Development Report: Number 01

Name of Trainee: Ahson Haider Reza

ICE Reg No.: 90035303 Dates of agreement: 03/10/2022 to Present
Skill Group:
Current Project:
Delegated Engineer: Kevin Aznar
Supervising Civil Engineer: Keith Taylor

Report Date Written Date submitted to Date reviewed by SCE/DE Date of Quarterly
No. SCE/DE Interview

01 01/05/2023 02/05/2023 15/05/2023 17/05/2023

Delegated Engineer’s Comments Supervising Civil Engineer’s Comments

Signed: ___________________ Date:_____________ Signed: ___________________ Date:_____________

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Continuation Sheet No. 2

Development Report Number 01

1. Introduction
This report is the first of two reports I will be submitting covering my experiences, learning and development as a
civil engineering whilst working with Zeeruk international in Pakistan. I worked at Zeeruk for 2.5 years between
2019 and 2021.

This report covers work done on the permanent access bridge for Diamir Bahsha while employed as a Project
Engineer and BIM specialist from September 2020 to August 2021. The bridge is a 312m-long balanced cantilever
box girder design spanning the Indus River in the mountainous region of Bahsha, Pakistan. The primary purpose
of the bridge was to provide access for dam works and transport its turbines across the river. Zeeruk was awarded
the conceptual, detailed and construction supervision contract.

2. Synopsis
This project allowed me to conduct research, analyse site data, deliver presentations, communicate with
stakeholders, and assist team members. Additionally, some of key accomplishments I have achieved are increasing
project efficiency, improving data accuracy, and contributing to successful project outcomes.

3. Brief Description of the work/project undertaken and level of responsibility

a. Project 01: Diamer Bahsha Dam (DBD) Permanent Access Bridge

Core
Report Attributes
Fulfilled
Diamer Bahsha Dam (DBD) is one of the 4 new dams being built along the Indus River in
Pakistan. These dams are of national significance since they help provide water security and
resilience against flooding in Pakistan.
The access bridge for DBD is a 312m span box-culvert bridge designed for transporting the
dam’s turbine and other infrastructure equipment. I worked with the design team from the
conceptual to detailed design stage as a project coordinator and BIM specialist.

During this project I conducted a range of tasks through the various stages of the project.

Project Tendering
At the tendering stage for the assignment, I prepared a BIM execution plan (BEP) in response
to the Employers Information requirement (EIR.) As this was one of the first BIM enabled
infrastructure projects with contractual BIM deliverables, I had to liaise with external
technology providers (Autodesk) to provide adequate understanding of the software packages
proposed in the BEP to both the client and company management. I proposed in the BEP that I
would train to become an Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) and deliver presentations to 6(K & E)
stakeholders on BIM execution on the project 6(K & E). The ACP certification reflects 400 hours
of learning and experience and is awarded through a proctored test. I also trained in-house
resources (2-Cad draftsmen) to execute the 3D modelling of concrete, rebar, and post-
tensioning tendons. This work during the tendering stage directly had a positive impact in our 7(K)
firm winning the assignment. 7(K)

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Continuation Sheet No. 3

Conceptual stage 2(K)

During the conceptual stage of the project, I coordinated the conceptual design between the
lead engineer based in Karachi, the drafting and costing team based in Islamabad and the client
based in Rawal-Pindi 2(K). A key deliverable during this stage was the conceptual construction
sequencing animation for the proposed site. I created a topography using site data and Civil 3D.
I made a construction plan in Primavera P6 and the animation in Navisworks. A complication
during the construction sequencing was the irregular flooding on the Indus River that had
deviated significantly from historic data. Thus, multiple plans had to be proposed as
contingencies. The visualised 3D conceptual drawings from the topography showed that the
excavation quantities for the proposed pier and abutment foundations could be reduced if
location was moved downstream. I used the Civil3D topography to plan a location that reduced
cut by 25% but resulted in an increase in the span by 5 meters. Furthermore, preliminary
calculations showed that moving to a balanced cantilever design would significantly reduce 1(K & E)
over-turning moments at the bearings. Thus, the increase in length and change to a balanced
cantilever design was accepted. (K & E). A key challenge was communicating this change to the
client whilst seeking additional design time due to deviation from the original tender stage
drawings.

