Bringing the Mediterranean to Birmingham: impact and adaptation for 8-12 degrees of warming
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Civil Engineering
Abstract
Extreme weather causes damage to our infrastructure services such as energy supply, information and communications technology (ICT), transport, water supply, and more. Many of our infrastructure services are interdependent, and a failure in one sector leads to failure in other sectors. For example, failure of an electric substation due to extreme heat or flooding could lead to power cuts, reduced ICT services, and transport disruption because our road (eg. traffic lights) and railway networks need electricity to operate. Finding these infrastructure weak points that have a disproportionate impact across several infrastructure networks is essential for infrastructure resilience. Moreover, as our infrastructure has an operational lifetime of several decades or more we must act now to be prepared for future extreme weather. However, current adaptation plans are often done separately by each infrastructure sector (e.g. rail, ICT) and therefore by design do not consider infrastructure interdependencies.
This proposal presents an alternative approach to adaptation planning that breaks down industry silos and uses H++ ("worst-case") extreme climate change scenarios. High emissions and H++ scenarios predict the equivalent of Mediterranean heat for Birmingham and the West Midlands in the future. This proposal will consider the impact that extreme heat would have on infrastructure of the region as a whole. 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.
The weakest infrastructure links and examples of best practice will be shared with infrastructure operators/owners to facilitate holistic, evidence-based adaptation planning. The adaptation approach can be used in other cities and for other extreme weather types. Guidance documents will be created so the method can be applied nationally and internationally in different situations and regions. The library of best practice examples of sustainable heat-resilient infrastructure and heat adaptation measures will be available online for global dissemination.
This proposal specifically addresses the LWEC challenge by applying a system-of-systems approach to develop heat resilient infrastructure at a city and regional scales. Birmingham is an excellent demonstrator; HS2 and the new terminus station will arrive in the city by 2026. 51,000 new homes are required for the growing population. It also faces multiple challenges that will be exacerbated by extreme heat including increasing demand for electricity and utilities, an urban heat island effect, and transport networks which are currently operating at capacity. Now is the time for effective adaptation planning before long-term decisions and irreversible infrastructure development are undertaken. Crucially, as the West Midlands moves to devolved government there is the opportunity for leading regional research like this to shape governance plans.
Dr Emma Ferranti undertakes challenge-led research in urban climatology and infrastructure meteorology. She holds a NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship with networks including infrastructure operators, local authorities, planners, and professionals passionate about urban-greening. This Fellowship will enable her to establish a new multidisciplinary research area in decision-centric adaptation planning that utilises research excellence from the Schools of Engineering, and Geography, Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Birmingham.
This proposal presents an alternative approach to adaptation planning that breaks down industry silos and uses H++ ("worst-case") extreme climate change scenarios. High emissions and H++ scenarios predict the equivalent of Mediterranean heat for Birmingham and the West Midlands in the future. This proposal will consider the impact that extreme heat would have on infrastructure of the region as a whole. 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.
The weakest infrastructure links and examples of best practice will be shared with infrastructure operators/owners to facilitate holistic, evidence-based adaptation planning. The adaptation approach can be used in other cities and for other extreme weather types. Guidance documents will be created so the method can be applied nationally and internationally in different situations and regions. The library of best practice examples of sustainable heat-resilient infrastructure and heat adaptation measures will be available online for global dissemination.
This proposal specifically addresses the LWEC challenge by applying a system-of-systems approach to develop heat resilient infrastructure at a city and regional scales. Birmingham is an excellent demonstrator; HS2 and the new terminus station will arrive in the city by 2026. 51,000 new homes are required for the growing population. It also faces multiple challenges that will be exacerbated by extreme heat including increasing demand for electricity and utilities, an urban heat island effect, and transport networks which are currently operating at capacity. Now is the time for effective adaptation planning before long-term decisions and irreversible infrastructure development are undertaken. Crucially, as the West Midlands moves to devolved government there is the opportunity for leading regional research like this to shape governance plans.
Dr Emma Ferranti undertakes challenge-led research in urban climatology and infrastructure meteorology. She holds a NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship with networks including infrastructure operators, local authorities, planners, and professionals passionate about urban-greening. This Fellowship will enable her to establish a new multidisciplinary research area in decision-centric adaptation planning that utilises research excellence from the Schools of Engineering, and Geography, Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Birmingham.
