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Dialogue  on  Infrastructure  dependencies  and  interdependencies  Kick-­‐off  Event  Report  4  April  2014  (Hosted  by  IET  and  in  collaboration  with  the  EA’s  Infrastructure  Operators  Adaptation  Forum)  

The  kick-­‐off  meeting  was  structured  to  provide  participants  with  an  opportunity:    

• To  identify  and  further  explore  practice,  policy  and  research  initiatives  designed  to  explore  and  address  infrastructure  dependencies  and  interdependencies  –  pulling  together  the  landscape;  

• To  better  understand  the  challenges  related  to  understanding  and  addressing  infrastructure  dependencies  and  interdependencies  from  the  participants’  perspectives;  and    

• To  identify  next  steps  for  this  dialogue  towards  realising  the  identified  purposes.  

See  Annex  1  for  agenda  and  list  of  participants.  

 

Identify  and  further  explore  practice,  policy  and  research  initiatives  1. Presentations  

This  aim  was  addressed  through  a  series  of  presentations  and  by  way  of  two  timelines  (the  next  10  months  and  the  next  3  years).    The  presentations  (available  at  http://www.arcc-­‐network.org.uk/dialogue-­‐on-­‐infrastructure-­‐dependencies-­‐and-­‐interdependencies/)    were  intended  to  highlight  initiatives  and  perspectives  from  the  three  communities  and  to  stimulate  further  dialogue  on  identifying  other  activities  and  informing  the  identifications  of  gaps.    They  were  not  intended  to  provide  a  comprehensive  picture.  

The  presentations  and  some  of  the  issues  related  to  interdependencies  raised  in  terms  of  furthering  the  dialogue:  

Practice  Adapting  to  future  flooding  –  David  Quincy,  Anglian  Water:  

• Understanding  what  information  /  models  are  needed  to  inform  decisions  • Identifying  what  level  of  serviceability  is  non-­‐negotiable  (maintained  at  all  costs)  and  those  

that  can  be  allowed  to  recover  over  time  

Sharing  experiences  from  dealing  with  the  extreme  events  (December  2013-­‐Feburary  2014)  –  John  Dora:  

This  was  not  a  presentation,  but  rather  provided  an  opportunity  for  participants  to  highlight  implications  of  the  extreme  events  that  occurred  across  the  UK  from  December  2013  to  February  2014  in  terms  of  interdependencies  revealed.    A  note  on  what  was  highlighted  by  participants  is  available  on  the  ARCC  network  website.    Some  key  points  that  can  be  drawn  from  this  are:

 

 

 

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• The  fact  that  there  was  a  series  of  events  and  the  wide  spread  nature  of  these  events  tested,  and  in  a  number  of  cases  led  to  failures  in,  existing  strategies  and  systems,  and  revealed  interdependencies.

• The  need  to  identify  synergies  and  ‘at  risk’  elements  that  recognise  and  identify  the  resilience  of  assets  and  associated  services  with  the  aim  of  minimising  the  overall  impacts.  

• It  would  be  useful  to  see  an  impact  timeline  to  illustrate  how  effects  cascaded  within  and  across  the  infrastructure  sectors  in  terms  of  assets  and  services  available.  

Research  Infrastructure  Transitions  Research  Consortium  (ITRC)  –  Jim  Hall  

• Three  aspects  of  interdependencies  in  terms  of  their  implications  on  resilience  were  identified:    changes  in  demand,  propagation  of  failures  through  the  system,  and  changes  in  economic  growth,  population  and  land-­‐use.  

• ITRC  is  exploring  the  role/scope  of  interdependencies  and  in  particular  the  impacts  of  scale  on  interdependencies.  

Infrastructure  Business  Models,  Valuation  and  Innovations  for  Local  Delivery  (iBuild)  –  Richard  Dawson  

• Focus  is  on  infrastructure  at  the  scale  of  neighbourhoods,  towns  and  cities  where  infrastructure  is  most  dense  and  interdependencies  between  infrastructures,  economies  and  society  are  most  profound.  

• Includes  thinking  about  service  provision  (i.e.  what  does  society  expect  the  level  of  service  to  look  like  and  the  importance  that  new  business  models  will  be  able  to  better  exploit  the  technical  and  market  opportunities  that  emerge  from  the  increased  interdependence  of  modern  infrastructure  systems.    

Policy  Infrastructure  UK  and  UK  Regulators  Network  –  David  Penhallurick  

• Asking  how  we  can  exploit  the  potential  benefit  of  joint  infrastructure  to  produce  long  term  savings.    If  we  follow  this  route  (of  joint  infrastructure)  do  we  reduce  or  increase  our  risks?  

