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Monday, May 24, 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Keynote Presentation:
"Engineering the London Eye"
Speaker: John Roberts, FREng, Ph.D., BEng, FICE, FIStructE
The London Eye is the biggest observation wheel ever built, at 135 meters in diameter
and 1,900 tons in weight. Even a single bracing cable weighs 1.5 tons, and the
hub and spindle alone weigh 330 tons. Three years of work went into the project
planning, feasibility studies, and financial analysis to get the giant wheel designed
and built. The Eye's components were constructed in six European countries before each piece was
sailed up the Thames by barge, to be assembled horizontally and then raised to the vertical using
gigantic floating cranes.
John Roberts will discuss the spectacular feats of structural engineering required to build this monumental
project. One of the UK's leading engineers in the field of theme park rides and attractions, John played
a key role in engineering the Eye as well as the famous Pepsi Max Big One rollercoaster in Blackpool.
He has 28 years' experience in the construction industry, principally in the UK but also internationally.
He is based in Babties' Manchester and London offices and is an Operating Board Director of the
Babtie Group. John has specialist knowledge of high technology industrial and leisure industry projects.
He is a past president of IStructE (1999-2000) and is also a Visiting Professor in the Principles of
Engineering Design at UMIST. He has received many awards for his work including the James Forrest
Medal, ICE; Arnold Waters Medal, IStructE; Mappin Medal, University of Sheffield; and the Derrington
Construction Medal, IStructE.
Plenary Session sponsored by the Tennessee Section, ASCE
SEI Business Meeting
Wrapping up the Plenary Session, SEI President, Jeremy Isenberg, and SEI Director, Jim Rossberg,
will report on the Institute’s progress since the last Business Meeting in Seattle, Wash., in May 2003,
and announce plans for the future.
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