News archive

The CIRCULUS and DeConcrete projects on reusing crushed concrete for new concrete were Presented at the Rebuild Ukraine Conference in Warsaw from 12-15 November 2024.

Boy-Arne, our institute concrete laboratory leader represented CIRCULUS and DeConcrete projects at the Rebuild Ukraine conference. The recovery of Ukraine is becoming the largest economic project in Europe of our time, already estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars. Infrastructure funds will find a large number of projects in the airports and in the construction of new roads and bridges. Real estate funds will receive a market with hundreds of millions of square meters of new housing, offices, logistic and industrial parks. Banks and financial institutions can enter the huge market of lending for all these projects in Ukraine. Insurance companies can develop new offerings tailored to the specific conditions and risks of our region.

On the first day of the conference, the Norwegian delegation met with the Norwegian ambassador, HE Øystein Bø, in collaboration with Innovation Norway. It was an interesting and pleasant gathering where contact was established between the Norwegian and Ukrainian guests. 

On the second day, Boy-Arne had meetings with:

1. Green Mountain International which are a product suppliers for concrete and ePAVE for asphalt and concrete. 

2. ePAVE is the highest performing cool pavement product on the market today, a patented polymer-enhanced formula designed to preserve asphalt and concrete surfaces with a protective layer that significantly reduces their impact on air pollution and climate change.

3. 360 Ballistics. They have 2 products they want to enter the Norwegian market with;

Amidon Ballistic Concrete® a revolutionary ballistic concrete product, which reduces construction time for live fire fields by 14 times and cuts total cost of ownership in half. Its suitability for deployment in challenging conditions makes it ideal for simulating modern soldier scenarios. ABC stands out as the ultimate choice for live fire materials in terms of both build speed and total cost of ownership.

Amidon Shield® Amidon Shield was established in 2019 after the acquisition from Amidon Inc. It retains the same patented technologies, experienced staff and tools previously used under Amidon, while adding new capabilities. Dedicated to providing the world's safest projectile protection, Amidon Shield draws on its vast experience building facilities for America's elite forces and using top-tier materials, making it a leader in the field.

4. NOCON Norwegian Construction, a Norwegian facilitator and developer of projects and business opportunities in and around Ukraine.

On the third day, Boy-Arne had meetings with:

1. Ukranian Cluster Alliance.

2. Duraflex®, a CLEANTECH mineral mixture that improves the way cement hydrates. In combination with Duraflex® cement, it generates a completely impermeable structure with high unconfined compressive strength and flexural strength, allowing high workability in all types of soil (high IP soil, marine soil, clay soil, etc.) and under extreme climatic conditions.

3. Olena Koltyk Leder for Ukranian Support Team Coalition. An expert in partnerships with more than 10 years of experience working with business and the public sector, co-founder of the NGO "ReThink", head of the waste management and eco-security department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine ( 2020-2022), adviser to the Minister of Energy in Ukraine (2019-2020). Ukraine Support Team is a coalition of NGOs, think tanks, national and regional teams that aim to help communities rebuild life in war-torn regions.

4. The Confederation of Builders of Ukraine. The Confederation of Builders of Ukraine (CBU) is the largest trade association, which has over 800 members, and about 80% of construction industry companies in Ukraine. CBU's goal is to encourage the development of Ukraine's future life and support the active dialogue about Ukraine's future life at all levels. The confederation is the sole representative of Ukraine in the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), which includes 32 national member federations from 27 European countries.

There was a lot going on at Norway's stand on both days, with visits by the Minister of Energy, the State Secretary and the signing of several MOUs. There were many thought-provoking conversations with Ukrainians and I feel strongly for them in their suffering.

Håkon Haugli CEO of Innovation Norway and several managers were at the Norwegian stand and were responsible for the organization.

Circ-Boost project was presented on Sortland

board meeting

The institute laboratory leader Boy-Arne presented the Circ-Boost project at the chairmanship meeting for Sortland municipality. It was explained the basis of recycling concrete and the work  done so far.

He also explained what will happen next and the cooperation and assistance withVesterålsbetong.

We are thrilled to announce the new project ECOSCREEN in which DeTeA Research Group is participating, awarded EU funding through EURIZON fellowship programme.

The ECOSCREEN project, “EnhanCed FibrOus compoSite Concrete with improved Radiation shiElding properties for Energy applications and waste maNagement” was selected to receive the EURIZON Fellowship. The project participants include two Ukrainian scientists from two research institutes in Ukraine as well as partners from Riga technical University, Latvia, Tartu University, Estonia, The Arctic University of Norway, Norway and Lithuanian Energy Institute, Lithuania. The funding is for the Ukrainian scientists, EU participants are participating as consultants. The project starts in May 2024 with duration of 12 months.

The objective of ECOSCREEN project is to develop the new concrete composite materials reinforced by modified basalt fiber with various types of neutron absorbers for nuclear energy and nuclear waste management applications. Basalt fiber is eco-friendly material produced from natural basalt rock. The use of basalt fiber as an additive to concrete allows to create a new eco-friendly concrete composite material for nuclear industry. Basalt fiber increases mechanical properties and longevity of concrete in nuclear installations while, reducing environmental risks at the same time. Thereby, the modified basalt fiber reinforced concrete in nuclear installations and facilities can increase better public acceptance of nuclear energy.

Furthermore, the ECOSCREEN project aims to develop a methodology adding neutron absorbers into basalt fiber, and to produce the samples of modified basalt fiber with different neutron absorbers. The project also aims to assess the neutron and gamma radiation shielding properties of ordinary and heavy concretes reinforced with the modified basalt fiber.

In the first phase of the project, the Institute for Problems of Materials Science (Ukraine) produced four new types of modified basalt fibre and tested their radiation shielding properties in concrete using Monte Carlo simulation: 1) with boron oxide (new configuration); 2) with gadolinium oxide; 3) with hafnium oxide; 4) with yttrium oxide.

All the modifications will improve the fiber concrete’s neutron radiation shielding properties. The simple and complicated Monte Carlo models were prepared for future simulations in Institute for Safety Problems of NPPs (Ukraine).

Soon the Problems of Materials Science (Ukraine) will provide the chemical composition and density of the obtained modified basalt fibers. Following this, work will be started on forming fiber concrete compositions for further Monte Carlo modeling. Based on the results of this modeling, it is planned to prepare two journal papers with contributions from all the project participants.

A researcher from DeTeA Research Group participated in the  'Transport Means 2024' held in Lithuania from October 2-4, 2024.

 

Innovative CO2 Reduction Strategies for Enhancing the Ecology of the Riga Port

D. Bickovs, V. Khlud, J. Baronins

This research investigates innovative strategies to reduce CO2 emissions at the Riga Freeport (Latvia), leveraging modern emission analysis techniques and cutting-edge technologies. Central to this approach is integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, alongside real-time digital monitoring systems and alignment with international reporting frameworks. These frameworks include Tool for Harmonized Environmental Trade Inspection System – Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (THETIS-MRV). 

The study also emphasizes using advanced tools for data collection and the potential application of machine learning to predict and optimize future emissions. By enhancing energy management and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the proposed strategies contribute to the port's decarbonization efforts. 

Initial studies reveal that installing solar panels that generate 100,000 MWh of energy annually would reduce 47,500 tons of CO2 emissions at the Riga Freeport. The International Transport Development Association (ITDA) plays a crucial role in supporting these initiatives, helping to implement digital solutions that facilitate real-time emission tracking and reporting.

