SMEC

Last Thursday, Pound Road West – Frankston-Dandenong Road Bridge Upgrade was awarded the Excellence in Governance Award at the 2024 Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) Awards. This recognition celebrates our approach to embedding governance and sustainability in every aspect of the project, from risk management to decision-making. In collaboration with Major Road Projects Victoria and Seymour Whyte, we've delivered an infrastructure solution that enhances community connectivity while driving long-term value and resilience. At SMEC, we remain committed to simplifying complex challenges and delivering transport infrastructure that not only serves today’s needs but builds a sustainable future for generations to come. #Transport #Governance #Sustainability #EngineeringPositiveChange

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻  Earlier this month, nearly 60 of our colleagues gathered from our North Sydney, Wollongong, and Parramatta offices to compete in the NSW Corporate Games. They showcased their skills in golf, tennis, volleyball, and soccer while proudly wearing our recently rebranded SMEC merchandise (Smerch 😊). The ANZ corporate games are a great reminder of just how closely physical health and mental well-being are connected. As we observe Mental Health Month this October, it’s essential to recognise how engaging in physical activities can significantly enhance our mental health. Research has consistently shown that regular exercise can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and support mental health, allowing us to unlock our greatest potential. As Christopher Cullen shared, “At SMEC, team culture is at the heart of everything we do, and it's more than just working together in the office. The opportunity to participate in events, whether it be participating at the Corporate Games or playing lunch time social sport with colleagues across each discipline, it’s a huge part of maintaining a healthy mind, body and spirit. It’s moments like these, where we step away from the office and bond through sport, that strengthens our connections and keep us going.” Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this vibrant display of teamwork and camaraderie And of course, a particular shout out to our medal winners for their outstanding achievements – who doesn’t love a bit of healthy competition?! #CorporateGames #TeamSpirit #HealthyLiving #EngineeringExcellence #MentalHealthMonth2024

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵      Together with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Barwon Water, we took home the Organisational Excellence Award at the 2024 VIC Water Awards last night. The award recognises our collaborative work on the Porronggitj Karrong, Place of the Brolga, project.     This Wadawurrung-led initiative placed ‘listening to country’ at the heart of the project, fostering deeper understanding and reconnection to this special site on the banks of the Barwon River in Victoria, Australia. The project aims to transform almost 70 hectares of land into a new living cultural landscape and community precinct, to create a balanced ecological system incorporating Wadawurrung values for the whole community to connect, listen and learn from Country.      A special thank you to our amazing project partners—Barwon Water and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation—for trusting us with this important project.     Congratulations to all of the finalists and winners at this year's awards!     Learn about how we can support culture-led conservation at the link:    https://lnkd.in/euv5z5SU    #engineeringpositivechange Australian Water Association Jenna Forbes Bob Tilbury Daymion Jenkins Mellissa Zulpo Ashley Zanetti

𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗔 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁     Reservoir sedimentation poses significant challenges for water resource managers and hydropower projects, diminishing storage capacity by approximately 0.5% to 1% of total volume annually, which can lead to substantial long-term impacts on water quality and operational efficiency. In our latest insights article, we explore important research presented during ICOLD 2024, where the paper co-authored by Amit Gautam, SMEC Deputy Technical Principal Hydropower India, and Ritesh Patro from the University of Oulu in Finland, won the Best Paper Award in the Young Professional Forum category.  Their research utilises the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to model sediment dynamics, introducing innovative calibration methods using satellite-derived evapotranspiration data. It addresses sediment yield in regions with limited data and reveals that climate change could exacerbate sediment load variability by up to 30% by 2100.  Discover how these findings can inform adaptation and remediation strategies, ensuring sustainable water resource management amidst the challenges posed by climate change. Read the full article to learn more about these critical developments in hydrological modeling. https://lnkd.in/g7SjHGfs #EngineeringPositiveChange #ReservoirManagement #Hydropower #ClimateChange #Sustainability #SWAT #SedimentYield #WaterResources #BestPaperAward #ICOLD2024 #InnovativeResearch

𝗗𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹: 𝗔 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘁 #AU2024 Last week saw the launch of an inspiring series of discussions at the Autodesk University Conference focused on the maturity of design thinking and the innovative application of technology to tackle complex challenges, often referred to as "wicked problems." Key themes emerged throughout the sessions: - Data Granularity - Data Interoperability - Data Accessibility - Artificial Intelligence These concepts are vital as we explore how organisations can harness the power of data-rich ecosystems to drive innovation across various sectors, from media and entertainment to infrastructure and energy. The presentations showcased real-world examples of 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, emphasising the importance of leveraging digital capability to create meaningful, positive impacts on projects, and in turn the communities we serve. As we move forward, our commitment to embracing technology and innovation remains steadfast. By ensuring a human centred approach to digital innovations, together we can shape a future where engineering consultancies play a pivotal role in driving technological adoption and transformation. Thank you to our digital leads Adam Freer and Dr. Erezi Utiome, PMP, alongside colleague Adrian Worboys from our SJ Group sister company Robert Bird Group were lucky enough to attend and report back. Stay tuned for more insights and collaborations as we continue this ever evolving and always fascinating journey. #DedicatedToDigital #EngineeringPositiveChange #Transport #Energy #Water #Environment