One of the bridge’s piers was subject to submersion during flooding season and hence a coffer
dam for construction was proposed. I created the 3D geometry for this and extracted quantity
estimates that were used within the specifications for the sub-contractor’s tender. 1(K & E)

Detailed design 1(K)

Substructure
A new bathymetric survey and consequent hydrological modelling revealed that the high flood
level (HFL) provided at the tender stage was incorrect. A Higher HFL was expected owing to the
new river channel cross-sections. This would mean the pier would be more submerged than
initially designed for. Also, due to the proximity of the pier to the dam’s power generation 1(K & E)
discharge tunnel, any impact on the dam’s generation capacity had to be studied. I took HFL
level measurements from the scaled Dam model before and after calibration to the new
bathymetry. I also ensured the bridge model was accurate to our proposal 1(K). Due to the
turbulent flow and eddies generated from the existing pier shape, it was revised to include
semi-circular concrete buffers. I modelled this shape, checked foundation capacity for the
additional loading, and produced the revised drawings for this pier. I then observed and
confirmed that the scaled model was exhibiting semi-laminar flow and reduced eddies. This
ensured there was negligible impact to power generation capacity of the dam 1(K & E).

Superstructure 4(K)
I used CSI bridge software to model the construction sequence for the cast in-place box girder
superstructure. The sequencing of the gantry movement, post-tensioning and concrete pouring 1(E)
was challenging for me, and I had to read literature about how the software treated these
various stages and loading to ensure the construction loadings and the resulting camber and
sagging was accurate. I proposed that precast construction for the superstructure be
considered for its health, safety (H&S), and welfare benefits. However, this was deemed
unfeasible due to the high upfront cost of the casting yard and the lack of experience on the
contractor’s end. 4(K) 2(K)
I also modelled the reinforcement and the post-tension tendons for this bridge using a
combination of Revit, AutoCAD and various plugins 1(E). A Revit model with LOD 350 was a

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Continuation Sheet No. 4

contractual requirement but it was not time efficient to model rebar and tendons using built-
in Revit tools. I assessed various Revit plugins to identify CADS RC3D as a more efficient
modelling tool. There were 40 unique tendon geometries that curved in the X and Y planes.
After some experimentation this too was not efficient to model within Revit so AutoCAD was
used. I federated the model in Navisworks and managed drawing production to ensure the
design was clash-free 2(K).

Project Costing and specifications

Based on the several design revisions the project had during the detailed design stage, costing 3(K)
using traditional workflows was not efficient. Hence, I developed a Revit to excel workflow for
efficient quantity take-off and costing to help the costing team through all the design revisions.
This included adding costing information to Revit geometry and set up of quantity schedules
for concrete, rebar, and all ancillary components within Revit. These had to be as per Pakistan’s
standard method of measurement specification. This required significant manipulation of the
quantity take off formulas within Revit as it does not natively support the Pakistan method of 1(K) 3(K)
measurement. The readily available costing information through various versions of the bridge
had a significant impact on the final programme selected for construction. 3(K)
Furthermore, I helped compile the bridge’s specification documentation from Pakistan’s
National Highway Authority’s General specifications. There were some items that were
beyond the general specifications so special provision items had to be provided. Low-
relaxation strands for the post tensioning cables and its ancillary trumpets, and the specified
elastomeric bearing pads are such examples. I reviewed previously designed bridges within
the firm to collate these special provision items along with their costing information. 1(K) 3(K)

