www.sbne.gcal.ac.uk

OutlookThe School of the Built and Natural Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University | 14 | January 2009

Best everresearch rating

Caribbeanconnections

Construction Club

Mentoring

Prizewinners 2008

New staff

Supporting equality

Innovatiovetechnology

On the lighter side

Placement in pictures

2 Outlook 14 | January 2009

A number of the School’s degreeand post-graduate programmeshave recently been reviewed andgained accreditation fromprestigious professional bodies.

The Royal Institution ofChartered Surveyors (RICS) hasconfirmed its accreditation of theSchool’s new MSc in Real EstateManagement. The course providesa one-year, full-time study routefor graduates from non-surveyingdisciplines, with a part-time, dayrelease, two-year option for thoseworking in the industry.

Programmes commence inSeptember and February. Furtherdetails can be obtained fromAlistair Hendry, the ProgrammeOrganiser at ahe4@gcal.ac.uk

At the same visit, RICS alsore-accredited the MSc inConstruction Economics.

The BSc(Hons) Environmental CivilEngineering programme wasvisited by representatives of theJoint Board of Moderators (madeup of the Institution of CivilEngineering, Institution ofStructural Engineers, Institution

of Highways and Transportationand the Institute of HighwayIncorporated Engineers). Theyrecommended re-accreditation ofthe programme for the maximumallowable 5 years and madespecial note of the significantinvestment which the School hasmade in laboratory equipment.

In November the Board ofQuantity Surveyors Malaysiavisited the School and have giventheir renewed approval to ourBSc(Hons) Quantity Surveyingprogramme.

A recent trip by BNE staff to Grenoble inFrance has led to a range of extendedconnections being created for environmentalcivil engineering students.

In October, Martin Cullen visited the InstitutUniversitaire de Technologie Grenoble todiscuss opportunities for mutual exchangesunder the Erasmus scheme. This is operated bythe British Council on behalf of the EU tofacilitate both students and academic staff tospend time in another European educationalinstitution in order to study for part of theirdegree and gain experience of the workpractices and way of life in that country.

As a result, anenvironmental civilengineering student fromGrenoble is now

spending a short study period at BNE.

While he was there, however, Martin also metpeople from the University College, Denmarkand the Universita-degli studi di Udine whowere also interested in exchanges and alongwith Grenoble all are keen to exploreopportunities for students to ‘articulate’ fromtheir diploma programmes to BNE’s degreeprogrammes.

What makes this easier is the fact that theDanish and French Institutions teach most or allof their classes in English, while the Italians cangenerally get by in French.

Discussions on practicalarrangements willcontinue in January.

www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus

Europeanconnectionsx 3

Programmes get seal of approval DISCUSSINGFUTURE OFENERGY INOMANDr Stas Burek, Senior

Lecturer in Environmental

Technology in the School

recently presented a paper

at an International

Conference on harnessing

technology in solar energy

and other natural resources

at the Caledonian College

of Engineering, Oman.

He presented his paper:

“When will fossil fuels

finally run out and what is

the technological potential

for renewable resources?”1

to over 200 delegates,

mostly from the Middle East.

The paper was well received

with many delegates asking

for copies, and he was also

asked to review abstracts of

other papers on energy

topics.

While there, Stas also

discussed potential

collaborative research

opportunities with other

delegates including some

from Germany, India and

middle east, making good

contacts to be followed up in

the future.

1 For the answer, contact Stas in order toread his paper!

3Outlook 14 | January 2009

Caribbean connectionsAnother in our occasional series of “Where are they now?” Be warned: this article may make you feel sick (with envy!)

Deane Moffitt graduated fromBNE as a Quantity Surveyor in2001 and after six yearsworking in the UK, joined TVAConsultants Ltd, aconstruction consultancy firmin the Eastern Caribbean.

So while the rest of us freezein a Scottish January, Deane isnow based on Grenada, “thespice island”, at the southernextremity of the WindwardIslands, 100 miles north ofVenezuela. As a Project andCost Manager, he works ondevelopments in the residentialand tourism sectors, rangingfrom a private villa developmentat US$1 million to a resortdevelopment valued at US$100million. He has also worked onprojects with three other(lucky!) Caledonian alumni.

