Open KE Fellowship - MEDIATE: Overcoming barriers to MaximisE Data potential for better blue-green-grey InfrAsTructurE
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
Abstract
Data underpins our business and economy and can be collected by everything and everyone from lampposts to professors. By sharing these datasets between public and private sector organisations and businesses it is possible to generate significant extra socio-economic benefits for the UK economy and its citizens. This is particularly true for infrastructure owners and operators who collect similar datasets (e.g. meteorological data) and face similar 21st Century challenges and opportunities. Better knowledge exchange and data-sharing between these separate businesses and organisations can: improve operational procedures; drive new solutions; and foster joined up response to common environmental problems such as air quality, extreme weather events or longer-term climatic change.
A cross-disciplinary approach is also crucial to limit cascade failures and build resilience across the infrastructure system as a whole. For example, a failure in the electricity network could impact the transport sector by stopping electrified trains or causing black-outs along streets or motorway. Or a dam failure could flood the nearby road and railway line. Cascade failures are particularly disruptive in urban areas which have a high population density and critical infrastructure like railway stations or energy substations.
Considering blue and green infrastructure is also vital for whole systems approach. For example, flooding and vegetation (leaves on the line, debris following high winds) often cause disruption for operators such as Network Rail; in urban areas vegetation aids storm water management by increasing infiltration and reducing run-off into urban sewers. Trees can 'scrub' the atmosphere and improve air quality and psychological well-being for inhabitants.
Although data-sharing across the infrastructure sector is clearly advantageous, in practice a range of different barriers can stop this from happening. This KE Fellowship (MEDIATE) will demonstrate the added value that intelligent data-sharing can bring. It has two work programs with two different groups of non-academic partners who are not maximising the potential of their existing datasets for a range of different reasons. Overcoming the barriers to sharing their datasets will generate socio-economic benefits as outlined below.
Work Program One focuses on green and blue infrastructure and will facilitate the creation of a scientific evidence base and new network to support Birmingham City Council's Natural Health Improvement Zones. MEDIATE will initiate the development of the evidence base, and set-up a network to maintain it long-term. This will have impact at local-scale by: providing the evidence base necessary to inform blue-green planning, ultimately to improve air quality and citizen health; and, at national and international scales by providing a case study of how to evaluate blue-green improvement schemes.
Work Program Two focuses on the grey infrastructure and will facilitate cross-disciplinary data-sharing between infrastructure providers and the research community. MEDIATE will: use a pilot study with Network Rail (NR) to explore and overcome barriers to data-sharing then use this knowledge to expand the study across the infrastructure sector. This will have impact at local-scale by: improving the NR evidence base for meteorological/climatological decision-making; and at national and international scales by clearly articulating data gaps to NERC, and improving the sector-wide evidence base to facilitate a whole systems approach to weather and climate resilience.
There is no better time to facilitate data sharing; 90% of the world's data has been generated in the last two years. The MEDIATE project will help business and organisations in the ERII community and more widely across the infrastructure sector to maximise the potential of their datasets to generate significant wealth for the UK economy and invaluable social benefits for its citizens.
A cross-disciplinary approach is also crucial to limit cascade failures and build resilience across the infrastructure system as a whole. For example, a failure in the electricity network could impact the transport sector by stopping electrified trains or causing black-outs along streets or motorway. Or a dam failure could flood the nearby road and railway line. Cascade failures are particularly disruptive in urban areas which have a high population density and critical infrastructure like railway stations or energy substations.
Considering blue and green infrastructure is also vital for whole systems approach. For example, flooding and vegetation (leaves on the line, debris following high winds) often cause disruption for operators such as Network Rail; in urban areas vegetation aids storm water management by increasing infiltration and reducing run-off into urban sewers. Trees can 'scrub' the atmosphere and improve air quality and psychological well-being for inhabitants.
Although data-sharing across the infrastructure sector is clearly advantageous, in practice a range of different barriers can stop this from happening. This KE Fellowship (MEDIATE) will demonstrate the added value that intelligent data-sharing can bring. It has two work programs with two different groups of non-academic partners who are not maximising the potential of their existing datasets for a range of different reasons. Overcoming the barriers to sharing their datasets will generate socio-economic benefits as outlined below.