Ultimately, this research highlights the importance of a comprehensive, technology-driven approach to environmental sustainability in port infrastructure.

For the conference participation, the researcher received a certificate of participation.

The Norwegian Concrete Day 2024, held at the Quality Hotel Ramsalt in Bodø from 9-11 October, 2024.

Norwegian Concrete Day is the concrete industry's annual meeting place, where you get professional updates and can meet colleagues from various industries. 

The Norwegian Concrete Day 2024, held at the Quality Hotel Ramsalt in Bodø, which is Europe's Capital of Culture in 2024. The event focused on marine structures, material development, durability, and concrete rehabilitation, emphasizing how the industry can contribute to the green shift.

During the first day of the  conference, Iveta Nováková, Associate Professor, presented one of the five CircBoost's Pilot projects - the Norwegian Pilot in Sortland to an audience of over 200 industry professionals. 

She discussed the circular building process from demolition to construction by deploying novel technologies with construction and demolition waste. The focus was on the process leading to the production of recycled concrete aggregates from the demolition of the old Nortura building in Sortland.  The pilot's objective and activity scheme were presented, showing the interconnected processes between the Pilot project partners, Museum NORD, UiT, RenoVest, and LundHagem Architects.

Norwegian Concrete Day continues to serve as a pivotal platform for professional development and networking, fostering discussions that drive the industry toward a more sustainable future.

Iveta Nováková's work on how to increase the fire safety of concrete in existing structures was published on Vědavýzkum.cz Portal - Independent information on science and research.

Vědavýzkum.cz Portal published an article about Iveta Nováková's dissertation, which was conducted at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Brno University of Technology. This popular scientific article briefly describes her dissertation work on increasing the fire safety of concrete structures. It briefly discussed the new method she introduced, creating pores in the material by heating concrete, which allows steam to escape in the event of a fire.

It is stated that Iveta Nováková's innovative work was highly ranked at the prestigious Föderpreis Beton Central Europe award from Cemex. In addition to her work on fire safety, this publication explores Iveta Nováková's work on the use of recycled aggregate in concrete.

Read the full article to learn more about Iveta Nováková’s research and projects by clicking the following link.

https://vedavyzkum.cz/rozhovory/rozhovory/iveta-novakova-z-vut-inovuje-stavebni-materialy?fbclid=IwY2xjawEcsLFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZ3U6ZFyMsCZOAJKycXL-N0WV34bxFPLd3669jcIetfZZqg8G9SpZQsmSA_aem_TQf-qSX52y1CZdTdmbhaWw

The CircBoost project recently convened for its 3rd annual General Assembly meeting in Barcelona, bringing together project members and partners.

The CircBoost project's General Assembly meeting featured comprehensive presentations from all work packages, providing a detailed overview of the project's current status and future directions. The agenda focused on reviewing the progress made over the past year, discussing challenges, and strategizing future initiatives aimed at enhancing circular economy practices. The meeting facilitated a productive exchange of ideas and best practices, reinforcing the commitment of all participants to achieve the project's objectives. Additionally, representatives from each Pilot project shared their latest developments and updates, highlighting the practical applications and progress within their specific areas. This segment was particularly valuable as it showcased the tangible outcomes and innovations emerging from the project, fostering a deeper understanding and enthusiasm among all attendees about the strides being made towards sustainable development.

Partners of the Norwegian Pilot 4, including UiT and LUA members, presented the annual development of the pilot project in Sortland, Norway. The representatives of UiT presented the technological advancements that were made on the new recycled aggregate concrete mixtures and demolition techniques, while Lundhagem Architects presented the design of the new Gaia Museum that will be constructed in Sortland aiming at the application of 95% recycled materials and elements.

Key outcomes of 3rd General Assembly meeting in Barcelona included the adoption of new sustainable methodologies and the planning of upcoming collaborative activities that promise to further propel the project's impact.

The General Assembly in Barcelona underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving the CircBoost project forward, marking another significant step in the journey towards a more sustainable future.

Gaia Vesterålen, an innovative project from the northern Norway, has been selected for exhibition at Design Shanghai, one of the world's most prestigious international design events. Gaia Vesterålen is to be exhibited in the Norwegian pavilion, as one of 6 projects chosen to display architectural approach.

Far up in the northern parts of Norway, Gaia Vesterålen, an ambitious initiative focused on sustainability and circular economy principles, has been chosen to represent Norwegian creativity at Design Shanghai, Asia's premier design event. This selection marks a significant milestone, celebrating Gaia Vesterålen's innovative approach and commitment.

Gaia Vesterålen draws inspiration from the local fishing industry, reusing discarded containers to create a fully circular landmark building. This visionary project aims to construct a museum on the Sortland seafront with a recycling rate of 95 percent, the highest ever achieved in a major construction process. By transforming waste materials into valuable resources, Gaia Vesterålen sets a new benchmark for sustainable architecture.

The project has received EU-funding through Circ-Boost and Horizon Europe. This funds facilitate the research on the reuse of concrete. This project is developed as a collaboration between Lundhagem architects, the local community, Gaia Vesterålen, Museum Nord, the Artic university of Norway and Reno Vest recycling plant.

Exhibiting Gaia Vesterålen at Design Shanghai offers a  platform to show Norwegian design excellence and environmental innovation. As one of the 6 projects chosen to display artchitectural approach, Gaia Vesterålen will get a global audience, demonstrating the transformative potential of sustainable architecture.

Gaia Arctic Summit will be held on June 6-7, 2024 in Sortland

Our CircBoost project partners, Museum NORD, have organized GAIA Arctic Summit in Sortland, aiming to extend collaboration with local businesses and entrepreneurs and educate them on the upcoming European policies and regulations regarding the Green Transition. Additional value is gained through implementing novel tools and methods for restructuring and development that will provide a competitive advantage and decisiveness for further priorities and investments.
"The Gaia Arctic Summit 2024 brings together international experts and business leaders to explore opportunities related to climate change in the ocean and coastal communities of the North."

For more information and registration, ckeck the link Gaia Arctic Summit

Nordland Betong and partners from across the country have secured NOK 3 million in support from Samfunnsløftet for MILBET project. This intiative aims to develop enviromentally friendly concrete solutions, driven by insights from the collaboration with the Circulus project led by UiT, The arctic University of Norway.

Pleased to announce that Nordland Betong, in collaboration with partners from across the nation, has been granted NOK 3 million in support from Samfunnsløftet for  the MILBET project. This initiative aims to pioneer environmentally friendly concrete solutions that meet the increasingly demanding climate and environmental standards in civil engineering projects, public tenders, and customer demands.

Central to this intiative, the project commitment to sustaniability and innoviation through past collabrations with the Circulus project led by UiT. Based on the insights from the Circulus project, the MILBET project will establish a new value chain for concrete production, minimizing its climate and environmental footprint. It also introduces the prodcution of geopolymer concrete which is a promising advancemnt in eco-friendly construction materials.

The endorsement is from Spare Bank, whose ambition is to achive net zero greenhouse gas emissions from their loan portfolio and thier own operations by 2040. Spare Bank recognizes the importance of supporting projects that lead the way in green transition, such as Nordland betong and MILBET, in Northern Norway.  The full project description can be found  on Spare Bank website https://www.sparebank1.no/nb/nord-norge/om-oss/nyheter/fra-spesialavfall-til-ressurs.html?cid=social%3B%3Bmeta%3B%3Bsb1snn_gronn-omstilling%3B%3Blink%3B%3Bbetong_native_A&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1i7Ij3cVLyEHWsFKNjHY-TKIB8ekVpWkzewKiiCsd-LhOTJjUw5gBBFDM_aem_AYahRJvSIcGUOirO8-nYtkwVUmuH5FtTZu5sQyGucTFkEzQN1w9w6QBaFBkFIxOxf0mv9FrQWuY_K5iXvGfxfBtN.

