Geomechanics.io

Strabag and Group company Züblin have secured the design-and-build structural works for the ABS Gäubahn Nord/Pfaffensteig Tunnel in south-west Germany, centred on an 11km twin-bore rail tunnel linking Stuttgart Airport station directly to the Gäubahn line towards Switzerland. About 9.8km will be driven by two TBMs, with conventional tunnelling for the A8 motorway undercrossing and airport connection, plus a 240m cut-and-cover section, retaining structures, railway underpasses and a grade-separated crossing. A 3km surface section will be upgraded and partially realigned for 200km/h operation, delivered under an integrated project delivery model with Ed. Züblin, Wayss & Freytag and Strabag AG sharing tunnelling, structural and earthworks packages.

A 271.5‑tonne Herrenknecht Mixshield TBM, Caroline, has started driving a 2.2km electricity cable tunnel with a 4m internal diameter beneath the River Thames in Essex for National Grid’s Grain to Tilbury project, delivered by the Ferrovial BEMO joint venture. The drive will pass through variable Thames estuary ground conditions between 35m‑deep launch and reception shafts of 15m and 12m diameter, with tunnelling continuing into 2026 and overall scheme completion targeted for 2029. The new tunnel will replace the 1969 Thames Cable Tunnel and carry new high‑voltage circuits between Grain and Tilbury substations.

A 13.46m diameter Herrenknecht Mixshield TBM has broken through into the future Balboa station on Panama Metro Line 3 after completing the first-ever TBM undercrossing of the Panama Canal at depths exceeding 60m below sea level. The 5,600kW, 26,616kNm machine, fitted with an accessible cutterhead and more than 4,500 sensors linked via the Herrenknecht.Connected platform, has achieved peak advance of 150 segment rings (about 300m) per month through mixed sandstone, tuff, breccias and basalt. Around 1.5km of the 4.5km twin-track tunnel remains to final breakthrough.

Federal funding for New York’s US$16bn Hudson Tunnel Project has been frozen, forcing the Gateway Development Commission to suspend works from 6 February after spending over US$1bn and employing about 1,000 site workers. A Manhattan federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, giving the administration until 5 p.m. on 12 February to restore reimbursements or appeal, while contractors warn that demobilisation, resequencing and remobilisation will add cost and delay. Sites are now in “safe-pause” mode, with dewatering, ground support and environmental monitoring maintained, and assembly of two Herrenknecht TBMs in New Jersey likely to slip beyond the planned spring 2026 launch without funding certainty.

Swiss Federal Railways has awarded an Implenia/Marti 50:50 joint venture five of six MehrSpur Zurich–Winterthur lots worth just under CHF 1.7 billion, including the 8.3 km Brüttener tunnel (Lot 240) with twin 10 m diameter single-track tubes and a 1 km spur to Zurich Airport. TBM excavation will start in August 2029, with a roughly ten-year construction phase using BIM for planning and execution and extensive special foundations, earthworks and embankments. Additional works cover full redevelopment of Dietlikon station, about 6 km of new track across Dietlikon and Wallisellen sections, multiple underpasses, bridges and the Neumühle railway bridge and Storchen underpass near Winterthur.

TBM Xihe, a 7.3m-diameter, 100m-long, 1,000-tonne Herrenknecht slurry machine, has completed the up-track drive to the future Tung Chung West Station and has begun boring the down-track tunnel towards Tung Chung Station for MTR’s Tung Chung Line Extension in Hong Kong. The Bouygues Travaux Publics–Dragages Hong Kong JV turned the TBM underground within the launch shaft using a push-pull method and self-propelled modular transporter, avoiding full disassembly and surface transport. About 1.3km of new twin-bore tunnels are being driven close to existing rail and urban structures, with commissioning targeted for 2029.

Rolls-Royce SMR has secured Stage 1 of Great British Energy – Nuclear’s Small Modular Reactor Technical Partner contract, positioning its 470MWe pressurised water SMR design for detailed assessment against UK deployment needs. The contract will focus on siting, grid integration and constructability for a standardised modular plant layout intended for factory fabrication and road-transportable modules. For civil and geotechnical teams, this signals early demand forecasting for multiple compact nuclear island foundations, heavy-lift logistics, and repeatable balance-of-plant designs across several UK sites.

