A tribute to mechanical engineers everywhere

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With years of experience in the global construction industry, Lisa Dudzik knows only too well the importance of a sound foundation in engineering to the success of a project. She explains that none of the megaprojects of the world would succeed without the sharpest minds of accomplished mechanical engineers contributing to the overall design.

In this blog, Lisa Dudzik wishes to pay tribute to the outstanding men and women behind these projects that have benefited so many people all around the world.


With technology dominating our everyday lives, Lisa Dudzik mentions just how overlooked mechanical engineers have become. After all, it’s easy to take them for granted while on a high-speed train, as people marvel more at the machine rather than at its creators.

Image source: enr.com

Mechanical engineers are responsible for researching, designing, developing, building, and testing devices of all shapes and sizes. They spend a great chunk of their lives forming solutions to problems (many of which are on a massive scale) with the aid of the latest technology. Mechanical engineers also oversee conceptual designs, build prototypes, test these prototypes, and analyze the results.

Mechanical engineers even have a huge hand in the production and construction of devices and projects. And as mentioned earlier, all of the world’s great megaprojects (since they have countless moving parts) owe their existence to mechanical engineers.

Skilled in the areas of statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, kinematics, and other physics-related areas, mechanical engineers are often drivers of humanity and technology, making sure that the future happens now.

What do you love most about mechanical engineers? Feel free to share your thoughts with Lisa Dudzik in the comments section below.

Lisa Dudzik is a contracts and claims manager from Western Australia with 18 years of experience in overseeing extensive construction projects. Visit this blog for more updates on the construction industry.

Dubai Route 2020: What should the public expect from this mega project?

In preparation for Expo 2020, much of the infrastructure in construction has been designed to exhibit the futuristic appeal of host city Dubai. Of the many mega projects underway, both the Al Wasl Plaza and the C38 District are highly anticipated and will become the central gathering place for expo-related events.

Image source: Constructionweekonline.com

Another major undertaking is the Dubai Route 2020, which extends Dubai's Metro Red Line to the Expo 2020 center ensuring a trouble free commute for all guests and attendees. For frequent travelers like Lisa Dudzik, these and other construction projects will make transportation in the city more efficient even after the six-month fair.

The expansion project started construction in 2016 and will be completed toward the end of 2019. According to the Dubai Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA), the 15km route extension of the line from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station will serve more than 200,000 passengers from commercial and residential areas. It will have stations in key areas such as Al Furjan, Dubai Investment Park, and Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Image source: Khaleejtimes.com

To commemorate Expo 2020, the station leading to the exhibition area will serve as the largest station and a landmark for passengers. For this project, 50 trains will be added to the transport system. Fifteen trains will be used for Route 2020 and the other 35 for the green and red lines. With all these plans, the authorities aim to provide an efficient means to travel around the city for locals, expats, and tourists.

The contract for this mega project was awarded to Expolink Consortium, headed by French firm Alstom, along with Spanish firm ACCIONA, and Turkish firm Gulermak for approximately $2.6 billion.

Contracts and claims manager Lisa Dudzik has overseen the commercial contracts for many large-scale construction projects such as high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways.

Lisa Dudzik is a contracts and claims manager from Western Australia. She has been in the construction industry for more than two decades and has worked as an expat in different countries. Lisa is also an avid traveler to Middle Eastern destinations such as the UAE. Visit this page for more on travel and construction updates.

High-Tech And More Environment-Friendly Buses Set To Define Future Mass Transportation

The ubiquitous city buses that have always been a second choice to trains and streetcars among commuters are set toward modern refashioning amidst clamor for more efficient and less pollutant public conveyances.  The new models are high-tech, autonomously driven and, of roomier capacity.

 Buses serve more than half of the riding public in any metropolis.  Because of their multi-modal facility, they are deemed as champion of urban resilience and sustainability.  Bus lines are less expensive to establish and more flexible than rail-based transit. Thus, transport investors have focused their resources into fleets of high-tech vehicles with self-driving capabilities and zero carbon emission engines, together with state-of-the-art technologies that would render them not only more environment-friendly but would offer more convenience to the riding public.  