The effect of raw materials and mechanical activation stages on properties of foamed concrete.

The combined efforts of the Ar2Cord and DeTeA teams, collaborating with scholars from Riga Technical University, Tallinn University of Technology, and Università Politecnica delle Marche, have resulted in groundbreaking experiments. These experiments introduce an innovative method for producing concrete foam, integrating a two-rotor disintegrator with a high-speed mixer utilizing cavitation technology. The outcomes of this research have led to the submission of a comprehensive article to the esteemed Elsevier journal Construction and Building Materials, showcasing potential advancements in construction material technology.

This study investigates the impact of high-energy milling on foamed concrete, which is crucial for its lightweight and insulating properties. The research uses a two-rotor disintegrator for milling cement, sand, and microsilica to evaluate the mechanical properties of foamed concrete produced with a high-speed homogeniser in a novel two-stage process. 

The article is avialable on https://ssrn.com/abstract=4728421 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4728421

GEOSUMAT in Cracow University of Technology

https://en.uit.no/project/geosumat/nyheter/artikkel?sub_id=839608

Progress within the CircBoost project

In a noteworthy development, the DeTeA research group has emerged as a pivotal player in Pilot Project No. 4, operating within WP3 as part of the ambitious CircBoost project. The year 2024 has witnessed substantial strides in Pilot Project 4, underscoring the collective efforts of partners and the dynamic collaboration between the municipality of Sortland, Museum Nord, Reno-Vest, Lundhagem architects and UiT researchers.

The synergy among these entities has proven exceptionally fruitful, garnering support from local authorities in Sortland. This has paved the way for the green light on the demolition site and the commencement of preparatory works. The recent visit by the UiT research team to Sortland in January 2024 marked a crucial phase, as they finalized the environmental mapping of the structure slated for demolition.

Amidst these developments, all Norwegian partners within the CircBoost project convened in Sortland, collectively exploring potential sites for the construction of the much-anticipated Gaia Vesterålen Museum. The tour, encompassing various city sites under consideration, provided a firsthand look at the prospects.

Post-tour, a strategic meeting among partners ensued, delving into the future steps of the Pilot Project. The confluence of minds and collaborative spirit bodes well for the seamless execution of CircBoost's overarching goals.

We are delighted to introduce two new researchers, Sofia Kekez and Janis Baronins, who have recently joined the esteemed DeTeA research group. Their expertise and dedication are invaluable assets that will greatly contribute to our ongoing projects.

Over the upcoming year, Sofia Kekez and Janis Baronins will significantly contribute to the CircBoost project. Their focus will center on conducting detailed analyses of concrete from a demolition site in Sortland. This effort aims to ascertain the recyclability potential of this concrete, a critical step towards sustainable construction practices.

In addition to their involvement in the CircBoost project, they will support the GEOSUMAT project. Their primary role involves disseminating the results gained from locally available waste materials, mainly from wood incineration facilities, mining, and metal production.

Meet Sofija Kekez:

Sofija Kekez, a Serbian with Croatian roots joins us from Poland, where she has spent the last five years. Sofija completed her Bachelor's and Master's studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia. She later pursued her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland. Her doctoral research, "Predictions of mechanical and electrical properties of cementitious composites using artificial neural networks," focused on ANSYS simulations of composite materials and the application of artificial neural networks for predicting properties of carbon nanotube-reinforced concrete. In the course of her academic work, Sofija participated in several workshops and internships and published works within international conferences and journals. She uses Serbian/Croatian, English, Polish and Spanish language.

Meet Janis Baronins:

Janis Baronins, a seasoned multi- and interdisciplinary researcher from Latvia, holds expertise in chemical engineering (M.Sc.) and materials engineering (Ph.D.). His journey in concrete development began during his studies at Riga State Technical School and flourished at Riga Technical University. His pioneering work in innovative lightweight high-performance concrete designs and exploration into diverse areas like ceramic and glass materials, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering has been remarkable. During his Ph.D. at Tallinn University of Technology, Janis focused on new ceramic composites and innovative PVD coatings for tribological research. With over 30 publications and active engagement in projects aligned with circular economy principles, he has made significant contributions to Latvian science and industry.

A warm welcome to Sofia Kekez and Janis Baronins to our DeTeA research group! Your expertise promises exciting advancements in our projects.

A new industrial project where UiT is involved by laboratory testing of new sustainable concrete types.

Emphasis on the uptake of sustainable approaches in the industry is supported by many funding agencies, companies themselves, or banks. One such action led by Nordland Betong is now partly supported by all the project partners and Sparbank 1 Nord-Norge. Project MILBET "Miljo betong" started in September 2023 and will last for 3 years.

The consortium consists of project leader and main actor Nordland Betong -concrete producer; Ostbo -waste management facility; Nordasfalt - asphalt and aggregates producer; Mapei - producer of building chemistry and Saferock -startup company producing new environmentally friendly cement. In addition to full partners, UiT campus Narvik will support the project by advanced laboratory testing and assessment of the gained results, CIC, Concrete Innovation Cluster will step up for dissemination of results towards various industries and Heidelberg Materials Sement Norge will contribute by new materials for testing in large scale. 

The project is divided into several work packages and is going to deal with:

• Production, certification and utilisation of concrete recycled aggregates in concrete production
• Reduction of the carbon footprint of produced concrete - lower EPD and CO2 due to optimised mix design
• Demonstration of new material utilisation within two pilots located in Bodo
• Trial of industrial production of geopolymer concrete from Saferock

All project partners look forward to the project execution and a successful story in the end. Such an ambitious project conducted in Northern Norway can gain high visibility not only from industry but also contribute to the education of bachelor and master students from Department of Building, Energy and Material Technology at UiT, campus Narvik.

Researcher Iveta Novakova and laboratory leader Boy-Arne Buyle performed the mapping of concrete of the demolition object in Sortland, Northern Norway.

Mapping of concrete in the demolition object was very important as the concrete is planned to be used for the production of recycled concrete aggregates. The whole object, approx. 7400 m2 was inspected for concrete type and core drills were taken for further testing at UiT concrete laboratory. Testing at the laboratory will focus on the assessment of concrete recyclability and initial testing of RCA prepared from concrete samples. During the technical inspection, the other Norwegian partners, Museum North and Reno-Vest together with associated partner Sortland Municipality came with local newspapers and promoted activities within the CircBoost project.

Boy-Arne and Iveta also visited local concrete producer Vesterålsbetong AS who will be later involved in connection with producing special concrete with recycled concrete aggregates. Production leader Tom Dahl took us for a tour around the concrete plant, followed by a short presentation of a Norwegian pilot by Iveta. The visit was very successful, and all employees from Vesterålsbetong AS are looking forward to being part of the exciting and innovative project.

Vladislav Cába performed an internship for 2 months in cooperation with the concrete laboratory at the UiT Narvik campus at the beginning of the summer 2023.

During the first week of my stay, I had a rare opportunity to experience one of Norway's most significant national holidays. As this holiday is traditionally celebrated within the family circle, the university decided to organise a communal breakfast for international students and academic staff. This event allowed me to immerse myself in authentic Norwegian culture and establish connections with my colleagues.

