In 2022, we worked in 50 countries on more than 370 contracts.
Rail, metro and public transport, in general, have shown robust positive trends, along with green
mobility, using either electrification or hydrogen as an alternative fuel. These are areas where we have
strong competencies and a good competitive advantage.
Following our work on the Morandi Bridge in Genoa in 2020, RINA has gained a growing reputation as a
leader in PMC services for large infrastructure projects.
During 2022, we developed digital tools for managing asset integrity for roads and highways.
Our Bridge Maintenance System (BMS) is applicable to any asset relating to road infrastructure,
including viaducts, tunnels, barriers, etc. We will understand the full potential of this powerful tool
and the opportunities it will create in 2023.
In 2022, we worked in
50 countries on more than 370 contracts.
Rail, metro and public transport, in general, have shown robust positive trends, along with green mobility,
using either electrification or hydrogen as an alternative fuel. These are areas where we have strong
competencies and a good competitive advantage.
Following our work on the Morandi Bridge in Genoa in 2020, RINA has gained a growing reputation as a leader
in PMC services for large infrastructure projects.
During 2022, we developed digital tools for managing asset integrity
for roads and highways. Our Bridge Maintenance System (BMS) is applicable to any asset relating to road
infrastructure, including viaducts, tunnels, barriers, etc. We will understand the full potential of this
powerful tool and the opportunities it will create in 2023.
From an infrastructure perspective, we are involved in cold ironing projects with the electrification of ports to
abate the emissions of cruise liners. We are also working to certify buildings according to LEED
and BREEAM protocols as the requirements for infrastructure to be certified continue to
grow.
In 2022 we further developed a new service on Nature-Based
Solutions (NBS) design, consulting and testing, which offers a way to replace traditional
solutions with natural ones that can produce better LCC performance. OPERANDUM, a research &
innovation project that implemented a solution to reduce the risks due to coastal erosion and
environmental degradation processes, has proved the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness
of NBSs.
Our Critical Infrastructure Resilience to Climate
Change, launched in Q2 2022, integrates the competence of RINA in Climate Change studies
and assessments to provide a comprehensive, yet infrastructure specific, scoring system to
determine the resilience of the level of service provided by a single or a network of
infrastructural systems to climate change events. The service addresses the clear and urgent need
to understand the impact and cost of “no-actions” for organisations managing/coordinating a
portfolio of infrastructural assets.
Green mobility is an advancing market, and RINA is well-placed with innovative services and
the competencies needed to support regions as they invest in the energy transition. In 2022, we
acquired a contract to support the first rail conversion to
hydrogen in Italy, providing us with a good reference for our competency in this area in
other regions.
The highlights of 2022 have included the iconic Genoa Breakwater project. This “once in a lifetime” project
constitutes a very deep breakwater, 50m below water level, which will enable the enlargement
of the Port of Genoa, the biggest commercial port in the Mediterranean.
Other important projects included the award for technical advisory and project management
services for the development of a new tourist
port in Fiumicino, near Rome. The cruise company is a
worldwide market leader, which presents a good opportunity for the future.
From a mobility perspective, the Egyptian highspeed train
line, which covers almost 1,000km, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea,
is a big investment promoted by the Ministry for Transport. RINA has secured two contracts as
part of a JV for design and consultancy services, but this is just the beginning of the story,
as we expect investment to continue for the next 6-10 years.
A feasibility study for the extension of the Bahrain
metro further gives us a key reference in a new country, and the success of the
project makes us optimistic for the future.
We live in a world that is changing rapidly, and investments may change
depending on regional political tensions. However, our focus on
different geographical regions gives our business resilience, and although investment may
slow in some areas, it will increase in others. Ultimately, mobility and infrastructure are at the
heart of all economies. We are here to ensure they are safe, comfortable, sustainable, and
reliable.
Our PMC activities will continue to lead our engineering
service offerings, and we expect increasing involvement with public authorities as they put
NextGenerationEU projects into action. We also expect a significant increase in requests for Asset Integrity Monitoring services going forward as new guidelines
emerge.
The acquisition of strategic contracts in Africa and the many tenders we have issued across
Europe, Africa and the Middle East puts us in a strong position for 2023. We are further looking to
expand our presence in the USA, which needs to shift the focus of technology in transportation. RINA
has the competencies and experience that can help it achieve its goals.