Image source: hbr.org

 One of the newly introduced innovations is the driverless conveyance that is being promoted by industry giants Tesla, Google, Uber, and Apple. Many feared that their novel venture might cast a death spell on public transport system, but seemingly this is unfounded as the autonomous vehicle found its initial niche in shared driverless buses equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence, the prototypes of which now ply the streets Helsinki, Finland, Washington, D.C., and the city-state Singapore.

 Another newly introduced model is the bus rapid transit systems which consist of exclusive lanes to high-capacity, limited-stop buses that can provide quick transport to multitude of passengers.  Car manufacturer Volvo launched the world’s longest bus, the Gran Artic 300, which is a 98-feet-long double-articulated bus with three carriers connected by two accordion-like joints with a capacity of 300 people, hence the name.  The idea of a humongous vehicle running side by side with diminutive sedans and streetcars may turn out to be not ideal hence the choice is to let the BRT traverse lanes for its exclusive use so as other motorists won’t be intimidated by its commanding road presence.

Image source: theatlantic.com

BRTs are relatively low-cost alternative to rail systems as the enhanced capacity cuts down on the overall number of buses, reducing carbon emissions as well as costs per passenger.  

Lisa Dudzik, originally from Perth, Western Australia, has been a global expat for many years. Her thirst for knowledge and desire to fulfill her life’s purpose has opened up many opportunities for career and personal growth. For almost two decades, she has overseen large-scale construction projects across several industries, including those for high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways. For similar articles, click here.

Must-visit Places in Western Australia

The land down under is not just about Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast. Nor Kangaroos and boomerangs. To truly experience what Australia has to offer in terms of majestic sceneries and unique encounters, consider traveling the continent’s western side. Here are some places in Western Australia that you shouldn’t miss on your trip.

Image source: pretraveller.com

Cottesloe Beach
Just a bus or train ride away from Perth, Cottesloe Beach (affectionately called “Cott” by locals) boasts of 19 white-sand beaches. It is one of the city's go-to spots for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing.

Rottnest Island
This paradise-like getaway just offshore from Perth is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, and riddled with coral reefs and shipwrecks for the extra-adventurous. Particularly noteworthy is its history of being a former Aboriginal prison. Rottnest is famous for its quokkas, the adorable marsupials which inspired the island’s name.

Penguin Island
As the name implies, this island is one of the continent’s main tourist attractions because it’s home to the world’s smallest penguin species. It’s just 45-minutes away from Perth and visitors can get up close and personal with the often-elusive little penguins, as the island’s Discovery Centre holds three feeding times per day.

The Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk
Located in Walpole, on Western Australia’s south coast, this forest sanctuary lets visitors witness the Tingle trees, among the tallest timber trees on the planet, which climbs 40 meters up into the canopy. This famous walk trail is environmentally designed, allowing for a great view of the flora while minimizing human intrusion.

Image source: pinterest.com

Liza Dudzik from Western Australia has over 18 years of experience in managing large-scale construction projects involving high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways. For more on her interests and writings, drop by this blog.

Why excitement is building up for the redevelopment of the New Museum for Western Australia

The significance of museums cannot be understated for they enable society to connect with art, culture, history, and heritage – and they do so through an entertaining and enlightening manner.

Image source: museum.wa.gov.au

Western Australia is a place that has billions of years’ worth of history, being one of the most ancient lands on the planet. The state is replete with artifacts and living fossils that date more than three billion years old. One of Earth’s oldest living cultures known to man, the Australian Aborigines, spent tens of thousands of years in WA. Even in written history, WA is rich in stories, information, and artifacts. 

For these reasons, the redevelopment of the New Museum for Western Australia is considered one of the most significant today. 

WA Premier disclosed a year ago that $428.3 million had been allocated for the project and that the 6,000-square-meter facility will be completed by 2020. 

