Alalea has developed a next-generation climate change resistant permeable pavement (Kiacrete) to mitigate urban flooding, solve long-standing challenges with conventional systems and enhance infrastructure resilience.  Kiacrete will help to attain net-zero emissions by 2050 through material savings, longer service-life, recycled material usage, water reuse and decreased urban heat island effect.  Kiacrete has been successfully deployed in London for two years.

The Hawley Award will be used to supervise further sites in India, verifying Kiacrete under extreme monsoon and drought conditions.

Alalea Kia is a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, and founder of Permia, which aims to increase permeable infrastructure adoption.

Sheriff Elect Andrew Marsden, Dr Alalea Kia and Master Engineer Audrey Canning
Sheriff Elect Andrew Marsden, Dr Alalea Kia and Master Engineer Audrey Canning. Photo courtesy of Mark Witter Photography.

Alalea received her award of a Medal and £5000 from Sheriff-Elect Andrew Marsden and Master Engineer, Audrey Canning at the Annual Awards Dinner of the Worshipful Company of Engineers held at The Guildhall, London on 14 July 2022. Alalea said:

I am honoured to receive the prestigious Hawley Award for engineering innovation.” 

The Hawley Award, established in 2006, is awarded for the most outstanding Engineering Innovation that delivers demonstrable benefit to the environment, and will help to achieve Net Zero Carbon by at least 2050.  The aim is to encourage and support UK resident early career stage graduate engineers or scientists, typically within 10 years of starting their careers and who have personally produced an engineering innovation that arises from work undertaken after graduation from a UK university.  The innovation must have demonstrated at least a prototype or proof of concept and there is an expectation that the technology will be developed commercially.

Engineering Council – Press Release

The Worshipful Company of Engineers Charitable Trust (the Engineers Trust) acknowledges excellence in engineering, supports engineering education and research, gives grants and assists in the relief of poverty.