Engineering the Future of Our Cities

Imagine a society where everyone has access to safe public spaces, an affordable place to live, reliable transportation, and the benefits of a diverse economy. To many, this may sound like wishful thinking, but engineers across the globe endeavor to make this ambition a reality.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) issued a grade for America’s infrastructure. As of 2021, America’s infrastructure has been assigned an overall grade of C minus, with schools, transit systems, waste disposal, and public parks receiving a grade of D. These issues are ones that are found worldwide in urban settings, and with a recent, rapid increase in urbanization, these problems will only worsen without adequate solutions (ASCE, 2021).

University of Illinois researchers discovered that outdoor greenery resulted in a stronger sense of community amongst neighbors, along with lower stress levels, and reduced crime rates. However, many current public spaces appear to be having the opposite result (City Parks Forum Briefing Papers, 2003). The Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a non-profit organization dedicated to building stronger communities through improved planning, describes ways that engineers can design parks to discourage crime and increase the utilization of public spaces through a simple change in layout. This can be done by, among other things, proper selection of location to increase visibility and optimized light placement. While many of these may seem like minor changes, they can have a significant impact on one’s decision on whether to make use of public spaces (PPS, 2008).

The key components of optimal construction technologies are: increased affordability, energy efficiency, and structural integrity. Dr. Michael P. Johnson, Professor and Chair in the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs at The University of Massachusetts, Boston, describes engineers' usage of computer simulation methods to compare predictive energy savings from new designs to actual results. Engineers optimize space usage through the use of architectural techniques to maximize solar exposure as well as implementing compact floor plans. Application of these strategies to a specially-designed house resulted in a 46% decrease in energy usage compared to the U.S. average (Johnson, n.d.).

Increased energy efficiency can be achieved in public parking spaces, as well. Alicia Asin and David Gascón are co-founders of Libelium, a company that uses radar technology to detect open parking spaces with 99% accuracy through nodes installed underground. By reducing the average time searching for a parking spot, carbon emissions decrease, urban mobility (one aspect of which is the efficient movement of people from one location to another) increases, and traffic volumes are reduced. Elsewhere in Ontario, Canada, engineers also looking to increase urban mobility, created Starfinder, a program used to manage public transportation and create real-time locations to increase transit efficiency (Engineering for Change, 2020).

However, every solution to a current problem introduces a potential set of new problems that need to be addressed. Fifty percent of the world’s population live in cities and that number is drastically increasing, with these cities accounting for 75% of the planet's carbon footprint. To combat this, engineers are working to find renewable and sustainable resources. The City of Hillsboro, Oregon, recently implemented “In-PRV,'' a new technology that produces carbon-free energy through excess water pressure in pipes. Eric Hielema, P.E., an engineer manager who worked on the project describes this pressure as potential energy. As this energy builds in the pipes, it is typically released before the water continues to homes and businesses. However, the In-PRV converts this pressure to electricity. Not only does this provide carbon-free energy, but it also has the potential to lower the cost of water systems as it is self-sustainable (Cardno, 2021).

Rapid urbanization continues to challenge the quality of life in cities, even more so due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Civil engineers are dedicated to the task of improving living conditions and securing affordable, sustainable, and efficient quality living spaces for the benefit of generations to come.

Bibliography

ASCE's 2021 American Infrastructure Report Card | GPA: C-. ASCE's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card |. (2021). Retrieved 29 January 2022, https://infrastructurereportcard.org/.
This is a report card issued annually by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). It describes the average current state of cities in the United States. I was very surprised to discover that our current infrastructure only has a grade of a C minus.

Cardno, C. (2021). Technology: Microhydropower project launched in Oregon. Asce.org. Retrieved 29 January 2022, https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/issues/magazine-issue/article/2021/03/microhydropower-project-launched-in-oregon
This source described a prototype of a new way to produce power through converting water pressure in pipes to electricity. This prototype is self-sustainable and contributes to a potentially carbon-free future through renewable energy sources.

Cities - United Nations Sustainable Development Action 2015. United Nations Sustainable Development. (2022). Retrieved 29 January 2022, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/cities/
This source issued by the United Nations gives background information on the growing need for innovations in cities. It provides quantitative information about the current state of cities and the detrimental effects of rapid urbanization on the future, assuming there is no change in energy production. Seeing just how massive of a carbon footprint cities have in contrast to other, non-urban areas peaked my interest in this topic.

Eight Innovations Changing Urban Mobility and Transportation | Engineering For Change. Engineering For Change. (2020). Retrieved 29 January 2022, https://www.engineeringforchange.org/news/eight-innovations-changing-urban-mobility-transportation/.
This source describes some innovations made to increase urban mobility in recent years. I found the impact some of the simplest ideas, such as tracking public transportation or traffic more effectively and reporting it to people, can have on the environment of cities to be very thought-provoking.

How Cities Use Parks to Create Safer Neighborhoods. Brec.org. (2003). Retrieved 2 February 2022, https://www.brec.org/assets/General_Info/Why_R_Parks_Important/Papers/Parks-Create-Safer-Neighborhoods.pdf.
This source describes the benefits of parks in communities and why we should improve the design of our current parks.

Johnson, M. Engineering-Based Methods for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Community Development. Citeseerx.ist.psu.edu. Retrieved 31 January 2022, https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.91.4682&rep=rep1&type=pdf
This source shows how engineers are using technology to help create more efficient and affordable housing for all. I found it very interesting to see how engineers use natural resources, such as natural lighting, to their advantage in housing.

What Role can Design Play in Creating Safer Parks?. Pps.org. (2008). Retrieved 2 February 2022, https://www.pps.org/article/what-role-can-design-play-in-creating-safer-parks.
This source describes some of the current issues with parks, with emphasis on how to improve upon their safety through design.