• IUK  are  working  with  the  UK  Regulators  Network  to  improve  the  (regulatory)  environment  for  shared  assets  and  services.  

2. Other  interdependence  related  initiatives  as  identified  by  participants  

Participants  were  asked  to  identify  other  interdependence-­‐related  initiatives  as  a  basis  to  better  understanding  the  interdependencies’  landscape.    This  led  to  the  following  initiatives  being  identified,  but  also  to  the  updating  of  the  two  timelines  (http://www.arcc-­‐network.org.uk/dialogue-­‐on-­‐infrastructure-­‐dependencies-­‐and-­‐interdependencies/).  

Policy  Transport  resilience  review:  call  for  evidence  (closes  02  May  2014)  https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/transport-­‐resilience-­‐review-­‐call-­‐for-­‐evidence  

 BIS  is  looking  at  the  next  stage  of  Building  Information  Modelling  (BIM)  to  include  combining  it  with  data  and  information  from  infrastructure  sectors.  This  should  allow  conclusions  to  be  drawn  from  across  the  sectors  when  challenged  by  the  same  external  event.  

 

 

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Research  Looking  at  the  capacity  to  address  uncertainties  from  a  governance  perspective  –  R.  Hiteva  

International  Centre  for  Infrastructure  (ICIF)  will  create  a  shared,  facilitated  learning  environment  in  which  social  scientists,  engineers,  industrialists,  policy  makers  and  other  stakeholders  can  research  and  learn  together  to  understand  how  better  to  exploit  the  technical  and  market  opportunities  that  emerge  from  the  increased  interdependence  of  infrastructure  systems.  The  Centre  will  focus  on  the  development  and  implementation  of  innovative  business  models  and  aims  to  support  UK  firms  wishing  to  exploit  them  in  international  markets.  The  Centre  will  undertake  a  wide  range  of  research  activities  on  infrastructure  interdependencies  with  users,  which  will  allow  problems  to  be  discovered  and  addressed  earlier  and  at  lower  cost  (http://www.icif.ac.uk/).  

Centre  for  Smart  Infrastructure  and  Construction  at  Cambridge  University  has  a  major  theme  focussed  on  future  proofing  infrastructure  assets  (http://www-­‐smartinfrastructure.eng.cam.ac.uk/)  

Practice  Climate  UK  through  its  regional  partnerships  are  building  partnerships  with  regional  stakeholders,  working  with  Local  Enterprise  Partnerships  (LEPs)  and  LAs  to  develop  their  understanding  of  climate  risks  (report  being  produced)  

 

Understanding  the  challenges1      

1. Knowledge  and  evidence  gaps  associated  with  characterising  interdependencies  to  support  infrastructure  decision-­‐making  

The  participants  identified  a  number  of  knowledge  and  evidence  gaps  that  can  be  summarised  as:  

Evidence  of  the  value  of  infrastructure  interdependencies  and  broadening  cost-­‐benefit  analyses  to  consider:  

• Return  on  investment  (drawing  on  examples  or  analogues)  • Developing  a  business  case  that  includes  value  to  someone  else,  including  health  and  

ecosystems,  and  value  in  investing  in  the  future  • Value  of  not  building  something  • Value  of  shared  infrastructure  and  portability  of  infrastructure  

Means  of  capturing  the  public  attention  (engagement)    

Validity  of  planning  assumptions  –  what  is  and  is  not  possible,  including  engaging  with  both  opportunities  and  threats.  

How  to  make  actions  happen:  

• The  potential  of  social  bonds  as  a  means  of  promoting  and  supporting  sharing  • Knowledge  and  skills  gaps  associated  with  making  decisions  and  delivering  infrastructure  in  

this  manner  • Anticipating  the  need  and  learning  while  doing.  

Data  and  information  issues:  

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• What  data  is  actually  useful?  What  data/information  is  needed  to  support  decisions?  • How  can  this  data  be  more  effectively  linked,  especially  across  different  scale?  • What  can  be  shared  (willingness  to  share)  and  what  are  the  appropriate  means  for  sharing  

data  within  and  across  infrastructure  sectors?  • Means  of  engaging  data  owners  to  provide  opportunities  for  learning,  enhancing  

applicability  and  adding  value.  

Need  to  be  able  to  identify  and  understand  success  and  failures,  but  also  near  misses.  

