Reconciling slow times and speed

On these pages, we have frequently explored the potential for collaboration between the physical and digital realms in the construction and regeneration of cities and infrastructure, offering insights and case studies from around the world. However, we are convinced that much more needs to be done to foster synergy and coordination between these two spheres. Only then can we achieve the necessary outcomes, which, in essence, address both the enhanced performance of what we build and the urgent need to reverse environmental impacts. This collaboration often remains ineffective due to the disconnect between physical infrastructure and buildings on the one hand, and the digital sphere on the other - not only during planning stages but even in the early development of investment programmes and project development. How often are infrastructure and building performance, utility networks, mobility, and energy systems calibrated using actual usage data, optimised flows, or reliable predictive models? How often is the balance of land areas, rendered impermeable by new construction, assessed in light of the more efficient use of infrastructure and buildings, thereby reducing overall land consumption? While materials, technologies, and energy sources are increasingly compliant with sectoral standards, insufficient attention to optimal outcomes - particularly regarding environmental and economic impacts - often renders projects inadequate. From functional programming to construction, efficiency and performance are too often compromised by fragmented processes, lack of collaboration, and a disconnect among stakeholders.

The analyses, perspectives, and projects presented on these pages highlight the value of interdisciplinary collaboration. They urge us to delve deeply into the unique characteristics, needs, and stakeholders of both the physical and digital realms. Equally critical is understanding the timelines that govern the interplay between vision and planning, between projects and construction, to achieve meaningful results. Physical infrastructure demands extended timelines, meticulous planning, and precise designs to deliver good performance.

Digital, by contrast, is inherently fast-paced, marked by constant and rapid innovations that can introduce groundbreaking possibilities within months - an approach that stands in stark contrast to the slow excavation, heavy materials, and incremental layering involved in building infrastructure and cities. How can these two inherently different natures be reconciled? How can their diverging needs be united, especially when they often rely on the same decision-making processes for investments and permits? Achieving this requires the patient alignment of priorities and goals, precise planning, and accurate design. It calls for a comprehensive, coordinated approach that tolerates no approximation or skills gaps. The challenges faced by the automotive industry in transitioning to electric vehicles are emblematic: delays in meeting established goals and economic ripple effects across the broader industry highlight the complexities of transformation. The critical task ahead is to harmonise the slow, deliberate pace of building and layering cities and their networks with the rapid evolution and opportunities of the digital realm. A multidisciplinary approach and collaboration are excellent tools, and we have come to understand this more clearly in recent years when faced with the stress tests of climate disasters, pandemics, and wars.