From a construction industryperspective, Deane says, thereare a number of similaritieswith the UK in terms ofmethods of procurement, legaland contractual. There are alsomany differences as mostislands have different currency,taxation laws, import duties,construction markets andconstruction costs, as well asusing the imperialmeasurement system. Thebiggest surprise has been thedifferent requirements ofHealth and Safety legislation.

WORKING IN THE CARIBBEAN

Deane says: “With projects inGrenada, Barbados, St.Vincent, Bequia and Mustique,one of the benefits of my roleis the regular island hopping.A typical two-day trip begins at5 am for a short flight to St.Vincent and then to Mustiquefor project meetings, followedby a sixty-minute flight toBarbados for the next day’smeetings, before a 9 pm returnflight to Grenada: long hoursbut a unique window tobusiness and life on differentislands.

A large part of TVA’s businessis on Grenada which has thefastest growing tourism marketin the Caribbean and issignificantly less mature than

the more commonly knownCaribbean destinations, suchas Barbados and St Lucia. Thelast decade has seen a boomin construction across theEastern Caribbean as investorsaround the world have seen theopportunity in the ever-increasing value of real estate.

The recent turmoil in thefinancial markets has had, andwill continue to have, animpact on constructionmarkets in the region and maymake it more difficult fordevelopers to raise capital.Like the UK constructionindustry, the full effects are asyet unknown.”

ISLAND LIFE (turn away nowif you’re of a sensitivedisposition!)

To get away from the busyoffice, Deane reckons therelaxed Caribbean lifestyle hasit all. When not on the beachwith a book he is hiking in therain forest, wake boarding,scuba diving or learning tosurf.

He concludes: “There aresignificant opportunities in theconstruction industry in theCaribbean. My advice wouldbe, whether coming on holidayor to work, remember the paceof business is fast, but thepace of life and change isslow. Traffic lights, forexample, were resented whenfirst introduced several yearsago and are still regarded bysome as an idea which has notyet proved itself. Life on anisland 21 miles by 12 milesmeans we do not have 25varieties of cornflakes in thesupermarket nor masses ofdepartment stores andshopping malls and, mostimportantly, in case you are ina rush, stop!!”

Deane can be contacted atdmoffitt@tvaconsultants.com andTVA Consultants’ website iswww.tvaconsultants.com.

If you would like to tell us about your career since leaving the University, please contact us at john.leabody@gcal.ac.uk

Marc Breen, a finalyear BSc(Hons)EnvironmentalManagement andPlanning student, haswon the regional BritishEnvironment Partnership(BEP) environmentalplacement award.

During his assignment atBield Housing Associationin Glasgow, Marcsuggested ways in which688 tonnes of waste couldbe diverted from landfilleach year.

Peter Henshaw of Bield,said: “Marc’s work hasformed the basis forfurther investigations andpositive actions withinBield to improve wastemanagement practices andrecycling.”

He’s seen here receivinghis certificate fromCouncillor Tom Buchanan.

Best ever research rating for BNE

MARC OFAPPROVAL

Deane at the “office”

The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) for 2008 has justbeen published and shows that BNE has attained its highestever rating in the category “Architecture and the BuiltEnvironment”. Compared to other institutions which, like BNE,do not offer Architecture programmes, BNE is top rated inScotland and overall is second only to Edinburgh College of Art.

Last carried out in 2001, the 2008 RAE was conducted jointly by theHigher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), theScottish Funding Council (SFC), the Higher Education FundingCouncil for Wales (HEFCW) and the Department for Employmentand Learning, Northern Ireland (DEL).

Many of the papers and articles submitted by BNE were consideredto show “Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality,

significance and rigour” or “Quality that is internationally excellent interms of originality, significance and rigour.”

Speaking of his delight at these results, Peter Kennedy, Dean of theSchool said: “This is a great result for the School and furtherillustrates the calibre of education and research carried out in theSchool. Coming after the Guardian assessment, which put us in thetop 10 in the UK for the quality of our programmes, and the fantasticreviews our international students have given us, GlasgowCaledonian University really is one of the best places for study andresearch in the built and natural environment. Thanks must go to allthe staff involved.”

Full details are available here www.rae.ac.uk/

Outlook 14 | January 20094

Members of the ConstructionClub, created to support andbenefit from the innovativeBSc(Hons) ConstructionManagement by BlendedLearning programme, met at adinner in Glasgow in Septemberto demonstrate theircommitment to the projectthrough the signing of a Charter.

