October 2009
Halcrow and Cardiff University’s School of Engineering have been working together to develop a new approach to integrated water management and investment planning. The approach is known as Cloud to Coast (C2C) solutions.
A C2C solution takes an integrated approach to water infrastructure development and maintenance over short and long-term planning timescales. Users can assess the impact of climate change on water resources in droughts and floods, and evaluate possible mitigation and adaptation strategies. C2C also looks at investment decision pathways, ensuring that solutions are robust, flexible and cost effective.
Non-executive chairman Tony Pryor commented: “The C2C concept is motivating Halcrow employees to think in a more holistic manner when addressing multi-disciplinary projects, encouraging greater communication and giving clients the confidence that their challenges are being addressed.”
Cardiff University's Roger Falconer and Halcrow's Kunle Akande are championing the new concept. Roger Falconer and water and power managing director Michael Norton recently gave a presentation at the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering workshop on water security.
Michael Norton said: “By considering the whole system, Halcrow will be recognised as a thought leader and effective provider of consultancy services related to their current and future challenges”.
The C2C system is being developed into a unique multi-disciplinary service, delivering solutions for the most challenging projects through a Halcrow C2C programme. Through this, the ISIS by Halcrow software will be enhanced and associated with other commercially available modelling packages, delivering the ability to assess entire systems.
C2C is being piloted on the Ribble catchment, one of the nineteen European Union catchments selected for testing the principles of the Water Framework Directive.
The programme is being targeted at clients including water utilities, wholesale suppliers of water and water based products, water companies, international financial institutions, regulators, non-governmental organisations, local authorities and developers worldwide.