Streetworks incur very considerable Greenhouse Gas emissions. The global aspiration to move towards Net Zero in this sector, hence minimize climate change, requires carbon dioxide (equivalent) accounting to characterize the problem. Innovative materials, equipment and processes to curtail emissions provide a solution. An optioneering tool, in which the combined effects of cost and carbon can be determined for alternative design options for the components of streetworks projects, is therefore essential.

However, the impacts associated with different design options for streetworks extend beyond the boundaries of their immediate operations (the ‘system of interest’, comprising materials, equipment and activities on site). Streetworks are dependent on, or interdependent with, many of the components of societal systems, natural systems and other infrastructure systems. This interconnectedness spans across different scales and, for example, pose a threat to the make-up and aesthetics of the street scene, to traffic flows and to prosperity by disrupting industry, business and commerce – the adverse consequences to the local area and wider region are many and various. A third dimension of ‘all other consequences’ must be added to cost and carbon in a comprehensive and transparent optioneering tool being created via the Road to Net Zero project (www.roadtonetzero.org.uk).

Allied to optioneering is the need for technological advancements to reduce the impacts of trenching, minimum-dig and trenchless operations, and to develop a new generation of robotic and autonomous systems for largely disruption-free in-service condition assessment and repair – the second point of focus for this presentation, which will also introduce the UK’s National Buried Infrastructure Facility.

ABOUT PROF. CHRIS ROGERS
Chris researches sustainability, resilience and liveability of cities, infrastructure and urban systems, and how systemic changes can be designed and implemented to realise greatest value. He focusses on the ‘urban metabolism’ (all the flows into, around, and out of cities), buried infrastructure and utility services, trenchless technologies, use of underground space and infrastructure systems’ interdependencies. He founded Trenchless Technology Research (now incorporated into Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology). A Lead Expert of the UK Government Foresight Future of Cities project and founder member of the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC), he has been appointed to the UK’s Department for Transport College of Experts.