Innovation
Innovations and innovation management on the HS2 Programme
Innovation Resources
Resources include papers, videos, research summaries and good practice documents produced by authors from across the HS2 Family to capture learning, good practice and innovation from the HS2 programme
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Semi-automated construction dust risk assessment tool
Risk assessment methodologies have been published by industry bodies to predict dust risk from construction activities. However, they involve simultaneous evaluation of multiple factors and variables, so these assessments are often outsourced to external consultants with the inherent implications for cost and waiting times. A semi-automated risk assessment tool for construction dust was implemented in…
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Dust Suppression Trials – reduction in fugitive dust emission from construction site haul roads using water additives
A review of construction activities within High Speed Two (HS2) construction sites determined that haul roads are a major contributor to fugitive dust emissions, and can have significant detrimental effects for nearby ecological sites and people living and working in the vicinity of large construction sites. Significant quantities of water are used in the construction…
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Development of practical approaches to predicting flow-induced sound from termination devices in large-scale railway tunnel ventilation systems
Railway tunnel ventilation systems present particular problems for predictions of sound emissions, including the relatively high volumetric flow rates, and a lack of well-established models and empirical data. An investigation was undertaken to support the acoustical design of tunnel ventilation systems on the UK High Speed Two (HS2) project, in view of the project environmental…
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Decarbonisation construction activities – electric piling rig
This paper details the approach taken to developing an innovative electric powered piling rig as part of the approach to achieving a diesel-free site on Euston Approaches as part of the HS2 project. This was the first electric piling rig in the UK to be implemented, operating on a renewable energy electricity tariff, and resulted…
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Leveraging Lifetime Cycle Assessment (LCA) for smarter carbon reduction
This article explores HS2’s approach for carbon reduction, emphasising their collaborative partnership with Cerclos in implementing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, through the eTool software. HS2 and Cerclos have worked closely to engage stakeholders, improve software to streamline processes and enhance accuracy in LCA results. This strategic partnership offers valuable insights for stakeholders seeking effective…
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Saving in lime use for soil stabilisation
Lime stabilisation is used to improve the condition and performance of site won materials to enable their use in earthworks fills. Fills with higher dynamic resilience are required for high-speed rail embankments and foundations. UK specifications have historically set the minimum quicklime addition at 2.5%. With a big drive to reduce carbon and cost on…
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Saving in Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (GGBS) and alternative tests for high sulfate mixtures
Swell or heave of lime stabilised high sulfate material has been the cause of numerous high profile construction failures in the last 50 years. The formation of ettringite and thaumasite at temperatures below the standard laboratory temperature 20C (68F)±5C is commonly accepted to be the cause of the swell. The scope of this project involved…
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A guide to HS2’s environmental assessment of transport impacts
The scale of HS2’s environmental assessment is unprecedented. Fundamental to this is understanding the scheme impacts on Traffic and Transport, from local footpath changes to major road and rail improvements. Over the past decade HS2 has led an innovative and comprehensive approach to assessing these impacts, in collaboration with numerous industry specialists. This paper, produced…
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Digitising the chain of custody for Rebar: CARES Cloud
This paper is based on work to deliver Euston station as part of the High Speed Two (HS2) Phase one works, being delivered by the Euston Integrated Project Team (IPT) including Mace Dragados joint venture (MDJV). It details findings from the trial of a new digital chain of custody system (CARES Cloud) for steel rebar…
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Environmental DNA surveys for great crested newts – time for regulatory changes?
Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring became an accepted means of surveying for great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) in 2014, following the publication of a DEFRA-funded trial, and it is now used routinely throughout the UK. Since its inception, it has been debated whether the relatively short great crested newt eDNA survey season could be extended beyond…
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Organising qualitative data into asset databases to standardise reports and improve BIM practices
This report describes the implementation of a data-driven approach to report creation for more efficient, standardised outputs. Vast amounts of information are required to plan, manage, and deliver the High Speed Two (HS2) railway. This information is traditionally delivered in the form of documents or reports. Many of these documents need to be delivered in…
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Colne Valley Western Slopes: maximising habitat creation within a large infrastructure project
The Colne Valley Western Slopes (CVWS) is one of the largest and most significant environmental projects on the High Speed Two (HS2) Phase One route and represents a synthesis of innovative landscape and ecological design alongside 21st century engineering excellence. The CVWS represents a unique opportunity for large scale environmental enhancement with a focus on…
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Driving efficiency and sustainability in material reuse through GeoBIM
With over 21 million cubic metres of material (equivalent to 8,400 Olympic swimming pools) earmarked to be excavated and moved across the 90 km of the northern section of the High Speed Two (HS2) Phase One route, an accurate understanding of the material types for the re-use of materials in earthworks is a prerequisite for…
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Reducing emissions in construction: Non-road mobile machinery retrofit
The latest London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory published by the Greater London Authority, indicated that Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) is a significant source of air pollution. This poses health risks and contributes to poor local air quality. To reduce emissions linked to construction activities, HS2 has set stringent engine emission standards for all plant and machinery…
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Streamlining utilities ground movement assessments
Ground Movement Assessments (GMAs) involve analysing and mitigating the damage caused by construction related ground movement on strategic utilities, operational tunnels and historically important buildings. Gaining approval from owners of assets located in the densely populated areas around the HS2 Euston Station site, prior to construction works commencing, was therefore integral to the success of…
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Reducing the impact of temporary works on third party assets
Costain Skanska joint venture (CSjv) were instructed to undertake the works at the St James Garden (SJG), where the team designed and erected a unique and fully encapsulated mobile scaffold structure to support the archaeological excavation and exhumation works within Area J of the cemetery. To comply with Schedule 20 of the 2017 High Speed…
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360-degree trial pit photography
Trial pit photographs captured using conventional digital cameras during ground investigation works are typically of poor quality because of lighting conditions and viewpoint, missing out on key opportunity to capture a photographic record of the in-situ ground conditions. The paper documents the findings of a 360-degree camera photography trial on the Phase 2A ground investigation…
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Redesigning the management of hazardous noise – enhancing worker hearing health
High Speed Two (HS2) aims to reduce occupational ill-health throughout the life of the project which includes the protection of hearing health. Passive hearing protection aids are traditionally used on construction sites to reduce the impact of noise on the workforce however these have been found to offer low protection. As part of its innovation…