With strong trends in the need for increasing safety, decarbonisation, green mobility, and
regeneration, we are very optimistic about the opportunities 2023 will bring.
A priority transport project in the EU
The Rail Baltic Project consists of the largest Baltic Region Infrastructure project
carried out in the last 100 years. It is a European gauge (1435mm), double track, high speed
railway for passengers and freight transport equipped with ERTMS signalling system that will
connect the three Baltic states with Europe. The line is 870 km long and is part of the
Trans-European Transport Network project (TEN-T), the EU Commission’s project for the
development of a Europe wide network of infrastructure.
RINA is acting as a consultant to RB Rail AS to define Systems Engineering & RAMS
processes and requirements at system and subsystem level during the project, develop specific
safety studies, and disseminate a safety culture within RB Rail AS. Taking into account
infrastructure and technological subsystems, work included the overall definition of the
Systems Engineering and RAMS strategies and processes, preparation the relevant plans in input
to the Design & Construction projects, and identification of applicable requirements
including the compliance to the Safety and European standards for Interoperability purposes.
RINA provided experts with deep knowledge of European Standards and Regulations and their
application in international railway projects.
Important transit project for Ireland and North Europe
The MetroLink Project is the development of a north-south urban railway service that will
run between Swords and Charlemont, linking Dublin Airport, Irish Rail, DART, DublinBus and
Luas Services, creating fully integrated public transport along the 19km route. A large
portion of the route will be underground including where it passes under the city centre area
and Dublin Airport. The project provides a total of 15 new stations, 3000 additional park and
ride spaces, and a journey time of approximately 25 minutes from Swords to the city centre.
MetroLink will cater for 20.000 passengers per direction per hour and carry up to 50 million
passengers per year.
RINA was appointed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) as an Independent Engineering
Expert to engage with stakeholder groups and review public Railway Order drawings,
Environmental Impact Assessment reports, and other relevant published documents. It will
provide objective reports on various aspects of the new metro, including impact of
construction and operation, and issue information about engineering design and technical
decisions in a format that is easy to understand for non-experts.
The metro will increase integration and sustainability and provide a significant contribution
to modal shift and traffic decongestion in Dublin, a move that will support Ireland in meeting
its climate change targets. RINA expertise for the project includes stakeholder engagement
techniques; metro system technology, design, construction and operation; geotechnical
engineering, and railway noise and vibration.
The biggest project in
Italy’s PNRR (€1.3bn)
RINA is providing Project Management Consultancy (PMC) services for the design,
construction and commissioning of a new breakwater in the Port of Genoa. The breakwater will
be approximately 450 m beyond the current barrier to ensure direct access for ultra-large
ships and provide a large turning basin for these vessels to safely manoeuvre within the new
port basin. The construction will consist of 100 reinforced concrete cellular caissons filled
with granular material set on a rock basement. It will rest on an underwater foundation with
varying depths up to 50m below water, making it one of the deepest breakwaters in the world.
In addition, the project is expected to include the construction of a new outer breakwater and
partial demolition of the existing inner breakwater, to be carried out without interruption to
port operations. The scale and complexity of the breakwater make it a unique project at a
worldwide level.
RINA is providing a 360-degree, multidisciplinary team to support the client throughout all
project phases with activities including design review of the entire project and supervision
of works. The scope also incorporates non-engineering expertise in areas such as
environmental, regulatory, legal, and financial.
Project Management
Consultancy (PMC) services for a greenfield port facility close to Rome and Fiumicino
international airport
RINA has been contracted to provide PMC services; design coordination maritime, buildings
and civil works engineering consultancy; environmental impact studies; met ocean and
environmental studies; and related surveys and investigations for the design, construction and
management of the Fiumicino Isola Sacra port. The overall project, which has been revised from
the originally approved concession for 1,000 pleasure boats and a massive real estate
development, will provide a home port function for cruise ships. The new cruise terminal will
integrate the overall capacity of the Lazio Ports System, which currently suffers a
qualitative-quantitative offer delay compared to its competitors in the western Mediterranean.
The project also integrates a service building for the marina, a shipyard for vessels up to 24
metres, and a 200-room hotel with adjoining aparthotel, as well as numerous services and
equipped public spaces spread over a completely reclaimed area.
