New US Patent for Solidia Technologies’ CO2-cured Concrete Advances Performance and Sustainability of Building Materials

PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for the structure of CO2-cured Solidia Concrete™, advancing the performance and sustainability of materials available to the global construction and materials industries. Solidia Technologies® holds the exclusive licensing rights to the patent, which is held by Rutgers University, where the original generation of the material was invented.

U.S. Patent No. 9,868,667, "Bonding Element, Bonding Matrix and Composite Material Having the Bonding Element and Method of Manufacturing Thereof," covers the composition of matter of the non-hydraulic concrete.

“The hydrate bonds in conventional concrete can compromise that material’s strength and durability,” explained Solidia Chief Technology Officer Nicholas DeCristofaro, Ph.D. “With CO2-cured concrete, bonding elements based on silica and calcium carbonate create a wide range of attractive properties, including mechanical strength, resistance to freeze-thaw deterioration, and resistance to sulfate attack.”

Solidia addresses the cement industry’s goal of reducing its carbon emissions, which contribute 3-5% of global CO2 pollution. Solidia’s processes start with an energy-saving, sustainable cement, then cure concrete with CO2, reduce the carbon footprint of cement and concrete up to 70%, and recycle 60 to 80% of the water used in production. Using the same raw materials and existing equipment as traditional concretes, the resulting products are higher performing, cost less to produce, and cure in less than 24 hours.

“Our next-generation concrete offers a competitive edge to the global US$1 trillion concrete and US$300 billion cement markets, advancing profitability and sustainability in an industry that needs both,” said Solidia President and CEO Tom Schuler.

Currently in commercialization for large- and small-scale applications, the initial technology focus was on unreinforced precast applications, including pavers and blocks. Solidia is now developing processes for reinforced applications, including aerated concrete, railroad ties, architectural panels and hollow core extrusions.

Solidia’s patent estate includes over 200 patent applications worldwide, with 32 issued and 14 scheduled. Investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Bright Capital, BASF, BP, LafargeHolcim, Total Energy Ventures, Air Liquide, OGCI Climate Investments, Bill Joy and other private investors.

Source:
 https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180119005608/en/New-Patent-Solidia-Technologies%E2%80%99-CO2-cured-Concrete-Advances

Malshej Ghat to get see-through skywalk, the first such in country

THANE: The Thane district administration is planning to bring the picturesque Malshej Ghat on the world map by constructing an 18m-long transparent walkway over the 700mdeep valley. The project can be completed within three years once it secures approvals and gets budgetary sanctions.

The proposal, which could possibly be the first of its kind in the country, involves developing a two-storey structure on a cliff near the MRTDC Resort at Malshejalong the Kalyan-Ahmednagar Highway. An 18m-long U-shaped pathway with transparent flooring material will jut out of the mountain rim, giving visitors a thrilling experience akin to 'walking in the air' over a deep gorge. There will be ample scope for getting breathtaking views of the ravine; clicking pictures will be possible on the deck.

The plan is for the national highways division of the public works department to construct the structure in two stages. The first will entail developing the skeletal structure while the next phase will include developing attractions like an art gallery, amphitheater, and musical fountains.

The walkway was proposed by MLA Kisan Kathoreand supported by Thane's guardian minister Eknath Shinde. "The proposal has been approved (by the district administration) and is likely to bring Malshej into the limelight. There is tourism potential all 12 months of the year here. This new initiative will not only add revenue to the district, but also give revelers a world-standard tourist spot," said Kathore.

Source:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/malshej-ghat-to-get-see-through-skywalk-the-first-such-in-country/articleshow/62611793.cms

MMRDA mulls proposal to recycle construction and demolition waste from Metro projects - According to estimates, close to 1.61 lakh cubic metres of demolition waste is expected to be generated during the construction of these projects.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is  discussing a proposal for recycling of construction and demolition waste being generated as a result of the ongoing construction of metro lines in the city as construction material.

There are two metro corridors currently under construction in suburban areas of Mumbai - Metro 2A and 7, and four more corridors — 2B, 4,5 and 6— on which construction is likely to begin by the end of 2018. According to estimates, close to 1.61 lakh cubic metres of demolition waste is expected to be generated during the construction of these projects.

“The waste generated can be recycled into reusable raw materials for building activities. This will not only be environmentally beneficial but will also help us save costs,” an official from MMRDA told Indian Express.

According to the proposal, the metro projects are currently generating more waste than the quantities specified in the Rules for Management of Construction and Demolition Waste, 2016. The proposal states that “it is mandatory for MMRDA to initiate the processing of C&D waste generated for the metro projects.”

At the moment, the contractors involved in these projects are expected to dispose of the waste in landfills on the outskirts of the city. If the new proposal is adopted, it could save them approximately Rs 29.53 crore as they would not have to incur any cost on transporting the waste to the dump sites.

The Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA was quoted in the IE report as saying that this plan will not be implemented immediately, since the waste produced at present, is not much.

“Once we have more projects that require construction materials like coastal road then we can reuse the material there. Not much waste is being generated from the two corridors that are under construction,” he said.

