dhvtimes 2010-2

2010 / 2

Maintenance Scottish trunk roads outsourced

“Everybody will like the North/South Line”

Sustainable mobility Electric vehicles will change our cities

info dhv kantoren

The Southern African Institute of Steel Construc-tion (SAISC) has awarded its Steel Prize 2010 to the new pedestrian bridge over the N1 highway in Johannesburg. The bridge was designed by SSI and architect Prof. Glen Mills for the commissioning client, the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL). In its report, the SAISC jury described the bridge as, “a good example of the right material in the right place. The quality of the steel structure combines with the excellent presentation to make this bridge an elegant solution of high quality. It is a handsome addition to Johannesburg’s north-western approach road. The appealing manner in which steel has been used in its construction certainly justifies the award of the Steel Prize.” •info Robin Hayes | telephone + 27 11 798 6000 |

e-mail [email protected]

on location South Africa

“An elegant solution of high quality”

phot

o: ss

i

preface Bertrand van Ee, President Executive Board DHV Group 2 | 3 DHVtimes 2010 / 2

Sustainable development is an integral part of our business process at the DHV Group. In our projects and in our conduct of business, we want to lead the way through initiatives that contribute to a better environment, a better society and a sustainable way of doing business, or the 3 Ps of Planet – People – Profit, in that order.

We work alongside our clients on improving the living environment. We make allowance for climate change (mitigation and adaptation), scarce energy and raw materials and the needs that exist in the community at large. What will be the consequences of climate change, ageing and population shrinkage? Solutions to such issues frequently come about by looking at 'the wider picture' and by combining functions and goals. Often it also leads us to cost reduction and innovation. We have adopted the same approach internally. It enables us to reduce our CO2 and water footprints, for example. Our personnel policy gives high priority to the pursuit of diversity, while at various places in the world our staff work voluntarily on improving living conditions. We lead by example.

The DHV Group finds itself in good company along with other front-runners that have understood that the world is changing and that our old reference frameworks are no lon-ger enough to tackle these changes. Automobiles are no longer being rated according to their horsepower but according to their CO2 emissions per kilometer and in the near future they will be rated by their electric power. Sustainable urban mobility is one new reference framework that has put DHV at the head of the pack (see page 4). The sustaining of air-ports, or 'Green Airports', is indicative of this different way of thinking. NACO and DHV are working on this matter for the Schiphol Airport Group (see page 9).

A climate change conference was held in Cancún early De-cember. Once again it highlighted the difficulty in establish-ing international climate change agreements. Rewarding sustainability frontrunners may contribute significantly to achieving the goal of a sustainable world. Through their pas-sion they can set an example in how to take concrete steps. If you help us in this endeavor, we will get a lot closer to the sustainable development of the world in which we live.

Leading by example

Photo cover: An electric car being charged at a public charge station (Hollandse Hoogte).

phot

o: ss

i

contents

4 coverstory Sustainable mobility moves forwards.

7 news in brief Diraab Road Corridor in Riyadh. Go Transit electrification study.

8 on location DHV Polska scores in 2012 European Cup.

9 interview Birgit Otto, Schiphol Group 10 on location Monitoring Luoyang’s traffic. 11 dhv group news

15 on location Ashdod port expansion plan.

16 interview Donald Morrison, Transport Scotland

19 on location Hybrid buses for urban transport.

20 news in brief Flyover solution for Srinagar. Transfer City.

21 interview Peter Dijk, Amsterdam North/South Line Project

22 vision More wheels on the same asphalt.

23 colophon tips and service

coverstory Sustainable mobility

phot

o: h

olla

ndse

hoo

gte

The motives for promoting electric vehicles are well known: they account for no local emissions of hazardous substances and provided the elec-tricity they use is derived from renewable sources, they are virtually CO2 neutral in use. Reducing society’s dependence on oil is a further, increas-ingly important, consideration. An electric motor is approximately 30% more energy- >>

4 | 5 DHVtimes 2010 / 2

“The electric car is the future, not a passing fad.” Pieter Tanja, a DHV Leading Professional in Sustainable Mobility, is convinced that we are on the threshold of a major transition in transport and mobility, and one which will change the face of our cities. “Sustainable urban mobility is the key transport concept of the future – the very near future,” he states.

several major companies, taxi operators and urban distribution services have also started to make the switch. Many fleet owners who have not yet ‘gone electric’ have stated the intention of doing so within the coming five years.”

Breakthrough Cars and buses which run on biodiesel or natu-ral gas have been with us for some time, but as yet there has been no true breakthrough in sustainable mobility. “Alternative fuels such as ‘green’ gas, biodiesel and bioethanol have re-mained just as expensive as petrol or diesel. Operating costs are still the main consideration. Without a clear-cut business case, any transition will proceed very slowly. Vehicle manufacturers, fuel producers and governments did not work together effectively enough. However, they are now doing so with regard to electric transport and real progress is being made as a result.”

