COWI

You’re only two phone calls away from someone who knows everything "I have been with COWI for 12 years, working as a project manager. My background is as process engineer, and I started out working in the energy sector with power stations, heat extension and that kind of things. About 6 years ago I began working on larger multidisciplinary projects within energy and industry. So, it’s been a long time since I did any technical engineering. It’s not that I don’t find the technical aspects interesting, there are just so many people that are much better at it than me. And that’s one of the really great things about my job. I get to work with specialists in many different areas and disciplines, and there is always someone I can talk to, who knows what I need to know. As project manager in Buildings, I work with big industrial projects, where we are dealing with new technologies and a lot of stuff that hasn’t been done before. There is always something new, I need to understand to be able to tell the team what to do. So, when I come across something new, I reach out to one of the many specialists within different areas and disciplines, and every time I am impressed that there is someone in COWI who knows a lot about even the strangest topic. There is a culture of respect and helpfulness between the disciplines, which is not only essential for me to do my job, but also creates a pleasant work environment where we work together across the organization." Gillian Dyer, Project Manager Meet Gillian’s colleagues and read about their projects here: https://lnkd.in/d7XAaNiU

💥 Bridging sustainability, innovation and design 💥   From the very beginning, sustainability has been at the heart of this new bridge project, guiding both choice of materials and final design. The arch bridge elegantly spans a busy highway in Aalborg, Denmark, seamlessly connecting two campuses on each side of the road. “The decision to make an arch bridge was the result of an insightful workshop with specialists from both Vejdirektoratet and COWI. Not only does the design enable a minimum disruption of traffic during construction, our initial considerations have also guided our choice of materials and reduced material usage, leading the entire project toward a more sustainable direction,” says Kristian Riis Ruby, Associate Project Director at COWI. Safe and seamless assembly of such large concrete arches and azobe sections with minimal disruption to traffic is also a testament to excellent planning and collaboration between MT Højgaard Danmark, Vejdirektoratet, and COWI, with Arkitema’s innovative design redefining our initial vision for the bridge. “It has been an amazing project to be a part of, and we’re excited to welcome pedestrians onto the new bridge that opened up last week," says Martin W. P. Boserup from COWI, who has been the site supervisor during the project.

Do you think assembling a flat-pack wardrobe is tricky? Try putting together a 55-meter aluminum bridge! Imagine a bridge made entirely of aluminum, with a deck 100% recycled from an oil platform. Now imagine it successfully assembled, piece by perfect piece, ready to connect communities in Trondheim. The innovative Hangarbrua in Trondheim recently underwent a successful test assembly, proving that all the pieces of this innovative puzzle fit perfectly. At COWI, we love a good challenge. Co-creating this sustainable marvel with Statens vegvesen - Norwegian Public Roads Administration and Leirvik AS has been both rewarding and, dare we say, fun. This successful test assembly not only saves time and money but demonstrates our commitment to sustainable solutions. Learn more about this game-changing project below 👇 Photos: Statens Vegvesen

⚡ BREAKING NEWS: High voltage win!⚡ We are thrilled to announce that COWI, in collaboration with Tyréns AB and Dalekovod-Projekt, has secured the contract for Karlstadbenet, the largest power transmission project ever in Sweden! The contract with Svenska kraftnät is worth SEK 700 million.     This important project will increase the transmission capacity of electricity from northern to southern Sweden, supporting economic growth and driving the green transition. Karlstadbenet features two new parallel 460-kilometre-long 400 kV powerlines.   While technical excellence was essential for winning the contract, it was not the only factor, explains Annika Bergholtz. "In our joint proposal, we demonstrated a genuine commitment and a methodical approach to collaboration and planning, which were crucial factors in securing the project," says Annika Bergholtz, Senior Project Director. Read the full story and our role in it: https://lnkd.in/dtTZqjCq

Meet the doctor  Did you know that COWI employs several doctors?🎓  Our doctors aren’t specialised in human or animal health but are PhDs in their professional field; be it concrete, mathematics or steel like Hassan Alkarawi💡 Hassan, tell us about your studies?  "I have studied how to improve the strength of steel structures, especially in bridges and large constructions. We explored HFMI treatment, vital for preventing fatigue - similar to how a spoon bends and breaks after repeated use. Our studies have shown that this technique can extend the lifespan of bridges and large structures subjected to heavy loads, showing great potential for both existing and new constructions." Why did you choose to pursue a PhD?  "In research, there are many interesting theoretical approaches and knowledge perspectives. For a specialist like me the opportunity to dive into and explore their potential is very exciting. This is why I wanted to pursue a PhD; it's almost the only way to study a specific subject in depth over an extended period and achieve significant results. A master’s degree isn't sufficient for this—it requires several years of study and complete focus." How can you apply this in your work life?  "While the specific technology I studied is quite new and will become more useful in the future, the various tools, and methods I've used during my PhD, such as statistics, programming, and researching information from different sources, are very valuable. Most importantly, I've learned how to critically evaluate both my own and others' work. I am also glad to have the opportunity to continue my research and assist other students in my position at COWI. " While Hassan doesn’t use a stethoscope and may not know when a cold should just pass and when it must be treated, he is indeed a doctor.   And Hassan is one among quite a few, we can proudly say. Stay tuned until next time we humblebrag about some of the brilliant minds we have behind the scenes in the world of engineering 🌏