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Continuation Sheet No. 5

4. CPD, Institution meetings attended, and in-house presentations given or attended

Core
Report Attributes
Fulfilled

I recorded a total of 56 CPD hours during the period spanning October 2022 to May
2023 (7 months). The detailed records are attached in the appendix of this report
(Appendix D). There was a good variety in the type of CPD recorded. The following
is a brief overview:
• ICE early careers networking event 6(K)
• London Build Expo 2022 for Seminars on BIM and networking. (Met BSI
person here) 6(K)
• Numerous in-house presentations on sustainability, commercial and legal
aspects, and technical presentations.
• STEM promotion event as Bushey Meads school. 7(K & E)
• Online courses on Tekla Structures. 1(K)
• Online webinars covering bridge design workflows using various software. 1(K)
• CSCS preparation and test. 4(K)
• Sustainable Development - Design, Construction And Maintenance – ICE 5(K)
Course
• Construction contracts – ICE 5-week course 3(K)

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Continuation Sheet No. 6

5. Current affairs and Civil Engineering

This should be a brief summary of an industry news topic that you have read and found interesting.

Green steel for reinforced concrete in infrastructure projects

During a recent full-day workshop on sustainability in the civil engineering profession; delivered by
ICE for Rendel graduates, I enquired about the efficacy of “green steel.” Much is known about
reducing the carbon footprint of concrete via substituting its constituents with greener alternatives
than virgin materials. The mechanical and chemical impacts of replacing cement with fly ash, and
aggregates with recycled concrete, amongst various other materials are well documented and
literature on the subject has been in development since atleast the 1980s1.

Reinforcement steel makes up between 10-30% of the cardon footprint of reinforced concrete. The
wide range illustrates how the carbon footprint can vary due to a range of reasons; mining methods,
refining, transport, and project type to name a few. A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is usually undertaken
to establish a more specific number. However, until very recently, reinforcement steel with a low
carbon content has not been available owing to various supply and demand side issues. A 2022
report by McKinsey2 titled “Net-zero steel in building and construction” outlines both these
categories. Supply side issues cover technological and logistical challenges. Hydrogen and electric
based furnaces are in development and the McKinsey report claims these technologies could be on-
line by 2030. For supply chain issues, green steel manufacturing has not achieved the scale of
production to allow for competitive cost to conventional steel.

On the demand side of the equation, when comparing carbon reduction investments, a common
approach to comparing various carbon reduction strategies is using a marginal abatement cost
curve. This essentially gives the cost per kg of C02 reduced by a given strategy. For green steel,
this number indicates that substitution with alternative materials, such as basalt reinforcement, yields
the highest marginal CO2 savings.

The discussion thus far assumes that ceteris paribus, demand for reinforcement steel is purely
governed by cost. We know this is not true in the contemporary realm of publicly procured projects.
Green initiatives by public funding bodies, both locally in the UK and internationally, are increasingly
stipulating green targets on their projects via CO2 targets imposed on the Lifecyle of the project they
are procuring. High Speed 2 (HS2) stipulated net zero carbon targets for all construction by 2030.
The contractor was able to optimise design, construction methodology and reduction of material to
bring about a 28.4% reduction in the carbon footprint3. “Green steel,” as discussed in this discussion,
was not used.

In conclusion, “green steel” is a promising material, that will see wide-scale commercial use once
the technical and economical challenges are overcome. This is expected to take place by 2030 and
I am excited to see what opportunities this would give civil engineers in designing our built
environment of the future.

1 (Malhotra, 1980) , (Ravina & Mehta, 1988) – Reference in Appendix C

2 Net-zero steel in building and construction: The way forward – McKinsey 2022
3 HS2 celebrates big carbon saving on UK’s longest rail bridge – HS2 2021

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Continuation Sheet No. 7

6. Looking Forward & Conclusion

Looking forward should detail any areas of development required to fulfil specific Attributes, and specific
experience required on projects to assist in obtaining these Attributes.

A Development Action Plan (DAP) has been created and attached in appendix E of this report. I look
forward to undertaking training, gaining experience, and achieving higher levels in the various
attributes in line with DAP. Areas of development I particularly look forward to are attribute 2 and 3,
namely management and leadership, and commercial ability. I have been recently seconded to the
HS2 ALIGN site as a designer’s site representative and hope to use this experience to make
progress on these attributes.

