As the Covid-19 situation escalated in the past few months, there was an urgent need to house recovering patients and relieve the demand for hospital beds for more acute cases – beyond the newly created community care facilities such as those at D’ Resort, Singapore Expo and Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC).
According to The Straits Times, a newly built community recovery facility erected at the outdoor aircraft exhibition area of CEC would house a further 1,700 recovering cases. The 40,000 sqm temporary facility was built in two weeks and received its first batch of patients on 4 June.
The report noted that the new Phase 2 recovery facility currently takes in patients from CEC (Phase 1) who remain well after Day 14 of illness and do not require medical care, thus making CEC, the home of the Singapore Airshow, Singapore’s first integrated community care and recovery facility.
Surbana Jurong assisted the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Taskforce by providing multidisciplinary consultancy services spanning architectural, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing), local infrastructure (including sewer treatment, holding tanks and plant) and fire safety. The scope of professional services provided were community recovery design and site layout planning, feasibility study, liaison with government authorities and agencies to facilitate submissions and approvals. Surbana Jurong also assisted in the review of the solar panel array and tent planning, supply and installation by specialist contractors.
The CEC is located at an isolated site away from other higher structures within the vicinity. Due to the site location, the tentages are susceptible to lightning strikes and it is a challenge to provide an effective lightning protection system which can safeguard human safety, tentages and sensitive equipment. During the execution of the plan, the challenges we found were a shortage of lightning materials and accessories, as well as work site constraints due to the tarmac flooring. To overcome these challenges, we had to create an innovative design to ensure regulatory compliance and it has been implemented on site.
Surbana Jurong also provided the concept design to the contractor, coordinating between the different tentages suppliers, conduct site inspection to ensure works are carried out as per design intention. All the respective approval applications were consolidated and submitted to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and approvals were obtained within the project timeline. We also ensured that the contractors complied with prevailing regulations of government agencies such as the BCA, PUB the national water agency, the National Environment Agency, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and more. (Read more)
In addition, our colleagues in other business units and member companies have also stepped up to the challenge of housing Covid-19 patients to relieve the demand on hospital beds.
SMM Pte Ltd, the facilities management arm of Surbana Jurong, has been appointed to handle fit-out works of vacant state properties to house decanted workers and those that require isolation but not immediate medical attention.
Security for various state quarantine and similar facilities was also stepped up. Apart from patrol and access control duties, AETOS officers have been donning personal protective equipment (PPE) to perform temperature checks, ensure that social distancing measures are adhered to, and escort workers who have tested positive for Covid-19.
SJ Defence, the defence arm of the Surbana Jurong Group, has also supported the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) in the set-up and management of five Community Recovery Facilities (CRF) across four disused Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Camps in Singapore.
In a novel move, the Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX) of Singapore has partnered with Airobotics, through its local partner, SJ Defence, to trial the use of a self-operating surveillance drone system, according to The Straits Times.
The drone system can track anomalies such as unlawful gatherings and unusual activities.
The drone system aimed to complement the SPF’s ground operations during the circuit breaker period. It can track anomalies such as unlawful gatherings and unusual activities, and provides real-time aerial data to enhance SPF’s efficiency and productivity.
SJ Defence’s role as Airobotics’ local partner is instrumental in providing local operational, safety, logistical and administrative support, and being the key client interface. SJ Defence has also engaged SJ’s certified drone operators from the group’s Digital Management Office (DMO) for their operational support in the trial.
