Turkey faces new earthquakes of magnitude 6.4 and 5.8 on 20th February- & more

1) Turkey faces new earthquakes of magnitude 6.4 and 5.8 on 20th February

A fortnight after nearly 44,000 people were killed by high-magnitude earthquakes, Turkey has gotten hit by another series of earthquakes measuring 6.4 and 5.8 in magnitude. The new waves have injured hundreds in Turkey and Syria and caused a number of still-standing buildings in Syria to collapse.

2) AECOM sets up “Sustainable Legacies Centre of Excellence” in Singapore

The US engineering consultant is opening a sustainability center in Singapore. The Center of Excellence will become a hub of innovation, training and enhancing skills of 艾奕康 ’s Singaporean employees. AECOM aims to inculcate ESG principles in its global operations.

3) Mammoet installs first ‘Villa orb’ at Red Sea’s Sheybarah Island Resort

Mammoet has installed Sheyvarah Island Resort’s first pre-fabricated stainless steel ‘villa orb’ on its underwater foundation at Red Sea project. A 650t capacity Demag CC3800 crawler crane mounted on a shallow-draft barge was used for completing the operation.?

4) Venice canals dry up as Italy releases drought warnings

Venice, a city usually at risk of flooding is facing the opposite problem, as its canals dry up following weeks of dry winters and low tides. Since canals act as modes of transport for the city, some canals drying up almost completely have grounded gondolas, water taxis, and ambulances!?

5) Will India achieve a $47 trillion economy by 2047?

Since 1991, India has seen its economy grow 11.5 times from under $300 billion to $3.5 trillion! With the continuation of good governance, India can achieve a $47 trillion economy by 2047, claimed Union Minister Piyush Goyal in his address at the 17th India Digital Summit (IDS 2023).

6) NEOM launches fundraising tour across Saudi Arabia

NEOM has kicked off its country-wide fundraising Discover NEOM KSA tour in Jeddah as it looks to raise funds for the $500bn megacity. The tour highlights rapid progress made by the team in various sectors as a pull for investors.

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7) Henn and TU Dresden complete world’s first carbon concrete building

German architecture firm HENN and Technical University of Dresden have completed construction of a building using concrete that is reinforced with carbon fiber instead of steel! Carbon concrete is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete, as seen in the building’s curving fa?ade.?

8) Kenzo Tange’s modernist gymnasium to be demolished

Petitions are being raised to save Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium in Japan by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Kenzo Tange. Completed in 1964, the post-war landmark has been under threat of demolition since 2014, when it was closed due to roof leaks.

9) Permeable road surfaces to be made using seashells

A French-led research project, ‘The Circle project’ is trying to create permeable concrete using seashells. The low-carbon, poured-in-place concrete pavement will use shellfish waste to improve drainage properties.

10) UAE President inaugurates middle east’s first inter-faith compound

The Abrahamic family house on Saadiyat Island will feature a synagogue, a mosque, and a church in one complex. This will be the first of its kind complex in the middle east. The complex will also include a cultural center for receiving guests.?

11) Greenest of its kind, ￡31m mass timber office approved in UK

Ev0 Building, developed by Sheppard Robson , claims to be the greenest building of its kind. The design aims to be the country’s most operationally efficient new build workspace. It is also aiming for a 5.5 NABERS rating – the highest in use, with 58% lower running costs than traditional builds.?

12) Project Amazing- Elon Musk’s Boring Company plans employee housing in Texas

Elon Musk’s The Boring Company is developing a plot of land as employee housing containing 110 houses near Boring company’s Austin facility. Named Project Amazing, the project will be developed by housebuilder Lennar

13) 2023 brings a big boost to India’s aviation sector, says CAPA

After Air India Limited ’s 470 aircraft order, IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Ltd) and other domestic airlines are planning to order 1,000 to 1,200 new commercial planes, giving India’s aviation industry a tremendous boost according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).?

14) New York’s newest green skyscraper is already out of date

One Vanderbilt in New York is one of the world’s tallest green buildings. It produces its own energy and harvests every drop of rainwater. But the green measures used are already out of date, say experts. What were leapfrog sustainable techniques during its design in 2016 are now already dated.

15) Chinese researchers develop de-icing asphalt

Researchers at 河北科技大学 ?have developed an additive for asphalt that may keep roads ice-free, removing the need to spread salt on the surface. The process involves mixing an acetate-based salt into the asphalt when it is made.?

16) UK and USA architect boards launch mutual recognition agreement

UK’s Architect’s Registration Board and US’ National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) have signed a mutual recognition agreement to make registering for work across countries smoother. Starting from 25th April, architects can become licensed and perform professional services with ease.

17) Construction workforce shortage reaches half a million in 2023

Construction industry needs to hire 546,000 workers in addition to usual hiring rates in 2023, to keep up with labor requirements, according to Association of Building Contractors (ABC).

18) Turkey Earthquake: How one Turkish city survived while all other crumbled

The Turkish city of Erzin did not lose a single life or building in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake of February 6. This miracle can be attributed to buildings that followed latest seismic codes as well as its location on solid ground.

19) Jacobs joins line-up of companies helping build NEOM’s Line city

US based construction company 嘉科工程 been appointed by Saudi Arabia’s NEOM to provide project and construction management services to design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the Line, alongside JV JASARA.

20) Dubai’s rooftop PV solar capacity reached cumulative 500MW

Over 8,000 buildings in the city are topped with solar panels under the Shams Dubai programme. The cumulative capacity of all rooftops crossed 500MW in 2022. In addition to individual rooftops, 350 EV charging stations have been established in the emirate.

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