Work Program One focuses on green and blue infrastructure and will facilitate the creation of a scientific evidence base and new network to support Birmingham City Council's Natural Health Improvement Zones. MEDIATE will initiate the development of the evidence base, and set-up a network to maintain it long-term. This will have impact at local-scale by: providing the evidence base necessary to inform blue-green planning, ultimately to improve air quality and citizen health; and, at national and international scales by providing a case study of how to evaluate blue-green improvement schemes.
Work Program Two focuses on the grey infrastructure and will facilitate cross-disciplinary data-sharing between infrastructure providers and the research community. MEDIATE will: use a pilot study with Network Rail (NR) to explore and overcome barriers to data-sharing then use this knowledge to expand the study across the infrastructure sector. This will have impact at local-scale by: improving the NR evidence base for meteorological/climatological decision-making; and at national and international scales by clearly articulating data gaps to NERC, and improving the sector-wide evidence base to facilitate a whole systems approach to weather and climate resilience.
There is no better time to facilitate data sharing; 90% of the world's data has been generated in the last two years. The MEDIATE project will help business and organisations in the ERII community and more widely across the infrastructure sector to maximise the potential of their datasets to generate significant wealth for the UK economy and invaluable social benefits for its citizens.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Emma Ferranti (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Acton WJF
(2022)
Trees and urban air quality: a briefing note
Axelithioti P
(2023)
What Are We Teaching Engineers about Climate Change? Presenting the MACC Evaluation of Climate Change Education
in Education Sciences
Ferranti E
(2018)
The hottest July day on the railway network: insights and thoughts for the future The hottest July day on the railway network
in Meteorological Applications
Ferranti E
(2020)
Using the Business Model Canvas to increase the impact of green infrastructure valuation tools
in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Ferranti E.J.S.
(2021)
Urban Design for Air Quality
Ferranti, E.J.S.
(2022)
Blue Green Infrastructure
Ferranti, E.J.S.
(2021)
First Steps in Urban Heat
Ferranti, EJS
(2018)
First Steps in Air Quality for Built Environment Practitioners
Jaluzot A
(2022)
First Steps in Trees and New Developments
Jaluzot, A
(2019)
First Steps in Valuing Trees and Green Infrastructure
Levine, J.G
(2022)
Green Infrastructure for Clean Air and One Health
Lu Y
(2023)
Assessing urban greenery by harvesting street view data: A review
in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Potts D
(2023)
Identifying and accounting for the Coriolis effect in satellite NO 2 observations and emission estimates
in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Potts D
(2021)
Satellite Data Applications for Site-Specific Air Quality Regulation in the UK: Pilot Study and Prospects
in Atmosphere
Wilson, E. R.
(2017)
Widening engagement and diversity in forestry and forest science. Workshop Report.
| Description | My NERC KE Fellowship has 2 separate elements: Work Programme One intended to facilitate the creation of a scientific evidence base and new network to support Birmingham City Council's Natural Health Improvement Zones (NHIZs). NHIZ are designed to tackle poor air quality in urban areas through the introduction of green infrastructure, and new NHIZ were planned from 2016. However, despite being part of the city's Green Living Spaces Plan, no NHIZ have been planned or delivered to date (December 2017). WP 1 objectives have therefore altered to incorporate activities and outputs within the same broad theme: supporting local authorities to make best decisions about green infrastructure for improved air quality. The outputs from this section are summarised in the narrative impact section. Main Activities include: - Working with the charity, Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) and Birmingham City Council to develop a 4-page guidance document "First Steps in Air Quality for Built Environment Practitioners". This will be launched at the practitioner conference: Ecobuild, March 2018. - Working with Dr Andy Hirons (Lancaster University, funded by NERC GI innovation fund) to co-launch our TDAG guidance documents in March 2018 in a day long workshop at the University of Birmingham. - Organising meetings of TDAG Midlands in Birmingham. In 2016 I became the facilitator for TDAG Midlands with the remit to grow the size and influence of the network in the Midlands. TDAG is a pioneering network that connects individuals, professionals and organisations from wide-ranging disciplines in both the public and private sectors to increase the awareness of the role green infrastructure has in the built environment. There are over 260 members in the Midlands. In 2017 I have developed a new link between TDAG and the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) in the West Midlands leading to joint events. I am currently building links with the Landscape Institute Midlands and hope to organise a joint event at Birmingham City University in 2018. The format of TDAG Midlands meetings is a presentation followed by discussion and they excellent forums for knowledge exchange. Presenters in 2017 included: Prof Kathryn Moore (Landscape Architect, BCU), Prof Rob MacKenzie (air quality, UoB), Dr Andy Hirons (urban tree species selection, Myerscough