 

2. Key  actors  that  are  not  engaged  in  the  process  of  developing  our  understanding  of  interdependencies  

Participants  identified  a  number  of  key  actors  that  are  summarised  as:  

• Financial  and  insurance  sectors,  including  banks,  pension  investors  and  those  elements  of  the  insurance  industry  with  a  particular  focus  on  infrastructure  

• Consultancies  that  are  involved  in  delivering  infrastructure  and  advice  in  the  UK  • Central  Government  –  Cabinet  Office  (Risk  Register  and  SRPs)  and  BIS,  and  Devolved  

Administrations  • Local  Governments  –  GLA,  Core  Cities,  and  others  through  LGA  and  LEPs  • UK  Regulators  Network  • Broader  spectrum  of  Generators  and  DNOs  • Corporate  Leaders  Group  • Adaptation  Sub-­‐Committee  of  the  Climate  Change  Committee  • Emergency  responders  and  health  services  • Representative  of  EPSRC,  ESRC  and  NERC.  

 

3. Additional  barriers  to  taking  action  

Participants  identified  specific  barriers  to  action  related  to  understanding  but  also  being  able  to  take  advantage  of  interdependencies.  

Policy  and  regulations  • Political  willingness  and  interest  within  government  is  limited  by  short-­‐termism  • Need  for  a  supportive  regulatory  framework  with  explicit  exclusion  (not  subject  to  

freedom  of  information  • Move  to  increase  competition  can  limit  consideration  of  benefits  of  working  together  to  

deliver  infrastructure  and  services.    

Research  • Research  environment  and  funding  need  to  be  more  joined  up  (cross  councils)  • Limited  recognition  of  the  need  for  and  value  of  knowledge  exchange  and  mobilisation,  

including  drawing  on  what  is  going  on  internationally.  • Multidisciplinary  research  within  the  research  and  academic  communities  has  limited  

value  in  terms  of  investment  and  recognition  • Limited  systems  thinking  within  the  education  system.  

 

 

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Data  • Data  sharing  is  limited,  especially  what  is  seen  as  commercially  sensitive  

data/information  • Data  quality  and  relevance  

o Strive  for  quantitative  data  and  modelling  when  qualitative  information  can  also  be  informative  –  understanding  of  integration  can  be  limited  

o Recognition  of  the  limitations  of  data  (utility  beyond  that  for  which  it  was  collected)  

Understanding  of  Risks  and  Benefits  • Understanding  of  what  and  where  to  bring  infrastructure  together  (associated  risks  and  

benefits)  • Ability  to  articulate  and  demonstrate  the  opportunities/benefits  rather  than  the  risks  • Capability  to  assess  critical  infrastructure  and  services  provided  from  a  systems  

perspective  that  would  allow  identification  of  vulnerabilities  and  risks  and  inform  decisions.  

Pull  for  integration  • Lack  of  customer  pull  and  willingness  of  customer  to  pay  and  fund  (need  to  increase  

awareness  of  benefits)  

Next  Steps  in  this  dialogue  The  list  of  possible  subjects/areas  to  inform  the  dialogue  identified  during  the  meeting:    

• LA  perspectives  on  infrastructure  interdependencies,  challenges  and  lessons  learnt  • IOA  Forum  members  and  other  infrastructure  operators  that  would  be  willing  to  share  examples  

and  experiences  • ICIF  update  • Relationship  with  sector  resilience  plans  • ‘Anytown’  project  potentially  linked  to  CIRIA  report  C688  (Hypothetical  city)  • Relationships  with  the  NAP  and  climate  adaptation  programmes  within  Scotland,  Northern  

Ireland  and  Wales  -­‐  how  these  are  addressing  interdependencies  • HS2  –  how  interdependencies  are  being  addressed  • Experiences  over  the  2013/14  winter(EA/DNOs)  to  trigger  exploration  of  challenges  • An  update  on  the  government’s  Scientific  Advisory  Group  for  Emergencies  (SAGE)  work  related  

to  extreme  events  in  terms  of  interdependencies  • Exploring  the  potential  of  interdependencies  to  capture  value  rather  than  just  to  avoid  losses  –  

where  interdependencies  can  have  positive  impacts,  including  through  consideration  of  different  scenarios  (use  to  engage  the  public)  

There  was  also  the  suggestion  of  further  considering  the  questions  used  to  explore  the  challenges  by  entering  into  an  internet  based  dialogue  that  would  engage  the  broader  IOA  Forum  members.    It  was  further  suggested  that  through  further  reflection  on  these  questions,  and  those  raised  in  the  paper  circulated  at  the  meeting,  these  further  considerations  could  be  used  to  inform  the  dialogue  at  the  session  within  the  ARCC  Network  Assembly  (June  2014)  and  at  the  next  IOA  Forum  meeting.  

These  suggestions  will  be  considered  by  the  core  planning  team  as  options  to  be  pursued  through  face-­‐to-­‐face  and  virtual  meetings  –  the  forward  agenda.  