Pieter Tanja bases this prediction on a number of factors. Not only are manufacturers such as Renault and Nissan developing new electric vehicles, but governments are actively encour-aging their adoption by creating the necessary infrastructure and introducing financial incen-tives. “The manufacturers realize the commer-cial potential of electric transport,” states Tanja. “Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault, expects to pro-duce and sell a large number of electric cars in 2011. He also notes that the Japanese, Israeli and Danish governments, among others, are virtually queuing up to help in their introduc-tion, as are local authorities such as Amster-dam.” This impression is confirmed by the in-terim findings of a European study coordinated by DHV and due to be completed in January next year. “Public sector organizations are lead-ing the way when it comes to purchasing elec-tric vehicles. They are the ‘early adopters’ but

Sustainable mobility moves forwards

dhv and sustainable mobility DHV is involved in a number of innova-tive mobility projects in which sustain-ability and energy efficiency play an important part. One example is the ‘fleet scan’ which assesses fleet-owners’ trans-port resources. Another project involves the development of a new hybrid bus. In yet another, we have developed criteria for sustainable purchasing practice. Attention is devoted not only to the tech-nology but to ‘mobility management’ and the organization of urban distribution networks.

phot

o: h

olla

ndse

hoo

gte

phot

o: c

orbi

s

coverstory Sustainable mobility

efficient than the internal combustion engine. Organizations such as the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank realize that over eighty per cent of the world’s population will soon be concentrated in the cities. If all those people continue to use vehicles which burn fossil fuels, the cities will rapidly become unlivable. If urban mobility is to be sustainable, the transition to electric vehicles is inevitable. The first step has already been taken with the adoption of hybrid drive systems, while ‘Battery Electric Vehicles’ powered exclusively by elec-tricity are gradually becoming more common. One frequently cited objection to electric ve-hicles is their limited range: approximately 150 kilometers between charges. Tanja dismisses this argument with a smile. “People who live in cities generally travel within the city boundar-ies. The average commuting distance, for ex-ample, is less than twenty kilometers. In most cases, you can simply recharge the vehicle over-night at home, but if you really need to travel more than 150 kilometers you will soon be able to ‘top up’ at a roadside rapid charging station, or switch batteries en route. Governments and the market are already hard at work creating the necessary infrastructure. We are helping various parties, both public and private, in this area. Once the infrastructure is in place and the price of batteries falls, there will be nothing to stand in the way of the electric car.” Before long,

there will also be hybrid vehicles which can be recharged using the standard domestic mains electricity supply. They are known as ‘plug-in hybrids’. In fact, Pieter Tanja believes that the electric car is not the end point of the transition to sustainable mobility, but is merely paving the way for the fuel cell. “We predict that vehicles with both a hydrogen fuel cell and an electric motor will start to dominate the roads between 2030 and 2050. The electric system will be ideal for short distances, while the driver can switch to hydrogen for longer journeys.”

Urban development “Electric vehicles will change the face of our cities”, Pieter Tanja continues. “There will be charging points in or close to the home and workplace. It will be possible to build closer to roads, since electric vehicles account for no pol-lution and less noise. This will enable planners to make far more efficient use of the available space. Information technology will be another important influencing factor: onboard comput-ers, mobile phones and the iPad, for example. Intelligent transport systems (ITS) will assist the driver in all sorts of ways, such as monitoring speed, keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front, responding to hazardous situations, choosing the best route, maintaining an eco-nomical driving style, locating fuel stations and charging points, and so on. Mobile phones, GPS

“Electric vehicles will change the face of our cities”

Under the hood.

and the public transport smartcard open up opportunities for a whole range of new loca-tion-based services, including route-planning and remote ticket purchase. It will then be pos-sible to plan the most convenient journey using a combination of transport modalities. This will reduce reliance on the private car. Separating car ownership from car usage will do much to make the overall transport system more sus-tainable, with the alternatives to the car made more visible. Moreover, the interests of acces-sibility and safety will also be served.” •info Pieter Tanja

telephone +31 33 468 30 19


phot

o: h

olla

ndse

hoo

gte

phot

o: h

olla

ndse

hoo

gte

6 | 7 DHVtimes 2010 / 2news in brief Urban planning news in brief Rail

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is experiencing rapid growth. According to current projections, its population will double to eight million within the next twenty years. It is essential that the trans-port network keeps pace. In association with KuiperCompagnons, DHV is developing a master plan for the Diraab Road Corridor, a project commissioned by the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA). This twenty-kilometer road forms the southern access route to the holy city of Mecca.

The Diraab Road Corridor is to have four three-lane carriageways and will be one of the country’s main ‘activity spines’. As the volume of traffic increases, so does the risk of congestion and accidents. The new road connects with the King Fahd Highway, one of the main routes through Riyadh itself. DHV and KuiperCompagnons have been asked to produce a plan which will guarantee good through-flow and maximum safety, while also allowing the surrounding area to be structured in an attractive manner.

Within the consortium, DHV is responsible for integrating the traffic management requirements with those of urban planning. This entails modeling the future traffic flows, assessing environmental impact, planning the required utilities, and elaborating the outline design for the road to include pedestrian areas, public transport facilities, Intelligent Transport Systems and safety measures. The consortium will refine the plan to arrive at the final design. This part of the project is due to be completed in March 2011. •

info Joep Coopmans / Ziad al Mahmoud

telephone +31 33 468 3251 / +31 33 468 3406

e-mail [email protected] / [email protected]

Metrolinx is an Ontario Provincial agency with the mandate to champion, develop and implement an integrated transportation system for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) that will enhance prosperity, sustainability and quality of life.In responds to this mandate, Metrolinx is sponsoring a number of major transportation initiatives in the region, including a study of the electrification of the entire GO Transit commuter rail network, as a future alternative to the diesel-electric locomotives now in service. GO Transit is one of North America’s most successful regional public transportation providers.

The objective of this electrification study is to assess future tech-nology options, including future diesel, electric and alternative technologies; to review their viability in various corridor environ-ments as well as at the network level; and to consider the potential benefits and costs associated with replacing the diesel-electric locomotives.

Delcan, in joint venture, is leading the comprehensive study that will consider factors such as reliability and service, environmental and health impacts, community and land use impacts, economic and system-wide impacts, such as funding and financing. When complete, the Electrification Study will provide Metrolinx’s Board of Directors with the information needed to assess the relative merits of alternatives and decide how GO Trains will be powered in the future.

