The Vision of the TRUE Research Group is to apply its multi-disciplinary expertise to address this mission-orientated challenge; the development and maintenance of ever-changing urban environments – in a sustainable and ethical way.
Aims
The main aim of the TRUE Group is to conduct research into infrastructure in urban environments at the forefront of practice, with particular emphasis on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The Research Group has two principal objectives to be met within the first three years:
- i) to co-develop and maintain a portfolio of industry and research projects that are closely linked to industry activities in addressing the Net Zero agenda in an urban infrastructure context.
- ii) to nurture strong and enduring partnerships with important stakeholders, including academic, industry and NGOs.
Mission statement
The threat to the world’s people, environment and health is one of sustainability. Sustainability is not just an energy/environmental concept but also includes social equity and economic sustainability. This leads to the concept of the triple bottom line that encompasses all these interrelated aspects.
This framework has evolved and been adopted by many other types of organisations as well as in local and national governments around the world to assess the sustainability of their operations across these three domains.
In a more universal sense these can be considered as measures of how Social Equity, the Environment and the Economy are sustained and grown sustainably. Engineering has a role in all the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and this group feels that there is one key goal that City, University of London is particularly well-placed to address.
This is “Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.
This SDG Goal has been embraced by many construction industry leaders. Current relevant pledges relate directly to the construction industry include ConcreteZero and SteelZero, pledging 100% net zero materials by 2050 and the City of London’s Climate Action Strategy which commits to net zero within the Square Mile by 2040.
These pledges are driving a dramatic change in the construction industry’s approach to infrastructure development. The Mission of this Research Group is to apply its considerable existing expertise to address this mission-orientated challenge; the development and maintenance of urban environments – in a sustainable and ethical way.
Transforming Urban Environments Research Group website
Visit the Group's research microsite for more information about the group, including areas of research, projects and related activities.
Steering group
- Dr Sam Divall (Director)
- Professor Konstantinos Daniel Tsavdaridis (Deputy Director)
- Professor Sarah Stallebrass
- Dr Miguel Bravo Haro
- Dr Andrew McNamara
- Dr Chetan Jagadeesh
- Visiting Professor Michael Davies