Pre-construction investigations for National Highways’ A46 Newark Bypass upgrade have uncovered seven human burials, a Roman well and two probable Anglo-Saxon timber houses on the proposed alignment. The finds, made during archaeological trenching and strip-map-and-record works, confirm multi-period occupation immediately adjacent to the existing dual carriageway. Designers and contractors will now need to factor in preservation in situ or controlled excavation, with potential programme and earthworks phasing impacts on this strategic A-road improvement.

German utility RWE has secured UK Government development consent for three large offshore wind farms, including two projects off the north-east coast and one in the southern North Sea. The schemes will require multiple high-capacity export cable routes, offshore substations and new onshore grid connection works, adding significant marine geotechnical investigation, pile design and scour protection packages. Contractors can expect deep-water foundation installation, challenging metocean conditions in the North Sea and tight integration with National Grid reinforcement programmes.

Roadworks on the A27 in Sussex linked to construction of a new Greggs Drive-Thru have drawn public criticism from a local MP, who is “very disappointed” with contractor Rontec Services’ handling of the scheme. The works, associated with access and frontage changes to the trunk road, are causing disruption on a key east–west corridor already operating near capacity at peak times. For designers and contractors, the row signals growing political scrutiny of traffic management, phasing, and stakeholder communication on small commercial access schemes to strategic routes.

Safety guidance issued by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) as far back as 2008 remains outstanding, with some recommendations still not adopted across the national rail network. The backlog includes long-standing actions on level crossing protection, track worker safety and train protection systems, many of which relate directly to infrastructure design, inspection regimes and asset management. For civil and permanent way engineers, this signals potential future retrofit requirements, revised standards and increased scrutiny of risk controls on existing structures and track layouts.

Aspire Housing has appointed Novus Property Solutions and Anglian Windows to replace ageing doors and windows across approximately 200 social homes in Staffordshire and Cheshire, many of which have units more than 10 years old. The programme targets improved thermal performance, airtightness and occupant comfort, which should cut space-heating demand and extend building fabric life. Novus says works will be sequenced to minimise disruption for residents, signalling a rolling retrofit model that asset managers can replicate across wider housing portfolios.

Sustainability specialist Phil Kelly has rejoined Ramboll as head of department for buildings advisory and consultancy in the UK & Ireland buildings unit, based in the Leeds office. The role covers strategic advice on low‑carbon building design, whole‑life carbon assessment and retrofit strategies across commercial, residential and public sector portfolios. His appointment signals continued demand for consultancy support on embodied carbon, energy performance and compliance with tightening UK regulations such as Part L and emerging net‑zero frameworks.

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering has appointed Mott MacDonald group director for external engagement Denise Bower as chair of ACE Group and Tetra Tech managing director for environment, sustainability and planning Rukhsana Faiz as chair of the Environmental Industries Commission. Bower brings experience from the Major Projects Association, the Infrastructure Client Group and previous work with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority on major project preparation and delivery. Faiz adds 28 years’ international consultancy, government and industry experience as ACE targets skills investment, pipeline certainty and responses to geopolitical and regulatory risk.

Legendre UK has been appointed main contractor for Berkeley Estate Asset Management’s 135,000 sq ft redevelopment of 50 Stratton Street in Mayfair, designed by Stiff + Trevillion as an all-electric office building. The scheme targets BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Gold, with a stated zero embodied carbon approach using lightweight steel and four new cross-laminated timber floors. Works include new stone-clad façades with aluminium-framed windows and curtain walling, with construction due to start in June 2026 and complete by mid-2028.

Water scarcity is constraining UK civil engineering growth as contractors face tighter abstraction licences, reduced summer reservoir yields and more frequent temporary use bans despite wetter winters. Major infrastructure schemes are being redesigned with lower non-potable water allowances for concrete batching, dust suppression and earthworks compaction, forcing greater use of closed-loop recycling and on-site treatment plants. Consultants report clients bringing forward demand management, leakage reduction and dual-supply strategies, with early-stage planning now stress-testing projects against prolonged low-flow conditions rather than historic average rainfall.

