National Buried Infrastructure Facility project wins prestigious sustainability award
The research, designed and conducted in collaboration with Tensar, was honoured at the Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) 60th Anniversary Awards 2024.
The research, designed and conducted in collaboration with Tensar, was honoured at the Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) 60th Anniversary Awards 2024.
The project, a collaboration between the National Buried Infrastructure Facility (NBIF) at the University of Birmingham School of Engineering and Tensar, assessed the impact of using innovative geo-reinforcement in Temporary Working Platforms (TWPs). TWPs are used across the construction industry to support loading from heavy machinery and other construction plant. Whilst traditional design methods include high-quality quarried granular, this project used geogrids to reduce the amount of fill material required and improve the working platform's bearing capacity.
The state-of-the-art testing and instrumentation technologies at NBIF were pivotal in delivering the project as they allowed for real-scale construction site conditions and a full-bearing capacity working platform under controlled settings to assess the impact of the geogrid with high precision. The outcomes of this project achieved a 75% reduction in carbon and cost, demonstrating significant sustainability and environmental benefits.
Set up and loading of the temporary loading platform in NBIF.
The project's Academic lead, Professor Asaad Faramarzi, was supported by the NBIF research and technical team, including Dr Anna Faroqy, Dr Wuzhou Zhai, and Mr Kieran Hansard, alongside colleagues from Tensar. The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) awards ceremony took place in London towards the end of 2024 and was attended by leading professionals and academics from across the UK.
The National Buried Infrastructure Facility (NBIF) commenced operations in 2022 to support innovation, training, and research, including soil-structure interaction, soil stabilisation, and geophysical sensing techniques. It is the first facility of its kind in the UK and forms part of the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC).