Systems Integration in Infrastructure Projects: Seven Lessons from Crossrail

We propose a systems integration model for the delivery of complex infrastructure projects. We argue that the client is ultimately accountable for systems integration in major projects, setting out the responsibilities to ensure that systems integration is successfully accomplished to achieve desired outcomes. From the Crossrail case, we draw seven lessons for clients, to: 1) manage programme delivery as an integration activity; 2) actively manage systems integration; 3) ensure authority to make decisions; 4) maintain configuration control; 5) plan for a lengthy testing and commissioning phase; 6) appreciate supply chain products may be part of unaligned global R&D and development programmes; and 7) do final integration only when there is something to integrate. Central to our argument is the idea that on such complex projects, the client cannot outsource systems integration and thus needs to recognize they retain accountability, though roles and responsibilities can be assigned to the delivery partner, supply chain, chief engineer and/or contracted systems integration firm. A key question for the client at the outset is how to distribute interface management and systems integration responsibilities while retaining accountability and oversight. Rather than managing through contracts, budgets and schedules, we suggest a changed approach with priority given to managing integration, and contracts, budgets and schedules that support and incentivise this.

Prelude

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kollmann is one of the most important aeronautical engineers in the story of piston aeroengine development in Germany in WWII. In 12 years, Dr.-Ing. Kollmann progressed from the role of senior engineer to chief engineer of the aeroengine design department in Daimler-Benz. This book is an historical record of his own engineering work in developing high performance piston aeroengines. The original document that Dr.-Ing. Kollmann wrote in 1947 is presented here in English with extensive additional material by the authors.

ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНО-ПЕДАГОГІЧНІ УМОВИ ЗДОБУТТЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНИХ КОМПЕТЕНЦІЙ МАЙБУТНІМИ СУДНОВИМИ МЕХАНІКАМИ

Актуальність: необхідність розроблення та впровадження у практику організаційно-педагогічних умов здобуття первинних професійних компетенцій майбутніми судновими механіками у процесі вивчення освітньої компоненти «Морська інженерна практика» визначається вимогами Міжнародної Конвенції «Про підготовку і дипломування моряків та несення вахти 1978 року (з поправками)» (ПДНВ) та базових Модельних курсів ІМО (Course 7.02 «Chief engineer officer and second engineer officer», Course 7.03 Course 7.04 «Officer in charge of an engineering watch» Мета: обґрунтувати організаційно-педагогічні умови здобуття первинних професійних компетенцій майбутніми судновими механіками при вивченні освітньої компоненти «Морська інженерна практика» та їх вплив на подальшу професійну діяльність у складі екіпажу морського судна. Методи: теоретичні (логічний аналіз наукових досліджень у галузі професійної педагогіки і методики професійного навчання у вищій школі; логіко-структурний аналіз – для визначення суті й структури понять «професійна компетенція» і «професійна підготовка майбутніх суднових механіків до практичних дій на судні», обґрунтування організаційно-педагогічних умов означеної підготовки); емпіричні (вивчення та аналіз педагогічного досвіду практичної підготовки майбутніх судномеханіків); експериментальні (самооцінювання – для осмислення результатів професійної підготовки до взаємодії у складі екіпажу судна в умовах небезпечних та аварійних ситуацій). Результати: розроблено та впроваджено в освітній процес організаційно-педагогічні умови формування професійної компетентності у майбутніх суднових механіків, що сприяє побудові у вищому морському закладі освіти ефективної індивідуальної освітньої траєкторії та забезпечує безперервність професійного розвитку майбутніх фахівців. Висновки: доведено, що впровадження в освітній процес організаційно-педагогічних умов здобуття професійних компетенцій майбутніми судновими механіками у процесі вивчення освітньої компоненти «Морська інженерна практика», надало можливість студентам перейти до освоєння фахових дисциплін на більш високому рівні, про що свідчать дані незалежного тестування. Результативність розроблених організаційно-педагогічних умов підтверджують також результати виконання студентами контрольних робіт на міжкафедральному семінарі.

Central Andean Railway in Peru

Built in the late 19th century, the Central Andean Railway in Peru was created through attracting foreign capital and foreign engineering ideas. Large-scale plans for exploitation of the richest deposits of copper, silver and gold formed the basis for construction of this railway line. The engineering solutions used in this project impress specialists even today. In particular, the so-called zigzags, which made it possible to lay a route along the inaccessible mountain ranges of the Andes. As the main investor of the project, American entrepreneur Henry Meiggs, once once said that the train will arrive there where llama can get.The chief engineer, author of the project, overseeing construction of the Central Railway, was Ernest Malinowski, a Polish specialist, honorary citizen of Peru.«The project of engineer Ernest Malinowski provides for construction of a railway line at an altitude of almost 5000 meters above sea level , which is impossible. The implementation of the bridges and viaducts designed by him seems to be risky», – this is how his contemporaries evaluated the project of the Polish engineer.

