Parliament visit: sustainable mass management in focus
We had the pleasure of hosting Aleksander Stokkebø, member of the Norwegian parliament, at Netpower. He probably expected a conversation about IT; instead we surprised him by talking about soil and rock.
Written by Mirjam Meling / Published 29 October 2024
Unexpected insight
Building digital solutions and line-of-business systems means we build specialist expertise and gain deep insight into the fields we work in.
Developing RockExchange has therefore given us, an IT company, detailed knowledge of one of the construction industry’s biggest challenges: the sustainable handling of surplus excavated material.
And that felt like a timely subject to raise with Stokkebø.
From the left: Anders Endresen of Netpower, member of parliament Aleksander Stokkebø, Mirjam Meling and Hector Alonso Vestbø of Netpower.
An industry challenge that calls for new solutions
Surplus excavated material, produced in vast quantities when infrastructure such as roads, tunnels and railways is built, is a significant challenge – financially, environmentally and practically. Transporting it is expensive, it wears down the road network and it generates CO2 emissions.
While developing RockExchange we have talked to key players across the industry, including clients, contractors, geologists and environmental consultants. One message comes up again and again: we have to work smarter with surplus excavated material.
Even so, the industry is held back by the lack of a common framework and common requirements for sustainable mass management.
Public tenders as a tool for change
The construction industry agrees that lasting change has to start at the top. As the client behind the country’s largest construction projects, the public sector has a key role in paving the way for more sustainable practice.
By setting requirements for recycling, traceability and reporting of surplus material in public tenders, clients can make environmentally sound solutions a natural part of every project.
Rogaland County Council takes action on greener mass handling
We would like to highlight Rogaland County Council, which we see as a leader in this area. They use RockExchange as part of our innovation project, and we work closely with their specialists to develop the solution further.
On their own initiative they have introduced a tender requirement to use the template recommended by DFØ (the Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management) to estimate mass transport and mass reuse in their projects. The tool makes it clear how a project can optimise mass handling with the environment in mind, and this is now an important competitive factor when contracts are awarded.
The DFØ template is used to estimate the transport volume of material in a project, both for material that is excavated and hauled out and for material that is brought in as fill.
The table also has to state how much of the excavated material will be reused on site, reused in other projects or sent to a waste facility. In the same way, it has to state where material brought into the project comes from. Download the template from DFØ.
Our role in the digital shift
With ever stricter requirements for sustainable mass management, good management systems matter more than ever. RockExchange was built for precisely this purpose – as a project tool that creates value for several parties in the value chain.
Full control for the client
For the client, RockExchange gives a continuous overview and full control, so material can be tracked in real time and reports on transport and CO2 emissions pulled out at any point. That gives the client an effective tool for making sure the project meets environmental requirements and standards.
An operational tool for contractors
The contractor, who does the actual handling of the material, can use RockExchange as an operational tool too. Contractors can easily enter the data they need to record, and it becomes available to the client immediately. That gives full transparency and a seamless flow of data between the parties.
Integrated with the DFØ templates for simpler reporting
We build on the good work done by DFØ and have integrated their recommended templates directly into RockExchange. Key figures and environmental data are filled into the DFØ forms automatically, which simplifies reporting and improves the accuracy of the underlying data.
A tool for collaboration and sustainability
Our goal is to build a solution that creates value for clients and contractors alike by ensuring a seamless, transparent flow of information. That lays the foundation for a way of working where everyone has access to up-to-date information, which makes it easier to meet both environmental and project requirements efficiently and sustainably.
We look forward to continuing to drive this important work.
Together we really can move mountains!
Want to know more about RockExchange?
Would you like to know more about how RockExchange can be integrated into your organisation? Get in touch for a walkthrough of the system or with any questions you may have.
