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A 2023 study by Indecon International Economic Consultants (Indecon) provided an overview of the scale of investment AWS has made in Ireland since 2012, and demonstrated the positive ripple effects an AWS data centre has on local communities.

The report found that AWS has increased economic output in Ireland by more than €11.4bn since 2012, contributing nearly €2.4bn in additional economic output in 2022 alone. 

L-R: Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland; PJ Gallagher, CEO of H&MV Engineering; Emer Higgins, business minister; and Neil Morris, AWS Ireland country lead.

The event provided an opportunity for a range of companies, service providers and other stakeholders to share their thoughts on the collaboration and relationship between AWS and Ireland’s wider enterprise network.

Minister Higgins said: “The Irish companies that work alongside our multinational base are a vital part of Ireland’s economy. It is excellent to get an opportunity to get to recognise the success of these firms, who are at the frontier of the digital economy. Companies like this create jobs here in Ireland and, in the process, create a platform to expand internationally. I want to congratulate H&MV Engineering, and all the firms that were shortlisted for today’s award.”

Leo Clancy, CEO Enterprise Ireland, said: “In recent years Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with H&MV Engineering as the company has expanded internationally. 

"It is exciting to see this highly innovative business go from strength to strength creating new jobs here in Ireland and overseas and are worthy winners of this award. I also wish to commend AWS as they continue to provide supports to a cross-sector of Irish businesses, including startups and scale-ups and play a significant role in nurturing innovation and growth within the overall enterprise eco-system.”

World-leading solutions

Neil Morris, country lead for AWS in Ireland, said: “We have seen the data centre industry in Ireland expand significantly over the last number of years, giving local companies the resources and opportunities to build world-leading solutions in the areas of engineering, manufacturing and logistics.

"The importance of these companies to the Irish economy cannot be overstated and each have contributed significantly to enterprise and employment in Ireland. The work and success of H&MV Engineering is a prime example of the positive impact that foreign investment can have on the Irish economy, as a result of their collaboration with AWS."

PJ Flanagan, CEO of H&MV Engineering, said: “Ever since we started working with AWS in 2013, this has created many different jobs and roles in engineering, project management and a number of supporting jobs in our Irish offices.

"The support AWS has provided to us has allowed us to establish a presence globally. We are delighted to have been awarded the AWS Horizon Award this year and it is testament to the hard work and commitment shown by everyone associated with the company.”

Catastrophic collapses of key bridges are thankfully rare. Notable examples in the last couple of decades include the failure of the I35-W in Minneapolis in August 2007, and the collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa 11 years later. When such events do occur, public attention is understandably focused on the nature of the collapse, which can extend over hundreds of metres in seconds, and its underlying causes.

Whether because of an extreme loading event or an accident, these supposedly rare events in the life of a bridge still need to be assessed before they happen, and mitigation measures taken in accordance with all the potential consequences. This type of analysis is known as a 'risk-based consequence assessment'. The cost of taking additional measures in the near term can prevent significant adverse consequences further down the road.

With many of these structures being more than 50 years old, we often hear that a bridge’s condition may have been compromised by deterioration and increased traffic loads – both in the size and frequency of vehicles. Also, older bridges were designed to standards that have been superseded by new knowledge and technology.

While these factors have helped convince some politicians to increase their infrastructure budgets, including through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal in the US, the tendency has been to focus on stronger, more resilient new structures and on higher maintenance for existing structures. The latter makes it easy for politicians to show the money spent has had a positive impact, because it results in an overall reduction in the number of bridges classified as obsolete or deficient.

One in three US bridges needs repair

Given the enormous scale of the bridge maintenance problem – the American Road Transportation Builders Association has estimated that one in three US bridges needs repair – it makes sense to spread available funding widely. However, this approach can have serious shortcomings if it does not set clear priorities based on the scale of potential consequences from accidents and failures.

One of the two central pylons of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore was rammed by a 300m-long container ship at about 1.30am on March 24, leading to progressive collapse of the bridge’s entire truss within four seconds.

Although the 47-year-old bridge had been found to be in a 'fair' condition during its most recent inspection in 2008, and was 'fully up to code' according to Maryland’s governor after the collision, experts agreed that a catastrophic collapse was to be expected given the magnitude of the ship’s impact. Maintenance workers were on the bridge at the time filling potholes, including the six people who died.

Direct and indirect consequences

Bridge collapses due to vessel collisions have happened before and unfortunately will happen again. In a similar incident in 1980, the Sunshine Skyway bridge in Tampa Bay, also a steel truss structure, was hit by a barge, resulting in 35 casualties due to the collapse of more than 400m of its span.

Around the world, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has reported 31 major bridge collapses due to vessel collisions between 1960 and 2002, resulting in 342 deaths.

