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River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of October 2014.
Weekend stroll along the riverbank to get a closer look at the structures. Took the opportunity also to fully explore the Slang (Rehill) area on the other side of the bank. Hadn't been there before. Spectacularly bright and sunny day (a bit difficult for photos),
The previous contractors had installed this 'debris trap' opposite the Coburg complex, and adjacent to the temporary access bridge laid across the river. The purpose of erecting them in the river channel at Rehills Land, was to prevent trees from becoming an obstruction to the flow of the river.
Can't tell whether the work is actually completed!
Maybe it's just a 21st Century urban sculpture, possibly entitled the 'Dargle Dolmen Stone Set'.
2016: The amazing thing is that, 2 years later, this set of pillars was completely buried as part of the redesigned bank structure.
What a waste of time, effort and money.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of July 2014. JONS Civil Engineering are the approved contractors here. Heavy machinery now appears on site, rows of sheetpile steel lengths are trucked in, carefully laid out, access ramp down to the riverbed is cut and graded, and mounds of hard-core of varying grades is stockpiled. Crawler cranes are assembled, hydraulic hammers and coupled generators are readied, and frames+girders are assembled prior to insertion of steel sheet piles. The continued sunny weather is a welcome relief for 'most' production work. Having erected the steel cross-beam frames, sections of which are welded for added rigidity, and then used to position/align the slotted 'Z' sheet piles, the guys then used what is known as a 'Dawson Sheet Pile Threader' to neatly interlock the wall of steel lengths. A very delicate, and dangerous task, involving the manhandling of steel lengths manipulated by the operator of a nearby crawler crane. Rain doesn't help!
Goal: To attract families in the neighborhood to the Carnival and VBS events.
Audience: Families with children (up to 10 years old for VBS), although this will be sent to all residents, and everyone is welcome at the carnival. The main neighborhood is an upper middle class suburb, with lots of highly educated young families.
Direction: The challenge was to promote these two events simultenously. The Carnival is sort of the kickoff to the VBS. The goal was to keep a unified look to the piece, and have a fun, and kid friendly message. The VBS logo is from the company who produced the materials, a bit modified by me. The Carnival logo is one I created for the same event last year, with a bit different color scheme and layout. The event was a big success last year, and the hope is that using the same look will get a positive response, especially since it is on the church property this year and not at the park like last year. That continuity is the thinking behind "3rd annual" as well. Also, the word "FREE" was not the main selling point as it has been in the past for these events. The thinking is that the audience may not respond as strongly to something that is free, especially if that suggests that it is low quality. It is a bit of a change, so we will see. The event will be free and it will say it is free on the other side, just not as the headline. Comments about that are welcome.
Project: Postcard mailing (8.5 x 5.5 inches), and general branding for Carnival & VBS event. The other side of the postcard will have more details.
Other important info: I am very rushed on this project, so I wanted to get this concept up quick for feedback. I know there are some refinements to the execution that really need attention, but I am mainly looking for feedback on the concept and how this communicates at this point. Thanks!
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of October, 2016.
Still a high level of activity along this stretch of the riverbank, and especially around the Irish Rail bridge.
Throughout the summer, this is where the heavy-duty engineering works have been taking place.
This is a section of the flood protection scheme that I have pretty much ignored -- it's inconvenient for me to access, and others cover it much better.
Check out 'Turgidson'.
Standing on the new riverside walkway alongside Seapoint Court, we see construction activity sited along the Ravenswell Road, temporarily closed due to on-going works.
That is the site of the old Bray Golf Club -- hotly contested as a (potentially) poorly considered as a site for a shopping centre development complex, and still an area of ground that has to act as a flood plain in the event of tidal surges.
As well as raising a heightened flood protection wall, they've created an access ramp down to the riverside. Further temporary soil shelves have been laid to allow construction machines to work alongside the riverbed. That access is critical to pursue work on the nearby Irish Rail bridge.
The area in the background, site of the old Bray Golf course, is both a works compound and vehicle route for the transportation of material to/from the other sectors along the River Dargle involved in construction works.
