globe yet, but with the fast-rising demand for construction robots in the industry, it will just be a few years until we notice the impact these robots have in this business.

-end-

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NEWS

AECOM recognized as a top friendly employer for veterans and military spouses AECOM has been ranked as a Top 100 Military Friendly® Employer for 13 consecutive years and a Military Friendly® Spouse Employer for six consecutive years commitment to supporting those who serve as well as those who have returned to civilian life. As part of this commitment, AECOM partners with organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project, Semper Fi Fund, American Corporate Partners, the Officers’ Association, the Career Transition Partnership, Yellow Ribbon Fund and America’s Wounded Warfighters, that assist veterans with obtaining the support they need during and after their service.

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ECOM, a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm, announced today that it has been designated as a 2019 Military Friendly®GOLD Employer and 2019 Military Friendly® Spouse Employer

by VIQTORY, a veteran-owned business that connects military veterans to previously 32

unknown civilian employment, entrepreneurship and education opportunities.

AECOM earned this recognition based on its recruiting, retention, advancement and overall commitment to veterans and military spouses. The company has a long-standing

“AECOM values the diversity, knowledge and outstanding contributions military veterans and spouses make to our business and we are honored to receive this recognition,” said John Vollmer, AECOM’s president of its Management Services group. “As a company, we employ more than 9,000 veterans on projects around the world, in a multitude of professions, disciplines and markets. Our continued commitment to this community enables us to better deliver transformative outcomes for our clients and communities.”

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NEWS

This is AECOM’s 13th consecutive year to appear on the Top 100 Military Friendly® Employer list and its sixth year as a Military Friendly® Spouse Employer. Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the U.S. military community.

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A major contractor to the U.S. Federal Government, AECOM works with government agencies, providing cost-effective and innovative solutions to help them achieve mission success. AECOM leverages its global defense, civilian and commercial expertise to deliver services across the entire life cycle for its clients’ most challenging

projects – from concept design, development, construction, acquisition, management and operation, to testing, training, sustainment and environmental management, to closure and decommissioning.

NEWS

Otis Releases ‘Gen2 Care’ with Special Antimicrobial Features

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tis Korea (“Otis”; IS Cho, VP & Managing Director of Otis Korea) has released the Gen2® Care with special antimicrobial features, designed for multiple-use buildings including hospitals and medical facilities. Otis, the world’s leading manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products, such as elevators, escalators, and moving walkways is a unit of United Technologies (NYSE: UTX).

The Otis Gen2 Care elevator is equipped with a specially designed ‘Care System,’ with antimicrobial features that help reduce bacteria in the cab. The corners of the cab are fitted with UV LED lights for disinfection while the walls and handrails are coated with antibacterial materials. After rigorous tests by the Korea Analysis Test Researcher (KATR), the UV LED lighting was officially certified for its antimicrobial effects against E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus.

The Gen2 Care also adopted a pest control system and a ventilation feature designed to keep the air fresh inside the cab. Information about the Care System is provided on the COP, keeping passengers informed aboutits benefits.

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“While the Gen2 Care elevator accomodates specific needs with its antimicrobial features, it also adopts the distinctive features of the Gen2 global bestseller for excellent operational efficiency and extraordinary design options. Understanding the public’s growing interest in health and hygiene, we expect our new release to be welcomed not just by medical facilities that have stringent requirements for contamination and infection control, but also by general residential and commercial buildings,” explained IS Cho, VP & Managing Director of Otis

Korea.

Gen2 Care takes its design concept from the Ambiance global design model, the winner of the Good Design Award for three years in a row, with three new styles: Shine Gold, Rosé Wine, and Modern Silver. The elevator doors and walls have natural patterns inspired by mountains, flowers, and leaves for a passenger ride that is elegant and comfortable.

The cabs can hold 15 to 30 people, and are designed to accommodate passengers and

S P E C IA L F E AT U R E

hospital beds.

Gen2 Care brings its technological and environment-friendly innovations from the global bestseller Gen2 elevators, which have had more than half a million units sold around the world. Its key features includes the patented ‘flat belt’ technology that has replaced conventional steel ropes. The flat belt is slim and yet durable, but lasts long, reducing replacement and maintenance costs. Another standard feature is the Otis ReGen™ drive, a regenerative technology that feeds lost energy back into the system and saves up to 75% under normal conditions than a conventional geared elevator without a regenerative drive.