The Charter, signed by the 15construction employers involvedin the programme, describes theaim of the Club as being “tofacilitate the growth of asustainable supply of high calibreConstruction Managementstudents” and commits itsmembers to “provide input intoeducational curriculumdevelopment in order that theprogramme remains relevant tothe Construction Club employers.”

• commit to employing aminimum of one studentduring the summerimmediately prior to the yearof entry into the programme

• employ HNC/HND graduatesfor entry into year three of theprogramme. Although thisroute is considered secondaryto the school leaver (yearone) entry route)

• be given information aboutinterested potential studentswho may be looking for workor sponsorship from GlasgowCaledonian University

• meet and exchange ideaswith each other and theUniversity at least twice peryear

• no group member will activelyuse their membership of theclub to entice participatingstudents to work for theirorganisation from fellowConstruction Club members

• the chair will provide periodicupdates on promotionalactivities conducted by theUniversity in relation to theprogramme, concerning theuse of the membership fee

New membership of the Club willbe by request, either through theUniversity or directly from asupporting ConstructionEmployer to a nominatedUniversity Staff Member. TheUniversity will administermembership and this willroutinely be accepted, providedpotential members commit to thischarter and pay the joining fee.

The role of Chair will remain inthe University while the project isfunded provided by ScottishEnterprise, until March 2010,following which an industry Chairwill be elected for the subsequenttwo years.

If you would like to enquire about joiningthe Club or any other information, contactMichael Tong on M.Tong@gcal.ac.uk

Construction Club Charter

Members of the Club and University staff at a Dinner in September

CLUB MEMBERS AGREED TO:

Dr Iain Cameron and Dr Billy Harehave won a research grant from theInstitution of Occupational Safety &Health (IOSH) to test their pictorialsafety messages with constructionworkers with low (or no)understanding of English.

The £100,000 funding will help“establish whether there is evidencethat the delivery of hazard informationand instruction, using pictorial aids,can be linked with improvement intargeted competences and behavioursamongst second language workers.”

The 12-month study leads on frompioneering work done last year forConstructionSkills, when the teamdeveloped hundreds of images tocommunicate H&S information,resulting in a new chapter in theCSkills, industry-standard publication,

“Construction Site Safety (GE700)”.Other guidance is in the pipeline tohelp workers and site managerscommunicate “critical” health, safetyand welfare information.

The new study will measure thelonger-term impact of using images toconvey UK-specific rules andstandards. Evidence from the CSkillsstudy shows that many workers fromother countries have not received UK-based training: while they may becompetent in their own trade orspecialism, they lack knowledge ofUK-specific laws and regulations andsafety practice. The team plans toimplement a series of interventionstudies using images to conveyspecific information during “tool-box-talks” and measure the workers’knowledge and behaviour.

It is hoped that workers will benefitfrom the work by being made aware ofsite hazards, site rules, emergencyprocedures etc. as well as learningsafety-specific words and phrases foremergency situations. The findings willalso help construction employers -small and large - by providing easilyaccessible guides for thecommunication of H&S information.

Development of more effectivecommunication in H&S will also havewider benefits in better understandingof UK construction language andimproved integration of secondlanguage workers into the culture ofUK construction sites.

In this increasinglycompetitiveemployment market,there is no substitutefor one-to-oneadvice from peoplewho have beenprofessionallysuccessful.

The Alumni MentoringProgramme offers anopportunity forgraduates to use theirexperience to providerealistic advice to thenext generation ofCaledonian graduate,about breaking into aparticular field, assistingthem with the transitionfrom student to

employee orentrepreneur. Non-graduates are alsowelcome as mentors onthe scheme.

The official programmeruns for six months, withinteractions at least oncea month with yourstudent, hopefully one ofthese would be face toface.

You could help astudent by:

• sharing with them therealities of yourprofession to givethem an insight intothe field

• encouraging them togain exposure to aprofessionalenvironment throughvolunteer work,

internships andshadowing

• helping them developwork skills andaccomplish specificgoals

• suggesting additionalresources such assubscribing toindustry magazinesor attending industryfairs/lectures

• giving guidance onthe content andlayout of their CV andhow to approach ajob interview

The University will offermentor and studenttraining early in 2009and the alumni office isthere to provide you withsupport should youencounter any difficultiesrelating to the AlumniMentoring Programme.

