Skip to main content

AECOM and University of Salford announce research partnership

Global infrastructure services firm AECOM and the UK’s University of Salford have launched a research partnership with the aim of improving understanding of how major infrastructure programmes interact with the natural environment. A statement from AECOM said that the two organisations will jointly fund environmental research on topics directly applicable to major infrastructure projects. “Research areas will be chosen to provide benefits to particular schemes and to help reduce adverse impacts and im
August 17, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Mersey Gateway Project, one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.
Global infrastructure services firm 1397 AECOM and the UK’s University of Salford have launched a research partnership with the aim of improving understanding of how major infrastructure programmes interact with the natural environment.

A statement from AECOM said that the two organisations will jointly fund environmental research on topics directly applicable to major infrastructure projects.

“Research areas will be chosen to provide benefits to particular schemes and to help reduce adverse impacts and improve outcomes for the natural environment on future projects.”
 
Under the partnership, AECOM and the university will co-fund research that could lead to PhD studies and scientific papers. Research areas could include exploring potential issues for wildlife when working in areas with contaminated sediments. Other research areas include predicting disturbance to sensitive species from construction activities and investigating perceptions of biodiversity within construction.

The partnership evolved from the environmental consultancy work AECOM is delivering for the 6126 Mersey Gateway Project, one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects. The project includes a new six-lane toll bridge over the River Mersey and part of AECOM’s work has focused on the complex and sensitive estuarine environment.

The work is part of AECOM’s design joint venture with UK consultant Flint & Neill to deliver detailed design consultancy services to the Merseylink consortium, which was awarded a contract to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the scheme for Halton Borough Council.
 
AECOM had revenue of around US$18 billion during fiscal year 2015.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Atkins, Jacobs and PwC to advise on RIS3
    December 27, 2022
    The three consultancies will help England’s National Highways agency develop a business plan for its third five-year Road Investment Strategy plan, RIS3.
  • Shortlist announced for UK’s Roads for the Future competition
    May 30, 2018
    The UK’s National Infrastructure Commission has shortlisted five companies including Aecom and Arup in a competition for ideas to make roads fit for driverless cars. The five companies were chosen from 81 entries submitted to the Roads for the Future initiative led by the roads authority Highways England and Innovate UK, a government agency that encourages research and innovation in many sectors. Aecom is examining how smart traffic signals could advise drivers as to a speed they should be driving if they
  • First concrete beam raised for new Mersey bridge link
    December 11, 2015
    The first concrete bridge beam for a junction on the new Mersey Gateway route has been lifted into place. Work is underway on a major road junction for the Mersey Gateway Project, with the first of 156 of the concrete beams has been lifted into place as work ramps up at a major road junction. A 550tonne capacity crane lowered the 106tonne beam into position at the Bridgewater junction in Runcorn, where the new Astmoor Bridgewater viaduct is being built over the Bridgewater canal. Two elevated slip roads ar
  • UK report suggests 30km Pennine tunnel with robotic maintenance
    December 2, 2015
    The UK could build one of Europe’s longest road tunnels as it considers route options for a new major link connecting the cities of Manchester and Sheffield in England. An interim report looking at how best to connect the cities suggested that the road could be between 40km-50km, depending on the route. It “will include a tunnelled section, which could range from between 20-30km, making it one of the longest road tunnels ever built”.