Unveiled also was the concept design, which includes a five-level concrete, metal, and glass facility with a cantilevered top floor. The museum would be a “permeable” structure as entrances would be constructed on all four sides of the building. There will also be learning studios to allow guests to watch working scientists and curators, and interactive temporary and fixed exhibitions. 

This bold project is cause of excitement for not only West Australians, but also visitors because it will reflect the state’s extraordinary history, uniqueness, creativity, and diversity. 

Image source: abc.net.au

Lisa Dudzik is a contracts and claims manager who has worked on several extensive construction projects all over the world. Having traveled to different countries throughout her career, she has since returned to her home state Western Australia. Click here for more discussion on WA.

Mimicking Life: The Most Astonishing Architectural Structures Inspired By Nature

Human beings have been variously inspired by nature in their endeavors. They have produced wonderful objects and upheld ideas nurtured by their understanding of the surroundings. Their fascination for natural formations come from observing the world unfold its most glorious secrets.

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One can easily witness the surprising perfection of nature’s structures as they correspond closely to precise sequences, as in the unfurling ferns, tree branching, pine cone arrangements, and other biological settings where the Fibonacci numbers, for example, are most apparent. Here are some of the most ingenious architectural creations in the world that celebrates and extends nature’s wonders:

Kunsthaus Graz, Austria

This art museum is a stunning combination of organicistic influences from nature and the highly digital development and foundation of blob architecture. The free-form “skin” of the building is a cover made of acrylic panels and the entire structure, of steel and foam glass. The building is meant to interact with the environment and change according to its dynamic interior and exterior functions, like art installations and projections which the structure can accommodate.

Beijing National Stadium, China

The stadium was specifically built for the 2008 Olympic Games and has since been called “Bird’s Nest” by the locals. The exposed trusses give it that natural look resembling the intricate weavings and material construction in a typical nest.

Sagrada Familia, Spain

The Sagrada Familia is probably the most anticipated architectural project of the current and previous century. After over a hundred years since Gaudi started working on this Roman Catholic church, it remains unfinished. The central nave of the church was only completed in 2000. The exterior is a surrealistic architectural feat that combines Gothic and Art Nouveau tendencies. Inside the church is Gaudi’s magnanimous interpretation of a forest canopy where the columns supporting the vault mimic trees.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org

Lisa Dudzik is an expat who had worked in various countries before returning to her home state in Perth, Western Australia. For almost two decades, she managed large-scale construction projects involving high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways. For similar reads, visit this blog.

Enthralling Historic Railway Sites Anywhere In The World

Railway systems have always been one of the most enduring symbols of progress in the contemporary world. When the British started developing the steam locomotive in the 18th and 19th centuries, a viable network of transportations was born. The railroads are marked arterial lifelines that connected cities and people.

Those steam locomotives, of course, have since been replaced by electric ones. The railway systems are also modernized a great deal, boasting of new safety features and more efficient rail networks. Since grade separation is ideal for these transportations, their construction requirements are often complex. Here are some of the most amazing historic railway sites registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, celebrating them as feats of engineering:

Mountain Railways of India

Three systems belong to this category: the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Kalka Shimla Railway. The successful and effective implementation of a mass transport system that traverses the most treacherous mountain terrains is surely inspired work. All three lines are still fully operational.

Image source: wikipedia.org

Semmering Railway

The whole line is divided into several sections that progress like a visual narrative of sorts, set against the most picturesque backdrops in Austria. Comprised of a series of viaducts, tunnels, stone bridges, and other construction wonders, it has passed the test of time.

Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes

The line is a combination of two historic ones (the Albula and Bernina lines) into one transalpine railway system that features an assortment of stunning structural features. From galleries and tunnels to viaducts and bridges, this line that crosses the Swiss Alps won’t fail to mesmerize anyone.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org

Lisa Dudzik managed, for almost two decades, large-scale construction projects involving high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways. Having lived in different places as an expat, she lists Maldives, Belize, and the U.K. as her favorite travel destinations. To learn more about her inclinations, visit this blog.