College), Tim O'Hare (principle soil consultant), and many more. - Working with Prof Alister Scott on to understand why NHIZ have not becoming part of mainstream planning at BCC. Minor activities include: - Developed a business plan for using UoB's Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) space for away day events and presented this at the Enterprising Birmingham competition (Jan-Mar 17). - Wrote a proposal for Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships "Green Cities, Resilient Urban Futures" (Feb 17). - Attended the ICF Trees & Built Environment Conference (Apr 17). - Attented NERC Fellows training day in Birmingham (Jan 2017) - Attended NERC KEN meeting in Cambridge (Nov 2017). - Invited to provide written and oral evidence on the role of green infrastructure and air quality at the Tree Policy Scrutiny Committee at Birmingham City Council (Nov 2017). - Invited to give presentation to early career researchers by EPSRC ARCC network on engaging stakeholders with research (Nov 17). - NERC reviewer for ERIIP and Innovation funding (Jun & Sep 2017) - Attending meetings with Birmingham City Council and Atkins to understand how GI can be incorporated into design of new cycle path in Birmingham (Sep 2017) - Keeping up to date with Larissa Naylor, KE Fellow and holder of GI Innovation funding - Meeting and looking forward to working with Josh Vande Hey, KE Fellow in air quality and public health - Meeting with Leicester City Council (air quality, landscape & planning representatives) to understand how green infrastructure could be used as a solution for air quality (Oct 17). - Organising the planting of commemorative Tree Charter tree at UoB (Nov 17) Work Program Two aimed to work with research community and infrastructure partners to promote green infrastructure within grey. In April 2017 I was awarded a Living with Environmental Change EPSRC Fellowship for the project, Bringing the Mediterranean to Birmingham: impact and adaptation for 8-12 degrees of warming. The Fellowship will examine the impact that extreme heat would have on infrastructure of Birmingham and the surrounding region. Particularly, it will look for weak points that could cause multiple failures across several infrastructure sectors. The project will use best-practice examples of heat-resilient infrastructure from Mediterranean cities to identify potential adaptation strategies that could be used in the Midlands. Best practice examples will be those that deliver long-term sustainability and multiple benefits, such as urban greening, which can provide climate regulation to build heat resilience, but also improve air quality, provide sustainable urban drainage, and positively influence health and well-being. Project Partners include: AMEY, Birmingham City Council, High Speed Two HS2 Ltd, Highways England, John Dora Consulting, Met Office, Myerscough College, Network Rail, and Worcestershire County Council. The LWEC EPSRC Fellowship will start in April 2018. My NERC KE Fellowship will run alongside the KE Fellowship for 18 months (and reduced FTE) and the two Fellowships are complementary. The EPSRC Fellowship permits new research; the networking and case studies component will help promote my NERC KE Fellowship outputs internationally. |
| Exploitation Route | My KE Fellowship outcomes and partnerships will be taken forward by my EPSRC Research Fellowship, and the new research I can grow in this area. I have 2 postdocs working in this area on a short-duration EPSRC GCRF IAA account, and I am currently recruiting for PhD students for September 2018 start. GEES at the University of Birmingham also has an additional fellow who has been awarded a complimentary fellowship by NERC via NPIF. It now means that there is a growing critical mass in climate resilience at UoB - this is stakeholder focussed applied research and should lead to considerable onward impact. Green Infrastructure also remains a considerable area of activity (and is indeed an important component of a NERC RISE application made by GEES) and so the links made by this Fellowship with organisations such as TDAG are highly beneficial. |
| Sectors | Environment,Transport |
| Description | 2022 Narrative - updating previous information The KE Fellowship funding allowed me to build collaborations with TDAG - Trees and Design Action Group. I know co-run the network, that has more than 1,000 members. Out bi-monthly seminars regularly attract 150-250 attendees and we are shaping the narrative and discussions related to urban forestry and urban tree establishment in the UK. We have a YouTube channel for people to catch up on out events. We have engaged with the Geospatial Commission to support their QFAIR work, we respond to consultations. We have produced 4 First Steps guides - the first 2, and the format to which were developed during the KE Fellowship. We have plans for 2 further guides planned. I am now a member of the Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committee (FWAC) and Urban-FWAC advising Defra via the Forestry Comission. 