About Bill: Bill's career commenced as an apprentice electrical fitter and has developed into a long and distinguished career. He has a Bachelor Technology Engineering with Distinction and became a Chartered Engineering Technologist in 1998, and is also a Fellow of the Institution. Bill was instrumental in the formation of the National Committee for Engineering Technologists Australia, on which he served for many years. He has served as a Justice of the Peace for over 30 years as well as serving on many hospital and community based Boards. He was previously an elected member of the Hinchinbrook Shire Council, and continues to commit his time to many community based events and activities. He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003 for his contribution over eleven years as the Manager of the Ingham Qld Open Learning Centre. Bill was awarded the Engineering Technologist of the Year Award in 2008.

Interesting Project he has worked on:

In April 2005, the Herbert River Improvement Trust, of which I am chairperson, was recipient of two sets of prefabricated vertical lift floodgates. These were provided under the Sugar Industry Infrastructure Package, two thirds of the purchase cost funded by Governments and the remainder by the Trust. These automatic gates would replace existing flap type gates installed near the mouths of two creeks, which prevented inundation of farmland by floodwaters coming from the Herbert River, into which they flow. Whilst the Trust had participated in discussions relating to the design and specification of the new gates, funding was only confirmed about six weeks before the cut-off date for the project so the decision to accept or reject what was offered had to be made without the opportunity to further explore design considerations.

As a person with some knowledge of PLCs and electronic control systems, I teamed up with the Trust engineer and electrical contractor responsible for the electrical work associated with the installation of the new gates. Our aim was to determine what problems might exist and seek solutions to any problems found. As chairperson of the Trust, my work was unpaid. The Trust engineer undertook the design work associated with interfacing the new gates to the existing conduits, manufacture of work platforms and foundations required for the control cubicles for each site. He also controlled removal of old gates and fitting of new gate assemblies. The commissioning was to be in two stages, first install gates and control cubicles and achieve satisfactory manual operation, then implement full automatic control of the gates.

Some of the issues identified and addressed included:

Changing a single-phase to a three-phase hydraulic pump motor to be used at one site resulting in a saving of more than $30,000 through avoiding the need to replace some spans of aerial supply mains and a distribution transformer.

To test the PLC program, I constructed a dual 4-20mA simulator to synthesize water level data input under flood conditions. Tests revealed modifications were needed to provide a more sophisticated response to flood conditions. The target being gates closed when the water level downstream of gates higher than upstream level, preventing water running up the creeks, and gates open when upstream water level higher than downstream level, allowing water to run out of creeks. Typical flood conditions might require the gates to close and open several times within a couple of hours.
The original programmer was contracted to rewrite the program and software required to implement program changes to the PLC identified and purchased. A suitable laptop PC that would interface with the PLC was also identified and purchased. When the revised program was available it was downloaded to the PLC.

After physical installation of the gates and attempting manual operation it was determined that incorrect hydraulic control valves had been fitted to both sets of gates, preventing the gates being opened. These were replaced with the correct valves.

Further problems existed in that 240Volt mains supply was connected to the proximity switches, mounted on the gate structures. This was undesirable from a safety point of view and circuit modifications were done to permit a 24Volt DC supply to proximity switches.

Circuit alterations were designed and implemented to prevent drop-back when the gates were opened manually.

Proximity switches, determining fully open and fully closed position of each gate, exhibited intermittent loss of sensitivity after a month or two of operation. This fault took significant time to identify and confirm.

It was found that ultrasonic level detectors supplied were unsuitable. Suitable replacements were identified and purchased.

Repeated failure of one type of hydraulic solenoid coil was identified as being due to moisture entry into the coil encapsulation. This was ascertained by careful dissection of three failed coils, with all displaying similar evidence of electrical breakdown.

Hand pumps provided at each site to enable gates to be opened or closed in the event of prolonged mains failure did not work because mains power was required to operate valves connecting the pump into the hydraulic circuit.

Successful Conclusion: The Trust engaged an Engineering Consultancy firm to carry out the commissioning of automatic operation of the gates and confirm and rectify remaining problems, including identifying and fitting suitable replacements for defective components as well as redesigning the manually operated pump arrangement. It was very satisfying to be able to work with the consultants when they took over and automatic operation was achieved in 2009.

What it means to Bill to be an Engineering Technologist:

Being an engineering technologist clearly defines for me, my role in the engineering team, a person competent to undertake complex engineering tasks, including researching of and finding solutions to problems within my field of electrical and electronic engineering. Because of my practical knowledge, it often falls within my competence to also implement the solutions I have found.

