Sustainable urban infrastructure research is an evolving field of engineering research that draws inspiration from social and environmental sciences as well as governance systems for facilities and utilities that function sustainably.
Porous surfaces such as streets, roads and parking lots absorb rainwater quickly and replenish underground water sources; while tree-lined streets and parks reduce noise pollution and build community identity.
Education
Urban infrastructure is an expansive concept, covering engineered facilities and utilities as well as social and environmental elements. However, it is essential to recognize that none of these aspects is approached in isolation: any action in one sector are likely to have ripple effects across others (for instance switching to low carbon energy may reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality; but doing so also results in higher electricity costs and slower economic growth – with poorer groups more vulnerable than average being affected by climate change-related health impacts (Buonocore et al. 2016).
System thinking approaches must be utilized in order to effectively address interconnections. For instance, installing solar-powered streetlights will lower energy costs and GHG emissions while increasing walking to work rates, improving physical activity levels, which ultimately supports planet health by decreasing noncommunicable diseases.
Infrastructure
Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) is increasingly recognized as an essential element of city life and plays a central role in sustainable urban development (SD). UGI includes natural elements structured in various forms (urban squares, street tree lines, parks and horticultural gardens). They serve multiple ecological functions while providing ecosystem services (ES).
This emerging field combines engineering processes with urban and environmental planning. The current emphasis lies on designing and implementing sustainable infrastructure at the meso level of city governance “regime”. Few studies have integrated all three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social and economic), though 20% out of 195 papers did so (39 papers); the remaining 81 focused only on studying one or more aspect.
Energy
Sustainable urban infrastructures must become global norms to meet climate targets set forth by the Paris Agreement, ensure strong local communities, and tackle global inequities. Doing so can reduce carbon-based energy emissions, create quality jobs and mitigate any impact caused by extreme weather events on urban infrastructures.
Sustainable urban infrastructure encompasses various networks that supply water, electricity, waste collection and disposal facilities as well as information and transportation facilities to urban populations. Such networks play a crucial role in maintaining urban life while contributing significantly to depletion of natural resources, waste production and emissions leading to air pollution.
Sustainability solutions at a metropolitan scale can greatly improve infrastructure layout and operation. This may involve creating a circular economy and finding innovative ways to include citizens in decision-making; multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) may be one such approach.
Transportation
Transport systems are integral to city life, enabling people access to what they value and need in daily life. Yet mobility infrastructures also produce emissions contributing to climate change.
Transport systems are complex, multifaceted networks which involve many stakeholders who each hold different priorities, normative assumptions and power/resource differentials. Transportation is thus an ideal arena to address sustainability initiatives by shifting discourses and action.
As urban populations expand, it becomes ever more essential for the planning and construction of sustainable urban infrastructure to reflect the needs of residents. New tools that help prioritize public works projects more effectively; systemsic assessment methodologies; holistic finance strategies can all assist. It may even include including nature-based infrastructure (NBI) into cityscape designs like green streets, wetlands, bioretention areas or rooftop gardens as part of this goal.
Water
Water is a vital element of sustainable urban infrastructure and plays a pivotal role in keeping cities healthy. Water facilitates life, economy and nature all at the same time; therefore making its sustainable management central to city living (Boyle et al. 2018).
The FP5 PETUS project inventory of methods and tools for urban infrastructure assessment comprises basic evaluation techniques with both environmental and economic/social considerations in mind, tailor-made to the unique requirements of urban infrastructure projects – combined with other approaches if necessary.
Building with nature rather than against it offers cost-effective and climate-resilient infrastructure services for cities. This is particularly applicable to nature-based infrastructure (NBI) such as green parks, gardens and wetlands; as well as engineered NBI like rain gardens or green roofs.