2020 Narrative One year after the completion of my NERC KE Fellowship the impact continues to grow, and I am regularly (twice per month or more) contacted by professional practitioners for advice, and considered an expert in the field of air quality and green infrastructure for built environment practitioners. - Outputs from my Knowledge Exchange Fellowship are included in a REF 2021 Impact Case study on Science based policy for cleaner air. - I am the research lead for the Trees & Design Action Group (TDAG), a national network of approximately 1,000 practitioners that collaborate to: (i) respond to policy consultations; (ii) share knowledge and best practice; and (ii) produce evidence-based guidance documents, in the field of urban green infrastructure. This allows me to steer the research agenda for a network of practitioners, and continue sharing my outputs. - For a professional practice and industry audiences I have produced a series of guidance documents and other lay publications, supported by bespoke CPD linked to professional institutions such as Royal Town Planning Association, Institute of Chartered Foresters, and NHS public health consultants. These outputs are co-created with the intended audience via knowledge exchange to understand decision-making priorities, and translate academic research to provide the scientific evidence base. - First Steps in Urban Air Quality (Ferranti et al., 2018; revised 2019), was written for built environment practitioners and has been downloaded more than 3,500 times in more than 70 countries (in 2019; more recent data not available). It was shared with cabinet ministers in 2018, thereby raising the university's profile as a leader in delivering science for clean air solutions. First Steps is given as recommended reading for all planners by the West Midlands air quality strategy, and features in Public Health England guidance on green space. I presented the information within in person and in writing at a 2017 Scrutiny Committee to determine regional tree policy. - A second guidance document, First Steps in Valuing Green Infrastructure (Jaluzot & Ferranti, 2019) has been downloaded over 500 times since its launch in June 2019 (2020 figures unavailable). It is the focus of seminar at Trees, People and the Built Environment 4, an international interdisciplinary conference at the interface of academia and practice hosted by the Institute of Chartered Foresters, which is attended by over 20 professional organizations including Institute of Civil Engineers, Landscape Institute, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, and more. A complementary Business Model for Green Infrastructure is published in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (Ferranti & Jaluzot, 2020). I have recently (December 2020) been awarded QR funding to write First Steps in Urban Heat. 2018 Narrative In 2018 the numerous activities associated with my Fellowship continued at pace. In particular there were many engagement activities linked to the First Steps in Urban Air Quality document, and output from my KE Fellowship. First Steps summarises the science on air pollution and green/grey infrastructure so practitioners can make informed decisions to improve air quality for better health outcomes. Co-designed, First Steps was selected as a research highlight to discuss with Micheal Gove MP when he visited the University of Birmingham in April 2018. It has featured at three Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) and Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) continuing professional development events; been added to RTPI-accredited planning degrees; and, by request, will be issued in Spanish. The intense early interest in First Steps (>2,000 downloads in 4 months) demonstrates its growing impact on international decision-making. Every day, built environment practitioners who often have little training in air quality make urban design decisions that influence air quality. First Steps bridges this knowledge gap; it provides decision-makers such as planners, landscape architects and more, with a basic understanding of air pollution and it's interaction with urban green and grey infrastructure, ultimately so these practitioners can use urban design to improve air quality for better health outcomes. Achieving and measuring impact from First Steps comprises three steps: (1) networking, to understand the problem, co-design the solution, and create pathways to snowball dissemination; (2) effective dissemination, in-person via presentations and meetings and online via practitioner networks; and (3) understanding and tracing how the guidance contributes to urban design decisions. Notable testimonials are excerpted below. "Working in one of the fastest growing areas of England, we are acutely aware that decisions we are making impact urban air quality. First Steps provides a broad understanding of air quality in urban areas, and practical guidance on how to design places with better air quality. It is a useful, practical document which, with my colleagues in public health, environmental health, landscape officers and the East Midlands Air Quality Network we use in multi-disciplinary discussions about how to make great new places. It has also influenced the drafting of our Placeshaping Supplementary Planning Document". Amy Burbidge, Design Action Manager, North Northamptonshire, Joint Planning Unit "I regard First Steps as a key context setting reference in its quickly digestible format. It shows the integrated nature of the urban environment, as well as pointing to so many opportunities. For example, larger scale urban vegetation coupled with reduced heat / noise electric vehicles, permits all natural ventilated buildings with their reduced energy use and heat rejection - all collectively lowering UHI to provide urban temperature headroom for the coming Climate Change. First Steps helps clearly illustrate the direction of travel, namely; towards quantifying the scale of interventions and benefits we need - not least to avoid the predictable industry response of simply rebadging their minimal greenery conventional provision tick-box!" Chris Twinn, TwinnSustainabilityInnovation, former ARUP Director and Fellow "I very much welcome First Steps in Urban Air Quality. This could be extremely useful to built environment