This study includes a high-level of stakeholder engagement and recognizes that it must be conducted with a clear and transparent process, which can be related to the strategic goals and objectives for transportation in the GTHA. •

info Marcela Diaz-Ruiz

telephone +1 905 943 0500


Go TransitElectrification StudyMetrolinx is sponsoring a study of the electrification of the entire GO Transit commuter rail network.

The Diraab Road Corridor forms the southern access route to the holy city of Mecca.

Diraab Road Corridor in Riyadh

phot

o: d

hv

phot

o: d

elca

n

phot

o: h

olla

ndse

hoo

gte

The 2012 UEFA European Cup football tournament is to be hosted by Poland and Ukraine. It has already prompted the Polish government to make significant investments in the country’s infrastructure. DHV Polska is playing an important role, leading the consortium responsible for constructing a section of the A2 highway between Lodz and Warsaw. This 91-kilometer road must be completed by May 2012. Once the section near the German border has also been completed, there will be an uninterrupted route all the way from Warsaw to Amsterdam. The consortium, which also includes Arcadis and the French engineering consultancy Egis, was responsible for evaluating the structural design and continues to oversee the construction work. •info Andrzej Sas | telephone +48 22 606 29 59 | e-mail [email protected]

on location Poland

DHV Polska scores in 2012 European Cup

phot

o: d

hv

8 | 9 DHVtimes 2010 / 2interview Birgit Otto, Schiphol Group

“It is not only passengers and cargo which converge at Schiphol. The airport is a focal point for business and new ideas. Now that sustainable energy systems are in operation at various locations, we are seeking new forms of cooperation and partnership. For example, we have joined forces with Imtech, TU Delft, Wageningen University and Research Centre, and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) to develop innovative applications which can be introduced immedi-ately in an economically responsible manner. Examples include LED lighting which is only switched on when needed, climate control systems based on heat exchangers, and better insulation methods.

By 2012, the airport’s own operations must be entirely CO2 neutral, while energy efficiency is to be at least 30% higher than in 2005. Schiphol also wishes to generate at least 20% of its own energy requirement on site, doing so in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way. This will lead to a 20% reduc-tion in overall CO2 emissions. “Sustainability

is not always the highest priority. The interests of safety and security must always come first, whereupon we must make certain conces-sions. However, it is the overall result that counts. Sustainability can cost money, but it can also save money. In terms of operating costs, for example, it will be prudent to bring forward some replacement investments, even though the equipment concerned is not yet at the end of its useful working life. New equipment is often far more energy efficient. The reduction in operating costs will then be far greater than the interest we could earn by deferring the investments. It is a question of keeping abreast of the latest technological advances and knowing where the risks and opportunities lie.”“DHV and NACO are currently advising us with regard to the construction of a new pier. In this sort of major project, it is essential to monitor the sustainability aspects very carefully. When a budget overrun seems likely, there is a tendency to cut costs in the wrong places. That is a very short-sighted approach. We al-ways look at the operating costs throughout

naco and dhvFor over fifty years, NACO has advised the Schiphol Group on both technical and organizational matters. It is cur-rently providing consultancy services in respect of the construction of a new pier, which is needed to accommodate the expected growth in passenger numbers. DHV is closely involved in ensuring that sustainability plays a full part in all new projects at Schiphol Airport.

Schiphol Airport’s sustainable growth strategy

the life cycle and the long-term return on in-vestment. A minor saving which detracts from the sustainability of a project could turn into a major, unnecessary and recurring cost.”Every airport must devote attention to its as-set and life cycle management, which entails a careful consideration of the replacement in-vestment strategy, environmental legislation and all aspects of safety and security. The op-portunities can be maximized through good use of the existing market knowledge. This is why we always study the innovations identi-fied by our partners very carefully, and try to influence our partners more directly by taking an active part in the innovation process. An airport can gain much from cooperation with both aviation organizations and service pro-viders which specialize in sustainability.” •info Marjolein Demmers

telephone +31 33 468 27 09


As they compete for passengers and airline business, international airports must seek ways of differentiating themselves from their rivals. The Schiphol Group, which operates Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, does so by investing in sustainability and innovation. As Birgit Otto, the Schiphol Group’s Director of Asset Management, explains: “We are not afraid to support new, sustainable developments because investments in sustainability often pay for themselves very quickly. For some time, we have been investing in sustainable technolo-gies such as thermal storage systems, combined heat and power, solar energy, electric transport and low-energy lighting.”

phot

o: d

hv

phot

o: d

hv

Birgit Otto of the Schiphol Group.

on location Luoyang, China

Monitoring Luoyang’s traffic

Using a bank of monitors and state-of-the-art computer technology, traffic police in Luoyang can now remotely monitor all major roads and intersections in this major Chinese city. If there is an accident or unusual congestion due to roadworks, a decision support system helps them to implement appropriate measures and get traffic moving again. The system was designed and implemented by experts from Delcan (Toronto) and the DHV offices in the Netherlands and Beijing. •info George Motza | telephone +31 33 468 37 62


phot

o: d

hv

new terminal borg el arab airport Borg el Arab International Airport, which serves the Egyptian city of Alexandria, has a brand new pas-senger terminal. NACO was closely involved in the development of the building from the outset, working in partnership with Japan Airport Consultants (JAC) and Engineering Consultants Group (ECG). The joint

10 | 11 DHVtimes 2010 / 2

Borg el Arab International Airport has a brand new passenger terminal.

