The Summit features the best speaker lineup of any construction conference and the launch of the 2016 government-backed Construction KPIs. Mr Hayes’ minsterial responsibilities include Highways England; the built environment and transport skills and innovation. This year’s Summit has more than 40 clients, and more than 60 speakers confirmed, with
Big property developers are urging chancellor George Osborne to drop his plans to privatise the Land Registry. The British Property Federation said that while the service badly needs investment, privatisation is not the answer. Plans for the £1bn sale were announced in the Queens Speech earlier this month. The measure
The UK’s first dedicated football stadium for women is in discussions to be built at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Scarborough Group International has submitted a planning application for a 3,900-capacity stadium, which would become the new home of Sheffield United Women Football Club. Designing the £5 million (US$6.5m, €5.6m) Stadium
Retailer John Lewis has completed the pre-let of Unit 3 at South Central, Southampton, at £9 per sq ft, on a 15-year lease, from Peel Logistics and Rockspring. “We were delighted such a household name as John Lewis chose South Central for their relocation and look forward to securing tenants
Arriva Rail London (ARL), which operates the London Overground on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), is pleased to announce the appointment of Alicia Andrews as the company’s new concession transformation director. “We’re incredibly pleased that Alicia has joined the Arriva Rail London team. Alicia brings great experience in leading
J Tomlinson is undertaking £4m of refurbishment work on student accommodation blocks at the University of Warwick. The scheme is the second completed for the university by the Nottingham-based firm and follows a £1m refurbishment project at the Avon building on the Westwood Campus. In addition, the company has also
British Safety Council supports the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s challenge to the government over failure to protect lives The British Safety Council welcomes the challenge to the government that a failure to address the risk to life posed by flammable external cladding, similar to that used on the Grenfell
A multi-disciplinary construction consultancy is helping to inspire children into construction by backing a new innovative pilot project in Essex. Daniel Connal Partnership, with offices in Colchester, Norwich and London, is supporting Writtle Junior School in Writtle, Chelmsford, on their Junior Hard Hats initiative. Born out of the school’s involvement
Three years on from the launch of Operation Magnify, UK immigration solicitor Anne Morris discusses the current status of illegal working and immigration compliance for UK construction companies. Operation Magnify was announced by the UK government in 2015 as a Home Office campaign targeting employers suspected of using undocumented migrant
An exciting chapter awaits modern society as technology transforms city living. Much of what the average citizen has been used to for the past few decades will change. Are you ready for what’s coming? It’s called Smart City living and these developed urban areas will make life easier for everyone
The Summit features the best speaker lineup of any construction conference and the launch of the 2016 government-backed Construction KPIs. Mr Hayes’ minsterial responsibilities include Highways England; the built environment and transport skills and innovation. This year’s Summit has more than 40 clients, and more than 60 speakers confirmed, with Mr Hayes the latest to join the lineup for October’s two-day event. Great Portland Estates chief executive Toby Courtauld, RAC chairman Rob Templeman and Mace CEO Mark Reynolds are also among the latest confirmed CN Summit speakers. The Crown Estate’s head of development, Matt Giles will speak on a panel on the future of office development, with Mr Courtauld; Simon Hesketh, director of regeneration at U+I; and Derwent director Paul Williams. London deputy mayor for transport Val Shawcross and HUB development director Steve Sanham have also joined the prestigious programme. Ms Shawcross was appointed as deputy mayor for transport under Sadiq Khan in May. She has been a London Assembly member for 16 years and has served as chair or deputy chair of the London Assembly transport committee for eight of those. Mr Sanham will be joining CN’s PRS panel alongside: Mark Allnutt, managing director, investments, Greystar Europe; Jon Clark, director- client relations and business development, Touchstone; Alex Greaves, head of residential investment, M&G Real Estate. The CN Summit takes place over 11 & 12 October and now has more than 60 of the industry’s client, contractor and supply chain leaders confirmed to speak. Transport for London programme director for construction Miles Ashley and Network Rail managing director for property David Biggs will also speak. Mark Reynolds CN