The Gen2 elevator has cemented Otis’ reputation as a leader in industry innovation. For four consecutive years (2015 – 2018), the Otis Gen2 elevator was selected as the most innovative elevator product in the INNOSTAR Certification hosted annually by the Korea Management Registrar Inc. based on customer satisfaction survey.

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NEWS

Black & Veatch joins CharIN to advance electric vehicle charging standards Global standards will play key role in widening EV adoption among everyday drivers and business fleets

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dvancing standardized electric vehicle charging systems is crucial to widening EV adoption across the transportation value chain – from passenger drivers to public transit and enterprise-scale medium- and heavy-duty fleets. That’s why Black & Veatch, a market leader in the design and deployment of EV charging networks, has joined CharIN, the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN e.V.), as a core member.

CharIN’s mission is to promote standards for all types of battery-electric vehicles. The group includes a diverse set of infrastructure 38

providers, OEMs, and other organizations dedicated to driving transportation electrification forward A full-service design, engineering, permitting and construction company, Black & Veatch has built and continues to develop some of the largest electric vehicle charging networks, as well as high-powered charging depots for heavy-duty vehicles. Black & Veatch works closely with cities, utilities, vehicle manufacturers, and EV hardware and service providers to deploy clean transportation solutions.

“As an EV market innovator,

NEWS

we are committed to the acceleration of alternative fuel vehicle adoption for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles,” said Dean Siegrist, Associate Vice President, Transformative Technologies, Black & Veatch. “Global standards are an important foundation to continued EV growth and scale.”

Joining as a core CharIN member, Black & Veatch will help drive important initiatives such as CharIN’s Taskforce on High Power Charging for Commercial Vehicles. This 40

global taskforce was formed to collect requirements and deployment guidelines for next-gen charge rates of 1.6 megawatts and beyond for applications such as Class 8 Semi-Trucks.

Black & Veatch brings our experience with over 1,000 high-power sites across North America to accelerate power delivery, utility interconnection, site design and construction needs.

“Without standardized charging, we risk fragmenting

the market at a time when unifying charging systems could reduce confusion among consumers and commercial fleets,” said Paul Stith, Director of Strategy & Innovation, Black & Veatch.

“Establishing standards now, at the front end, will accelerate innovation and speed to market.”

MIDDLE EAST NEWS

How to Comply with Height Safety Regulations Height safety regulations must be adhered by industrial professionals

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oof anchor points offer crucial protection to people working at heights.

Personal protection equipment (PPE) such as harnesses or lanyard fall protection systems rely on correctly installed anchor points – and so do the people that use them.

Today we’re speaking with Ben from Off Your wall based in Melbourne who perform anchor point testing and installation services. Here’s what he had to say regarding height safety

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regulations.

Falls can lead to serious injury, which could potentially expose you to costly legal action. The only way to ensure the safety of your workers, and to safeguard your reputation and business, is to follow the required legislation and guidelines and use approved anchor points.

When it comes to height safety and fall prevention, compliance with regulations and safety standards is key. Accidents don’t

need to happen, which is why it’s crucial you consult with height safety experts for your roof anchor points. When you are working at heights, or in constricted spaces, you are required to follow the industry protocols and meet the certification required. A compliance assessment service can offer you an inspection to see if your roof anchor points comply with legislation, as well help you achieve annual certification.

For roof anchor point certification the roof anchor

points will need to be checked to make sure they meet all industry legislation and guidelines, are in safe working order and don’t pose any hazards or risks.

Workplace health and safety is an important consideration in any field, but when you are working at heights it can become a matter of life and death. This is why in New South Wales the requirements you need to meet anchor point safety certification includes workplace health and safety (WHS) legislation. It’s about ensuring you protect your team, the structure you are build-

ing and broader members of the public whose safety also needs to be considered as a priority.

The Australian Standards places the responsibility for the health and safety of any person may be affected by the construction work with a broad range of people who may be deemed to be in control of a construction project. This could include people such as principal, head or main contractors, builders, employers or persons with management control.

Educating your entire team about

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MIDDLE EAST NEWS

height safety regulations is therefore important. It also states: ‘The person with control of the project must ensure that fall prevention is set up to cover all workers on site, whether the fall prevention is provided directly by the person with control of the project, or by individual subcontractors.’

your workplace.