You can find out more and registerfor the programme online atwww.gcal.ac.uk/alumni/volunteer/mentoring/Or contact Mansoor Ali, AlumniRelations Officer, on 0141 331 8679alumni@gcal.ac.uk

5

Every picture tells a (safety) story

For further information, contact Billy on0141 331 3908, B.Hare@gcal.ac.uk

Mentoring GCU students

Outlook 14 | January 2009

1.Donottwistyourbackwhenlifting2.Insertthesafetypinwhenre-attachingthebuckettopreventitfallingoff3.Safepracticewhennearcranelifts

1.

2.

3.

BUILDING SERVICESENGINEERING

The Hays Prize for Best OverallPerformance in BSc BuildingServices Engineering by a p/tStudentPeter Scott

The Hulley & Kirkwood Prize forBest Overall Performance inBSc Building ServicesEngineeringDominika Walaszek

The Hulley & Kirkwood Prize forBest Overall Performance inBEng(Hons) Building ServicesEngineeringMichelle Perry

SVM Prize for Best Project inBEng(Hons) Building ServicesEngineeringKevin Ward

The Wallace Whittle Ltd Prize forBest Project in BSc BuildingServices EngineeringBeata Glogowska

BUILDING SURVEYING

The Robin Hagart Rose Bowl forTop Level 4 Building SurveyingStudentAlan Campbell

The Knight Frank Prize for TopLevel 4 Technology Student inBuilding SurveyingMark Gough

Clark Contracts Award for TopLevel 3 ConstructionTechnology Student in BuildingSurveyingJane Jordan

The GVA Grimley Award for TopDissertation from a BuildingSurveying StudentMartin Gardiner

Elite Contracts (GB) Ltd Prizefor Top Final Year BuildingSurveying Studies StudentColin Ashford

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

The CIOB Certificate ofExcellence for Top HonoursStudent in ConstructionManagementGary Meechan

The Scottish BuildingContractors’ AssociationScholarship Award for Top p/tStudentRoss Trivett

The Mansell Award for TopHonours Dissertation StudentGary Agolini

The CIOB Graduate Award forTop Management Student inCore Modules at Honours LevelGary Meechan

BVT (UK) Award for Level 2 f/tCM Student in ConstructionProcess Management 1Kate Sinclair

Ogilvie Construction Award forTop Level 3 f/t StudentsCraig LittlewoodHarmanjit Sandhu

The Building Journal Prize forTop Level 3 f/t Direct EntryStudentGraham McCaig

Clark Contracts Award for TopLevel 3 ConstructionTechnology Student in CMScott Shearlaw

BAM Construction Ltd(Scotland) Prize (CM) forConstruction ManagementCraig Littlewood

The Dawn Group Award for TopNon-sponsored Level 2 StudentRoss Honeyman

Bovis Lend Lease SponsorshipAward (CM) for Top Non-sponsored Level 1 StudentPaul MurrayDuncan Skimming

The ROK Award for Top ProjectManagement Student inConstruction ManagementAlan Haddow

The CIArb Prize for Top DisputeResolution StudentRoddie Cowan

ENVIRONMENTAL CIVILENGINEERING

The Institution of Civil EngineersPrize for Best Performing CivilEngineering StudentJames Webb

The Scottish Civil EngineeringContractors’ Training GroupPrize for Top Placement Studentin Civil EngineeringRobert Rankin

Scottish Hydraulics StudyGroup Prize for Excellence in aFinal Year Project in HydraulicsJamie Power

The Masterton UndergraduateBursary for Civil EngineeringMohsin BukhariRobert Martin

PROPERTY MANAGEMENTAND VALUATION

Property Week Student Prize forTop Cohort Student in HonoursLevel Property Managementand ValuationStuart LewisDavid McKay

James Barr Prize for ValuationMartin Church

Jones Lang LaSalle Prize forTop PMV Honours Level StudentDavid McKay

Outlook 14 | January 20096

Prize Winners 2008At a ceremony on 11 November, prizes, many of these sponsored byconstruction industry employers and partners, were awarded to recognize ourtop students’ achievements in the following categories:

“James Barr is proud to continue itsassociation with GlasgowCaledonian University and keen tosupport student achievement. TheBNE Annual awards allows theUniversity and the industry as awhole to recognize theseperformances.”Steven Dalton, James Barr