Summit The main contractor panel will feature Bam Nuttall’s Steve Fox, ISG’s Paul Cossell, Mace’s Mark Reynolds and Ferrovial’s UK & Ireland MD Mario Mostoles. Keynotes on day one will include Gala Coral Group and RAC chairman Rob Templeman speaking about how construction can draw lessons from other industries. Mr Templeman has been the chief executive of some of the UK’s largest firms including Debenhams, Homebase and Halfords. The Times columnist and founder of ConservativeHome, Tim Montgomerie, will address what Brexit will mean for UK politics, the economy and construction. Irvine Sellar Source: Alastair Levy The man behind the Shard, Irvine Sellar, founder and chairman of Sellar Property Group, will also deliver a keynote speech. The CN Summit will be the venue for the launch of the 2016 Construction KPIs report, produced by Glenigan and BRE, at a drinks reception on the evening of day one. The subcontractor panel will feature Keller UK MD Jim De Waele, Keltbray CEO Brendan Kerr and FK Group MD Francis Keenan. Speed dating with clients On the second day, VIP delegates will have the chance to network over breakfast with client leaders including Cliff Jones, head of the construction procurement team at the Department of Health; Phil Sullivan, construction director at Argent; and Deborah McLaughlin, executive director North-west at the Homes and Communities Agency. On day two, Sadie Morgan, co-founding director of dRMM and commissioner on the National Infrastructure Commission, will speak about the vision for national infrastructure in the UK. Former government chief construction adviser Paul Morrell will chair a session on disruptive innovation. The panel will feature Tideway CEO Andy Mitchell, Laing O’Rourke managing director for engineering enterprise Paul Sheffield, and CPA deputy chief executive and policy director Peter Caplehorn. The event’s new Skills Hackathon, in partnership with Build UK, will work collaboratively on day one to generate real-life solutions to the skills challenges that hold businesses back, which will be presented to the whole audience on day two with a commitment to take them forward. A 24-hour tech sprint will also take place, to be judged by a panel including HS2 head of innovation Iain Roche (see judges, below). Plenary sessions will once again be chaired by BBC journalist and Daily Politics host Andrew Neil. Build UK chief executive Suzannah Nichol will also present lessons from the Skills Hack on day one and how delegates should apply them to their businesses Show Fullscreen CN Summit 2016 floorplan Speakers include: Mark Allnutt, managing director, investments, Greystar Europe Miles Ashley, programme director, construction, Transport for London Ian Ballentine, executive procurement director, Heathrow David Biggs, managing director, property, Network Rail Justin Black, development director, Land Securities Simon Blanchflower, major programme director – Thameslink, Network Rail David Brown, chief executive, Transport for the North Jon Clark, director- client relations and business development, Touchstone David Climie, project director – Forth Replacement Crossing, Transport Scotland Karen Cook, founding partner, PLP Architecture Carl Devlin, programme director, Horizon Nuclear Power Michèle Dix, managing director, Crossrail 2 Kevin Dunning, director of network services, London Underground, Transport for London Ged Fitzgerald, chief executive, Liverpool City Council Alex Greaves, head of residential investment, M&G Real Estate Mike Grice, construction director, Battersea Power Station Development Company Annie Hampson, chief planning officer, City of London Clare Hatcher, partner, Clyde & Co Peter Henry, development director, Harworth Simon Hesketh, director of regeneration, U+I Anisa Hussein, associate director – project management, JLL Arran Linton-Smith, senior consultant, Interserve Simon Marshall, director, Scarborough Group Ray Melee, development director, Gatwick Andy Mitchell, chief executive officer, Tideway Suzannah Nichol, chief executive, Build UK Jim O’Sullivan, chief executive, Highways England Jeroen Pat, innovator, TBI Basil Scarsella, chief executive officer, UK Power Networks Alan Shepherd, divisional director, Highways England Laura Shoaf, managing director, Transport for West Midlands Chris Taylor, director for complex infrastructure, Highways England Gavin Taylor, operations director, BCEGI Joanne Wilkins, product development director, Carillion Paul Williams, director, Derwent Trevor Williams, professor, University of Derby and former chief economist at Lloyds Bank Chris Williamson, director, Weston Williamson Tech Sprint Judges Kuldeep Gharatya, head of technical strategy, systems performance and innovation, London Underground Rick Robinson, IT director for smart data and technology, Amey Iain Roche, head of innovation, HS2 Malcolm Taylor, head of technical information, Crossrail Source link
