Over the past year, six Working Groups comprised of industry leaders, academics and experts met regularly to develop and analyse innovative ideas, their impact, the barriers to implementing solutions and the way forward to overcoming obstacles and implementing modern approaches in the construction and engineering industry.
The outcome of this work is presented here in the form of insight articles proposing innovative solutions on how to address the construction sector’s key challenges. Each Working Group Lead is introducing the topic in the following fundamental challenge areas:
1. Project Delivery – Creating certainty of timely delivery and to budget, and generally improving the productivity of the construction sector
2. Lifecycle Performance – Reducing the life cycle costs of assets and designing for re-use
3. Sustainability – Achieving carbon-neutral assets and reducing waste in the course of construction
4. Affordability – Creating high-quality, affordable infrastructure and housing
5. Disaster Resilience – Making infrastructure and buildings resilient to climate change and natural disasters
6. Flexibility, Liveability and Well-being – Creating infrastructure and buildings that improve the well-being of end-users
The challenge The ageing of the world population is one of the most pressing issues of our time. The combination of increasing longevity and declining fertility has resulted in a growing number of older people as a proportion of the total population in developed countries. The number of people over the age of 60 is […]
The challenge The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that in 2012, some 7 million people died – one in eight of total global deaths – as a result of indoor and outdoor air pollution.43 The recent finding more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health […]
The challenge How can we build a better, healthier urban environment that is also sustainable on a global scale? Over the course of this century, the world’s urban population will double. This will be the largest urbanization in human history and it is unlikely to ever be repeated. If we address this challenge by building […]
The challenge The age of the internet of cars is upon us and its impact will be felt everywhere. The autonomous car is an early example where we simply replace the driver with an AI. The case for a more fundamental transport revolution is now open – instead of cars competing with one other, how […]
The challenge Develop ways of using digital technologies to help establish direct communication between people and their urban and architectural surroundings to make the use of buildings and city environments more efficient and productive. – The specific challenge is to explore and understand recent advances in digital technologies that can benefit better use of available […]
The challenge We live in a world in which rapid urbanization is placing strain on our cities. Our cities are growing at a rapid pace, faster than they can sustainably accommodate. In 1800, only 2% of the world’s population lived in cities. Now 50%, or 3.5 billion people, live in cities. By 2050, estimates suggest […]
A hyperloop system has the potential to change the way we live and will have a great impact on the planning and development of cities. Hyperloop is a new form of transportation that combines the cargo-carrying capacity of shipping with the speed of flight, the energy efficiency of rail and the individual freedom of the […]
The challenge Cities competing for talents and investment Urbanization is well on its way, and well-educated people flock to cities where they find top pay, exciting jobs and like-minded peers. Established cities face more competition in drawing talent and investment from outside. Today, many features of cities have become exchangeable, cities are beginning to look […]
The challenge To introduce robust disaster resilient infrastructure and support systems in existing urban centres in a manner that is cost effective manner for local governments After sustaining millions of dollars in damage from the aftermath of extreme weather events across North America, several governments have sought to introduce infrastructure systems that protect existing urban […]