Renewable Energy in Civil & Structural Engineering

In terms of developing new infrastructure to facilitate access to lands, specific challenges at planning stages often include unknown ground conditions and working to the requirements of relevant authorities and agencies such as Inland Fisheries and the Office of Public Works.

Handling large spatial-based data such as DTM and DSM files can be challenging; however, this was overcome through data processing by our experienced technicians to provide engineers with workable file formats. This challenge can present itself when site-wide surveys are carried out to inform wide-scale civil engineering decisions and are later applied to localised study areas.

Based on experience and existing relationships with external agencies, we were well placed to develop suitable concept designs to provide the client with a robust design suitable to incorporate into planning applications.

Challenges in assessing existing roof structures are often centred on unknown roof construction unless opening-up works are carried out. Also, in order to assess loadings for solar panels, clients will need to provide proposed panel supplier technical information and there are challenges here in ensuring loads provided account for all possible scenarios, including permanent, snow and wind loading. Finally, agreeing on a means of transfer of load through the roof without unduly impacting waterproofing details is an area that needs to be considered. Solutions to each of these challenges are driven by ORS, informed by a practical approach with minimal intervention in the building structure, even in cases where strengthening works are deemed necessary.