Professor Michael Neuman, Professor of Sustainable Urbanism, hosted a launch event for his new book about sustainable infrastructure for cities and societies.
Dr Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Westminster, hosted the book launch of Professor Neuman’s seventh publication ‘Sustainable Infrastructure for Cities and Societies’ published by Routledge. Professor Kevin Krizek, Jefferson Science Fellow with the US Secretary of State and at the University of Colorado, engaged in discussion with Professor Neuman and Dr Bonfield after a presentation of the origin and content of the book.
Dr Peter Bonfield also stressed the integration of services with infrastructure. He highlighted the emergence of “digital twins” between physical and virtual infrastructures in order to create smart places. Professor Krizek highlighted the myriad flows that “run through the veins of infrastructure” and make cities work. In the discussion, equity and opportunity for all - an outcome of infrastructure that is well planned and designed - emerged as a key topic.
Guests were present in the Orla Gough Lecture Theatre as well as online from the University, the UK, Europe and North America. A lively and extended discussion of the issues raised by the book ensued after the presentation.
Image: Dr Peter Bonfield
At a time when infrastructure is at or near the top of many agendas, Professor Neuman’s timely book offers principles and practices to make cities, economies and societies much more sustainable, competitive and equitable. Professor Neuman is an engineer, designer, planner and social scientist whose infrastructure research and practice has spanned over 35 years across the globe. During the launch event, he sketched his own professional and academic journey through infrastructure. A key theme throughout the event was the integration of infrastructure networks amongst themselves, as well as the urban fabric of neighbourhoods, cities and regions.
Talking about the book, Professor Neuman said: “Cities could not even exist without infrastructure. The central role of infrastructure to cities, and in particular their sustainability, is essential for proper planning and design since most energy and materials are themselves consumed by or through infrastructures. Moreover, infrastructures of all types affect matters of economic and social equity, due to access that they provide or prevent. Sustainable Infrastructure for Cities and Societies shows how fundamental planning, design, finance, and governance principles can be adapted for sustainable infrastructure to provide solutions to make cities significantly more sustainable.”
Watch a video recording of the event on YouTube.
Related articles
