GLOBE-Net, July 17, 2012 - Earlier this
month KPMG's Global Infrastructure Practice unveiled the
second edition of the
Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition -
a high-profile report showcasing 100 of the most innovative and
inspiring urban infrastructure projects from around the
world.
Released at the recent World Cities Summit in
Singapore, this edition provides insight into the
infrastructure projects that make great cities, with a particular
focus on the innovations that make them 'Cities of the Future' -
places where people want to live and do business.
Two Vancouver projects made the Infrastructure 100 list
- The University of British Columbia's (UBC)
Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility in Vancouver and
Harvest Power's Energy Garden in Richmond. (See GLOBE-Net article
"
Vancouver infrastructure projects receive global
recognition."
The development of sustainable urban infrastructure is one of
the greatest challenges of the 21st century. With more than half of
the global population already squeezed into cities that,
collectively, make up less than two percent of the plant's land
cover1, the pressure
now being placed on urban infrastructure is unprecedented.
This worldwide demand for infrastructure is expected to require
the investment of tens of trillions of dollars over the next four
decades in order to create and maintain sustainable and
highly-livable urban areas that balance the needs of the
population, the economy and the environment.
"Existing urban infrastructure is in
urgent need of revitalization, and demands for new infrastructure
have skyrocketed to meet the basic needs of growing populations.
The world's cities are already home to more than half the world's
population, and that number is expected to jump by more than 3
billion by 2050." Nick Chism, KPMG's Global Head of
Infrastructure.
"The World Cities Edition looks specifically at the challenges
faced by cities around the world and features 100 innovative
projects that can inspire readers to conceive, finance and develop
infrastructure projects that make a positive difference to the
cities we live in."
From managing exploding urban population growth to updating
aging infrastructure or effectively managing a declining population
and tax base, each region of the world faces major infrastructure
challenges that must be met in order to ensure the economic health
of the region.
"Cities are playing an ever more important part in their
country's economy. However, current global economic conditions and
austerity measures have resulted in a need to identify innovative
infrastructure solutions to deliver the required investments," said
James Stewart, KPMG's Chairman of Global Infrastructure.
"Strategic city infrastructure projects are
delivering economic renewal by connecting communities and
increasing jobs while delivering tangible long-term impacts and
growth. But the importance of investing in sound, smart
infrastructure cannot be overstated."
Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition
The projects showcased in the Infrastructure 100 are made up of
approximately 20 projects selected by independent judging panels of
industry experts from five regions of the world, including: Asia
Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East
and Africa.
Projects were then sorted into 10 project categories, including:
Urban Mobility, Global Connectivity, Urban Regeneration, Education, Healthcare, Water, New and Extended Cities, Recycling and Waste Management, Urban Energy Infrastructure, and Communications Infrastructure.
Five regional judging panels assessed hundreds of submissions on
the following criteria: feasibility, social impact, technical
and/or financial complexity, innovation and impact on society. Of
the 100 projects identified by the regional judging panels, 10 were
selected by a global judging panel as being the most noteworthy
within each project category. The 2012 feature projects
include:
- Urban Mobility: East Side Access, New York City, United States of
America
- Global Connectivity: Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Delhi to Mumbai,
India
- Urban Regeneration: Oresund Regional Development, Denmark and
Sweden
- Education: Princess Nora Bint AbdulRahman University for
Women, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Healthcare: Royal London Hospital, London, UK
- Water: Tuas II Desalination Plant, Tuas,
Singapore
- New and Extended Cities: Tianjin Eco City, Tianjin, China
- Recycling and Waste Management: Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, Kranji to Changi,
Singapore
- Urban Energy Infrastructure: Cidade Inteligente, Búzios, Brazil
- Communications Infrastructure: BRICS Cable Project, South Africa and
Mauritius
View a complete list of the 100 projects online at: www.kpmg.com/infrastructure100.