Falls and serious injuries are a risk the industry faces every day. It’s the nature of working at heights! But accidents can put a business at huge legal risk if they do not comply with WHS. The‘Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces ‘code of practice that relate to roof anchor points is therefore another important document to familiarise yourself with and implement in

The Australian Standards guidelines also cover a minimum uniform standard when it comes to working with roof anchor points. By adhering to these Standards the industry is further able to minimise injury and even the loss of life. Some of these include:

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Another factor that is important to ensure the safety of roof anchor points is product quality. It’s crucial you only work with high quality roof anchor points and that they are systematically and regularly checked to ensure they are sound.

• Industrial fall arrest systems and devices

• Harnesses and ancillary equipment • Horizontal lifeline and rail systems • Fall-arrest devices • Selection, use and maintenance • Industrial rope access systems • Selection, use and maintenance • Manufacturing requirements for single-point anchor devices used for harness-based work at height.

With many obligations to follow and height safety legislation to adhere to, working with experts in the roof anchor point and heights safety industry can assist you to navigate your requirements and achieve certification.

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A S I A PA C I F I C N E W S

265 Hectare Pasay Harbour Reclamation Project is bigger than Palm Jumeirah Dubai A massive push by the local government to build an entirely new city within the bay area

The Pasay Harbour reclamation project is a massive push by the local government of Pasay City, Philippines to build an entirely new city within the bay area.

Learn the details of this 3 part series report and how to win the construction bidding.

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If you’re one of our advertiser or sponsor of GineersNow, you may obtain the contact person and project details from our APAC regional director, Ms. Ems at 0921 7105796.

A S I A PA C I F I C N E W S Table PD-1. Project Proponent/EIA Preparer

ITEM

Project Information

Project Proponent

City of Pasay, Philippines

Proponent Address

F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City

Telephone Number

Only GineersNow advertisers can have this info

Responsible Officer

Only GineersNow advertisers can have this info

EIA Preparer

Only GineersNow advertisers can have this info

Contact Person

Only GineersNow advertisers can have this info

Address

Only GineersNow advertisers can have this info

Contact Numbers

Only GineersNow advertisers can have this info

Email address

Only GineersNow advertisers can have this info

Table PD-2. Project Fact Sheet/PD Summary

ITEM

Project Information

Name of Project

PROPOSED 265 HECTARE PASAY HARBOUR RECLAMATION PROJECT

Location

Along Coast of Manila Bay in the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Pasay

Nature of Project Nature of Project

Reclamation Project ECP in an ECA (Presidential Proclamation 2146 dated 14 December 1981)

Project Classification & Type

Major Reclamation Project ≥ 50 hectares

Project Classification Code

D.1.

Size/Scale

265 Hectare

Status of ECC

Expansion Project Being Applied For

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A S I A PA C I F I C N E W S

areas of Manila Bay. Among the Metro Manila LGUs, Pasay City is one of the smallest in terms of land area. However, it has the potential to expand its land through sea reclamation activities.

Project Description

entities.

The proposed reclamation project covers 265 hectares involving two (2) islands with areas of 210 hectares and 55 hectares respectively. Consistent with the protocol of the Revised Procedural Manual (RPM), the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application being applied for involves only the horizontal development phase. The operations phase will be subject to the applicable requirements of the Philippine EIS System (PEISS).

Project Rationale

The Private Sector Project Developers for the original (360 hectares) and the new (265 hectares) projects will be different and separate corporate 50

The increasing demand for readily developable lands for urban expansion areas has pushed the real estate market in Metro Manila to its highest since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Since the other urban centers of Mega Manila has no other way to expand their existing inventory of land, the increasing requirements for areas to accommodate and satisfy the demand for rapid commercial and residential growth falls on the coastal LGUs. This therefore necessitates the creation of more lands for economic activities through reclamation developments along the coastal

The proposed Pasay City land reclamation project along the coast of Manila Bay, near the current SM Mall of Asia complex, can produce some 2,650,000 square meters of additional buildable/developable space. This could be translated into about 1,855,000 square meters of building gross floor area, based on the existing 70% buildable vis-Ă -vis to 30% open space/public area ratio. The additional 1,855,000 square meters of building gross floor area can be allocated for tourism, office, residential, commercial, and other non-industrial mixed uses in a master planned community including an integrated port facility complex for cruise ships visiting Manila.