Planned Impact
This proposal presents a systems approach to adaptation planning that considers the impact that the 'worst-case' climate scenarios of future summer temperatures would have on the infrastructure of Birmingham and its rural hinterlands. UKCP09 'high emissions' and H++ extreme scenarios predict that maximum summer temperatures could be 8-12 degC warmer; this would change the climate of Birmingham and the West Midlands similar to what is presently experienced in the Mediterranean. Considering the worst-case scenarios across infrastructure sectors will identify 'single points of failures' (e.g. a critical substation) that leads to failures cascading across other infrastructure sectors. Identifying these weakest links and understanding the risks of cascading failures are key action points from the Brown Review on Transport Resilience (DfT, 2014) and 2017 UK Climate Change Risk Assessment Report (CCRA 2016). The project will incorporate outputs from the £12 million Defra-commissioned UK Climate Projections Project (UKCP18) when they become available. The proposal will also produce a library of case studies of best practice examples of heat-resilient infrastructure or adaptation measures from cities that already experience Mediterranean heat. Best practice will be considered in terms of long-term sustainability and multiple benefits, e.g. natural-based solutions such as urban greening. The impact and implications of worst-case scenarios, and examples of best practice will be shared with adaptation planners to inform evidence-based decision making. For the infrastructure owners/operators the proposal will provide asset-level information on the impact of extreme heat, by comparing the 'theoretical' operating thresholds of different asset types with the projected climate. This will be combined with temporal analogues used to investigate the 'actual' (i.e. including interdependencies and external factors such as wear and tear) impact of previous hot days. The spatial analogues will provide sector-relevant examples of best practice, ultimately to drive stakeholder led infrastructure improvements (e.g. Ferranti et al., 2016). The presence of infrastructure operators and local authorities on the Steering Group and as Project Partners will make certain that research undertaken by the project is relevant and applicable to the stakeholders, and ensure information is appropriately distributed to inform sector-level decision making. Regionally, Ferranti will work alongside the Climate Change and Sustainability Manager at Birmingham City Council (Nick Grayson) and Business Engagement partners at the University of Birmingham to ensure outcomes are disseminated to the Local Enterprise Partnerships (Black Country, Greater Birmingham & Solihull; Coventry and Warwickshire) and to the West Midlands Combined Authority. Ferranti will lever her roles as Midlands TDAG facilitator and NERC Knowledge Exchange fellow to regularly distribute project outcomes to local stakeholders via seminars or meetings. Crucially information gained at these seminars will be used to inform the direction of project research. Project updates and outcomes will be disseminated nationally via networks including the Adaptation and Resilience in the Context of Change, Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum, Transport Catapult, Future Cities Catapult, and UK Committee on Climate Change. Regular contact with these networks will also ensure that contributions and requirements for those stakeholders not directly involved in the project can be included. This will make certain that the project is recognised nationally as an innovative adaptation planning approach that can be repeated in urban areas worldwide, for other extreme weather. Information exchange with international partners will deliver international impact by sharing case studies of best practice between cities and hinterlands whose infrastructure faces similar challenges to extreme heat.
Organisations
- University of Birmingham (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Electricity North West (Collaboration)
- Department of Transport (Collaboration)
- Meteorological Office UK (Collaboration)
- Transport for London (Collaboration)
- The Peel Group (Collaboration)
- WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (Collaboration)
- Birmingham City Council (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Trees and Design Action Group (Collaboration)
- Network Rail (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Worcestershire County Council (Project Partner)
- Myerscough College (Project Partner)
- Highways England (Project Partner)
- Met Office (Project Partner)
- DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT (Project Partner)
- John Dora Consulting (Project Partner)
- Ferrovial (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Emma Ferranti (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Ferranti, E.J.S.
(2022)
Best-Practices Handbook on Rail Infrastructure Resilience
Ferranti, E.J.S.
(2022)
Blue Green Infrastructure
Ferranti, E.J.S.
(2021)
Review of Network Rail's Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation Plans
Ferranti EJS
(2021)
Climate Change Communication in the UK and Hong Kong
in Weather, Climate and Society
Ferranti E.J.S.
