Graduates from Fulton Hogan and Auckland Transport have completed the first graduate collaboration programme.  

Ten graduates from across a range of roles and business units – not just engineers – made up two teams that brought out-of-the-box thinking to help solve some of the biggest challenges facing construction and infrastructure industry in Aotearoa.  

Complex issues like reducing our carbon footprint and increasing asset maintenance efficiency as part of the Auckland Transport road maintenance contract were tackled head-on.  

The teams pitched their innovative solutions to a panel of executives and senior leaders from each organisation in late August 2024. 

New Zealand CEO, Ben Hayward, congratulated both teams on the fantastic ideas presented to the panel and commended their bravery in picking big issues to tackle.  

“This programme demonstrates the unconstrained ideas and innovative solutions that the next generation of engineers, managers and other professionals can deliver to help solve some of the crunchy issues we’re facing,” says Ben.   

The novel idea to bring both organisations’ graduate programmes together to collaborate was devised at Fulton Hogan’s 2023 Innovation Road show event for clients in Tamaki-Mākaurau.  

The initial idea to weave the similar graduate programmes together led to a meet-and-greet event in November 2023 for both graduate groups to network with each other, hear from senior leaders and learn about the collaborative project programme.  

After working together for 12-weeks including multiple team meetings, site visits, analysis and trials, the teams presented their final ideas and solutions.  

The aptly named Green Team proposed a new recycling solution for a byproduct of the asphalt recycling process, RAP20, the only product that currently can’t be reused within the Auckland Transport network.   

Initial trials using RAP20 as a substitute for footpath base material, in sandbags and as drainage chip were completed successfully by the Green Team.  

Significant carbon reductions are expected when the RAP20 recycling process is operational and will enable the Reliable Way yard to recycle all old roading materials.  

The Orange Team took up the task of improving asset management decision making with the help of data integration and artificial intelligence.  

Proposed initiatives would see whole of life cost savings for major network renewals and ensure the right projects are funded while maintaining quality and safety. 

Case studies were presented to demonstrate the potential efficiencies of new technology and data-led decision-making. 

“These projects and solutions are solving on-the-ground issues and the teams have demonstrated the impact they could have for both our organisations and the communities we serve,” says Ben.