Upgrades are progressing on Queensland’s Brisbane–Woodford Road (Mount Mee Road) between Dayboro and D’Aguilar, a key two-lane hinterland corridor linking the Moreton Bay region to Brisbane. The current planning phase is assessing existing pavement condition, horizontal and vertical geometry and roadside hazards to define targeted works on this steep, winding alignment. Outcomes are expected to guide shoulder widening, curve realignments and slope and drainage improvements, which will be critical for heavy vehicles and commuter traffic using this constrained rural route.

Joint Federal–Victorian funding is backing stage two upgrades of Donnybrook Road in Melbourne’s outer north, as part of a $1.2 billion Road Blitz targeting key suburban arterials. Works focus on cutting congestion and crash risk on this growth‑area corridor, which currently carries rapidly increasing commuter and freight traffic between the Hume Freeway, new housing estates and industrial land. For designers and contractors, the programme signals continued demand for intersection upgrades, pavement strengthening and capacity increases on peri‑urban links.

The transition from traditional telematics to an AI‑driven ecosystem is now operational reality for Australian fleets, as showcased at Geotab Connect, the annual conference of connected vehicle specialist Geotab. Founder and CEO Neil Cawse detailed how Geotab’s platform is moving beyond GPS tracking to real‑time data analytics across entire vehicle fleets, using AI models trained on large, connected‑vehicle datasets. For road and infrastructure operators, this signals rapid uptake of AI‑based tools for route optimisation, asset utilisation and predictive maintenance of heavy vehicles and plant.

A £19M “technically complex” footbridge, the Bridgewater Road Bridge, has opened in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, delivered by Kilnbridge for the London Legacy Development Corporation and developer Ballymore. Spanning a key waterway and rail corridor to connect new housing with the park, the structure had to be built under tight clearance constraints and live operational conditions. The scheme signals further densification of the Stratford waterfront area, with foundations and approach works likely to govern future utility diversions and adjacent plot layouts.

Finning UK & Ireland has invested £200,000 in advanced Cat engine testing, including a new £160,000 high‑power dynamometer at its Cannock headquarters to certify build quality, strength and power for engines overhauled at its component rebuild centre. The dyno cell collects detailed power, torque and load data in a controlled environment to validate engines for Cat Certified Rebuilds and customer Self Service Repair Options, with settings tuned for fuel economy and reliability. The Cannock installation sits within a new 1,230 m² Rebuild Centre of Excellence being built to handle rising demand for full machine rebuilds and major reconditions.

Modul-System UK has staged a van demonstration day for gas distributor SGN, showcasing a Ford Transit 350 RWD L2 H3 in repair specification, two 100 kW Ford E-Courier Trend vans (including a ‘Safe & Warm’ build), and a Renault E-Master L2 H3 demonstrator. Fleet leads, front line teams and union representatives compared diesel and electric configurations against SGN’s existing service vans. Modul-System’s Modul Connect platform was also demonstrated, giving mixed-fleet visibility on vehicle location, driving behaviour and diesel versus EV performance during the transition period.

Overnight northbound closures will affect the M80 between Junctions 7 and 9 every Monday to Friday and most Sundays until 6 July, as gantry replacement works proceed under full carriageway shutdown. Transport Scotland and its contractors are moving to closures after thousands of drivers ignored temporary speed limits through the works, increasing risk to crews operating adjacent to live lanes. The change will concentrate heavy lifting, lane marking and electrical works into night-time windows but may push more HGV and commuter traffic onto local A‑roads during closure hours.

Mott MacDonald has agreed to acquire Australian civil contractor Leed Engineering & Construction, expanding its capability to deliver water, transport and energy infrastructure across metropolitan, regional and remote areas. The deal adds a self-perform construction arm to Mott MacDonald’s existing design and advisory business in Australia, enabling integrated design-and-build delivery on complex civil works. For geotechnical and civil practitioners, the move signals more bundled packages where ground investigation, detailed design and construction of pipelines, bridges and treatment assets are procured from a single team.

Groundforce Shorco has launched SheetMaster 2.0, a 10‑tonne SWL multi-function trench sheet handling attachment with a ratchet release mechanism designed to prevent accidental sheet drops and remove the need for quick-release shackles. The unit lifts sheets to vertical, incorporates a driving cap to protect pile heads, and acts as an extractor, consolidating three separate tools into one while requiring no formal retraining for operators. Trials with JN Bentley, Seymour Construction, United Infrastructure and J Murphy & Sons report cutting personnel in excavator exclusion zones from up to four to one or two and eliminating work at height during sheet installation.

