Max

In our endeavour to create better lives for ourselves, our families and our communities, we have also damaged the environment. Thousands of years ago, this did not matter much as people inhabited only a very small area. Over time, however, especially in the last few hundred years, our impact footprint has increased considerably. The value …

Ecological restoration: using ecological processes to repair degraded habitat Read More »

Project teams working in developing countries, and especially in remote areas, face several challenges. One of these challenges is understanding the culture of the local communities that become the project’s neighbours. These cultures are often very different from the cultures the expats in the project team have grown up in. What is unknown can be …

Large engineering projects shock local socio-economic systems Read More »

During the height of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, millions of people were confined to their homes or allowed only limited travel. Sooner or later, depending on personal circumstances, like the condition and size of one’s home, people wanted time outdoors—time to be out in the open, under a blue sky and in nature.A recent study published …

Lockdown experiences during Covid-19 pandemic illustrate how much people value being outdoors Read More »

Temane Thermal Power Plant, Mozambique. Construction of a new 450 MW gas-fired power plant and transmission line has been launched this week at Temane in Inhambane Province in Mozambique. The project will supply power to EDM (Electricity of Mozambique / Electricidade de Moçambique) .The natural gas for the project will be supplied from the Pande …

Project and environmental news Read More »

Social and livelihood impacts of the Ugandan section of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP) The research article considers the social and livelihood impacts of the Ugandan section of the USD $3.5 billion EACOP. The 1443 km pipelines will transport crude oil from the Kabaale Industrial Park in Uganda to a storage facility …

Research news and links Read More »

Well designed and managed engineering projects provide a valuable platform and opportunity to contribute to economic development. This is especially the case in developing countries that lack infrastructure, industrial capacity and investment. Goal 8 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment …

Major engineering projects contribute to economic growth Read More »

Guidelines for eco-industrial parks based on food webs: Three researchers at Texas A&M University drew inspiration from food webs found in nature to develop guidelines for designing more resilient eco-industrial parks. The results suggest that the approach will assist in addressing environmental, economic and resiliency concerns. Glacial meltwaters in Greenland contain mercury: An international team …

Research News Read More »

Dams, pipelines, power plants, mines, refineries and smelters, ports and rail are all examples of large engineering projects with a primary purpose. Dams store water, pipelines convey water, petroleum, gas or slurry. Power plants generate electricity,  mines extract minerals, refineries and smelters extract metals from ores.  Ports provide a safe harbour for ships and facilities …

Major engineering projects often fail to maximise opportunities Read More »