Featured articles
Infrastructure and the historic environment
IHBC article considers how heritage is dealt with when infrastructure schemes are authorised.
It was the tallest structure in the world for 3,800 years, but to this day the exact construction techniques are a mystery.
Every project is subject to uncertainty. How can construction better understand uncertainty for performance improvement?
Read our introductory article on carbon capture and storage.
Have a look at Frank Gehry's Binoculars Building in Los Angeles.
Beneficial infrastructure projects
How do we tell which infrastructure projects will work?
In 1900, 15% of global population lived in cities. Now it’s over 50%. Which is why we need ‘hydroinformatics’ to consume smarter.
An introductory article to the techniques and methods of basement excavation.
IHBC book review. Garden city influences on the development of Scottish working class housing.
6 revolutionary buildings for construction
Including a 3D-printed bridge, a vertical city, the world's most sustainable office, and more.
An introductory article to the practice and techniques involved in manual drafting.
Our review of three new architecture maps of Paris, Sydney and Belgrade.
The Secret Life of the Georgian Garden
A fascinating book explores why grand Georgian gardens contained so many buildings.
Future of the built environment
Have a read of this article exploring the future of the built environment in a revolutionary age.
An introductory article to neighbourhood planning and the stages involved.
The risk of asbestos on brownfield sites.
Is disruptive innovation possible in the construction industry?
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
A market in information sharing will enable construction to generate new revenue streams and unlock productivity gains.
Have a read of our introductory article to planning permission.
Designing Buildings Wiki attended a discussion about the urbanist Jane Jacobs between Will Self and Owen Hatherley.
Companies and new digital tech
The CBI ask how ready are UK companies to adopt new digital technologies?
A detailed article looking at the techniques and practical uses of shotcrete technology.
One of London's most striking murals could soon be permanently lost. Read about the local efforts to try and save this landmark.
Sue Riddlestone, CEO of the BioRegional Development Group, offers her five building blocks for the homes of the future.
With over half of the world now living in cities, urban design education is critical. Here are 10 recommendations for improvement.
News
Shortlist for the industry's most coveted award announced.
Government responds to Mark Farmer's review of industry, rejecting the call for a levy on clients.
BSRIA supports creation of Industry Response Group in response to Grenfell.
Workloads have slowed across all sectors of construction as Brexit delays investment.
New Digital Built Britain proposals for £250m sector deal with government.
Free calculator helps SMEs assess cyber risks.
Only 2 weeks left to enter 2017 Gus Astley Student Award for a chance to win £500.
Peter Hansford to examine what wider lessons can be learned from the fire.
MAD Architects reveal their designs for a futuristic campus for electric car manufacturer.
Homebuyers could borrow more with better forecasting of energy bills, according to industry consortium's new report.
Mid-year forecast points to overall activity continuing to expand despite slower economic growth.
Major project delivery improving, says government.
BDP and CH2M to lead Palace of Westminster repairs.
BRE publish new Loss Prevention Standard seeking to minimise fire risk from ducting.
CIAT announce the establishment of a Working Group in light of Grenfell and call for contributions.
Humber Bridge awarded Grade I listed status.
India launches world's first solar train.
Union ballots tower crane operators for strike action.
Have a look at these competition-winning designs for a new residential development in Eindhoven.
£6.6bn worth of contracts to build the first phase announced by the government.
Lake District inscribed as UK's 31st World Heritage Site.
The changing face of geomatics.
Construction Enquirer, 17 July
Bouygues and McGee dig one of London’s largest ever holes.
Hyperloop One announces completion of first major test.
Nearly 30 years on - the story of Lewisham's radical self-builders.
Compensation events and Brexit
When will changes in UK law during Brexit trigger a compensation event?
Global boiler market heats up as the UK is no longer the largest market.
Parliamentarians call on training overhaul to help ‘Build on Brexit’.
UNESCO announce 21 new World Heritage Sites.
Construction Enquirer, 14 July
London Mayor agrees £1.7bn of funding deals for affordable housing.
Have a look at the proposed new addition to Rotterdam's 'Manhattan-on-the-Maas'.
Delivering low carbon infrastructure
UK-GBC publish new report calling for industry-wide carbon target for infrastructure.
Engineers celebrate 200th anniversary of unique chain bridge in Llantysilio.
Uncertainty continues to stifle the housing market.
Worker credentials are embedded in helmet QR code.
Architect Richard Gilbert Scott (son of Giles) dies.
This new sight-loss simulation app is helping design buildings and transport systems.
Sadiq Khan appoints David Adjaye, Alison Brooks and Sadie Morgan as design advocates for London.
Chief Executive Sarah Beale - 'how CITB will change under my leadership'.
ICE publish 5 briefing notes exploring the role different infrastructure sectors will play in London’s future.
Have a look at this full-size replica of the Parthenon made out of books.
UandI announced as developers of new mixed-use project on Landmark Court, Southwark.
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In depth
[edit] Types of fuel
[edit] Introduction
Fuel is material that reacts with other substances to release heat by way of chemical of nuclear energy.
Humans have used various types of fuel throughout history, first using the combustion of wood nearly 2 million years ago. The most common fuel source today is hydrocarbons and other oxygen-containing molecules.
Substances that react with other proximate substances to release energy, through the process of combustion, are known as chemical fuels.
These are divided both by their physical properties (as a solid, liquid, or gas), and by how they occur (as a primary or natural fuel, or as a secondary or artificial fuel).
Substances that can derive nuclear energy by being ‘burned’ by nuclear fission or fusion, are known as nuclear fuels.
[edit] Solid fuel
Solid materials can be used as fuel to burn and release energy through combustion, which provides heat and light.
The most common examples of solid fuels are as follows:
- Wood: Includes firewood, charcoal, woodchips, pellets, sawdust, and so on.
- Charcoal: Produced by heating wood in the absence of oxygen.
- Biomass: Natural plant materials, such as wheat, straw, other fibrous material.
- Peat: Organic matter and decayed vegetation that is burnt when dry.
- Coal: Combustible sedimentary rock formed in rock strata.
- Coke: High-carbon material derived from coal.
- Waste: Everyday waste can be converted to a fuel source as long as it does not contain toxic materials.
[edit] Liquid fuel
Energy-generating molecules are used to create mechanical energy, although it is the fumes rather than the fluid of liquid fuels that is flammable. Fossil fuels account for the majority of liquid fuels that are used.
[edit] Petroleums
The most common type of liquid fuel is petroleum, formed from dead plants and animals that have been fossilised. Examples of petroleum include:
- Gasoline/petrol: Produced by removing crude oil from petroleum and distilling it in refineries.
- Diesel: A mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons extracted from petroleum, and processed to reduce the sulphur level.
- Kerosene: Extracted from petroleum, commonly used in jet engines.