The Infrastructure Lab

Learning from the UK’s Infrastructure Assessment
2022-06-14 08:30 - 10:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual Roundtable FIG Members Only
The first National Infrastructure Assessment was published by the National Infrastructure Commission in 2018. Work on the second assessment is already underway and is due to be published in 2023. As well as looking at specific areas such as digital infrastructure, renewable energy, transportation, cities, and water, it also examined how best to choose and design, and fund and finance infrastructure. The Assessment was used as a basis to develop the UK’s first National Infrastructure Strategy.
This discussion aims to draw lessons from the UK’s experience to ensure investments in infrastructure deliver better value and better outcomes.

Learning from Australia’s Infrastructure Audit
2022-06-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Microsoft Teams, Invite Only
The Australian Infrastructure Audit was first conducted by the independent body Infrastructure Australia in 2015 and is now updated every five years. As well as looking at future trends, and cross-sectoral challenges, the Audit examined ways to improve industry efficiency, capacity, and capability in the sector across Australia. The Audit is also used as the basis to develop the Australian Infrastructure Plan.
This discussion aims to draw lessons from Australia’s experience to ensure investments in infrastructure deliver better value and better outcomes.

The Road to Transit Electrification
2022-03-22 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Roundtable
Utilities play a key role in planning for future transportation electrification and supporting private sector investment. The shift to transportation electrification will have major impacts on the daily operations and functions of utility providers and rate regulators, and capacity of existing systems. The way in which customers will consume electricity will change which provides challenges and opportunities for utilities, along with the impacts on the grid and how utilities manage peak demand.
This webinar will look at examining which jurisdictions and utilities have done well in planning for electrification and what can be learned from those areas. The conversation will also investigate what enables transportation electrification planning. Finally, it will delve into how this can be adopted in the Canadian context in different jurisdictions.
Participants:
Moderator: Cara Clairman, President & CEO, Plug’n Drive
Speakers:

Ted Wigdor, VP Policy, Government and Corporate Affairs, Electricity Distributors Association
Daniel Carr, Head of Smart Cities, Alectra Utilities
Raegan Bond, Partner, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors
Maria Bocanegra, Commissioner, Illinois Commerce Commission

Moving from Cost to Value and Net Zero
2022-03-11 | Virtual Roundtable
As towns and cities in the UK and Canada continue to grow, transit will play an increasingly important role in connecting people to jobs, supporting economic growth, reducing environmental impact, and as the anchor for Transit Oriented Development/Communities (TOD/TOC). Transit systems are expanding in both countries with major investments in infrastructure and vehicles, but to encourage more people to ride transit there are many factors to consider. These include: the design of transit stations and integration with surrounding communities; getting the right service levels and timetables; and making travel simple and more convenient for riders.
Both the UK and Canada are focused on the role transit and infrastructure will play in economic recovery, and both have committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The transport sector is responsible for around a third of emissions in both Canada and the UK, and congestion costs billions of dollars and pounds each year. Well-functioning transit systems can help to address both these issues and deliver wider economic, social, and environmental benefits. This roundtable will provide an opportunity to discuss how to boost transit ridership, and support both countries on the journey to net zero.

Moving from Cost to Value and Net Zero
2022-02-16 | Virtual Roundtable
Environmental performance and economic value go hand-in-hand when assessed over the lifetime of infrastructure. When projects are planned and procured it is often only the upfront costs for design and construction considered. More innovative designs and building materials may cost more initially, but can reduce lifecycle costs and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the years a piece of infrastructure is in use. By capturing that lifetime value it becomes easier to fairly compare proposals and deliver long-term cost savings and environmental benefits.
Both the UK and Canada are focused on the role infrastructure will play in economic recovery, and both have also committed to producing net zero emissions by 2050. This roundtable will provide an opportunity to share best practices on how infrastructure investment can deliver better environmental and economic outcomes, and support both countries on the journey to net zero.

The Road to Transit Electrification
2022-02-11 | Virtual Roundtable
Across North America transit agencies are updating their fleets with lower emission vehicles. As well as providing environmental benefits that help meet national and local environmental goals, electric vehicles also come with lower operating costs.
Local governments and transit agencies have often been at the forefront of tackling climate change and the shift from diesel buses to electric is a shift many transit agencies are making. Although there are benefits including reduced fuel costs, less vehicle noise, improved air quality, and reduced emissions, as with any transition there are challenges to overcome.
This discussion will draw on the experience of transit agencies from Canada and the U.S. and leading companies in the sector to explore those challenges, and identify the most effective approaches to overcoming them, and lessons learned through the process.

Learning from New South Wales 10 Point Commitment to the Construction Sector
2021-11-22 16:00 - 17:30 | Microsoft Teams, Invite Only
The New South Wales Government established the NSW Government Action Plan: A ten‑point commitment to the construction sector in 2018 as a foundation to strengthen the relationship between the government and private sector to drive better project outcomes. The Action Plan was developed through the Construction Leadership Group, a group of leading public sector capital entities, working together to address challenges across government in the development, procurement, and delivery of infrastructure and building projects. Infrastructure NSW leads the implementation of the Action Plan, tracking data on performance against commitments across projects with a capital value of over $50 million. This data is used to draw lessons on improvements and drive further improvement.
In Canada there is a similarly ambitious program of infrastructure investment. Across projects of all types there are common challenges, and innovative approaches to solving those challenges. Most of those challenges are experienced every day around the world and progress has been stymied by the often a system that nurtures a transactional, project-to-project approach within the sector. NSW provides a template to help transform the fundamentals of the relationship into more of a partnership across government with the private sector.