practitioners who are interested in improving air quality and taking green infrastructure and street design into account in their projects. I have already recommended others to it, from architects and engineers to planners. By translating academic research into clear messages and illustrations, this is a really useful first step to bridge the gap between the current very high-level guidance for practitioners, and detailed modelling work which is very context-specific and only accessible to a few individual projects". Julie Godefroy, Sustainability Consultant & Head of Sustainability for CIBSE "I am often invited to comment and or make recommendations on various environmental risks, including poor air quality, and how it can be mitigated. The 'TDAG First Steps' guide offers a digestible framework that demonstrates the importance of adopting the correct approach to ensure maximum benefits can be achieved. Although a new publication the document has already proven very useful, and I recommended it to clients and colleagues alike". Dr Julie Futcher RIBA, Urban Generation, @juliefutcher "There is a major gap between academics and practitioners in the urban design and highways sectors, and little uptake of academic research. I am delighted by "First Steps". It is clearly illustrated, comprehensive yet accessible, and referenced, giving readers confidence in the text, and a route for more information. I have no hesitation in commending this guide. Dissemination of research to practitioners is as important as the research". Robert Huxford, Urban Design Group Impact from First Steps will continue to emerge and expand as built environment practitioners use the guide to inform urban design decisions and improve air quality for better health outcomes. A second First Steps guide, "Valuing Trees and Green Infrastructure" is in preparation for launch in Spring 2019. 2017 Narrative In 2017 I have worked hard to become embedded and respected in both the academic and practitioner communities in my Fellowship area, which has led to numerous activities, partnerships, and outcomes. However, I believe this greatest impacts of my Fellowship will come in 2018 and onwards. I have a practitioner network for dissemination of research outcomes, and being embedded within the TDAG practitioner community has helped me understand contemporary practitioner problems and how I can use these to steer academic research at the UoB, ultimately to maximise impact. Impact outcomes to date include: 1. increasing the size and influence of the TDAG Group in the Midlands and creating new links with the Royal Town Planning Institute and Landscape Institute Midlands. 2. Co-creating with stakeholders a guidance document for practitioners on urban air quality. This will be promoted at practitioner workshops (London and Birmingham) and conferences (Ecobuild) in 2018. Going forward we hope this will be the first in a series of leaflets on green infrastructure and air quality. We are in discussions with the Woodland Trust about developing a stakeholder decision tool and other material (e.g. short animation) on the role of green infrastructure and air quality. 3. Bringing air quality and green infrastructure content into the RTPI accredited MSc in planning at the University of Birmingham. 4. Bringing green infrastructure and air quality content into the RTPI regional planning summit. 5. Providing written and oral evidence to the Scrutiny Committee on Tree Policy at Birmingham City Council. |
| Sector | Education,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Transport,Other |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Birmingham Urban Forestry Master Plan |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Citation in Public Health England report |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in systematic reviews |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/9044... |
| Description | Evidence-based research into practice with TDAG |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
| Impact | TDAG provides a forum to share best practice and support built environment decision makers in their daily practice. For example, encouraging the better consideration of trees in urban developments, better planting of trees, better knowledge of how to use trees to maximise their ecosystem services, linking across silos in local authorities, business and more. We are shaping the narrative in how urban green space should be designed and managed |
| URL | https://www.tdag.org.uk/ |
| Description | FWAC & Urban FWAC |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Invited presentation at NHS Public Health Consultant CPD event |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Provided oral and written evidence to Birmingham City Council's Scrutiny Commitee on Tree Policy |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://birmingham.cmis.uk.com/birmingham/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/99... |
| Description | TDAG responses to NPPF Planning Policy Wales consultation documents |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Urban and Regional Planning (with RTPI accreditation) MSc/PG Diploma |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | West Midlands Combined Authority Regional Air Quality Review and Action Plan (2019) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WMCA_Regional-Air-Quality-Review-an... |
| Description | Developing a toolkit for the heat sensitive planning and design of urban areas |
| Amount | £35,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | EPSRC GCRF IAA funding |
| Amount | £16,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | EPSRC Living With Environmental Change Fellowship Funding Call 2017 |