The proposed 2,650,000 square meters of reclaimed land is in line with Pasay City Ordinance No. 5768 (Series of 2016), which calls for the reclamation activities covering the identified areas located offshore of the current SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. The project will provide expansion of the City’s current land area for economic activities.

The proponent believes that the proposed 265-hectare reclamation project will bring

about meaningful progress to Pasay City and its people, and shall kick-start the favorable transformation of that section of the Manila Bay, instead of the area’s further degradation. The proponent cites the mega success of its past reclamation projects – the CCP Complex and the Mall of Asia areas – as proof and blueprint for success of similar undertaking. In 2015 alone, the City Government of Pasay was able to collect about PhP3.2 billion in real property taxes, and business and work permits from the existing MOA reclamation area. With the proposed project, the proponent could derive double, or even triple that amount, which will definitely translate to more and better services for the people of Pasay.

The 265-hectare reclamation

project is an expansion of the original 360-hectare project and is intended to enhance further the visions embodied in the original project, i.e.: • Further promote the well-being of the people of the City of Pasay especially in terms of employment and livelihood; • Stimulate city growth by providing a basic infrastructure – land to investors; • Help solve congestion problems; and • Actualize the vision of government through the PRA. Thus, this proposed 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City will satisfy the current and future demands of lands for tourism and commercial activities in accordance with Pasay City Ordinance No. 5768 (Series

of 2016) and in support of the “build-build-build” developmental concept in Pasay City and in Metro Manila as envisioned by the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Project Area, Location and Accessibility Location and Political Boundaries- The project, broken down into 2-islands, is located west of Metro Manila, within the municipal waters of Pasay City and adjacent to the City of Manila, as shown in Figure PD-1.

It is adjacent to the Proposed 360 Hectare Pasay City Reclamation Project, which has recently been granted an ECC. The impact barangay for the Proposed Project is Barangay 76 Zone 10,

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as indicated in Figure PD-2.

Geographic Coordinates (Shape File Data) of Project Area – The coordinates are vital for: (a) identifying the scope of the ECC that is being applied for; (b) providing the footprints from which impact assessments may be made, e.g., water circulation, bathymetry; geotechnical investigation and marine surveys; and for (c) ascertaining that the site is indeed within the political boundaries of the City.

Accessibility – The nearest existing major road to the proposed project site is J.W. Diokno Boulevard approximately located at a straight distance of 1.68 km from the nearest corner of the reclamation landform, shown in Figure PD-3.

The Access Ways – Preliminary design works are underway for the link from shore to the reclaimed land.

Connectivity and Associated Transport Systems For the development of the Pasay Harbour City Project, the following components to support the transport system are being planned to be built by third parties with the rationale of supporting the government mass transport system plan: A connection to the airport through the existing NAIA Expressway (already in place); • A connection to the southern gateway through the CAVITEX;

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• A connection to the northern gateway via C1 and C4 then to NLEX; • A connection to the seaport in Manila via Roxas Boulevard; and • A connection to the rest of Metro Manila through existing and planned mass transport system.

Interisland Connectivity A bridge connecting Islands 1 and 2 will be built. A preliminary architectural sketch is shown in Plate PD1 below.

Vicinity Map and Adjacent landmarks- The vicinity map shown in Figure PD-4 indicates the nearest landmarks and shows the adjacent other proposed reclamation project. To date, none of these other proposed project have been implemented yet since the Notices to Proceed

(NTPs) from the PRA have not been issued yet.

Important landmarks adjacent to the project site include: • Cultural Center of the Philippines • Coconut Palace • Philippine Sofitel Hotel • PICC • The Philippine Senate • GSIS • J.W. Diokno Blvd.

• Mall of Asia • Okada Resorts Club • Solaire Resorts Club • Diosdado Macapagal Blvd.

The adjacent other proposed reclamation project are: • The 360-Hectare Pasay Harbour Reclamation Project

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Successful WORLDBEX Event for TOSOT Philippines In the 5-day duration of WORLDBEX, TOSOT received countless of delegations

The Philippine World Building and Construction Expo (WORLDBEX) has finished its 23rd installment. The event, which happened last March 13 to 17, 2019, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and SMX Convention Center Manila, was bigger and bolder, as promised.

