Shaping the future of our cities with sustainable urban drainage systems

In this new age of ‘green urbanism’, innovative urban planning often includes thoughtful green solutions that bring benefit both to the community and environment.

While it is true that urban planning is more than good physical design, one can’t deny the fact that sustainable design considerations – right from the early planning phase – would lead to successful final design and construction that can significantly influence our quality of life in the cities.
Continue reading “Shaping the future of our cities with sustainable urban drainage systems”

Diving deep into the problem of ocean acidification

What is ocean acidification? 

Ocean acidification is an effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide entering the ocean, lowering the water’s pH and increasing its acidity levels. High levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is largely an effect of human activities, such as deforestation for agriculture or fuel, but it is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – to produce large amounts of concentrated energy at a relatively low cost.  Continue reading “Diving deep into the problem of ocean acidification”

How machine learning can help fuel decisions in flood management

Throughout the last couple of decades, exponentially increasing computing power together with swiftly improving machine learning algorithms to analyse collected data, have transformed several aspects of business operations. As a result, these types of pioneering technology trends are predicted to continue to grow and impact many different sectors across a wide range of industries. Continue reading “How machine learning can help fuel decisions in flood management”

How do we balance lithium mining with the environment? The answer is digital

Found in batteries, electric vehicles or laptops, lithium is an important resource in modern society. Today, most of the world’s lithium is extracted from brine water deposits, such as salars, making it vital for us to find ways of managing water while also protecting the environment. Continue reading “How do we balance lithium mining with the environment? The answer is digital”

How to manage urban stormwater quality in three steps

Urban stormwater runoff is rainwater or snowmelt runoff that runs off the pavement, parking lots, rooftops and other impermeable surfaces in the cities. As the runoff travels to the lowest elevation, it carries with it dirt, trash, toxins and various pollutants – all the way into streams, lakes, rivers, estuaries, or oceans. This polluted runoff affects the water quality in the receiving bodies and causes significant damage to ecosystems. Continue reading “How to manage urban stormwater quality in three steps”

Cloud technology: How a visual overview makes mine water management easier

At this point, it can hardly be underlined enough how water is one of the most fundamental resources for life. Whether it comes from surface water or groundwater sources, access to water that meets proper quality and quantity standards is of vital importance across the world. Continue reading “Cloud technology: How a visual overview makes mine water management easier”

The one tip for an efficient wastewater treatment plant: Go digital

According to the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector analysis conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there are 16,000 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the US. Additionally, there are another 18,000 WWTPs in Europe according to EurEau. Continue reading “The one tip for an efficient wastewater treatment plant: Go digital”

How to tackle the problem of ocean plastic pollution with technology

Plastic pollution in our oceans is one of the most pressing environmental issues we are facing today. A new study released in 2019 reveals that the amount of plastics in our oceans has been increasing significantly since its use became widespread in the 50s, and this problem is likely to get worse. Continue reading “How to tackle the problem of ocean plastic pollution with technology”

How can humans contribute to ecosystem services?

Ecosystem services are defined as services provided by nature to humans. This straightforward definition suggests a passive role for humans as receivers of the outputs of nature. However, there is also an active role for people to play in providing these services. Continue reading “How can humans contribute to ecosystem services?”

Floating wind farms: A new dimension to offshore wind energy

It is hard to deny that the demand for more energy is growing at a rapid pace on a global scale. As a result of this, different methods and solutions have been deployed to crack energy supply challenges throughout the past couple of decades. Especially renewable energy sources, such as wind power and solar energy, stand out as ways to reduce the impact fossil fuels have on global warming. Continue reading “Floating wind farms: A new dimension to offshore wind energy”