Double win for University researchers at international engineering awards

Two research teams from the University of Dundee have today (Friday 11 October) been presented with prestigious awards from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

The awards have been made in recognition of research projects carried out by both geotechnical engineers and urban planners at the University.

An engineering team led by Professor Michael Brown, from the University’s School of Science and Engineering, took home this year’s Telford Medal for their work developing silent foundation systems for offshore renewable energy applications.

This is the second consecutive year that Professor Brown’s team have received an ICE award, having been recognised last year for their research into screw piles for offshore jacket-supported wind farms foundations.

Meanwhile Professor Husam AlWaer, Chair of Urban Design at the University’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), received the George Stephenson Medal.

It is also the second year in a row Professor AlWaer has received an award from ICE – and the fourth over an eight-year period – for his research in urban design and planning. 

Professor Brown said, “We are delighted to receive this award and celebrate two years of double success for Dundee.”

His team worked with a leading industry partner, Heerema Marine Contractors, to develop two silent piling products – a screw foundation for wind turbines and another foundation system which self-installs. 

These screw piles and so-called push-in piles can be installed without loud hammering or subsequent need for mitigation measures to reduce noise levels, greatly reducing the impact on marine life during construction.

The silent foundations system also won the Environmental Sustainability Award from the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) last year.

Professor AlWaer receives his award for his paper Design and Use of Space in Refugee Camps: A Case Study of a Contested Terrain, published in the Urban Design and Planning Journal by Emerald Publishing last year.

Professor AlWaer’s work studied changes to the set-up of accommodation units made by refugees at Al Za’atari, the largest Syrian refugee camp in the world, and the social impact of those changes, resulting in a sense of community.

He said, “I am thrilled to win these prestige awards and proud to be recognised for making a contribution to the urban design and planning community. 

“Winning awards is really inspiring and encourages me to push the boundaries further with more intensive and innovative research efforts.”