The latest, the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, has cut off one of three transport links across the Patapsco river in the busy Baltimore port area. Given its importance as a transport hub, this will have significant economic implications that could have been anticipated.

More than 30,000 vehicles that were using the Key Bridge daily now have to seek alternative routes. Significantly, the other two local crossings are via tunnels, which imposes limits on the type of traffic that can cross the river because the transporting of hazardous materials through tunnels is prohibited.

Shipping traffic into and out of the Baltimore port has been suspended until further notice. Removal of the debris will be a complex operation, and work to ensure all vessel types can navigate the river safely will take time. Further restrictions will then need to be in place when the new bridge is constructed.

There are already signs that supply chains around the world are being affected by the bridge collapse, especially in the car and light truck sector, and in farm and construction machinery.

The economic consequences of this catastrophic event will be substantial at both city and state level. Early estimates on liability insurance payouts suggest the total cost may exceed $1.5bn.

Judging by what has happened after past bridge collapses, there could be negative impacts on jobs and the local economy: about 14,000 people work in the port itself, and another 140,000 are employed in related services.

Above all, six people lost their lives. But the human cost could have been much worse if the incident had taken place during rush hour. Had the impact occurred with a vessel carrying hazardous materials, the environmental costs could have been dramatic as well.

Ship-bridge collisions

Given what we know from previous incidents about the severity of ship-bridge collisions and major bridge collapses, it was clear this bridge was of critical importance.

A number of mitigation options are available to bridges, including the installation of protection devices around the bridge supports (pylons) in the form of fenders or artificial islands, to deflect a ship or lessen the energy of a collision.

For bridges in general, there are measures that can help on the ship side too, such as requiring the use of tugboats or introducing stricter limits on speeds, depending on the type of cargo and vessel size. It is not clear, however, whether these would have made any difference in the case of the Baltimore bridge collapse.

Above all, by undertaking a risk-based consequence assessment every decade or so, authorities that are responsible for vital infrastructure can help visualise changing risks and prioritise their responses appropriately.

In the case of river bridges, ever-increasing ship sizes, speedier turnaround times and higher cargo volumes have all increased the risks – and the costs of a catastrophic collision or collapse. 

Author: Marios Chryssanthopoulos, professor of structural systems, University of Surrey. This article first appeared in the Conversation.

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are a legacy of a bygone era. Victorian combined sewers, designed to collect both sewage and surface water run-off, are buckling under the pressure. When excess rainwater overwhelms their capacity, overflows are triggered, releasing untreated sewage and rainwater directly into rivers, lakes and the sea.

While CSOs were originally intended as a solution for exceptional circumstances, their frequent activation exposes a deeper truth – the UK’s sewer system is riddled with inadequacies.

A recent review by my colleagues and I found that fundamental questions surrounding CSOs remain unanswered. For example, we do not know the volume of sewage that is spilled, exactly what it contains (especially in terms of emerging contaminants), and nor do we have a comprehensive view of its impact on the health of people, ecosystems and the economy.

Based on what we do know, however, here are eight ways to overhaul the UK’s sewer system.

1) Reduce water consumption

In the 1960s, the average Briton used 85 litres of water per day. Today, that figure has jumped to 146 litres. This translates to a much larger volume of wastewater flowing into an already strained sewer system. By finding ways to prevent this extra water from entering the network in the first place, we could significantly alleviate the pressure on its capacity.

2) Capture rainwater

One readily available solution lies in harnessing the power of rainwater, by capturing it through simple devices such as water butts. This can decrease the volume of water entering the network. Captured rainwater also offers a valuable secondary benefit as a readily available, eco-friendly source of water for tasks including gardening and flushing toilets.

3) Fix misconnections

Misconnected pipes pose a hidden threat, occurring when sewage pipes are mistakenly connected to rainwater drains, diverting raw sewage directly into rivers and streams. Conversely, rainwater can also be misdirected into the sewer system, overloading its capacity. Estimates suggest that between 150,000 and half a million homes have misconnected pipes.

4) Only flush the three Ps

The only things which should be flushed down the toilet are pee, poo and paper. But strange things have been found in sewers, from adult toys to false teeth and even pet snakes.

However, it is wet wipes that contribute to 94% of sewer blockages. When combined with discarded cooking fats, they can form enormous 'fatbergs' in sewers. Even so-called 'flushable' wet wipes can cause considerable issues, due to the time they take to degrade. Blockages cause sewage to back up and ultimately spill out through CSOs. 

5) Use smart technology

While other utilities have embraced innovative technology, the water sector lags behind. The electricity sector has developed the smart grid – a network of sensors and software that allows for real-time monitoring and optimisation of energy use. By 2022, 31.3 million smart energy meters had been installed across the UK. In contrast, the number of smart water meters remains unknown.

