Data-enabled ‘DIGGER’ helps HS2 contractor win top sustainability award
HS2’s main works civils contractor, EKFB, has been awarded ‘Platinum’ status by the Supply Chain Sustainability School. Data-enabled ‘DIGGER’ helps HS2 contractor win top sustainability award: Excavators and tipper trucks at work shifting material delivered by the Wendover Conveyor An innovative project using continuous data feeds from hundreds of trucks, excavators, and other earthmoving equipment to boost efficiency and cut carbon emissions has helped one of HS2’s biggest contractors win a top sustainability award. EKFB – a joint venture made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and Bam Nuttall – which is delivering some of the largest cuttings and embankments on the new high-speed railway, has been awarded ‘Platinum’ status by the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS). Part funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and industry partners, the School was set up in 2012 to boost knowledge and collaboration in the built environment. The new status was awarded in recognition of EKFB’s commitment to sustainable practices, which include the use of the Digital Earthworks programme and improvements to supply chain management. The Digital Earthworks programme – known as DIGGER (DIGital Graphical Earthworks Reporting) - is a partnership between EKFB and construction equipment supplier Finning to streamline earthmoving. It has already led to a saving of more than £25m for the project by avoiding unnecessary vehicle movements and cutting fuel consumption. It makes extensive use of data from 700 earthmoving machines, which are fitted with electronic weight sensors to monitor the millions of cubic metres of rock and earth that needs to be moved across the line’s 80km central section and telemetry devices that monitor utilisation of machines on site. This includes graders, loading shovels, dozers and compactors used on site as well as trucks and excavators. Anti-idling is also a key priority, not only to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and boost productivity, but also as a protective measure to minimise workers’ exposure to black carbon, improving their working conditions and benefiting the local community. This is achieved through the use of telematic data and workforce training. Construction of the HS2 project – which will improve journeys between London and the West Midlands while freeing up space on the existing West Coast Main Line for more freight and local services – is now well underway. As part of its section of the project – from the Chilterns to south Warwickshire – EKFB must shift 60.5 million cubic metres of rock and earth and the Digital Earthworks processes play a significant role in the job by ensuring vehicle movements are as efficient as possible. As well as the DIGGER programme, the school also recognised EKFB’s progress on embedding best practice across their supply chain. This includes a commitment to meet the high standard of the charter, working collaboratively with all parties and the provision of e-learning to move towards a more sustainable approach to construction. The school established the Plant Charter in 2020 to support the UK’s ambition of Net Zero by 2050. Signatories are encouraged to take measures to lower emissions on construction sites, address and reduce tailpipe emissions, and train staff on why and how to reduce emissions. These measures result in improved air quality and more environmentally friendly working practices. To achieve the platinum standard, companies must meet standards set by the SCSS, be reassessed every 12 months, demonstrate increased competency in sustainable practices, attend multiple training events and be at the forefront of sharing best practice with other companies. EKFB were the first HS2 contractor to be certified by the SCSS, being awarded Bronze status in 2022 and Gold status the following year alongside fellow main works contractor SCS, a joint venture made up of Skanska, Costain and STRABAG who are building the London tunnels. EKFB has now become the first HS2 contractor to be awarded the highest status - Platinum. www.hs2.com Powered by Induportals Media Publishing
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HS2’s main works civils contractor, EKFB, has been awarded ‘Platinum’ status by the Supply Chain Sustainability School.
Data-enabled ‘DIGGER’ helps HS2 contractor win top sustainability award: Excavators and tipper trucks at work shifting material delivered by the Wendover Conveyor
An innovative project using continuous data feeds from hundreds of trucks, excavators, and other earthmoving equipment to boost efficiency and cut carbon emissions has helped one of HS2’s biggest contractors win a top sustainability award.
EKFB – a joint venture made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and Bam Nuttall – which is delivering some of the largest cuttings and embankments on the new high-speed railway, has been awarded ‘Platinum’ status by the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS).
Part funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and industry partners, the School was set up in 2012 to boost knowledge and collaboration in the built environment.
The new status was awarded in recognition of EKFB’s commitment to sustainable practices, which include the use of the Digital Earthworks programme and improvements to supply chain management.
The Digital Earthworks programme – known as DIGGER (DIGital Graphical Earthworks Reporting) - is a partnership between EKFB and construction equipment supplier Finning to streamline earthmoving. It has already led to a saving of more than £25m for the project by avoiding unnecessary vehicle movements and cutting fuel consumption.
It makes extensive use of data from 700 earthmoving machines, which are fitted with electronic weight sensors to monitor the millions of cubic metres of rock and earth that needs to be moved across the line’s 80km central section and telemetry devices that monitor utilisation of machines on site.