Practical Study of Residential Society

The project of this residential building was very successful. It has all the amenities that can make life easier and happier. We have take this project to understand the function and system to build a best residential buildings in future which will help us to achieve good knowledge of work and things to be considered while construction of residential buildings. This project has help us to achieve practical experience and basic concepts clearly. Also we learned how to take care of clients desirable flat and how to build according to that. We have learnt how to build the amenities like club house, gym, kids play area, jogging track, etc and give them a great infrastructure for eg. Jogging track :- it should have concrete blocks arranged in a patterned colour and track should be surrounded with plant's and tree's and width of the track should be spacious. We also learned how to build and where to build the things that must have in the flats and building of residential construction that includes lift, Refuge area, electricity connection , fire alarming system installation, etc. In this project we did taken part in the plan of flat construction and we observed the process from making wall till painting and finishing of it. We did helped to build the wall and coloum construction with the help the workers and under the guidance of chief engineer. By the help of this project we learned to use our knowledge at best level and construction of buildings that is good in infrastructure, good for comfortable and lavish lifestyle and at reasonable cost. Overall this project has given us practice experience and knowledge so that we can perform better and give out best in our career as a civil engineer.

Airbus' Cabin Air Explanations during the Corona Pandemic – Presented, Analyzed, and Criticized

The technical expertise of the aircraft manufacturer on cabin air in passenger aircraft during the Corona pandemic is paramount. Not much of it is out in the public domain. The little information found, is presented here, analyzed, and criticized. Airbus is using the same arguments in support of flying during times of COVID-19 as other stakeholders in the aviation industry. The three facts: high air change rate, use of HEPA filters, and a ventilation concept for each cross section along the length of the fuselage justifies for Airbus to wave otherwise accepted commandments about social distancing. Every possible argument is used to play down the health risk from SARS-CoV-2 for the sake of inviting passengers back into the aircraft. The wealth of arguments can be found in an interview with Airbus chief engineer Jean-Brice Dumont. This memo presents some of the arguments from the video in written form.

The Lady Moves to the Bronx

This chapter talks about the Parks Department chief engineer John Natoli, who was tasked to move the barge from the Bayonne shipyard to the Bronx. It notes Natoli's announcement on May 29, 2008 that his men have loaded the work barge with the anchors, gangways, platforms, and chains to accompany the Floating Pool Lady to the Bronx. It also recounts the soft opening of the floating pool at Barretto Point Park to guarantee that the arrival was incident-free. The chapter refers to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who presided the ribbon-cutting event that gave evidence to the public of his commitment to opening up the waterfront. It details how the author focused on the children that piled up at the edge of the pool as they waited for the dignitaries to join them in the jump.

The History of Creation of a Chemical Industry Power System in the Village of Vodnyi Promysel, Komi Autonomous Oblast (Zyryan) (Komi ASSR), in the 1930s

This article is devoted to the history of creation of a power system in the village of Vodnyi Promysel, Komi Autonomous Oblast (Zyryan) (since 1936, Komi ASSR), where a plant for radium extraction from mineral water operated in the GULAG system in the 1930s. The article depicts the conditions in which this power system emerged: severe climate, logistic difficulties with supplying the construction project, the use of worn equipment from other projects, and the use of convict specialists’ labor and knowledge. The contribution of M. D. Krasheninnikov, a repressed power engineer whose talents helped him become the plant’s chief engineer and recipient of the Stalin Prize, is reviewed in detail. The efforts of numerous workers and specialists resulted in the first major power system in the Russian North emerging in Vodnyi Promysel. This system allowed introducing new mineral extraction technologies and develop chemical industry in this region.

Improving the efficiency of organizing technical service of equipment for processing oilseeds

In the article presented to your attention, in order to reveal the effectiveness of technical service of equipment for processing oilseeds, the modes of its functioning have been investigated. A multifactor experiment was carried out to determine the minimum costs for organizing the technical service of oil-extracting equipment. The optimal values of the response function Wopt are found, that is, the minimum costs for organizing the technical service of oil-extracting equipment. The response surface has a clear optimum for the following values of the factors: {1.32; 3; 1,022}, the regression equation is obtained. Optimization of the technical service of equipment for processing oilseeds according to this equation makes it possible to increase the coefficient of technical utilization from the existing 0.86 to 0.93, which increases shift productivity and annual production of vegetable oil by 7.0% with a slight increase in total labor costs by 6.69 % due to the increase in the number of repair and technical workers and the strengthening of the service of the chief engineer of the enterprise.