In conclusion, I believe documenting my experience and planning for growth via the methods used
in this report is a robust way for professional and personal growth within the profession. I look forward
to continuing this practice.

Ahson Reza
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Continuation Sheet No. 8

Appendix A – ICE Attributes: Level * Report Ref Description

New Claims of Achievement
ICE Attribute

Attribute/Sub- Attribute Title Current Claimed

Attribute Ref

1 Understanding K E 3a. (p 2- 3a. DBD Bridge

and practical 3) 3D modelling and 4D scheduling of
application of bridge, construction load cases for in-
Engineering situ segmental bridge construction.
2 Management K K 3a. DBD Bridge
and leadership Design coordination between
structural, hydrology and client teams
based in various offices.
Manage and train drafting team for
drawing production.

3 Commercial K K 3a. (p4) 3a. DBD Bridge

ability Bridge quantity estimation for
engineer’s estimate using standard
method of measurement and 3D
bridge models.
4 Health, safety K K 3a. (p3) 3a. DBD Bridge
and welfare. Proposed precast construction
methodology to reduce working at
height risk from in-situ box-girder
construction recommended.
5 Sustainable K Not Not claimed in this report.
development claimed
6 Interpersonal K E 3a. (p2) 3a. DBD Bridge
skills and Training team members on software
communications use. Presentations for BIM
deliverables of project. Tender
writing for BIM requirements and
consultant’s BIM technical
competency. Design coordination
amongst designers and client.
7 Professional K E 3a. (p2) 3a. DBD Bridge
commitment Revit ACP certification to benefit
personal development and help
company to transition from 2d
drawings to 3D modelling.
*Levels of achievement
K Knowledge Have a basic understanding and knowledge of the attribute and how it is achieved

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Continuation Sheet No. 9

E Experience Have achieved the attribute in different situations, working under supervision
A Ability Have achieved the attribute in different situations, assisting others and working
without supervision

This section highlights to your Delegated Engineer when you are claiming a new level of achievement for Attributes
(making it easier for them review).

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Continuation Sheet No. 10

Appendix B – Evidence 1 for Project 01

Figure 1 [Top Left] Bridge relocation proposal

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Continuation Sheet No. 11

Figure 2 Excavation study to support bridge relocation.

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Continuation Sheet No. 12

Appendix C – Bibliography

Malhotra, E. E. (1980). Fly Ash for Use in Concrete - A Critical Review. International Concrete
Abstracts Portal, 59-73. doi:10.14359/6991
Ravina, D., & Mehta, P. (1988). Compressive strength of low cement/high fly ash concrete. Cement
and Concrete Research, 18(4), 571-583. Retrieved 5 15, 2023, from
https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0008884688900506

Appendix D – CPD Details

Attached Excel file titled DAP CPD SUMMARY_AR

Appendix E – Development Action Plan (DAP)

Attached Excel file titled DAP CPD SUMMARY_AR

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 Appendix D - CPD Summary
CPD SUMMARY 19 May 2023
Name: Ahson Haider Reza ICE Member No. 90035303
Job role and responsibilities: Graduate Engineer

ATTRIBUTES OF MEMBER CHARTERED CIVIL ENGINEER (CEng MICE) 2022 2023 2024 2025 Total to date

