urban sustainability

Circular ripples on water surface representing urban water reuse, recycling, and closed-loop water systems.

Urban Water Reuse Systems: Building Resilience in Water-Stressed Cities

Cities in arid and water-stressed regions face growing pressure to reduce potable water demand while supporting population growth. Urban water reuse...
Robert C. Brears
4 min read
Engineer testing and calibrating an autonomous drone with VR headset for sewer inspection technology.

Autonomous Drones and AI Transform Sewer Inspections

With rising populations, denser cities, and climate change impacts, managing water and wastewater systems is becoming more complex. Sewer maintenance, once...
Robert C. Brears
4 min read
Automated robotic arms tending to rows of leafy green crops in a high-tech indoor vertical farming system with multiple layers of plants.

The Rise of Vertical Farming: Sustainable Solutions for the Future of Agriculture

Vertical farming grows crops in stacked layers inside climate-controlled buildings, making the most of space and resources. Perfect for cities, this...
Robert C. Brears
4 min read
Aerial view of suburban homes with tree-lined streets illustrating residential areas that could benefit from Blue-Green Infrastructure for stormwater management.

Scaling Up Blue-Green Infrastructure: How Stormwater Credit Trading Drives Sustainable Urban Water Management

Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) blends nature and engineering to manage stormwater sustainably in cities. It reduces runoff, improves water quality, and boosts...
Robert C. Brears
4 min read
Water ripple symbolizing clean and recycled water resources

Water Recycling for Security: Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Future

Water recycling is vital for securing reliable water supplies as cities grow, the climate changes, and urban demand increases. By treating...
Robert C. Brears
4 min read

Berlin’s climate neutral action plan

Berlin is serious about climate protection with the Berlin Energy Turnaround Act committing the city to achieving climate neutrality by 2050....
Robert C. Brears
2 min read

Helsinki’s Cool Green Factor

Helsinki has released its new City Plan which sets the direction of the city’s growth over the next 30 years and...
Robert C. Brears
1 min read

Melbourne’s water-efficient future

Between now and 2050, Melbourne’s population is projected to reach 8 million, up from its current 4.5 million inhabitants. To guide...
Robert C. Brears
2 min read

HafenCity: A resilient European city on the waterfront

Globally, rising urban populations are increasing the number of people, and the amount of infrastructure, exposed to climate change-related extreme weather...
Robert C. Brears
2 min read

Transforming Toronto’s future

Urban areas account for 54% of the world’s population in 2014, yet cities account for 70-75% of natural resource consumption and...
Robert C. Brears
1 min read