The expected number of attendees were met and many partnerships were built. A memorable event indeed, many corporations bent on upholding product effectivity and efficiency without infringing upon sustainability showcased their 54

life-improving innovations.

One of the companies that acquired numerous delegations and partnerships from various organizations in the engineering, design, architecture, retail, and management industries, among others, was TOSOT. As the leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality HVAC units and home appliances in the Philippines, TOSOT received hundreds of trade visitors from mechanical engineers to CEOs of multinational companies that

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inquired about their high-tech products.

Their chillers, cost-effective and high-tech wall-mounted and floor-standing air conditioning units, sleekly gorgeous kitchen appliances such as home induction cookers and water dispensers, TMV5s, to name a few, were thoroughly examined by many willing purchasers.

In the 5-day duration of WORLDBEX, TOSOT received countless of delegations from various engineering organizations, HVAC distributors, retailers, building owners, shopping mall directors, facilities management professionals, contractors and interior designers who showed strong interest in TOSOT’s air conditioning units and kitchen 56

appliances.

Those at TOSOT were able to close countless deals during the event amounting to hundreds of thousands of pesos to further their goals of creating more effective, efficient, products while championing sustainably.

With these deals, they can continue to stay ahead of the curve in the industry of technological appliances.

For those who are interested to see TOSOT aircon units, visit their showroom in Pasay.

During the event TOSOT conducted a photo challenge game for every visitors who visited TOSOT booth. Lucky winners will be posted in TOSOT social media accounts.

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Is the Philippines Ready for Electric-Powered Jeepneys?

One group suggested that we take their initiative of turning from diesel engines to lithium-ion batteries in jeepneys.

After the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in the Philippines enforced the PUJ modernization program by the Duterte administration, several companies responded by showing their designs of a much safer and less carbon-emitting versions of the jeepney.

One of these companies is Japanese truck maker Isuzu. It introduced an 18-seater modern jeepney carrying 12% more cargo than conventional jeepneys.

Theirs has 2,325 kilograms of 58

payload.

“The modern jeepneys are designed to meet regulations in emission, safety and roadworthiness. It will also provide better passenger comfort,” noted Joseph Bautista, a division manager at Isuzu Philippines’ marketing department.

While this Isuzu jeepney still runs on diesel, a local startup wants to pitch a more environmentally-friendly option: get this form of Philippine trans-

A S I A PA C I F I C N E W S portation to run on electricity to be known as green jeepneys.

QEV Philippines Electromobility Solutions and Consulting Group, Inc., or simply QEV Philippines, has designed its own version of the modern jeepney which is powered by lithium-ion batteries.

The company is a satellite office of Singapore-based electromobility holding firm QEV Capital Pte. Ltd. “The jeepney is as much Filipino as all of you,” tells Endika Aboitiz at the unveiling ceremony in July at The Fort in Taguig City. He is an investor in the proposal of powering an initial 50,000 jeepneys over the five years with lithium-ion batteries instead of diesel engines.

“It is like London’s double-decker bus, it in itself is a moving museum,” he added.

“Taking the jeepney away is taking away a piece of our colorful history, an icon that many have come to associate with the Philippines. We can preserve the jeepney and modernize it without taking away its charm.”

The lithium-ion batteries are designed to have a range of up to 140 kilometers, with 80 kilometers at minimum, depending on load and conditions. They can be charged from 20% up to 80% in just 15 minutes, to be facilitated

by Cleanergy network which is AboitizPower’s clean and renewable energy brand.

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Meanwhile, the conversion work will be taken care of by Sarao Motors, a local jeepney manufacturer. It can produce green jeepneys from scratch.

According to a press release, the green jeepney was developed by engineers with ample experience in high-profile electric car ventures. Campos Racing is one of the teams behind the Arcfox-7, an electric supercar by Chinese outfit BAIC, and in the Mahindra entries in the Formula E last season, among others.

If the Philippine government really wants to produce virtually no-emission jeepneys, then this one is the way to go. Not only is this jeepney all electric, it is ex-

pected to seize an estimated 540 tonnes of carbon million trees and earn $35 million in United Nations carbon credits.

Moreover, the charging stations are also expected to help save 375 million liters of oil per year. That is equal to 3% of the country’s total imported Brent crude barrels.