During my interactions with researchers from UiT, I have been impressed by their professional approach and the friendly atmosphere that prevails at the university. Everyone is willing to answer any questions and provide assistance in problem-solving if needed. I had suitable conditions for my studies and research activities thanks to a good work environment. In accordance with an agreement with my supervisor, Dr. Iveta Nováková, I was able to manage my work schedule independently and focus on my own research activities. Also, I received professional training on several instruments, such as X-ray diffraction analysis and particle size distribution analyser, at the beginning of my stay. During those two trainings, I became acquainted with various details that were not part of my previous studies at the Brno University of Technology.

The main part of my work at the university involved operating an X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) instrument and analysing the collected data. As I had some foundation in data processing from my university, I could help local PhD student to improve his skills. Additionally, I prepared several samples of an innovative material that I am focusing on during my PhD and utilized several local materials, mainly waste streams from various industries. These activities allowed me to expand my professional skills and contribute to the development of new knowledge at UiT.

I am grateful for this opportunity to establish connections at UiT and I hope that my stay in Narvik will initiate closer cooperation between the faculties.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harpal Singh from UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Campus Narvik, together with Wise Technologies from Italy, conducted a spot analysis campaign for the dynamic analysis of a concrete post-tensioned bridge in Nordland Fylke.

The team that conducted the spot analysis activity from the left Guido Battistella, Dr. Guiseppe Occhipinti, Daniele Storni from Wise Technologies, Italy, and Dr. Harpal Singh from UiT -The Arctic University of Norway.

Herøysund Bridge is located in Nordland fylke almost 100 km south of Artic Circle. It was built in the year 1966. It connects the North Herøy and South Herøy islands. From the previous reports, the bridge has shown signs of deterioration; therefore, the new bridge is under construction. But this turned out to be a great research possibility where Nordland Fylke and Statens Vegvesen funded and participate in the Herøy FoU project together with researchers from NTNU, UiT, and Sintef.

The entire activity was planned in advance, and it took place from June 12 to July 3, 2023. There was a lot of logistics involved but we succeeded in getting all the test equipment and important people to the location. Test equipment was installed using the existing scaffolding on the bridge. We worked in close cooperation with PEAB and Nordland Fylke as the existing bridge is included inside the construction site, so the high safety policy of the construction site must be followed. 32 high-sensitivity accelerometers have been used over the entire bridge to record the ambient vibrations of the Herøysund bridge.

Mounting of the cubes to place the accelerometers.	Sensor Location P8, where 2 monoaxial accelerometers were placed to make it a bi-axial accelerometer.

We had an ambitious plan and executed it successfully. In the coming months, this huge amount of data will be processed to generate reports and various research publications in the years to come.

We’re pleased to announce that we officially kicked off our new project CIRC-BOOST - Boosting the uptake of circular integrated solutions in construction value chains. CIRC-BOOST is a 4-year project, funded under the Horizon Europe Programme, that focuses on testing and upscaling circular solutions in buildings and the construction sector through five pilot projects deployed in different European regions. The pilots will demonstrate, at a large-scale, novel and integrated solutions for demolition, construction waste processing, management, and valorization of new products.

The kick-off meeting of the CIRC-BOOST project took place in Belgrade, Serbia, hosted by the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Belgrade. All four Norwegian partners, The Arctic University of Norway, Museum Nord, Reno-Vest and Lundhagem architects, participated with enthusiasm and presented the Norwegian pilot “GaiaVesterålen” container Museum in Vesterålen.

Preliminary sketches of the container museum located in Sortland harbour. Illustration: Lundhagem architects.

GaiaVesterålen will show how museums can be an agent of change that not only preserves the past, but shows how our choices, perceptions, and actions make us an actor in the present, with the potential to change the future. Norwegian pilot will demonstrate and emphasise: Demonstrate an entire circular building process “from demolition to construction” in the Arctic region of Norway. GaiaVesterålen is building a new museum out of wasted materials and decommissioned fishing containers.  Reuse of concrete from two demolished reinforced concrete buildings The building will be hosting a state-of-the-art high-tech exhibition model. Providing knowledge for all generations to make sustainable choices.

From 30th May to 1st June, Boy-Arne Buyle joined Concrete Innovation Cluster, CIC and visited the concrete and aggregates producers in Stavanger. Part of the trip was also meeting with "Via" - an innovation cluster for transport infrastructure.

The delegation consisted of members of CIC: Veronika Moan and Geir Frantzen, Jaro: Ole-Marius Thomassen and Truls Robertsen, and a representative of UiT, Boy-Arne Buyle.  The visit started with a nice dinner at the Fish&Cow with the local industrial partners to establish a good mood and connections. 

On Wednesday, we started at Sola Betong, a ready-mixed concrete plant. General discussion was followed by more specific topics such as sludge handling and treatment. Sola Betong has several interesting projects, such as a new deep-sea tunnel or a part of their production line.

We also came across a beautiful old operator mixing desk.

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Nex stop was at Velde, Rogaland's largest supplier of gravel, asphalt and concrete. With knowledge and modern technology, the company delivers sustainable products and focuses on customers and the environment. Velde has quarries with a wide range of rock types, a landfill, various transport and sweeping services, asphalt production and asphalt paving, ready-mix concrete production and concrete blocks. In addition, Velde supplies products and services to North Jæren, Velde Olsen Gulv, who provides asphalt paving on Haugalandet and flooring throughout the country. Velde Hausvik outside Lyngdal supplies armour stone for coastal and harbour safety projects and installations around the shore of the North Sea. Their factory in Sviland is constantly being expanded, and most of the crushing plants, concrete and asphalt production, and recycling plants are all located there. This results in efficient and environmentally friendly production with very short distances between raw materials source and their utilisation for further products. They are able to produce concrete with 100% of coarse recycled aggregates. They have a complete recycling plant and are at the forefront of environmental thinking in Norway.

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Förderpreis Beton Central Europe is an international competition for doctoral theses on topics related to concrete. It covers all topics related to cement, alternative binders, aggregates, cement and concrete chemistry, admixtures, additives, technology and rehabilitation.

The work with the title Behaviour of cementitious composites exposed to high temperatures investigated two technologies; the first and more emphasised one was the development of a method for fire protection of existing structures, so-called intentional heat treatment (IHT). The main trigger for the development of this new method for fire protection of existing structures was extensive tunnel lining testing in Germany. Standards have imposed a new requirement in terms of the level of fire resistance and introduced new limits which should be met even by existing tunnel structures. The results from the tunnel lining testing were not always satisfactory, and therefore I focused on the development of a new method that could be applied to tunnel lining without space occupation. The doctoral thesis is available on the Brno University of Technology web, where Iveta defended her thesis in early 2021.

The competition is open to recent PhD graduates from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic and is particularly prestigious in Germany, where even getting through the first round is considered a significant success. Iveta Nováková placed second in this demanding international competition. We would like to congratulate her on this achievement.

A researcher from the Czech Republic visited Narvik to establish new cooperation with members of the DeTeA research group.