blue motion

InterVISTAS Consulting launched a new product: Blue Motion. It pro-vides strategic solutions for air-ports using Bluetooth passenger tracking technology. Information is captured by placing Bluetooth receivers in and around the air-port. A significant number of pas-sengers use cellular Bluetooth de-vices while passing through the airport. These signals can be locat-ed and tracked, providing a clear picture of how passengers move through the airport. The informa-tion is available through a real-time dashboard enabling airport managers to immediately respond to customer service issues. The Blue Motion results provide criti-cal analysis of the factors effecting passenger processing and queue and dwell times. Airport manag-ers, globally, are using this infor-mation to design specific solutions to improve the passenger experi-ence, increase commercial reve-nues and embark on cost-saving operational improvements. •info Karla Petri

telephone +1 204 949 2901


co2-reduction

DHV Group is doing everything possible to minimize its CO2 emis-sions. In October, NPC rose to the highest rung on the CO2 ‘ladder’ used by ProRail, the organization which manages the Netherlands’

phot

o: d

hv

phot

o: d

hv

venture was responsible for the design, planning, project manage-ment, and for all electrical and me-chanical systems. The new terminal doubles Borg el Arab’s capacity to some 1.2 million passenger movements a year. It can also accommodate large mod-ern aircraft such as the Boeing 777. The terminal meets all interna-tional standards and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure that operational processes can be completed safely and effi-ciently. The new terminal was of-ficially opened by the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, in October. The airport also has a new air traf-fic control tower, a cargo terminal, a fire station and an office build-ing. • info Tiffany Fluent

telephone +31 70 344 63 00


new sustainability program director

Marjolein Demmers MBA has been appointed Sustainability Program Director for the whole DHV Group. Over the coming two years, she will lead the process of embedding sustainability into all DHV products and services.Marjolein will also help our key clients to identify and exploit op-portunities for sustainable devel-opment. DHV wishes to lead the field in terms of sustainable busi-ness. Marjolein will therefore de-vote particular attention to pro-moting ‘sustainable thinking’

throughout the Group, and will work to reduce CO2 emissions and to ensure responsible use of com-pany vehicles. Ms Demmers has been the director of DHV’s Envi-ronment and Sustainability Con-sultancy unit for the past six years. Under her leadership, this type of consultancy service has developed to become one of the DHV Group’s core activities. Mar-jolein Demmers is also a member of the Dutch Energy Council, an independent body which advises government and parliament on energy policy. •info Marjolein Demmers

telephone +31 33 468 27 09


Marjolein Demmers.

phot

o: d

hv

rail infrastructure. In November, DHV B.V. achieved the second highest rating on the ladder, Level 4. ProRail is the first Dutch com-pany to reward suppliers with an active energy and climate policy by means of preferential treat-ment in its assessment of project proposals. In the past year, NPC and DHV have undertaken a number of activities to demon-strate compliance with ProRail’s requirements. Both have recalcu-lated their own CO2 footprints and now require suppliers to show that they are also aware of their CO2 footprints. In addition, NPC and DHV have made their CO2 targets public. •info Thijs Lindhout

telephone +31 30 272 73 70


sluizen in de oder

Afgelopen maand is Hydropro-jekt begonnen met het renoveren van de schutsluizen in het deel van de Oder dat wordt beheerd door de regionale waterinstantie in het Poolse Gliwice. De op-dracht betreft vier schutsluizen en omvat tevens het uitwerken van technische documentatie. •

twente airport

NACO, InterVISTAS and DHV have joined forces to identify a party willing to transform the former military airbase in Twente into a commercial civil airport. This project has been commissioned by the Twente Area Development Corporation. The new airport will

serve as a regional centre for char-ter flights, low-cost carriers, small operators and freight handling. It must also accommodate aviation-related light industry, leisure facilities, car parking and other commercial activities. The airport development project is intended to strengthen the region’s econo-my and promote sustainability. The DHV team includes experts in business case planning, environ-mental management, airport de-velopment, contract development and administration, funding acquisition, tendering law and project management. Over the coming eighteen months, the

Peter Kuenzli (director Twente Area Development Corportation) (l) commissions Eugene Grüter (DHV director) to identify a party willing to transform Twente Airport.

DHV is doing everything possible to minimize its CO2 emissions.

phot

o: h

olla

ndse

hoo

gte

phot

o: d

hv

team will establish the frame-works for aspects such as safety, nature conservation, avoidance of (noise) nuisance and employ-ment opportunity. There will also be a careful consideration of the risks, the interests of the various stakeholders, relevant legislation and the overall business case. Only when these frameworks have been approved by Enschede City Council and the Overijssel Regional Authority will the actual tendering process begin. •info Fieke Krikhaar

telephone +31 33 468 30 60


prtr-system in israel

This year Israel joined the Organi-zation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). As a member, Israel has taken on the obligation of establishing a full Pollution Release and Transfer Register (PRTR). A PRTR system is a national inventory of emissions and waste transfers. DHV MED was assigned by Israel’s Ministry of the Environment to lead the

A PRTR system is a national inventory of emissions and waste transfers.

phot

o: h

olla

ndse

hoo

gte

12 | 13 2010 / 2

All DHV’s asset management activities at the Chemelot chemicals complex in Geleen (NL) have now been fully certified to PAS 55 standard.