1. Understanding and Practical Application of Engineering 0 12 12

2. Management and Leadership 0 0 0

3.Commercial Ability 0 7.5 7.5

4. Health, Safety and Welfare 0 14 14

5. Sustainable Development 0 8 8

6. Interpersonal Skills and Communication 4 2 6

7. Professional Commitment 0 9 9
TOTALS 4 52.5 56.5

7. Professional Commitment
16% 1. Understanding and Practical
Application of Engineering
21%

6. Interpersonal Skills and

Communication 2. Management and Leadership
11% 0%

3.Commercial Ability
13%

5. Sustainable Development
14%

4. Health, Safety and Welfare

25%

1. Understanding and Practical Application of Engineering

2. Management and Leadership
3.Commercial Ability
4. Health, Safety and Welfare
5. Sustainable Development
6. Interpersonal Skills and Communication
7. Professional Commitment
Appendix D - CPD Details
Name: Ahson Haider Reza
Job role and responsibilities: Graduate Engineer
Development activity Evaluation
Further comments: Was
Effective learning
Details of CPD activity Dates Dev. Plan ref. Key Learning Points Key Benefits/Value added the plan successful? How
time (hours)
can I improve it in future?

Attended 2 talks and spoke to

various industry suppliers. Talk 1
was about BIM and
1. Career advice from a BIM
standardisation in the industry. I
manager who started out as a
met one of the speakers later to
graduate Structural engineer.
discuss possible BIM compliamce
2. Connected with a BSI BIM
certification for my firm. Talk 2
employee who we later worked
Attended the london build was about BIM careers and I
16 November 2022 4 with for BIM certification at
2022 Expo for talks on BIM learned about the various
Rendel.
stepping stones to advance my
3. Learned about the ISO 19650
own career. Finally, I spoke to the
set of BIM documents and how
Autodesk construction cloud
they have shaped the BIM
person who told me about the
industry.
analytical tools built into the
service that I plan on exploring
eventually.

Safety on site test preperation

Self-training: CSCS Card for 03/01/2022 to Training for sitting the test to Follow safety protocols during
10 that goes over all aspects of safely
Managers and Professionals 03/02/2023 receive the CSCS card any site visit.
working on a construction site.

Self-training: Tekla 05/01/2022 to

11
Structures 03/02/2023

Attended a networking event held

1. Communication skills and made
by the ICE early careers network.
connections with industry Was very successful, would like to
Heard a talk by the incoming ICE
professionals attend more in-person events at
ICE: Early Carreers president on the needs of the
2. Heard about ICE support ICE and take up some
networking event and 24 January 2023 2 present. Met the ICE presidents
programmes for early volunteering work through the
presedential address future leaders and hear about
professionals. organisation and learn about
their experience on the
3. Details about volunteering sustainability.
programme and advice on
oppertunities through the ICE
applying for the scheme.

Prepared, practiced and delivered

5 presentations followed by a
bridge building competetion for a
total of 200 students at the
bushey meads school as part of a
STEM outreach program. I
introduced the students to civil
engineering and the types of
STEM day at bushey Meads bridges. During the competition, i 1. Presentation Skills
School: Spagetti Bridge 02 February 2023 9 guided the process and helped 2. Communication Skills
Challenge out with answering any questions 3. Teamwork
and the set up for each group of
students. I worked with a
colleague on this. The follow
learning points and skills were
developed:
1. Presentation Skills
2. Communication Skills
3. Teamwork

I will try exploring this workflow

Conceptual design workflow from
Online Webinar on 1. Speed up Revit bridge drafting using data from the Peru project
inventor to infraworks to revit.
connected bridge design 2. Reduce rework by re-using to not if it is suitable within
08 February 2023 1 Link with bridge geomtery and
workflows in the autodesk inventor/Revit components and Rendel
civil 3d
ecosystem families. Add to DST if workflow is
succesful
Regulations for working at height,
capable of working at height for
Working at height training 14 April 2023 4 proper use and maintainance of a yes
inspections
harness.

Sustainable Development -
Design, Construction And 10 May 2023 8
Maintenance

ICE 5 Week contracts course 03 May 2023 7.5

Appendix E – Development Action Plan (DAP)
In what area do What are the likely What are my
How does this link to other How will I evaluate
I need to What do I need to learn in resources and deadlines for
Date Ref objectives (eg employer, ICE, What will I do to achieve this? a successful
improve my order to achieve this? support that I will meeting this
etc)? outcome?
performance? need? target?