Big property developers are urging chancellor George Osborne to drop his plans to privatise the Land Registry. The British Property Federation said that while the service badly needs investment, privatisation is not the answer. Plans for the £1bn sale were announced in the Queens Speech earlier this month. The measure is to be contained in the Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The chancellor has already been forced into a U-turn once on this issue and pressure is mounting for a repeat. A previous move to privatise the Land Registry by the coalition government was blocked by the then business secretary Vince Cable in 2014. With the LibDems out of the picture, George Osborne is having another crack at it, but not without substantial opposition. A petition against the new move has attracted nearly 300,000 signatures. While some are just opposed to all privatisations, others have specific concerns about what is currently public information about who owns what property no longer being available. All the Land Registry does is store information. A privatised Land Registry will not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. With no possibility to shine a light on the Land Registry, the reputation of the UK – and London in particular – as a safe haven for overseas money launderers and oligarchs will be free to continue unchecked. The specific concern of the British Property Federation (BPF), however, is that they fear investors could be spooked by the perceived threat to the security of property title. Responding to the government consultation on privatisation, the BPF stresses that security of title is one of the big attractions for overseas investors in UK real estate, who have steadily become more important players in the commercial property market. Security of title underpins billions of pounds’ worth of lending to commercial property and if it were undermined in any way, it would make the job of renewing the urban environment considerably more difficult and expensive. The BPF also points out that over the past few years, there has been a noticeable drop in service quality levels at the Land Registry, and that additional investment is badly needed. Chief executive Melanie Leech said: “The Land Registry plays a crucial role in ensuring that real estate transactions are transparent and smoothly effected. It also plays an important part in making the UK attractive to those who invest in our towns and cities. “Our concern would be that in the rush to push through these proposals important questions about the quality of service do not get the airing they deserve. Should the government go ahead with privatisation, it is critical that incentives exist for a new operator to invest in service quality and to retain the Land Registry’s deep pool of legal expertise. The Land Registry is often taken for granted but its activities facilitate important and much-needed regeneration across the country.” This article was published on 27 May 2016 (last updated on 27 May 2016). Source link
The UK’s first dedicated football stadium for women is in discussions to be built at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Scarborough Group International has submitted a planning application for a 3,900-capacity stadium, which would become the new home of Sheffield United Women Football Club. Designing the £5 million (US$6.5m, €5.6m) Stadium will be Whittam Cox Architects, supported by Arup Sheffield. It will feature a single grandstand, housing hospitality and conferencing facilities, as well as office space. “We’re looking forward to working with all Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park stakeholders as we deliver the Community Stadium,” said Mark Jackson at Scarborough Group. “This will be the start of an important phase in realising the vision of the Park, bringing forward significant private sector investment. We plan to start on site as soon as possible, once we have finalised the necessary documentation with Sheffield City Council.” The plans for a dedicated women’s football stadium come two months after Sheffield United Football Club rebranded its female team as Sheffield United Women, ditching the old ‘Sheffield United Ladies’ name. The club said the name change “reflects the club’s position as an emerging presence within the women’s game”. “The owners, board and everyone associated with the club were in favour of the change, as the excitement continues to build about seeing the women’s team mirror the men’s team in playing in the second-tier next season,” said Sheffield United’s chief operating officer, Andrew Birks. “It’s a decision we feel is right to reflect the modern times of the women’s game and we are focused on having an identity and brand consistency when promoting ourselves within the women’s game.” The 60-acre Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park already houses the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS), iceSheffield, Don Valley Bowl, Oasis Academy Don Valley, UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus, 3G pitch and park environment including Outdoor City Run Routes, cycle paths and green open spaces.
