Rethinking Systems: Innovations for a Resilient Future
Arup's "Rethinking Systems" report focuses on developing sustainable and resilient strategies for people, places, and the planet. Key areas explored include:
Covid Response and Resilient Communities
- Covid-19's Impact: Highlighted the significance of interconnected systems in supporting resilient communities and demonstrated the deep consideration required for the effects of actions.
- Interconnection of Nature and Built Environment: Showcased the intricate relationship between natural resources and the built environment, emphasizing the need for a cohesive approach.
Circular Economy
- Shift from Linear to Circular Approach: Advocated for a 'circular' approach over traditional linear models, emphasizing the re-use, recycling, and upcycling of materials.
- Case Study: Sugar Highways: Investigated the potential of using sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) as a neutralizer for acid sulfate soil, offering a sustainable alternative for road infrastructure in Queensland.
Infrastructure and Economic Growth
- Innovative Solutions for Highway Design: Proposed outcome-led design frameworks to enhance highway planning, focusing on sustainability, safety, and economic stimulation.
- Sugar Industry Waste Utilization: Explored the use of SBA waste from the sugar industry as a sustainable material, reducing the carbon footprint of road infrastructure in Queensland.
Outcome-Led Design Framework
- Addressing Infrastructure Challenges: Provided a database of context-specific indicators, interventions, and metrics for highway planners and engineers to make informed decisions aligned with sustainable development goals.
- Yatala South Interchange Upgrade: Demonstrated successful integration of green specifications in early design phases, showcasing the real-world impact of the framework.
Additive Robotic Fabrication
- Opportunities in Construction: Highlighted the potential of digital additive fabrication for sustainable building practices, emphasizing the role of affordable sensing technology and upcycled supply chains in achieving resilience.
- Future of Construction: Suggested that digital design and fabrication offer new architectural possibilities and pathways for embracing the circular economy within the construction industry.
Conclusion
The report underscores Arup's commitment to fostering sustainable change through innovative research and development, focusing on the integration of circular economy principles and outcome-led design frameworks to address pressing challenges in infrastructure and construction. By leveraging advanced technologies and methodologies, Arup aims to transform traditional approaches into more sustainable and resilient solutions, contributing to a healthier planet and thriving communities.
