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.

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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.

Modern Trains: Favorable Options Over Roads And Short-Distance Air Travels, Thanks To Technology

Image source: Economist.com

Technology for railway transportation appears less dynamic than other facilities for mass mobility. Comparatively, trains have much longer economic lives, while systems improvements seem to be few and far between. Their impact, though very substantial, has a gradual ripple effect. However, high oil prices, monstrous road traffic and increasing pressure to expand space for cargoes as well as changing preferences for modes of transport engender the acceleration of innovations in train technology.

The focus of better technologies is on traction, braking, and route-planning to smooth levitating effects, with trains appearing to glide at a fascinating velocity of 500kph (310mph). Avant-garde schemes for moving platforms that berth expeditiously with the transport facility’s fast pace have been formulated.

Technology change in gaining traction is demonstrated by GE’s PowerHaul, which features slip control that enables a single locomotive coal train to accommodate up to 31 cars. Computerization automatically replicates the operator’s actions throughout the train, rendering obsolete sending messages via radio.

Brakes technology zeroes in on lessening the distance required for a full stop. To put a train of a hundred cars running at 80kph to a complete halt can take 2 kilometers of track. Brake shoes turn hotter the faster a train’s wheels spin, which decrease friction and hence braking power. To address this, sturdier brake-shoe materials made with resins, elastomers and mineral fibers have been developed, and these have the capacity to raise friction at higher temperatures with reduced wobbling. Further, electronically induced brakes can be applied on all cars at once.

Image source: Economist.com

Train cars’ weight gets in the way of safe braking, thus, a software called Leader that simulates and analyzes the best loading and sequencing of cars at a given route has been introduced. It also instructs operators on optimum accelerating and braking schemes to put fuel costs at minimum.

Another novel technology known as magnetic levitation designed by the North American Maglev Transport Institute electronically controls the train, pushing it along a magnetic field powered by electricity gushing through a guideway a few centimeters beneath, with in place sensors that set magnetic power. Maglev trains are so light they require consume a third less of the energy required by fast conventional trains.

Lisa Dudzik is a contracts and claims manager from Perth, Australia. For over 18 years, she has overseen large-scale construction projects across several industries, including those for high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways. She holds an MBA and is currently undertaking an LL.M. in International Commercial Law. Visit this YouTube channel for additional resources on similar topics.

Under construction: The world's biggest infrastructure projects

"Go big or go home" is probably what many of these developers had in mind when they conceptualized the following construction projects. From airports to dams to railway systems to space stations and even “new cities,” these megaprojects have captivated the world, and their completion eagerly anticipated. Below are three of the world’s biggest construction projects, a grand showcase of engineering, architecture, and design feats. 

Image source: businessinsider.com 

California high-speed rail: With an initial budget of $40 billion, the rail system, which spans 1,300 kilometers (808 miles), will link Southern California and San Francisco. High-speed electric trains will transport an estimated 10,000 passengers daily, with travel time from Los Angeles to San Francisco taking only less than three hours at 320km/hr. Although the project is currently facing delays, Californians are still hopeful that the rail system will be operational by 2030. 

Beijing Daxing International Airport: There is no shortage of megaprojects in China. In fact, industry observers note 30 ongoing infrastructure projects that are set to reshape the world. One of these is the Beijing Daxing International Airport. With a proposed budget of $13 billion, the airport will feature seven runways and the world’s biggest terminal, which, when fully operational, can accommodate 72 million travelers annually. 

Dubailand: The $64 billion entertainment complex will rise in Dubai, United Arab of Emirates, which was touted as the most ambitious leisure project when it was first announced in 2013. And just how big this project is? Dubailand will be in a 278 sq.km complex, enormous enough to accommodate three Walt Disney Worlds. Upon its completion in 2025, Dubailand will feature theme parks, sports venues, health facilities, a hotel with 6,500 rooms, and a 10 million sq.ft mall. 

Image source: constructionweekonline.com 

For close to two decades, Lisa Dudzik has overseen large-scale construction projects such as high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways. Discover more about construction feats here.