A £1.2bn Beach Management Framework has been let by the Environment Agency to Van Oord UK and the VBA Joint Venture to deliver beach nourishment and coastal maintenance along multiple stretches of England’s coastline. The long-term framework will cover works such as shingle recycling, sand replenishment and repair of hard defences, supporting schemes that typically involve millions of cubic metres of sediment movement and regular re-profiling of flood defence beaches. Contractors will need to plan around tight tidal working windows, nearshore dredging constraints and integration with existing sea walls and groynes.

The Office of Rail and Road has rejected a proposed new passenger service from a Hampshire village to London Waterloo, citing the scale of infrastructure upgrades required on the existing route. ORR concluded that delivering the service would demand substantial works to track, signalling and junction capacity on already constrained sections into Waterloo, going beyond what could be justified for the forecast demand. The decision signals limited near-term scope for additional open-access or local-origin services into London terminals without major corridor-wide capacity enhancements.

Plans for the £7bn White Horse Reservoir near Abingdon in the Upper Thames catchment have been confirmed by regulators as sufficiently detailed to move to the next planning stage, with additional funding released to advance the scheme. The strategic raw water storage project, promoted by Thames Water, is now being prepared for a Development Consent Order (DCO) application expected in November. Geotechnical and civil teams can expect imminent demand for detailed ground investigation, embankment design and flood risk modelling to support the nationally significant infrastructure consent process.

Cameron Homes has secured East Staffordshire Borough Council approval for a £39m residential scheme delivering 119 homes on the former Bamford Works factory site in Uttoxeter, in partnership with JCB. Redevelopment of the brownfield industrial plot will require remediation of legacy manufacturing ground conditions and reconfiguration of existing utilities and access. The scheme signals further intensification of housing on ex-factory land in the Midlands, with geotechnical investigation and contamination management likely to be key early packages.

M Group has appointed Andrew English as managing director for energy infrastructure to expand its delivery of complex, large-scale engineering solutions across the UK network. English will oversee programmes to modernise critical assets and integrate battery storage, EV charging infrastructure and solar power into existing grids, supporting net-zero transition and grid resilience. He brings senior delivery experience from Skanska and John Holland in UK and Australian utilities and transport, signalling a push to scale M Group’s Energy Infrastructure and In-Home business lines in rapidly changing energy markets.

A Herrenknecht Mixshield TBM has begun driving a 2,200m National Grid cable tunnel under the Thames between Gravesend and Tilbury for the Ferrovial Bemo JV, following excavation of the launch shaft with a Herrenknecht Vertical Shaft Sinking Machine. The 4,730mm diameter, 108m-long, 464t machine is designed for mixed chalk–flint ground with compressive strengths up to 1,000MPa and water pressures up to 4.5 bar at 41m depth, using multiple sealing systems and a personnel airlock for hyperbaric interventions. The TBM installs 4.0m ID / 4.5m OD precast segmental lining on a 350m radius alignment, with hydraulic overcutter, mini gripper, anti-roll fins, face drilling rig, telescopic camera, VMT navigation and a dedicated separation plant and multi-service vehicles.

Mott MacDonald has agreed to acquire Australian civil contractor Leed Engineering & Construction, adding more than 350 staff across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to build an integrated design-and-construct water infrastructure offering. Leed brings delivery experience for SA Water, Coliban Water, Snowy Hydro and state climate and water departments across dams, trunk mains, environmental works, bridges, roads and major earthworks in metropolitan, regional and remote locations. The move mirrors the UK Mott MacDonald Bentley model, where nearly 3,000 people deliver end‑to‑end feasibility, design, construction and commissioning for water assets.

Commitments in the King’s Speech to implement previously announced energy policy measures signal continuity for grid and power infrastructure investment, which Beama says will directly benefit its electrical equipment manufacturers. Although short on new legislation, the focus on delivering existing plans gives developers and contractors clearer visibility on pipelines for substations, transmission upgrades and smart network technologies. For geotechnical and civil teams, this points to sustained demand for foundations, cable routes and grid-connection civil works rather than a major shift in project typologies.