The new concession for the revised project was acquired in 2022 through Fiumicino Waterfront
S.r.l. RINA commenced work on this complex and integrated maritime and onshore project in
March 2022 with a multi-disciplinary team, including non-engineering expertise in
environmental, regulatory, legal, and financial areas, to support the client through all
project phases. The project represents a massive capital investment of more than €400M and is
entirely funded by private equity.
Development and
decarbonisation of the Valcamonica area in eastern Lomardy: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, an
important industrial pre-Alpine valley, and access route for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter
Olympics
Implemented by the FNM Group, the “H2iseO Hydrogen Valley” project aims to decarbonise
public transport services and encourage the transition to more sustainable transport systems.
The first of its type in Italy will include three different hydrogen production, storage and
distribution sites, which will provide hydrogen to 14 trains and a fleet of 40 public buses.
It is the first step in structuring a zero-emission mobility system and creating a mobility
hydrogen economy.
RINA is providing project management support and specialists to address the different
technical and management challenges for all activities relating to the performance of services
and achieving project objectives. The project is part of the ‘Experimentation of hydrogen for
rail transport’ initiative addressed in the PNRR and aims to achieve both "hydrogenation" and
decarbonisation of the Brescia-Iseo-Edolo railway line.
RINA is providing architectural and engineering
services relating to project coordination and construction along with safety supervision for a
new metro in Genoa. It will support the client in verifying the project developed by the
contractor, supervise construction in accordance with Italian laws (Codice Appalti), approve
design, monitor progress, manage non-conformities, and help ensure contractual deadlines are
met.
The rest of the information in the questionnaire for this project has been duplicated
from the A12 motorway project – more information is needed.
Guaranteeing the safety of
the road system
RINA is providing architectural and engineering services for the surveillance of bridges,
viaducts, tunnels and related engineering support services for the Livorno-San Pietro in
Palazzi and Civitavecchia-Tarquinia sections of the A12 motorway. It is providing qualified
inspectors with proven field experience to carry out ordinary and extraordinary periodic
inspections to monitor the level of any defects or damage. This gives a clear picture of the
condition of assets, which will enable the planning and implementation of interventions to
restore the condition of assets when necessary and keep the road system safe for users.
Innovative tools are being used to support the project, such as drones and tablets, to support
inspectors’ activities and increase levels of safety. In the near future, Building Information
Models (BIM) software will also be utilised to monitor and assess the condition of the
infrastructure.
The project includes various types of infrastructure and construction techniques and will
incorporate the longest viaduct in Italy (almost 10 km). By monitoring the progress of
defects, it will be possible to determine the lifespan of parts of infrastructures under the
same climatic conditions as those being monitored.
Innovative structural monitoring of an
important and complex structure
The Storstrømsbroen Bridge will be a combined road and rail bridge that crosses
Storstrømmen between the islands of Falster and Masnedø in Denmark with a total length of
3,832 m. The bridge is important and complex, and after the construction phases, commissioning
and maintenance will represent new challenges. With RINA’s support, the client will have a
clear and updated picture of the health of the bridge, allowing them to understand, plan and
implement any interventions required to restore the structural health of the asset, thereby
predicting any failures and ensuring complete safety for users.
RINA has designed and is installing a hybrid distributed sensor network to provide real-time,
permanent monitoring of the condition of the bridge during its operational life. The system
includes 2D and 3D accelerometers, fibre optic sensors to measure strain and temperature,
dynamic 2D inclinometers, GPS and sonic distance sensors to measure displacements, along with
other environmental sensors. A Structural Health Monitoring System (SHMS) software platform
collects, transmits, manages and presents the data recorded in clear and intuitive displays.
The innovative system provides a holistic assessment of the condition of the bridge.
Construction of the bridge is scheduled for completion in 2025.
Precise monitoring of the
condition of road infrastructure to ensure safety
Tangenziale di Napoli manages the A56 motorway in Naples. To ensure a clear and updated
picture of the conditions of assets on this stretch of road, RINA is providing engineering and
architecture services.
The project started in 2021 and will end in 2023, with a possible two-year extension. It aims
to assess the condition of infrastructures and monitor any deterioration. It includes ordinary
and extraordinary periodic inspections surveys of all defects and damage. The final stage of
the project includes the cataloguing of defects with different nomenclature and the
determination of the level of attention required in accordance with defined “attention
classes”, which will determine the frequency of inspections.