Retailer John Lewis has completed the pre-let of Unit 3 at South Central, Southampton, at £9 per sq ft, on a 15-year lease, from Peel Logistics and Rockspring. “We were delighted such a household name as John Lewis chose South Central for their relocation and look forward to securing tenants for the remaining detached units of 40,000 sq ft and 117,000 sq ft which each benefit from high eaves and a secure yard,” said Adrian Whitfield, Director, Industrial and Logistics at Lambert Smith Hampton’s South Coast offices, who advised Peel Logistics. The 46,353 sq ft build-to-suit warehouse facility within South Central will enable John Lewis to deliver a new customer delivery hub service, with additional capacity to service Southampton and the wider south coast region. This facility will replace the retailer’s existing warehouse provision, located nearby in Southampton city centre, with the full relocation expected to be completed by April 2019. “Southampton’s geographic location, infrastructure and industrial heritage makes the city an incredibly desirable place for retailers and manufacturers to position their warehouse and logistics facilities. However, there is a distinct lack of industrial space. At South Central, John Lewis has successfully collaborated with Peel Logistics to strategically build a facility to its exact needs and design which has also been delivered on time and to specification,” said James Haestier, Director, Industrial and Logistics at Colliers International, who advised John Lewis. South Central is a new 205,935 sq ft industrial warehouse development comprising three units that were constructed in July 2018. It is adjacent to J3 of the M27 / M271 motorways and within close proximity to Southampton Port. Colliers International Group Inc. is top tier global real estate services and investment management company operating in 69 countries with a workforce of more than 13,000 professionals. Colliers is the fastest-growing publicly listed global real estate services and investment management company, with 2017 corporate revenues of $2.3 billion ($2.7 billion including affiliates).
Arriva Rail London (ARL), which operates the London Overground on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), is pleased to announce the appointment of Alicia Andrews as the company’s new concession transformation director. “We’re incredibly pleased that Alicia has joined the Arriva Rail London team. Alicia brings great experience in leading innovation and building successful stakeholder relationships with her and her role will be integral as we work to continue to meet the challenge of the current London Overground concession, with the aim of delivering a world-class railway for London,” said Managing Director, Will Rogers. Alicia has almost 30 years of experience in all aspects of strategic and commercial management, having worked at organisations including Condor Ferries, Yell and the Financial Times. As concession transformation director, Alicia is accountable for delivering the commercial strategy for Arriva Rail London, for delivering the business transformation programme as well as stakeholder management. Alicia took up the role, which reports in to managing director Will Rogers, in July 2018. “I am delighted to be joining Arriva Rail London at such an important and exciting time in the company’s development. The Concession Transformation team is tasked to deliver big improvements to the London Overground service like the new LOTrain deployment, and oversees ARL’s programme of work to further enhance our customer’s travel experience. My immediate focus will be on ensuring that we continue to meet and in fact exceed the expectations of our customers and our client,” said Alicia. Prior to her recent appointment, Alicia worked as executive director, commercial at Condor Ferries where she was accountable for passenger ticket and onboard revenues. She was instrumental in the introduction of a new type of ‘fast ferry’ – a stabilised monohull – which is unique in northern Europe. The ship was refitted and brought in to service in just six months from purchase to the first passenger service.
J Tomlinson is undertaking £4m of refurbishment work on student accommodation blocks at the University of Warwick. The scheme is the second completed for the university by the Nottingham-based firm and follows a £1m refurbishment project at the Avon building on the Westwood Campus. In addition, the company has also won a £900,000 contract to replace windows at the university’s conference centre, Scarman, which began at the beginning of August. The latest project involves the full redecoration of around 250 bedrooms and bathrooms, along with communal and circulation spaces, at two of the Arthur Vick accommodation blocks on the university’s main campus in Coventry. This scheme will see major improvement works undertaken within the halls of residence, including the installation of new aluminum windows and en-suite shower rooms, full rewiring of lighting, and new floor coverings throughout each block. It will also include the replacement of sanitary ware, new plumbing and extractor fans to en-suites, fire stopping works, small power, data cabling, sub-mains cabling and fire alarm works, along with a new heat exchanger and ancillary works to the mechanical plant. Work got under way in July and is expected to be completed ready for the start of the new term in early September, in accordance with a 10-week fast-track programme. The contract, which was won following a tender, is being delivered by J Tomlinson’s commercial refurbishment and regeneration teams. J Tomlinson’s construction director, Pete Woods, who heads the refurbishment team, said: “This is our second refurbishment project for the University of Warwick, and follows an earlier scheme at the Westwood Campus. “It is always a ringing endorsement of the standard of work achieved when a client appoints a second and subsequent contract, and J Tomlinson is delighted to once again be supporting the University of Warwick as it invests in and improves its facilities for students.” J Tomlinson, which also has a West Midlands office in Canwell, completed the refurbishment of the Avon building for the university in February this year. It included revamping a café and the Centre for Lifelong Learning, and creating an editing suite, a drama room, green room, family room, and toilets. Jonathon Buckingham, Senior Projects Manager at the University of Warwick, added: “The services-led refurbishment being undertaken at Arthur Vick 1 & 2 will significantly improve the standard of student and conference accommodation for 250 bedrooms and provide the buildings with brand new infrastructure.” J Tomlinson, which was founded in the 1950s, provides a range of integrated building solutions including construction, refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services (M&E), and facilities management. The company operates primarily across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire. It works across all major sectors, including student accommodation, healthcare, social housing, commercial and industrial. For more information about J Tomlinson, visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk.
