Research & The Intelligent Nation

Dr. Ian Potter Vice President, Engineering National Research Council

Global  Popula*on  and  Urbaniza*on  

What  Ci*es  Must  Provide  

•  Sustainable  supply  of  safe  food  •  Sustainable  supply  of  safe  water  •  Sustainable  supply  of  safe  energy  •  Sustainable  eco-­‐system  •  Security  of  persons,  property  and  informa*on  •  Advanced  communica*ons  and  entertainment  systems  

•  Sustainable  industrial  base  (economic  and  environmental)  

•  Sustainable  transporta*on  systems  •  Sustainable  health  and  educa*on  

Our  ci@es  and  civiliza@on  were  designed  during  the  most  stable  weather  in  the  last  1000  years.  

Located  in  areas  prone  to  storm  damage  and  flooding.  Roof  colours  and  parking  lots  suck  up  heat  Avia*on  hubs  located  in  storm  centers  

Blue  Sky  Day  in  Beijing  May  2007  

Public  concern  for  popula*on  health  and  environmental  issues  is  steadily  rising  

•  Asthma  and  pulmonary  health  •  Pharmaceu*cals,  contaminants  and  other  chemicals  in  food  and  water  supplies  

•  Emissions  and  mould  in  buildings  •  Rise  in  allergies  •  Emissions  and  spills  associated  with  industrial  development  

Containment  doesn’t  eliminate  the  problem  and  expanding  landfill  sites  is  an  undesirable  

use  for  land  

The  Next  Genera*on  Community  •  s*mula*ng  and  aesthe*cally  pleasing  work  environment  

•  more  space  •  self  actualiza*on  and  personal  opportuni*es  

•  proximity  to  family  and  friends  

•  heightened  sense  of  personal  security  

•  less  stress  and  ease  of  lifestyle  

•  lower  cost,  including  lower  cost  of  living  

•  cleaner  environment  •  more  personal  control  and  influence  on  local  governance  

•  closer  to  nature  •  access  to  services  and  infrastructure  

Next  Genera*on  Communi*es  

Imagine  neighbourhoods  that  are  regenera@ve  and  give  more  than  they  take–  –  produce  more  energy  than  

they  consume;  –  provide  strong  social  

support  networks  for  their  residents;  

–  generate  wealth  from  valued  goods  and  services;  

–  minimize  their  ecological  footprint,  curtail  GHG  emissions  and  enhance  the  natural  and  human  environment;  

–  resilient  and  able  to  respond  effec@vely  to  unexpected  shocks  and  threats.