DHV is currently developing plans for nine ports in Kuwait.

nine ports in kuwait

DHV is currently developing plans for nine ports in Kuwait. The project has been commis-

sioned by the Kuwait Ports Au-thority and involves the redevel-opment of three existing ports in Kuwait City, as well as six new fa-cilities along the 300 kilometer long coastline. The new coastal ports will also be suitable for fer-ries serving the offshore islands and for the boats used by govern-ment departments. DHV is under-taking this project in association with the Dutch consultancy Kui-perCompagnons and a local part-ner, SIEF Engineering Consul-tants. Recent months have been

pas 55 certifica-tion

All DHV’s asset management activ-ities at the Chemelot chemicals complex in Geleen (NL) have now been fully certified to PAS 55 stan-dard. DHV is the first engineering consultancy in the world to have been awarded this certification by Lloyd’s Register. DHV manages and maintains all infrastructure and public areas on the site on behalf of

phot

o: h

olla

ndse

hoo

gte

phot

o: d

hv

devoted to the production of an integrated coastal master plan for all nine ports. The Kuwait Ports Authority sees the project as the fulfillment of a long-cherished desire to strengthen the tradition-al ties between the local commu-nities and the sea. It has warmly welcomed the ideas included in the master plan which will make this possible. •info Michiel de Jong

telephone +31 33 468 32 61


the clients, DSM Nederland and Si-tech Services. The asset manage-ment portfolio includes 80 kilome-ters of roads, 50 kilometers of railway tracks, 16 bridges and via-ducts, 195 kilometers of drainage pipelines and even a harbor. The various chemicals companies on the site are able concentrate on their core business, confident that the value of their assets and the at-tractiveness of the site will be maintained. DHV’s asset manage-ment serves to reduce the costs to the clients by some 20% per annum (compared to the reference year 2005). PAS 55 is a standard devised by the British Standards Institute (BSI). It examines a number of as-pects, including sustainability, business continuity, financial in-vestment policy and technical maintenance management. •info Pieter Linnartz

telephone +31 43 329 48 48


project of establishing a PRTR sys-tem in Israel. This is a complex task involving expertise in envi-ronmental legislation, chemistry, industrial processes, waste man-agement, system analysis, IT, quality assurance, emission esti-mation methods, publication, fi-nancial planning and other fields. The first stage, which will be com-pleted by 2013, will include releas-es and transfers of dozens of chemicals from industrial sourc-es, with the whole process de-signed and carried out by DHV MED. •info Gilad Safier

telephone +972 98 92 32 01


Royal Haskoning, Deltares and DHV have acquired a project to improve flood control in the Mekong Delta.

phot

o: e

rik

klaa

ssen

delcan and checkmark

Delcan Corporation and Check-Mark Vehicle Safety Services are forming a strategic partnership. CheckMark is dedicated to en-hancing highway safety by pro-viding a comprehensive suite of commercial vehicle safety and se-curity solutions. “Our strategic relationship with CheckMark and its industry-lead-ing position provides synergy for both firms,” said Delcan CEO Jim Kerr. “Delcan sees significant op-portunities to expand business in freight transportation and public safety.” •info Cheryl-Marie Hansberger

telephone +1 714 343 11 02


dhv signs cancun communiqué

The Cancun Communiqué on Cli-mate Change is the definitive pro-

ho chi minh city

Royal Haskoning, Deltares and DHV have acquired a frontrunner project in a series of Dutch-Viet-namese initiatives to improve flood control in the Mekong Delta.This first project aims at reducing flooding in and around Ho Chi Minh City with 7 million people. The approach is truly multidisci-plinary. Technological knowledge will be applied and transferred but institutional aspects, man-agement capabilities and envi-ronmental aspects are considered equally important. The project team will also promote partner-ships between Dutch and Viet-namese educational, scientific, water and environmental institu-tions and between governmental and non governmental organiza-tions in the field of water man-agement. Moreover it will inves-tigate opportunities for collabo- ration under ongoing programs for the exchange of knowledge and experiences on delta technol-ogy, climate change and water management. The project is fund-ed by both the Dutch and the Vietnamese governments. DHV is involved in several projects in

Vietnam, including two large drinking water projects in which river water will be used to pro-duce drinking water and the wid-ening and deepening of 250 kilo-meters of the Mekong river including the construction and restoration of 18 bridges and a new lock. •info Jan Oomen

telephone +31 33 468 25 22


gressive statement from the inter-national business community ahead of the United Nations cli-mate change conference in Can-cun this December. DHV signed the Cancun Communiqué to indi-cate its support for ambitious in-ternational action on climate change. DHV realizes that a strong and effective international climate framework is essential to allow the global private sector to re-spond to the threat of climate change and make the most of the opportunities. The Cancun Com-muniqué on Climate Change sets out a definitive statement of what the business community expects from the UN conference in Can-cun. It also urges governments to take a number of key strategic ac-

tions locally, nationally and re-gionally, in order to move the world closer to the low-carbon transition that is required. •info Marga Donehoo

telephone +31 33 468 37 40


Cargo continues to grow, as does the size of con-tainer ships. Israel Ports Development & Assets Company Ltd (IPC) has contracted DHV to work on extra docks and a large breakwater. Everything is being designed with the aid of computer modeling and scale models are being built and subjected to intensive tests at various laboratories. DHV is responsible for all research, studies, designs, the call for tenders and entire completion of the port expansion. It is teamwork from DHV B.V., DHV Med and PGL that makes this possible. •info Ben Reeskamp | telephone +31 33 468 33 67


on location Israel 14 | 15 DHVtimes 2010 / 2

Ashdod port expansion plan

phot

o: e

rik

klaa

ssen

phot

o: d

hv

interview Donald Morrison, Tranport Scotland

phot

o: tr

ansp

ort s

cotl

and

Trunk roads in Scotland have been managed and maintained by private contractors since 1995. They work more efficiently and at lower cost than public bodies can. Donald Morrison, Head of Asset Management at Transport Scotland (TS), explains the secret of this successful outsourcing operation. “Every year we are making substantial savings whilst being completely in control as a public body. We estimate an overall cost reduction of about 10% yearly.”

