NEW DIMENSIONS FROM ARUP | NO.15

Energising your approach Driving innovation and the development of your business EDITORIAL AND CONTENTS

Energising News 04 The latest stories from the your approach built environment and beyond Streets ahead 06 The C40’s Mark Watts explains how cities are leading the way on climate change Why wood is good 09 Timber can enable better, faster and cheaper construction for commercial and residential buildings Designing to cut crime It can be said that in life the only constant is 12 Clever design can make the built change. Whether technological, legislative, environment a safer place political or economic, it’s the evolution of ideas, the process of innovation and the development of new approaches that drive successful Thinking small organisations. Companies need to be agile to 14 Small modular reactors provide a flexible and ensure that they not only meet, but exceed, the cost effective alternative to large nuclear plants needs of their clients in ever changing markets. This issue of A2 looks at how organisations and industries are responding to change, whether by refining the solutions they offer, or by developing Distressed cities new propositions. We discover how advances 16 Planting the seeds of success in technology are disrupting the marketplace, in troubled urban areas enabling the use of real-time energy data to unlock value for a business or individual. We look at how the challenges of investing in energy Digital disruption infrastructure balance against the global need to 18 New technology is forcing businesses to change provide energy security; and we uncover how the way they work or risk being left behind the South African government is encouraging investment in renewable energy through policy and legislation. We also take a look at a world in which Mutual benefit autonomous vehicles are common place through 20 Partnerships between businesses and the eyes of four experts involved in developing charities can be good for everyone the concept and technology. We reveal how a new approach to designing public spaces can help alleviate crime; and we discuss how The driverless future troubled urban areas can be turned into thriving, 23 Our panel of experts give their views on attractive communities. how driverless vehicles will transform travel I hope you enjoy reading this edition of A2 and find the content valuable. If you have any thoughts, questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. Sparking investment 26 We look at the challenges of investing in the energy Alan Belfield infrastructure that powers the world’s economies UKMEA Chairman Case study: Renewables 29 in South Africa How government policy is driving investment in renewables

2 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 NEWS

1

Arup wins Infrastructure © Studio No 1 Technical Adviser of the Year award Arup has taken home the Infrastructure infrastructure and/or project finance Technical Adviser of the Year award transactions and recognises Arup’s at the 2014 Infrastructure Journal (IJ) capability as a technical advisor in Awards. The prestigious ceremony was the transport, water, waste and social held at the Natural History Museum, infrastructure sectors. The judges London, and was attended by over 500 commented: “Arup had a fantastic year leading names in the global infrastructure in 2013, advising on 10 transport and investment industry. several major social infrastructure projects The award is given to technical advisors which reached financial close across the working on the year’s most outstanding Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.” 2 New Arup

© photolibrary.heathrow.com © photolibrary.heathrow.com Chairman announced Gregory Hodkinson became Global Chairman of the Arup Group on 1 April 2014. The new Chairman of the global business and technical consultancy group will work alongside two Deputy Chairmen – David Whittleton and Tristram Carfrae – who started their new posts on the same date. Arup is owned in Trust for the benefit of Getting ready for its 11,000-plus staff and the announcement was made by the Chairman of the Arup Trustees, Terry Hill. He went on to say: “This is a very strong group to take Arup Heathrow Terminal 2 forward beyond 2014. The Trustees are Arup’s operational readiness team has been working with Heathrow Airport to assist T2’s convinced that the qualities Gregory brings transition from a construction project to a fully functioning airport terminal. to the role will combine well with the A complex programme has been underway to train 24,000 staff, run 180 proving trials, strategic skills and experience of the two and get 14,000 volunteers to test the building. This airport trial and training programme Deputy Chairmen to create a truly effective is Arup’s biggest to date and adds to the firm’s steadily expanding portfolio of airport leadership team.” operational readiness work around the world. Gregory Hodkinson added: “It is a great “Operational readiness is increasingly moving up our clients’ agendas as they look to not honour to be asked to become Chairman only complete their building projects on time and to budget but also ensure their buildings of this wonderful firm that I have been are operable from day one,” says Jane Goslett, Programme Management Lead. “It’s not part of for decades. I’m sure there will just about ensuring the facilities and processes work but also ensuring people are ready to be many interesting challenges along operate in their new workplace.” the way, but with the great people we T2 opens its doors on 4 June, with the first United Airlines flight landing at 05.55. have throughout the firm, I have every confidence that Arup will continue to 1 Gregory Hodkinson flourish and I look forward to getting 2 Entrance at Heathrow Terminal 2 started in April.”

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 3 NEWS

3 Quasar Istanbul 4 breaks records © Robert Taylor Quasar Istanbul, the first ultra luxury real estate project in the world, has broken records with 11 awards so far. The awards include international recognition, three European awards and five Turkish Championships, as well as two special recognition awards at the European Real Estate Awards Ceremony. Recently, Quasar Istanbul won the category of “Best International Apartment” at the International Property Awards in London. The project was also the winner of the grand prize in the field of “Best Commercial Multi-Use Dervilla Mitchell Project” at the Cityscape Exhibition in Dubai, one of the world’s largest real appointed to the estate exhibitions. The project consists of two 40 storey Council for Science towers erected on a podium block located and Technology on the grounds of an old liquor factory. The building encompasses 257 high class UK Prime Minister David places of residence, 209 hotel guestrooms Cameron has appointed five and more than 19,000m2 of office space. new members to the Council Arup is providing project management for Science and Technology and executive architectural services for (CST) including Arup’s this multi award winning real estate project. Dervilla Mitchell. The Council’s remit is to advise on strategic science and technology policy issues that Crossrail reaches halfway point cut across the responsibilities of individual government Europe’s largest infrastructure project is now 1992 and is involved in seven of the ten new departments. Dervilla Mitchell, halfway through its construction programme. major stations. Duncan Wilkinson, Arup’s said: “I’m hugely honoured London’s population is set to grow from 8.4 Framework Director for the Crossrail project, to be sitting on the Council million today to around 10 million by 2030. said: “We’re delighted to celebrate this huge and delighted that I’ll be able Crossrail will add 10% capacity to London’s rail milestone with Crossrail Ltd, collaborators and to contribute my expertise in network. It will serve 38 stations, connecting colleagues. Our involvement in the Crossrail advising on areas of science, Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west with project means we are helping to create an integral technology and engineering” Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east via new piece of London’s infrastructure – one that The period of the appointment central London. will bear testament to the invention and technical is from 24 March 2014 until 31 Arup has been working on the project since skill of today’s engineers and designers.” December 2016. Connect Out awarded prestigious Stonewall accolade Arup’s Connect Out group - the firm’s for all LGBT staff and Arup’s ongoing respects, welcomes and supports LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender efforts to create an inclusive workplace. professionals, as well as empowering them (LGBT) network – has been presented with Arup is the first engineering firm to to reach their full potential. We are very a Star Performer Network Group award by receive this accolade. proud of how our Connect Out network has Stonewall for 2014. Arup joined Stonewall’s Diversity been instrumental The award is based on information Champions Programme in 2012 to cement in positioning provided in the Stonewall Workplace its commitment to promoting diversity the firm as an Equality Index submission and recognises in the workplace. Alan Belfield, Chair, employer of choice the invaluable contribution Connect Out UKMEA, said: “Arup is firmly committed for the LGBT plays in creating a positive environment to providing a work environment that community.” 5

4 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 NEWS

3 Quasar Istanbul 6 © MASP 4 Dervilla Mitchell 5 Stonewell 6 Milton Keynes electric bus

Report reveals $400 billion smart cities World’s most demanding electric bus opportunity globally route launched in Milton Keynes Through a joint venture, Mitsui-Arup continuous service for a whole 17 hours. A report recently published values the MBK Arup Sustainable Projects (MASP) Professor John Miles of Cambridge smart cities industry at more than $400 officially launched an all electric bus University, an Arup consultant and billion globally by 2020, with the UK route that will test whether electric buses director of the Milton Keynes electric expected to gain a 10% share ($40 billion). can perform on a par with their diesel bus programme, had this to say: “Electric Arup produced the ‘Global Market counterparts in a real world operational buses’ physical and economic potential Opportunities and UK Capabilities environment. has historically been side lined because no for Future Smart Cities’ report for the The buses, which will run for five years, one could see around the range problem Department for Business, Innovation and will help to remove approximately five associated with the batteries. Wireless Skills (BIS) and it highlights how this tonnes of particulates and noxious tailpipe charging can bring electric buses in from technology could transform lives and emissions from the city’s streets each the cold, and potentially put them neck- provide a huge economic boost. year whilst also alleviating approximately and-neck with their diesel counterparts.