Nearly $14 million in New South Wales Government funding is being directed this month to safety and reliability upgrades on the Kings Highway, a key freight and commuter link between the ACT and the South Coast carrying general freight and agricultural loads. Works are expected to target high‑risk sections and curves, intersections and overtaking opportunities to cut crash risk and improve travel time reliability for heavy vehicles. Geometric improvements, pavement strengthening and roadside safety treatments will be central for designers and contractors planning traffic staging and temporary works.

Tasmania’s Devonport Berth Three project has reached a key milestone with completion of the final gantry superstructure lift for the new Spirit Quay ferry terminal. The works will relocate the Spirit of Tasmania’s operational base from the existing Terminal One to Spirit Quay, designed to handle the larger Spirit of Tasmania vessels on the Devonport–Geelong route. Structural completion of the gantry frame now allows fit-out of ship-loading equipment, mooring infrastructure and associated landside civil works to proceed on programme.

A temporary weight limit will be imposed on London’s Vauxhall Bridge from 1 July to “ensure safety for all bridge users”, signalling concern over current load effects on the early-20th-century steel and granite structure. While the exact tonnage has not been disclosed, the restriction will immediately affect heavy goods vehicles and abnormal loads using this key Thames crossing on the Inner Ring Road. Asset managers and bridge engineers will be watching for follow‑on measures such as detailed structural health monitoring, lane loading changes, or accelerated strengthening works.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has launched procurement for the largest contract on Dublin’s £8.4bn (€9.5bn) MetroLink, covering rolling stock supply, core railway systems and full station fit-out. The package also includes a 25‑year operations and maintenance concession for the driverless metro service, bundling lifecycle responsibility for trains, signalling, power and platform systems. The scale and duration of the contract point to long-term performance-based requirements on systems integration, reliability and maintainability for contractors and their supply chains.

BBV has completed assembly of HS2’s tallest bridge, Curzon 2, ahead of its planned weekend launch over a live rail corridor in central Birmingham. The structure, part of the Curzon Street station approaches, will be installed during a tightly constrained possession window over a busy existing line, requiring precise control of lift tolerances and rail clearance. For civil and geotechnical teams, the operation centres on managing crane outrigger loads, ground bearing pressures and real‑time monitoring to protect adjacent track and signalling assets.

The £34.8M decarbonisation programme at Nottingham City Hospital, the UK’s last coal-heated hospital, has eliminated 16,000t of carbon emissions and is delivering £1.4M in annual energy savings. Works included replacing coal-fired plant with low-carbon heating and power systems, alongside extensive upgrades to building services and controls. For engineers, the project shows the scale of carbon and cost reduction possible from deep retrofit of legacy NHS energy infrastructure.

South Staffordshire Plc and South Staffordshire Water Plc have been fined £963,900 by the Information Commissioner’s Office after a 2022 cyber-attack compromised their IT systems and exposed customer data. The incident affected corporate networks rather than process control, but it raised concerns over the segregation and resilience of operational technology supporting water treatment and distribution assets. Water utilities and other infrastructure operators are likely to face closer scrutiny of cyber-security for SCADA, telemetry and remote monitoring systems, with potential implications for future asset management and capital upgrade programmes.

Pyroguard and Schüco have supplied more than 400 m² of Pyroguard Protect fire safety glass integrated into Schüco FW 50+ FR 60 curtain walling for Belfast’s new £340m Grand Central Station, designed by RPP and delivered by Carey Glass and specialist contractor Williaam Cox. The glass specification, Pyroguard Protect T-EI60/25-3, provides 60 minutes’ fire resistance while allowing large pane sizes and uninterrupted sightlines across multiple façades. As Ireland’s largest integrated transport hub, designed for up to 20 million passenger journeys a year, the station’s fire strategy depends on combining this EI60 performance with high natural light, thermal and acoustic control.

Network Rail has appointed AtkinsRéalis as delivery partner for its Wales & Western region under the CP7 (2024–2029) delivery support services framework, with support services valued at up to £9m against a regional investment programme of £5.2bn. The Lot 1 contract covers multi-disciplinary services including commercial management, project management, programme controls, planning and risk management across enhancements and renewals. Scope spans stations, major renewals and complex capital schemes such as the MetroWest programme, signalling strong demand for integrated project controls and specialist technical capacity.

