Construction of highways to nuclear plants on soft soil-Chinese invention

High Vacuum Densification Method (HVDM) is offered by Geoharbour group , China. Using this technology, the firm reclaimed land, constructed highways to nuclear power plants. Details :

In recent limited years, over 20 inventions have been proposed by the Company and approved by the state intellectual authority, including HVDM Soft Soil Treatment Method (ZL01127046.2), Surcharge Preloading Combining HVDM (ZL200410014257.9) and Composite Foundation Combining HVDM (ZL200510134966.5), etc. These inventions are options for site treatments of varied geological conditions and requirements. Advancements have been made with regards to concepts, calculations, construction specifications and field tests. Inventions have obtained PCT certificates and registered in over twenty countries.

Lafarge Invention Awards 2011

The Lafarge Invention Awards aim to encourage and reward innovative projects related to

building materials and contributing to sustainable construction. Projects submitted should be

based on an invention less than 5 years old. They should involve a new product, industrial

process, construction method or service and should have reached at least the  prototype 

phase,ideally demonstrated in a real construction project. 

Projects will be judged on:

• their innovative nature
• their viability and economic impact
• their technical feasibility (with an existing prototype),
• and their contribution to sustainable construction.

Project submission will be via an on-line entry form, which will be available from September 1st.

URL: http://www.lafarge-inventionawards.com/index_en.html

contact:Zainab Kakal on zainab@niiticonsulting.com. 

Buckling Restrained Braced Frames (BRBF) from Benne Narasimhamurthy Sridhara

Pankaj Mishra came with this great story of innovator Sridhara in Economic Times. Several interesting aspects of the story. The innovator is not a programmed reseracher working in lab- he is an user, onemore example of user innovations. Like other user innovations it was aimed at solving practical problem and not extension of scientific thought. Unlike many Indian innovators, he had the foresight to apply for patent. Another surprise was fudning by Tube Investment Limited, who was probably assigned the patent. All innovators reach dead end when convincing Indian users and same story here. An angel (idea champion) comes to the rescue by linking the patented innovation to the market needs in US. And in a typical US way the innovation gets incorporated in industry standard with Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) adopting his invention as part of its ‘code of practice’ .

A great story of Indian innovation with a happy ending.