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EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: Resilience in a Changing World (FIBE2)

 

This week's Lunchtime Seminar will be delivered by 4 speakers from the company Cundall, a global, independent, multi-disciplinary consultancy delivering sustainable engineering and design solutions across the built environment. 

Topic: Future Fit Cities- Water Infrastructure

Abstract: Human demand for water supply in urban areas is increasing with climate change scenarios and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 needs to accelerate to meet the 2030 targets. With the shifts in water management, how does infrastructure keep up with the population and urbanisation demands? We’ll explore this idea using our recent project experience and consider:

  • Assessing the risk of current water infrastructure to flooding, and creating tools to enable risk-based design of future upgrades
  • Understanding how to calculate the water capacity of the system by reviewing water availability and the state of the existing infrastructure
  • Assessing system vulnerabilities and deficiencies - this involves identifying vulnerabilities within the system, such as water resources and water losses
  • Selecting actions and strategies - this encompasses all water-related strategies, considering city demands of 2040 

Speakers:

Dr Elisabeth C Marlow - Principal Consultant, Sustainability

After obtaining BS Architectural Engineering and MSc Renewable Energy with Architecture degrees, Chartered Structural Engineer, Dr Elisabeth C Marlow, conducted a PhD in the interplay of sustainability and resilience in the urban built environment. Elisabeth is an elected Trustee and Vice-President for The Institution of Structural Engineers’ UK & Europe Region for 2023-2025. She is part of Cundall’s sustainability team in London, focusing on environment, strategy and governance (ESG), climate risk adaptation and resilience.

Callum Smith - Principal Engineer

Callum is an Incorporated Engineer, member of the Institute of Civil Engineers as well as a verified CEEQUAL assessor, providing advice and guidance on sustainable infrastructure developments around the globe. Having worked across the UK, Qatar, UAE, and Oman, Callum now is part of Cundall’s team located in Dubai and has helped to develop Cundall’s Zero Carbon Design 2030 initiative. He presented his talk remotely. 

Athanasios Liaskonis - Senior Engineer

Holding a MEng Civil Engineering and a MSc Flood Risk Management degree, Athanasios is a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers with over 5 years of experience in hydrologic catchment analysis, river and urban flood modelling, and design of sustainable urban drainage systems. As part of Cundall’s team in Newcastle, he has combined traditional and innovative technologies to analyse and manage the flood risks for residential and commercial developments across the UK and Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Oman, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

Samar K. Mahmoud - Senior Engineer

Samar, an experienced civil engineer, specialises in urban water infrastructure. Her professional experience expands across the modelling and detailing of complex water supply, wastewater, and treated sewage effluent systems. With MSc in Sustainable Water Environments, Samar holds advanced technical proficiency in hydraulic transient analysis, river hydraulics and flood modelling. Samar has worked in the UK, Oman, and UAE, and now is part of Cundall’s civil engineering team in Edinburgh.

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