Sustainable urban infrastructure can have a profound effect on reducing a city’s environmental footprint, such as major ring roads (also referred to as orbitals, beltways or perifico roads) that alleviate congestion and air pollution by encouraging non-motorized transportation modes such as bicycles.
Examples include adopting energy-efficient building standards, installing electric vehicle charging stations, and supporting urban agriculture as these projects enhance ecological services while simultaneously decreasing health risks and stimulating economic development.
Water
Sustainable urban infrastructure strives to be adaptable to future environmental, social and economic demands by including green infrastructure in planning. This may involve urban green spaces, green roofs and stormwater infrastructure as well as wetlands or lakes as a part of sustainable planning strategies.
Research demonstrates that incorporating nature into urban infrastructure increases sustainability, reduces costs and strengthens climate resilience. Furthermore, such strategies may contribute to meeting global climate goals while simultaneously supporting transition towards more sustainable cities.
Water conservation is an essential element of sustainable urban infrastructure, and new technologies and practices make saving water easier than ever before. Furthermore, utilities now can easily track non-revenue water (loss due to leakage and other sources) with precise data monitoring systems.
Georgia Tech researchers are widely respected experts on large infrastructure systems like energy production and distribution networks, water systems and structures and buildings. Their work emphasizes quality growth as they promote environmental, social and economic sustainability simultaneously in cities, communities and rural settings.
Energy
Georgia Tech researchers are pioneers in their analysis of complex infrastructure systems such as energy production and power grids, water and sewage systems, transportation networks and communication channels, structures and buildings and more. Their work places a particular focus on quality growth while simultaneously improving energy production, mobility, housing accessibility and health benefits simultaneously.
Sustainable urban infrastructures employ green technologies that minimize environmental impact. For instance, increasing building energy efficiency reduces carbon dioxide emissions and waste generation while employing alternative sources like wind or solar provide even further assistance.
Other methods for fostering sustainability include creating urban green spaces such as parks, green roofs, gardens and other open areas that reduce pollution through urban green initiatives such as parks, green roofs, gardens or any open areas; such initiatives bring multiple advantages: they reduce air pollution while simultaneously improving public health and fostering biodiversity. Incorporating alternative transport such as electric cars into transport systems to help mitigate air pollution emissions as well as greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts can further assist sustainability goals. Finally, increasing resilience against natural disasters through enhanced stormwater drainage or stronger buildings is another crucial aspect of sustainability that must be implemented.
Transportation
To maintain cities and their populations, investing in sustainable transport resources is paramount. These can include multiple modes of public transit like trains, buses and bike lanes that can adapt to changes in energy availability and prices.
Integrating nature into urban infrastructure planning is essential to creating sustainable cities. This strategy, known as building with rather than against nature, can take many forms including natural vegetation or engineered systems such as rain gardens, green roofs, bioswales and wetlands that provide water quality, air quality, biodiversity protection as well as climate change mitigation/adaption services.
Many cities are already making great strides toward environmental sustainability. Copenhagen, for instance, now sees more bicycles than cars by an astonishing five to one ratio and has set out an ambitious carbon emissions reduction program, including encouraging cycling and mandating that EV charging stations be installed in garages and parking lots.
Waste Management
Waste management entails creating systems for waste reduction, reuse and recycling that minimize their environmental impact. Practices using sustainable energy and water consumption reduce pollution levels and improve quality of life for citizens in cities around the world.
Greensburg, Colorado has taken an innovative approach to combat urban flooding by converting cement and tarmac built areas into absorbent rain gardens, which serve multiple functions and promote resilience by mitigating climate change impacts while adapting to its effects. This solution is one among many that contribute to city resilience through mitigating climate change impacts while adapting to them.
Civil engineering services help build infrastructure that promotes sustainability. Such systems include waste collection and recycling programs, renewable energy production systems, green transportation networks and more.
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is an online tool that enables users to track sustainability data over time and benchmark performance of an entire portfolio of buildings. You can use it to monitor waste reduction programs that may lead to improved energy efficiency and reduced environmental footprint.