In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently […]
Smart cities for 11 billion people: Mitchell Joachim at TEDxBerlin Read More »
Massoud Amin witnessed the 1977 NYC blackout, the 9/11 tragedies near DC, and the collapse of the I-35W bridge. He works on enabling smart, secure and resilient infrastructures. He leads extensive projects in smart grids and is considered the “father of smart grid.” He holds the Honeywell/H.W. Sweatt Chair in Technological Leadership at the University
About the Speech: Simon Giles discussed the opportunities presented by ‘Smart’ cities — urban spaces that harness the latest ICT developments to deliver more efficient and sustainable services and infrastructure. From electric cars to e-health services to energy-efficient buildings that use ‘smart’ meters, intelligent cities comprise a wide range of innovations that can be of
Simon Giles on Developing Intelligent Cities: Smart, Sustainable Urban Spaces Read More »
http://www.weforum.org The world urbanises at a rate of a million people per week. What challenges does this create? Is there an optimal size for a city? What does this mean for governments and business?
Infrastructure and Urban Development Read More »
A new report by IBM entitled “A Vision for Smarter Growth: an IBM Smarter Cities Report on Accra, Ghana” highlights how the rapidly emerging West African city should turn to technology to transform its key urban systems. Based on the opinions of local experts from across public and private sectors the report identifies transportation, energy
Smarter Cities, Accra, Ghana Read More »
The use of mapping technology can enhance preparedness activities by helping Red Cross national societies and other partners visualize hazards and risk factors. In the towns of Lira and Gulu, Uganda, where the majority of residents live in thatched-roof huts, fire is a common hazard. Here digital maps are being used to help prepare for
Using Maps to Prepare in Uganda Read More »
In coastal Ecuador, tourism is an important part of the local economy. Prone to earthquakes and tsunamis, community members have made it a priority to keep tourists safe from natural disasters during their visit. In the Santa Elena province, through the Latin America Risk Reduction Activity (LARRA) project, the American and Ecuadorian Red Cross teach
Protecting the Tourist Economy in Coastal Ecuador Read More »
This document has been produced as a response to calls from industry – infrastructure owners, investors and insurers – for a Government vision and policy on adapting infrastructure to climate change. It is designed to catalyse action to adapt infrastructure in the energy, ICT, transport and water sectors (infrastructure networks). It makes the case for action, identifies who
Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Preparing for a Changing Climate Read More »
This paper outlines the infrastructure resilience strategy of the Australian government. It examines a wide range of key issues including networks, supply chains, shared risk, cross-secotral approaches, and knock-on effects. Commonwealth of Australia 2010 Online version of report http://www.tisn.gov.au/Documents/Australian+Government+s+Critical+Infrastructure+Resilience+Strategy.pdf
Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy Read More »
Making infrastructure resilient to natural disasters is a daunting challenge, not least because of the vast area of coverage that includes transport, electricity, water supply and sanitation, and buildings and other structures. Resilience refers to a system’s ability to anticipate, absorb, and recover from a hazardous event in a timely and efficient manner (IPCC 2012).
Making Infrastructure Disaster-Resilient Read More »