British Safety Council supports the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s challenge to the government over failure to protect lives The British Safety Council welcomes the challenge to the government that a failure to address the risk to life posed by flammable external cladding, similar to that used on the Grenfell Tower, is a breach of human rights. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has written to the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government (DHCLG) outlining its concerns about the continued use of combustible cladding in existing buildings and advising the department of its responsibilities under human rights laws to protect lives. The Commission has expressed its concern that the consultation on the use of external cladding omits any reference to the government’s duty to protect lives under article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and schedule 1 to the Human Rights Act 1998. “The British Safety Council has participated in the consultation, calling for much tighter building controls, clearer guidance and effective enforcement,” said Lawrence Waterman, Chairman of the British Safety Council. “The EHRC intervention takes a wider view and supports our long-held and consistent argument that health and safety is a crucial underpinning of the human right to life.” He continued: “The British Safety Council vision of no-one being injured or made ill by their work will only be realised when everyone cooperates to defend this basic human right for all. We call on the government to take a much clearer lead and responsibility for past failures to protect life so tragically highlighted by the Grenfell Tower fire.”
A multi-disciplinary construction consultancy is helping to inspire children into construction by backing a new innovative pilot project in Essex. Daniel Connal Partnership, with offices in Colchester, Norwich and London, is supporting Writtle Junior School in Writtle, Chelmsford, on their Junior Hard Hats initiative. Born out of the school’s involvement in the Greenpower – Inspiring Engineers campaign, Junior Hard Hats aims to attract youngsters into construction by involving the students in all aspects of planning, designing and construction of a building as part of the school curriculum. The plans involve an innovative Technology Learning Pod to be built in the school grounds as a pilot project for the charity, with future proposals to roll-out the concept nationwide. The school children have been involved in the whole process including choosing the name of the charity, meeting with planners at the planning department, attending meetings with local Parish Councillors and having a say in the design of the building. Future activities will include pitching the scheme to sponsors, devising a marketing strategy, meeting with bankers, lawyers and industry professionals etc – all supported and mentored by the charity’s trustees. DCP is providing health & safety advice and Construction Design Management (CDM) services on the project. The health and safety team delivered an H&S presentation to Year 6 children, which introduced them to the basics of CDM and site safety. They also provided hands-on first aid training, including the use of a defibrillator. Jonathan Dennis, Partner, at Daniel Connal Partnership, said: “This is an extremely exciting project and one that we are thrilled to be involved in. Inspiring youngsters into construction by addressing the perception of the industry as dirty, dangerous, low paid and male dominated is extremely worthwhile. By doing so, we can hopefully introduce the idea of a career in the construction sector as a credible option for those who may not have considered it before.” Headmaster Nick Taylor said: “This is a truly inspirational project that is capturing the imagination of all our children. It is opening doors to future careers and showing the power of a local community working together. We can’t thank the Daniel Connal Partnership enough for all of their support!” The construction of the pod is currently underway.
