Two SA projects recognised at global infrastructure gathering

15th November 2013

By: Samantha Herbst

Creamer Media Deputy Editor

  

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A global gathering of leading executives and thought leaders from around the world took place at London’s Hilton Metropole late last month for the Year in Infrastructure 2013 Conference (YII2013). Participants used the platform to compare notes on effective infrastructure development strategies and to honour the work of Bentley Systems’ sustainable infrastructure software users who spent this last year focused on improving the world’s infrastructure.

The event culminated in the Be Inspired Awards Banquet, held on October 30, which honoured the winners in 22 categories, including State- owned power utility Eskom’s Kusile power station, which took first prize in the Innovation Power Generation category for its virtual three-dimensional plant simulator.

In addition, South African engineering information technology company Graphic Engineering Solutions and Services (GESS) and professional spatial and engi- neering solutions and service provider African Consulting Surveyors (ACS) were honoured as nominees for their contribution to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) depot modernisation programme.

PRASA appointed GESS and ACS to laser survey and reverse engineer rail lifting and running sheds at depots in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town as part of the State-owned agency’s R7-billion modernisation project.

The three-day infrastructure conference focused on infrastructure design, construction and operations, featured presentations and interactive sessions and explored the intersection of technology and business drivers and how they are shaping the future of infrastructure delivery and investment returns.

Further, 105 members of the media from publications around the globe attended the event.

In addition to comparing notes on effective strategies and honouring Be Inspired finalists and winners at this yearly event, the Year in Infrastructure Conference aims to guide companies using Bentley’s products, to find gaps in the application thereof and to move forward in developing future solutions.

“We are trying to help sustain infrastruc- ture through your contributions. We also think the supply chain engineers, organisers and design and construction operations don’t get enough credit from the world at large for improving the world we live in,” Bentley CEO Greg Bentley told delegates at the closing ceremony.

He added that one of the objectives of the Be Inspired Awards was to shed light on those projects and serve those who are sustaining infrastructure by shedding light on their accomplishments.

“I attend many Bentley events throughout the year and I certainly enjoy and value every one of them. But our Be Inspired Awards ceremony – now part of our broader and more compelling Year in Infrastructure Conference – is, indeed, one of my favourites.

“It reminds me why all of us in the field of sustaining infrastructure do what we do. Hearing about the remarkable projects that are delivered every year in the service of enhancing quality of life is an inspiration like no other. I thank and congratulate this year’s award winners, along with all of our nominees, for their important contributions to sustaining our society, our environment and global economic growth,” he said.

Bentley acknowledged the 22 award winners, as well as nine Be Inspired special recognition award winners at this year’s ceremony, namely California State Polytechnic University, Pomona professor Dr Francelina Net, who was crowned Bentley Educator of the Year, and salvage master of the Costa Concordia parbuckling project Captain Nicholas Sloane, who was saluted as an Infrastructure Hero for his key role in this unprecedented engineering feat to safely remove the sunken Costa Concordia cruise ship, which was shipwrecked off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Italy, in January this year.

Six independent panels of jurors, comprising accom- plished Bentley users, former winners and industry experts, selected the Be Inspired Awards winners from 65 project finalists. These finalists had been chosen previously from submissions by more than 300 organisations in 43 countries.

The jurors selected candidates for the awards from the top finalist projects as well as other exemplary nominations. This selection was based on the projects’ uniquely innovative and visionary achievements that transcend the narrower focus of the standing awards categories. The nominees were then reviewed by a panel of Bentley executives, who evalua- ted them based on the criteria established for each award.

Guest keynote speakers at YII2013 included chairperson of the Olympic Delivery Authority for London 2012 Sir John Armitt, who is also chairperson of intercity coach operator National Express; London-based high-frequency railway Crossrail CEO Andrew Wolstenholme; UK government chief construction adviser Peter Hansford and multinational engineering and electronics conglomerate Siemens corporate VP Pedro Miranda, who is also head of the Siemens Global Centre of Competence Cities.

Meanwhile, Bentley chief operations officer Malcolm Walter told Engineering News that the YII2014 is likely to be held in London again, owing to the scale of infrastructure projects currently under way in London. “It’s interesting to note that, while London is, in my opinion, leading the world in infrastructure development, the country is currently implementing an austerity programme.

“There’s an amazing amount of commitment being reflected in London that I’m very impressed with. It was a rich environ- ment for this group to come together this year,” he concluded.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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