16 | 17 DHVtimes 2010 / 2

Donald Morrison, Head of Asset Management, Trunk Road and Bus Operations Directorate, Transport Scotland:

Scotland sets example in outsourcing road maintenance

What were the Scottish government’s reasons to contract the private sector?“Although Central Government always had responsibility for trunk roads, before 1995 the management and mainte-nance of all roads (both local roads and trunk roads) was carried out by the local authorities. The main drivers be-hind the central government decision to privatize the maintenance of trunk roads were generating efficiencies, getting more value for money, realizing innovation, and improving service delivery. The first contracts were ten-dered in 1995 and the maintenance work on the ground started in 1996.”

How did people react to the decision?“Taking work away from the public authorities to the pri-vate market was a sensitive issue. Some local authorities were skeptical about moving into competitive contracts but when all of the first-generation contracts were won by the local authorities, the political criticism died down. The political issue was raised again with the second-generation contracts in 2001 when local authorities lost contracts to the private sector, which was better placed to make com-petitive bids this time. Local politicians and opposition poli-ticians in central government were critical of the new op-erators’ perceived poor performance in their first year. After a year the operating companies were fully mobilized and performed better. As a result we were able to illustrate the benefits of the outsourcing operation.”

Did TS know exactly how to organize the outsourcing?“Outsourcing maintenance was a new concept and in 1995 we had very little direct experience with it. We looked at what the English were doing. They were ahead of us, but we designed the tender contracts ourselves to suit our own needs. They were quite different from the English contracts. In the first-generation contracts (1996 – 2001) we tried two types to find out which provided the best value for money, and which was the easiest to manage. Also different from the English model was our idea of monitoring the operat-ing companies through an independent third party called the Performance Audit Group (PAG) Commission. This PAG is essential for us because Transport Scotland is a lean >>

donald morrison Donald Morrison is a civil engineer and has been working for the Scottish government since 1994. After serving as area manager and project manager, he was appointed Head of Asset Management in Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road and Bus Operations Directorate in 2007. Transport Scotland (TS) is an executive agen-cy of the Scottish government and is responsible for roads, railways, ferries, ports, air policy and national concessionary travel and integrated ticketing schemes. The agency has over 300 employees and spends approx. 2,5 billion euro annually in delivering the government’s Capital Road and Rail Investment Programs. Approx. 150 million euro is spent annually on trunk road maintenance.Within the directorate, Donald is responsible for asset management and budgetary control for the manage-ment, operation and maintenance of the trunk road network in Scotland, which has a total length of some 3400 kilometers.

phot

o: tr

ansp

ort s

cotl

and

phot

o: tr

ansp

ort s

cotl

and

“Outsourcing maintenance was a new concept in 1995”

dhvDHV provides asset management services for infrastruc-ture – mainly roads and civil structures – to a wide range of public and industrial clients. Services include project management, management & technical consultancy, in-spection & survey, contract management & performance auditing. Since 2010, DHV is PAS 55 (British Standards In-stitution) certified for its Asset management Services as Managing (Agent) Contractor on the Chemelot site in the Netherlands. Together with Halcrow (main partner in Scotland’s PAG) DHV is presently developing its services to a wider context.

interview Donald Morrison, Tranport Scotland

organization and we don’t have the resources to directly monitor and audit the contractors’ performance ourselves. The purpose of the PAG concept was to give us the neces-sary level of assurance with respect to service delivery, per-formance measurement, benchmarking and cost control. PAG’s contract runs for five years with an optional exten-sion of two years.”

What does the PAG do exactly?“About two-thirds of the PAG consists of experts from mul-tidisciplinary engineering consultancy firms, namely Hal-crow and URS Scott Wilson, while the remaining members are accountants from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The PAG monitors and reviews the work of the operating compa-nies. Transparency is a key aspect of PAG’s work. Account-ability for public expenditure requires independent moni-toring and assessment of the operating companies. PAG publishes its own annual report on the performance of the operating companies, and we can rely on the independence of that report. Over the years we have relied heavily on the PAG. It’s a Scottish concept, and the first of its kind as far as I know. It took a long time before other countries became aware of our model. The English are now procuring an as-surance-type commission, and three years ago the Austra-lians tendered a similar commission based on the princi-ples of our model.”

Who monitors the PAG?“We conduct six-monthly performance assessments of all our suppliers using a common objective framework. We provide feedback in the form of a score, so the suppliers can benchmark themselves against the average supplier score for TS. Suppliers can also benchmark themselves within their own organization if they have several commis-sions with TS. The incentive for PAG in terms of perfor-mance is the opportunity it brings to extend the commis-sion with the optional extension years.”

Do you believe outsourcing road maintenance would also be possible in other countries?“In Scotland we see better value for money, greater effi-ciency and innovations every year. Compared to the sec-ond-generation contracts we’re saving about 10 percent per year. The contracts have been a success. We believe we have the right model for the network and supply chain in Scotland and we are quite happy with it. However, we are always looking for improvement and we aim to be an at-tractive client. Right now we’re busy with the procurement of the fourth-generation contracts and we are following the same model but with some developments. It is evolu-tion rather than revolution. If other countries want to fol-low us, I advise them to install a PAG first. Our message: bringing in the private sector won’t solve all your problems overnight, but in the medium term you will get much bet-ter value for money.” •info Bart Mante

telephone +31 33 468 33 43


The Scottish trunk road network has a total length of some 3400 kilometers.

phot

o: tr

ansp

ort s

cotl

and

phot

o: tr

ansp

ort s

cotl

and

“In Scotland we see better value for money, greater efficiency and innovations every year”

on location The Netherlands 18 | 19 DHVtimes 2010 / 2

Hybrid buses for urban transport

Hybrid buses will take to the streets of Enschede in January 2011. DHV has been involved in this project since the outset, overseeing the formation of the consortium, developing the project plan and preparing the grant application. DHV has also been responsible for project man-agement on behalf of the com-missioning client, Regio Twente. The low-noise, energy-efficient new buses are being introduced to promote innovation in public transport. The project, which is co-funded by the Ministry of In-frastructure and Environment, is a joint initiative of Regio Twente and the City of Enschede. They have entered into an international partnership with transport ope-rator Connexxion, the University of Twente, vehicle manufacturer VDL Bus & Coach, Vossloh Kiepe (supplier of electric motors and transmission systems) and of course DHV.

info Pieter Tanja

telephone +31 33 468 30 19


foto

: dhv

news in brief Infrastructure news in brief Mobility

In Srinagar, capital of India’s northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir, massive traffic jams occur frequently in the Batamaloo and Lal Chowk districts of the city, which are transit areas for North and South Kashmir. Because there is no room for a new road on the ground, an elevated expressway (flyover) is being built to relieve the city of this congestion.