 

 

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Annex  1  Purpose  of  the  Dialogue  

A  policy/practice-­‐science  dialogue  to  explore  and  understand  dependencies  /  interdependencies  across  the  infrastructure  sectors    

This  is  a  joint  initiative  of  the  Infrastructure  Operators’  Adaptation  (IOA)  Forum  and  the  ARCC  Network2.    As  such,  the  proposed  dialogues  are  taking  a  policy/practice-­‐science  perspective  and  are  designed  to  provide  opportunities  to  bring  together  those  within  the  policy,  practice  and  research  communities  that  are  exploring  and  seeking  to  understand  dependencies  and  interdependencies  in  the  infrastructure  sectors.      

The  intention  is  to  share  learning,  challenges  and  plans  by  providing  opportunities  to  inform  each  other  of  related  efforts  within  and  across  the  different  communities,  and  to  provide  opportunities  to  discuss  potential  collaborative  efforts,  if  and  where  this  makes  sense.      

The  planned  activities  will  provide  opportunities  for  those  interested  and  active  in  this  area  to  participate  in  a  series  of  targeted  events,  including  flexible  virtual  events,  face-­‐to-­‐face  events  (including  this  workshop),  and  will  provide  access  to  shared  briefing  notes  and  reports.  The  intention  is  to  enhance  the  potential  for  participation  by  providing  flexibility  in  terms  of  how  and  the  extent  to  which  participants  engage,  and  by  focusing  face-­‐to-­‐face  engagement  on  where  it  is  essential  to  deliver  the  agreed  benefits.  

 

Kick-­‐off  Event  Agenda  

10:00     Refreshments  

10:30       Introductions  and  purpose  

10:45     Presentations  –  examples  of  state  of  play       Practice:  Anglian  Water  –  David  Quincy,  Sharing  experiences  Jan/Feb  2014  –  John  Dora     Research  Infrastructure  Transitions  Research  Consortium  –  Jim  Hall,  iBuild  –  Richard  Dawson     Policy:  IUK  –  David  Penhallurick  (including  reference  to  work  by  UK  Regulators  Network)  

12:30     Discussion  and  sharing  by  participants  of  other  related  initiatives  –  aim  is  to  provide  a  better     understanding  of  the  associated  landscape  

13:00     Lunch  

13:45     Facilitate  discussion  -­‐  lessons  learnt  and  challenges.  Exploring  barriers  and  knowledge  and     evidence  gaps,  and  identifying  potential  ways  forward  

14:30     Next  steps  in  this  dialogue  -­‐  including  virtual  events  via  the  internet,  and  the  ARCC  Network     Assembly,  June  10-­‐11,  Birmingham  

15:00       Closure  

 

                                                                                                                         2  The Adaptation and Resilience in the Context of Change (ARCC) Network brings together researchers and stakeholders involved in adaptation to technological, social and environmental change in the built environment and infrastructure sectors. Funded by EPSRC, the Network provides a UK-wide network that aims to develop and exchange knowledge and evidence from across the research community to better inform policy and practice.  

 

 

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Participants    

Suzanne   Al-­‐Dabbagh   DECC  Kate   Avery   Network  Rail  Lloyd   Barson   Network  Rail  Tim     Broyd   UCL  Kate     Canning   ARUP  Charles   Corbishley   Environment  Agency  Amanda   Crossfield   Yorkshire  Water  Damien   Culley   National  Grid  Paul   Davies   Institution  of  Engineering  and  Technology  Richard   Dawson   Newcastle  University  Jonathan   Day   Environment  Agency  Tom   Dolan   UCL  John   Dora   JDCL  Chris   Fieldsend   Office  of  Rail  Regulation  Emma   Fryer     TechUK  Miles   Gidlow   Department  for  Transport  Dan   Griffiths   Climate  UK  Jim   Hall   University  of  Oxford  Ian   Hill   Openreach  (BT  Group)  Ralitsa   Hiteva   SPRU,  University  of  Sussex  Matthew   Hogan   Greater  London  Authority  Nick   Jackson   Defra  Simon   Jude   Cranfield  university  Richard   Le  Gros   Energy  Networks  Association  Nienke     Maas   TNO  Chris   Mack   DECC  Shanti   Majithia   National  Grid  Ronan   Palmer   Ofwat    Raghav   Pant   University  of  Oxford  David   Penhallurick   Infrastructure  UK  Richard   Ploszek   Infrastructure  UK  David   Quincey   Anglian  Water  

Ges   Rosenberg   Systems  Centre,  University  of  Bristol  Phil   Sivell   UKCIP/ARCC  Network  Roger   Street   UKCIP/ARCC  Network  Andrew     Warrington   ADEPT/Notts  County  Council  Jeremy   Watson   UCL  David   Whensley   Energy  Networks  Association  Helen   Woolston   Transport  for  London  Mark   Workman   Energy  Research  Partnership