Tag Archives: infrastructure

Ireland should buy an aircraft carrier with its aid budget

Posted on November 16, 2012 by The Helpful Engineer

The recent theft of €4 million from the overseas aid given to Uganda, by Ireland, should lead to a rethinking of the Irish foreign aid programme. Despite Ireland’s serious economic woes, it has still managed to fund an aid programme … Continue reading →

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Skid Row: A phrase from construction

Posted on April 2, 2012 by The Helpful Engineer

Many modern phrases we use today have lost there original meaning and are now used in a different context. One of these is the term ‘skid row’, which usually means a poor dilapidated urban area. This phrase was originally used … Continue reading →

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Historic French infrastructure: Different ways to cross water

Posted on September 1, 2011 by The Helpful Engineer

Long before terms such as cost-benefit analysis, whole life costing etc were invented these concepts were being used by governments to choose solutions to infrastructural challenges. In North Western France, within 12km of each other, are examples of two remarkable … Continue reading →

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Motorway Art: The Hitchhiker gets a lift

Posted on March 21, 2011 by The Helpful Engineer

The motorway sculpture called ‘The Hitchhiker’ has been stolen from the M7 motorway near Monasterevin in County Kildare. It was a 3.5 meter high piece of bronze and weighted 1000kg. See the newspaper article here.
It is thought that the theft was motivated by the current high price of metal rather than any desire for the sculpture itself. Interestingly in the newspaper article the original artist estimates the scrap value would be €30,000. But I think this might be an over estimation. Continue reading →

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