| Amount | £320,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R007365/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 04/2024 |
| Description | QR Funding for Policy Engagement |
| Amount | £10 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | QR Funding for Policy Engagement |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Awarded to Jian Zhong |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | QR Funding for Policy Engagement |
| Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Research England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Research - Non CASE Studentship |
| Amount | £37,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Maximising the biodiversity of the linear forest |
| Organisation | Network Rail Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2022 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences pump priming fund |
| Amount | £4,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2018 |
| End | 06/2018 |
| Description | The Central England NERC Training Alliance 2 (CENTA2) |
| Amount | £5,194,122 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/S007350/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | AQ work with Uni of Leicester |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I co-supervise two NERC CENTA PhD students with Dr Joshua Vande Hey based at the University of Leicester. Lilli Helps (2021-) Air Pollution Evidence for Local Air Quality Policy (NERC-funded PhD). Dan Potts (2020 -) Smarter analysis of satellite data for air quality regulators (NERC-funded PhD). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joshua and I co-supervise 2 PhD students. One is a CASE partner with Leicester City Council, the other is Environment Agency. |
| Impact | Additional funding for Lilli Helps (from Uni of Bham) to work as an RA pre-PhD looking at the linkages between AQ management and planning. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Birmingham City Council |
| Organisation | Birmingham City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I work closely with the climate change and sustainability manager to develop collaborative projects between the city council and the university. In 2017 we met with the Ordnance Survey in an advisory role to discuss geospatial datasets for the new OS Green Space Product under development to support several cross government policy initiatives (e.g. access to nature, valuing natural capital (Defra); role of trees in ameliorating air pollution (Defra/DfT); physical/mental well-being (Public Health). We will meet again with the Ordnance Survey in March 2018. The Council also asked me to provide verbal and written evidence for the Tree Policy Scrutiny Committee in November 2017. From December 2019-March 2020 I have been undertaking a policy secondment at Birmingham City Council in the Urban Design Team, building links between academia and the council, in the areas of green infrastructure, air quality, and climate resilience. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Council provide the link to non-academic organisations, such as the ordnance survey, consultancies, other local authorities. They look for opportunities to integrate academic research in daily operations, such as the Tree Policy Scrutiny Committee in November 2017. They regularly attend TDAG meetings, a forum for knowledge exchange on green infrastructure, and provide a venue for these meetings at the Council. Birmingham City Council continue to support research applications made by the department. They are also providing qualitative evidence (in the form of interviews) on the mainstreaming green infrastructure, which aims to understand the barriers to implementing green infrastructure policies in the city. |
| Impact | I gave evidence (written, and 20 minutes oral presentation) to the Tree Policy Task and Finish Group Scrutiny Committee at Birmingham City Council. The meeting was attended by local councillors, civil servants, members of the public, and consultants, and was live-streamed for the general public. I was quizzed for about 20 minutes on the role that trees play in air quality, both positive (i.e. improve air quality) and negative (can under very specific circumstances exacerbate poor air quality) by the local councillors. This opportunity was a direct consequence of my KE Fellowship and work with Nick Grayson at Birmingham City Council (who supported by Fellowship application). I believe that without my KE Fellowship, green infrastructure and air quality would have been discussed in less detail, or may not have featured within discussion at all. I am waiting to see the written report of the Tree Policy Task and Finish Group, and will have a further opportunity to commit on the policy proposed by the council. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Environment Agency AQ |
| Organisation | Environment Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | NERC CENTA PhD - Dan Potts Dan is based at University of Leicester but co-supervised by Joshua Vande Hey and Emma Ferranti |
| Collaborator Contribution | NERC CENTA PhD - Dan Potts - EA are a CASE Partner (1000/year for 3 years). Prof Roger Timmis is part of supervisory team (2 days per year at 1,500/day for 3 years) |
| Impact | Output = PhD student - Smarter analysis of satellite data for air quality regulators Output = 1 publication so far Output = participation in UK EA / USA EPA annual meeting |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | HS2 |