Being an engineering technologist also identifies me as being a member of the team and this is of particular value to me personally as I have always viewed engineering undertakings as being most effectively carried out by a team approach.

Having started my working life as an apprentice, then transferred to undertake five years training as a technician, followed by further study and examinations for Senior Technician classification in both telephony and radio/broadcasting disciplines, the opportunity to complete an Associate Diploma and then a Bachelor of Engineering Technology, by distance education, was one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime devoted to electrical and electronic work.

About Patrick: Zimbabwean-born, Patrick immigrated to Australia in 2001 to start a new life for his family. He was employed by Bassett Consulting Engineers from 2001 until 2008. During this period he was promoted to Technical Director level. With business partner Nathan Brown, Patrick established BCA Engineers in September 2008. They have grown the engineering consultancy firm to 26 staff members, boasting an annual turnover in excess of $2 million. The rapid growth of the business was strategic and undertaken in accordance to the business plan written at the commencement of the Practice and this rapid growth was achieved through the Global Financial Crisis. BCA Engineers has since secured an engineering role in $300m worth of construction projects in South Australia and Northern Territory. Patrick is recognised as an industry leader in the building industry's Health Care, Retail and Commercial arenas. He has demonstrated competence as an Electrical Engineer, Design Manager and team leader. Brief overview of interesting projects that Patrick has been involved in: 2010 Amcor G3 Expansion - Leighton Contractors Construction Value - $150m BCA Engineers were engaged by the appointed Contractor, Leighton Contractors, as the project Services Designers of the Amcor G3 expansion. The industrial project included a third furnace and a new glass bottle manufacturing line for Amcor Glass Australia's Gawler plant. At completion of the project, the plant had the capacity to produce 600 million wine bottles a year. Amcor Glass has reportedly secured the vast majority of South Australia's recycling glass and uses 40% recycled glass, or cullet, as raw material in the final glass-bottle manufacturing process, in order to maintain their environmental responsibilities. My role on this project was the design manager and the electrical engineer.

2010 Tennant Creek Hospital - Northern Territory Government
Construction Value - Various

BCA Engineers has been involved in several ongoing projects within the Alice Springs Hospital & Tennant Creek Hospital. Projects include the Operating Theater upgrade, site fire water infrastructure upgrade, Day Procedures Unit Ward Upgrade, and CMW Ward. Most recently the BCA team is involved with the Tennant Creek Renal Dialysis unit to extend the existing Renal Clinic. Patrick is working with the NT Renal services to find a more pragmatic approach to home dialysis in the remote part of the territory. My role on this project was the design manager and the electrical engineer.

What it means to Patrick to be an Engineering Technologist:

"Engineers make it so" is a very powerful statement but it was what I believe makes engineering one of the best professions. My particular field is the construction industry where every project is a prototype and every client has different needs and aspirations. This really gives me the ability to embrace the latest technology.

Tom returned to the Northern Territory in 2004. After a brief period with his old employer, the now N.T. Department of Construction & Infrastructure, he moved back into local government environment as Darwin City Council's Manager Assets. This role was to ensure that the Council has a good understanding of what assets they own; what condition they are in; the level of service they are expected to deliver to the community and when they are likely to require replacement, refurbishment or upgrades. The Councils infrastructure assets which include buildings, roads, paths; parks; reserves; stormwater systems; recreation facilities such as swimming pools and sporting grounds have a replacement value of around $692m.

Tom started his engineering career with no formal qualifications. In 1990 he completed an Advanced Certificate in Civil Construction Supervision. Then he more or less embarked on a lifelong learning program which has included the completion of a range of tertiary programs to formally address areas that would be beneficial to his professional development. This includes a Certificate in Supervisory Studies in 1994; an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering in 2003; a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil) in 2005 and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management in 2006. All of these programs have been completed through external study modes which have had to be balanced with full time work; family and other commitments. Tom is currently working on a Masters of Engineering Practice (Civil) which he hopes to complete by the middle of 2011.

Some Highlights from Tom's Career to date:

Overseeing the construction of the Donkey Camp Weir on the Katherine River; construction of subdivisions and maintenance and renewal of roads and airstrips in a number of Aboriginal Communities throughout the region; and involvement in the opening up of tourist roads into the Gregory; Elsey; Keep River and Flora River National Parks.

What it means to Tom to be an Engineering Technologist:

Tom has proven that with commitment and lifelong learning that he is an outstanding member of the Engineering Profession, recognized with receiving the 2009 Engineering Technologist of the Year Award. Tom has worked hard to improve his engineering knowledge since leaving school early and shown commitment by studying by torchlight whilst out on camp in southern Arnhem Land after a hard day of engineering surveying work!