Source:
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/weather-trends/met-forecasts-blazing-summer-2518883.html

What Smart Cities in India really need: Here is what can really ensure success of this mission - Financial innovation is critical in the real estate sector but operational innovation around real estate is equally if not more important. From phones to automobiles, dynamic innovation has been the buzzword.

Financial innovation is critical in the real estate sector but operational innovation around real estate is equally if not more important. From phones to automobiles, dynamic innovation has been the buzzword. An innovative operational model in real estate construction that deserves more attention in the Indian context is “prefabricated construction” or offsite construction. While there are differences between the various types of technologies available for offsite construction, we are primarily concerned with the cost-benefit analysis of the segment as a whole in the Indian case. As is well known “prefabricated construction” very simply put is construction structures produced in an offsite factory away from the construction site and assembled on the construction site. Countries like Japan and Sweden have made significant progress in the technology over the years.

Given India’s much-improved trade relations with Japan, collaboration in offsite construction could be hugely beneficial for both nations. India can explore a technology that has the potential to contribute significantly to its real estate sector through both economic and environmental benefits, while Japanese offsite construction companies would have access to a large potential market in India.

According to a study conducted by McGraw-Hill Construction, the industries that have seen the most “prefabricated construction” are healthcare, education, manufacturing and warehouses. Essentially construction where modularity helps and fewer reconfigurations are required. An economic analysis at the project level is required to decide on whether a developer would want to use on site construction or offsite construction. Offsite construction has certain significant advantages over onsite construction, such as efficiency in terms of a much quicker project completion cycle, lower labour costs, energy efficient construction, lesser wastage of material and other benefits of economies of scale.

Since the construction cycle is shorter than onsite construction, offsite construction additionally leads to a reduction in financing cost of the project. This reduction in financing cost arises because the real estate asset is available for use faster and hence can be sold or rented to generate return on the investment sooner. For India to truly create smart cities, “prefabricated construction” holds the key. In addition, there is a significant reduction in pollution and wastage of resources with the factory production of building components. In an increasingly urbanized world the efficiency and environment-friendly nature of offsite construction cannot be overemphasized. However, in India given the lack of prefabrication material production capacity, initial material costs may be higher than that of onsite construction. Hence a careful project level cost-benefit analysis will be required to decide between offsite and onsite technology use. It needs to be underscored that in India offsite construction technology is not a replacement for onsite construction rather it is complementary and can be used for construction where the economic benefits of offsite construction outweigh the costs.

Given the scale required to meet India’s urban housing needs, industrial production of housing deserves critical attention from all especially in the context of affordable housing. Offsite construction where economically feasible has the capacity to deliver affordable housing at an industrial scale to expedite providing housing to all. As mentioned earlier initial material cost for offsite construction technology can be high, but the scale for affordable housing has the potential to create economies of scale to further reduce cost and improve the viability for the technology to be utilized.

In summary, for “prefabricated construction” to really deliver results and create value it is important for India to work with trade partners such as Japan to come up with economically feasible solutions. Government subsidies may help in this regard but should not be the key driver. Instead innovation and cost cutting should be the key drivers. It is also important to improve the awareness for such technology within India especially with a focus on those sectors of real estate such as affordable housing that need the most urgent attention. “Prefabricated construction” in projects with economic feasibility can contribute towards smart cities.

Source:
http://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/what-smart-cities-in-india-really-need-here-is-what-can-really-ensure-success-of-this-mission/1024905/

IIIT-Hyderabad student bags prestigious internship at Berkeley Lab

Hyderabad, Jan 22 (UNI) Sneha Jain , who is currently pursuing her Masters in Building Science Research at IIIT-Hyderabad has been awarded an internship that will allow her to work at the prestigious Lawrence Berkeley Nationalb Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), USA for six months.

The Building Energy Efficiency Higher And Advanced Network (BHAVAN) internship is the result of collaborative efforts between the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and the Indo-US
Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) with the aim of providing avenues of collaboration between students and Scientists from India and the US.
Of the 12 students selected for the internship across India, Sneha’s research on strategies to minimize glare and overheating in buildings especially due to the emerging trend of glass facades, has given her the opportunity to intern under the guidance of Christian Kohler, who is the head of Building Technology department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).
“It is an inter-disciplinary course that includes elements of construction technology, illumination engineering, architecture, meteorology, sustainable building, and heat and mass transport physics”, Ms Sneha (25) hailing from Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh said.

As she prepares for her trip to California next month, Sneha is looking forward to this opportunity of developing industry solutions for the daylight controls which will be beneficial to both India and US. She says, “I hope that I can foster a mutually beneficial and intellectually rewarding relationship with host institute and bring back my learning to be added to present knowledge in Indian academia and hopefully in technology transfer”.

Commending her achievement, Prof Vishal Garg, Head at Building Science Research Centre, IIIT-Hyderabad and Sneha’s thesis advisor said, “This is a prestigious internship in the area of Building Energy Efficiency. This will give Sneha an excellent opportunity to work with the leading group in the area of daylighting controls at Berkeley Lab. 

These visits play a very important role in our research collaborations. I am glad that Sneha is selected for this internship,” Prof Garg said.
UNI VV CS 1600

Source:
http://www.uniindia.com/iiit-hyderabad-student-bags-prestigious-internship-at-berkeley-lab/states/news/1113811.html