Future Cities 2050: transforming how we live, work and travel

The world is changing as we move towards a net zero emission society. This movement, coupled with evolving technologies and the steadfast popularity of hybrid working patterns post-pandemic, is transforming how we live and what we expect from our towns and cities.

To transform our urban environments into cleaner, healthier and more efficient places, upgrading our infrastructure is vital, and civil engineering will play a key role in enabling this transition.

In this month's newsletter, Asa Whitfield CEng FICE FCIArb, Managing Director of Whitfield Consulting Services (WCS) explores the infrastructure requirements for the towns and cities of tomorrow, and the role WCS will play in helping to shape them.

The move to a society powered by renewable energy

Achieving net zero emissions, where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted is balanced by the amount removed from the atmosphere, is a critical goal in the fight against climate change. To meet these requirements, urban areas must undergo significant transformations, particularly in the realm of renewable energy infrastructure.

Changes are underway already to modernise and decarbonise our infrastructure. This includes National Grid's Great Grid Upgrade – the largest overhaul of the UK's electricity grid in generations, comprising 17 major infrastructure projects. This scheme represents a ￡4.5 billion investment in network construction by 2030, a monumental effort to modernise and enhance the UK’s energy infrastructure.

At WCS, we provide expert civil engineering services for projects involving renewable energy and substation design – ensuring suitable power provision for new or expanding developments – as well as rail electrification projects and civil engineering designs for electric vehicle charging points to support more efficient and sustainable travel.

Read this article to learn more about how civil engineers are making Net Zero possible in the power and energy sector. This includes vital work to establish stable, reliable renewable energy supplies, establish new substations and transmission networks, and capture and use waste heat.

Access to zero-emission transport for all

Access to zero-emission transport for all citizens is an essential pathway to achieving a sustainable and equitable future.

Projects are underway to encourage further use of rail transport. This includes the All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR), a strategy to enhance and expand the rail network across the entire island of Ireland. The plans set out by the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland include recommendations to deliver a significantly expanded rail network across both countries that is fully electrified and decarbonised by 2050.?

If the recommendations of the review were delivered, 700,000 more people would live within 5km of a railway station; railway journey times between the island’s major cities would be reduced significantly, by 50% in some cases.

In Great Britain, Network Rail has begun Control Period 7 (CP7), a ￡44bn investment over the next five years in the operations, maintenance and renewal of the railway, with electrification and sustainability both key aims.

With our experience in rail civil engineering, we are well aware of the unique challenges that can accompany rail projects, and how these can be overcome through intelligent design and planning.

Read our recent article to learn more about why specialist SMEs are ideally placed to deliver CP7 success.

15-minute cities

Urban planning approaches, such as the concept of 15-minute cities and the continuation of Garden Cities, Towns, and Villages, aim to create vibrant communities where residents can access essential services by walking or cycling, connected by sustainable transport routes.

In a detailed case study, we discussed our involvement in the Welborne Garden Village project, an all-in-one community featuring shops, schools, factories and other places of work, as well as thousands of homes, and a science and technology park.

We provided the civil engineering services for the new 132kV substation that will bring power to the village.

As we move towards a net zero emission society, the transformation of our towns and cities is inevitable and necessary. The journey to a net zero emission society is complex and challenging, but with the right infrastructure and innovative civil engineering solutions, we can create urban environments that meet the demands of a changing world while protecting our planet.

This article appeared first on the WCS website.

To find out more about our work, please see our portfolio page or contact us at 020 3581 7847, [email protected], or via our contact page.