The Irish Rail Bridge, Bray Harbour:
Phase 1 flood defence works to the Irish Rail bridge commenced in August 2016.
Phase 2 flood defence works will be completed during May to September 2017. This work is being undertaken directly by Irish Rail.
The work includes strengthening the integrity of the bridge by creating buttresses around the base of each pillar.
To do this they have to pile-drive sheets into the river bedrock.
The work is complicated by;
(a) the need not to damage or disturb in any way the actual bridge itself (Irish Rail train and DART carriages pass overhead on an hourly basis), (b) the confined spaces under the bridge, and (c) the twice-daily rising tides from Bray Harbour which spill upriver into the newly expanded basin.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken on the fourth/last week of July 2014. JONS Civil Engineering are engaged in the preparation and construction works - progressing steadily in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River. Sheet piling is a form of driven piling using thin interlocking sheets of steel to obtain a continuous barrier in the ground. The current work involves the construction of a protective wall structure, at the edge of the riverbank adjacent to the La Vallee complexes. Having erected the steel cross-beam frames, sections of which are welded for added rigidity, and then used to position/align the slotted 'Z' sheet piles, the guys then use what is known as a 'Dawson Sheet Pile Threader' to neatly interlock the wall of steel lengths. Progress is steady and relentless -- the steel wall would measure approx. 270 metres.
Another attempt to breath life into BigDog, the 3-ton hydraulic hammer. Parts from the UK, round-the-clock assistance: NO, this dog wasn't going to bark too often!
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the last week of August 2014.
The guys were now working to reinforce the riverside of the sheetpiling, buttressing with large boulders, and an overlay of smaller gravel. Work also started on the other side of the river, again driving sheet piles.
This pile driving work involved a sub-contractor who was able to use a Movax Side-Grip vibratory pile driver. Shattering noise (despite claims), but quicker work through softer ground.
Weekend visit to the site, when work was halted, and temporary access was possible to the riverbank.
Back in 1963 my aunt and uncle took a trip to the Snowy Mountains.
At the time most of Australia was in the grip of 'Snowy Mountains Fever' - the Snowy Scheme was to that time the greatest civil engineering feat undertaken Australia in which the flow of the Snowy River (which flowed east to the sea) was diverted through a series of dams to flow west to assist irrigate farmlands in the Riverina districts.
The scheme also provided the wherewithal to generate the additional electricity needed for Australia's eastern seabord in the years ahead.
These pictures are scanned from slides my aunt took on the trip. Sadly many of the slides I found are now 'beyond repair'. But these are a tribute to the men and women who built the Snowy Scheme.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.
With the river bed/bank protection work partially completed, the 2nd channel was filled in, and water diverted back to it's primary route. Work continued to back-fill the riverside, building up the overall height of The Slang area.
As we can see, one or two day's intense rain could produce rapid flooding of channels, swamping on-going works, and causing temporary vehicle access paths to have to be repaired. And these access ramps were proving difficult to navigate for the fully-laden dumpers/trucks. One hell of a wet and messy place to be working, especially for the guys on foot.
Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces. They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank. They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.
Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.
President Kagame’s visit to Nasho Solar-powered Irrigation Scheme funded by Howard G. Buffett | Nasho, 11 March 2020
4.6.2010
hand drawn continuous triangle
pyramid/temple photo from here: www.flickr.com/photos/uw_digital_images/3382412393/
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken within the third week of October 2014.
We were seeing the effects of the overnight deluge of rain (as predicted some days earlier) -- interestingly enough, the waters had covered the steel structure on the opposite banks. And this was only a short fall of rain.
What would prolonged, and heavy, rains bring? Some day, some year!
Most of the sheet piles were by now driven into place.
Work now involved reinforcing the base of the sheet wall.
On this side of the river, that work involved the build up of material behind the steel wall, to better reinforce the existing soil bank itself.
Throughout the days, it was a constant 2-way stream of Volvo trucks -- some bringing varying grades of hardcore down to the riverside to build up the rear of the steel wall - other times it was to remove previously laid boulders, as part of temporary access shelf on the outside of the steel wall.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the last week of August 2014.
