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CIMIC Group Limited Annual Report 2016 |
Sustainability Report
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documents such as capability statements and submitted tenders. It supports efficient bid preparation and project delivery, and by using it
to access and store key information resources helps the Group to fast track learning, repeat successes and innovate to win challenging
projects.
EIC Activities has developed a web based GIS module that is enabling projects to mitigate sub-surface utilities risks (e.g. gas, electricity,
water and telecommunications). Identification and relocation of utilities can present projects with a risk to safety, reliability and
reputation which has traditionally been mitigated by a paper based administrative process relying on a small number of specialists to
author and review the information. EIC Activities’ new GIS Permit to Disturb (PTD) system incorporates inputs from the Dial-Before-You-
Dig service and develops a master utility model. The GIS PTD system is accessible to all project members enabling staff at the workplace
to access up-to-date information. The new system streamlines the approval process by compiling all the relevant information in the one
place.
We currently have 81 projects (including in Ventia) using GIS data. An additional 14 projects are being, or have been, delivered using BIM
in 2015, bringing the total to 87 projects utilising this technology. In 2016, we trained 215 people in the use of BIM and GIS.
During the year, EIC Activities launched its Webinar Wednesday program. Held on the second Wednesday of each month, EIC Activities
hosts webinars covering a range of engineering-related topics with a focus on:
•
risks and opportunities;
•
best practice; and
•
emerging technologies.
The webinars aim to promote discussion and socialisation of technical knowledge throughout the Group and connect colleagues
interested in a variety of engineering topics. The 30-minute webinars are interactive, with a Q&A session at the end of each presentation.
Subjects covered in 2016 included:
•
soft soil engineering;
•
an insight to BIM - a key digital engineering process;
•
utility management;
•
digital engineering;
•
an introduction to Sedgman;
•
methods and lean (production); and
•
surveying.
Thiess has established innovation groups – on its intranet – providing a range of useful tools that enable greater efficiency and increased
productivity. The intranet provides a dedicated innovation space that allows employees to collaborate with subject-matter-experts and
innovation champions, and enables increased knowledge sharing and best practice.
In June 2016, Thiess’ Technical Services, Principal Mining Geologist, Helgi Stedman, won a professional excellence award from the
Australian Institute of Mining and Metals. Mr Stedman was recognised for his contribution to the industry through his innovative idea of
using blast-hole data to improve the precision of geological models. Since first trials of the technique began at Lake Vermont in 2012, coal
recovery has steadily improved from low 90s to almost 100%. This technique puts Thiess at the forefront of maximising coal recovery
while improving performance results for Thiess and its clients.
Sedgman has leveraged commercially available Virtual Reality (VR) hardware to develop its own VR environment for viewing and
reviewing designs as 3D models. Enhancing traditional design processes, the tool has been used during safety reviews to better highlight
and eliminate any potential risks for the constructor or operator. The tool also presents opportunities for site familiarisation and training.
Sedgman’s annual ‘Meakin Innovation Award’ was presented to 3 employees who adapted an existing technology by using specialist
clamps for the purposes of installing light poles, switches, hose reels and small pipes to plant structures. The team developed a
customised pressed steel plate to be used in conjunction with the clamps to simplify installation, reducing time and cost.
Over the last year, Sedgman has developed and tested a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) density tracer system at two coal handling
preparation plants. The RFID system uses tracers of different size and densities which are inserted into the dense medium cyclones (DMC)
and are detected by antennas mounted on the DMC product (coal) and reject (waste) screens. The separation efficiency and residence
time can then be determined from the data. Test work was conducted to compare the traditional sampling method of evaluating DMC
performance against the RFID tracer method and the results were very similar. This RFID method eliminates the need to manually handle
multiple 200L drums of coal/reject, reducing risk of injury.
CPB Contractors is now using mobility solutions to enable foremen and engineers to spend more time out on the job supervising works
and to reduce project costs. For example, the introduction of a mobile platform means several thousand sub-contractors now complete
plant and labour time sheets on their own smartphones. The digital forms are sent to foremen for approval and costing, eliminating paper
dockets and significantly reducing data entry overhead costs. Further work is underway to facilitate electronic proof-of-delivery for
materials received on site and to develop electronic work packs – key documents used on-site to manage packages of work.
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