A smart city uses intelligent technology 270 tonnes of CO2 per year from the If we can demonstrate true parity with to enhance our quality of life in urban atmosphere. diesel buses during this trial, we’ll environments. Cities can use the data in a The new buses will be able to recharge have reached a tipping point for low variety of ways: to save money, minimise their batteries wirelessly during their carbon transport – proving it can be cost waste, measure domestic water usage and working day. This means they can run a effective as well as green.” manage transport routes. Allowing the public access to real-time information enables people to make more informed choices, such as planning a Tottenham regeneration plans announced journey by checking for available room on trains and buses or even identifying The Tottenham Physical Development and regeneration. Between present day car parking spaces before leaving the Framework (PDF) has been launched by and 2025, it is anticipated that 5,000 new house. Volker Buscher, Arup’s IT and Haringey Council and Greater London jobs, 10,000 new homes and more than 1 Communications Leader and Smart Cities Authority (GLA). million square feet of new employment and Forum member, said: “By 2050, the human Produced by Arup, the PDF sets out commercial space will be delivered. The population will have reached 9 billion detailed regeneration plans for Tottenham scale of the opportunity is expected to be people, with 75% of the world’s inhabitants and is based on an extensive range of bigger than the Olympic Park. Jerome Frost, living in cities. Smart technologies can help detailed studies, undertaken over the last project director, Arup, said “Tottenham address some of the challenges of rapid 18 months, including retail, work space, is already a successful regeneration story, urbanisation by improving services and asset management and energy strategies. with a £1bn private / public investment managing their efficiency. We already have The plans includes development of the programme. The new PDF strategy sets incredible academics and professionals investment framework across the greater out a realistic but tremendously exciting in the UK so we are well equipped to Tottenham area. strategy for how Tottenham can develop capitalise on this growing market and help The PDF also shows that Tottenham is over the next decade into a truly exceptional create a better environment for us all.” one of London’s key areas for growth place to live and work.”

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 5 INTERVIEW STREETS AHEAD

Streets ahead The C40’s Mark Watts explains how cities are leading the way on climate change

Around the world, cities are rising to the challenges that climate change brings, says Mark Watts, the Executive Director of C40 - a group of 66 affiliated cities committed to tackling climate change.

6 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 STREETS AHEAD INTERVIEW

While national governments cities matter: “They are responsible for global city leadership has come. the lion’s share of global greenhouse gas The C40’s success stems from an can be stymied by international emissions and will be most affected by approach based on examining what has negotiations or domestic the impacts of climate change, from rising worked (and what hasn’t) in other cities politics, we see mayors sea levels to heat and water stress. Within with similar problems. “Each city’s the C40 network alone, collective climate approach will be a unique combination of pragmatically and nimbly action makes a difference because our universal themes,” says Watts. “So solutions forging ahead on this issue, cities account for 5% of greenhouse gas need to be designed to take account of, for emissions and nearly a fifth of world GDP.” example, specific regulatory environments, taking actions to promote the “Through existing actions, C40 cities cultural norms, or economic conditions.” long term sustainability of have the potential to reduce their annual “One of the most compelling aspects of their communities. greenhouse gas emissions by over a billion the research that Arup has been working tonnes by 2030, compared with business on for us is to combine a measure of the as usual. But this still won’t be nearly powers that mayors hold over key assets “Cities have always been at the forefront enough to prevent catastrophic climate (such as roads and rail systems) and of the issue of climate change – as change unless the rest of the world is also functions (such as land use planning), with carbon emitters and as communities galvanised into action. And we see this now an assessment of opportunities for climate most vulnerable to the impacts of climate happening: cities themselves are driving action. This creates a kind of ‘opportunity change,” Watts explains. “But the mayors innovation and fomenting change across score’ that enables cities to identify of these cities have emerged as genuine the world by demonstrating success, good potential projects that are suited to their world leaders on this issue because of their economics and sharing best practices.” circumstances – along with the city partners ability to grasp the urgency of the problem According to Watts, cities have a key who can offer them advice.” and willingness to focus straight away on advantage because mayors are uniquely The projects cities identify are focusing solutions, rather than waiting for someone capable of devising and implementing on resilience more than ever before, Watts else to take responsibility.” climate change solutions at a local level. So acknowledges: “There is no question that He points to the C40’s flagship research they can – and do – act now. The C40 says cities are focusing increasingly on climate publication, Climate Action in Megacities that by acting locally it is having an impact resilience. In Climate Action in Megacities 2.0, which was developed in partnership globally – something that its executive 2.0, 98% of reporting cities perceive climate with Arup and released at the recent C40 director believes is much more than simply change as a threat to their city. Climate Mayors Summit in Johannesburg: “This a slogan. adaptation ranked the third highest action demonstrates that our member cities “While national governments can be area, with 1,024 reported actions, nearly 50% are now taking more than 8,000 climate stymied by international negotiations of which are being carried out on a citywide actions, nearly doubling the number of or domestic politics, we see mayors scale. But this is not to say that mitigation actions reported in our 2011 baseline pragmatically and nimbly forging ahead has become any less of a priority for cities report. So there is a real trend of expanding on this issue, taking actions to promote – they must continue their commitment to climate action in cities, with mayors acting the long term sustainability of their realising a low carbon economy to enable most where they have strong powers, and communities,” he says. “Cities are therefore them to meet the challenges that climate innovating where they do not.” playing a role as a test bed for new ideas change brings.” How have these mayors succeeded where that, once proven, can be scaled up or other politicians have failed? “Mayors are adopted at regional or national levels.” no different to other politicians in that they So surely local and national governments have to focus on the immediate needs and should be working together more desires of their electorate,” says Watts. “But effectively? “C40 data shows that the INNOVATION IS city leaders have shown a greater ability world’s cities can contribute to aggressive CONTINUING APACE to work out how taking climate action can national targets to reduce emissions,” marry with using resources more efficiently, says Watts. “That means they can support Climate adaptation is not the only sector to protecting critical infrastructure, promoting meaningful national offers towards a demonstrate an increasing focus from member cities. For example, C40 now has thriving economic growth, health and increasing the common agreement at the Paris COP in ‘Finance’ and ‘Green Growth’ sub-networks liveability of your city.” 2015. As we approach 2015, cities and (where a smaller group of member cities work “Finally, a few individual mayors have national governments must work together together on specific areas of action). And been willing to use their city office to to align and implement climate change across the C40 as a whole, 62% of cities offer real world leadership and galvanise policies and measures.” have established their own funds to invest in their peers. Most notable are C40 founder Watts highlights the fact that the new energy efficiency, renewable energy or carbon Ken Livingstone and C40 Board President C40 Chair, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo reduction projects. Mike Bloomberg, who in addition to Paes is strongly committed to making real political capital has also put considerable progress on this front. And he paraphrases philanthropic support behind city climate UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana 62% of cities have efforts and turned the C40 into a significant Figueres’ words at the recent C40 Mayors established their organisation, as well as a great meeting Summit in Johannesburg as “I need you, own funds to invest. space for mayors.” and you need me.” This, he says, was a This is important, says Watts, because watershed moment, showing just how far

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 7 INTERVIEW STREETS AHEAD

GROWING NEED TO ACT Mayors have emerged as genuine It is no accident that C40 cities are taking world leaders on this issue because a global lead in tackling climate change – 98% of reporting cities indicate that of their ability to grasp the urgency climate change presents significant risks of the problem and willingness to to their city. SHARING IS WORKING focus straight away on solutions. Indeed, in one of the bigger shifts in the There is clear evidence that C40’s survey data compared with 2011, climate networking strategy is working to spread adaptation is the third highest ranking and accelerate best practice. action area, with 1,024 reported actions, nearly 50% of which are being carried out For example, one of the most cost on a citywide scale. effective ways to increase urban mobility and reduce emissions from transport is to C40 CITIES ARE HOLDING enable more cycling. In 2011 just six C40 EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE C40 cities are taking a cities reported cycle share programmes. global lead in tackling The 2013 data shows that 36 cities have Participation in the CAM 2.0 survey has risen steeply in climate change. now followed the example of Paris and comparison with the first report in 2011. This year saw 94% of others – a 500% increase. And as a signal C40 cities participating, against 61% in 2010. that further progress is likely, 80% of C40 This demonstrates delivery on one of the key objectives set by cities have now introduced cycle lanes. Mayor Bloomberg when he became Chair of the C40 in 2011: In 2011, 20 cities (just over half of to increase city participation and move towards performance those surveyed) reported that they based membership standards. REPORTED ACTION were introducing LED street lighting (a technology that reduces energy It also reflects an improved process of data collection and HAS DOUBLED analysis by C40 and its partners. consumption by up to 60% compared with The CAM 2.0 survey is a quantitative standard sodium bulbs). In 2013, more study of efforts to reduce GHG emissions than 90% of respondents reported that Participation in the CAM 2.0 survey has risen and improve urban resilience to climate they are taking action to reduce emissions steeply in comparison with the first report in 2011. change. It does this by measuring the from outdoor lighting and 52 cities are number of ‘actions’ each city has taken introducing LEDs. across seven different sectors. The results from CAM 2.0 show that in the two years since C40 last surveyed 80% its members, the number of actions of C40 cities have now THERE IS MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY they have collectively taken has nearly introduced cycle lanes. TO INCREASE ACTION doubled to over:

While the CAM 2.0 survey demonstrates definitively that C40 mayors are clearly leading the charge on taking climate action, it also illustrates the massive continuing opportunity to scale up 8,000 emissions reductions and improve resilience. IDEAS ARE FLOWING FROM The finance and economic development sector has emerged SOUTH TO NORTH, AS WELL as a leading arena for future climate action, with 62% of C40 AS FROM DEVELOPED TO city action currently at the ‘proposed’ or ‘pilot phase’. Likewise, DEVELOPING CITIES member cities intend to expand the scale of effort in over two- thirds of existing adaptation actions. SMART CITIES C40 cities are collaborating in unique Similarly, the scale of remaining issues to confront should not and interesting ways. There is cross- be understated. For example, while the increase in LED lighting There has been a significant focus on continent sharing and sharing between action was noted, the survey also recorded that: the concept of ‘smart’ cities – the use the hemispheres, but some might be of information technology to increase surprised to learn that the data shows the efficiency and effectiveness of urban that developing cities’ best practices are systems – since the inaugural 2011 survey, being adopted by developed cities as 68% and the 2013 report logs an increase in much as the other way around. of existing outdoor luminaires in C40 activity in this area. Interestingly, cities at cities remain high energy sodium bulbs. the extremes of relative levels of wealth – those with either very low or very C40 cities are high GDP per capita – have the largest collaborating in unique pipelines of emerging actions (currently at and interesting ways. the pilot or proposal stage) on:

Information Communication Technology.