Aleš Průcha, an assistant at the Institute of Technology, Mechanisation and Construction Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, wrote a few lines about his visit to UiT campus Narvik within Erasmis+ program:

At the university, I met Dr. Iveta Nováková and Dr. Václav Venkrbec, who took me around and showed me the laboratories where DeTeA and other research groups work, as well as the teaching facilities. Getting students to work together is essential, even necessary, for creating the right environment for their education. In this context, I gained new knowledge during my visit. Many meeting rooms all over the UiT are perfectly equipped for digital teaching or project meetings. At the institute in Brno, I would like to increase the opportunities for students to work on projects/studies similarly. Therefore I started thinking about grants suitable for its financing. Dr. Nováková and Dr. Venkrbec also showed me their department, the Department of Building, Energy and Materials Engineering, where I had the opportunity to visit laboratories and other teaching and research facilities. I also learned about the system for PhD students, which diametrically differs from my home university. Here, in Norway, PhD students are hired by the university or directly from projects, they receive regular salaries and can dedicate their entire time to the PhD. In the Czech, PhD students receive a scholarship which is barely covering expenses for living, and therefore they have to be fortunate to get hired on a project or get a part-time job elsewhere. 

Teaching at the UiT differs from that in Brno, especially by combining physical and online teaching. Also, I want to point out many relaxation areas at UiT Narvik campus that are limited at our university in Brno. I think such areas will create better conditions for the students in general and a more positive, creative and friendly atmosphere at the university as a whole.

I also explored the local ski slopes during my free time. At the Narvikfjellet Ski Resort, Vaclav Venkrbec and I had a nice cup of coffee and a snack with a view over Narvik. I believe that the newly acquired contacts will be strengthened, and I will get a chance to host researchers or teachers from UiT in Brno in the near future.

The two-day lab excursion was mainly to visit a concrete plant Betong&Entreprenør in Lofoten, where the casting of fibre concrete for Richards’s master’s thesis took place. To combine the pleasant with the useful, an excursion to the local museum and team building of UiT concrete laboratory staff and students who are conducting their thesis or have a part-time job in the laboratory were linked.  Lofoten is a beautiful part of Norway and is worth visiting for local and international students.

On the first day, the concrete plant Betong&Entreprenør was visited in the afternoon and part of a group remained there for the whole day mixing the samples. Setting up trial mixing in concrete plants, large scale, is challenging and the addition of steel fibres is even increasing the level of difficulty. The requested mix design has to be first integrated into the mixer operating system, and necessary adjustments are commonly made based on visual assessment of concrete during the blending. We succeeded in the first trial, and samples for all tests, approx. 400 kg of concrete, were cast and stored in the close by hollow core slabs production hall. The samples can be transported only after 16 to 24 hours, and therefore, we could pick them back only in the afternoon of the next day.

The other part of the group had plenty of time to get to know Solvaer a little better and look for the most beautiful and unique spots. During this search, many special spots were found. One of these was the unique view where the Skrei are all hanging out to dry together. In the evening, there was time to get to know everyone outside of the lab environment.

The second day started with a visit to a little village called Henningsvaer. The beautiful village where all fantasy comes to life. This felt exactly like a fairy tale. The views were even more spectacular than those in the rest of Norway. The football field that was completely snowed under and next to the water was something spectacular. After visiting Henningsvaer, we drove back to the Lofotmuseet and the local aquarium. This gave a better understanding of Lofoten’s history and how the fishermen used to live, along with the old boats that they used. Next to this was an Aquarium with much different fish. Besides the many fish, there were also, seals and otters. These were immensely cute. After visiting this, it was time to travel back to the concrete plant, load all the samples and start the return journey to Narvik.  

The visit to Lofoten and the wonderful people was an unique experience never to be forgotten.

For me with a practical background as a carpenter, the bachelor thesis focused on Low Carbon Concrete in Arctic Climate was a challenging task, the setup of the document and the process of gathering information and using references was somewhat unknown to me. The learning curve was steep, but a valuable experience to bring with me forward into the career. Our practical part of the thesis was large, and as I did my thesis together with Klevis Xhura, we made many concrete mixes. Concrete was tested in a fresh state for workability, air content and density. Our target was B45M40 air-entrained concrete which is supposed to withstand harsh Arctic conditions. Properties of hardened concrete such as compressive strength, E modulus, chloride migration and freeze-thaw were tested after 2, 7, 28 and 56 days. Results gave a good overview of concrete performance, and we successfully defended our bachelor theses.

Now, I have a job as a “workplace leader/facility manager” at MBA Entreprenør AS in Mo I Rana, where I take responsibility for the project's success, ordering materials necessary for the progress and more. In the startup phase of my position in this firm, I work as a carpenter and concrete worker to get to know the people and the process of constructing large buildings.

The Betongklyngen CIC, in collaboration with the Norwegian Concrete Association and the Norwegian Association for Concrete Rehabilitation, is pleased to invite you to the Concrete Professional Day 2023 hosted by UiT The Arctic University of Norway

The Betongfagdag has become an indispensable part of the Winter Festival (Vinterfestuka) in Narvik and a favourable event for industry, researchers and academia. The program is full of interesting presentations from industry, such as Norcem AS (Heidelberg Materials) or Skanska Norge, research institutes, Sintef or academics from UiT or NTNU. Rich program can be found at Concrete Innovation Cluster webpage: Betonfagdag 2023 under vinterfestuka.

Many students from UiT joined the event, and some of them gave presentations about their master’s thesis. The UiT concrete laboratory, in cooperation with the DeTeA research group, serves in these days mainly for activities connected to the master thesis focused on geopolymer, the durability of low carbon concrete and fibre concrete. All three theses were briefly presented by students and their presentation is attached HERE.

The event was successful, and UiT students got great attention and applause from the attendees.

Martin Mohapl from Brno University of Technology visited UiT and met the DeTeA research group.

My name is Dr. Martin Mohapl, and I work at Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic as an assistant professor. Thanks to the Erasmus+ program, I was able to spend one week in Narvik at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in January 2023. I got to know the city and the university. For a Central European, Narvik is synonymous with far north. I know the laws of polar night and day. But I was still surprised that the sun doesn't really rise in the morning in January. I overslept on the first day of my stay. It was amazing. Firstly, it was caused by the darkness and secondly by the incredible calmness. Traffic noise is almost non-existent.

At the university, I had the opportunity to observe teaching and classroom equipment. I can say that the classrooms are very well technically equipped with audio-visual equipment. Another perfect feeling I had from the „Grupperom“ rooms, where students work independently in groups. We do not have these rooms at our faculty, and I will strive to build such rooms there. I randomly chose the lectures and was surprised by the teaching format. I would describe it as a mix of face-to-face and distance learning. I saw this form for the first time. The university library has a corner with a fireplace and a fjord view. I had to take a photo of these points of interest because they are original. Otherwise, the library is a quiet, ideal place for studying. I also got to know the Department of Building, Energy and Material Technology more closely. I would like to thank Dr. Raymond Riise, Head of the Department, and Dr. Iveta Nováková and Dr. Václav Venkrbec from the DeTeA research group for their kind welcome and assistance during the formal and informal processes.

I had the opportunity to spend a week at a university with a diametrically different atmosphere than my Alma mater. I think calmness and concentration have the most significant effect on mental work. It can be stated that the conditions at UiT are ideal.

ICONDE project workshop covering radioactive/nuclear waste management and other project topics was held at the Lithuanian Energy Institute (LEI) on September 12-14, 2022, in Kaunas, Lithuania

ICONDE Workshop was organized as a hybrid event — online and in-person. All project partner organisations attended in this workshop. The workshop at LEI lasted for three days. The first day of the project started with greetings from the LEI Directorate to the participants, as well as a brief introduction to LEI's activities and laboratories. The leaders of the ICONDE project, Riga Technical University, presented the objectives and tasks of the project and shared the achievements during the implementation of the project. LEI scientists provided a general international practice overview on nuclear and radioactive waste classification and management. Invited guest from State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) provided information about Lithuanian requirements for radioactive waste management as well as participant from Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) provided knowledge on liquid radioactive waste treatment at the Ignalina NPP. In the second half of the day the workshop participants had the opportunity to visit the LEI laboratories.