(2021)
Embedding climate change adaptation as business as usual within the railway sector
Ferranti E
(2020)
Operational Challenges and Mega Sporting Events Legacy: The Case of BRT Systems in the Global South
in Sustainability
Ferranti E
(2020)
Using the Business Model Canvas to increase the impact of green infrastructure valuation tools
in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Ferranti E
(2022)
Transport resilience to weather and climate: an interdisciplinary view from Rio de Janeiro
in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning
Ferranti E
(2023)
Incorporating Heat Vulnerability into Local Authority Decision Making: An Open Access Approach
in Sustainability
Description | High temperatures and heatwaves are becoming more frequent, but heat vulnerability is not routinely included within local authority decision making. This project has developed an approach to assess heat vulnerability in Birmingham, a large metropolitan area within the UK. The approach uses open access data and GIS techniques that are available for built environment practitioners working in the public and private sector. Four datasets are combined using map algebra to understand heat vulnerability, namely; surface temperatures, Local Climate Zones, green space, and, Indices of Multiple Deprivation. The assessment shows that central and eastern areas of Birmingham, that have the most compact urban form, least green space and highest levels of deprivation are most vulnerable to heat. We test the approach against previous climate research, and at the local scale, and describe how this measure of heat vulnerability can (and is) be incorporated within city design and planning processes. |
Exploitation Route | Crucially, this work was undertaken in collaboration with Birmingham City Council, and ongoing work will use the approach to evaluate developments in the city, thereby incorporating heat vulnerability into decision-making for the first time and ensuring that it is sustainable over time. The approach can be applied within any urban area in the UK, using the open access datasets, or globally, using locally applicable data sources. |
Sectors | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Description | 2020 - I am a contributing author on the 3rd Climate Change Risk Assessment (2019-2021; CCRA), which features several of my key papers on infrastructure meteorology and climate adaptation. The CCRA forms the evidence base for the National Adaptation Programme. - I am currently working with the globally leading consultancy, Climate Sense, using my experience/knowledge developed during my EPSRC Fellowship to evaluate the adequacy of Network Rail's Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation plans on behalf of the Office for Road and Rail (ORR). |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | Birmingham Urban Forestry Master Plan |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Embedding climate risk in city level planning and design |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
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 | Independent Climate Risk Assessment Technical Report 2021 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Participation at COP26 |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
Description | Birmingham International Engagement Fund |
Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2019 |
End | 03/2020 |
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 IAA Policy Impact Programme |
Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Peel Ports |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 07/2023 |
Description | Informing weather risk management for Electricity Northwest |
Amount | £7,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 08/2021 |
Description | Infrastructure Grant |
Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Southern Region Lineside Asset Performance |
Organisation | Network Rail Ltd |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Investigating Opportunities To Minimise The Impact Of Streetworks And Roadworks On Climate Change - Phase 2 |
Amount | £140,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Department of Transport |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 02/2023 |
Description | JSPS Summer Program 2019 (Sarah Greenham, PhD student) |
Amount | £1 (GBP) |
Organisation | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Japan |
Start | 06/2019 |
End | 08/2019 |
Description | Petroleum Technology Development Fund PhD Scholarship |
Amount | £130,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | PTDF Petroleum Technology Development Fund Nigeria |
Sector | Public |
Country | Nigeria |
Start | 02/2023 |
End | 01/2026 |
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 | £42,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Department | Research England |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2020 |
End | 03/2021 |
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 | Review of Network Rail's Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation Plans |
Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | ORR Office of Rail Regulation |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2020 |
End | 03/2021 |
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 | Travel Fund for carers |
Amount | £250 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Meteorological Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2019 |
End | 05/2019 |
Description | Visiting Professors Scheme |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Awarded to John Dora |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2022 |
End | 08/2025 |
Title | CVRA - open access approach |
Description | The CVRA approach combines open access datasets to allow local authorities to determine the vulnerability of their region to climate change. It combines 11 layers (surface temperature, fluvial flood risk, surface water flood risk, IMD, Local Climate Zones, green space, open access green space, tree canopy, PM2.5, NOx, excess years lives lost) using GIS. The approach hsa been developed in collaboration with Birmingham City Council, and the GIS team will maintain the database for the long-term to ensure it is embedded within city planning and design decisions. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | The impact is emerging. We will test the CVRA approach with the local authority this year and publish the open access approach for others to use. |
Title | Heat vulnerability assessment - open access approach |
Description | The heat vulnerability approach combines open access datasets to allow local authorities to determine the heat vulnerability for their region. It combines 4 layers (surface temperature, IMD, Local Climate Zones, green space) using GIS. The approach has been developed in collaboration with Birmingham City Council, and the GIS team will maintain the database for the long-term to ensure it is embedded within city planning and design decisions. It sits within a broader piece of work (led by Ferranti) that has developed a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CVRA). |
Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Impact is emerging. We will test the heat vulnerability approach this year with the local authority and make the approach available to others. The approach can be replicated by any organisation in the UK as it uses open access datasets. The approach is replicable globally using locally relevant datasets. |
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 | Electricity North West |
Organisation | Electricity North West |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Analysing ENW data as part of PhD and MSc research to understand the resilience of energy distribution infrastructure to weather and climate |
Collaborator Contribution | Time in kind Data |
Impact | MSc project that provided new information for ENW on the relationship between faults and wind speed and direction that can be used to inform operational and strategic decision-making |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Highways England |
Organisation | Department of Transport |
Department | Highways Agency |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I analyse Highways England data as part of my Fellowship |
Collaborator Contribution | Highways England provide time in kind and data. |
Impact | I am 6 months into a Fellowship. Outputs to follow. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Met Office |
Organisation | Meteorological Office UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I will work with the Met Office to develop new H++ scenarios for heat. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Met Office are supplying time in kind. |
Impact | I am 6 months into my fellowship. Outputs to follow, |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Network Rail |
Organisation | Network Rail Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I undertake analysis on Network Rail data as part of my Fellowship. |
Collaborator Contribution | Network Rail supported this Fellowship and are a member of the steering committee. They have provided data and time in kind. |
Impact | I am 6 months into this collaboration. Outputs will follow in due course. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Peel Ports Group |
Organisation | The Peel Group |
Department | Peel Ports Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | This research project was developed in partnership with Peel Ports Group, one of the largest port operators in the UK, handling nearly 70 million tonnes of international cargo per year. As part of the climate change adaptation reporting process mandated by government, Peel Ports identified that they lacked an understanding of the critical interdependencies between their infrastructure and other infrastructure networks (e.g. energy supply, road transport). This includes a poor understanding of the potential for cascading failures between interlinked natural and socioeconomic systems and sub-systems (Peel Ports, 2021). For example, severe weather can affect the transport network that may then have an impact on the availability of and access for port personnel and lorry drivers, compromising vessel loading and unloading efficiency, and creating a backlog that ultimately affects the wider supply chain. Alternately, a power outage may affect the function and safety of the port operations. How can Peel Port manage these interdependent risks? This project will address this critical knowledge gap by undertaking a short research project that will; identify the local climate change risks, assess the interdependencies, and evaluate the potential for subsequent cascading impacts. Liverpool Port has been selected as a case study location and the project outcomes will be shared across the company, to support their climate change adaptation policymaking, and increase awareness of the urgent need for adaptation with their company shareholders. As such, this project will act as an exemplar for Peel Ports and for the wider sector. Peel Ports have an international reputation as a leading organisation who can drive innovation and change within the sector. In the conversations and email exchanges that have led to this conversation, Peel Ports have repeatedly indicated their desire for a longer-term collaboration, and we anticipate this short project will seedcorn further substantive stakeholder engagement and policy-driven research in this area. |
Collaborator Contribution | Peel Ports co-created the research project, providing funding (£3,000) and time/resources in kind (£5,000) |
Impact | Successful EPSRC IAA Award |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Transport for London |
Organisation | Transport for London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I am supervising a PhD student (Sarah Greenham) who is working with TfL to understand the impact of heat on their infrastructure. The PhD project is directly linked to my Fellowship and funded by EPSRC. |
Collaborator Contribution | TfL are providing data, time in kind, and an office space for my PhD Student. |
Impact | This PhD studentship started in Otcober 2018. Outputs to follow. |
Start Year | 2018 |
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 | Western Power |
Organisation | Western Power Distribution |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | This is a new collaboration that has provided new data for analysis for the EPSRC project |
Collaborator Contribution | time in kind data |
Impact | analysis ongoing |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | BBC Midlands July 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview at BBC Midlands on extreme heat and the impact of high temperatures on the urban environment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
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 | 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 | London Climate Action Week |
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 | Impact of climate on urban areas. Keynote Speaker for an international interdisciplinary audience of academics and practitioners on action to adapt |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Network Asset Performance Conference (Energy sector) |
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 the impact of floods on Storm Desmond to professional practitioners in energy sector. Outcome - new engagement with power distribution, Electricity Northwest, and joint MSc project, commencing March 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
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 | The Edge Debate (online): The nexus of clean air and urban climate resilience |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Short presentation then part of the debate panel |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |