Concrete Decarbonation of Major Projects

This recorded webinar invites three industry practitioners to review Decarbonation of Concrete in Major Projects and looks in detail at specific project related issues in relation to Climate Change Strategy.
Major Projects Concrete Technical Program
Presenter: Shalini Trikha
A Major Projects Concrete Technical Program (MPCTP) has been proposed, aiming to facilitate, catalyse and transform the concrete industry, in response to Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy – net zero emissions by 2050, Victorian Circular Economy Plan and Victoria’s Big Build Recycled First Policy. The MPCTP helps to reduce the embodied carbon of concrete and increase the reuse of waste that would typically end up as landfill. Further, through the adaptation of the Recycled First Policy, the recycling industry and researchers have shown ingenuity in developing products from the ‘worst’ of our waste products, and MPCTP will make this potential ‘zero waste’ construction industry a reality.
Implementing Innovative Low Carbon Concrete Mixes on Major Projects
Presenter: Kerryn Wilson
Like other states, and territories, Victoria has been undergoing an infrastructure boom requiring significant quantities of concrete to support the delivery of rail and road projects such as the Metro Tunnel, Level Crossing Removal Program, West Gate Tunnel and more recently the North East Link. All these projects require concrete for the construction of bridges, tunnels, viaducts, buildings, pavements and retaining walls to name but some of the concrete elements. Recognising the implications of this concrete use for the climate, delivery agencies are challenging projects to reduce Portland cement within concrete mixes used across project wide concrete elements. However, reducing reliance on Portland cement while still meeting the criteria necessary to deliver infrastructure requires collaboration between the client, project team and concrete suppliers. It also requires experience and knowledge from multiple disciplines to balance competing criteria around strength, durability, constructability and sustainability to identify standard mixes that can be used across various project exposures and elements. This presentation explores some of the initial challenges and learnings when setting up, tracking and real-time monitoring project cement reduction on a major project. It also highlights the benefits achieved when project teams and concrete suppliers work closely towards decarbonising concrete in the industry’s transition to net zero.
Implementing Innovative Low Carbon Concrete Mixes on Major Projects – Part 2
Presenter: Miles Dacre
If the construction industry is going to play its part in Australia achieving Carbon Zero then the need to accelerate the use of very low carbon concrete mixes is more critical than ever. This change in the design, specification, supply, use and life cycle management of concrete is a really significant one for the whole construction industry and its complex materials supply chains. It requires pushing concrete beyond what is currently allowed under the codes and state DoT specifications, so it is vital that we conduct a series of field trials across as many projects as we can to rapidly obtain the necessary concrete performance information and technical data required to allow everyone in the industry to gain confidence in these mixes and to provide the evidence required to allow specifications and codes to be adjusted. Miles will present case studies showing examples of how such field trials can be developed and executed on a project and the some of the outcomes/learnings of the low carbon concrete mixes that were used.
CPD
This webinar provides 1 hour of CPD. Engineers Australia members may claim this hour of CPD if applicable to their area of engineering practice. This webinar is also recognised CPD for members of other professional bodies with annual CPD obligations. Participants should retain their purchase confirmation as evidence for their CPD records.