By 2050, 75% of the world's population will live in cities. Half already do! The 21st century will be defined as the urban age as the growing global population seeks prosperity in towns and cities across the world. This growth is set against a backdrop of increasing uncertainty in terms of climate, economy, politics, food, water and energy security.
As the engines of national economic growth, cities must compete with each other globally as well as within their own countries. To compete successfully a city must be sustainable and provide a quality of life that matches all expectations. It must have economic vitality, provide social wellbeing and create an environment where people want to live, work and visit and where businesses can operate profitably.
To be sustainable, a city must address environmental, social and economic concerns at the same time as providing the flexibility to adapt to future change and growth, and being connected by state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure. To be attractive it needs individuality, with varied and vibrant communities and must support and promote social inclusion, and the eradication of poverty.
For cities to flourish and succeed in meeting the aspirations of so many, it is the responsibility of engineers to strive to balance society's expectations with what the environment can sustain, while maintaining their economic competitiveness. This means rethinking how cities can be planned and built, their infrastructure and reassessing the role of all those involved in their planning and delivery.
"WSP Future Cities Africa is a service that provides quantified analysis of urban design and infrastructure in sustainability terms, and the delivery of urban solutions for a sustainable future in the natural and built environment," said Eric Noir of WSP Green by Design.
According to presentations delivered by thought leaders at the launch, WSP has done a lot of thinking around this. Through the Future Cities business, they aim to make an important contribution in helping their clients transform existing urban areas and develop new cities. WSP's Future Cities approach also includes tackling social issues. "Two percent of the built environment is designed by architects. The informal must be accounted for," said Richard Palmer, WSP's specialist in precinct analysis, during his presentation.
For more information, contact Annemie Cowley on az.oc.puorGPSW@yelwoC.eimennA.
