Test and Measurement Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

13/07/2023 Green is growing Environmental issues run through this month’s magazine like a stick of rock. The cover feature addresses coming regulation of so-called ‘forever chemicals’ used for their waterproofing and non-stick properties, and many other consumer and ... » Read More

20/03/2023 Asset management: bending lines into circles The future circular economy needs asset management to define and support the management of multiple asset life cycles and harness and unlock additional value streams that the assets enable, according to The Institute of Asset Management » Read More

09/01/2023 Construction: the call of nature New rules on improving biodiversity during the development of industrial parks are coming soon, demanding net gains in site ecology » Read More

14/06/2022 Identifying equipment issues in gas flaring Flaring is used to manage the associated gas produced as a co-product during oil extraction, routinely or as the result of an unscheduled event. Routine flaring can be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Non-routine flaring ... » Read More

14/06/2022 Offshore, off carbon To reduce their carbon footprint, many offshore operators are converting their drilling rigs to run on electricity. We look at the whys and wherefores, and how this might work in practice. By Brian Wall » Read More

17/05/2022 The carbon footprint of heating and cooling Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is responsible for most of the greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, and a very significant share of all human-induced climate change. Its carbon footprint is largely a result of the ... » Read More

19/04/2022 Inspection: screening for danger Simulants and an array of training devices are helping to prepare operatives in the battle to detect explosives, drugs, IEDs and other threats, such as the radioactive materials still inside the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear reactors. » Read More

14/03/2022 The greening of steel Has the UK blown its chance to be a main player in the ‘green steel’ economy? As Europe forges ahead, the government’s £250m Clean Steel Fund is still ‘on hold’ – with no clear future strategy emerging. By Brian Wall » Read More

14/02/2022 Saving the planet? The COP26 climate conference in November 2021 featured many pronouncements to ‘save the planet’ through addressing climate change, although how to actually reduce concentrations of carbon-based greenhouse gases in the atmosphere was far ... » Read More

14/02/2022 Spill response training Core skills, competencies and providers: setting out the importance of environmental spillage and incident management training. By Steed Webzell » Read More

19/01/2022 Concrete goes green Health risks from acid rain, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide are often attributed to concrete production, while CO2 emissions and climate change impact are also cited. But is the industry’s image now on the up as it ... » Read More

30/07/2021 Hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel The ‘hydrogen economy’ refers to the way hydrogen — the lightest and simplest of elements — could become a central pillar of a carbon-neutral society that still allows the economy to thrive. In principle, hydrogen could provide energy for ... » Read More

29/07/2021 Are you using the correct spill kit? Spill kits are essential when dealing with workplace spills and leaks, particularly those involving dangerous substances and contaminants, but workers need to make sure they are using the right spill kit for the job. First Mats talks ... » Read More

13/05/2021 Mitigating methane slip Although touted as more eco-friendly than liquid fuels, there’s a less benign side to methane, the main ingredient of natural gas. And that relates to its effect when it escapes before combustion, according to Toby Clark » Read More

13/05/2021 SECR environmental reporting - a guide Many companies in the UK will be reporting their greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption under the government’s new streamlined energy and carbon reporting (SECR) policy for the first time this year, writes Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

18/03/2021 Sharing the land - a new approach for development Warwick-based property development company AC Lloyd has entered into a novel agreement with a local landowner, the Alscot Estate, offset the environmental effects of a new housing development, reports Will Dalrymple » Read More

23/02/2021 My weir runneth over An advanced computing system aims to improve utilities’ ability to detect blockages that might otherwise lead to sewage pollution incidents, reports Toby Clark » Read More

18/02/2021 Principles of land remediation Revised Environment Agency guidance has not changed the process of planning the remediation of contaminated land or watercourses, but it has put a greater emphasis on competence and the role of sustainability » Read More

18/02/2021 Spill stop While there is no perfect way to treat large oil spills, a number of techniques have proven effective in mopping up much of them » Read More

17/09/2020 Water leaks and the ‘jaws of death’ Water demand in the UK will exceed supply in just 25 years, the head of the Environment Agency has warned – with part of the blame falling on leaking pipework. What can be done to avert this? By Brian Wall » Read More

24/08/2020 Community spirit The Environment Agency, along with a variety of partner organisations, is celebrating 10 years of successful soft engineering along rivers in Cumbria, England » Read More

20/04/2020 Bearing the brunt Seismic isolation bearings decouple structures, such as buildings and bridges, from the ground. This allows such structures to behave more flexibly during seismic activity » Read More

05/02/2020 Comment: Floating cities The November 2019 issue of Operations Engineer featured an interview with new SOE patron Sir John Parker, a near 60-year veteran of industry who started his career in shipbuilding. Among other comments, he said: “Ships have every ... » Read More

01/11/2019 Emission impossible? We are at a defining moment in the war on global warming, but the good news is that the sector is playing its part in mitigating the impact of climate change » Read More

06/09/2019 Comment: Tick tock There are just 20 Fridays until Christmas. That is the post that popped up on my social media newsfeed during August thanks to my mother-in-law. (Shakes head in despair). I jest of course, but knowing that Christmas is just around the ... » Read More