Full article: on the ETSON website.

Let‘s summarise the successful year 2022 and wish everyone Marry Christmas and a prosperous 2023.

The DeTeA research group was established only in June 2022, but its members were already engaged in several projects such as Circulus, DeConcreteor or ICONDE and together started to build a foundation for concrete research in the field of building materials. Moreover, thanks to long-term cooperation with the Norwegian industry and contacts with academics and research institutes worldwide, 3 new projects started in 2022, and 2 additional approved, with a start set for the first quarter of 2023.

Bridging call funded by Interreg, ArCorD „Arctic Low Carbon Concrete with outstanding Sustainability and Durable Properties“ with a duration of 6 months and a budget of 58 580 euro allowing preparation for a full project application to Interreg NPA call opened late June. The ArCorD project consortium was extended by industrial partners from 5 different countries, which appealed to reviewers and Ar2CorD project „Low Carbon Concrete for Arctic Climate with excellent Sustainability and Durability“ was funded with total budget 1,36M euros. Iveta Novakova leads both mentioned projects as well as GEOSUMAT which started in June 2022. The GEOSUMAT project „Materials for circular economy – industrial waste based geopolymers composites with hybrid reinforcement“ is under M-ERA.NET Call 2021 and funded by individual partner countries funding agencies with a total budget 1,6M euros. Another initiated project among the significant ones is Herøy FoU project focused on the corrosion mapping of a deteriorated bridge in Nordland county. The last project recently approved is Horizon project funded by EU, entitled CIRC-BOOST „Boosting the uptake of circular integrated solutions in construction value chains“ that will start in the first quarter of 2023.

Collaborative countries in 2022	Extension of collaboration network during 2022

Alongside new projects, several trips to local and foreign, industries and institutes, took place in order to enlarge the collaboration network. Guest lectures and activities at Malta University, University of Iceland, Gent University, Skanska Czech, Bodo Energy and events such as PIANC in Amsterdam, Gordon research conference in Italy and collaboration establishment visits to Kazakstan and Canada. All travels were fruitful for discussions, and besides research, student exchange and join thesis were arranged.

Education is also one of the activities in DeTeA research group. More than 5 students were involved in research activities and conducted their theses under the supervision of DeTeA members. Several of those were in cooperation with local industries, where one of the bachelor students, Terje Barstrand, was recruited directly. That points towards well-established contact with the industry maintained by visits and scientific consultancy.

 The year 2022 was extremely rich for international events and collaboration visits thanks to the fainting COVID 19 pandemic and connected travel restrictions. Members of the DeTeA research group look towards new possibilities in 2023 and the successful continuation of research and education activities.

 With that, I would like to wish all collaborative partners Merry Christmas and Happy new year.

                                                                                                                                                                       Iveta Nováková

                                                                                                                                                              DeTeA research group leader

Thanks to all DeTeA members, Eirik Gjerløw, Ashfaque Ahmed Jhatial, Boy-Arne Buyle, Svein-Erik Sveen, Václav Venkrbec and Harpal Singh.

For more information, visit the websites of individual projects or contact Iveta Novakova.

The HK-dir Project (CPEA-ST-2019/10029) Academic Cooperation in Post-graduate Engineering Education led by Prof. Mohamad Mustafa from UiT and Prof. Hong R. Kim from Nazarbayev University, funded by Direktoratet for høgare utdanning og kompetanse.

Campus Narvik joined The Arctic University of Norway, UiT, only 6 years ago. Since then, the Department of Building, Energy and Material Technology is building up its competence in research and establishing brought collaboration network. Contact with foreign research institutes is increasing the visibility of UiT, and preparing grounds for mutual research addressing common challenges in the field of civil engineering. One such project is HK-dir Project (CPEA-ST-2019/10029) Academic Cooperation in Post-graduate Engineering Education led by Prof. Mohamad Mustafa from UiT and Prof. Hong R. Kim from Nazarbayev University, funded by Direktoratet for høgare utdanning og kompetanse. Kazak delegation, consisting of professors, lecturers and students from different study programs, came to Norway in November 2022, where Iveta Novakova got to know them and learn about research activities at Nazarbayev University.

Overlap of research topics dealing with sustainability, circularity and the utilisation of waste streams in concrete and geopolymer was recognised. Another common challenge is climate with low temperatures. Frost is a durability concern of every building material. Therefore, Iveta - a researcher in the field of concrete technology and Boy-Arne - a concrete laboratory leader, decided to visit Nazarbayev University in Astana and discuss further potential collaboration within DeTeA research group.

During our visit, we met three main and several other professors dealing with building materials from a technological and structural point of view, visited all available facilities and discussed local research extensively. Prof. Chang-Seon Shon works with the utilisation of Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) slags as binders or aggregates supported by carbonation. Nowadays, carbonation is a topic in high demand. UiT has already conducted some testing and activities that can increase thanks to the new CO2 curing chamber financed by DeConcrete and Geosumat projects.

Iveta gave a presentation about activities in the DeTeA research group with the aim of identifying even more areas for further research collaboration. Project GEOSUMAT, which deals with the development of geopolymer with dispersed fibre reinforcement, gained a lot of attention as the main studied waste stream material is wood incineration fly ash. In Kazakstan, there are many coal-fired power stations and large quantities of fly ash are presently utilised at very low levels due to its poor quality. Prof. Shon refers to those fly ashes as "outside of ASTM "and tries to change the habits of those power plants to increase the ashes' quality and uniformity, so their utilisation potential is higher.

 Astana is a new city; therefore, very little construction and demolition waste (CDW) exists there. Projects focused on CDW are in high interest at UiT, but do not overlap with activities at Nazarbayev University, but still, a related issue/area was identified. The by-product of concrete production is concrete slurry generated during the washing of ready-mix concrete trucks and other activities in concrete plants. This concrete slurry can be beneficially utilised in new concrete or geopolymers, and thus researchers from both institutes consider concrete slurry as one viable aspect for further research projects.

Many good ideas were raised during the visit, and researchers agreed to apply for a common research project if any suitable funding opportunity will pop up. Until then, the collaboration will be maintained by exchanging students in summer internships, joined master thesis or joined PhD. Joined supervision of students will be beneficial for both institutes. Funding for joined PhD might be eventually covered by the Public Sector PhD Project – Doctoral Project in the Public Sector from The Research Council of Norway.

Collaboration building visit was successful, and as it took place just shortly before The Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakstan, Iveta attended the Nazarbayev University event, where the president of Nazarbayev University, Shigeo Katsu, gave a speech followed by several artistic performances of Kazak culture.

The project meeting for Herøy FoU and initiation of collaboration with Alcoa took place in Mosjøen

The industry realises that landfilling their waste streams is becoming more and more controversial and that the habits have to change. The new angle of view must be integrated into traditional practices where material producers (steel, cement, aluminium, and others) care only about products and pay very little attention to waste/by-products produced alongside. One example is Alcoa, an aluminium producer located in Mosjøen, Norland county. Alcoa is an international corporation with one of the most complex supply chains, consisting of the main raw materials bauxite, semi-finished product alumina and final product aluminium. In the case of Alcoa production in Mosjøen, alumina is supplied from Brazil and transformed into the aluminium with an annual production of around 200 000 tonnes, mainly supplied to the European market. Simultaneously, approximately 12 000 tonnes of waste/by-product is generated, and presently, it is delivered to the local landfill for non-contaminated masses or shipped away to a hazardous waste facility in southern Norway. Iveta Novakova and Jørn Eldby from the Department of Building, Energy and Material Technology, UiT, Campus Narvik, met with Ellen Bromstad Myrvold from Alcoa, who is eager to establish stronger collaboration with UiT. Together we will promote collaboration with Alcoa to students and establish partnership throughout summer job or thesis work. Such a collaboration will be essential for Nordland county and increase students´ connection with local industry.

