In this month’s episode we welcome the CEO of Projectworks, Mark Orttung, to discuss how his company’s software is facilitating growth among the construction and engineering sector’s vital small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

We start by learning from Mark about why Projectworks’ offerings are particularly suited to SMEs and how it can help to provide them with insights and analysis that can help to guide them from strength to strength. We learn that, in turn, this simplifies these businesses’ market processes and enables them to spend time more effectively on their projects.

Our discussion then widens out to discuss how this technology is already having an impact in Australasia and America before taking a global sector view on how capacity can be improved across the board through the kinds of outputs that Projectworks provides.

Prior to the interview portion, host Rob Hakimian is joined by NCE senior reporters Tom Pashby and Thomas Johnson to discuss the latest developments with the geological disposal facility and arguments over Welsh rail funding.

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below.

In this month’s episode we discuss the UK’s long-term plan for a vast underground storage facility for nuclear waste – known as a geological disposal facility (GDF) – with Nuclear Waste Services (NWS).

NWS chief scientific adviser Neil Hyatt and NWS head of major permissions Malcolm Orford join host Rob Hakimian to discuss the need for a GDF, especially in the context of the UK ramping up its nuclear power intentions. They discuss examples of similar facilities being developed elsewhere in the world and how the UK’s will compare.

Malcolm and Neil also talk about the long process of getting to build a GDF, including the extensive dialogue and collaboration with the communities that could potentially host it, the in-depth siting process, and what NWS is looking for to determine its final location.

Looking even further into the future, the guests tell Rob about the potential construction and engineering that would be required to undertake an infrastructure of this scale and when we might see work begin.

Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Tom Pashby to discuss the recent annual review from the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista), which gives green, amber or red ratings to all of the UK’s in-development infrastructure projects based on how likely they are to be delivered.

Joining host Rob Hakimian this month is Mind Foundry director of civil infrastructure Tom Bartley to discuss how the business is working on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into our infrastructure maintenance and management processes.

Tom discusses the issues with current structural maintenance regimes and how AI can help to empower the workforce to overcome these constraints. He explains the concept of “digital custodianship” of structures and how Mind Foundry’s new phone app is expanding the accessibility to its tools.

Rob and Tom also discuss the work that Mind Foundry has done with HS2 and Sir Robert McAlpine, as well as the potential for AI use in infrastructure to change the way assets are insured. Tom also talks about the work that Mind Foundry is doing with the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) to ensure that use of AI remains both ethical and safe in hazardous contexts.

Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Tom Pashby to discuss all the recent developments with the Sizewell C nuclear plant including the funding agreement, recent work on site and appointment of a main civils contractor.