(Alternative energy) Massive international growth potential for UK breakthrough in road maintenance
No commentsBy ASI Solutions ASI Solutions
Potholes claim 1 in 6 vehicle failures Scottish roads the worst, South West the best
Local road lottery is being blamed for a 47 percent increase in car suspension failure during the past five years.
According to analysis by independent automotive warranty firm, Warranty Direct, the number of cars needing suspension and axle repairs as a result of poorly maintained roads and potholes has jumped from 9 percent of all claims in 1999 to an average of 17 percent for the first eight months of 2004.
Either continuous driving over cracked and uneven road surfaces, or the sudden jolting of a deep pothole, can cause damage to shock absorbers, springs, upper and lower arms, and stabiliser bars.
Regionally, Scottish drivers are the most at risk with a staggering 35 percent of all claims attributable to a road defect. The worst region in England during the past twelve months has been Anglia with nearly 1 in 5 breakdowns reporting suspension or axle damage. Greater London recorded a figure of nearly 14 percent, with roads in the South West, currently the least likely to damage the health of your vehicle at just over 11 percent.
Region %
Scotland 35.07
Anglia 19.11
North East 18.77
West Midlands 15.56
North West 15.25
Wales 14.42
Greater London 13.99
East Midlands 13.76
South East 12.40
South West 11.04
=======================
British Average 16.93
The data from Warranty Direct is supported by comments from the Institute of Civil Engineers and the Asphalt Industry Alliance about the state of British roads. The latest ALARM (Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance) survey, reported a 94 percent increase in visible defects over the past ten years, during which time the number of compensation claims against local authorities in England had doubled an annual payout of 85m.
ASI Solutions is author of this article on Infra-red road repair .
Find more information about Infra-red road repair here.
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Leaving no stone unturned - The new direction in road maintenance
By ASI Solutions ASI Solutions
Massive international growth potential for UK breakthrough in road maintenance
ASI Solutions plc (ASI) the first UK company to develop a fast, low-cost and permanent way to eliminate defects on roads and footpaths is experiencing an unexpected surge in demand to roll out its sustainable, high performance road preservation and repair processes across multiple countries.
To service major market opportunities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, ASI has set up a joint venture based in Hamburg, however the UK parent company is also now being asked to supply its processes into many other regions including Eastern Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. For example, just this week a delegation of around 40 senior road maintenance engineers and contractors from Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russia and Iran visited the company at their own request to discuss transferring these UK innovations back into their own countries. ASIs breakthrough processes have already been used routinely by around half the local authorities in the UK.
Sonia McLintock, sales and marketing director at ASI is delighted with the worldwide interest that the company is currently receiving, Many countries are looking for better, faster ways to repair potholes and improve the condition of their roads and it is not just a case of throwing more money at the problem. Rhinopatch was developed because traditional dig out and replace techniques simply do not work and they are no longer sustainable either financially or environmentally.
Our repair process delivers a joint-free, permanent answer at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches and is completely sustainable as all materials are recycled within the damaged area being repaired. It is also fast enough to allow three or even four times the number of surface defects to be repaired in a working day and thats great news for both road users and tax payers.
The German joint venture company, which is also being announced today, is ASIs first dedicated operation outside the UK although the companys second major move into the European market. In September, ASI confirmed a licensing deal covering Cyprus, Turkey and Greece and further announcements for other regions are expected over the next few months.
Asphalt Strassen Instandsetzung GmbH (ASI GmbH) will introduce the parent companys breakthrough performance processes throughout Germany and is an ASI joint venture with;
LT Linnhoff Maschinenbau GmbH, who design and manufacture the companys patented infrared heaters on a worldwide basis;
and Klingenberg Consulting GmbH, a business development consultancy with strong links into the countrys network of approved maintenance contractors and national/community road authorities.