This should not worry jeepney drivers when it comes to costs too, as QEV Philippines assured that they can save about P40,000 a year for energy and maintenance.

It is not the company’s intention to replace the existing jeepneys, but instead only to rehabilitate

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through its retrofit kit.

“What we propose is not replacement, but rehabilitation,” said Enrique Bañuelos, a businessman who partnered with Aboitiz and QEV Philippines for this project.

“Rehabilitate old jeepneys and make them like new, complete with electrical motors that will 62

make it run on electricity instead of diesel. Help drivers pay for the rehabilitation, through a special program that the Philippine government will make out for them—and in the end put more money in their pockets because the costs of charging with electricity would be so much cheaper than filling it up with diesel,” he added.

F E AT U R E S T O RY

Top 6 Most Popular Universities In 2019 This post looks at university ranking, with emphasis on the most popular ones

T

housands of universities in the world are always in competition for top slots in the global ranking. And with millions of students yearning to be part of the best learning centers, the only barriers to their dreams is crafting a top-notch admission essay. This post looks at university ranking, with emphasis on the “most popular universities” such as Stanford graduate school.

What makes an institution of higher education a university?

You would want to delve deeper into finding why some institutions are more popular than others. Well, a professional college online essay editing service should help you with this topic by emphasizing the following: High learning institutions that rank high on the popularity index usually register excellent academic performance every academic year.

Universities that have a rich his64

tory are among the most popular on the global index. It could be because they are the oldest or pursue a holistic study tradition that distinguishes them from the rest.

Another basis on which some graduate schools have ranked the range of diploma or degree programs.

An educational institution can also be popular given the numbers of international students it admits and still remain a top institution for higher learning.

State-of-the-art libraries or/and research centers is another aspect that often catapults a learning institution to the global index of most popular learning centers.

Thus far, let’s take a look at a list ranking the world’s most popular universities. Remember, you can always ask a college essay editing service to tweak the list as desired depending on the changes that may take effect in the future.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Popular known as MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology remains a force to reckon with the list of world’s most reputed institutions of higher learning. From a mind-provoking motto, competitive learning system to state-of-the-art teaching methodologies, MIT remains on top for a seventh straight year.

Thousands of research scholars around the world trace their problem-solving skills and critical thinking capabilities to MIT, an Ivy League member.

2. Stanford University Stanford University is popular for many things. From 100 percent academic excellence, high employability ratio of graduates from the institution, tens of scholarly citations every year, thousands of international students to competitive faculties, Stanford is a known for outstanding research.

It sits at the heart of America’s Silicon Valley in California, thereby providing great opportunities to students who would wish to pursue their careers in fortune 500 companies like Google and Yahoo. Moreover, straddling 8, 180 acres of land make Stanford one of the largest US university campuses.

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3. Harvard University Harvard is the oldest higher learning institution in America dating back to 1636, a year in which it was founded. Over the years, it has remained a center of academic excellence, a reputation that keeps soaring on the world stage. It plays host to the world’s biggest library for academicians, not to mention 10 facilities offering quality degree programs.

4. University of Oxford For decades now, Oxford remains an academic center with global appeal. It boasts of great research output and plays host to thousands of students, both local and international. It is remarkable that while the university does not run the main campus, its tradition of instilling distinctive professional character remains impeccable even after tens of decades into its existences.

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5. The University of Tokyo Japan’s history of hardworking citizens and industrial excellence is deeply entrenched into its education system. The University of Tokyo, for example, is one of the most popular in the world housing more than 4000 academic staff and thousands of students.

Dating back to 1877, it remains the most prestigious Japanese University and competes favorably with others such as Yale, Harvard and Cambridge. Thousands of top CEOs around the world are alumni of the institution.

6. Columbia University A Columbia spectator would agree that the institution’s presence on Ivy League is not for nothing. Established in 1754, Columbia is a research-based university that boasts of high acceptance of graduates in the job market. There are also hundreds of Oscar winners among and successful professionals and Nobel Laureates who were once students at the institution.

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The Bottom Line

In a nutshell, there are tens of other universities that would occupy top slots on this list based on their popularity. Therefore, with the help of a good essay editing service, others such as the University of Michigan, the Australian Nation University, the 68

University of Hong Kong, the National University of Singapore, Imperial College London and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology cut above par in ranking.

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