“The Chartered Institute of Building(CIOB) plays a leading role in thedevelopment and continualimprovement of educationalstandards at a national andinternational level and recognisesthe significant contribution that thelearning institutions have indeveloping tomorrow’s constructionmanagers.The Scottish Branch of the CIOB isdelighted to continue its associationwith the School of the Built andNatural Environment and would liketo congratulate all award winnersand graduates and welcome theminto a fantastic industry.”Malcolm MacLeod, CIOB

Robin Hagart

Outlook 14 | January 2009 7

Miller Samuel Prize for Top PMVStudent Performance in LegalSubjectsMichael Gordon

Lambert Smith Hampton Prizefor Top PMV ProfessionalPlacement StudentChristine Aitken

INTERIOR DESIGN

The Porcelanosa Interior DesignGold Medal for Top InteriorDesign Student in HonoursLevelCarlo Jaconelli

TMS CADCentre Award for BestID Computer Aided DesignStudent - Level 4Carlo Jaconelli

TMS CADCentre Award for BestID Computer Aided DesignStudent - Level 3Ashley McCabe

QUANTITY SURVEYING

The Balfour Beatty Prize (QS)for Best Civil EngineeringMeasurement StudentSteven Carrington

The David Avery Prize for BestPerformance in Cost StudiesAllison Sutherland

The Altus Group Ltd Prize forBest Combined ManagementPerformanceAndrew Anderson

The Dawn Group Trophy for TopFinal Year StudentCalum Winning

Bovis Lend Lease (QS) for TopLevel 1 Student (full-time)Christopher Cairns

BAM Construction Ltd forScotland Prize (QS) - TopStudent in Corporate StrategyElaine Brennan

Arcadis AYH Prize for Top QSStudent in Honours ElectivesCalum Winning

Arcadis AYH Prize for Top Level1 QS Student in POP ModuleJaqueline Anderson

Turner and Townsend Prize forThe Interact Design TeamCompetition (Top Individual QS)Steven Sharoudi

Turner and Townsend Prize forThe Interact Design TeamCompetition (Top Team QS)Andrew Murphy

The Currie & Brown Prize (BestPerformance in Measurement,Cost Studies and Contract)David Liguori

The Currie & Brown Prize (BestF/T Level 2 Student)Gerard Milne

The Currie & Brown Prize(Dissertation DemonstratingExcellence)Alan Cameron

Clark Contracts Award - TopLevel 3 ConstructionTechnology Student in QSAllison Sutherland

Clark Contracts Award - TopLevel 3 ConstructionTechnology Student (Overall)Allison Sutherland

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Caledonian Environment CentrePrize (Best MSc WasteManagement Student)Alan Huntridge

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENT

Valpak Prize (Best MSc Energyand Environmental ManagementStudent)Marcus Ogwu Edino

INDUCTION PRIZE-WINNERS

Building Services EngineeringStuart FortuneLuke LamontBeth MoranAlan Purdon

Bulding SurveyingPaul Breslin-StrainPaul DevlinDaniel GormleyAndrew Workman

Construction ManagementStuart AndrewsMark JamiesonPeter KellyGary NicolsonGraham Stirling

Environmental Managementand PlanningAlicia Al-SoudaniCalum BoydLloyd CullenKatie Ferrie

Alana HunterGail MacKenzieDouglas Young

Civil EngineeringJordan CruickshanksMorven Seonaid MacLeodRobert MartinJennifer Mills

Property Managementand ValuationJenny BoggsNeil MilliganGavin SmithEwen Taylor

Quantity SurveyingNicola DinningIain FindlayIain LawFrazer McLachlanGavin OspreyChristopher WilsonCraig Wright

Fire Risk EngineeringJohn AdamsGavin BlackJoseph HaighDominick HughesDeclan Thomson

Elite are delighted to be involved andif what we are doing encouragesstudents to ‘’higher achieve’’ then wehave all benefited.Stewart Steele,Elite Contracts (GB) Ltd

“We see these awards as an idealway of continuing to develop ourrelationship with the university andnext year, in addition to these, welook forward to awarding the AlanCalder Memorial Prize to the bestfinal year QS student (part time).”David Cooper, Clark Contracts

“Miller Samuel is delighted to beassociated with, and support, theSchool of the Built and NaturalEnvironment AwardsCeremony. Education is thecornerstone of our society and weare glad to give our support whereverpossible’’.Michael Samuel, Chairman ofGlasgow Law Firm, Miller Samuel

Outlook 14 | January 20098

Kenny is on the far left of the back row

BNE is pleased to welcome to its team, new staff membersDr Wong, Dr David Manase and Rosa Godsman.