The guys were now working to reinforce the riverside of the sheetpiling, buttressing with large boulders, and an overlay of smaller gravel. Work also started on the other side of the river, again driving sheet piles.
This pile driving work involved a sub-contractor who was able to use a Movax Side-Grip vibratory pile driver. Shattering noise (despite claims), but quicker work through softer ground.
Weekend visit to the site, when work was halted, and temporary access was possible to the riverbank.
Ecovolis (Albanian for "Ecobike"), the system launched March 23 with four stations with 10 bikes each. They've already sold 2,000 subscriptions and have rented bikes out to many more customers on a per-trip basis.
The public enthusiasm has exceeded the best expectations of the group behind the scheme: the Social Alternatives Incentive Programme (PASS). It's also stirred interest among potential corporate donors, who had earlier raised their eyebrows at the idea. “Before starting the project, it was very difficult for us to persuade companies to sponsor the project,” said PASS's director Ened Mato “Now the companies are interested and trying to negotiate with us to sponsor the project.”
The response has been so promising, PASS already plans to open an additional two stations in Tirana and even hopes to expand Ecovolis to neighbouring communities.
Although the system is admittedly small for a city of 600,000 people, Ecovolis has been a feat of ingenuity and perseverance given the circumstances. In terms of infrastructure, Tirana has only a few recreational paths on the margins of city green areas, and also a few experimental shared bus/bike lanes. There is simply no culture of transport cycling in the city, and the modal share -- if it were to be measured -- is assumed to be well under 1 percent.
In a sense, introducing bike sharing to Tirana is tantamount to introducing cycling to Tirana. Full stop. Organisers had to be realistic about the start-up budget, while at the same time, make a big splash and stimulate interest in a novel transport concept. And because PASS's core mission is creating opportunities for needy citizens, they wanted the programme to have a strong social element.
So PASS rolled out Ecovolis as one element of a broader programme called Tirana Community Bicycle. Part of its activities are giving away bicycles to children of needy families and part is offering necessary staff positions to marginalised citizens. The programme also includes Sunday cycling lessons and various cycling activities for youth.
In regard to the bike-sharing scheme, it had to be low-tech. A swipe-card activated system of the type operating in London, Paris, Barcelona (and soon in Budapest) would have been far too expensive for Tirana. And aside from the cost, swipe cards just aren't used much in Albania.
But this was fine. PASS fashioned Ecovolis as a social business: Each docking station is staffed by two attendants at all times. The necessary staffing not only creates jobs (two shifts per day = four jobs per station), it also puts a human face on the service. The attendants can explain and promote bike sharing while raising awareness of utility cycling in a brand-new market.
Key to getting the project off the ground was the support of Tirana City Hall and a cash donation of USD 24,000 from the George Soros-funded Open Society Foundation Albania (OSFA). Even more significant was a donation of 450 used bikes from the US-based Pedal for Progress organisation.
One difficulty has been the higher than expected maintenance needs. Although this is a typical challenge for bike-sharing systems, it may be hitting Ecovolis especially hard due to the inexperience of users and the somewhat delicate quality of the standard-issue bicycles. During the initial weeks of the project, 30 of the scheme’s 40 bicycles required repairs on any given day. PASS hopes to address this by purchasing sturdier, new bikes as the system is expanded. It was also hoped that as the scheme’s customers get used to the system, they'll learn to use the bikes without causing damages.
Despite teething problems, Ecovolis is moving ahead. Plans include creating a database of users and members to get a better handle on Ecovolis's market (half of subscribers are women) and to start giving service discounts to Ecovolis customers. Meanwhile, according to Mato, PASS is in talks with the mayors of Durres, Pogradec and Vlora for possible franchises.
Verona Court's Activities Co-ordinator Joanne Taylor with resident Sylvia Pace at the scheme's 40s music roadshow day.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of August 2013, tracking the on-going river bank alterations.
The prolonged dry weather is now apparent in the soil surface.
