Mott MacDonald

About: Mott MacDonald is a company organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Electric power system & Wind power. The organization has 586 authors who have published 529 publications receiving 9801 citations. The organization is also known as: Mott MacDonald Group & MMD.

Chiloschista confusa (Orchidaceae), a New Species from the Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Abstract: Chiloschista confusa M.J. Mathew, J. Mathew, P.M. Salim & Szlach. (Orchidaceae), a new species from the southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India, is described and illustrated based on morphological data. It has long been misidentified as C. fasciata, an Indo-Sri Lankan species. However, C. confusa differs from C. fasciata by its denser inflorescence with comparatively smaller flowers, glabrous inflorescence, pedicel and ovary, flattened callus disc with eglandular hairs, and protuberance of the spur. A key to the three species of Chiloschista known from south India (C. confusa, C. fasciata, C. glandulosa) is also provided.

Application of NATM to design of underground stations in London Clay

Abstract: Three of the underground railway schemes currently under design or construction in London are using NATM for the station tunnels. The paper reviews the reasons for this change from previous practice which was largely based on segmental tunnelling and examines the advantages of the system with reference to particular structures in the three schemes. It discusses design methods for NATM, possible settlement effects and concludes with a few points to be considered when using NATM.

Accelerating the Deployment of Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies (ADORET): Presentation, Findings and Recommendations

Abstract: The outcome of the ADORET project, commissioned by the International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement for Renewable Energy Technology Deployment (IEA-RETD), and executed by Mott MacDonald, will be presented. Globally, offshore renewable energy is a burgeoning industry which has the potential to grow rapidly in a number of countries. While tidal and wave energy is at an earlier stage of development with technology demonstrations being pursued in many locations worldwide, the offshore wind industry is already considered mature. The overall objective of the ADORET project is to assist policy makers and project developers by providing them a better understanding of the specifics of offshore renewable energy (ORE) technologies and to give them practical guidelines in how to foster their deployment. The project has an international perspective, focusing on the 11 IEA-RETD members as well as 7 additional countries. In an introductory phase, the project has delivered a brief of the current status of advancement of ORE technologies. It then highlighted the available resources, and gave an overview of policies in place and deployment to date. In a second phase, the economics and financing of ORE projects have been examined. The respective maturity levels of technologies have been discussed, as well as capital and operational costs structures. An analysis of commercial and technical risks, and of their impact on the financing costs, has been performed. Mitigation measures can reduce these to an acceptable level. The respective merits and constraints associated to the main financing options available to ORE projects will be presented. An in-depth review of technical and non-technical barriers and challenges to the deployment of ORE technologies has been performed and will be presented. Technical barriers covered included technology and design optimisation, reliability, installation and decommissioning, operation and maintenance, grid connection and integration. Non-technical barriers investigated included environmental, safety, regulatory and licensing, competing uses, skills, supply chain and infrastructures, and financial issues. Examples of country and technology specific barriers are highlighted. In the final part the project, a detailed review of policies in place to promote ORE technologies deployment and of their effectiveness has been performed. Mitigation measures to barriers previously identified are also presented. Based on this analysis, a generic model policy framework is proposed, to be used as a possible template by policy makers in interested countries. Guidelines for project design and development are presented. The full version of the ADORET report and its appendices are shortly to be made available to download at www.iea-retd.org.Copyright © 2011 by ASME

Challenges Faced in Conducting Evaluation and Research: Experiences of English in Action in Bangladesh

Abstract: This paper discusses some of the challenges faced by the English in Action (EIA) project while carrying out evaluation and research on its activities in Government schools in Bangladesh. EIA is a large-scale communicative English language education programme which conducts evaluation to ascertain impact on its beneficiaries and find out how this impact is achieved, and more exploratory-style research to understand the context in which the project operates. In particular, for the schools component large-scale quantitative evaluation studies measure change in classroom practice, English language proficiency, and views of teachers and students participating in the programme, while smaller-scale qualitative studies look at the nature of change. Other small-scale studies have a research element which explores the context and other relevant factors, for example, the intricacies of the daily lives of teachers and students. This paper outlines some of the challenges faced in conducting evaluation and research – such as the ‘reactive’ effect when conducting classroom observation, and multi-level interpretation – and the proactive way EIA deals with these.

The Ordsall Chord, UK: conservation architecture and engineering – part 2: masonry repairs

Abstract: The Ordsall Chord is a new railway connecting the main-line stations in Manchester, UK, for the first time, reducing congestion, introducing new passenger services and bringing significant economic...