It's the world's longest sea-crossing bridge: 55 kilometres of motorway spans the Pearl River Estuary in the South China Sea before dipping into an undersea tunnel. The Chinese President Xi Jinping has today officially opened the gigantic infrastructure linking Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. A colossal engineering structure, involving the Bouygues Construction subsidiaries Bouygues Travaux Publics, Dragages Hong Kong and VSL for the construction of a 9.4-kilometre section.
A bridge of strategic importance 5714 prefabricated segments of 250 different types, laid down at the rate of 18 per day, shaft grouted friction piling method to cope with difficult ground conditions – a technical first in Hong Kong –, sea-based installations and specific logistical arrangements to maintain the waterways throughout the duration of the works... Some notable innovations for the construction of this extraordinary bridge structure. It is now possible to reach Hong Kong from the main cities of the Pearl River delta in 30 minutes, compared with four hours by land and one hour by boat. A real basis for stimulating commercial ties between the two sides of the crossing.
Responsible for 67% of global GHG emissions, cities are on the front line of this challenge. Two high-emissions sectors - transport and construction - are of direct concern to them. What are their margins of manoeuvre and trajectories to become low carbon and carbon neutral? What are the major assets of the local scale?
The energy transition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 is underway, with its panoply of tools: batteries for electric vehicles, nuclear energy, LED lighting, wind turbines, solar panels, to list but a few. But there's a catch. Since these green technologies and energies require many minerals, they deplete global resources and pollute the environment.
On 6 December, this film created by Bouygues Bâtiment International was given an award as part of the “Trophées de la Diversité®” awards, which looks to reward companies incorporating diversity into their growth, their HR issues and their managerial activities.
One of the most significant potential areas for saving energy and greenhouse gases is the thermal renovation of buildings. But we are not renovating enough. The method needs to change, and this will probably happen via industrialisation. Industrialisation, boosted by the European EnergieSprong project, means improved performance and quality of use.
Maud Bougerol, Environment Manager and Ecological Works Supervisor for the offshore urban extension project in Monaco at Bouygues Travaux Publics, tells us about the actions led to promote biodiversity within the framework of the project.
Wood construction is currently gaining ground in all construction sectors. And this is only the beginning! In the context of decarbonisation of the building sector, the RE2020 is bringing bio-sourced materials to the forefront. Let’s take a look at a flourishing sector.
The pandemic and repeated lockdowns have unwittingly reminded us of the importance of quality housing for men, women and children as well as for family life. In 2020, when the home became a place where everyone lived, worked, rested and did leisure activities, no home could skimp on comfort and adaptation. The reality of living within four walls allowed us all to take stock of our real expectations in terms of our living environment and housing. As a result, one and a half years after the first lockdown, do French people have the same expectations as before? Here’s the answer!
Straw is increasingly becoming a part of the construction sector due to its low cost and great insulating properties. This return to basics is also driven by a desire to build in a more environmentally friendly way. This renewable insulating material has a lot going for it, including being a better circular economy solution and having a low carbon footprint, even though it requires some guidance in and care over its use.
Operate your smartphone through thought; send a message or post a photo online without making any movement: are these practices worthy of a science fiction book in the process of becoming reality? In the future, will we have alternatives to the body for communicating with the outside world? This is the dream of the giants of the digital world who have thrown themselves enthusiastically into the field of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs).