There are various types of infrastructure within the project and different construction
techniques. By monitoring trends of defects, it will be possible to estimate the lifespan of
structures in the same climatic conditions as those being monitored. Drones and tablets
are used to support inspectors to increase the efficiency of monitoring activities and enhance
personnel safety. The next technological step will be the introduction of a Bridge Management
System to automatically collect data on the condition of infrastructure.
Inspection services to ensure rail safety in Catania
RINA is providing services for census, surveys, insertion onto the AINOP (Italian Ministry
of Infrastructure and Transport) Portal, primary visual inspections, and determination of the
health state of infrastructure for the present, metropolitan and underground lines of the
Circumetnea Railway in Catania. The project covers a variety of infrastructure types and
construction methods, which will enable an understanding of the main vulnerabilities of each
of them.
Qualified inspectors will be assisted by innovative technological tools such as drones and
tablets. These will help increase the efficiency of inspection activities and help enhance the
safety of personnel.
The first and largest bridge assessment project in Italy applying new Italian
Codes for Monitoring and Assessment of Road Bridges (LLGG2022)
RINA is providing highly skilled civil engineers to carry out structural and geotechnical
investigations and to develop finite element models (FEM) to assess the structural conditions
of bridges and viaducts on the Italian highway system. The scope of the project covers a large
portfolio of bridges built with varying construction techniques and includes destructive and
non-destructive testing and seismic assessments.
The goal of the project is to ensure safety, verify the need to retrofit bridges and define
the most effective solution. It is based on new procedures (LLGG2020) for the assessment of
road bridges, which assess load rating capacity and seismic vulnerability. The codes
applicable to the project are state-of-the-art in terms of bridge inspection and assessment
and present a possible service that could also be applied in other countries.
A state-of-the-art building housing the largest anechoic chamber in Europe
The new European Space Agency (ESA) ESTEC campus in Noordwijk near Amsterdam will be
designed to meet complex and highly technical requirements with state-of-the-art features,
including high-performance foundations, high-level vibration absorption; high-tech cleanroom
environments; specific lighting, acoustic comfort, ventilation, heating and cooling
conditions, utilities including emergency power, compressed air, liquid nitrogen, and fire
suppression systems, and a healthy, safe, secure working environment.
RINA is providing Project Management Consultancy (PMC) services, construction supervision, and
commissioning activities for the campus with experienced project managers and specific skills
in construction supervision and quality assurance. The building will accommodate the largest
European anechoic chamber and become the largest satellite test facility ever built in Europe.
The campus is fully BIM engineered and designed in accordance with strict Dutch environmental
requirements.
The project is scheduled for completion before autumn 2024, and timescales are critical as ESA
has already booked the anechoic chamber for tests at this time. RINA completed the detailed
building design in 2022 and is using the same project team for the subsequent phases of the
project to ensure continuity.
A single, integrated,
highly technological facility for modern child healthcare
RINA is providing project management, design review, work supervision, HSE and quality
check services for the construction of Padiglione Zero, a new state-of-the-art building for
intensive care, along with the renovation of Padigilioni 15, 16, 17, 18 and 6. The project
aims to centralise the institute’s healthcare activities in a single, integrated,
high-technology centre based on an innovative organisation model incorporating Care Platforms
and homogenous departmental areas organised according to care intensity and technological
complexity in line with international standards.
The project is part of Italy’s PNRR and must meet strict targets and milestones to ensure
access to the funds. The construction phase must ensure health continuity with the progressive
transfer of departments from existing pavilions to new ones without the need for further
transitory transfers.
RINA PMC must ensure exceptional quality in terms of meeting customer needs and compliance
with agreed timescales for this complex project. The project will be fully BIM engineered,
including design, verification, construction, work supervision (4D and 5D) and facility
management (6D). The new building will be NZEB and LEED Gold certified, and the resulting
campus will be one of the leading Children’s hospitals in Italy and Europe.
Technical and economic feasibility studies for a new cruise terminal that will
safeguard the Venice Lagoon
The Venice Marghera Cruise Terminal is part of interventions to safeguard the Venice
Lagoon, allowing two 300m cruise ships to serve the area without entering Venice city centre.
It is located in the Canale Industriale Nord in Marghera and is accessible through Malamocco
Marghera Channel.