Ina Elisabeth Lindmark is reaching new heights as a rising star at COWI. This 29-year-old civil engineer seized the opportunity for a leadership role at the New Bodø Airport project, relocating from Oslo to extend her potential and embrace new challenges head-on.   The New Bodø Airport is a collaboration between Avinor, Bodø Municipality, and the Norwegian Armed Forces to build Norway's most modern airport by 2029. The new airport will boost urban development and improve connectivity for the people of Northern Norway. “My initial thought was: Can I do this? Shouldn't somebody more experienced, more senior get the job? Finally, I told myself to stop it and accept the job,” Ina admits. With the support of her partner and her colleagues at the project office, Ina has settled nicely into her new life. “They are motivating and don't let me shy away from difficult situations. They give me the space to learn and figure it out myself. And, really, that's the only way you grow”, she says. Ina's advice? “Don't be afraid to take risks because, most of the time, things work out. There is a lot of the 'who-do-you-think-you-are' mentality, but don't ever let the negative voice take root.” At COWI, we work hard to empower young talent like Ina to step out of their comfort zone, take on new challenges, and thrive both professionally and personally. Join us in designing the future. 📸: Anita Sjåvik, Avisa Nordland

“What I like from research is that it gives me the opportunity to learn and employ my analytical and problem-solving skills to find new solutions and broaden the current state-of-the-art with novel ideas, methods or data. Eventually, it may be the best expression of my ikigai in the professional sphere. During my maternity leave, which became unintentionally longer due to the COVID pandemic, I had the time to expand the research conducted during my PhD studies at the University of Cambridge. I developed further those new concepts that were perhaps still immature in my thesis, e.g. on TBM (tunnel boring machine) and concrete segmental lining interactions, and wrote many academic papers emanating from my research, one of those being awarded best paper by the Tunneling and Underground Space Technology journal. The article dissects the field data captured from a concrete segmental ring during TBM tunnelling, with the aid of analytical and finite element models. It also includes both explanation and discussion on ring structural behaviour and permanent damage. Being part of the construction industry and participating in projects that enhance the lives of so many is extremely gratifying. Civil infrastructure can contribute to the betterment of society when it responds to careful strategies planned for a sustainable future. My work is certainly most satisfactory when I know that it will be part of this much needed change. I hope that with my passion, dedication and the occasional recognition such as the TUST Best Paper award, I am helping to ease the path of future generations of women that would also like to pursue technical roles in heavy civil construction, or in any other scientific or engineering field for that matter.” -Saleta Gil Lorenzo, Principal Engineer. You can read Saleta’s award winning paper “In situ behaviour of an instrumented ring subjected to active eccentric tail seal passage” here: https://lnkd.in/drkUUBrk

We’ve got a problem, and it’s a global one 🌍🌊 Nature, cities and coastlines are facing an increased risk of flooding, storm surges and heavy rainfall. But while the problem is global, we also need to act locally. According to an analysis by the DTU - Technical University of Denmark, the effects of climate change may add up to a dizzying DKK 400 billion within the next 100 years in Denmark alone if we don’t act. Luckily, we’ve already got the solutions. But we need to act fast. These were some of the conclusions from the climate summit ‘FØR stormfloderne rammer’ in Copenhagen where Foreningen af Rådgivende Ingeniører, FRI, Danish Industry and the consulting industry along with scientists, municipalities and other important actors gathered to discuss where we need to go from here. Leading Project Manager in COWI Lars Frederiksen spoke on behalf of COWI, Ramboll, WSP, Artelia and NIRAS when he emphasised the need for adaptive, holistic, long-term climate adaptation.  Watch the highlights in the video below 👇🏽

Re-using bricks from existing houses to build a brand new culture centre  – yes, that is the plan in a new pioneer project in reuse and circular design♻️ 💫 The culture centre is set to open in 2028, and will host the local public library, Citizen Service, a culture school with workshops and music rooms, a stage hall for theatre and music, 2 cinema halls, a communal kitchen and more, and serve as a cultural hub for the entire area of Hornslet in Syddjurs Kommune in Denmark. The aim is to create a structure that integrates principles for circularity into practice; that it is flexible, can be disassembled, can be adapted to future needs, and recycled. The building’s load-bearing construction will be made of wood, while the protective outer envelope and certain interior elements will feature reused and biogenic materials. On the site today, there are two existing brick houses. The ambition is to reuse as much as possible from these buildings. But also reusing materials from around the local area is part of the proposed plan; ”Reusing materials from the local area provides us with a unique opportunity to integrate the local community into the project; they will gain hands-on experience with sustainability, and it creates a strong local foundation for the project, " says, Casper Østergaard, Sustainability Lead at COWI. “The competition programme strongly emphasised reuse, transformation, and circularity, and through great cross-disciplinary co-creation between colleagues at Arkitema and at COWI we have managed to make a design that meets the criteria,” says Senior Creative Leader at Arkitema, Anna Kathrine Bisgaard Sørensen.

From all of us at COWI, we wish you all happy holidays and a wonderful new year ahead! ✨ Thank you for a great year – we look forward to exciting challenges, new opportunities and even more co-creation in the year to come. Take care and enjoy! 🍾