Three years on from the launch of Operation Magnify, UK immigration solicitor Anne Morris discusses the current status of illegal working and immigration compliance for UK construction companies. Operation Magnify was announced by the UK government in 2015 as a Home Office campaign targeting employers suspected of using undocumented migrant workers in three ‘high risk’ sectors, which included the construction industry. Construction was considered high risk for illegal working due in large part to the significant number of foreign workers in the industry. Three years on, migrants continue to play a crucial role in construction, with the supply of domestic workers persistently falling short of the industry’s demand. According to the most recent ONS figures, 7% of construction workers in the UK are EU27 nationals and 3% are non-EU. The number of migrant workers alone in the industry creates immigration compliance risks even for law-abiding construction companies duties who may, through reason of scale, be unwittingly employing undocumented workers. Through Operation Magnify, the government sought to raise awareness and catalyse a sense of urgency among construction businesses as to their legal duties in ensuring their workforce – both employees and contractors – are documented and lawfully employed. More than this, the government also looked to address wider issues of national security, to ensure that all workers – particularly those operating on so-called ‘sensitive sites’ such as government land – had been subject to identification checks. Under the initiative, the Home Office contacted construction businesses, requesting data about their current and previous employees and contractors, and carrying out immigration raids on construction sites throughout the UK. A failure of duty? Construction companies, as with all UK employers, are required by law to perform document checks on their workers, confirming their right to work in the UK. If the Home Office finds the company has failed to perform its right to work document checks correctly, whether knowingly or not, they can issue a civil penalty for illegal employment for up to £20,000 per illegal worker, with no cap on the number of fines that can be issued to any one employer. If deemed to be employing an undocumented worker knowingly, this is a criminal offence punishable with up to two years in prison. In addition, there are the risks of business interruption and reputation damage and business interruption where for example the site is closed to allow immigration enforcement officers conduct their investigations. UK construction & migrant workers Construction faces particular challenges in checking that workers have the right to work due largely to the prolific use of subcontractors and agency workers. In addition, smaller projects can be carried out on a less formal basis, with workers brought in briefly and paid cash-in-hand. Immigration law requires a migrant’s ‘main sponsor’, a company registered as such with the Home Office, to conduct right to work checks. This has created a tendency in the construction industry where companies higher up the supply chain, such as a Main Contractor or the client commissioning the project, do not conduct checks on employees who are on their building site but not employed directly. This tendency is exacerbated by construction being a low profit margin and highly time-pressured business. However, failing to check could lead your business to fall foul of the law. This is because UK immigration rules still require companies to demonstrate that they are satisfied that the workers in their supply chain have the legal right to work. UKVI continues to conduct ‘unspecified visits’ to sites – surprise inspections where immigration officers under warrant can ask to see employers’ records and require workers themselves to provide evidence of their right to work. It is essential, though, that construction companies carry out reasonable checks to ensure that migrants have the right to work. Companies must also be able to show that they conduct such checks. In cases where a worker’s visa has expired, the company must show that it is taking steps to rectify the situation, for example by renewing the visa. So again, good record keeping is a must. Conclusion While the noise around Operation Magnify may have quietened, possibly signifying a downgrade in Home Office priority, construction companies should be mindful thayt the government could very well announce changes to immigration rules on the back of the initiative tomorrow. For the time being, immigration compliance duties on employers remain as they stand, meaning construction companies must ensure all those that they work with have the legal right to work in the UK. It is difficult to say conclusively if lessons have been learned and the industry has improved its position on compliance since Magnify – although Home Office civil penalty figures continue to suggest high numbers of UK employers across all sectors are struggling to meet their duties. With changes to UK immigration rules in respect of EU citizens on the horizon, we expect employer right to work checks to continue to be relied on by government as the first line in ensuring all workers have the correct documentation, keeping employer compliance firmly under the Home Office spotlight. Anne Morris is an immigration lawyer and managing director at UK immigration law firm DavidsonMorris.
