ARCC news July 2014
ARCC network news & events
OpenARCC – data and information management advice now available
The ARCC network has launched a blog, OpenARCC, to provide advice and guidance on how to share and archive research data, documents and project websites. It includes summaries of best practice and links to more detailed information, with further content to be added over the summer. The blog aims to support researchers who want to share or publish more of their outputs, and to help other ARCC network members find this information. Readers can post their experiences, comment on content and add their datasets to the ARCC data list.
The material gathered here will inform the development of a strategy for an ARCC data and information system. This will provide long-term access to research outputs, and is most likely to make use of existing search and repository facilities. For more information contact Fiona Hewer, data & information strategy officer at fiona.hewer@ukcip.org.uk.
Knowledge exchange skills development workshop for Early Career Researchers
The second in our series of 2-day events for ECRs will be on 9-10 October 2014 in York. Continuing the theme of knowledge exchange, we will be focussing on stakeholder engagement, and once again offering a mix of practical sessions and discussion. Participants will get a better understanding of the benefits and challenges of working closely with stakeholders, which they can apply to their own research activities. The event is open to early career researchers working on EPSRC-funded projects on adaptation in the built environment and infrastructure sectors. There is no charge for attending this event. Register or find out more.
Find us on Facebook
ARCC network now has a Facebook page, where we will provide regular updates of activities, news, tweets and more. It complements our other online offerings – www.arcc-network.org.ukand @ARCC_CN on Twitter.
Project news & events
ITRC researcher wins Young Scientist prize
Congratulations to Scott Thacker, PhD student working on the UK Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium (ITRC) project, who has been presented with the Young Scientist Award at the International Conference on Vulnerability and Risk Analysis and Management(ICVRAM2014). The award is for his conference presentation on the vulnerability of the British electricity network to climate risks.
International Symposium for Next Generation Infrastructure (ISNGI)
30 September – 1 October 2014, Vienna, Austria
A number of researchers working on projects in the ARCC network will be sharing their work at the ISNGI event. It aims to support the rapidly expanding international research community seeking to understand the interactions between infrastructure, the population it serves, the environment in which it functions, technology and the economy. Registration is now open at and attendence costs €500, or €400 for PhD students and those newly-qualified.
Other news & events
Call for views – adaptation in London
The London Assembly Economy and Environment Committees are seeking written views and information for their current investigation into how London is responding to the challenges of climate change and severe weather episodes. Information submitted to this investigation will help to shape the recommendations the Committees make to the Mayor of London. The deadline for contributions is 12 September 2014. In the autumn there will be hearings with invited guests to discuss the issues raised.
- GLA Assembly: Facing the challenge of severe weather and climate change (pdf, 380 KB)
- GLA Assembly: Call for views and information: London’s reseponse to severe weather and climate change (pdf, 340 KB)
Infrastructure updates could add £250bn to consumer bills
The UK’s Public Accounts Committee has published its report looking at the impact of investment in infrastructure and the impact on consumers. The Committee estimates that £250 billion of the total £375 billion required maintain the UK’s infrastructure will come via consumer bills. It provides valuable context for those ARCC network projects working on the resilience of infrastructure to climatic and other changes.
UK cities can drive creation of renewed infrastructure network
A new report argues that the UK’s cities – excluding London – could help to deliver a robust infrastructure network. It has been produced by the City Growth Commission, which brings together representatives from business, academia and the public sector. Connected Cities – the link to growth is the second of three publications to be produced by the Commission, and recommends that city leaders are given the liberty to be innovative and engaged in the provision of new infrastructure. The report argues that with less centralised decision-making, and more input from cities, these areas can make a greater contribution to national economic performance.
Civil engineers call for greater resilience in UK infrastructure
The Institute of Civil Engineers has published its assessment of the resilience of the UK’s infrastructure, in its annual State of the Nation series. The report concludes that some risks to infrastructure, for example, extreme events, climate change and interdependencies, are not sufficiently considered. The report calls for an enabling policy context to help providers deliver a robust future infrastructure. The report identifies energy, flood management and local transport as being at particular risk. The main report is accompanied by several area reports (English regions and Northern Ireland).
Adaptation progress in UK – latest update
The Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change launched its annual progress report earlier this month. The report includes a focus on health and well-being, infrastructure and business. Key recommendations from the ASC include: adaptation measures to prevent over-heating of buildings and the risks to health, more action to safeguard infrastructure – particularly in the water, transport and telecoms sectors – and further investment in flood defences.
Adaptive management for coasts
The Living with Environmental Change programme (LWEC) has published its tenth policy and practice note. New tools to improve the management of the coastal environment (pdf, 3.2 MB) shows how new approaches can assist national decision-makers.
- LWEC: Policy & practice notes
Green and cool roofs can reduce UHI at city-scale
New research suggests that green roofs and cool (e.g. white) roofs can help to reduce the urban heat island effect. While it has been possible to measure the impact of green and cool roofs on individual buildings, researchers in the US believe that they have developed a model that can show how green and cool roofs can contribute to a reduction in temperatures at the city-scale.
- Environment Research Letters: The effectiveness of cool and green roofs as urban heat island mitigation strategies
Management of weather events in the transport system (MOWE-IT) regional conference
4–5 September 2014, London
The MOWE-IT project, an EU research programme to help the transport sector to manage the impact of disasters and extreme weather, is to hold one of its three final dissemination eventsin London. Aimed at stakeholders from transport, risk management and logistics, the event focuses on rail and waterborne transport. Registration is now open.