COWI

Congratulations to the winning projects 🎉 Excitement continues in our office hallways following the IABSE 2024 Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner 2024. The root of our excitement is that the prestigious IABSE Project and Technology Awards went to two remarkable projects with significant COWI involvement: the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. Learn more about the two projects: Category: International Community Development ✅ Padma Multipurpose Bridge helps improve the lives of millions of people by creating a fixed link from southwest Bangladesh to the rest of the country. The bridge is a 6.15-kilometre-long structure with 150-metre-long composite truss spans supported by piles driven up to 130 m into the underlying strata. The bridge features a post-tensioned segmental concrete upper deck for highway traffic and a lower deck for heavy rail. COWI collaborated with the client, BBA, from the beginning, providing technical development and more recently technical support, including a major highway deck redesign to expedite construction. Category: Infrastructure ✅ Mumbai Trans Harbour Link is the longest sea bridge in India, stretching over 21.8 kilometres, with more than 16 kilometres across the sea, connecting South Mumbai with Navi Mumbai. COWI was responsible for the tender and detailed design as a consultant to the Package 1 Construction Joint Venture comprising Larsen & Toubro from India and IHI Corporation from Japan. Package 1 included nearly 10 km of marine bridge and a complex interchange at Sewri with 6.3 km total length of ramps. The marine bridge consists of precast concrete segmental bridges with spans of 60 metres and a total length of 7.5 km. Additionally, four major steel bridges with orthotropic steel decks and spans up to 180 m, totalling 2.3 km, were constructed for navigational purposes. Congratulations to our visionary clients for developing these landmark pieces of infrastructure. We are honoured to have been part of these winning projects 🌟

Did you know that the Great Belt Fixed Link and some of the most prestigious bridge constructions around the globe have one person in common? That person is Klaus H. Ostenfeld, also affectionately known as “the bridge builder of Denmark”. Today, we celebrate and congratulate Klaus, former CEO of COWI and President of IABSE, on receiving the prestigious IABSE - International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Award of Merit in Structural Engineering, which he received last night in Zurich for his significant impact on the field of structural engineering through his extensive career spanning almost six decades 👏 Since 1976, the Award of Merit has been presented to individuals for their outstanding contributions to structural engineering, with a specific reference to their usefulness for society. Klaus has made significant contributions to numerous high-profile construction projects around the globe, which include the Great Belt Fixed Link project, Øresund Fixed Link between Denmark and Sweden, the Farø Bridges, the Normandy Bridge in France, and more recently, several mega-bridge and tunnel projects in China and Bangladesh. Klaus’s career is marked by his passion for engineering and development, analytical thinking, broad vision, and the profound respect he has earned from engineers spanning all career stages and geographical boundaries. An example of his visionary thinking is when he initiated and directed the team for the strategic development of IABSE from 2012. Outside of work, Klaus enjoys many interests as a passionate flutist in amateur classical music ensembles, an instrument-licensed pilot, skiing, mountain hiking, and tour biking with friends and family, including his wife Annette, three children, and eight grandchildren. Tina Vejrum, Senior Technical Director in COWI and current President of IABSE, said: "I am very delighted to see Klaus receive this well-deserved recognition. The honouring of his exceptional work, dedication to technical excellence, and contributions in the field of structural engineering has received support from some of the most distinguished international academics and practitioners. I am so fortunate and privileged to have worked closely with Klaus for many years, and I am deeply grateful for his mentorship. He is truly a role model for many. The International Award of Merit serves as a tribute to the high standards and innovative spirit that characterize Klaus and his career." Watch Klaus discuss his experience working on the design and construction of a major landmark project in Denmark, the Great Belt Fixed Link, which opened 25 years ago 🌉