Water utilities are missing out on increased efficiencies. Even standalone smart meters, not integrated into a wider smart system, can lead to a 17% reduction in water usage, compared with traditional meters. However, this strategy relies on customers’ willingness to have meters; about 40% of households in England and Wales don’t even have a basic water meter.

6) Use nature-based solutions

Achieving the UK’s net zero target by 2050 demands innovative solutions across all sectors, including the sewer system. But traditional approaches to increasing sewage capacity often rely on expanding infrastructure such as large concrete pipes, which come with a significant carbon footprint.

The construction of London’s Tideway project, a vast combined sewer, generated 768,756 tonnes of CO₂ – roughly 0.19% of the UK’s total emissions in 2022. Replicating this approach across the UK’s 77 most populous urban areas would collectively produce 14.4% of its emissions.

Fortunately, nature-based solutions offer a promising alternative. These low carbon and even carbon-sequestering approaches can effectively manage wastewater and rainwater run-off. Human-made wetlands mimic natural ecosystems to treat sewage, while rain gardens and retention ponds capture rainwater, preventing it from overwhelming the sewer system.

7) Take the C out of CSO

Unlike more modern systems, combined sewers act as a mixing bowl for a variety of water sources, collecting everything from rainwater and domestic sewage to industrial run-off. This creates a complex cocktail of potential pollutants, including hazardous chemicals, that can be difficult and expensive to treat effectively at large centralised facilities.

By separating these different sources, the treatment process could be simplified. For instance, industrial wastewater, which can be laden with heavy metals, could be diverted to specialised treatment plants equipped with advanced technologies such as ultrafiltration. This targeted approach would allow for more effective treatment of smaller volumes of wastewater, reducing the burden on the current system.

8) Decentralise

The traditional model of transporting all sewage to a central treatment plant should also be reviewed. Decentralisation could see more households using 'greywater' (wastewater from showers, sinks and washing machines) for garden irrigation. At a neighbourhood level, communities could treat domestic sewage locally, potentially incorporating natural solutions such as human-made wetlands.

The combination of climate change, population growth and rising water consumption is pushing Britain's Victorian-era sewage system to breaking point. To safeguard waterways and build resilience for future challenges, a radical rethink is essential, and soon. 

Author: William Perr, postdoctoral research associate at the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University. This article first appeared in the Conversation.

Findings published recently in the journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment from a University of Houston space-borne monitoring team indicate the dam may have had deformation hotspots before the war, pre-dating the actual collapse. 

“Through our analysis, we observed displacements characterising different segments of the dam, up to two years prior to the actual collapse,” said UH assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering Pietro Milillo. 

Flooding in Kherson after destruction of Kakhovka Dam 2023. Photo: Courtesy Wikimedia Creative Commons.

Measures infrastructure deformation from space

In the article, Milillo and team present the results of a methodology called InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) which measures infrastructure deformation from space with millimetric accuracy using radar images of the Earth's surface collected from orbiting satellites. 

The findings came about while the team was conducting a study monitoring the stability of infrastructure during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

By leveraging space-borne technology, the team, including the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) uncovered previously unseen details of the pre-collapse of the dam and detected movements and deformations in the dam years before the collapse, providing valuable insights into its stability. 

"This study highlights the significance of proactive monitoring and the role of remote sensing in ensuring the safety and integrity of critical infrastructure” said lead author Amin Tavakkoliestahbanati, co-author and graduate student in Geosensing System Engineering in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at UH.

"Our findings emphasise the importance of continuous surveillance to detect and address potential risks before they escalate into catastrophic events." 

“Only in recent times are we able to observe such phenomena thanks to the increased number of satellites flying in space capable of such measurements,” said Milillo, who is also a visiting scientist at DLR.   

“Current hypotheses ascribe the collapse of the dam to an explosion that occurred on June 6, 2023. Although our analysis cannot exclude an explosion that occurred on that date, they can identify existing damage mechanisms that might have affected the dam before its collapse,” said Milillo.  

Milillo said that the data in the study supported the hypothesis that the structure was moving downward since June 2021.

Neglected dam maintenance and operations

“With the beginning of the war, neglected dam maintenance and operations might have destabilised the structure over specific areas, favouring the development of the above-mentioned mechanisms,” he said.
 
The research not only offers valuable insights into the events leading to the collapse of the Kakhovka dam but also underscores the potential of InSAR as a proactive monitoring tool for infrastructure stability assessment.  

As the world faces increasing challenges related to climate change and geopolitical instability, such studies pave the way for more informed decision-making processes and enhanced risk assessment strategies.

InSAR’s ability to detect and quantify ground movements with high precision and over extended periods of time contributes to enhanced risk assessment, forensic engineering activities and informed decision-making processes. 

(This research was supported by the Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership. In addition to Sjoblom, Haas and Bartoli, Fatmah Hasan and K.I.M. Iqbal, graduate students in the College of Engineering, contributed to this research.)