Dr Wong was educated as a Quantity Surveyor in Malaysia andworked in professional practice in the Far East for a number ofyears, before studying for a PhD at the University of Ulster,followed by research at Warwick University. Dr Wong will teach atthe School and work on marrying sustainability research with QSpractice.

David joins the School from the University of Wolverhamptonwhere he was teaching and completing his PhD, researching Healthand Safety applications for GIS systems. Prior to that he worked inindustry with Edmund Nuttall. While lecturing in QuantitySurveying, David also hopes to pursue his research interests inconstruction law and finance and Health and Safety.

Rosa, also a QS, is teaching 3 days per week in the School andcomes from a strong industry background, having worked withArmours Cost Consultants and also Cyril Sweett.

New staff

“Valpak are delighted to sponsorthe student awards as theoutstanding quality of studentscoming from Glasgow CaledonianUniversity is excellent and secondto none. Not only are the studentsstrong academically, they’re alsoready to contribute to industry.”Hugh McCoach, Valpak

Rosa GodsmanDr David ManaseDr Wong

A bloody good job!

PrizeWinners2008

Kenny McDougall, a Technician within BNE, hasreceived an award from the Scottish National BloodTransfusion Service for donating 100 pints of blood.

Kenny has been a registered blood donor for over 25years and was among the 200+ people from all overScotland who received awards at the ceremony atGlasgow City Chambers in October.

Kenny started out giving whole blood but now givesplatelets, which mean he can donate more frequently.Platelets are used to help cancer patients whoseimmune systems are depleted through treatmentssuch as chemotherapy.

Says Kenny: “It’s a great thing to do andeveryone who can should give blood.”

Well done Kenny!

Outlook 14 | January 2009 9

Supportingequality anddiversity inthe builtenvironment

BNE, in conjunction with theUniversity’s Audio VisualServices department, hasbeen working with MorrisonConstruction’s team atWhitelee Wind Farm toproduce a DVD of thisimpressive project.

Whitelee is the largest onshorewind farm in Europe with 140wind turbines. The £460mproject is a joint venturebetween MorrisonConstruction and BalfourKilpatrick and is due forcompletion in 2009.

The skills and experience

gained on this massive project

have been vast and Morrison’s

are keen to capture this vital

knowledge. The aim of the

DVD is to educate and share

best practice with project staff

who will be involved with future

wind farm projects. Staff and

students within BNE will also

benefit from gaining first hand

experience on this innovative

project via the DVD and

planned site visits.

In September, a group of

environmental staff from the

School visited Whitelee where

they met Alan Chesney,

Morrison Construction’s

Project Environmental

Manager for a presentation

and extensive site visit.

Alan spoke about the

environmental challenges

presented by the 5,500 hectare

site, in particular regarding the

control of water run-offs as the

site is in a Scottish Water

catchment area. Innovative

techniques have been

developed and, combined with

a thoroughly dedicated team

working closely with SEPA,

these have resulted in minimal

damage to the Environment.

BNE students will be working with ConstructionSkillsand the Scottish Resource Centre for Women inScience, Engineering and Technology on a newEquality and Diversity initiative in 2009. QuantitySurveying students will be the first to pilot the trainingwhich is designed to develop a workforce thatwelcomes the best people, regardless of gender andethnicity.

Jacqueline Kerr, Equality Advisor forConstructionSkills, comments: “Students today are theemployers of tomorrow. Whilst Construction is a sector tobe proud of in many areas, we need to make more of apositive impact in is in relation to equality and diversity.Women and people from black and ethnic minority groupsare under-represented within the sector. We need to be pro-active in creating a sector that we can be totally proud of.”

During Spring semester, the School will support researchand pilot positive action strategies. Jenny Tizard,Manager of the Scottish resource centre for women inSET, says: “Women are still in the minority working andstudying in the built environment sector. As well as runningdiversity training for male and female students, we plan tolook at the experiences of women students on placement.We will discuss with them how can we best help them toget the most out of their work experience and support themin pursuing their careers in the sector once they graduate.”