The 2.5 kilometer long flyover project, with a minimum vertical clearance of 5.5 meters, passes through several landmark areas and tourist locations. The Economic Reconstruction Agency of the Jammu and Kashmir government commissioned DHV to prepare the detailed project report and tender documents for this express corridor. DHV’s work includes topography and traffic surveys, geo-technical investigations, preparation of the concept plan, general arrangement drawings, detailed design, land acquisition plan and bid documents.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is disputed by India and Pakistan. Curfews and closures of business activities are very common and slow down the work pace. The highly sensitive law and order situa-tion makes the project implementation hazardous, and visits to the project site are generally made after a careful assessment of the local conditions. However, on one occasion, a team member made a narrow escape from a grenade attack. Despite these difficult condi-tions, the detailed project report was submitted last November. •

info Suresh Chand

telephone +91 11 405 393 03 06


The Dutch government asked a question: how can we encourage more people to travel by the train? NPC offered an answer in the form of Transfer City, a concept which will make a rail journey more convenient and more predictable.

Every passenger arriving at a station by car, moped or bicycle has the same problem: where can I leave my vehicle where it is safe and secure, and still catch the train on time? Transfer City removes the uncertainty, offering physical solutions such as bicycle stores and parking places, as well as staff (known as ‘smooth operators’) who provide a valet parking service. Simply hand them your bike or car keys and they will do the rest. You then proceed directly to the platform using the travelator (moving pavement). When you return to the station at the end of the day, the smooth operator will re-trieve your vehicle ready for the onwards journey home. The price of the service will vary according to how near to the station the passenger wishes his vehicle to be parked.

NPC expects that the Transfer City concept will increase passenger numbers by some five per cent. The government has now allocated a research budget with which NPC will develop the concept in as-sociation with the design bureau KVD. •

info Marcel van Aarle

telephone +31 30 272 73 70


Transfer City makes rail travel more predictable

The Transfer City concept will make a rail journey more convenient and more predictable.An elevated expressway is being built to relieve Srinagar of traffic congestion.

Flyover solution for Srinagar

phot

o: d

hv

phot

o: n

pc

interview Peter Dijk, Amsterdam North/South Line 20 | 21 DHVtimes 2010 / 2

With the broad outlook of a manager of change, Dijk the lawyer and geologist (besides building and tendering law he studied hydro-geology), took stock of the situation and acted prudently. After a substantial reorganization, with extra time and money plus tight control of the project, the Netherlands’ most complex infrastructural work is now progressing favor-ably and more and more people are willing to believe in a metro that runs from Amsterdam North below the city center and on to Amster-dam South.

Dijk: “When I joined this organization, which is spending € 3.1 billion of public money, it did not even have its own chief financial officer. I wasted no time in appointing one. What's more, the tasks had not been clearly assigned and everybody was working under great pres-sure because the project was not being prop-erly controlled. Our first step was to put back the delivery date from 2015 to 2017 and the budget was increased by € 320 million. We then tackled control of the project. It took a lot of time and effort to get work moving again,

but now cooperation between all involved has been properly structured. There is greater calm in the organization and work is progressing towards completion. We are now in an exciting phase in which the deep earthwork will be car-ried out. Everything has been identified, from groundwater currents to building foundations and the stability of the excavations.”

as safe as possible“It is entirely understandable that people who live in houses next to the excavations want to know whether everything is taking place safe-ly, but we are not endangering anybody in the city. From risk management to the emergency organization and scope management – every-thing has been organized so efficiently that all work will be performed as safely as possible. Wherever possible we purposely opt for simple but effective solutions, because this operation is already complex enough. That is why we work only with experienced partners. DHV’s contribution includes managing interfaces in the work, which is an important aspect of a project with so many cooperating parties.

amsterdam’s north/south lineThe North/South Line is a rail link under construction in the Amsterdam metro net-work. The line will run from Amsterdam North below the city center and onwards to the southerly business district called Zuidas. DHV is a dedicated partner of the North/South Line Project, providing spe-cialists for construction of the metro. They work mainly on controlling the project, managing quality, scheduling, drafting specifications, managing local planning procedures, engineering systems and pro-ducing specialized recommendations.

“Everybody will like the North/South Line”

Now that clarity exists about the financing, the timeline and the performance of the work, I want to deviate as little as possible from the spatial plans, because this is precisely the phase where changes always consume extra time and money. We still have another six tun-nel tubes to go before we start arranging the transport system functionally. Support for the project in the community is growing because we take all concerns extremely seriously and intervene rapidly whenever necessary. But people also see that we are doing mountains of work. You'll see: everybody will like the North/South Line.”•info Johan Hekker

telephone +31 33 468 26 80


Barely a week after starting work in 2008, Peter Dijk, Managing Director of the Amsterdam North/South Line Project, was confronted by subsidence at two stations in the old city center. All work was halted. If he had not imme-diately intervened, the brand-new MD might have heard people whispering on the other side of his office window “What did I tell you? This entire metro line, straight through weak soil, along the foundations of these old build-ings... it’s impossible.” But the word impossible is not in Dijk’s vocabulary and, as the man once in charge of the Betuwe rail freight line, he was used to overcoming setbacks.

phot

o: n

pc

phot

o: d

hv

Peter Dijk, Amsterdam North/South Line.

vision Ronald Siebrand, DHV

Although the Dutch government will have to continue investing in the coming years in proj-ects already in progress, I expect that the sub-stantial spending cuts will delay the pace and scale of investments in infrastructure. Client Rijkswaterstaat (Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management) appears to be preparing for this situation by focusing on improved utilization of the existing Dutch road network. I see this same trend in other coun-tries like the United Kingdom.