We would all experience the effects of, in Irish terms, a prolonged 'heatwave'.
Activity in this Slang area has been drastically curtailed in recent months. What work still being carried on seemed to involve endless shifting, and 'turning' of top spoil.
Despite the prolonged dry period, there is a slow, but constant, seepage of water from the upper banks, gathering along the lower riverbank shelf.
One has got to question the impact of such seepage on the integrity of the recently-constructed upper banks, especially the exposed slopes.
Some local activity now in recycling the large stones, gathered in cairns, down to the riverbed, with the apparent intention of influencing/changing the flow patterns, and thus preventing untoward debris build-up.
To paraphrase: 'Man proposes, but Nature disposes'.
Back in 1963 my aunt and uncle took a trip to the Snowy Mountains.
At the time most of Australia was in the grip of 'Snowy Mountains Fever' - the Snowy Scheme was to that time the greatest civil engineering feat undertaken Australia in which the flow of the Snowy River (which flowed east to the sea) was diverted through a series of dams to flow west to assist irrigate farmlands in the Riverina districts.
The scheme also provided the wherewithal to generate the additional electricity needed for Australia's eastern seabord in the years ahead.
These pictures are scanned from slides my aunt took on the trip.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken on the second week of July 2014.
JONS Civil Engineering are engaged in the preparation and construction works - progressing steadily in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River. Sheet piling is a form of driven piling using thin interlocking sheets of steel to obtain a continuous barrier in the ground.
The current work involves the construction of a protective wall structure, at the edge of the riverbank adjacent to the La Vallee complexes. Having erected the steel cross-beam frames, sections of which are welded for added rigidity, and then used to position/align the slotted 'Z' sheet piles, the guys then use what is known as a 'Dawson Sheet Pile Threader' to neatly interlock the wall of steel lengths.
Another delicate, and dangerous task: back-filling the foundations of the driven piles with crushed hardcore to prevent any undue movement. The CAT operator, working blind to hand signals, has only a narrow space into which to unload.
Good teamwork.
McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2
XT899 B
19 Squadron
RAF Wildenrath
Germany
Retirement Blue Scheme
IAT 1991
RAF Fairford
Gloucestershire
England
Last Phantom from Wildenrath flew to Czech Air Force Museum at Kbely 16 January 1992
In the past year at work I've started using the following color-coding scheme to make it easy to identify the length of a cable. We didn't throw out all our working cables and buy all new color-coded ones, but as we need to buy new cables I'm using this. These cables can be found at www.cyberguys.com/, one of my favorite places to buy computing equipment.
Kind of ironic really
Vauxhall advertising the government scrap scheme eventually finds itself in the breakers yard
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the second week of August 2013, tracking the on-going river bank alterations.
The prolonged dry weather is now apparent in the soil surface.
Activity in this Slang area has been drastically curtailed in recent months.
Despite the prolonged dry period, there is a slow, but constant, seepage of water from the upper banks, gathering along the lower riverbank shelf.
One has got to question the impact of such seepage on the integrity of the recently-constructed upper banks, especially the exposed slopes.
Some local activity now in recycling the large stones, gathered in cairns, down to the riverbed.
It would appear that this latest intervention has the intention of influencing/changing the river flow patterns, and thus preventing untoward debris build-up.
In effect, the creation of mini-weirs, or 'groynes'.
Their effectiveness (!) will only become apparent after the next heavy rains/floods.
To paraphrase: 'Man proposes, but Nature disposes'.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the second week of October, 2016.
Adjacent to The People's Park, a large compound is the site of continuing work along this section of the river. Some of the works are nearing completion.
Access is quite restricted here, and involves shipping material in/out via the entrance further upriver, adjacent to The Slang.
A temporary soil shelf was laid along this wall-side, to allow better access for vehicles moving materials in and out.
The guys have completed the work here to upgrade the drain system from the opposite Glenwood Road section, with specialised underground chambers now operational.