ASI GmbH is headquartered in Hamburg and will initially supply three of ASIs key processes: Rhinopatch for routine repair of potholes and other road surface defects; Rapidrhino for an ultra-fast response to emergency repairs; and Rhinophalt, an asphalt preservative that prevents surfaces ageing and deteriorating in the first place. The preservative can be re-applied every few years to significantly extend the functional life of new or existing roads and to eliminate the increasing costs, traffic chaos, driver frustration and very high carbon dioxide emissions associated with surface dressing or resurfacing.
All processes are expected to be well received by Germanys road authorities who are urgently looking for better ways of dealing with the poor condition of the nations roads and a growing number of potholes. ASI GmbH is already off to a flying start with two Hamburg-based firms who have signed up to use the Rhinopatch process for all their road repair contracts on the citys roads.
Tim Batzer, managing director of Werner Batzer is delighted with the results his company is achieving, At last we can make a real and long-term improvement to the roads in Hamburg. With traditional techniques the joint between the existing and repaired surface was always a permanent weak point that can open and allow water to penetrate but with Rhinopatch there are no joints. The process is also fast, safer for our road maintenance teams and quiet enough to allow off-peak working.
Rhinopatch is already the UKs most widely specified infrared road repair process and is unique in being both Highways Agency- (HAPAS) and British Board of Agrment approved (BBA). Rhinophalt is currently BBA-approved and in the final stages of receiving full HAPAS-accreditation. ASI and ASI GmbH are also working together to finalise all relevant European and international approvals to further accelerate market penetration and fast uptake.
ASI Solutions plc is author of this article on Sustainable Road Repair .
Find more information about Sustainable Road Repair here.
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Factors To Consider When Undertaking New Mining Projects (conserving water techniques)
No commentsBy Dominic Donaldson
Mining projects, by their very nature, are huge endeavors. The factors that have to be taken into consideration are both complex and far-reaching and are becoming more and more important.
As well as clearing large areas of land to make mining projects possible, there are often logistical factors and infrastructure issues involved; roads and houses may need to be built, and in some cases entire communities spring up as part of a large project.
Some of the major factors to be considered, and also the ones with increasing importance, are the environmental consequences of a mining project. In light of recent studies on pollution, ozone and global warming, it is clear that certain behaviour is no longer acceptable in the 21st century.
As scientists study new data about the environment and our planet, it is becoming clear that everyone has to respect the world we live in and adapt accordingly. This includes mining companies.
As well as important minerals and resources, mining areas can contain potentially hazardous material that needs to be dealt with appropriately and in a manner in accordance with environmental laws. Environmental laws are now established as an important way of minimising the impact of human activity on the environment and on humanity itself.
To obtain important metals such as iron, silver and copper, extracting sulphide ores from the ground is a necessary evil. In environmental terms one of the unwelcome by-products of this is the production of sulphuric acids and metal ions.
These do not occur when the mineral is underground, only when it is exposed to oxygen or water. Factors such as this need to be taken into account from the initial stages of planning right through to the execution of any new mining venture.
Mining also involves the use or destruction of many resources which are important to people but geographically located near mining projects. As well as mining being responsible for about 10 per cent of the world’s energy consumption, it can also require agricultural land to be destroyed or flooded.
This can affect lakes and rivers that are used for drinking water or fishing, and crops local people rely on for food being taken away.
As well as all the issues involving the extraction or destruction of resources, there is also the human factor to consider. People have land taken away by large scale mining projects, land that is not only physically important but is often historically or spiritually important.
The people effected by these projects must be involved in the decision making process at every stage and on every level. If this is not dealt with properly then problems will arise that can seriously effect a project financially and even lead to a project being delayed or not going ahead at all.
To overcome all these issues, and overcome them effectively and with minimal disruption, it is necessary to undergo a thorough consultation process, taking into account financial, environmental and social considerations.
In an increasingly environmentally friendly world the mining industry are facing a new list of challenges and responsibilities. Things that it hasn’t had to consider in the past are now of paramount importance.
Mining companies need to create or assess their policies on managing the environment, waste, water and other resources as well as having a clear and sustainable strategic plan. Without these things in place any company undertaking a mining project is neglecting its responsibilities and not fulfilling its potential.
Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the engineering industry.