Herøy FoU kick-off meeting and seminar

Together with the Norwegian Road Administration and Nordland county as bridge owners, UiT is participated as a research partner in the research project “Herøy FoU”, together with NTNU and SINTEF. The project's main objective is to identify the root cause for the deterioration of the old Herøysundet bridge, and how efficient condition monitoring methods and Non-Destructive testing methods could be used to state the condition and rest lifetime for other concrete bridges. UiT, Campus Narvik will install accelerometers on the existing bridge to measure vibrations in x-, y and z-directions for dynamic analyses. Together with NDT, inspections and analyses of part of the bridge, the objective is to develop a model for the expected deterioration of the bridge and identification of rest life time. In addition, UiT, Campus Narvik will focus on developing repair methods that will bring the bridge back to “as good as new” condition. Identification of materials, repair tools and efficient operation techniques.

The kick-off meeting for Herøy FoU took place in Mosjøen on November 9 where all the parties in the research project were present. Discussion and various strategies to execute corresponding work packages were discussed. A seminar on Herøy R & D was held on November 10 where Nordland County, NTNU, UiT, Campus Narvik, Statens Vegvesen, LTU, Wise Technologies, Equinor, SINTEF, and Concrete Innovation Cluster gave a talk that was based on structural maintenance and monitoring of infrastructure.

Priya Perumal from UOULU made an industrial visit to the ready-mix concrete facility of Rudus Oy at Betonintie, Helsinki. Concrete production, logistics and quality assurance have been honed in Rudus to serve the customer reliably and responsibly. Rudus also maintains versatile and sufficient equipment, which makes handling and moving concrete easier, even in difficult construction site conditions.

As a part of DeConcrete, this was interesting to know about the present concrete production facility, material use and industrial point of view for future needs. Rudus also plays a major role in concrete recycling. They have large storage space for concrete recycling, and most of them were crushed, and used in earth construction applications.

Rudus says, “The end product of concrete and brick recycling is the Betoroc crushed stone developed by Rudus, which is a CE-marked product. Recycled crushed stone is well suited for earthworks. It replaces natural stone both technically and cost-effectively. Betoroc can be used to replace the best gravel and crushed rock, for example, in load-bearing and dividing layers of street, road and field structures. The usual granularity range of crushed stone is 0/45 mm. When building with crushed concrete, a better end result than natural stone can be achieved when the technical properties of Betoroc are sufficiently considered. Based on the observations made in the studies, the structural layers of the road with a load-bearing or distributing layer of crushed concrete achieve a bearing capacity of approximately 15-25 % higher than the structural layers built with ordinary aggregate after 13–15 years of construction.”

Priya feels this is an excellent example of how industries can play a role in taking recycled material to market and contributing to material circularity in construction!

The Herøysund bridge in Herøy municipality on the Helgeland coast is to be used as a test pilot in a new research project. UiT is part of a project that could have implications for bridges around the world.

On August 15, the Tretten Bridge in Gudbrandsdalen collapsed. Now research in Herøy can prevent this from happening again. It is connected to the old bridge in Nordland. The Herøysund bridge was completed in the 1960s and then became a link between the two islands in the municipality of Herøy. About two years ago, the bridge was supposed to be restored. However, due to serious injuries, the work was stopped and since September 2020 the bridge has been equipped with sensors to gain knowledge about how the condition of the bridge is developing in real time. The goal is to find ways to detect almost invisible damage in time. Per Ove Ravatsås, responsible manager of bridges and wharves in Nordland County, said that: We need to gain a little more knowledge about the bridge in order to manage, operate and maintain the bridges in a better way. It will also be necessary to create a digital twin of the bridge.There are many people who were interested in the project. The main actors are Nordland County Council and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, but they include SINTEF, NTNU and UiT.

The external link to the original article in nrk.no with more information is here.

Photo: Nordland Fylkeskommune

Partners of the DeConcrete project were active in participating in a two-day workshop organized by the Concrete Innovation Cluster (CIC) in Bodo by August 2022.

Partners of the DeConcrete project were active in participating in a two-day workshop organized by the Concrete Innovation Clustur (CIC) in Bodo by August 2022. Priya Perumal (UOulu), Abhijit Mistri (UOulu), Iveta Novakova (UiT), Boy Arne (UiT), Cosmin Popescu (SINTEF), Bard Arnsten (SINTEF) from DeConcrete team were part of the event. Several industries were part of the event, to name some were Nordland Betong, Saferock, Jaro AS, etc., These are mostly concrete industries and the workshop mainly disseminated the results from the project, "Circulus" which closely aligns with the objective of DeConcrete. Priya Perumal also got a chance to present about DeConcrete project, mainly about the granulated concrete fines for lightweight aggregate applications. There was also a networking dinner which helped in the interaction between academic and industrial participants to discuss the chances for future co-operations.
The visit also gave chance for the DeConcrete partners to meet in person and discuss the project's future works, organizational changes and reporting targets. Partners also enjoyed visiting the worksite of Nordland Betong, a ready-mix concrete industry at Bodo. The factory produced euro blocs from return concrete, which reduces the amount of dumped fresh concrete. Interestingly, Nordland Betong is trying its best to increase the amount of recycled aggregate in their concrete production and Iveta Novakova helps with their mix design/ innovation actions! Further, the partners continued their visit to another ready-mix concrete plant, BE (Betong & Entreprenør) at Kabelvåg (Lofoten). BE has recently upgraded technologies for batching and mixing operations. Together with, custom-designed precast operations based on the client's needs.
Altogether, the workshop and the visits enhanced the knowledge of the partners in the subjects related to DeConcrete! The best part is about the ferry trip from Bodo to Lofoten with the networking dinner of the DeConcrete partners to have a relaxed discussion and feel of togetherness as a team!!

The event took place in Stockholm between 16th and 19th August 2022, and was organized by the Swedish Concrete Association. UiT was represented by Iveta Nováková and Václav Venkrbec who are part of DeTeA research group.

A large part of the NCR Symposium was dedicated to cement and concrete chemistry and the sustainability of its production. A broad discussion about topics related to concrete manufacturing, handling, recycling and durability took place during the coffee breaks and meals. One of the highlighted topic was the impact of concrete and especially cement production on the environment in the context of CO2 production and its reduction.
At the symposium, the results of the DeConcrete project were presented by Iveta Nováková. The presentation entitled “Evaluation of optimal replacement of natural aggregates by recycled concrete aggregates to achieve sufficient durability” was very well accepted by the audience, and the issue was further discussed in the following coffee breaks. The dissemination of the result from the DeConcrete project had a positive response as it is a very actual topic in the building industry.
Between the lectures, numerous discussions took place with representatives from the concrete industry, academia and other research institutions, such as Terje Kanstad from NTNU (Norway), Wolfgang Kunther from DTU (Denmark), Børge Johannes Wigum from HeidelbergCement Northern Europe (Iceland) or Helena Westerlind from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden). The entire symposium had a very pleasant atmosphere and a friendly course with valuable constructive discussions.

