Insights for what's next

Explore practical perspectives that turn complex challenges and emerging trends into real-world outcomes.

153 items
Filling up a glass of water
Thought Leadership

PFAS: Navigating the new drinking water health advisories

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released new drinking water Health Advisories for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including much lower levels for two common compounds. Jacobs assesses the implications in a new guidance document.

LAX rendering
Thought Leadership

Reach New Heights on Your Knowledge of ORAT

Jacobs’ Michael McElvaney walks us through the 5 W’s and 2 H’s of Operational Readiness and Airport Transition (ORAT) – the risk-based approach to operational readiness and transition to new facilities.

Why Quality Must Be Our Priority
Report

Powering the future: Why net zero carbon buildings aren’t enough

Gain insights behind this powerful shift, written by industry experts Adam Selvey, Jacobs and Ahmad Makkieh, Schneider Electric, and discover how Net Zero Carbon Power offers a scalable, future-ready path to decarbonizing our built environment. As the U.K. pushes toward its Clean Power 2030 targets, significant work is underway to decarbonize our buildings in a bid to reduce both operational and embodied emissions. However, the grid supporting these buildings is aging and under growing pressure. Up to 67% of grid supply points sit at or near capacity; we face a massive challenge: growing peak demand from electric heating, electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable generation is overwhelming a system never designed to handle it. The answer isn’t just to use less energy. It means using energy differently. Introducing Net Zero Carbon Power This new approach redefines how buildings interact with the grid. Direct current (DC) microgrids, local energy storage and smart load management allow buildings to: Eliminate inefficiencies caused by outdated alternating current (AC) infrastructure Cut energy loss by up to 20% with DC-ready technologies Slash project timelines and infrastructure costs Reduce dependence on a slow-moving grid Make buildings active contributors to energy stability Why DC? Why now? Today’s renewable sources and digital devices run on DC. Each time energy converts between AC and DC, losses increase and costs rise. Hybrid AC/DC microgrids address this issue. These systems store off-peak energy, power DC equipment directly and accelerate decarbonization without the long wait for large-scale grid upgrades. About the authors Adam Selvey

Aerial view of Water Treatment tank
Big Questions

How can water utilities navigate infrastructure funding in the face of uncertainty?

For water utilities across the U.S., the funding landscape continues to evolve. Traditional funding sources can change or become less reliable, creating uncertainty for water utilities working to deliver critical infrastructure improvements. For Tahne Corcutt, navigating that complexity is about more than securing funding — it’s enabling utilities to build more efficient and sustainable financial systems for capital improvements. As the leader of Jacobs’ Water Infrastructure Funding and Grants consulting practice, Tahne is a nationally recognized subject matter expert on the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFIA) programs. Over the past 18 years, she has supported water projects in all 50 states, serving as a prime contractor for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water and advising clients across federal, state and local government. Her work has helped secure more than $1 billion in funding for critical water infrastructure — enabling communities to advance essential projects with confidence. Reimagining how water projects are financed Tahne is known for thinking beyond conventional financing models. With a background in policy and law, she interprets statutes and regulations in unique ways that unlock opportunity. She has led innovative water infrastructure financing pilots in 15 states, advancing watershed-based strategies and community-based public-private partnerships. These approaches include: Programmatic financing Conduit lending Sponsorship lending Green banking Credit enhancements Linked deposit programs These models have helped address water quality and public health challenges while aligning the needs of utilities and funding agencies. Her work includes the conceptualization of a comprehensive, multi-year funding

Tahne Corcutt
High-tech abstract network
Big Questions

How do you match project goals with the right visualization technology?

Some established visualization platforms are fast to deploy but offer limited flexibility and customization potential. Other solutions offer nearly endless flexibility but take time and funding to develop. Many organizations are gravitating toward platforms originally designed for gaming, because they help teams visualize assets and processes in a high engaging and realistic way. Identifying the best visualization platform for a project depends on many factors, including scope and vision, targeted use cases, timeline, budget — and deciding which of those is most important. Jim Kessler supports clients as they navigate these decisions. He empowers them to think critically about the issues and pain points they’re experiencing, leading them through a collaborative dialogue to surface priorities, document their vision, map out key requirements and identify what technologies are available or being developed. This approach establishes a foundation to build an impactful visual media solution that meets their current needs, as well as future capabilities and opportunities. As a child in the 1980s, Jim was fascinated by video games, art and science, spending time programming graphics and games on a trusty Commodore 64 home computer. Later, as an intern architect, he honed his skills using 2D and 3D design software and used his graduate thesis to explore how electronic design methodologies could revolutionize architectural design and construction practices. After joining Jacobs as a graduate architect early in his career, Jim quickly discovered that his strength was in providing visual media solutions for clients. He founded our visual media group soon after. Today

Jim Kessler
digital-twin-j.com-flatlay-header
Report

Create a Digital Twin that drives results

Download our paper to explore the three common types of building and infrastructure digital twins, their impact on business outcomes and a structured approach to digital twin planning that overcomes common challenges.