This includes graders, loading shovels, dozers and compactors used on site as well as trucks and excavators. Anti-idling is also a key priority, not only to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and boost productivity, but also as a protective measure to minimise workers’ exposure to black carbon, improving their working conditions and benefiting the local community. This is achieved through the use of telematic data and workforce training.
Construction of the HS2 project – which will improve journeys between London and the West Midlands while freeing up space on the existing West Coast Main Line for more freight and local services – is now well underway.
As part of its section of the project – from the Chilterns to south Warwickshire – EKFB must shift 60.5 million cubic metres of rock and earth and the Digital Earthworks processes play a significant role in the job by ensuring vehicle movements are as efficient as possible.
As well as the DIGGER programme, the school also recognised EKFB’s progress on embedding best practice across their supply chain. This includes a commitment to meet the high standard of the charter, working collaboratively with all parties and the provision of e-learning to move towards a more sustainable approach to construction.
The school established the Plant Charter in 2020 to support the UK’s ambition of Net Zero by 2050. Signatories are encouraged to take measures to lower emissions on construction sites, address and reduce tailpipe emissions, and train staff on why and how to reduce emissions. These measures result in improved air quality and more environmentally friendly working practices.
To achieve the platinum standard, companies must meet standards set by the SCSS, be reassessed every 12 months, demonstrate increased competency in sustainable practices, attend multiple training events and be at the forefront of sharing best practice with other companies.
EKFB were the first HS2 contractor to be certified by the SCSS, being awarded Bronze status in 2022 and Gold status the following year alongside fellow main works contractor SCS, a joint venture made up of Skanska, Costain and STRABAG who are building the London tunnels. EKFB has now become the first HS2 contractor to be awarded the highest status - Platinum.
www.hs2.com
An innovative project using continuous data feeds from hundreds of trucks, excavators, and other earthmoving equipment to boost efficiency and cut carbon emissions has helped one of HS2’s biggest contractors win a top sustainability award.
EKFB – a joint venture made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and Bam Nuttall – which is delivering some of the largest cuttings and embankments on the new high-speed railway, has been awarded ‘Platinum’ status by the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS).
Part funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and industry partners, the School was set up in 2012 to boost knowledge and collaboration in the built environment.
The new status was awarded in recognition of EKFB’s commitment to sustainable practices, which include the use of the Digital Earthworks programme and improvements to supply chain management.
The Digital Earthworks programme – known as DIGGER (DIGital Graphical Earthworks Reporting) - is a partnership between EKFB and construction equipment supplier Finning to streamline earthmoving. It has already led to a saving of more than £25m for the project by avoiding unnecessary vehicle movements and cutting fuel consumption.
It makes extensive use of data from 700 earthmoving machines, which are fitted with electronic weight sensors to monitor the millions of cubic metres of rock and earth that needs to be moved across the line’s 80km central section and telemetry devices that monitor utilisation of machines on site.
This includes graders, loading shovels, dozers and compactors used on site as well as trucks and excavators. Anti-idling is also a key priority, not only to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and boost productivity, but also as a protective measure to minimise workers’ exposure to black carbon, improving their working conditions and benefiting the local community. This is achieved through the use of telematic data and workforce training.
Construction of the HS2 project – which will improve journeys between London and the West Midlands while freeing up space on the existing West Coast Main Line for more freight and local services – is now well underway.
As part of its section of the project – from the Chilterns to south Warwickshire – EKFB must shift 60.5 million cubic metres of rock and earth and the Digital Earthworks processes play a significant role in the job by ensuring vehicle movements are as efficient as possible.
As well as the DIGGER programme, the school also recognised EKFB’s progress on embedding best practice across their supply chain. This includes a commitment to meet the high standard of the charter, working collaboratively with all parties and the provision of e-learning to move towards a more sustainable approach to construction.
The school established the Plant Charter in 2020 to support the UK’s ambition of Net Zero by 2050. Signatories are encouraged to take measures to lower emissions on construction sites, address and reduce tailpipe emissions, and train staff on why and how to reduce emissions. These measures result in improved air quality and more environmentally friendly working practices.
To achieve the platinum standard, companies must meet standards set by the SCSS, be reassessed every 12 months, demonstrate increased competency in sustainable practices, attend multiple training events and be at the forefront of sharing best practice with other companies.
EKFB were the first HS2 contractor to be certified by the SCSS, being awarded Bronze status in 2022 and Gold status the following year alongside fellow main works contractor SCS, a joint venture made up of Skanska, Costain and STRABAG who are building the London tunnels. EKFB has now become the first HS2 contractor to be awarded the highest status - Platinum.
www.hs2.com
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