Construction 4.0 research – integrated and holistic
Last week, I introduced our multi disciplinary Construction 4.0 research team. Today I am going to overview the key research themes and programs. Of course, in our Industry 4.0 research,…
Making construction efficient with Construction 4.0
Major international collaboration led by HERA to position Aotearoa’s construction sector at the forefront of Construction 4.0 I was on leave in the middle of the Australian bush, koala spotting…
Matariki – 10 reasons why businesses should give a toot about it!
This coming Friday will be Aotearoa New Zealand’s first ever Matariki celebrated nationwide. Although I am totally here for it, for many in our industry Matariki probably just means another…
Materials passport – reimagining how valuable materials are tracked and recycled
A healthy sustainability solution for structural engineers: nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is reused. Traditionally, structural engineers have followed optimisation procedures to reduce material usage, increase the efficiency…
Watch the replay: A tikanga Māori approach to creating future-ready and resilient cities
Recently, I listened to a webinar organised by ACE New Zealand titled “A tikanga Māori approach to creating future-ready and resilient cities.” In this “webinar, speakers included Troy Brockbank ((Te…
Fire and burn out resistance of timber columns
Data on the cool down phase for timber structures is something designers and regulators need to consider when it comes to load carrying capacity of CLT structures. This thinking comes…
How will treated timber be treated with the ‘wood first policy’?
While critical technical aspects associated with treated timber in construction remain unsolved, the ‘wood first policy’ is the wrong decision at the wrong time. There needs to be better science…
Study shows cast-in-place reinforced concrete more affordable than cross laminated timber in a US-based 10-storey building
A recent technical study has come to HERA’s attention as it highlights our stance that you should choose infrastructure material based on design parameters. The technical study that we refer…
Research and evidence gaps on fire performance challenged
A recent John Hopkins University Report validates our concerns at HERA around the lack of data and baseless assumptions relating to mass timber performance in high rise buildings. This is…
Is there a welder shortage in New Zealand?
The global welder shortage is a growing and well-known phenomenon. A recent article – Global welder shortage – viewpoints from three continents asked for the opinions of specialists in three…
The great literacy lie
When presented with a challenge or we find ourselves lacking the skills to complete a task – we often develop an uncanny knack of adapting or creating work arounds. Ensuring…
Want to go carbon neutral? Here’s where to start!
HERA has just gone through an independent review of its carbon footprint. We’re sharing our experience, the resultant report and accounting spreadsheet in the hope that this will help you…