I will take on more modelling tasks on

The project I am currently working Reinforced concrete Structural the projects I am working on.
(Culvert CAAT3 checks) on requires Analysis theory and practice for rail I can confidentaly model
I need to be assigned
knowledge of structural design and based structures I will take a seminar or webinar on rail an asset I am working
more structural
detailing of RC structures such as I need to learn the use of various structures desing. onwith minimal oversight
Expand engineering modelling work.
Jan-23 bridges and culverts Eurocodes and rail specific codes. I and produce comments Mar-23
1

knowledge
also need to learn efficient I will read some literature on the that are inline with
I will need time to attend
I will also be achieving ICE Attribute 1 : modelling workflows so the model subject. project requirements
webinar on the subject.
Understanding and Practical can be reiterated for various Reinforced Concrete Design to (design of culvert)
Application of Engineering at level 1 geometries and conditions. Eurocode 2[B.Mosley-J.Bungey-
R.Hulse,2007]

I have created a proposal outlining

I am trying to codify the BIM
what I will be doing to achieve this: the
standards, workflows and libraries I need to familiarise myself with
main deliverables are: Time from a project lead
used within Rendel. existing Libraries and capabilities
1. BIM implementation manual and and The success criterias are
Management and This will be in line ISO standards and within Rendel. I also need to
Jan-23 library for Rendel bi-weekly meetings with outlined in the before Jun-23
2

Leadership reviewed by an independent party. familiarise myself with the

2. Information requirement matric personell involved on the mentioned proposal
This requires the management of requirements of the BSI group
3. Clearning level 1 assesment by HS2 Project
meetings and resources need to make review.
independent body with minimal
this successful
comments or additional work

Commercial ability is an ICE attribute

for Ceng
Contracts
I have experience with FIDIC derived Contracts
contracts but am unfamiliar with NEC Attend 5-week ICE course on NEC
contracts and this course will be a contracts and fundamentals of
good introduction and a way to contract law. I will attend these 5 weeks courses over
complete knowledges level the course of the year and try to Cost of training to be Completion of course
Jan-23 Commercial Ability Dec-23
3

understanding of this. Finance implement theoretical knowledge on borne by Rendel certificates.

Finance Attend 5-week ICE course on any live project opportunity I get.
I have experince with costing and construction Finance will give
quantity surveying during the theoretical knowledge base for this
conceptual and detailed design stage attribute.
of project. I do not have knowledge of
construction finance as a project
control tool.

I am studying for the CSCS test for

Health Safety and Rendel requires all of their engineers managers and professionals. I am I will clear the test and get my CSCS Reimbursement of the
Apr-23 Passing the test Feb-23
4

welfare to have CSCS cards using the app for this and will sit card. cost of app and test.
the test on the 3rd of Feb.

Knowledge of sustainable
Sustainable Sustainable development is an ICE Attend 1 day sustainability in Attend course and engage in the course was arranged development and the
Apr-23 May-23
5

Development attribute for CEng construction course run by ICE discussions during training. by Rendel role of civil engineers
within it

Feedback from my DE on
Write my ICE attribute acheiivement attribute achievement
Improve my report and letter Succesful sign-off of the
report and gain feed back from DE. form.
Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal Skills and Management writing skills. attributes covered in first
Feb-23 Make and present HS2 lessons learned Time from company to Mar-23
6

and Management is an ICE attribute for CEng Imrpove my presentation skills to ICE attribute
presentation to University event and in- travel to University for 1
address various types of audience acheivement form.
house day and give
presentation.

Promote the profession through STEM Reimbursement for cost

Learn more about the profession.
and University events. Attend ICE of training, Recording atleast 50
Professional Professional commitment is an ICE Identify my own limitations and
Aug-23 networking events. Attend ICE 5-week accommodation of time hours of CPD in my first Dec-23
7

Commitement attribute work on expanding my knowledge

courses on subjects I have knowledge spent at profession year of the scheme.
and experience.
gaps in. promotion events.