A highly promising initiative directed at enhan-ced utilization is the improved harmonization of management and maintenance by road managers like central government and provin-cial authorities. The same goes for the further professionalization of management and maintenance by means of asset management, i.e. the effective usage, capacity utilization, management and maintenance of roads. Rijkswaterstaat could make the choice that others like industry have already made and

decide to outsource some asset management to external companies.

Similarly, the use that motorists make of roads still offers possibilities for better utilization of the available asphalt. An initial step that could be taken is to influence human behavior by informing, routing, reserving and paying ser-vices. A step further is to reduce the human factor by means of in-car ICT technology. This technology enables communication between the vehicle and the road and also communica-tion between vehicles. Using in-car ICT technol-ogy makes it possible to limit the human factor and give greater autonomy to the vehicle so as to utilize the road in a better way. There are still significant issues such as acceptance and liability. But technologically a lot is already feasible. It may still seem like utopia, but major ICT service providers are already working on turning this utopia into reality. No road pricing and less money for new roads: more wheels on the same asphalt will be possible

Just as in other densely-populated regions of the world, mobility has been a scarce commodity in the Netherlands for many years. With the current cautious signs of economic recovery, I expect mobility to become even scarcer from 2011 onwards. The shelving of far-advanced plans for a national road pricing system means that the demand for mobility cannot be influenced. The increasing need for mobility can be absorbed by building extra infrastructure. But extra construction is no longer the obvious way forward now that public finances are in poor shape due to the global financial crisis. Better utilization of existing roads is the only remedy for the inevitable growth of traffic congestion.

More wheels on the same asphalt

curriculum vitaeRonald Siebrand is Leading Professional for infrastructure at DHV. He provides strategic advice to the national govern-ment on expenditure on large infrastruc-ture projects.

phot

o: d

hvph

oto:

dhv

only if we come up with innovative solutions. We are ready for the challenge. •info Ronald Siebrand

telephone +31 33 468 31 21


-

tips and service 22 | 23 DHVtimes 2010 / 2

cradle to cradle-festival The first Cradle to Cradle®-Festival - Industrial Revolution will take place from January 26th 2011 till March 16th 2011 in Berlin, Germany. Under the banner ‘Blueprint Netherlands’, the Festival will celebrate the enormous success of Cradle to Cradle® worldwide and honour the Netherlands as a prime example to learn from. For more information, see: http://cradletocradlefestival.com. •

modernization of dhv head office DHV’s Head Office building in Amersfoort has recently undergone a thorough renovation. Sustainability played an important part throughout this project. Energy consumption is now comparable to that of a brand new building: the interior climate control installa-tions now operate more efficiently, while residual heat and moisture drawn from the air are recycled. The innovative design, engineering work and project management were all con-ducted ‘in house’ by DHV itself. The building’s new glass frontage allows more daylight to enter the building. Its blinds and awnings open and close automatically according to exterior conditions. The renovation has will reduce energy costs by some € 100,000 per annum. •

world solar challenge On the subject of electric vehicles... October 2011 will see the start of the eleventh World Solar Challenge, a race for vehicles powered solely by the sun. University teams from all parts of the world take part in the competition, which takes teams on a three thousand-kilometer route from Darwin in northern Australia to Adelaide in the south. For more information, see: www.worldsolarchallenge.org. •

colophonThe DHV Group is a leading engineering consultancy, known for top expertise and leadership in sustainability. We are renowned internationally for excellence, especially in the fields of Water and Transporta-tion. We serve clients through local delivery of world-class solu-tions. The DHV Group operates through an integrated network of offices in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

DHVTimes is published twice a year and is available free of charge. Meet us at www.dhvtimes.com or call +31 33 468 20 15.

editorial boardMachteld Blokhuis, Robin Hayes, Cheryl-Marie Hansberger, Tim Jeanné, Angela Marlet, Anneke ter Mors, Gea Peek, Sandra van Pernis, M.S. Prakash, Andreia Reis, Mirjam Soeterbroek. Guest editor: Marco Mijnders. In cooperation with Rob Groot and Anton van Renssen.

editorial teamMirjam Soeterbroek (editor in chief), Peter Vlugt (editor),Suzanne van der Werf (project leader).P.O. Box 1132, 3800 BC Amersfoort, the Netherlands.Tel: +31 33 468 20 15,E-mail: [email protected] publications may use articles with prior permissionand acknowledgement of DHV-Times as the source.

translationDBF, Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

lay-outDHV, Shared Service Center Communications, Bert van Rootselaar.

printDrukkerij Van Amerongen, Amersfoort.

phot

o: d

hv

phot

o: tu

phot

o: d

hv

phot

o: d

hv

dhvtimes goes digital in 2011!From now on you can receive DHVTimes also in your mailbox. It's faster, interactive and more sustainable.

Visit www.dhvtimes.com and sign in.

dhvgroup.com Gateway to solutions

dhvtimes 2010-2

Documents

steel prize

sustainable way

sustainable world

climate change mitigation

climate change conference

consequences of climate

steel structure

sustainable development