Sustainability in infrastructure is more critical than ever, with the building construction sector responsible for 7 percent of global carbon emissions, and cities consuming up to 80 percent of the world's energy, according to the statistics provided by the United Nations. Embedding sustainability across governance, procurement, and decision-making is vital for driving positive change. At SMEC, we are engineering positive change with projects such as Pound Road West – Frankston-Dandenong Road Bridge Upgrade, announced as a finalist in the Excellence in Governance category at the 2024 Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) , alongside our partners Major Road Projects Victoria and Seymour Whyte. This recognition underscores our dedication to sustainable governance by strategically managing risks and collaborating with stakeholders to achieve impactful results. Congratulations also to the teams behind the M7-M12 Integration Project, Sydney Metro West – Western Tunnelling Package, and Unanderra and Towradgi Station Upgrade Projects, three iconic projects that SMEC is proud to have contributed to, and are named finalists at the ISC awards. Winners will be announced on 24 October 2024 in Sydney. Best of luck to all finalists! Learn more about these Awards: https://brnw.ch/21wO14Z #EngineeringPositiveChange #Sustainability #ISCAwards2024

Congratulations Kirryn Crossman on becoming a 2025 Roads Australia Fellow! The Roads Australia fellowship program is a prestigious national mentoring initiative, aimed at shaping the next generation of leaders in the Australian Transport and infrastructure industry. Recognised as a future industry leader, Kirryn will participate in a structured program of activities, receiving mentorship from industry leaders to further develop her skills, knowledge and professional network. Kirryn joined SMEC in 2011 and was recently appointed as the Manager - Roads and Highways, Gold Coast. She leads a dynamic team that delivers quality-focused and innovative solutions for road infrastructure projects. Recognised as an emerging leader at SMEC, Kirryn is known for her commitment to team development, proactive industry engagement, and collaborative approach. A passionate advocate for women in engineering, she strives to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all. By challenging conventional methods and advocating for outcome-driven solutions, she ensures projects deliver lasting positive impacts on the communities they serve. #EngineeringPositiveChange #RoadsandHighways

It’s National Water Week in Australia – a powerful reminder of water’s vital role in the current climate crisis. This year’s theme, 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, calls on all of us to unite and fast-track solutions that drive us towards a sustainable water future.    Working across the full spectrum of water collection, treatment and distribution, we’re driving sustainable water management and infrastructure on projects across the world.     We’d love to hear how you’re #AcceleratingAction! Whether through project work, innovative solutions, or everyday practices—drop us a line below and share how you contribute to a sustainable water future.    Let’s showcase the power of our collective actions. 💧    Australian Water Association #NationalWaterWeek  #AcceleratingAction #EngineeringPositiveChange #SustainableWaterFuture #ClimateAction  

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗸𝗼 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟯𝟬𝟬 𝗕𝗖, 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆? This ancient structure exemplifies the remarkable durability and ingenuity of early engineering. Bridge infrastructure has long been essential to connectivity, from ancient Roman stone arch bridges, known for their durability, to today's modern marvels. Combining innovative design and engineering precision, bridges enhance mobility and shape the identities of cities. At the 12th Australian Small Bridges Conference and Exhibition, SMEC’s bridge specialists will showcase their engineering achievements through a range of important topics, including insights on fire hazards in bridge structures, improvements to current construction methodologies, the adoption of alternative design considerations, and key pedestrian bridge projects delivered in the last 12 months that are connecting and strengthening communities. Together, we aim to build more than just structures—we strive to shape resilient, sustainable urban environments that reflect our dedication to innovation, collaboration, and making a meaningful impact on the world. Learn more about our involvement: https://brnw.ch/21wNWI0 #EngineeringPositiveChange #SimplifyComplexity #Bridges

With its rich natural resources and cultural diversity, the Solomon Islands is fast becoming a key destination for investment in the Pacific. Its economy is projected to grow by 3.5 percent in 2024, as infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism drive this expansion. However, the country needs international investment and expertise to unlock its full potential. At the 13th Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum, SMEC reinforced its commitment to supporting local business growth and infrastructure development. The forum, themed “Business Leading Employment and Export Growth,” highlighted opportunities for collaboration in sectors like transport, renewable energy, and tourism. Colin Carr and Benjie Aitoroi Oatasia emphasised the company’s long-standing involvement in key projects, such as the Sustainable Transport Improvement Infrastructure Project (STIIP) and the Solomon Islands Road & Aviation Project (SIRAP 1). “We’re excited about the opportunity to work with the local community and government to deliver infrastructure that supports sustainable development,” Colin said. By focusing on sustainability, capacity building, and collaboration, SMEC is positioned to drive positive change in the Solomon Islands, helping to power long-term growth and prosperity for the region. Learn more about our impact on the development of the Solomon Islands: https://brnw.ch/21wNSxI #EngineeringPositiveChange #SustainableGrowth #InfrastructureDevelopment #PacificInvestment #BusinessPartnerships