RINA is providing technical and economic feasibility studies, which cover:
- Access of the
cruise ships to the channel through real-time navigation simulation
- In situ geotechnical
and environmental surveys
- 300m berth refurbishment and ~350m new combi wall berth
design
- Preliminary design of shore power connection
- A dredging project to allow the
design ships to enter the channel
- Capping, paving and viability of ground areas
-
Demolition and disposal of the crane, walls and MV cabin present in the project area
-
Green areas and fence construction
- Hydraulic systems and other facilities
- A precast
building used as a temporary terminal, serving one ship that will moor at the existing quay in
the first phase of the construction project
- Two-floor terminal building design.
The
project is in an area with strong industrial development and includes the expropriation of
private land and environmental mitigation measures. RINA is fulfilling project needs using a
multidisciplinary team, including architects, dredging specialists, surveyors, environmental
experts, logistics experts, archaeologists, ISPS experts, and environmental structural,
geotechnical, transport, maritime, and utility engineers. The project is further supported
using innovative technology such as drones and BIM. It is scheduled for completion in May
2023.
Urban Regeneration in
Brescia
RINA is providing building design; project coordination; BIM management; structural,
geotechnical, environmental and hydraulic frameworks; road design, construction supervision,
and health and safety services for the re-functionalisation of the compendium “Ex Caserma
Papa”, located in Brescia. The project will see the relocation of State Administrations in
line with the planning and territorial development guidelines of the Municipality of Brescia.
The area covers around 39,000m2 and includes several unused military buildings. Four buildings
will be subject to consolidation interventions, while others will be demolished. New buildings
will include GdE housing and underground parking, Motorisation Offices, Customs Offices, and a
Motorisation Hangar.
The current site is highly polluted, requiring environmental mitigation measures before the
introduction of new buildings. The project also requires the expropriation of some private
areas.
The project will be fully developed within BIM and is proposed as a pilot project for digital
twin-building strategies within the European framework. It represents a combination of
innovation and design in urban regeneration and identifies RINA as one of the leading players
in this area.
Alleviating pressures on traffic in the city of Genoa
The new Genoa underwater tunnel will provide a crossing of the internal basin in the Port
of Genoa with twin tunnels, each with three 3.4 km road lanes and relative interconnecting
sections with the motorway junction and city road networks to the west and east of the city.
In partnership with Tecne, RINA is developing preliminary and detailed engineering.
The tunnels will increase the efficiency with which traffic can cross the city. The existing
elevated road, built in the 1960s, no longer meets the traffic needs of the system. RINA is
providing road and tunnel design expertise, and the project reflects RINA’s position as a
principal engineering society for infrastructure.
Adapting the old to meet
the needs of the future
RINA is providing structural design, BIM coordination, environmental assessment and
health and safety services for all preliminary, definitive and execution design phases of an
urban regeneration project on the site of an abandoned air force site in Cagliari. Buildings
on the current site were constructed at different times, going back to as early as the
1940s.
The project includes:
- conservation of buildings with historical
testimonial value with structural and functional adjustment
- demolition of
non-functional buildings
- construction of a new building that leans against the
former Command Warehouse building to extend it and incorporate the former Warehouses, Washing
Station and Troop building
- a multi-storey car park respecting the area of the
former Magazzini building c.d. English hangars.
Urban regeneration at the site gives
the opportunity to re-think architecture while respecting the archaeological pre-existence
emphasised by the landscape. It allows us to take into account community needs and the
attractiveness of the area beyond functional needs.
Meeting growing food demand and improving food safety
The wholesale markets sector in Egypt is facing huge challenges with outdated
regulations, tariffs, fees and fines, and poor maintenance and management of existing
wholesale markets, resulting in increased waste and poor food safety.
RINA is providing technical, financial and legal assistance for a feasibility study for the
greenfield development of wholesale markets in Ismailia and Sharkeya. The project is based on
a technical assistance programme for the development of such areas in Egypt, financed by
Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The programme is aimed at providing the Government
with key recommendations for food supply, quality, and leveraging of food products and
logistics for the wholesale trade of fresh products.
As part of the technical
feasibility assessment, RINA is evaluating environmental and social impact in accordance with
Egyptian legislation and the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF, 2018). It
is also preparing a preliminary Stakeholder Engagement and Gender Action plan to promote
gender equality.
The RINA team consists of a combination of local consultants who are carrying out necessary
on-site work, supported by international experts who provide specific knowledge and experience
in areas such as feasibility studies, agribusiness and quality assurance.
