Эксперт WSP предупредил о критическом состоянии британской инфраструктуры из-за климатических изменений

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or via the player below. This month’s guest is Steve Denton, managing director, civils at WSP. He is vice president of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers. He told New Civil Engineer news editor Lee Kenny about the challenges facing the UK’s ageing infrastructure, the impact of climate change on existing assets and why the way the country maintains its infrastructure needs to change. Denton chaired the National Engineering Policy Centre working group that produced Reviving our Ageing Infrastructure. The report concluded that the UK’s ageing infrastructure is at a tipping point and Denton identified three factors: the age profile of the assets, the effects of climate change and the level of reliance placed on infrastructure systems. “The ageing infrastructure that we have in the UK is at a tipping point,” he said. “We have got an increasing proportion of our asset base which is getting towards the end of its life.” He explained that climate change was placing greater demands on existing infrastructure while also accelerating deterioration. The interview also examined the consequences of infrastructure disruption. Denton argued that incidents where infrastructure is restricted or closed should be seen as an indication of wider risks rather than simply isolated failures. The conversation also covered the role of government, regulators and engineers in addressing the challenge. Denton said the National Engineering Policy Centre report contains 15 recommendations across seven areas where change is needed, with action required from multiple parties. He said he was optimistic about the prospects for implementing the recommendations, pointing to the level of engagement from government and across the infrastructure sector since the report was published. Finally, he highlighted the skills challenge facing infrastructure management and said the sector needed to “celebrate and raise the prestige” of those responsible for managing existing infrastructure.