8 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 WHY WOOD IS GOOD FEATURE

Why wood is good Timber can enable better, faster and cheaper construction for commercial and residential buildings

It’s fair to say that Arup’s Andrew Lawrence is enthusiastic about constructing buildings from timber. “Wood is sustainable, strong, attractive, and can be surprisingly resistant to fire,” says the structural engineer, who specialises in wooden buildings.

He’s not talking about the traditional sawn lumber used for lightweight low rise timber frame buildings. Rather he’s referring to modern engineered wood products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue- laminated timber (glulam).

All CLT construction at Stadthaus © Will Pryce

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 9 FEATURE WHY WOOD IS GOOD

The composite concrete timber floor construction for the Life Cycle Tower matches the acoustic, fire, thermal and dynamic performance of an reinforced concrete floor but with only half the weight making it ideal for off-site fabrication.

A sustainable, strong and light material Better, faster and cheaper construction Waugh’s experience is similar. He points With urbanisation driving cities to build It’s not just architects and engineers who out that, in the UK, CLT construction is densely and sustainably, Lawrence sees are interested in wood; its advantages are now equivalent in cost to other systems massive timber construction using these catching the eye of developers too. “Why as the price of the Euro is making timber materials as an increasingly appealing are developers interested in building with cheaper. He is optimistic that prices will option for buildings as tall as 10-20 wood?” asks Daryl Patterson of Lend come down if more competition comes into storeys. “For one thing, timber is the only Lease. “Because it can help them to build the wood materials market. completely renewable building material,” better, faster and cheaper.” he explains. “Second, wood has almost zero Patterson sees wood as offering the The challenge of acoustics and fire embodied energy because it’s grown with potential to address issues that he believes Although a maturing market could solar power.” the industry isn’t facing up to: cost of help bring down costs, other challenges “It’s also a cellular material like bone, labour, speed of construction and new remain. Materials such as CLT and glulam so it’s strong and light and, because it’s requirements for energy performance are worlds away from the wood used so easy to machine, it really lends itself to and sustainability. He also believes that in lightweight timber frame buildings. high tolerance prefabrication.” pre-fabricated wooden components could However, they still face issues when it Andrew Waugh of Waugh Thistleton improve the quality of construction. comes to acoustics and fire. Architects, the firm behind the pioneering “When you’re asking someone to Taller buildings have traditionally used nine storey wooden Stadthaus residential pay $2 million for an apartment, it’s the mass of their concrete floors to provide building in London, agrees. “Sustainability understandable that they expect every good acoustic properties. “Concrete is the is a major benefit but wood is also fast, panel to meet precisely and every detail to easiest material to use to give you better accurate and cost effective to build with,” be perfect,” he says. “Unfortunately, the acoustic properties in the floor system,” he says. construction industry hasn’t always been explains Michael Green, the architect “For trades such as carpenters, working good at delivering this level of quality. I behind North America’s tallest wooden on a timber construction site is much easier think materials like CLT offer a way to building – the Wood Innovation Design than working on a concrete or steel frame change this because they are precise and Centre in Prince George, British Columbia. construction site,” he continues. “And easy to work with.” “Once you look at moving to all wood we’re now looking into pre-finished wall Patterson believes this improvement could systems, which are inherently more systems that have insulation, fenestration, even come at a reduced cost. “When we’ve reverberant, the acoustic solutions become and façades already included. This speeds been able to break costs into real baseline more expensive and unproven. That’s why, up construction and does away with the detail, we’ve found applications where for me, the number one challenge with need for scaffolding.” timber is competitive or cheaper,” he says. wooden buildings is acoustics, even more

10 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 WHY WOOD IS GOOD FEATURE

For trades such so than fire. Acoustics can really increase building,” says Lawrence. “I see a situation the cost of solutions.” where wood becomes a larger part of the as carpenters, If the acoustic performance of all- market than currently but remains just one working on a timber wooden buildings is a challenge still to of the options.” be fully solved, then fire is a challenge But Green argues that although there’s construction site is that’s more about perception than reality. not enough timber in the world to create much easier than “The perception of fire risk comes from wooden buildings in the numbers some working on a concrete lightweight timber frame buildings,” people might imagine, the opportunity is says Waugh. “Solid timber is much more still enormous. or steel frame resistant. Recent FDA testing demonstrated “To prevent deforestation, wood must be construction site. that you have to heat timber to 500°C sourced sustainably,” he says. “But at my before you can get the whole material to practice we’ve calculated that the forests of burn through.” North America alone grow enough wood Lawrence agrees. “Just like a log on a to build a new 20-storey building every 13 fire, a large timber beam may char on the minutes. That’s a lot of timber.” surface but will still retain its integrity Waugh illustrates the same point with for 1-2 hours.” He says, “Compare that to some calculations of his own. “Something how a steel beam would behave in a fire. like 1.2 million free newspapers are given Without lots of protection, it would quickly away every day in London,” he estimates. sag and lose its stiffness.” “That’s 1,500 trees. Stadhaus took 300 Currently, building codes around the trees. So there’s potential to make an awful world often dictate that the structure of lot more buildings out of timber.” a building should be non combustible, which completely precludes timber. Other codes require the timber to be protected by plasterboard. Lawrence believes this is too simplistic, arguing that what really matters is that people can escape safely, that the fire brigade isn’t put at risk and that the fire does not spread to other buildings. “We need to start assessing wooden buildings in a proper ‘fire engineering’ way exactly as we do for steel buildings,” Glue-laminated timber (glulam) he says. “In other words, we need to Glulam consists of planks of wood look at how the overall building behaves stacked and glued together to make rather than just looking at the charring of large beam and column elements. individual wooden elements. That’s why Arup is now working with the National Fire Protection Association in the US to see how codes can be updated for wooden buildings.”

The future of wooden buildings If the industry overcomes these challenges, will we see whole forests of tall wooden buildings in our cities? Lawrence and Patterson remain pragmatic about wood’s potential. “A lot of people want to build with CLT for the novelty factor and that’s not a good enough reason,” Cross-laminated timber (CLT) says Patterson. “A pure CLT solution might Produced from boards stacked at be ideal for a block of flats but, when right angles and glued together, CLT you start getting outside of small span, panels are used as large wall and floor panels. Manufactured with precision repetitive residential structures, you need cut outs for doors, windows and to be much more open minded about using Sky’s new 4,000m2 ‘Believe in better’ building uses a building services, they can easily be other components.” glulam frame and CLT floor slabs to achieve a build slotted into place on-site. “I don’t think we’ll use wood for every programme of just 8 weeks for structure and envelope.

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 11 FEATURE DESIGNING TO CUT CRIME

Designing to cut crime Clever design can make the built environment a safer place

Theft, burglary and other offences rewards,” says Chris Tomlinson, a senior Ultimately, changing cost governments billions every consultant in Arup’s resilience, security and year. Yet applying a set of design risk team. “They’re discouraged by spaces behaviour is about good that make them feel obvious. So through design – and good design principles to houses, commercial design, you can use the built environment buildings and public spaces can to reduce opportunities for crime and create is about reconciling reduce the risk of crime by 75%. spaces that are safe and feel safer.” troublesome trade-offs.

This figure comes from the UK Police, Putting theory into action whose flagship initiative, Secured by The first step, says Tomlinson, is to permeability, security and aesthetics, Design© is based on the principles of think like a criminal. “You’ve got to start security and convenience and so on. by thinking how “If you get designers thinking about a space could be security at the early stage of a project, then exploited and turned it becomes possible to achieve designs that against legitimate reconcile these trade-offs. A good design use,” he says. “Then can be both secure and sustainable, for you can consider example. But you can’t just hitch one onto issues such as the other and hope they’ll work.”