Find out more about mining in the engineering industry at URS Corp.
Leaving no stone unturned - The new direction in road maintenance
By ASI Solutions ASI Solutions
Massive international growth potential for UK breakthrough in road maintenance
ASI Solutions plc (ASI) the first UK company to develop a fast, low-cost and permanent way to eliminate defects on roads and footpaths is experiencing an unexpected surge in demand to roll out its sustainable, high performance road preservation and repair processes across multiple countries.
To service major market opportunities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, ASI has set up a joint venture based in Hamburg, however the UK parent company is also now being asked to supply its processes into many other regions including Eastern Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. For example, just this week a delegation of around 40 senior road maintenance engineers and contractors from Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russia and Iran visited the company at their own request to discuss transferring these UK innovations back into their own countries. ASIs breakthrough processes have already been used routinely by around half the local authorities in the UK.
Sonia McLintock, sales and marketing director at ASI is delighted with the worldwide interest that the company is currently receiving, Many countries are looking for better, faster ways to repair potholes and improve the condition of their roads and it is not just a case of throwing more money at the problem. Rhinopatch was developed because traditional dig out and replace techniques simply do not work and they are no longer sustainable either financially or environmentally.
Our repair process delivers a joint-free, permanent answer at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches and is completely sustainable as all materials are recycled within the damaged area being repaired. It is also fast enough to allow three or even four times the number of surface defects to be repaired in a working day and thats great news for both road users and tax payers.
The German joint venture company, which is also being announced today, is ASIs first dedicated operation outside the UK although the companys second major move into the European market. In September, ASI confirmed a licensing deal covering Cyprus, Turkey and Greece and further announcements for other regions are expected over the next few months.
Asphalt Strassen Instandsetzung GmbH (ASI GmbH) will introduce the parent companys breakthrough performance processes throughout Germany and is an ASI joint venture with;
LT Linnhoff Maschinenbau GmbH, who design and manufacture the companys patented infrared heaters on a worldwide basis;
and Klingenberg Consulting GmbH, a business development consultancy with strong links into the countrys network of approved maintenance contractors and national/community road authorities.
ASI GmbH is headquartered in Hamburg and will initially supply three of ASIs key processes: Rhinopatch for routine repair of potholes and other road surface defects; Rapidrhino for an ultra-fast response to emergency repairs; and Rhinophalt, an asphalt preservative that prevents surfaces ageing and deteriorating in the first place. The preservative can be re-applied every few years to significantly extend the functional life of new or existing roads and to eliminate the increasing costs, traffic chaos, driver frustration and very high carbon dioxide emissions associated with surface dressing or resurfacing.
All processes are expected to be well received by Germanys road authorities who are urgently looking for better ways of dealing with the poor condition of the nations roads and a growing number of potholes. ASI GmbH is already off to a flying start with two Hamburg-based firms who have signed up to use the Rhinopatch process for all their road repair contracts on the citys roads.
Tim Batzer, managing director of Werner Batzer is delighted with the results his company is achieving, At last we can make a real and long-term improvement to the roads in Hamburg. With traditional techniques the joint between the existing and repaired surface was always a permanent weak point that can open and allow water to penetrate but with Rhinopatch there are no joints. The process is also fast, safer for our road maintenance teams and quiet enough to allow off-peak working.
Rhinopatch is already the UKs most widely specified infrared road repair process and is unique in being both Highways Agency- (HAPAS) and British Board of Agrment approved (BBA). Rhinophalt is currently BBA-approved and in the final stages of receiving full HAPAS-accreditation. ASI and ASI GmbH are also working together to finalise all relevant European and international approvals to further accelerate market penetration and fast uptake.
ASI Solutions plc is author of this article on Sustainable Road Repair .
Find more information about Sustainable Road Repair here.
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Renewable Energy for Everyone
By Cedric DSilva
Affordable Renewable Energy for Everyone
Have you ever wanted to power your home or office with renewable energy, but thought it was too expensive? Or you didn’t want to deal with installing and maintaining equipment?
