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Our cities consume over two-thirds of the world’s energy and account for more than 70% of CO₂ emissions. From powering our homes, to traffic and pollution, cities face major challenges in achieving net zero targets.

The first step on this path is to understand how cities function. If we know how resources are used, we can put in place measures to mitigate the impact on the environment and reduce CO₂ emissions.

Experts from the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering are doing just that. The Urban Flows Observatory aims to understand how the energy and material resources of a city can be effectively measured, understood and utilised. Researchers are using ��«Ӱҵ as a testbed by deploying mobile and fixed sensors around the city to improve our understanding of the physical processes.

The research is building a complete picture of ��«Ӱҵ by measuring aspects such as the heat signatures of buildings, building materials the city is made up of, air quality and the electricity and gas demand in different neighbourhoods. 

This knowledge is providing evidence to facilitate local and national decision making, supporting the creation of zero-carbon, healthy, happy cities.

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Regenerate tool enables construction designers to engage with the circular economy

The research team in the Urban Flows Observatory, led by Dr Danielle Densley Tingley, have developed a new tool that can help in the design and refurbishment of more sustainable buildings. The Regenerate tool can be used by designers to measure how their building projects fit into a circular building framework.

Dr Densley Tingley said: “The built environment is responsible for around 60 percent of the UK’s material consumption, and approximately 30 percent of its waste production. To reduce the impact, and meet urgent net zero carbon targets we must embed circular economy principles in the construction sector. Requiring a circular economy statement as part of planning applications would encourage designers to embed circular principles at an early design stage.”

The framework consists of a series of Circularity Criteria (CCs), which are split into four categories: design for adaptability, design for deconstruction, circular materials and resource efficiency. These criteria are then applied to the core building layers.

The framework can be applied to all building types and also provides practical examples and case study references. The tool highlights design strategies that should be embedded into a construction project to ensure that the least material is used, over multiple lifecycles.

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Assessing vertical extensions of existing buildings for a more sustainable future

Researchers are seeking to understand the potential of vertical extension as part of a sustainable post COVID-19 recovery and beyond.

mean that many existing buildings may now be extended by up to 2 storeys without the requirement for a formal planning application. These changes have been made to address the housing crisis whilst avoiding the consumption of undeveloped land, and will serve to mitigate urban sprawl and generate a more sustainable urban form. 

Despite these benefits, awareness and adoption of vertical extension remains limited amongst the construction sector. Researchers are now working to improve understanding around this construction technique. 

A key element of this is the consideration of the awareness, understanding and perceptions of key stakeholders through a series of industry-centred investigations. An forms the first part of this. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and is relevant to all parties involved in the planning, design, or construction process, as well as those working within research, development and academia.

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Funding

The Urban Flows Observatory is funded through EPSRC capital support totalling £1.5million, with an additional £400k for an Urban Remote Sensing vehicle which is shared with partner UKCRIC Universities. ��«Ӱҵ has further supported Urban Flows with an additional £300k towards both equipment and a technical manager.