Mega projects often struggle under their own sheer weight, leading to massive budget overruns, stakeholder conflict, and unmanaged complexity. The challenge lies in managing change ruthlessly while maintaining safety and quality across vast, long-term undertakings.

This episode explores the disciplined mindset required to deliver major infrastructure on time and on budget, focusing on "right-to-left" planning, risk ownership, and the crucial role of collaboration.

We also look at how digital tools like BIM and AI are revolutionising project delivery and safety in the construction sector.

Our guest is Carl Devlin, Capital Works Director at MTR Corporation. His three decades of experience include senior leadership on iconic projects such as London Heathrow Terminal 5 and upgrading 40 per cent of the London Underground network

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Driving career with big goals
Right-to-left planning and requirements
Minimising change on mega projects
Leading rail expansion in Hong Kong
Using AI for construction safety

GUEST DETAILS

Carl Devlin is the Capital Works Director at MTR Corporation. He oversees new railway projects and major upgrades for Hong Kong's sophisticated transport network.

His core expertise includes navigating the immense complexity of mega-projects, balancing technical excellence with strategic stakeholder demands, and spearheading digital transformation in construction.

Connect with Carl Devlin:

Website: https://www.mtr.com.hk

Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-devlin

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer.

https://www.engineersireland.ie/

Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

When you're managing change, you have to look holistically at the whole system, not just at the components that you're actually accountable for. - Carl Devlin

Change is the thing that drives mega projects off course, because once you've committed a supply chain... and you change one of the requirements, it can have a huge knock on impact on the project. - Carl Devlin

I keep saying to my team, if you were spending the money out of your wallet, would you do this? - Carl Devlin

KEYWORDS #MegaProjects #ProjectManagement #EngineeringLeadership #DigitalConstruction #InfrastructureInvestment

Engineers spend too much time fixing broken data instead of focusing on high-level design. This inefficiency, known as workflow friction, is a major enemy of modern construction projects.

This episode explores how intelligent automation and verified software can eliminate manual rework and enhance global collaboration. We discuss the crucial challenge of trust between engineers and fabricators, the necessity of specialised AI solutions, and the innovations of Trim BIM.

Our guest is David Sanderson, a former site engineer who now leads Product Strategy for Trimble’s structural tools. He offers a unique 40-year perspective, having witnessed the digital transformation of engineering since 1982

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Accidentally invented structural software in 1982
Lack of trust creates workflow friction
Specialised AI best for tedious tasks
Commercial value prioritises software features
Contractual deliverable is still 2D drawing

GUEST DETAILS

David Sanderson is the Senior Product Manager for Structural Design Products at Trimble. His expertise is rooted in structural design, leading product strategy for major tools like Tekla Structural Designer, and championing the use of verified, quality-assured software in the industry.

Connect with David Sanderson, Senior Product Manager for Structural Design Products at Trimble:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS: https://www.trimble.com/en/products/tekla

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sanderson-49926852/

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

The contractual deliverable is still a 2d drawing, believe it or not. - David Sanderson
The biggest issue that I can see now is that within a project, you've got many stakeholders. - David Sanderson
People have got to start accepting other people's models on trust, in my view. - David Sanderson

KEYWORDS

#StructuralEngineering #IntelligentAutomation #WorkflowFriction #TrimBIM #PortalFrameDesign

Building and maintaining Ireland's vital coastal infrastructure requires facing the relentless challenge of climate change and rising sea levels. Protecting the country's six dedicated fishery harbour centres and their multi-million euro capital programme demands innovative engineering and strict public spending compliance.

This episode explores the high-stakes engineering required to adapt harbours for tomorrow, deploying modern tools like GIS and drones for efficiency, and the unexpected permitting hurdles government departments must navigate. You will also hear about the fascinating complexities of Noel’s private sector career, including the challenging Dunboy Castle restoration and the mammoth Opera Lane basement construction in Cork City.

We are delighted to welcome Chief Engineer at the Marine Engineering Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Noel Clancy, who shares his journey from Cork construction sites to leading national coastal upgrades.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Career journey from private to public.
Restoring Dunboy Castle from ruins.
Constructing deep basements in Cork City.
Managing Ireland's fishery harbour centres.
Designing coastal infrastructure for climate change.

GUEST DETAILS

Noel Clancy is the Chief Engineer in Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, leading the Marine Engineering Division. A civil engineering graduate and Fellow of Engineers Ireland, he is renowned for modernising public sector projects with GIS mapping and drone inspections. He manages the operation, maintenance, and capital upgrades for state fishery harbours while promoting lifelong learning and mentoring young engineers

Connect with Noel:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/biographies/noel-clancy/

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-clancy-41989738

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

So the better the information that we have at the front end, the better chance we have of not getting into dispute with the contractor. - Noel Clancy

"It's very important to have a relationship, and it's very important to have no surprises, you know, so to have everything properly planned. - Noel Clancy

One key thing is adaption, and essentially that's changing what you have to deal with, what you know is going to happen. - Noel Clancy

KEYWORDS #MarineEngineering #CoastalAdaptation #CivilEngineering #PublicSectorProjects #FisheryHarbours