| Organisation | High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaboration initiated by a previous collaboration with Churchman Thornhill Finch (part of my KE Fellowship). Churchman Thornhill Finch were landscape architects for a the pre-works on the new Interchange station site. This led to us working with HS2 to develop practical guidance to design parkway stations with better air quality. The latter part of the work is undertaken on the WM-Air project, but the relationship stemmed from my NERC KE Fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | HS2 have signed an NDA providing us with access to confidential information. They have also given substantial time in kind to develop the project, including facilitating access to their construction site, the necessary training, and several meetings. Fieldwork to measure the effectiveness of green infrastructure was planned in 2020; this did not take place due to CV19. |
| Impact | Fieldwork that was cancelled due to CV19 Draft report for practitioners currently under review. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Trees and Design Action Group |
| Organisation | Trees and Design Action Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | In 2016 I became the Midlands facilitator for the Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG), with a remit to grow the size and influence of the Midlands network. TDAG connects individuals and public and private sector organisations to assert the important role of green infrastructure in the built environment.I organise the 2-monthly meetings, and arange an external speaker to come and present. In December 2016 I organised a joint event with the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) on the subject of green infrastructure and health that over 60 people attended. I am building a strong network in the Midlands that will prove a useful pathway for knowledge exchange between a range of stakeholders. In 2017, TDAG Midlands have continued building links with the RTPI in order to raise awareness of the importance of urban green infrastructure, and the long-term management of green infrastructure. Planners are essential for incorporating and maintaining high quality green infrastructure within urban areas. Consequently, at the Annual Planning Summit for the West Midlands (Nov 17) TDAG were offered 2 presentation sessions for green infrastructure topics, and Prof Rob Mackenzie and Nick Grayson presented on trees and air quality and Natural Capital, respectively. This is a direct consequence of the networking and facilitating that I can do as part of my KE Fellowship, and I am certain that the presentations by Prof Rob Mackenzie and Nick Grayson would not have taken place before the links were established between TDAG and RTPI. The RTPI collected feedback on the event and I hope to be able to evaluate this - either quantitatively or qualitatively in early 2018. We will also host a joint TDAG/RTPI event in Spring 2018. I look to develop a similarly mutually beneficial link with Landscape Institute Midlands in the coming year. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The TDAG network includes very useful stakeholders for research co-creation and public engagement. The TDAG trustees in London support and encourage the growth of the Midlands group, in particular its strong links to to academic research. TDAG continue to support my role as facilitator of the Midlands Group and support research applications. With TDAG I have been able to co-create a guidance document of value to the practitioner community in 2017. TDAG brought together a range of stakeholders with interests in air quality and green infrastructure including the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Urban Design Group, and Capita for a meeting at the UoB with myself and Prof Rob Makenzie in June 2017. We discussed the information gap and I produced the 4-page guidance document "First Steps in Air Quality for Built Environment Practitioners". This was reviewed by academics colleagues working in air quality, and planning, and by practitioners. The guidance document is endorsed by TDAG and uses their branding, and is promoted by their webpage. TDAG have arranged for this guidance document to be launched at the practitioner conference: Ecobuild, in March 2018, and at 2 separate day-long workshops in London and Birmingham on resilient urban forests, also in March 2017 (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/selecting-species-for-a-better-urban-treescape-growing-a-more-resilient-urban-forest-tickets-42669233827). Going forward we hope this will be the first in a series of leaflets on green infrastructure and air quality. |
| Impact | 1. Guidance Document: Ferranti, E.J.S., MacKenzie, A.R., Ashworth K., and Hewitt C.N. 2017. First Steps in Urban Air Quality. A Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) Guidance Document. UK: London. http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/3069/). 2. Collaborating with Dr Andy Hirons (Lancaster University, funded by NERC GI innovation fund) to co-launch our TDAG guidance documents in March 2018. 3. Organising meetings of TDAG Midlands in Birmingham. The format of TDAG Midlands meetings is a presentation followed by discussion and they excellent forums for knowledge exchange. Presenters in 2017 included: Prof Kathryn Moore (Landscape Architect, BCU), Prof Rob MacKenzie (air quality, UoB), Dr Andy Hirons (urban tree species selection, Myerscough College), Tim O'Hare (principle soil consultant), and many more. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | BBC Midlands November 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview on BBC Midlands (tv) in run up to COP |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | EPSRC ARCC Early Career Researcher Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present at a workshop for Early Career Researchers organised by the EPSRC ARCC network. I was asked to present on engaging with stakeholders. Approximately 30 ECRs attended the event and we had discussions following my presentation. Feedback from the event was my presentation was pitched perfectly to the audience and that the ECRs found my experiences (both good and bad) of engaging with stakeholders helpful. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Futurebuild (Mar 2019) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on Valuing Green Infrastructure at Futurebuild in March 2019 and March 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2019,2020 |