What does the North Sea have to do with de-fossilizing the energy system? 🌊 If you ask Jakob Dybdal Christensen, Market Director in COWI, sustainable hydrogen produced by offshore wind in the North Sea, is a crucial part of the future energy system in Northern Europe; ”If we could fully electrify the world, that would be just great. But unfortunately, we can’t. Long distances make transportation on battery power impractical or way too expensive and there are technical limits to electrifying certain industrial processes. By utilizing low-cost renewable energy to produce sustainable hydrogen we can make viable alternatives to fossil fuels used today in aviation and the maritime industry.” Admittedly, green fuels are still a bit pricey compared to their fossil competitors – but the technology is in place, and that’s the important part. Hear Jakob explain more in the video👇

Moving 8,000 liters of water per second sounds like a lot to handle, but nonetheless, this is what a new pump and lock station in Aabenraa, Denmark, is designed to manage to prevent flooding of the local river Mølleåen. Impressive, isn’t it? 🌪️💦 Inspired by the ships docked in the nearby harbor, a viewing post on top of the building allows visitors to enjoy a panoramic overview of the surrounding area, reminiscent of the lookout found on the mast of an old ship. ⛵ As the first of its kind in Denmark, the new station is not only a functional installation but also a destination for locals and tourists. The station recently won an award after a popular vote among the citizens of Aabenraa and has become a popular spot for both locals and tourists. It's a great example of an engineering and architectural collaboration that inspires and supports surrounding communities.

Why don’t you use drones? Of course we do!   We use drones for virtual inspections. But sometimes we still have to climb the actual bridges. Drones make the job much more efficient and are here to stay. But relying on drones alone is not always an option. Drones are being used for inspections, but they can't replace climbing entirely. Sometimes the results of a virtual drone inspection require further inspection by climbers 🔎 This stunning footage was taken by our traveling climbers David Detterberg and Jarmo Koskinen as they inspected the Skottleikbrua & Dalevatn bridges in Norway.

If the global cement industry were a country, it would be the world's third or fourth largest emitter of CO₂, making it a key sector in the response to climate change 🌍 For the past ten months, COWI has been assisting Limak Cement, Türkiye's second largest cement producer, in its ongoing efforts to lower the climate impact of the cement industry. COWI has provided advisory on EU regulations and waste management in order to produce and use more alternative fuels. Together, we have also worked on setting a roadmap for the entire Limak Group, involving future carbon capture storage and usage projects. Globally, the sector needs to capture 40% of its emissions to reach 2050 targets, so implementing carbon capture technology on a large scale is vital in bringing down the industry’s footprint. Already a front-runner in this regard, Limak Cement is currently operating the country's top-four most energy-efficient plants and pioneering several research and development projects, including the use of hydrogen as a fuel source, carbon capture and gasification. Yesterday, our close cooperation was extended by entering a formal strategic partnership during a ceremony in Ankara. Under this partnership, COWI is joining several other international companies working with Limak Cement. This forum for exchange of knowledge is key to helping drive innovation and the transition of the cement industry as a whole. Photos: Limak Cement

Your morning dose of celebratory news to kick off the day ☕   We are thrilled to announce that four remarkable projects that we have supported - the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, and Wellsburg Arch Bridge have been chosen as this year's finalists of the prestigious IABSE Project and Technology Awards. The mission of IABSE - International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering is to share knowledge and advance the practice of structural engineering worldwide in the service of the profession and society. The technical association comprising members from 100 countries hosts the annual Project and Technology Awards to recognize outstanding achievements in structural engineering and to showcase some of the world's cutting-edge engineering projects.   Congratulations to the organisations behind the structures for being selected as finalists for the award. We are delighted to have had the privilege to work on these four projects 🌟 Learn more about all finalist projects here 👇 https://lnkd.in/e8gvkEBN The IABSE Project and Technology Awards Winners will be announced at the IABSE Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner that will be held at the Volkshaus in Zurich on 12 November 2024. Cross your fingers - may the best projects win!

