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#359k Transit-Oriented Communities in Toronto

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#359k Transit-Oriented Communities in Toronto

January 29, 2026

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#359j – Modern Vernacular in Saudi Arabia

January 29, 2026

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#359i Stone as Structure

January 29, 2026

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#359h Sustainability in Paris

January 29, 2026

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ARTICLES

Experts in Risk

The UK Building Safety Act imposes a duty to appoint competent professionals for work on higher risk buildings. The challenge for dutyholders is how to identify those professionals. A new initiative from the Institution of

Engineering Matters Awards 2026 shortlist announced

The shortlist for the 2026 Engineering Matters Awards has been decided. The awards celebrate work in engineering that impacts on key sustainable development goals. This year’s awards saw a record number of nominations, with more

From Punch Cards and Relays to Virtual PLCs

Manufacturing automation and computer development can both trace their origins to the work of Joseph Marie Jacquard, who in 1804 patented a punch card system for controlling automated weaving machines. A generation later, Charles Babbage

Life Extension for Infrastructure

Sensors and sustainability In the mid-20th century, Europe began rebuilding its infrastructure after the Second World War, leading to a significant expansion of networks like roads, railways, and waterways. A large portion of the infrastructure

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Around the world, urban planners are seeking to deliver urban growth and increase access to city centres through the development of transit-oriented communities. These combine new publicly-backed transport infrastructure, with privately-financed residential and commercial development. It’s a route to more sustainable cities, but it involves careful navigation of budgetary constraints and the needs of existing communities.

Michael Matthys explains some of the challenges of delivering transit-oriented communities in Toronto. He explains some of the challenges, both in terms of engineering, and in terms of meeting community needs. For stations in crowded downtown areas, he describes the importance of maintaining local character, and explains how retrofit might be a suitable solution. Looking further out into the suburbs, he describes policies that can help maintain affordable options for residents, and the engagement needed to ensure community support.

Guest

Michael Matthys, Planning Lead, SvN Architects + Planners

Partner

Egis is a leading global architectural, consulting, construction engineering, operations and mobility services firm. Egis creates and operates intelligent infrastructure and buildings that both respond to the climate emergency and contribute to balanced, sustainable and resilient development.
Its 22,000 employees operate across over 100 countries, deploying their expertise to develop and deliver cutting-edge innovations and solutions for clients. Through the wide range of its activities, Egis plays a central role in the collective organisation of society and the living environment of citizens all over the world.

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#359k Transit-Oriented Communities in Toronto

January 29, 2026

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Guest

Michael Matthys, Planning Lead, SvN Architects + Planners

Partner

Episode play icon

#359k Transit-Oriented Communities in Toronto

January 29, 2026

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#359j – Modern Vernacular in Saudi Arabia

January 29, 2026

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#359i Stone as Structure

January 29, 2026

Episode play icon

#359h Sustainability in Paris

January 29, 2026

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ARTICLES

Experts in Risk

Engineering Matters Awards 2026 shortlist announced

From Punch Cards and Relays to Virtual PLCs

Life Extension for Infrastructure

Engineers Without Borders UK renews support for Engineering Matters Awards

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2026 Engineering Matters Awards: Entries now open

Entry for the 2026 Engineering Matters Awards is now open. Enter here We invite projects, companies, innovations, and exceptional individuals in the engineering industry to step into the spotlight and showcase their achievements. This is

Engineers deliver impact: The Engineering Matters Awards 2025

Engineers from around the world gathered at the Postal Museum in London for the Engineering Matters Awards 2025, presented in partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IMechE, and Engineers Without Borders UK, EWB UK.

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In a few week’s time the 30th UN Climate Change Conference will take place in Belém, Brazil. While the world is making progress on cutting the carbon emissions that cause climate change, there is much work still to be done.

Even if the world were to meet the goals put in place ten years ago in the Paris Agreement, we would continue to face the impacts of climate change. We will also need to focus on adaptation.

One adaptation that could both build resilience and absorb carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere is the development of mangrove forests. In this episode, first aired in February 2024, and focused on the outcomes of COP 28, Jon Baston-Pitt was joined by two guests who have been using cutting edge technology to plant new mangroves.

Jane Glavan is the co-founder of Distant Imagery. The company combines cutting edge technologies with locally available techniques and materials, to develop drones, balloons and kites that can be used to bring us closer to Net Zero. In Abu Dhabi, their drones are reforesting mangrove swamps, propelling thousands of seedlings into the ground, in every eight minute drone flight.

This is a long-term project. Mangroves can take decades to reach maturity. Distant Imagery needed more access to data to track, refine, and share their approach. That has been Fugro’s focus. David Millar shared the importance of the UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group, which we first looked at in a February 2023 shortcast. The group is working to make available ocean data from some of the world’s most important private-sector collectors, and share it with potential users, such as Distant Imagery.

Host

Jon Baston-Pitt

Guests

Jane Glavan, Co-Founder, Distant Imagery

David Millar, Government Accounts Director, Americas, Fugro

Episode 50: Mangroves, Drones, and Data

September 25, 2025

Episode 49: Adding Autonomy to ROVs

August 28, 2025

Episode 48: Remote Operations in Commercial Space

July 31, 2025

Episode 47: Innovation in Offshore Wind Biodiversity

June 26, 2025

Episode 46: Best Practice for Offshore Wind Farm Biodiversity

May 29, 2025

Episode 45: The Future of Carbon Capture

April 24, 2025

Episode 44: Biodiversity and Policy Setting in Offshore Wind

March 27, 2025

Short: Leon Koning – Back on Dry Land

March 13, 2025

Episode 43: The Mental Groundwork of Infrastructure

February 27, 2025

Short: Dan Smith – A Career with Impact

February 13, 2025

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HS2’s Learning Legacy Podcast is a five-part series exploring the Learning Legacy programme.

HS2 is one of the most complex and challenging railway scheme the UK has ever undertaken. As such, it has been generating vast amounts of data across the board. Every geological survey, every design, every site, every environmental survey, all generating more and more data.

So with all this data, what do you do with it?

The final episode of the Learning Legacy Podcast looks at how HS2 has been using their data to build more detailed models, advance approaches to work and better equipment that can provide greater insights into the world of construction engineering.

Featuring:

Roberto Alberola – TYPSA, Head of BIM and Digital
Peter Ruff – SCS, Head of BIM
Jonny Neville – Mott Macdonald, Engineering Geologist and Information Manager
Idarousse Mouhtar – BBV, Senior Materials Engineer
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE – Social Entrepreneur and Computer Scientist

Roberto and Peter dive into the creation of a digital version of the project using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and ensuring there is a single point of truth so all designers and contractors along the length of the project are on the same page.

Jonny and Idarousse talk through the process of earthworks excavation by using a new 3D GeoBIM model which allows for more advanced ground investigation surveys. Further pushing the importance of the planning process before putting a spade in the ground.

Dr Anne-Marie closes out the series with an extract from her speech given at HS2’s Learning Legacy Live event. Highlighting having a growing mindset, experimenting along with learning from our actions and asking “how” we do things.

Find out more about HS2’s Learning Legacy Programme at: https://learninglegacy.hs2.org.uk/