The overall
project objectives include meeting food demands, guaranteeing food safety and security,
reducing food waste, and stabilising the pricing of basic commodities. The project will be a
template for further investments for the development of the wholesale market network
throughout Egypt.
Reducing mobility carbon footprint and adding
socio-economic benefits
As part of its strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of urban transport in Da Conseil
Exécutif des Transports Urbains de Dakar (CETUD) is looking at projects to improve
environmental performance and the introduction of alternative energy sources for its bus
fleet, in this case, a biofuel derived from waste and residues. This project offers many
benefits in terms of reduced environmental impact, energy self-sufficiency, and social and
economic benefits for associated agriculture and rural areas.
In an ongoing project
commencing January 2022, RINA is providing stakeholder engagement techniques and a team of
high-level experts with the necessary technical and personal skills (communication,
interpersonal skills, synthesis, pedagogy) to make the project a success. It is providing a
strategic approach based on international best practices and its knowledge and experience
relating to export promotion, market research, and access to foreign markets.
The
project will consider various biofuel options based on local resources, technological options,
logistics, regulatory requirements, business models, socio-economic benefits, local impact,
and fuel production options. It will form a range of recommendations based on multi-criteria
analysis, financial analysis with sensitivity tests based on a complete financial model for
first-phase biofuel production, and identify and engage stakeholders.
An urban transit network to reduce pollution and traffic
density
The Kingdom of Bahrain’s 2030 strategic vision includes the development of a high-quality
public transport system to promote growth and development. To achieve this vision, the
Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) is planning a 109 km rail-based urban
transit network, which will be constructed in phases.
During 2022, RINA provided consultancy services for the development of the preliminary design
of phase 1B of the Bahrain metro, with a team of engineers with deep knowledge of standards
and regulations and their application in international railway projects. The overall project
is intended to reduce the number of cars on the road, reducing traffic density and
pollution.
The development of the metro needs to minimise interference with motorway
traffic, consider the presence of the UNESCO heritage site, the necropolis of 'A´Ali West
Burial Mounds Field', and mitigate the impact on the environment and landscape of the royal
residence. The line and the service are designed to optimise journey times with a metropolitan
service and a special service that directly connects the railway station with the exhibition
area and the Formula 1 circuit.
The first phase starts with two lines with an
estimated length of around 29 km and 20 stations with two interchanges. The lines connect key
transit points, including the airport and major residential, commercial, and educational
areas. Phase 1 A extends the Red Line from Seef to the proposed King Hamad International
Railway Station near Ramli Area. Phase 1B extends this, connecting three main catchment
points: King Hamad International Railway Station, University of Bahrain, and Bahrain
International Circuit.
Upgrade to state-of-the-art CBI signalling to increase the safety, reliability and
availability of existing rail networks
Ferrovie Nord is the fourth rail operator in Italy, with an overall network length of
about 400km. The project encompasses the replacement of the existing Electromechanical
Interlocking system with a Computer Based Interlocking (CBI) system of three lines on the
network.
RINA is providing a multidisciplinary team with knowledge of signalling systems and design
management to cover all necessary technical activities for the design of the CBI for the Milan
railway node. Covering almost all of the Ferrovie Nord Network, the upgrade of the
interlocking system to the latest technology is a fundamental step in guaranteeing a safe and
reliable service and increasing the availability of the network.
The first high-speed, electrified rail line in Egypt will increase mobility
efficiency and reduce carbon emissions
The 660 km high-speed Green Line connects El Ain El Sokhna City on the Red Sea Coast to
Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean Coast. RINA is providing preliminary design services for
the telecommunications systems, which provide real-time traffic information, security for
passengers, data retrieval and analysis for operators, and emergency communications, as well
as supporting efficient operation of the station and management of the control system.
The project is Egypt’s first high-speed rail system, and the fully electrified line will
reduce carbon emissions. RINA is providing an international team of engineers with experience
in high-speed railways, railway telecommunication systems and cyber security.
In a project commencing in 2022, RINA is developing detailed project reporting, starting from the available feasibility study, for a proposed metro rail corridor from Dommasandra Circle (Sarjapur Road) to Hebbal. Based on the urban growth and growing IT and ITeS industries in and around Sarjapur village, the BMRCL/Government of Karnataka (GoK) is looking to extend the corridor from Dommasandra Circle (Sarjapur Road) to Sarjapur village. The line is 37 km long with 29 Stations. The metro will reduce traffic congestion in Bengaluru and is part of the Bengaluru Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). RINA is providing a multidisciplinary team with experience in transport planning, intermodal integration, and cost-benefit analysis to support the client in all areas of the metro project. It is a strong reference for RINA as an international engineering firm in India’s market.