An exciting chapter awaits modern society as technology transforms city living. Much of what the average citizen has been used to for the past few decades will change. Are you ready for what’s coming? It’s called Smart City living and these developed urban areas will make life easier for everyone involved: Citizens The government that needs to respond to citizens’ needs and requests Visitors to a new city Even the environment will experience some much needed relief So while many believe technology negatively impacts society, a technologically driven Smart city will paint a different picture. And the changes are exciting! Let’s prepare you for what’s to come. What Sparked the Change? Firstly it’s important to understand why this movement should be compulsory for all modern societies. Let’s have respect for the change so we don’t ever abuse it. It’s a known fact that industrialization puts the environment under pressure and technology tends to rule society. Most modern citizens also experience a lot of frustration with local government. The good news is that the smart use of technology can alleviate many of these problems: Less pressure should be placed on the environment and technology enables sustainable infrastructures. When communication tools are used correctly government can draw the right data so they can respond to citizens’ needs more dynamically. Increased contact between the two parties leads to less misunderstandings and frustration. With many cities struggling to meet budget restraints it’s necessary to find cheaper ways of doing things. Technology is the solution here as well. These are the motivations behind Smart City features and why all cities should consider this. If you’re looking for some personal motivation, have a look at these innovations. They’re bound to make your city not only more practical, but much more fun and enjoyable to live in. The Innovations Future Citizens Will Enjoy While some aspects can already be found in some Smart cities such as Amsterdam and Tokyo, other technology is still in development. It’s inspiring to see new inventors of the young generation identifying changes. They grew up in a tech driven society. For them a technologically driven society is the norm and they have fresh ideas on how tech can develop even more for everyone’s benefit. Let’s Cool Down The first thing to understand about advanced cities is that there is an important reason behind every change or invention. These advances in technology aren’t simply fuelled by pleasure or entertainment. One aspect relates to an attempt to cool down modern cities: Some cities attempt to increase tree canopies with 50%. This will look great, but they also add more shade and help temperatures drop. Some buildings can also have gardens and trees on top or on specially designed structures. This helps to keep the building cool. Cities can use unique substances to cover roads instead of tar. When you use lighter shades on roads and sidewalks less heat will be absorbed. Why is this a necessary change? Because urban areas are proven to be hotter than other spaces and because of global warming cities need to find a solution to combat the problem. Another advantage the moment we cool down buildings in alternative ways is that we’ll use air conditioning system less which saves energy. Next Level Automation Speed is a major motivation behind many modern inventions. People want things quickly whether it’s shopping for appliances online or when they’re in the mood for take away food. And what makes things happen faster? When you automate steps in the process. In future most citizens will benefit from faster services. When emergency services don’t have to wait for someone to report a problem or send out personnel to look for challenges—potholes, broken lights or traffic accidents—these disruptions will be dealt with sooner than you’re used to at the moment. Thanks to technology automatic problem reporting becomes a reality. Sensors can tell when it’s time to clean a garbage can or to fix a traffic light without anyone even noticing there’s a challenge yet. Even parking can be sourced and paid for instantly. Get ready to complain less—not more—about your public servants from now on. Data About Everything But what will be behind all these changes? How is it possible? This is one of the main features of a modern cities: Mass collection of data or as it’s called ‘Big Data’. Cities will build infrastructures that enable them to draw this information from features in the city such as traffic. People will also provide data. This happens via SmartPhones, people using public Wi-Fi and accessing cities’ apps for certain services. Tech such as AI can analyze data and draw information which local government can use to everyone’s benefit. Many people fear this will create security risks, but city leaders have already thought of solutions here: Cities can ensure data is anonymized They can focus on data that doesn’t identify individuals Citizens should embrace the opportunity to communicate with authorities more effectively. AI and Machine Learning Are you ready to see the realities of what modern technology can do? Advanced cities will most probably be the environment in which most people will realize the technology they’re used to seeing in movies can actually become part of daily living. Imagine a camera that gives you information about traffic, accidents and more without anyone even looking at the recording. That’s possible when AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning start being used to manage traffic problems. It’s still in its development phases but the technology exists to use CCTV cameras to monitor traffic congestion. AI can analyze movement and gauge what the norm in a certain environment is. The moment there’s a disruption in traffic flow it can send an alert so emergency vehicles can be dispatched. [Conclusion] Doesn’t this excite you? We already allow technology into so many aspects of our lives. Isn’t it time it improves our daily experiences and solves a few problems we’ve been grinding our teeth about for so long? Get ready. The future
