Stormwater System Recognised by Professional Engineers

Student’s Innovative Stormwater System Recognised by Professional Engineers Institution

After the last two weeks’ extreme weather events, all around New Zealand but especially in Christchurch, it’s appropriate that a coveted IPENZ student award for best engineering project will go to a WelTec student who has designed a new way to manage storm water overflow.

Anthony Muir has been awarded the coveted Ray Meyer medal for Excellence in Student Design for his final year Bachelor of Engineering Technology project.

The medal was presented to Anthony at the annual IPENZ Fellows Dinner held in Christchurch on 21 March.

Anthony’s water attenuation system manages storm water runoff and could save land developers and construction companies hundreds of thousands of dollars as well as substantially reducing the environmental impact of construction.

“My project could very well be the catalyst to reduce the cost of housing in New Zealand. I am very excited that my work has been recognised by IPENZ and in receiving the Ray Meyer medal for Excellence in Student Design I acknowledge WelTec’s School of Engineering for their teaching, professionalism, and commitment to students,” said Mr Muir.

“This is the second year in a row that a WelTec Bachelor of Engineering Technology graduate has won the Ray Meyer Medal. We are very pleased that one of our engineering technologist graduates has been recognised in this way particularly

as this is only the second time that an Institute of Technology has received this accolade,” says Linda Sissons WelTec’s Chief Executive.

“Demand for civil engineers has never been higher particularly with the large government investment in infrastructure such as Transmission Gully and the rebuild

of Christchurch. The Bachelor of Engineering Technology is practical as well as theoretical and meets the growing demand from the engineering profession for skilled and practical graduates who can hit the ground running. Engineering is on the government’s skill shortage list and the employment outlook is very strong,” says WelTec’s Head of Engineering Graham Carson.

Project Anthony's project is a new system that manages the peak flows from extreme rain events. Testing has proven the system delivers better environmental performance than competing systems, with considerable cost savings. The system could have international as well as local applications. When used in new residential developments the savings can be up to $500,000 for the developer, with lower ongoing infrastructure costs for ratepayers as it needs almost no maintenance.

A research paper for this project will be presented at Water New Zealand's 2014 Stormwater conference.

Anthony is an architectural engineer for the family business and is teaming up with his father to prepare his patented new system for the market.

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