They've moved out some of the heavy machinery, and begun the process of reverting part of the compound back to it's natural state.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the weeks of June 2012, tracking the construction of access bridge, and river bank alterations
Ink and water color, Stillman & Birn Zeta Series Notebook. Plan for painting of rear side of new porcelain ceramic project.
In March, 1994, three Arbroath High School pupils were selected in a total of eight representing Angus to take part in a Police Work Insight Scheme. They were, from left - Karen Jamieson, Atholl McKay and Kirsty Gibb. (Photograph - Colin Wight)
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of July 2014. Preparation and constructions works are now underway in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River.
JONS Civil Engineering are the approved contractors to - devise/construct/complete a retaining wall along the La Vallee office+apartment stretch of riverbank. Much of the early work involves removal of plant material along the riverbanks, adjacent to the office-apartments complexes. Heavy machinery now appears on site, rows of sheetpile steel lengths are trucked in, and carefully laid out, access ramp down to the riverbed is cut and graded, and hard-core of varying grades is stockpiled. Crawler cranes are assembled, mounds of varying hard-core are stockpiled, hydraulic hammers and coupled generators are readied, and frames+girders are assembled prior to the task of inserting the steel sheet piles. The continued dry, sunny weather is a welcome relief for this production work.
Presentation of Options for River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme, as proposed by Bray UDC and the Office of Public Works.
'Public Information Day, in Royal Hotel, Bray, November 2006.
The following are a small selection of documented proposals for public consideration.
The project was born of a need to address the negative impact of high water levels and flooding of the River Dargle on local residents, businesses and commuters.
Major structural works include widening the channel downstream of Bray Bridge along the golf course just before the DART bridge
- installation of a culvert on the north side of Bray Bridge creating, in effect, an “extra arch” in the bridge to allow for a greater volume of water
- River Bank stabilisation works in areas from Bray Bridge upstream past the Peoples Park and bed widening and adaptation works in the Slang area.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken on the third week of July 2014. JONS Civil Engineering are engaged in the preparation and construction works - progressing steadily in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River. Sheet piling is a form of driven piling using thin interlocking sheets of steel to obtain a continuous barrier in the ground. The current work involves the construction of a protective wall structure, at the edge of the riverbank adjacent to the La Vallee complexes. Having erected the steel cross-beam frames, sections of which are welded for added rigidity, and then used to position/align the slotted 'Z' sheet piles, the guys then use what is known as a 'Dawson Sheet Pile Threader' to neatly interlock the wall of steel lengths. A very delicate, and dangerous task, involving the manhandling of steel lengths being manipulated by the operator of a nearby crawler crane. More hardcore back-filling -- viewed from the safety of a crane-borne cage.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken within the first week of October 2014.
We were seeing the effects of the overnight deluge of rain (as predicted some days earlier) -- interestingly enough, the waters had covered the steel structure on the opposite banks. And this was only a short fall of rain. What would prolonged, and heavy, rains bring?
Some day, some year!
Most of the sheet piles were by now driven into place.
Work now involved re-inforcing the base of the sheet wall. On this side of the river, that work involved the build up of material behind the steel wall, to better re-inforce the existing soil bank itself.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken on second week of June 2014.
Outriders from the local branch of Quad Bikers Anonymous, taking advantage of the last opportunity to race across the open plains. No Gardai were called during the course of the jaunt this time!
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken on the fourth/last week of July 2014. JONS Civil Engineering are engaged in the preparation and construction works - progressing steadily in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River. Sheet piling is a form of driven piling using thin interlocking sheets of steel to obtain a continuous barrier in the ground. The current work involves the construction of a protective wall structure, at the edge of the riverbank adjacent to the La Vallee complexes. Having erected the steel cross-beam frames, sections of which are welded for added rigidity, and then used to position/align the slotted 'Z' sheet piles, the guys then use what is known as a 'Dawson Sheet Pile Threader' to neatly interlock the wall of steel lengths. Progress is steady and relentless -- the steel wall would measure approx. 270 metres.
Another attempt to breath life into BigDog, the 3-ton hydraulic hammer. Parts from the UK, round-the-clock assistance: NO, this dog wasn't going to bark too often!