Leguan has launched a fully electric power train option for its all-terrain spider lifts, using the in-house Avant Power OptiTemp battery with liquid-immersion thermal management to keep cells at optimal temperature for consistent output in hot and cold conditions. The electric system is offered alongside, not instead of, existing diesel variants, with lift structures and user interfaces unchanged, simplifying fleet integration and operator training. First public demonstrations of the electrified models are scheduled for the Apex exhibition in the Netherlands in June.

Wandle Housing Association has awarded Travis Perkins Managed Services a three-year materials supply contract from 1 April, covering more than 7,000 homes across nine south London boroughs via core branches in Croydon and Peckham plus seven additional outlets. The deal uses TPMS’ TPgo Data platform to give real-time visibility of purchases, product locations and spend, supporting first-time fix targets and tighter control of responsive repairs logistics. Procured through the Cirrus Framework and aligned with Lumensol’s repairs process review, the arrangement aims to cut stockouts, shorten lead times and lower both operating costs and carbon from van mileage.

Roadways has completed a key asphalt surfacing phase of the Southsea Coastal Scheme in Portsmouth two months ahead of programme, working as sole surfacing contractor to the VolkerStevin–Boskalis Westminster joint venture VSBW. The works form part of the multi-phase coastal defence upgrade along Southsea seafront, where new sea walls and raised promenades are being constructed to reduce flood risk to thousands of properties. Early delivery gives the JV more float for subsequent marine and public realm works, reducing interface risk between heavy coastal construction and highway traffic management.

RPS Group has agreed an £8.2m partnership with Vico Homes to install photovoltaic panels on more than 2,000 social homes across West Yorkshire. The programme is part-funded through the UK government’s Warm Homes: Social Homes Fund, targeting lower energy bills and reduced fuel poverty for tenants. For asset managers and designers, the scale suggests significant rooftop structural checks, electrical integration with existing low-voltage networks, and coordination with planned maintenance cycles on a large, dispersed housing stock.

Peri UK has delivered a bespoke formwork system for the Hinkley Point C reactor domes, enabling multi-directional curved concrete pours about 45 m above ground without conventional through-ties due to the inner 6 mm airtight steel shell. The solution combined Vario formwork with 199 custom panels, Rundflex transition panels, SCS Starter Brace with 550 Strongbacks, and reconfigured SB platforms forming 5 m-wide horizontal working decks, all anchored via special 45° adapters to carry fresh concrete and equipment loads. Extensive 2D-to-3D digital modelling and precise anchor coordination around dense rebar grids cut Unit 2 platform installation to under 14 days and reduced on-site redesign.

McPhillips has completed the £4.23m Talbot Park scheme in Kidderminster, replacing a stepped access route between Worcester Street and Bromsgrove Street with a fully landscaped community space funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund under an NEC4 Option A contract. Works introduced levelled routes with improved disabled access, a dedicated play area, LED lighting, new paving, extensive soft landscaping and street furniture in a steeply sloping town centre site with deep drainage infrastructure. Construction had to manage complex legacy ground conditions from previous demolitions, buried concrete blocks and concurrent works on a new National Grid substation, but finished on programme and to budget.

Heidelberg Materials UK has resurfaced 1,600m² at the Kent entrance to the Eurotunnel service tunnel and emergency vehicle garages with 140 tonnes of Tufflex asphalt using a CarbonLock bio-binder and CleanAir additive, cutting CO₂ by more than 25% versus the original SMA specification. The Era 140 warm mix process enabled production at up to 40°C lower temperature, reducing plant emissions by up to 15%, improving on-site conditions and shortening possession time. Biogenic CarbonLock permanently stores absorbed CO₂ even after recycling, while CleanAir cuts specific gas and particulate emissions by up to 40%, critical for tunnel air quality.

£20M of National Highways upgrades on the A21 between Hastings and Flimwell are being criticised by local MP Huw Merriman for failing to tackle what he calls the “underlying cause” of serious collisions on the single-carriageway sections. Works reportedly focus on resurfacing, signage and minor junction changes rather than full dualling or major realignment of substandard bends and short sightlines. For designers and safety engineers, the row centres on whether incremental measures can manage overtaking and speed-related crash risk without a more fundamental geometric redesign.