© Noah Sheldon / Julian Richards activity support In London, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic – how you can Park in Stratford – the site of the London encourage people 2012 Olympic Games – was designed to use a space for with CPTED and Secured by Design© legitimate means. principles from the start. “Too often This is important security is only considered towards the because a well used end of the project, when it’s too late or too SEE AND BE SEEN: Places that could be vulnerable to crime space helps deter expensive to implement things that would should be overlooked by buildings that are busy at all times, or illegal and nuisance make places safer,” says Nick Goldby, a places that are activity generators. behaviour and makes people feel safe.” crime prevention through environmental The key, says Tomlinson, is thinking design. CPTED, as the discipline is known, about this at the beginning of the design brings together influences from sociology, process. “By designing in CPTED from psychology, environmental criminology and the beginning,” he says, “the client ends architecture to reduce crime and peoples’ up needing fewer cumbersome, expensive fear of crime. add-ons such as security cameras and is less Studies show that the design of the likely to have to retrofit in the future. It’s built environment influences a criminal’s also relatively quick and easy to consider decision whether or not to commit an these issues if it’s done at the right stage of offence. By considering crime prevention the design process.” as part of the design process instead of Professor Paul Ekblom, an expert on as an afterthought, CPTED offers a cost CPTED based at Central Saint Martins, and carbon effective approach to tackling a leading art and design college, agrees. QUALITY DESIGN: Encouraging proper everything from anti-social behaviour to “Ultimately, changing behaviour is about attention to the design quality and burglary and more serious violence. good design – and good design is about attractiveness of public spaces increases “CPTED works because criminals reconciling troublesome trade-offs. Those their safety and use and promotes a greater generally make rational choices about the trade-offs could be between security respect for the environment. risk of being caught versus the anticipated and sustainability, between security and

12 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 DESIGNING TO CUT CRIME FEATURE

an additional £420m to police1. Yet the green building rating systems. “BREEAM mayor is aiming to cut crime costs by up gives you one point if you’ve discussed

© Giles Rocholl to 20% by 2020. your design with a police crime prevention The answer, says Camburn, lies in specialist – that’s the same as putting in a developing sustainable communities water butt,” says Tomlinson. “I’d argue that that apply the principles of CPTED on a the carbon cost means BREEAM and other large scale. This, she argues, would be as ratings systems should take the design’s much about encouraging a diverse mix of crime prevention strategies into account.” residents and creating well maintained and If Tomlinson had his way, security would interactive public spaces as it would be come as standard in every urban design. about stopping unwanted behaviour. “Typically, the more varied a community is, the safer it is,” she says. “It’s when you get neighbourhoods without diversity that The seven principles of CPTED problems arise. A large scale community Professor Paul Ekblom, an expert on designing also has enough activity to create natural out crime based at Central Saint Martins, surveillance and self policing – there explains the seven principles of CPTED. are plenty of people around to put off Defensible space is about designing LIGHTING UP: Imaginative lighting can be prospective criminals.” 1 buildings to help occupants, owners and a critical ingredient of strategies to reanimate users keep criminals out. previously inhospitable areas. 2 Access control is more specifically about actively keeping certain people out of

© Craig Holmes buildings/enclosures, and the structures, principal security consultant who led Arup’s procedures and technologies to achieve work on the park. this, whilst admitting those people with a “In the park, all the venues as well as right to be there. elements like bridges, approaches and 3 Territoriality covers the human motivation underpasses – anything people used to to control space, who enters it and move through the space – were designed what people do within it. Good designs for crime reduction from the start,” he increase this motivation. explains. “For example, areas where 4 Surveillance concerns how people significant crowds gathered around the – sometimes aided by design and stadium and on the south plaza had vehicle technology – can help act as crime access control measures, including hostile preventers, whether police, employees, vehicle control mitigation measures, owners or general public, by seeing or installed into the perimeter of the sites to SENSE OF OWNERSHIP: places that hearing suspicious behaviour, and taking promote a sense of ownership, respect, some appropriate action. create a safer environment when required.” territorial responsibility and community are less Target hardening is about making likely to be a target of vandalism or crime. 5 Growing cities without growing crime physical structures like walls, windows and doors resistant to attack and Sophie Camburn, an urban designer at penetration by criminals. Arup, believes that CPTED has a vital Making the most of CPTED 6 Image covers the appearance of a role to play in helping cities like London If CPTED can help cut the cost of crime, building, place or neighbourhood, not meet housing demand while creating safer Tomlinson believes it can also help cut its just aesthetics but relating also to social communities. The city’s population is carbon cost. He points to a recent report reputation and stigma of the place and its expected to grow by around one million from the Association of Chief Police inhabitants. These factors can increase people over the next 20 years – requiring Officers that estimated the carbon cost of crime levels or feelings of insecurity, an additional 400,000 homes in the next crime in England and Wales at a minimum and harm economic regeneration. 10 years alone. Arup has calculated that, of 6m tonnes of CO equivalent every year. Maintenance contributes to appearance, 2 obviously, but also to issues like continued based on current trends, this would cost “If property is vandalised or stolen, there effectiveness of security systems. is a carbon cost in replacing it,” says 7 Activity support is the beneficial effect of having significant numbers of people

© iStock PHYSICAL Tomlinson. “If in, or passing through, a particular place, PROTECTION: people are injured who are doing routine, honest activities CCTV should not by criminals, there like shopping or dining. The rationale is be considered that by their presence and behaviour they as an alternative is a carbon cost to will deny offenders some opportunities to to getting the treating them. And commit crime. design right in there’s a carbon the first place, cost to running the but can be used criminal justice retrospectively to 1 Calculations based on simplistic forward projections of current trends utilising data system itself.” from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). 2013 figures of police cost compensate for per capita were utilised, based on dividing total policing costs by the population of Despite this, crime London, equating to £426.49 per capita. 2010 figures were used to ascertain full-time poor design. equivalent (FTE) resourcing per capita, utilising figures for police officers and PCSOs prevention is given but excluding other staff. This equate to 0.00497 FTE per capita. 400,000 households were calculated to amount to an addition 988,000 persons in the next decade, utilising little prominence in 2011 census figures of an average household size in London of 2.47.

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 13 FEATURE THINKING SMALL

Thinking small Small modular reactors provide a flexible and cost effective alternative to large nuclear plants

Could it be that bigger isn’t where only a small number of state backed “This helps you bring generation online to necessarily better when it comes to companies such as EDF and Rosatom are in keep up with demand. And it also means nuclear power plants? Large plants a position to build large reactors,” he says. you can use the electricity generation What’s more, Barber argues, many revenue stream from the first modules to have their place, argues Simon countries lack suitable sites. “Access to finance and build the later ones. From a Barber, the head of Arup’s nuclear cooling water is a major factor and, in financial point of view this lower front end business, but it’s time to reap the countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, the investment is more attractive to developers, benefits of small modular reactors. transmission grid infrastructure doesn’t exist and is much more sustainable than sinking or they simply don’t have the space required. billions into a plant that won’t give you any “Most countries are looking to include These and other countries are facing demand revenue for a decade.” nuclear power as part of their energy that’s growing at 8-10% per year and can’t Looking further ahead, Barber argues that mix because it’s the only low carbon wait the length of time it takes to bring a small modular reactors could help countries form of base-load generation for many couple of Gigawatts of new nuclear online. like the UK meet their commitment to countries – it doesn’t rely on the wind They need something that can give them low carbon generation: “By 2050, the blowing or the sun shining,” Barber 400-500MW more each year.” UK’s grid capacity is forecast to double explains. “Historically, increasingly Small modular reactors (SMRs) are the from 80GW to 160GW to meet targets for large nuclear reactors provided this and answer in these situations, says Barber. “The de-carbonising the transport sector. Two realised economies of scale. But the global larger of these are 200-300MW (about a scenarios being considered by Department recession in 2008 changed everything.” tenth of the size of the proposed new plant of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) The downturn has affected the ability of at Hinkley Point C in the UK). Current to achieve this aim through low carbon even the biggest utility companies to raise designs use proven pressurised water reactor generation would involve increasing the capital to build new nuclear power plants technology. Their size makes them quicker share that nuclear plays in the generation over one Gigawatt. Barber argues that, and easier to manufacture as modules in mix from the current 16GW policy to without state backing or sovereign wealth dedicated off-site facilities and transport to 40GW or even up to 75GW.” fund investment, these plants are now the site, reducing build times and construction “There aren’t enough suitable sites almost unaffordable. costs. And they offer the prospect of bringing available to house all the large scale nuclear Norman Harrison, former chief executive capacity online gradually.” plants this step change would require of the UK Atomic Energy Authority and “By combining smaller reactors you because of technical constraints such as past president of the Nuclear Institute can still develop a plant with one or two access to cooling. But there are inland who is now working as an independent Gigawatts of capacity on the right site, sites such as the former nuclear research consultant, agrees. “We’re now in a position but you can do so gradually,” says Barber. centres at Winfrith and Harwell that could

14 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 THINKING SMALL FEATURE

By 2050, the UK’s grid capacity is forecast to double from 80GW to 160GW to meet targets for de-carbonising the transport sector.

