COWI

🍰 Is it cake or a gem 💎? While it looks like chocolate cake, a new way to use Danish clay as one of the key ingredients in the production of concrete is more likely a gem. PhD project has found a way to replace cement in concrete production reducing the carbon footprint by up to 80% compared to traditional Portland concrete. The key is to replace the cement with a much less carbon-heavy binder, explains Marvin Glißner, industrial PhD student at DTU Sustain and COWI, who recently won the DTU Sustain Innovation Award 2024 for his PhD project supported by the COWI Foundation, DTU - Technical University of Denmark and industrial sponsor MAX BOEGL INTERNATIONAL. In his award-winning project, he uses calcined clay, dug up from the Danish underground, in combination with a waste product from steel production. Together, this can replace cement in concrete production, significantly reducing the carbon footprint. Concrete is made of stone, sand, water and a binder – usually cement – and it is mainly because of cement production that concrete accounts for around 8 pct. of global carbon dioxide emissions. Every year, approximately 17 billion tonnes of concrete are used globally for buildings, roads and bridges, so decreasing the carbon footprint from this production is of huge importance. “We want to help our customers reduce their climate impact through their projects. By using a more climate-friendly type of concrete containing local and abundant clay for their big infrastructure projects such as tunnels, bridges and marine structures, they will emit much less CO₂. We are happy to contribute to pulling the industry in a more sustainable direction for the climate, nature and people,” Carola Edvardsen, Technical Director at COWI and supervisor of the PhD project adds. Watch Marvin explain more in the video below👇

Do you remember Kiwi, our furry future wildlife detection dog 🐶 ? The training to locate specific endangered species has now officially begun with biologist Louise Rask Christensen. In recent months, focus has been on accustoming Kiwi to various environments, as confidence in different settings is essential for her success. A well-prepared detection dog must be comfortable navigating both indoor and outdoor spaces. Body awareness, particularly rear-end control, is an important part of the training since it is crucial for moving adeptly through diverse terrains. Louise adds; “Puppies often struggle to coordinate their hind legs, but with targeted exercises, Kiwi is learning to move with precision and confidence. This skill will be vital when navigating various terrains, including buildings and natural areas where bats roost. “ Much like her human colleagues in engineering, a key aspect of Kiwi’s work is problem-solving. “Kiwi has been introduced to cognitive challenges, learning how to find solutions to reach her favorite toy—a small squeaky tennis ball. By stimulating her ability to analyse and strategise, we prepare her for future situations where accessing a scent source may require creative thinking”, Louise adds. Training remains play-based to sustain her enthusiasm, and Kiwi is getting valuable socialization experiences with the help of our colleagues at the Aalborg office, who are assisting her in building confidence around humans. The project is supported by the COWI foundation, and we look forward to following Kiwi’s development into a skilled wildlife detection dog.

If you haven't heard of floating tunnels, that's understandable; they rarely make headlines, but that might be about to change! Allow us to introduce Margaux Geuzaine, Ph.D., civil engineer, and the recipient of the L’Oréal UNESCO Fellowship Award 2024 for Women in Science for her research on floating tunnels. Margaux's interest in engineering stems from her fascination with bridges: “I am amazed by bridges as they are the result of collaborative research. My teenage dream was to have my name on one, but I realized architects typically receive that honor, even though engineers play a crucial role.” The way from bridges and into the deep sea was very logical for Margaux: “When I decided to do a PhD, it was my teenage voice coming back saying that if I wanted to leave something good to the world, this would be the way to go. I like to solve problems and what is better than problems that have never been solved before?” Floating tunnels could provide crossing solutions in deep waters where suspension bridges are impractical and resilient against harsh weather. The award will aid in developing an experimental floating tunnel model in the Mediterranean for research. The frightening thought of getting trapped underwater is probably the reason why no one has dared to build a prototype of a floating tunnel yet, Margaux says and adds; “I realized that with my research, I could really make a difference, and we could develop monitoring tools in advance that are able to follow the state of the tunnels once they are built. This both increases confidence in the solution and pushes towards the development of an actual full-scale prototype.” The L’Oréal UNESCO Fellowship, awarded yearly to exceptional female scientists, aims to support and promote the role of women in scientific research, encouraging more young women to embark on careers in this field. Margaux received the award as a recognition of her remarkable contributions to science. We are proud of Margaux and happy that she continues her great work at 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