Opinion | Reshaping the built environment
Civil engineers have the power to reshape our built environment for the benefit of society
This millennium has witnessed a series of unprecedented climatic, cultural, medical and technological changes. The speed of this change and the impact it has had on our lifestyles is profound.
STEPHEN O’MALLEY
The fact that the world’s population and the planet belong to a single integrated system is now a mainstream view. The majority in developed nations recognises that the natural world is a single ecosystem, where actions in one part of the planet affect the whole planet.
We have also witnessed an urban renaissance with a distinct trend in urban densification.
In Manchester, for example, in 2000, we saw a compact, low rise city centre with a population of around 5,000.
As of 2022, we see a city centre population of 75,000, with an outer footprint that takes in Salford Quays, defining a population of a further 185,000, many housed in what are defined as tall buildings over 20 storeys. These lifestyles and urban environments have very different patterns and needs.
The mix of skills, expertise and talent needed to capitalise on all these changes for the benefit of society is sophisticated.
We, as civil engineers and systems thinkers, have the aptitude, training and ability to reshape our built environment to answer this call. We understand the many interdependent layers of geography and commerce, of human health and infrastructure, and the vital role they play in facilitating these fast-evolving lifestyles, while respecting and protecting the regenerative qualities of the natural environment.
It is, however, critical to recognise that seizing these opportunities relies on our profession continuing to strive for technical excellence, with the expressed understanding that we now need to apply this scientific rigour with a much higher degree of emotional intelligence.
Our industry brings together a range of interdependent and complementary professionals, as well as professions related to the built environment and we need to recognise the new realities of our society. We are responsible for the urban circuitry that routes the energy and vitality through our villages, towns and cities.
Whether it is rethinking regional policy, installing climate resilient infrastructure, constructing a carbon responsible building or managing training services to maintain these new networks, we know that to get where we need to be requires adaptability, learning and iteration. Everything needs to be designed to evolve and grow, to survive and thrive.
“We are responsible for the urban circuitry that routes the energy and vitality through our villages, towns and citiesOur profession’s response has been to adopt the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as Institution policy. The strategy to delivery against this policy has been a fundamental rewrite of PAS 2080 – Carbon management in buildings and infrastructure. This is a route map to net zero, a specification for whole life carbon management when delivering projects and programmes in the built environment.
The PAS supports the transition to a net zero carbon economy by 2050 and requires close collaboration across value chain members.
It defines their contribution towards the net zero transition by developing and implementing, in a collaborative manner, the PAS 2080 carbon management process.
Our duty as engineers is to adapt to these new realities. We need to see them as opportunities and serve society with the built environment it needs to thrive and enable people to lead happier and healthier lives.
Importantly, we need to protect the precious finite resources of our planet.
- Stephen O’Malley is chief executive and founding director of Civic Engineers