potentially accommodate smaller modular leadership. But I’d be very surprised if generation four systems in development reactors of a few hundred megawatts.” UK industry would be willing to risk have much smaller emergency planning Harrison argues that investigating small investment in SMRs alone – it needs zones so they don’t necessarily have to be modular reactor technology could throw up government backing.” built in remote locations.” some interesting possibilities. “We need to Barber thinks that if the industry can Nuclear batteries take things a step look at the different technologies out there get the kick start it needs, it could make further, with a small, safe and secure and see how they could help,” he says. use of this technology on a smaller scale modular reactor contained within a “For example, could we see fast breeder too. “If you consider the global drivers transportation flask. This provides a plug SMRs turning the stockpile of plutonium for change over the next 20-30 years, two and play solution that seals the reactor and the UK has at Sellafield into a valuable key challenges we are already witnessing its waste away until the end of the plant’s energy source?” are increasing data management and life, when it can be safely disposed of. Globally, the different possibilities are the availability of clean drinking water. Arup is currently drawing on its expertise sparking increased interest in small modular Smaller reactors of 25-50MW could offer in designing nuclear fuel transportation and reactors, with China, the US, Pakistan a low carbon way to power data centres, storage packages to help a client develop and India among those developing the which today account for around 2% of this innovative solution. technology. The US Department of Energy global energy consumption – a figure that So could all this mean that small modular recently held a competition to develop a will grow rapidly. They could also power reactors’ time has come? Barber believes demonstrator plant. Babcock and Wilcox desalination plants to meet increasing so, particularly if public opinion backs the subsidiary mPower won the competition’s demand for potable water in places like nuclear option. He points to studies by the first round and Arup is providing advice to the Middle East. Indeed, Russia already UK Energy Research Centre that show that the company on the UK planning process uses a small nuclear reactor to power a the majority of the population is supportive for new nuclear as the government looks to desalination plant on its Black Sea Coast.” of nuclear power in Britain despite the follow in the footsteps of the US. Barber also predicts that even smaller Fukushima accident. Indeed, Harrison argues that government modular reactors of 10-25MW could, Harrison acknowledges that there are support will be crucial if SMRs are to one day, replace gas plants at the heart technical and licensing issues to overcome, take off in the UK. “The UK has the right of combined heat and power plants. but both he and Barber believe the building blocks,” he says. “The National “It’s certainly technically possible,” he potential benefits of small modular reactors Nuclear Laboratory is now advising the says. “Small modular reactors have been are huge. “I think small modular reactors government directly and the Nuclear providing combined heat and power for will play an increasingly important and Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre the remote Russian community of Bilibino relevant role in our future energy supply,” is doing fantastic work under Mike Tynan’s up in the Arctic Circle since 1976. And the Barber concludes.

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 15 FEATURE DISTRESSED CITIES © iStock

Distressed cities Planting the seeds of success in troubled urban areas

Around the world, urban areas are suffering the effects of conflict, social deprivation, lack of opportunities and poor connectivity to more successful districts. So what can be done?

Arup’s leader for urban design and masterplanning in the UK, Elad Eisenstein, believes that heroic design is not the answer. “Revitalising a distressed city is about weaving the physical and non physical qualities into a collage that builds on the richness and diversity lying dormant within these areas,” he says. “In contrast to a top- down approach, it’s about allowing each area’s eccentricities and networks of activities to bring about a transformation.”

The Berlin Wall has long since disappeared from reunified Berlin, but its imprint lives on in the memories of the city’s inhabitants.

16 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 DISTRESSED CITIES FEATURE

Make places safe and secure knowledge based platforms. “In many ways this is a much greater The first priority, says Eisenstein, is to “In Barcelona, disused sheds and storage challenge than rebuilding a city on create a network of places that encourage facilities in the area around the port have a greenfield or brownfield site,” he cross culture and integration, establishing been transformed into a home for the city’s acknowledges. “But it’s an important urban systems that feed off each other. creative industry dubbed 22@. London has challenge because any city is the product This gives rise to places that are safe and done something similar around the ‘Silicon of generations of change and cumulative secure and therefore attractive to live in. Roundabout’ at Old Street, where cheap pressures that give it its richness, diversity “To do this you need to create high quality rent and good transport links attracted and accidental collage-like nature.” streets, public spaces and institutions that small hi-tech industries keen to be in a city This also means that each distressed encourage knowledge sharing and are location that helped spark creativity.” city poses a unique challenge, as Pullan active and vibrant,” he argues. explains: “Is there a common path to Such an approach is more likely to succeed Enable public space and connectivity recovery for cities? It’s a question I’m than dividing a city to maintain security, says Eisenstein believes that having asked a lot. There is no silver bullet. There Wendy Pullan, who directs the Centre for sophisticated networks of formal and are common threads in each of these cities, Urban Conflicts Research in the Department informal public space in the city centre but local situations are key. This is why I of Architecture at the University of is equally essential. “You need well- think architects and urban designers are Cambridge: “Divided cities do not flourish. connected, usable public realm systems particularly well suited to understanding the We have found that even if a divided city that are evocative yet practical,” he says, forces at work.” could do OK economically, public life “and there are all sorts of opportunities for suffered. For example, dividing Nicosia in doing this. The High Line in New York is Cyprus may have prevented violence, but it one famous example of turning disused hasn’t created a successful place.” infrastructure into a park, and it has sparked Revitalising Tottenham and Tswhane regeneration around it.” Foster cultural diversity Pullan agrees with him on the need for Tottenham was once a thriving part of London, Turning around a distressed city also such areas: “Public space is absolutely home to a garden suburb, but in recent years it has been left behind as new areas means fostering existing cultural vibrancy, critical and so is how people move around of opportunity, such as the regeneration at Eisenstein says, channelling peoples’ energy the city – the relationship between public and Stratford to the east, have emerged. The into positive activities rather than social private transport, how people walk around an resulting social tensions sparked riots in 2011 unrest. In the divided cities Pullan has area, the routes they take to work.” and a new regeneration strategy was sought studied, this also means balancing the desire “It’s vital to have safe, secure and to build on the area’s diversity, bring about to move on with the need to remember. effective public transport linking to the change and restore civic pride. “Divided cities can be redeemable, but areas of opportunity in the wider city,” says Arup is leading the regeneration programme you must find the factors that are significant Eisenstein. “In turn, transport interchanges for the area, working closely with the London in each.” she says. “In many, like Berlin, provide opportunities for concentration of Borough of Haringey and the London Mayor’s memory is important. On the one hand, you activity, creating a mix of economic and office. The firm’s urbanists, designers and have to acknowledge that it’s time to move social hubs.” planners are creating a collective, strategic on. On the other, you have to remember and He points as an example to the Brazilian plan that will attract investment into the area commemorate the shared experience. You city of Curitiba, which has transformed and improve the physical environment, with a urban safety and security by focussing range of housing, employment opportunities have to answer the tricky question about and community facilities. how much memory of the conflict you on making public transport much more should keep.” effective and central to wider development Arup has also been commissioned by the city of Tshwane in South Africa (formerly Pretoria) to of urban areas. develop a vision and an integrated masterplan Enable businesses to flourish to deliver successful regeneration of the Next, says Eisenstein, you have to look at Build on an existing community inner city. The multidisciplinary development how to stimulate and incentivise businesses Ultimately, Eisenstein acknowledges that framework will aim to attract new investment – encouraging larger firms to come and join efforts to revitalise distressed cities need and to stimulate growth and economic existing small and informal businesses. He some foundations to build on. “You need a development. This will become a platform for points to examples in the UK and Spain of critical mass of people living in an area,” re-establishing pride and confidence in the how cities can provide the infrastructure he says. “Without them, there’s nothing to citizens and local communities, as well as with and range of employment spaces these grow from.” local businesses and decision makers in the businesses need, as well as incentivising The ultimate challenge for urbanists City of Tshwane. those who contribute to establishing such is bringing all these things together in a The physical framework plan focusses way that makes a city into a place people attention on specific areas that already embody choose to live, to work in and to visit. complexity to help encourage a mutual support A city’s greatest attribute This, argues Eisenstein, involves creating system. The aim is to concentrate development and investment, achieving cumulative effects. is choice, it’s all about a framework that balances the planned and The plan points public authorities and private capitalising on an area’s the unplanned. A city’s greatest attribute investors to priority areas where their combined is choice, it’s all about capitalising on activity will most effectively deliver change and diversity in a way that fosters an area’s diversity in a way that fosters create market conditions for transformation. In creativity while injecting creativity while injecting newness through turn, formerly disconnected parts of the city will more strategic guiding principles. This be woven into a network of productive places. newness through more creates an urban environment that is able to strategic guiding principles. evolve and adapt to future change.

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 17 FEATURE DIGITAL DISRUPTION

Digital disruption New technology is forcing businesses to change the way they work or risk being left behind

Today, smart phones and tablets are everywhere: consumers have them, businesses have them, and governments have them. The pace and scale of the changes they enable disrupts the established order of existing goods and services, changing how we think, behave, interact and do business. Established firms are at risk of losing business to these disruptors unless they can emulate them. “When you get it right, digital disruption can lead to massive growth in productivity and profit,” says Andrew Maher, Arup’s digital services leader. “So at Arup, we’re not just concerned with responding to the threat of digital disruption but focusing on how we can take advantage of the opportunities.” As part of this approach, Arup has been working with two Australian based software companies: Billcap and Greensense. Billcap is a white label online platform for energy companies that gives customers a way to visualise and reduce their energy use. And Greensense’s software monitors sustainability and energy use in offices, campuses and communities.