For further information about the project contact Jenny Tizard j.tizard@napier.ac.uk orIrene Bonnar I.D.Bonnar@gcal.ac.uk

Catching the wind

BNE staff on site at the windfarm with Alan Chesney (second from right)

Outlook 14 | January 200910

Kevin and friend

Academics and students fromBNE are helping businesses inthe Loch Lomond andTrossachs National Park toimprove their success and alsobecome more “green”.

Businesses involved in thetourism sector are being offeredfree consultancy assistancethrough Kit-out the Park (KOTP)a Scottish Government-fundedinitiative, based at the University,which aims to encourage theuptake of the latest technologicaldevelopments by small andmedium sized businesses. Theproject is now being extended toinclude West/central Scotland.

The key objective is to help smallcompanies improve theirbusiness performance, developnew products and services andincrease their competitive edge,through the adoption andintegration of the latesttechnologies in five key sectors:

• IT and communications

• Business processimprovement(e.g. through better useof communicationstechnology and theinternet)

• Food technology

• Green tourism

• Sustainable buildings andconstruction methods

BNE has been involved withseveral businesses, especiallywith regard to theirenvironmental policies and useof renewable energies, helpingthem to engage with the ‘greentourism’ agenda.

For information on how KOTP might helpyou visit www.kit-out.org/

The j.podJohn Barr Architects have inventedthe j.pod, a prefabricatedconstruction system suitable forhousing, commercial space andsustainable tourismaccommodation. Developed in theUK and Japan, the j.pod involvesinnovative use of local timber andtimber-based products tosuccessfully address the issues ofoffsite manufacturing, qualitycontrol, affordability, carbonemissions and sustainability.

The RICH Centre tested andanalysed the thermal andenvironmental performance of thej.pod to ensure that legislation wasbeing met (actually exceeded) andthat a healthy internal environmentwas being achieved.

The TRISCO software package wasused to determine the thermalperformance of the system inrespect of its components and theSAP2005 procedure determined thethermal performance of a typicalhouse constructed using thesystem, including ventilation andoccupancy factors, to assess theoverall energy demand and CO2emissions of the house.Comparisons were made betweenconventional and ecologicalinsulation materials with respect tocost and performance, allowing theoptimum sustainable system to beproduced with cost, build andenvironmental considerationsfactored in.

Hotel roomin a boxRubix Solutions have re-usedshipping containers to addresssustainable low carbon modularbuilds with minimal environmentalimpact which can be used in avariety of market places from budgethotel accommodation, carshowrooms, and prison cells toemergency disaster housing.

The RICH Centre assessed the

thermal performance andcondensation risks of using steelshipping containers which are cladwith thermal insulation, looking atthe effect of specific possible‘defects’ and investigating them. Thethermal performance of thecomponents of the building andvarious insulation options wasanalysed together with ventilationand occupancy factors. The CO2production, overall energy demandand the physical structure of thebuilding were all analysed to providea robust report which Rubix can usein product and market development.

As a result of the project, RubixSolutions have won a SCIS award(Small Companies InnovationScheme) from Scottish EnterpriseForth Valley to allow them to build aprototype and there is significantinterest in their products from avariety of potential end-users.

Sticking hisneck out forBlairdrummondEnvironmental Planning andManagement student, KevinMcCormick, is on a placementarranged through KOTP, withBlairdrummond Safari Park, helpingthem improve their environmental

awareness and image. Kevin, whostarted work in august and will finishat the end of January has producedan environmental policy for the Parkwhich is published on their website.

The business has now been enteredfor a “Green Tourism” awardthrough the Green TourismBusiness Scheme.

He also got to work with the giraffes!

Innovative technology supporting business

Outlook 14 | January 2009 11

Michael’s photograph of the steelskeleton of the new GlasgowTransport Museum

Michael inside thesteel structure

Placement in pictures

Like anything else in life, if youhaven’t done something before, it canhold a little bit of worry for you:“the fear of the unknown”. We askedMichael to tell us what it was likegoing out on placement and this iswhat he told us.

“This is my second placement withBAM and I’ve been here for about 7months. I’ll finish around Christmas

and go back to full time studies in thenew year.

