Upgrade of the BEDEC database with electric construction equipment
Until now, the BEDEC database only contemplated that certain construction equipment (dumpers, loaders, excavators, vibratory rammers...) were powered by combustion engines, even though versions with electric motors are already available on the market. ITeC has added these new alternatives to the database, that reduce the environmental footprint of the project, although there may be a cost difference to consider. In total, BEDEC users now have more than 80 construction operations where they can choose between traditional equipment and electrical equipment.
Good practice guides in public procurement
Guides aimed at civil servants who draw up tender specifications for maintenance work or construction work in public roads or in public buildings. They provide guidance on how to define award criteria and distribute the scoring among them. They are based on real cases of different administrations that take into consideration not just the price offered by the bidders, but also technical, environmental or social issues, among others. In those situations where the examples have shortcomings, ITeC makes its own recommendations.
Environmental impact of slopes
The preparation of slopes and their subsequent stabilization and protection against landslides is one of the most recurrent activities in linear civil works, which also has a large impact on the safety of the infrastructure. As part of an in-depth update of the items related to slopes in the BEDEC database, the contents have been reviewed and expanded, including those related to the environmental footprint (energy consumption, CO2 emissions and construction and packaging waste)
Evaluation of innovative structural bearings
A manufacturer of bearings for civil engineering structures has introduced innovations in the sliding material, which improve the mechanical performance and durability of the product, but also remove the possibility to obtain the CE mark according to harmonized standard EN 1337-7. ITeC has offered an alternative solution through the European Technical Assessments, that requires to draw a specific testing protocol that must be compatible with the nature of the bearing materials and the evaluation criteria that EOTA has already specified in previous EADs.
BIM for street works
Small library of BIM objects frequently used in public street works, that has illustrated a workshop on the potential of the BIM methodology in the type of projects that municipalities put out to tender. The objects follow the eCOB® format and include environmental parameters.
Maintenance of dynamic traffic management systems
A municipality is adopting dynamic traffic management systems and needs to integrate them into its maintenance protocols. For this purpose, ITeC has drawn up new items in this entity's construction database, so that it put contracts up to tender with the right prices and specifications for this kind of equipment.
BIM for water infrastructures
A public-private water cycle management company is introducing the BIM methodology in its construction processes. The first step has been modelling its pumping stations and has asked ITeC to create a BIM library structured according to its needs and with objects with standardized property sets (Psets) in accordance with IFC (ISO 16739) and eCOB® specifications. ITeC has also provided advice with the documents that define the BIM work environment.
Effect of lane closures on road maintenance costs
A regional road traffic manager drafts its construction budgets using a database that is maintained by ITeC. The database needed to be completed with new road maintenance items, distinguishing between works that can be carried out without disrupting traffic and works that require to close lanes and consequently must take into account some extra costs.
Assessment of recycled rubber compounds for road surfacing
A manufacturer reuses end-of-life tires to produce a rubber powder compound that replaces part of the bitumen used in asphalt pavements. When it comes to the CE marking of the product, it is outside the scope of the harmonized standard EN 14023. ITeC has offered an alternative through the European Technical Assessment, starting with a European Assessment Document (EAD) with a testing protocol compatible with the nature of the material.
Procedure to auditing an urban development project
A municipality wants to audit an execution project for a large-scale urban operation, with the purpose of detecting potential conflict points before launching a call for tenders. ITeC has defined a procedure for carrying out this project review, that will allow to identify issues not addressed by the project and conflicts with the regulations, and to check if the chosen solutions are suitable from a technical and environmental point of view, and if the construction items and processes have been properly defined.