Jim Kessler
aerial town center
Big Questions

How do you regenerate a town center?

"It starts with one simple question: What makes this place this place? Before I talk about new infrastructure or shiny assets, I want to understand the town’s identity: its history, people and pride. When places are struggling, it’s easy to forget they’ve been vibrant before. But there’s always something worth celebrating — local artists, a craft tradition, a regional industry, a story people can rally around. When those elements are embraced, the project gains warmth, meaning and character. Then I look at how we bring life back. Not just for a quick visit, but so people want to stay longer. You need activity on the street at different times of day: a daytime economy and a nighttime economy." "Providing upskilling opportunities for the community is a critical part of that, especially in towns that have gone through industrial change. In Hartlepool, England, we backed an engineering academy, provided training for carers and explored ideas like building a production village to offer vital pre- and post-production support for film and television media. It means students and local people can build careers without leaving town. Safety matters, too. Empty properties and silent streets invite anti-social behavior. Well-lit, well-maintained public spaces provide a space for activities, plus there are opportunities for temporary uses like popup events, clubs or festivals. You still need the basics: transport connections, active travel links and a digital backbone that encourages influence businesses to invest. Even something as simple as better wayfinding, like QR codes that help people discover

Priscila Mauro
Q&A

Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges: Meet Arisha Sucheran

Arisha Sucheran, a project manager at Jacobs, moved from South Africa to the Middle East in 2022 to project manage design delivery. Recognized for her outstanding performance, she is a role model for future engineers. Can you tell us about your role? I have toggled between roles of design manager on one of the region’s giga projects and project manager for Jacobs across the entire design scope. There are only a handful of design managers overseeing nearly 12,000 deliverables. My role is to coordinate with the client, contractors and our team to review design inputs and ensure alignment across all disciplines. I began with the marine contracts and have since transitioned into the landside buildings and infrastructure. Can you share your career journey up to this point? I began my career in government, working at the municipal level in South Africa, primarily project managing infrastructure projects for the city of Durban. In 2022, I joined Jacobs in the Middle East, my first seven months were spent on site in Saudi Arabia, where I focused on building relationships, understanding the people I would be working with and getting a feel for the scope. I started in a team of five which has grown to 70. What is your education background and what inspired you to pursue engineering? I studied civil engineering in my hometown of Durban, followed by a master’s degree with a focus on sustainable stormwater engineering. My mother is a professor and my father owns a construction company, so

Arisha Sucheran
Modern office building
Big Questions

How do you decide what really matters when shaping places?

Steve Foran doesn’t just plan spaces, he helps people see what’s possible. As Jacobs’ market growth director for Cities & Places in the Americas East region, he leads with curiosity and collaboration, guiding clients through complex challenges and turning ideas into action. Based in Atlanta, Steve’s career spans architecture, real estate consulting, sustainability and business operations. He has worked with universities, hospitals, corporations and government agencies to rethink how their spaces work, and how they could work better. His sweet spot? The early stages of planning, where vision meets strategy and the future starts to take shape. He’s also a team builder at heart. Steve leads a group of business development and client engagement professionals, in collaboration with our operations teams, to create opportunities for rethinking people-centric places. Known for his ability to simplify complexity, build trust and keep teams moving forward, Steve keeps projects grounded in purpose and people. His thought leadership has taken him from Georgia Tech to Shenzhen, China, where he has spoken on sustainable infrastructure and smart cities. He’s contributed to national conversations on space management, resilience and urban planning, all through a lens of connection, clarity and humanity. Leading with vision, grounded in people Steve’s leadership is rooted in relationships. He’s built long-term collaborations with clients by listening deeply, thinking strategically and delivering meaningful results. He has grown Jacobs’ presence in the East region by aligning market strategy with real-world needs and by making sure the people behind the work feel supported and valued.

Steve Foran

  • Future Foundations

    Co-creating the world to come

    From developing climate resilience and transitioning to a low-carbon future, to modernizing and transforming infrastructure, governments and businesses face critical challenges. How they respond will define our future.

    As our clients navigate these challenges, we help them think differently – working together to pioneer tomorrow's infrastructure solutions and build the foundations for a prosperous, secure future. 

    Visit Future Foundations
    Future-Foundations