When I started at first, it was a bitstrange – especially working 7.30 till5 pm 5 days a week! I soon got usedto it though.

I had a mentor for the first month or sothat I shadowed until I learned what Ihad to do. Now I look after QAprocedures and also keep all the Health

and Safety records up to date.

I’m based on the site in a Portacabin.It’s well-heated so you don’t feel toocold and BAM supply all my safetyclothing – boots, high visibility jacket,hard hat and so on.

The best thing for me about being onplacement is being involved in such amajor project and actually seeing howwhat we learn actually works on site –and of course the wages, which arepretty good!”

The placementexperience

The competition forphotos taken by studentson their placements hasbeen won by MichaelRussell, 3rd year studentin ConstructionManagement.

The photos show theamazing steel structureerected as the skeleton forthe new Museum ofTransport building beingerected beside the RiverClyde in Glasgow by BAMConstruct UK (formerlyHBG UK Ltd).

21-year old Michael’sprize was £100 ofvouchers, which he sayshe will spend onChristmas presents for hismum and friends. What agenerous chap!

ERRATUM

Please note that in the last issueof Outlook, the ‘Placement inPictures’ competition wasjudged by the picture desk editorand his staff at the DailyExpress, not the Daily Record aswe wrongly stated. Ourapologies and thanks go to theDaily Express staff.

CAREERSFAIR 2009

Following on the success ofthe last event, the School plansto host another Careers Fairon 17 February.

This event is aimed atconstruction employers, givingthem the opportunity to

showcase their companies andemployment opportunities tostudents across all of theSchool’s disciplines.

While the focus of the event isplacement students, studentsfrom all programmes at both

undergraduate andpostgraduate level will beinvited, so everyone will have achance to participate in what isa truly School-wide - andindustry-wide - activity.

Notwithstanding the slow-

down in the industry, there arestill opportunities to be hadand employers who are keento attract the cream of thestudents are encouraged to getinvolved.

Contact John Leabody onJohn.Leabody@gcal.ac.ukif you would like to take a placeat this event.

Outlook 14 | January 200912

Books forMalawi

James and Malawi with some of thebooks for Africa

www.redmarketing.net

•Westpoint

Design

School of the Built and Natural Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA

T: 0141 331 3022 F: 0141 331 3696 E: schoolbne@gcal.ac.uk

Responding to a request in the RICSjournal, staff of Ayrshire NorthCommunity Housing Association(ANCHO) have made a collection oftechnical books to be sent to Malawifor use by students there.

Professor James Sommerville, whois a Board member of ANCHO hashelped co-ordinate the effort, alongwith colleague Malawi Ngire of theSchool. Malawi will organise theonward despatch of the books to hishome country.

Further donations of any technicalbooks you no longer require arewelcome.

Contact Professor Sommerville onJ.Sommerville@gcal.ac.uk.

Footnote: With ANCHO, ProfessorSommervile is now involved in themanagement of houses he helped buildfoundations for 30 years ago…

On the lighter sideA little light relief to start the New Year.Of course we all know these are just jokes – don’t we…?

Contracting - some definitions(not to be quoted in exam papers!)

Sub-contractora gambler who never gets to shuffle, cut or deal

Tender submissiona poker game in which the losing hand wins

Tender suma wild guess carried out to two decimal places

Successful tenderera contractor who is wondering what he left out

Architect’s estimatethe cost of construction in heaven

Management contractthe technique for losing your shirt under perfect control

Completion datethe point when liquidated damages begin

Liquidated damagesa penalty for trying to achieve the impossible

Quantity Surveyorspeople who go in after the war is lost and bayonet the wounded

Lawyerspeople who go in after the Quantity Surveyors and strip the bodies

PART-TIME STUDY

While the economicdownturn squeezes thecontruction sector, it may bea good time to think aboutenhancing your skills andknowledge through a part-time study programme.

BNE is the leadingprovider of part-timeconstruction education inScotland with manyprogrammes and moduleson offer.To discuss options, contact:Pamela Tate on 0141 331 8051Pamela.Tate@gcal.ac.uk

STOP PRESS

Two new Masters degreeprogrammes have just beenlaunched. These are:MSc in SustainableEnergy Technologies andMSc Leadership forSustainability.

Each will be takingapplications for aSeptember intake.

Contact stas.burek@gcal.ac.uk