Talking Infrastructure

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the idea that we need to make our towns and cities more resilient was growing. From aging and deficient infrastructure… to the challenges of climate change and population growth, it’s widely acknowledged that we are under-prepared to meet the increasingly unpredictable challenges of today. James Banks is joined by Angela Ryan, Water Supply and Resources Strategy Specialist at Irish Water, Caitlin MacLean, Senior Director of Innovative Finance at the Milken Institute and Stephen Engblom, AECOM’s Global Cities Director.

Further Reading https://infrastructure.aecom.com/2020/paying-it-forward-why-resilience-is-a-rising-priority

PFAS; How to tackle forever chemicals

Found in everything from pizza boxes to firefighting foam. PFAS are resistant to heat, water and oil, and with an ability to move through the environment they can contaminate soil and water supplies. As a result it’s estimated that PFAS are now present in 99% of American’s blood. With links to issues including cancer and kidney disease the worldwide historic use of these forever chemicals has resulted in a public health crisis. James Banks is joined by Director of AECOM’s International PFAS programme Rachael Casson, AECOM PFAS response leader for Australia and New Zealand Gavin Scherer, AECOM’s PFAS lead for America, Rosa Gwinn and Rick Parkman, AECOM’s PFAS lead for Europe the Middle East and Africa.

Further reading:

https://infrastructure.aecom.com/2020/from-pfas-to-de-fluoro-how-we-invented-a-process-to-break-down-the-forever-chemical

James Banks talks to Chris White, Principle Environmental Economist at AECOM, Professor Ian Convery from the University of Cumbria and Adam Eagle, Chief Executive of The Lifescape Project. They discuss the concept of Natural Capital and the progress that’s been made a year since launching AECOM’s Natural Capital Laboratory.

AECOM’s Natural Capital Laboratory is a joint-venture with conservation charity The Lifescape Project, which is located on a 100-acre site near Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Working with The Lifescape Project, the landowners and their local advisors, the site’s natural environment is being restored, bringing back native forest, reintroducing wildlife and engaging local communities with the aim of identifying and demonstrating the environmental and social benefits of rewilding. This tool is part of AECOM’s work to design and test experimental new techniques to quantify, measure and communicate environmental and social change, applying cutting-edge technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality and satellites.

To discuss how investment in our infrastructure can help our economy recover following the Coronavirus pandemic. James Banks talks to Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2, Dean Sporn, Director of the Regional Investment Programme (South) for Highways England, Nick King, Group Director, Network Services at Network Rail and AECOM’s Managing Director of Civil Infrastructure Mark Southwell.

Further reading: The Future is now: Infrastructure’s role in economic recovery

https://infrastructure.aecom.com/2020/the-future-is-now-infrastructures-role-in-economic-recovery

With ambitions to be a carbon neutral city region by 2038, Greater Manchester wants to be known for its flourishing environment as well as its economic success.

James Banks is joined by Greater Manchester’s first Cycling and Walking Commissioner and Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman, Director of Environment for Manchester based property group Bruntwood, Bev Taylor and AECOM’s Rachel O’Donnell, Business Unit Director of Environmental Liability Solutions in the UK and Ireland.

They discuss how we can deliver a more liveable city, that gives back to its people and nature? And what can we take from Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown to drive the agenda on greening our infrastructure and changing our behaviours to support a lower carbon economy and way of working?

Could autonomous vehicles make our roads safer, bring down the cost of public transport and make our transport systems more efficient? James Banks talks to Dr Graham Parkhurst, Professor of Sustainable Mobility and Director of the Centre for Transport & Society, UWE Bristol, Burges Salmon Senior Associate, Lucy Pegler and AECOM, Technical Director, George Lunt. They discuss the CAPRI Autonomous Vehicle project plus wider issues including policy, regulation and how our infrastructure needs to change to unlock the opportunities autonomous vehicles will bring.

Find out more about the AECOM led CAPRI Project https://caprimobility.com/aecom

‘New transport tech to be tested in biggest shake-up of laws in a generation’

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-transport-tech-to-be-tested-in-biggest-shake-up-of-laws-in-a-generation

In the run up to International Women’s Day 2020, Ruth Zorko discusses this year’s theme #EachForEqual with AECOM’s UK&I Chief Executive David Barwell, EMEA Head of Transportation Consulting Kate Morris, UK&I Technical Head of Process Engineering for Water Pascal Harper, and Civil Engineering Apprentice Turrell Harper. They consider how attitudes to equality have changed, what more the industry needs to do, and how we can create a truly inclusive workplace.

Recorded in the AECOM/RSHP modular show apartment in Lewisham, South London. James Banks talks to Challenge Director at Innovate UK, Sam Stacey, Associate Partner at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Andrew Partridge and AECOM’s Chief Growth Officer, Pete Flint. They discuss the history of offsite modular construction, the benefits of adopting such an approach and what does the future hold.

INNO AECOM and RSHP’s modular housing solution will be delivering its first project in mid-2020. Learn more about the solution http://inno-dfm.com

Thought Leadership ‘Modular housing – balancing cost and value’ https://www.aecom.com/without-limits/publication/modular-housing-balancing-cost-value/

This episode of Talking Infrastructure looks at how to digitally transform a project. What are the drivers for Digital Transformation, what are the issues and how do we make the most of the tools available? James Banks talks to Alastair Mellon and Dale Sinclair.

Episode one of the second series of Talking Infrastructure focuses on the Circular Economy. Specifically embedding the Circular Economy principles into infrastructure design and operation, something that could not only reduce the environmental impact of our Infrastructure but could also reduce costs. James Banks talks to Mark Edwards, Environmental Assessment Manager at Heathrow Airport and AECOM’s UK&I Head of Sustainable Development, Robert Spencer.

Major Infrastructure – Resources Optimisation Group (MI-ROG)https://www.aecom.com/projects/circular-economy-action-major-infrastructure-resources-optimisation-group-mi-rog/