| Description | Futurebuild Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 2018- presentation on First Steps in Urban Air Quality 2019 - presentation on First Steps in Valuing Trees and Green Infrastructure and manned the TDAG exhibit stand 2020 - presentation and manned the TDAG stand 2022 - co-organised the TDAG Tree Knowledge Hub exhibition stand and 3 presentations: (1st March) 1: How to work with trees on developments; a new TDAG guidance note, (1st March) 2: Why planning must include urban heat and flooding (2nd March) 3: Incorporating air quality and climate resilience into local authority decision-making; "how to" examples from Birmingham |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020,2022 |
| Description | NERC Engagement Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Wrote article for NERC at request of the Business Engagement manager: Engaging with stakeholders for the future of our urban treescapes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://engage.nerc.ac.uk/2020/10/14/engaging-with-stakeholders-for-the-future-of-our-urban-treescap... |
| Description | RTPI CPD Urban Trees to Help Address Climate Change and Air Pollution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online presentation for regional RTPI (Royal Town Planning Association) as part of their professional CPD programme |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | TDAG (Trees & Design Action Group) Midlands Meetings (every 2 months) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | TDAG is a pioneering network and charity that connects individuals, professionals and organisations from wide-ranging disciplines in both the public and private sectors to increase the awareness of the role green infrastructure has in the built environment. We meet every 2 months, and i facilitate the meetings.There are nearly 300 members in the Midland (who receive meeting notes and presentations), with 20-30 members attending each meeting. The format of TDAG Midlands meetings is a presentation followed by discussion and they excellent forums for knowledge exchange. Presenters in 2017 included: David Thompson (Landscape lead for HS2); Prof Kathryn Moore (Landscape Architect, BCU), Prof Rob MacKenzie (air quality, University of Birmingham), Dr Andy Hirons (Myerscough College), Tim O'Hare (principle soil consultant), and more. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | The role of trees and other green infrastructure in urban air quality - The Institution Of Environmental Sciences |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to submit an article to the The Institution Of Environmental Sciences magazine, Right Tree, Right Place, for publication in March 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Transport for West Midlands |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Sustainability: Invited presentation to transport professionals and local councillors on steps to improve air quality (Oct 2020) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | USEPA-EA Air Quality Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on engaging stakeholders and developing the First Steps in Urban Air Quality guide |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Workshop Valuing Trees and other Green Infrastructure (Sep 2018) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Trees & Design Action Group (TDAG), the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) hosted a joint workshop on valuing trees and other green infrastructure in the urban environment funded by Emma Ferranti's NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship. Unfortunately, green space is often considered to have no monetary value (only costs - e.g. to maintain parks and trees), and therefore keeping our cities green when budgets are being cut can be challenging. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of decision-making tools that assign a value to trees and other green infrastructure in the urban environment. This joint workshop provided an overview of the tools available, and the contexts in which they are most appropriate. The event was chaired by Michael Barker (RTPI & TDAG), and presenters included: Paul Cutler (Architect, Urban&Civic), Prof Alister Scott (Northumbria University), Jeremy Barrell (Barrel Tree Consultancy), Oliver Holzinger (UoB/CEEP), Kate Shelden & Lizzie Pace (Trees for Cities), Dr Kieron Doick (Forest Research), Chris Neilan (Epping District Council), Luke Fay (Treeworks), Kenton Rogers (Treeconomics), Alison Smith (University of Oxford), Therese Karger-Lerchel (Vivid Economics) and Paul Nolan OBE (Mersey Forest). The event was attended by 120 delegates, mainly non-academics (32% public sector, 31% private sector, 17% research, 10% NPOs) who will now be able to use the information, networks and ideas they gained from this event in their professional practice to make the business case for green space in our urban areas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |