NEWS | DIGEST Automation could be boost for engineers, survey reveals Researchers claim 3D sound breakthrough A team from the Universities of Bristol and Sussex has developed 3D-printed metamaterials that could enable sound to be used in a range of health and wellbeing applications. The researchers believe these new acoustic materials can be used to amplify and pinpoint sound to create high-intensity ultrasounds. These could be focused on cancer tumours, as well as being used to improve sound quality in theatres and concert halls. Acoustic metamaterials are normal materials such as plastic, paper, wood or rubber but engineered so their internal geometry sculpts the sound going through, said Dr Gianluca Memoli, research lead and lecturer in Novel Interfaces and Interactions at the University of Sussex. The metamaterials are 3D-printed into bricks, which are then assembled in a way that allows them to manipulate sound waves, with some of the frequency ranges dispersed, filtered or pinpointed. More than half of respondents said tech would create more opportunities The adoption of digital technologies may increase the engineering workforce linked to construction rather than shrink it, according to a survey of 800 employers by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB). According to 62% of respondents, there will be higher demand for engineering technicians as a result of greater automation, while 59% said more engineering and science professionals would be needed with 54% anticipating greater demand for skilled mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and electronic trades. Increased automation and the development of systems driven by articial intelligence could increase employment opportunities over the next three years, according to 20% of respondents. Only 9% said it would reduce headcount. However, the research found that a lack of investment in training and skills means employers face challenges in harnessing new technologies and processes. Technology is a major driver of change across the engineering construction industry and will impact on all sectors, said ECITB chief executive Chris Claydon. However, recruitment challenges and skills shortages are a particular concern. We will continue to develop new training standards to support emerging technologies, and support training providers to equip learners with in-demand technological skills. Funding for trees Underground map could save lives The government is offering 10m over the next two years to green urban areas and help meet the UKs target to plant one million urban trees by 2022. The Urban Tree Challenge Fund administered by the Forestry Commission, will be open to individuals, local authorities, charities and NGOs. Grants will fund the planting of trees and the first three years of their care, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed. A planned 3.9m digital register of underground pipes and cables could prevent costly accidents and help to save lives. The Underground Asset Register will show where electricity and phone cables, plus gas and water pipes, are buried, so making them easier to avoid. Accidental strikes on underground pipes and cables is estimated to cost 1.2bn a year, and workers who hit gas pipes and electricity cables are regularly killed or injured. The governments Geospatial Commission is creating the register, which will involve gathering existing information into a digital database. The project has already started, with pilots in London and the North East. Minister for Implementation Oliver Dowden said there was currently no comprehensive underground map of the UKs service network. Different organisations have their own maps, showing where such things as gas pipes and electricity cables are, but the lack of a combined map creates an increased risk of potentially lethal accidents. Creating good energi Adam Fabricius, Product Manager - Danfoss www.sav-systems.com 12 June 2019 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Jun19 pp12 News.indd 12 24/05/2019 16:08