18 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 DIGITAL DISRUPTION FEATURE

every minute of every day looking at how much energy they’re using. Our focus groups showed that a minority of users want deep, rich information. The majority want easy to understand information about their usage. That means doing things like showing them their current usage in dollars and cents, not kilowatt hours, predicting Billcap seized its opportunity to disrupt what their bill will be and sending them a the energy market when the government clear email with all this information – not Creating a great digital of Victoria mandated smart meters but waiting for them to log on to a website.” ignored how customers would actually Gerrard agrees. “It’s all well and good service isn’t necessarily about benefit from the data. Billcap’s software monitoring and providing reports, but collecting massive amounts as a service offering gives retailers a way you also need smart notifications,” he of new data; it can be about to let their customers access data in user- says. “These give people the data they friendly formats. need when they need it through email and using your existing data “Energy retailers knew the data was sitting SMS, rather than waiting for them to go better – mining for nuggets there and that it was valuable, but they were and check it. This makes people feel more so busy competing with each other and involved in a positive change.” of gold in amongst what trying to acquire customers that there was For Greensense, real-time data offers you’ve already got. never a strong incentive to use it,” explains new ways of encouraging behaviour Billcap’s co-founder Yann Burden. “We were change. “Real-time data also enables with data about occupants’ health. So you able to come in and do that for them and comparative reporting,” explains Gerrard. can see how factors such as temperature, improve customer retention.” “If you can compare your energy humidity and CO2 levels relate to staff sick For Maher, this is a familiar scenario. consumption, for example, in real time days or how people report feeling.” “Most organisations don’t really know against a benchmark for other similar Another area with potential is people what useful data they’ve already got,” buildings, it does much more to encourage movement, says Gerrard. “At the moment he says. “Creating a great digital service you to change your behaviour.” you might look at how a building as a whole isn’t necessarily about collecting massive Meanwhile, Burden has seen first hand uses energy. But what if you could take amounts of new data; it can be about using how real-time data has helped create that to the next level and see where people your existing data better – mining for satisfied customers for Victoria’s energy were in a building at any one time? You nuggets of gold in amongst what you’ve retailers: “Instead of shocking customers could identify areas that didn’t need heating, already got.” with a bill every 90 days, daily data means lighting or cooling because they were But before you start digging, it’s vital energy retailers can engage them in regular unoccupied and so save energy.” to know what you’re aiming to achieve, conversations to help them understand and For Burden, the potential for real-time says Greensense managing director Derek manage their usage. This keeps customers data to unlock more and more value in Gerrard: “You can have all the software happier and reduces the retailer’s cost of this way is an exciting prospect. He points tools in the world, but they won’t do you serving them.” to Google’s recent $3.2bn purchase of much good unless you’ve identified the Billcap also uses the data to build wireless thermostat company Nest as right data source. You need to choose the sophisticated predictive models about energy a sign that, with power prices likely to story you want to tell and then you identify users, explains Burden: “We can tell from keep rising and remain volatile, energy the data you need to tell it.” usage data, and other information such as information has the potential to be as Greensense and Billcap both aim to how long they’ve been with a retailer, which valuable as internet search. educate, engage and inspire their software’s customers are more likely to switch supplier. Maher believes that businesses like Arup end users – with real-time data giving That gives retailers a chance to intervene and can also benefit from this data revolution, them a way to do it. “Historically in the offer them an incentive to stay.” pointing to the way the firm is redesigning environmental space, the only data available In this way, overlaying data can create its own practices: “We’re using mobile was from a bill you received every sixty even more value. “As well as getting technology to record observations from days or so,” says Gerrard. “There’s only so data in real time, sophisticated capture projects. We’re embedding sensors to much you can do with that information, and techniques now enable you to contextualise continuously monitor site conditions in it tended to be locked up with just a few data,” explains Gerrard. “For example, if real-time. And we’re visualising recorded people in an organisation. Real-time data you add weather or temperature data to data to change people’s behaviour in areas gives immediate feedback.” energy consumption data, you can tell a such as energy consumption.” However, gathering the data isn’t enough more complete story.” For those yet to get to grips with the on its own – it’s what you do with it that He imagines taking things to the next real-time data revolution, Maher has some really counts, says Burden: “There’s a level with indoor environment reporting words of warning. “The biggest risk is fascination with real-time data in the energy focussed on improving productivity: “This inaction,” he says. “If you don’t disrupt, industry. But customers don’t want to spend would overlay data about a building’s health someone else will.”

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 19 FEATURE MUTUAL BENEFIT

Mutual benefit Partnerships between businesses and charities can be good for everyone

Supporting charities and community access to vital skills. As a professional services projects isn’t just about giving “As a professional services firm, the range firm, the range of technical cash. Donating time can be a more of technical expertise we contribute can be many times more effective than an equivalent expertise we contribute can be valuable and rewarding experience cash donation,” he explains. “We have for everyone concerned, argues capabilities that many charities often can’t many times more effective than Martin Ansley-Young, Arup Group readily access. In many cases, we can help an equivalent cash donation. Company Secretary. identify solutions that make cash donations from other sources go a lot further.” “Cash donations come directly out of He argues that time donations can challenged to stretch their abilities and profits, whereas donations of time come drive a host of other ‘soft’ benefits too succeed in new ways because they’ll be from a company’s resources,” he explains. – firstly for the recipients themselves: working in a tough environment without “In both cases, the donations are valuable “Assignments in developing countries instant access to the comforting safety net and have a cost to the business, but time help bring skills to communities so they of a large corporate support network.” donations are sourced from a larger and can see first hand how to boost their From Arup’s experience, Ansley-Young inherently more stable ‘fund’.” own capabilities. The recession has also is clear on the benefits of a collaborative “At Arup, that allows both the firm and heightened the need to create and maintain approach. “No one is arguing that cash is the organisations we engage with to make these collaborative partnerships. Being not important,” he says. “Our employee more sustainable plans for the longer-term. able to secure more from less, as a result ownership structure allows us to get By contrast, cash funds can be squeezed of sharing resources and having access involved in causes that are close to our or disappear quickly, depending on the to knowledge that may otherwise not be heart, we’re not tied down to shareholders economic weather of the day – as in the available, can be very beneficial.” so we can maintain a high level of wake of the global financial crisis.” Getting staff involved in community autonomy. The fact that we can be directly Ansley-Young says that, as a general engagement has benefits for companies too. involved in a scheme to deliver a new rule, Arup aims to give 1% of its global “Staff members get valuable experience in school, orphanage, hospital, bridge or water profits as direct charitable donations. But he leading unique and often very challenging supply represents a tangible contribution argues that for both the firm and its charity projects. Even if the specific job may to real lives. This is one way we help partners, donations in kind are often far require less cutting edge technology, the transform communities. And in terms of more valuable because they give charities individuals involved will still be just as shaping a better world, it’s hard to beat.”

20 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 MUTUAL BENEFIT FEATURE

Bulambuli district - water, sanitation and hygiene programme As part of Arup’s commitment to community engagement, funding was provided to support staff working on a water and sanitation project in Bulambuli District, Uganda. Thanks to a collaborative partnership with philanthropist Belinda Swift and other charitable partners, villages in this rural part of Eastern Uganda have gained clean water, safe sanitation and vital knowledge about health and hygiene.

The challenge faced by Bulambuli district Before the partnership’s involvement, local communities relied on the highly contaminated Sironko River for their daily water supply. The burden of water collection fell predominantly on women and children who had to walk several miles a day to collect it. Very few homes had a latrine, and the latrines that did exist were poorly constructed, unsafe for children, lacking in privacy and prone to collapse during the rainy season. Community members largely relied on subsistence farming, without the education, skills, financial resources and motivation to work their way out of poverty. To compound these problems, local government lacked the capacity and resources to respond adequately to the needs of the community.

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 21 FEATURE MUTUAL BENEFIT

The solution - water, sanitation and education Arup volunteers, together with those from partner organisations, set about training 50 community volunteers in villages throughout Bulambuli, passing on good hygiene practices. The community volunteers then surveyed local houses, giving special awards to those reaching high standards, and used music and drama to get across messages about hygiene to school children. An improved, low cost, latrine was designed, incorporating lined pits and poles painted with anti-termite paint. The sides were built up so that rain flowed away from the hole to prevent the sides of the latrines collapsing when the poor quality soil got wet. This resulted in safer, more hygienic latrines. To help people get clean water quickly, easily and cheaply, the partnership funded an assessment by a hydrogeologist who concluded that it would be possible to provide water locally from shallow wells. A contractor helped the community to dig five wells, nine metres deep, using locally sourced materials.

A sustainable future Since 2008, the project has reached over 4,000 people in the district of Bulambuli and well over 80% of the community members with whom we are working now have access to improved sanitation. Arup, like its partners, remains committed to ensuring local people have a sustainable future and is continuing its work in the district.

