Sustainability in infrastructure

Sustainable infrastructure supports, protects and connects places and people. It drives growth, increases productivity, promotes health and well-being, and is crucial when considering investment.

Infrastructure must be sustainable if it is to benefit multiple generations and make a positive contribution to our future. This section recognises that to do so it must be affordable and take full account of its own operational and life cycle impact.

After outlining various types of infrastructure at a high level, the section introduces relevant concepts such as critical infrastructuregreen infrastructure and the move towards digital integration (smart infrastructure). Climate change and resilience are then considered before design is discussed in terms of satisfying key social, economic and environmental conditions (the ‘triple bottom line’ of sustainability). The final parts of this section relate to setting standards that meet key targets for reducing carbon, and a look at the transition to electric vehicles and the challenges this brings. 

This section is maintained by Steve Pimlott of Fillip Advisory Services Ltd.

Disclaimer:  Any views or opinions expressed in this section are solely the views of the author and must not be taken to be the views of Arup or any other organisation. Arup makes no representations, warranties or assurances concerning any information provided in this section and accepts no responsibility for content and/or accuracy contained therein.

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