What does it take to add more shades of green to the growing number of urban jungles🌱? Time, early involvement, interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of data are some of the points that was shared with our guests last week.  On Wednesday 23 October, COWI, Arkitema and Bruun & Hjejle Advokatpartnerselskab invited some of our good clients and partners to the knowledge-sharing event ‘Biodiversity as a value factor in the construction industry anno 2024’. From the top of Arkitema's studio in the center of Aarhus, there was a beautiful view of the city's green - and not-so-green - roofs, and inside a variety of perspectives on biodiversity and urban nature were shared from a number of speakers. Over the course of the day, these key points emerged:  🌿 Biodiversity requires a large scale, so the concept of urban nature can be used to our advantage to include even the smallest measures that can be difficult to incorporate into a property project - even the smallest things can help make a difference and create a richer nature.    ⏱  Time becomes a new factor to consider. Establishing biodiversity projects and urban nature takes time, as plants need time to take root and grow, and insects and birds need to discover the new areas - our rules and agreements may not be up to date as nature needs time to develop.    ☘  Focus on interdisciplinarity. Creating thriving biodiversity and urban nature requires a full spectrum of knowledge, so different specialists need to work closely together to achieve the best results. Thank you to the participants and presenters for their willingness to debate, interest and curiosity in sharing knowledge and solutions together.  Morten Norup Fassov, ESG Manager at Danica Ejendomme, Louise Bornø, Lawyer, Bruun & Hjejle, Susanne Grunkin, Creative Director and Landscape Architect at Arkitema, Carsten Fjorback, Technical Director within climate adaptation and urban development at COWI, Gitte Gylling H. Olesen, Technical Director at COWI, Katrine Turner, Biologist and Senior Project Manager at COWI, Tina Ravn Erichsen, Lawyer, Bruun & Hjejle, and Thomas Fænø Mondrup, Sustainability Director, COWI.

Imagine the chaos of your daily commute if the bridge you cross, along with several thousand other vehicles suddenly had to close for emergency repairs? 🚧 Well, by taking a proactive approach and designing replacement panels and procedures in advance, we can minimize the risk of such traffic closures and unexpected repairs. A recent example of such anticipation is the A. Murray MacKay Bridge in Canada, which is a vital link connecting the communities of Dartmouth and Halifax since 1970. The MacKay Bridge is crossed by approximately 65,000 vehicles daily while providing more than $120 million of economic benefits to the Nova Scotia economy annually by enabling $73 million in employment income supporting over 1,000 jobs. Halifax Harbour Bridges retained COWI to proactively design a modular orthotropic steel plate deck (OSPD) replacement panel and the erection procedure. Two OSPD panels have already been replaced with new modular panels using the erection procedures developed as a part of this work. COWI was responsible for the detailed design of the replacement panels to provide inspection services, structural analysis during erection, and worked closely with the contractor during construction. As an example of our commitment to develop local, technical knowledge, over 90 percent of the engineering hours was performed by staff living and working in the Halifax area that rely on the MacKay bridge as local residents. We are gratified to have played a key role extending the useful service life of the MacKay Bridge and grateful for the recognition from the Canadian Consulting Engineer and the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Canada (ACEC-Canada). In close collaboration with our client, Halifax Harbour Bridges, COWI has received the Award of Excellence (Category - Transportation) at the 2024 Canadian Consulting Engineer Awards for the Deck Panel Replacement for the A. Murray MacKay Bridge. This award represents Canada’s most prestigious national mark of recognition in engineering, and highlights our dedication to innovation, technical excellence, and the positive impact of our work on the communities we serve. As we celebrate this accomplishment, we are reminded of our commitment to help maintain infrastructure that brings positive impact to communities around the world🌏  

Meet Kiwi, our most furry colleague yet, and soon-to-be wildlife detection dog 🐶 Annex IV is a list of animal and plant species identified by the EU that require strict protection. Locating breeding and roosting areas for Annex IV species can be both challenging and time-consuming. It is crucial for COWI to protect vital animal habitats and minimise the impact of infrastructure development on wildlife populations, and by integrating Kiwi as a wildlife detection dog into our practices, our hope is to enhance survey efficiency. In the coming months, Kiwi will undergo special training to locate specific Annex IV species, which COWIfonden have granted 100.000 DKK to support. Initially, Kiwi will focus on identifying bats, with the hope of expanding to other protected species in the future. Please join us in giving Kiwi a warm welcome to the team!