22 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 THE DRIVERLESS FUTURE FEATURE

The driverless future Our panel of experts give their views on how driverless vehicles will transform travel

GPS (Global Positioning System) signals are combined with tachometer, altimeters and gyroscope readings to Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) Wireless Communications refine the vehicle’s position on the road to interact with other identifies lane markings and road boundaries by vehicles, roadside using sensors to bounce light off its surroundings. infrastructure and people to This data is then analysed, helping to position the communicate intentions and vehicle correctly on the road coordinate actions

Video Cameras used to detect traffic lights, road signs and any obstacles such as other cars or pedestrians

Central Computer analyses all of the information obtained from the vehicle’s sensors, which then helps to control the breaks, accelerator and steering accordingly

Ultrasonic Sensors used to measure the distance of objects that are close to the vehicle

Radar sensors help to monitor the position of other vehicles on the road

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 23 FEATURE THE DRIVERLESS FUTURE © Getty Images

Chris Luebkeman (CL) is Ron Medford (RM) is Paul Newman (PN) is BP John Miles (JM) is the Royal Global Director for Foresight Safety Director for Google’s Professor of Information Academy of Engineering / Arup + Research + Innovation at self-driving car programme. Engineering at the University Professor of Transitional Energy Arup where he specialises in Prior to this, he served as of Oxford. He is a principal Strategies at the University of exploring the fundamental social, the deputy administrator of investigator in the university’s Cambridge. His work explores technological, environmental, the National Highway Traffic Mobile Robotics Group, which the development of affordable, economic and political drivers of Safety Administration in the US is developing and testing low carbon energy technologies change that challenge disparate Department of Transportation. autonomous vehicle technology. and business models. businesses to survive and thrive.

How will the built environment have to change to accommodate autonomous vehicles?

PN Our stated research goal is ‘change nothing’. I changes. Where are those points of inconvenience think the economic case is that driverless cars have in the built environment? Where do you grit and to fit in with existing infrastructure. If vehicle-to- grind your teeth in frustration when it comes to vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) mobility? These are the points that might/could/ communications technologies come along, they should change with autonomous vehicles. can be used. But I don’t think autonomous vehicles should depend on any large-scale infrastructure But to answer your question specifically, I would project or require governments to spend money to say that the impact on regional planning is support what will, to begin with, be a small number significant. Driverless cars could mean that urban of cars. I can’t see that being economically viable. sprawl is a good thing, perhaps heresy in the UK or And it’s economics that’s going to drive this. Europe, but welcome in the rest of the world where cities have been created around the car. The impact JM In terms of urban design and streetscape, that occurs to the street may also be significant. nothing needs to change to accommodate driverless It could mean that the wide streets, dictated by vehicles today. However, this technology opens the antiquated safety rules, are no longer needed and the door to radically different forms of future transport space can be given back to other means of transport. that could transform the urban environment. For example, having small driverless pods would RM Some questions remain to be answered. For enable cities to create massive pedestrian areas example, it is going to be fundamental that your Everything miles across. People could reach the area by bus or self driving car drops you off in front of your train and then travel within it on foot or in two- home or hotel, and that it will then go away and inconvenient will seater pods that could travel safely park itself. The question is where are they going change. Think among pedestrians. to drop you and where will it go? I think we have to figure that out. We also need to work out if about your life CL Everything inconvenient will change. Think people are still going to own their own vehicle? and the points of about your life and the points of inconvenience, That’s an old idea to me personally. I don’t think inconvenience, and and then think about a generation or two back. that fits into the model. It costs society a lot for The pressure points change. If you told a bank each of us to have a vehicle, yet 90% of the time then think about a teller 30 years ago that one day you would go to the vehicle you own is sitting still. The economics generation or two a machine to get money out instead of talking to will drive the sharing of vehicles. For this to them, they wouldn’t have believed you. But it was work, shared use has to evolve and this will have back. The pressure inconvenient to go to a bank at set times, so it an influence on the built environment. points change.

24 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 THE DRIVERLESS FUTURE FEATURE

Will driverless vehicles work side-by- side with traditional driven vehicles? JM The transition to driverless vehicles will need to be a very long accelerate at a rate you, and other drivers, were comfortable one. Any practical routes to implementation have to anticipate 20 with. And this carries between countries – there are cultural years of co-existence with traditional vehicles. So I don’t think it’s differences in driving behaviour that need to be taken into helpful to think that we can’t have driverless vehicles unless every consideration. single car on the roads is autonomous. CL Of course they will. Think about the introduction of PN The model we’re pursuing involves autonomous vehicles horseless carriages to the roads of the early 1900s. Carts, driving some of the people some of the time in some of the carriages, donkeys, horses and motorised vehicles all co-existed places. So we’re observing how drivers behave and using on roads along with pedestrians. The major differentiation will be machine learning techniques to make sure an autonomous the time of transition into full Level 4 autonomy and the degree vehicle drives itself in the same way you would drive it. of separation that the human driven vehicles will be expected to You’d want your driverless vehicle to do things like brake and hold over time as they become the exception, rather than the rule.

How will legislation have Who will manufacture to change to accommodate autonomous vehicles? autonomous vehicles? PN Autonomous electric cars with direct- drive motors in the wheels wouldn’t need the JM The technological challenges faced by autonomous vehicles metal bashing production of traditional internal are pretty small in comparison to the challenges of legislation combustion engine vehicles. With outsourced and social acceptance. Every country has its own approach to rapid manufacturing techniques, it could see the regulation, although countries often adopt similar approaches. end of huge car plants. Could we see a small Some countries legislate that a human being must be in control of start-up that disrupts the market by getting the a car. In countries like that, the barriers to driverless vehicles are right design and taking this outsourced approach? quite high. In others, it’s lower. I think it might happen. RM Antiquated motor vehicle laws don’t anticipate that a car JM The major vehicle manufacturers are now might not have a driver, or even a steering wheel. California is in talking a lot about autonomous vehicles, whereas the middle of regulating autonomous vehicles this year, so we are they weren’t five years ago. The reason they’ve very engaged in that process. One of the things that we have to changed their tune in such a short space of time certify is that we meet all traffic safety laws – which, of course, is is because of Google’s work in this area. They’ve not anything that a human driver does. So that is a real challenge. shaken the industry up and given it a wake up For example, there is a new law in California about bikes. You call. But now the industry is working hard to have to give them three feet of space. Yet you don’t want to cross bring autonomous vehicles to market and it is a a double line. So driverless car companies are trying to figure out very powerful force. Ultimately, I think it will how to do that. be the major vehicle manufacturers that bring us autonomous vehicles. PN We’re working on a pilot with the Department of Transport to understand what driverless vehicles mean for the UK. RM In 2012, the Governor of California came to Google to sign a law to allow for the testing and CL Autonomous vehicles will need to obey all of the current traffic operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads. laws that are on the books. They will probably even be more law- The company’s co-founder, Sergey Brin, said at that abiding than most human drivers. I can easily imagine that there time that “you can count on one hand the number will need to be new laws to reflect the inherent constant contextual of years until ordinary people can experience this.” awareness of the autonomous vehicle, and the inherent fallibility of the human driver. For example, if all vehicles were autonomous, CL The major car producers are already building we would no longer need traffic lights since each vehicle would vehicles with a certain level of autonomy. We be contextually aware of the other. Right of way, based on horse already have automatic parking, automatic distance drawn carriages looking out for one another, becomes a quaint holding and automatic braking in vehicles. It is only concept rather than a cornerstone of vehicular law – the same way a matter of time for the complexity of the capacity that no one ‘dials’ a telephone number any more. to be introduced.

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 25 FEATURE SPARKING INVESTMENT

Sparking investment We look at the challenges of investing in the energy infrastructure that powers the world’s economies

Every economy relies on energy to to the end of their lives as sustainability fuel its growth. And maintaining that regulations take effect.” growth requires investment in energy Who’s investing where? infrastructure – whether that’s to Parsons points out that most of the boost generation capacity, upgrade money for the UK’s new generation and distribution networks or pursue distribution infrastructure will have to greener technologies. come from private offshore investors as the government simply can’t find that Craig Forrest, who leads Arup’s energy sort of money alone. So where might this UK needs and utility transaction advice team, investment come from? highlights the challenge governments and “Energy investors are typically large, regulators face in continually balancing the sophisticated institutions,” says Arthur £100bn energy ‘trilemma’ of security of supply, Rakowski – also a director with MIRA. “So of investment in affordability and sustainability. “Doing this they look at the global context and will invest the next 10 years successfully during challenging economic wherever they see sensible opportunities.” conditions creates opportunities but also As some emerging economies upgrade introduces risks for investors,” says Forrest. their energy infrastructure, they are Gordon Parsons, director with Macquarie becoming more attractive to international Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA), investors. “Emerging economies have agrees: “It’s estimated the UK power sector opened up to investors by privatising needs £100bn of investment in the next 10 their networks and developing regulatory years. Many energy infrastructure assets are frameworks,” says Forrest. “In turn, the ageing and will need replacing before their investors bring technical and management condition threatens the supply of energy to know-how, which improves the quality of homes and industries. Others are coming the networks and the security of supply.”