South Korea’s Lotte World Tower: The Fifth Tallest Skyscraper In The World

South Korea has entered the list of countries with the tallest buildings as Lotte World Tower opened its doors to the public. Built by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and Lotte Engineering and Construction, the Lotte World Tower is a 123-storey structure that has taken six years to complete. The skyscraper is set in the heart of Seoul’s elite business hub in Jamshil. The construction of the building cost $3.5 billion.

Image source: heatex.com

The Seoul skyscraper is known for its smooth, tapered-glass exteriors. It houses luxury shops, high-end corporate offices, stylish apartments, and a seven-star hotel. The Lotte World Tower is also open to tourists and locals with its observation deck and gallery, overlooking Seoul City. The inclusion of Lotte World Tower in the list of the world’s top 10 tallest buildings has bumped off Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers.

Lotte World Tower has its share of controversies, too. In 2014, Seoul’s locals were puzzled with the discovery of sinkholes near the construction site, noting that it might not be safe for the public after it is put into completion. But the construction of the skyscraper continued despite great public opposition.

Image source: koreatimes.co.kr

Liza Dudzik is a contract and claims manager from Perth, Western Australia, who has overseen numerous large-scale construction projects including highways, roads, and public transportation stations. Follow this Twitter page to learn more about her professional work.

A Transportation Dream Come True: The Sydney Metro Project

Image source: sydneymetro.info

The Sydney Metro Project is currently the largest public transport project in Australia. It is expected to cost more than $12.5 billion, which will deliver 31 metro stations, including new ones in Victoria Cross, Crows Nest, Waterloo, Central Station, and many others. It will also create 65 kilometers of new metro rail infrastructure that will span from Bankstown in the south west part of the city to Rouse Hill in the north west.

The entire metro rail system is expected to begin operations in 2024, however, the first stage of the project, the Sydney Metro Northwest, is due for completion in the earlier part of 2019. The tunnels have already been constructed, as bridges and other civil works are expected to be finished ahead of schedule.

When finished, the project will revolutionize commuting in the most populous city in Australia. The Sydney Metro rail system will provide travelers world-class, efficient, safe, and reliable trains, and strategically located stations.

Image source: urbanalyst.com

Additionally, the technology that will be implemented will benefit customers greatly as they would have no more need to rely on timetables. The train service frequency will be every four minutes during peak hours, reducing waiting time. Travel apps will also be developed to allow customers to plan at home how they will commute. Real-time journey information will also be posted at the metro stations and on board the trains.

Lisa Dudzik from Western Australia has over 18 years of experience in managing large-scale infrastructure projects involving high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways. For more information about her work, visit this LinkedIn profile.

Tunneling Through Hurdles Faced By Melbourne's Metro Train Project

Melbourne's 10-year metro tunnel project is a giant leap forward as the government heeds the travel woes of the city's commuters. Engineers are already drafting solutions to some of the most difficult aspects of the tunneling project.

Image source: abc.net.au

Unstable soils are a problem throughout most of the locations where the tunnel will be built, including the silt soil at Arden and sandy ground at Domain station. Until now, engineers are working out the most effective designs for the tunnel to hold against the porous grounds of Melbourne, making the project one of the most difficult engineering endeavors of the city.

Perhaps the most glaring challenge is tunneling beneath the Yarra River, whose river bed is mostly a mix of basalt, silt, and clay. The presence of aquifers adds to the complexity. After careful study of alternative methods, engineers had elected to use Tunnel Boring Machines to minimize the construction's impact on the river and surrounding areas.

Image source: railexpress.com.au

Contractors are also working out methods to avoid adversely affecting road traffic, existing public transit lines, and pedestrians aboveground given the extensive time to complete the project. The government, however, is unfazed despite the formidable road ahead; it has already committed 10.9 billion dollars for the project's completion.

For almost two decades, Western Australian native Lisa Dudzik has managed large-scale construction projects involving subways, roads, and highways. For more construction news, visit this page.