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Thread: BIG civil engineering project!

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    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
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    BIG civil engineering project!

    The newCross Rail link for London(essentially new tunnels linking the Western surface network with the South and north east sections) is about half way completed.

    The web site here http://www.crossrail.co.uk/construction/tunnelling/ gives a interesting insight into the methods, challenges and scale of the project, and the reopening/re-use of rail infrastructure that had fallen into disuse - particularly the Connaught tunnel.
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    Super Moderator Jonj1611's Avatar
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    Re: BIG civil engineering project!

    Great insight to the process, for me personally I think the boring machines are an engineering feat on their own.
    Jon

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    Re: BIG civil engineering project!

    Crossrail... GRRRRR!!!
    One of our major headaches here at work, as their programme impacts on many of our awkwardly located assets and we're having to check every single one at numerous stages of the project.

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    ho! ho! ho! mofo santa claus's Avatar
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    Re: BIG civil engineering project!

    It sort of reminds me of the hadron collider project, the difference being that at least this is useful.

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    Re: BIG civil engineering project!

    Quote Originally Posted by santa claus View Post
    It sort of reminds me of the hadron collider project, the difference being that at least this is useful.
    Well, the building creates jobs in this country and the economic benefit should be a plus.

    As for the LHC, the building was of economic benefit to the suppliers (which included suppliers in the UK) and the operation provides employment for scientists, some of which are UK based, and the future economic benefits of "blue sky" research are always hard to quantify.

    The laser was a research project that was looking for an application at the time, but few could refute the economic benefits of the laser now.
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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    Re: BIG civil engineering project!

    Quote Originally Posted by santa claus View Post
    It sort of reminds me of the hadron collider project, the difference being that at least this is useful.
    Wow that is incredibly short sighted.

    For a good example something that isn't useful, see the Olympics. I went for a ride across part of the former site, like a ghost town, no good cycle routes even open, completely deserted.
    throw new ArgumentException (String, String, Exception)

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    ho! ho! ho! mofo santa claus's Avatar
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    Re: BIG civil engineering project!

    Quote Originally Posted by peterb View Post
    As for the LHC, the building was of economic benefit to the suppliers (which included suppliers in the UK) and the operation provides employment for scientists, some of which are UK based, and the future economic benefits of "blue sky" research are always hard to quantify.

    The laser was a research project that was looking for an application at the time, but few could refute the economic benefits of the laser now.
    Plenty of projects provide short term economic benefit. HS2 will do that, but long term that's a waste of money too.

    When the LHC produces something useful like a laser, I will change my mind.

    Quote Originally Posted by TheAnimus View Post
    Wow that is incredibly short sighted.
    Qualify that assertion please. So far the LHC has nearly burned down and is now, albeit temporarily, shutdown after celebrations by some boffins of..ermm..something or other.

    So much money has been pumped into the LHC that we'll be told it was a resounding success whatever happens.

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    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
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    Re: BIG civil engineering project!

    Quote Originally Posted by santa claus View Post

    When the LHC produces something useful like a laser, I will change my mind.
    But the laser wasn't any use at the time - it was a the result of additional research that had produced the maser. There was no foreseen use for the laser at all - it was initially just a curiosity.

    But let me tell you a story.....

    Ug was a strange member of his Neandathal tribe. Wile other members of his tribe were out foraging and hunter gathering, and trading with other tribes, Og was crouched down in a corner with various twigs. The other members of the tribe initially mocked him, but then grew angry "We are supporting you, but you bring nothing back to the tribe, you are a drain on our resources." The women of the tribe shunned him

    But he had a friend, Eog, who was loyal. He worked hard at hunter-gathering and foraging - hard enough for two, so he could support Ug in his twig research - which he didn't understand.

    Eventually the tribesmen came back to the camp to find a strange cloud over it, and orange dancing things - and they were initially afraid, for they did not understand fire. Eventually they got used to it, but regarded it as an interesting curiosity with no use. "If a man's belly is full, and he works hard, he has no need of this 'heat' thingy Ug has made.

    But Ug persevered, and six months later, when Ug and Eog opened "The Forest Bison BBQ" tribes and other sub species of the young human race species from all around brought offerings in exchange for the wonderful flame grilled Bison Burgers (garnished with interesting little bits from the forest floor) and Ug's tribe grew rich. "Truly Ug has transformed our economy". Women flocked to him in admiration, and the tribe grew in numbers until it became known throughout the forest - and one of those matings may have altered the course of human history.

    And the moral of the story?

    People might think you are lasing (!) about but who knows what comes of original research?

    (This entirely a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person, place or event, past or present is completely coincidental! - except in the mind of the reader)

    BUT - to be serious...

    It is human nature to be curious and explore our environment - and while many avenues of research may not immediately fulfil a need, apart from the quest for knowledge for its own sake, and a greater understanding of our environment (on a micro and macro scale) the sum total of knowledge gained may lead to breakthroughs in seemingly unrelated areas that DO fulfil an immediate need.
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    ho! ho! ho! mofo santa claus's Avatar
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    Re: BIG civil engineering project!

    Quote Originally Posted by peterb View Post
    Ug
    Aye, that Ug has a lot to answer for inventing the Big Mac.

    The problem with the LHC is its physical design and the limitations of its current method of 'steering' the proton particles. Magnet quench will be a recurring problem because of the unpredictabilty and inappropriate use of helium gas. The LHC infrastructure, the vacuum pipe, the complex electrics, the magnets, the cryogenics - it's all wrong.

    An ovoid pipe will not be successful in delivering the beams in constant and to consistent measurability.

    The experiments should proceed in a gelatinous material to negate the need for the over-elaborate hardware. Once the problem of purity is resolved, then we'll be smoking.

    The circular construction is also wrong because of diminishing particle speed. The apparatus should be oppo-triangular which will permit 6 points for collision and 'bleeding'. This can best be described as 'breathing' and relieves pressure build-up.

    The new collider will look very much like a symbol we are very familiar with, a star of David with rounded corners.

    Well, as for story-telling, you started it .

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