Despite that the DeConcrete project has undergone restructuring in recent months, project representatives from Oulu university Priya Perumal and Iveta Novakova from UiT keep the good research and social spirit by attending Gordon Research Conference (GRC) in Italy.

The GRC conference is focused on cutting-edge research as the title "Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure Development - Cement Based Materials: Reaching Net Zero" indicates. The conference is unique by a selection of speakers and robust discussion after every 20 min presentation. Speakers are predominantly well-known researchers from prestige institutes such as ITH Zurich, Switzerland, Politecnico di Milano, Italy, Vito from Belgium, Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT, United States or industrial representatives from R&D departments such as Christophe Levy from Holcim Innovation Center, France or David Dreisinger from Negative Emissions Materials, United States.

Poster sessions were kept alongside the lectures, and 1.5 hours per day were dedicated to presentations and discussions about various research topics focused mainly on cement production, CO2 sequestration and supplementary cementitious materials. Priya and Iveta also contributed by poster entitled "Impact of reclaimed fines from concrete handling on fresh properties of cementitious materials" which was mainly of interest to industrial participants. DeConcrete works forward solutions implementable in the local industries which have to deal with arctic conditions, and therefore the approaches are rather conservative than radical as in continental climate countries.
Iveta Novakova attended also the Gordon Research Seminar with the title “Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure Development - Cutting Edge Solutions for Sustainable Development of Cement and Concrete”, a connected event dedicated to PhD students, postdocs and young researchers. During the event, Iveta gave a lecture entitled "Sustainable Concrete Solutions: Switch from Local Knowledge in Global Industry to Global Knowledge in Local Industry" and also presented an earlier mentioned poster entitled "Impact of reclaimed fines from concrete handling on fresh properties of cementitious materials". Discussions and dynamics during GRS were very pleasant as all participants were at the beginning of their careers and dispone by high optimism and motivation. 

Thanks to an emphasis on discussion and establishment of new collaboration during the GRC and GRS, DeConcrete representatives established a new collaboration with renowned research institutes/researchers - Ravindra Gettu from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India; Jan Skocek from Heidelberg Cement AG in the field of CO2 sequestration and utilisation in cement based materials sector. The ACT4 Call - Accelerating CCUS Technologies with a deadline is September will be a target for a newly established consortium that will follow up on discussion and proposal preparation during online meetings.

The attendance of the GRC and GRS events was very successful on a professional level but also personal as Iveta and Priya share the same interest in the research field and also in private life. Such a relationship is key to the success of young female researchers from the arctic region where implementation of innovations developed during laboratory testing in the industry is a true challenge due to the harsh climate.

Associate professor Eirik Gjerløw recently completed a 12-day Erasmus training stay in Iceland.

Eiric was hosted by the Institute of Earth Sciences (IES) and professor Ármann Höskuldsson at the University of Iceland. The aim of the stay was for Eirik to learn more about drone technologies used for mapping and measuring topography and making digital elevation models. The first week was spent at a field station by Mývat in northern Iceland, where Eirik accompanied a team of scientists from the IES conducting fieldwork and measurements on old lava flows.

Eirik got to try piloting a DJI Matrise drone equipped with a LIDAR camera to map volcanic areas and experience nice Icelandic summer weather! During the second week, Eirik was in Reykjavik at the IES to learn how to process the data collected from the drone fieldwork. The first two days of the week were used for this purpose, however during the third day a volcanic eruption started, and the processing had to be postponed for more drone fieldwork. This time at an erupting volcano!

GEOSUMAT in Cracow University of Technology

https://geosumat.pl/

Progress within the CircBoost project

In a noteworthy development, the DeTeA research group has emerged as a pivotal player in Pilot Project No. 4, operating within WP3 as part of the ambitious CircBoost project. The year 2024 has witnessed substantial strides in Pilot Project 4, underscoring the collective efforts of partners and the dynamic collaboration between the municipality of Sortland, Museum Nord, and UiT researchers.

The synergy among these entities has proven exceptionally fruitful, garnering support from local authorities in Sortland. This has paved the way for the green light on the demolition site and the commencement of preparatory works. The recent visit by the UiT research team to Sortland in January 2024 marked a crucial phase, as they finalized the environmental mapping of the structure slated for demolition.

Amidst these developments, all Norwegian partners within the CircBoost project convened in Sortland, collectively exploring potential sites for the construction of the much-anticipated Gaia Vesterålen Museum. The tour, encompassing various city sites under consideration, provided a firsthand look at the prospects.

Post-tour, a strategic meeting among partners ensued, delving into the future steps of the Pilot Project. The confluence of minds and collaborative spirit bodes well for the seamless execution of CircBoost's overarching goals.

André joinend the UiT concrete lab team for 2,5 months and got a chance to work on and be funded from the DeConcrete project.

I stayed in Narvik for 2,5 months, meanwhile I worked as a scientific assistant at UiT.

My work experience at UiT was full of learning and adventures, ranging from writing reports to visiting a brand new town under construction in Sweden, a city called Kiruna. At the university I got the opportunity to collect and process data, make reports, mix, cast and test concrete.
Alongside Matyáš, another scientific assistant staying for the summer, I went on some hikes and met new people also working at the university. Furthermore, I also travelled to some places around Narvik, such as Lofoten, a magical archipelago surrounded by mountains.
Approaching the end of the experience, I could also meet more people since the students were returning from holidays. The engagement events made by the university are great because they help the students socialize with each other and, at the same time, get to know the university itself.

In a nutshell, the whole experience provided me with an extensive amount of new knowledge and abilities, not only technical wise but with personal skills as well which I will definitely be able to use throughout all my life.

Boy-Arne Buyle from UiT participated in Nord-PIANC 2022 technical meeting in Akureyri, Iceland.

The event took place between 30th of August and 1st of September 2022. Pianc Iceland hosted a technical meeting and conference in Hof Conference Hall Akureyri. Representatives from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Estonia participated. In total, 19 presentations were presented and we had very interesting discussions.

Link to agenda of the Nord-PIANC 2022 event

Matyáš is a student from Czechia and has spent his two months at UiT Narvik working on project websites and in the laboratory under the supervision of Iveta Nováková.

Hi,
I am Matyáš Haruda and I was a trainee at UiT from the beginning of june until the end of july.
I come from Czechia where I am studying civil engineering at BUT (Brno University of Technology). As my semester in the Czech Republic was ending, I was searching for options on what to do for my summer holiday. As I wanted to spend the time being productive and try to travel at the same time, a traineeship seemed as the only right choice.
Luckily for me, I got Iveta Nováková’s contact from her previous Erasmus student and she was looking for an intern for the summer, so right after my semester has ended I headed out on a journey to Narvik.
During my stay I lived in a dormitory, cooked for myself, did a lot of running, other activities in the mountains, and of course tried to do my best with the tasks I was given by Iveta.
My main objective was to create a good base for project websites on top of which she and her colleagues could build their news articles, and other content. Other than the websites I got to do some laboratory work under the supervision of Iveta, which was very useful since the time spent in laboratories at my university is limited.
As a whole I value this experience very positively. I had the opportunity to look at how working in the academic field can look like, I read and learned a lot of valuable information about different topics in concrete and building materials development, met new interesting people, got to see how beautiful Norway is and so much more!
At the end I would just like to say thank you to Iveta and the whole department of building, energy and material technology for the opportunity and the experience.
It was a pleasure working with you all.