26 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 SPARKING INVESTMENT FEATURE

30%

Reduction in Spain’s solar parks tariffs

take their capital elsewhere. Policy changes also influence the way investment flows into different technologies. As an example, Forrest points to the way EU directives are encouraging a move to cleaner technology and upgrades to transmission networks across Europe. “If governments and regulators set a target to increase the proportion of energy from renewables,” he says, “then In the UK many energy wind turbines become a more stable and infrastructure assets are ageing attractive investment. But if the focus shifts to emissions targets instead, then policy makers re-evaluate energy strategy that Policy can reduce risk includes nuclear which provides additional It’s not just economic considerations that asset classes for investors.” influence the flow of capital. Investors in So government actions have a direct Spain’s solar parks were taken aback in 2010 impact on investors, and investors will when the regulator retrospectively reduced respond to policy changes – as Parsons the tariffs for the energy generated by 30%. explains: “In the UK, we’re at a crossroads “The Spanish regulator wanted to protect on energy policy. We’ve had a series affordability in the financial crisis,” says of long-term policy instruments, some Renewable generation Forrest. “But this abrupt cut in returns was of which were successful. But the UK around the world needs unexpected in an advanced economy and government must now decide how to more investment to it’s made Spain significantly less attractive balance future demand and supply. They to investors.” can create long-term, market based bring costs down Because investors can’t withdraw their mechanisms based on clear policy goals, or money easily, they don’t like sudden policy they could intervene and make short-term changes or uncertainty that might affect changes to policy.” their returns. “Our investors expect a degree If they get it wrong, Parsons says, of market risk, but regulatory and political international investors may be more The Spanish regulator uncertainty is much harder to manage,” he reticent. “To secure the level of investment says. “Fewer investors are willing to be that our energy infrastructure needs, the UK wanted to protect exposed to this and those that are demand government will have to create coherent affordability in the financial much higher rates of return.” and sustainable policy instruments,” crisis, but this abrupt cut in Rakowski believes that Spain, and also Parsons explains. Norway, which recently reduced tariffs paid This is true of all economies – emerging or returns was unexpected in to the owners of gas infrastructure, will developed. “A stable economic climate and an advanced economy, and now find that investors are wary of putting long-term policies will provide more certainty capital into future projects there. In this and attract more investors,” says Parsons. it’s made Spain significantly globalised market, it’s easy for investors “The money is out there – if clear and less attractive to investors. put off by policy in a particular country to consistent policies are in place to secure it.”

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 27 FEATURE SPARKING INVESTMENT

Opportunities are emerging in Europe as the stranglehold of older, bigger utility companies loosens

Information and advice is key “These are harder to spot and see the What can investors do to reduce their potential future value,” says Forrest. “But, To secure the level of risk and find the best investment strategy? for example, with older assets coming off- investment that our “The energy market isn’t a straightforward line in the UK shortly, affordable energy to energy infrastructure place to invest, but if you understand the replace them will soon be in demand.” market, the risks and the likelihood of With this in mind, Macquarie brought needs, the UK different outcomes, then you’re in a strong together a consortium of international government will have position,” says Forrest. “You certainly pension fund and other investors to buy need a thorough understanding of the three highly efficient gas fired power to create coherent global market and the current regulatory stations in the UK. “The investment made and sustainable framework, as well as the technical issues.” sense because the stations will be in demand policy instruments. With the right information and advice, as the UK’s older, most polluting coal fired investors can find opportunities to suit power stations are closed down,” explains them. “Opportunities are emerging in Parsons. He further warns: “The government Europe as the stranglehold of older, bigger must stick to a stable, long-term market- utility companies loosens,” explains based approach if it wants to attract more Forrest. “These older giants of generation investment like this in power generation.” are divesting assets and this creates Then there are opportunities in newer, opportunities for new investors.” greener technologies too. Renewable As an example, he points to E.ON generation around the world needs more Ruhr Gas’ sale of Europe’s largest investment to bring costs down if it is to play gas transmission network, OGE, to a a bigger part in meeting our electricity needs, consortium led by Macquarie European and governments are investigating different Infrastructure Fund 4, and including ways of encouraging that investment. German, Canadian and Middle Eastern “Finding the right opportunity isn’t co-investors. The investors provided capital straightforward, so getting up-to-date, to grow, maintain and upgrade the network accurate advice to help you navigate to ensure future capacity and security of the risks is critical,” says Forrest. “But energy supply. for flexible investors who have the right EU directives are There are also investment opportunities resources and a clear investment strategy, encouraging a move when existing assets are undervalued. opportunities abound.” to cleaner technology

28 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 SPARKING INVESTMENT FEATURE

Instead of specifying feed in tariffs, the South African government is procuring large scale projects through competitive bidding. © iStock CASE STUDY Renewables in South Africa How government policy is driving investment in renewables When you think of South Africa and energy, you probably think of coal. Abundant local supplies of low cost coal currently meet more than 90% of the economy’s energy needs.

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 29 FEATURE SPARKING INVESTMENT

But the South African government is using policy mechanisms to channel investment into other sources of energy including renewables – diversifying the market and creating new industries. It’s a move partly driven by external pressure, explains Justin Wimbush, an associate in Arup’s South African energy consulting team: “To build new infrastructure such as fossil fuel power stations, South Africa has secured loans from the World Bank that also include funds for the construction of a 100MW wind farm and a 100MW concentrated solar power facility.” Investing in renewables is one part of a strategy to bring much- needed diversification to South Africa’s power supply after the country suffered serious blackouts in 2008. During this power crisis, the state utility company Eskom was forced to ask gold and platinum mines to shut down. This included the world’s largest gold mine, Driefontein near Carletonville, which employed 16,000 workers, and the two biggest platinum producers that, together, accounted for more than half of the global supply. In addition to the above, the government is responding through what Wimbush describes as an excellent legislative structure. This sees the minister in charge determine how many power plants have to be built, whether the public or private sector should build them and who will buy the electricity they produce. The results feed into another piece of planning that enables the regulator to determine how much the monopoly can charge for power to pay for these South Africa’s Energy Mix (IRP2010) infrastructure improvements. Current generation capacity Informing the minister’s decision is the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is a publicly available document that is updated every two years. The IRP looks at how much power is required and what should be built to meet demand from the period 2010 to 2030 – making estimates of the costs and risks associated with different technologies. The IRP also provides useful guidance for investors. “It shows them a pipeline of likely projects for the next 15-20 years,” says Wimbush, “which is much more of a heads up than many countries give people looking to invest in renewable energy.” He explains that the government also hopes to use renewable energy projects to boost the supply chain: “Instead of specifying feed in tariffs, the South African government is procuring large- scale projects through competitive bidding. And selection is partly based on economic development – how much projects improve the local economy through, amongst others, provision of locally sourced components and employment of South African staff.” Each round of renewable energy projects the government procures requires a greater amount of local content, up to 60%. This is stimulating investment in local assembly plants for technologies such as photovoltaic modules. And, Wimbush believes, a large enough pipeline of projects could see South Africa manufacture more of its own technology. Despite these successes, it’s clear that legislation still needs to remove some of the roadblocks to investment. “Currently, municipalities buy power from Eskom and sell it on to people and businesses in their area at a profit,” Wimbush explains. “This makes it South Africa’s Energy Mix (IRP2010) counter productive for them to generate their own power or to allow 2030 generation capacity other people to generate power.” “At the same time, they have a mandate to give as many people as possible access to power. So spending money on things like renewable energy subsidies risks being seen as reducing the amount of free Coal Pumped Storage energy that can be given to the less well off.” Renewable Energy Gas Turbine With the renewable energy market in South Africa just a few years old, Wimbush remains confident that legislation will catch up. Hydro Nuclear Power

30 | A2 Magazine Issue 15 ADD ADD

What are your thoughts on the issues facing us all in creating a better world? Join the discussion on ‘Thoughts’, our thought leadership space for experts, practitioners and enthusiasts to talk about issues affecting the built environment.

arup.com/thoughts Learn. Reflect. Share. Discuss

A2 magazine is a We are keen to ensure that this publication Editors is enjoyed by our readers and provides Liam Gannon, Leeann De-Barros, Nicola Brogan publication produced Writer interesting, relevant and informative Matthew Blackbourn by Arup for our articles. All feedback is welcome, so please Designers clients and reflects send your comments and suggestions to our Matt Cox, Charlotte Svensson editorial team at [email protected]. Published by: our mission to Arup, 13 Fitzroy Street, London, W1T 4BQ For more information on any of the topics shape a better world. Printed by: featured in this magazine, please visit Park Lane Press on FSC certified paper, using fully sustainable, vegetable oil-based www.arup.com or email [email protected] inks, power from 100% renewable resources and waterless printing technology. Print production systems registered to ISO 14001: 2004, ISO 9001: 2008 and EMAS standards and all site emissions are offset through The Rainforest Concern Charity via their Forest Credits scheme and over 95% of waste is recycled.

A2 Magazine Issue 15 | 31 arup.com Arup 3D cover image by Chris Baker,