A new approach to civil engineering and structural health
monitoring
Civionics is an
innovative and emerging discipline that combines electronic engineering with civil
engineering. Its main application area is structural health monitoring (SHM) of civil
structures, particularly photonics (Fibre Optic Sensors).
During 2022, RINA has implemented innovative civionic-based remote monitoring approaches
worldwide. Projects have covered different types of assets, including existing and
under-construction transport infrastructures, such as bridges or tunnels; buildings;
cultural heritages; smart road pavements; nature-based coastal erosion protection
systems, and marine and port environments. Solutions have been based on both local and
distributed remote monitoring technologies using a wide range of sensor types, including
fibre optic, acoustic, mechanical, and electrical.
Civionic-based remote monitoring approaches are beneficial for both engineers and asset
owners. They optimise design techniques and provide an understanding of asset
performance, behaviour and state of health while in operation The approach facilitates
condition-based maintenance, giving significant potential to increase overall efficiency
and safety for workers and end-users and reduce management costs.
The successful integration of intelligent sensing approaches in smart structures and
infrastructures can promote the introduction of modern design concepts and new
innovations in civil engineering.
RINA, together with DBA PRO. S.p.A, Galileo Engineering e C.& G. Engineering Services Srl, has been awarded the contract for the technical and economic feasibility study to verify the feasibility of cold ironing for eight berths currently under development in the port of Civitavecchia. The tender is managed by the Port Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea and has the objective of accessing funds available through the national PNNR, requiring reduced carbon emission levels as defined by the European Union for the construction of cold ironing plants. The design service will integrate a reorganisation and rationalisation of the port electricity supply system, providing a management system specifically designed to address and monitor the high power levels within the port's operations. The first phase involves the design of the electricity supply on the quay, which is required to meet the power demands of at least two large cruise ships at the cruise terminal and two new generation ferries moored in the ferry dock. The second phase involves the design of the electrification system for a further four berths inside the ferry dock to electrify all existing mooring fronts throughout the year. The resulting system will help to eliminate the emissions from auxiliary engines when vessels are at berth, producing significant environmental gains for the port’s operations.
Technical and economic
feasibility of energy efficiency solutions
RINA developed technical and economic feasibility studies for the implementation of energy
efficiency solutions and a solar PV grid-tied system for the Mico University College in
Kingston, Jamaica. The project evaluated the financing of the solutions with services
including: - The definition of a methodology covering technical and
financial aspects to implement the energy efficiency strategies recommended in the energy
audit level II and/or propose new strategies.
- Preliminary design of PV system(s)
for the Facility to reduce and optimise energy consumption.
- A high-level assessment
of the regulatory requirements for grid-connected PV systems in Jamaica and the eligibility of
the project to sell electricity to the grid.
- Economic analysis, including CAPEX,
OPEX and ROI estimations, for each of the energy efficiency strategies and the PV system(s) to
be installed.
RINA performed a site visit for a detailed evaluation of the buildings’
features and assessment of critical issues and main areas of improvement and provided Energy
Efficiency & Sustainability experts and Renewable Green Power experts to complete the
project. The resulting study gave the client a clear and qualified technical and economic
evaluation of the campus, an assessment of the existing Energy Audit and the facility’s energy
demand, and a cost-benefit analysis of the energy efficiency measures proposed. The
assessments will enable the client to develop a business model and plan financing.
Assessment of
opportunities to enhance energy efficiency
This project investigated innovative investments that would reduce energy consumption and
move the airport towards net zero carbon emission. RINA was contracted by EBRD to assess the
current status of the airport and surrounding logistic areas, including district heating and
several HT-MT transformation stations, and suggest worthy and affordable investments to reduce
operation costs and increase sustainability without interruption to services. Primary energy,
water consumption, energy optimisation, and renewable energy integration were all considered,
and the best available technologies were investigated. A groundwater heat pump was also
evaluated along with CHP units to reduce dependence on natural gas.
The result of the project, which concluded in May 2022, provided the client with a clear and
updated picture of the condition of their assets and a vision of achievable savings for the
implementation of different scenarios to make informed decisions for investment
planning.