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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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NEWS: Will the infrastructure sector use its key role to embrace technology?

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Infrastructure must catch up with more technologically advanced sectors and capitalise on its increased role in the UK’s short and long-term plans, according to a new ICE report.

Will the leadership and organisations of the infrastructure sector capitalise on its increased role to close the gap with sectors that have adapted better to growing complexity and technological change?

Infrastructure sector urged to embrace technology

The UK's Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) report  – A systems approach to infrastructure delivery (SAID) – provides guiding principles and recommendations for the leadership, culture and organisation of infrastructure projects.

Among the recommendations is a call for infrastructure to close the gap with sectors that have adapted better to growing complexity and technological change, including oil, gas and aerospace.

The report recommends cherry-picking best practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

With infrastructure at the heart of the UK’s proposed economic recovery plan from Covid-19, and central to the target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the report also calls on owners to clearly define a project’s outcomes and provide direction across the board.

This ranges from functional needs for the operational system to data requirements and gauging appetite for technological and innovation risk.

It follows the publication of the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy last month.

SAID steering group chair and former Systra Group chief operating officer Andrew McNaughton said: “Huge generational challenges, such as Covid-19 and the UK’s commitment to a net zero carbon economy, are adding further layers of complexity to what we as civil engineers do.

“Technology, in areas such as communications, transportation and power generation, distribution and storage, is also evolving at a pace that is forcing change in the design, integration and commissioning of infrastructure systems. The industry has fallen behind, and it has the responsibility now to catch up and provide the infrastructure that the public deserve.”

The report’s steering group features representatives from BAe Systems, the Environment Agency and Heathrow Airport. It makes wider recommendations to government and industry bodies.

These include the development of a construction readiness standard, a post-professional qualification career development pathway for leaders of complex projects and a common approach to data management.

The ICE has begun working through the practicalities of implementing the SAID model and will support a second phase of work to further develop and test its application.

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