100 inspiring urban infrastructure projects
In the United States it's easy to get down on the current state of infrastructure projects. But around the world -- and in the U.S. -- there are plenty of inspiring infrastructure projects.
Even during tight financial times, cities are coming up with innovative financing mechanisms like public-priviate partnerships to make these projects a reality more quickly.
KPMG, a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services, released a new report, "Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition" showcasing some of the greatest urban infrastructure projects from around the world.
The report looks at 10 infrastructure categories. I looked at the most facinating projects in each category, below:
Urban regeneration
Featured project: Toronto waterfront
Where: Toronto, Canada
What: Over the next 25 years, this $17 billion project will transform the city's waterfront into public space.
Why it important: This underused land will revitalize an important area of land near the city's downtown. It will bring 40,000 new residents to the area (20 percent will be affordable housing) and 40,000 new jobs. It will also be a showcase location for people visiting the city.
Urban mobility
Featured project: Kuwait Metro
Where: Kuwait City
What: A $10 billion rail transit project that will include 28 stations and about 30 miles of tracks throughout the city in its first phase. When completed the metro system will have 69 stations across almost 100 miles of tracks.
Why it's important: The city currently has limited transit options. In this capital city of over 2 million, an overreliance on car means crowded roads. Less motorists on the road means better air quality for the city.
Global connectivity (transportation infrastructure connecting cities or countries)
Featured project: Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor
Where: Delhi/Mumbai, India
What: An ambitious $90 billion mega project will connect the country's capital city (Delhi) with its financial capital (Mumbai). The plans include a high-speed rail line for freight, a six-lane expressway and a 4,000MW power station. Along the corridor nine industrial zones and 24 cities are expected to be built.
Why it's important: The project has an area of influence reaching about 320 million people. Building new cities along the rail and electricity lines will make transportation and power distribution more efficient.
Education
Featured project: Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University for Women
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
What: An 8 million square meter education city for 40,000 students.
Why it's important: The school will offer 60 percent of the city’s female high-school graduates. Degrees will be offered in male-dominated fields of medicine, pharmacy, management, and IT.
Healthcare
Featured project: Integrated Health and Water Management Project
Where: Bahia, Brazil
What: Infrastructure to improve access to clean water and sanitation in 10 municipalities.
Why it's important: The project will improve neonatal care in 25 hospitals throughout the region, reducing the infant mortality rate.
Water
Featured project: Tuas II Desalination Plant
Where: Singapore
What: This is the second phase of Singapore's desalination project. The current plant provides 10 percent of the city-state's water supply. The latest, $1 billion, facility will produce 318,500 cubic meters of water per day, close to three time mores than the current facility produces.
Why it's important: The 274 square mile city-state has no natural aquifers and relies on freshwater imports from Malaysia. This project will help make the area more self-sustaining.
New & Extended Cities
Featured project: Tysons Corner, Virginia
Where: Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
What: A development project that will transform the car-dependent suburb into a walkable, urban center by 2050.
Why it's important: The project is expected to increase the number of residents from 17,000 to 100,000. Being an area where people can work, live, and play will make the development more sustainable.
Recycling and Waste Management
Featured project: The Energy Garden Project
Where: Vancouver, Canada
What: A system that produces renewable energy from food and yard waste.
Why it's important: The $4 million project will divert 27,000 tonnes of food and yard waste from British Columbia landfills, while powering up to 700 homes.
Urban Energy Infrastructure
Featured project: Hyllie District Smart Grid
Where: Malmö, Sweden
What: A smart grid in the Hyllie District will power 9,000 new homes with energy-saving technologies like distributed energy storage and smart meters.
Why it's important: By 2020 the district is expected to run on 100 percent renewable energy. The smart grid will help manage energy use more efficiently.
Communications Infrastructure
Featured project: South American Fiber Optic Ring
What: A 6,000-plus mile fiber optic ring connecting cities and countries throughout South America.
Why it's important: With 80 percent of international data traffic from Latin America going through United States, this project will improve connection speed in South American cities by 20-30 percent.
There are a lot more amazing infrastructure projects in the report. Check them out here.
Photo courtesy of Waterfront Toronto
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com