Now there is a way that everyone can use solar, wind, and other renewable energies, at a fraction of the cost. Even renters can power their homes with renewable energy.
Renewable energy certificates (aka green tags, green energy certificates, or tradable renewable certificates) make it easy and inexpensive for anyone to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact of their electricity use.
Each certificate represents the delivery of a specific amount of renewable power (usually one megawatt-hour) into a regional or national energy “grid.” This replaces the non-renewable fossil fuels that would have otherwise been used with non-polluting energy from solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable sources.
While the renewable energy you pay for may not flow through the wires in your own home, the resulting overall benefit to the environment is the same as it would be if you installed solar panels or wind turbines directly on your own property.
The certificates are purchased in addition to paying your regular energy bill. So it doesn’t cost less than standard electricity, but its a small premium to pay to keep toxic pollutants produced by the burning of fossil fuels out of the environment. And it supports the market for renewable energy as a whole, which ultimately will bring the price down for renewable energy and make it more generally available.
These certificates are available on the internet, but not widely known. Green energy certificates are currently being marketed to big businesses that use a lot of energy and can make a big impact with their purchase, but anyone can buy them.
I recently purchased renewable energy certificates to offset the electricty I use in my own home and home office. Though my purchase is only 15 MWh per year for my 1500 square foot house, every little bit helps establish the market for renewable energy. It prevents the emissions of 20,700 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to planting 1,500 trees or removing 2 cars from the road for one year. I pay only $40 a month (in addition to my regular energy bill) for solar, and other renewables cost even less.
Cedric DSilva
Age: 43
Position: CEO: Bits,Pieces and Fishes And CDS People
Previous jobs: Worked as Mechanical Engineer in several countries around the world
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Residence (Dual) : Mumbai, India; Calgary, Canada.
Other interests: Travel, golf, Adventure, Ornamental Fish Breeding
Learn More About A Career In Environmental Consultancy (water conservation)
No commentsBy Dominic Donaldson
The UK environment industry is estimated to employ 400,000 people in 2007 and is worth approximately 25 billion GBP. Environmental consultancy is a rapidly growing industry sector and is predicted to achieve over 9% growth throughout 2008, due to government legislation that companies must adhere to in their business practices and developments.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was formed in 2001 due to the failure of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) to manage the outbreak of foot and mouth disease which devastated livestock farming throughout the United Kingdom. MAFF was thus merged with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), creating DEFRA, which states their objective as being ‘to enable everyone to live within our environmental means’.
Environmental consultants provide an essential service in many areas, including carbon foot-printing, environmental planning, environmental economics, local authority waste management, renewable energy sources and sustainability assessment, to name but a few. Much of the environment industry operates on a specialist consultancy basis; however, many companies also have internal departments that offer expertise or which are responsible for subcontracting relevant specialist environmental consultants.
The environment industry is continually evolving, responding to ongoing corporate responsibility, risk and image requirements. Before planning permission can be granted for any given development, there is DEFRA legislation in place to ensure that certain environmental requirements are met. While an environmental consultant’s duties will vary dependent on what specialised sector they are consulting in, some general traits remain consistent.
Environmental consultants generally collate and evaluate information from sources and format this data into scientific policy reports that can support applications for planning permission or any other associated developmental legislation. Environmental consultants will also support the client at any applicable meetings and make presentations of data collated during environmental surveys and research, evaluating any potential environmental risks.
A major role of environmental consultants is to devise and implement practical environmental management systems to ensure that legislation remains adhered to and that the environmental impact of specific activities remains within the limits of any given legislation. Some consultants focus more on the public relations side of environmental development and are vital links for initiating corporate environmental sponsorship agreements.
The current concerns regarding climate change have cemented public interest in the protection of the environment at domestic, industrial and corporate levels and been the driving force behind the continual legislative regulations that have been imposed on the corporate world. The legislative minefield of the environment industry has rendered the role of environmental consultants indispensable and the industry is expected to grow in future.
Dominic Donaldson is an expert on environmental consultants and a regular contributor to trade publications on the subject.
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