Insights for what's next

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

466 items
Q&A: Talking with Rayna Volden, Jacobs Program Manager
Q&A

Q&A: Talking with Rayna Volden, Jacobs Program Manager

One of Canada’s shining stars, Program Manager and Jacobs Vice President Rayna Volden has spent her 30-year engineering career delivering innovative solutions to all aspects of civil engineering and environmental challenges across the country.

Future-Foundations
Thought Leadership

Gigawatt challenge: Infrastructure for the AI era

Jacobs Senior Vice President, Advanced Facilities and Market Lead AI Data Centers, Dana Tilley explores how digital twins can enable owners, operators, developers, utilities and communities to plan gigawatt-scale AI data centers faster — improving grid resilience and balancing power, cooling and site constraints earlier in the process.

Data Center Sustainability Strategy and Implementation
Report

Driving sustainability in data centers

We live in an era of the Internet of Things, cloud computing, virtual universes and AI-powered chatbots – all made possible through data centers. It’s estimated that by 2025, every person will have at least one interaction with a data center every 18 seconds. [i] As applications for data and demand for bandwidth continue to grow, so does the demand for data center services. With this comes a huge expansion in physical infrastructure including large buildings with significant mechanical, electrical and piping (MEP) equipment, and in energy consumption. According to the International Energy Agency, data centers consume approximately 220-320 terawatt-hours of electricity, accounting for about 0.9 – 1.3% of global electricity demand. Data centers and data transmission networks also account for nearly 1% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. [ii] As the impacts of global warming become increasingly evident, many organizations are focusing on reducing data centers’ energy consumption and moving toward a more sustainable future. The sustainability movement for data centers is gaining momentum, largely driven by organizations' environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. Technology giants are turning their ESG goals into tangible actions and progress throughout their value chain. Their efforts, such as transitioning to carbon-negative operations and 100% renewable energy, set an important precedent for others to help shape a greener future for the data center industry. Download the paper Sustainability best practice for data centers Sustainable data centers work to be as efficient as possible in the following areas: Energy consumption Data centers are major energy

Project Acorn is the first airside hydrogen refueling trial ever to take place at a major U.K. airport.
Report

New report on the U.K.'s first airside hydrogen refueling and operational trial

Hydrogen offers huge potential to deliver zero-carbon emission aviation and be a key enabler of the industry’s transition to net zero; and development of hydrogen technology for aviation has made rapid progress over the past five years. Yet a key challenge in the U.K., and similarly for other geographies, is the lack of any regulatory framework or operational guidance on the use of hydrogen storage and refueling in the airside environment at airports. In the U.K., this led to the formation of Project Acorn, a ground-breaking airside hydrogen refueling trial, involving easyJet, Bristol Airport, Jacobs and many other leading organizations from across aviation, engineering, logistics and academia, including the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, Cranfield University, DHL, Fuel Cell Systems, Globe Fuel Cell Systems, the IAAPS research institute, Mulag and TCR. Jacobs provided technical expertise and project management support to the trial and developed the insights and best practices shared in the post-trial report. The airside trial at Bristol Airport in March 2024 tested the use of a hydrogen baggage tractor within easyJet’s daily operation. Project Acorn required Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) clearance for airside refueling and set out to gather data and acquire knowledge to support establishing the first industry standards and procedures for the safe airside use of hydrogen. The trial provided a vital step towards understanding the safety cases and risk mitigations required to underpin safety regulations for hydrogen refueling. It created the opportunity for the CAA to build experience with hydrogen and to support

Aerial view of Sungei Buloh mangrove nature reserve in Singapore
Big Questions

How can an integrated approach across water systems build a more climate-resilient Singapore?

Protecting a low‑lying, highly urbanized island nation like Singapore requires more than traditional engineering — it requires an integrated, system-wide approach that understands how coastal defenses, drainage networks, stormwater systems and water supply intersect. That’s where Jacobs’ Senior Environmental Engineer Chow Shu Yi plays a pivotal role. With more than 14 years of experience across coastal resilience, stormwater management, drainage improvement and major water infrastructure projects, Shu Yi brings a unique cross‑disciplinary perspective to some of Singapore’s most urgent climate challenges. She bridges coastal science, water engineering and urban resilience to shape climate‑ready solutions that protect communities and adapt to tomorrow’s uncertainty. She has taken on key roles in national‑level coastal protection and flood mitigation projects, contributing to feasibility assessments, long‑term adaptation planning and detailed hydraulic and hydrological modeling. Her work spans coastal barrier systems, coastal reservoir studies and large-scale drainage upgrades. She played a key role in delivering Singapore's Active Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters enhancement projects that blend engineering with ecology to create greener, more resilient waterways. Along with coastal resilience and stormwater management, Shu Yi has been instrumental in designing several of Singapore’s mega wastewater infrastructure projects, including PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency’s New Kranji Water Reclamation Plant Tuas Water Reclamation Plant and Changi Water Reclamation Plants, specializing in early stages of wastewater treatment. Today, as Singapore advances major coastal protection initiatives, Shu Yi’s integrated approach continues to shape the next generation of water and climate‑resilient infrastructure.

Chow Shu Yi
Decarb_GHG-2203598556
Report

Defining the pathway for decarbonization in the transport sector

Did you know that transport, including air, sea and land travel, is responsible for nearly 25% 1 of the world's carbon emissions and 64% 2 of global oil consumption? As populations expand and economies evolve, global demand for passenger and freight transportation grows, along with transport’s emissions footprint. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this trend shows no sign of abating 3. Transport-related emissions will continue to rise unless we make rapid, large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions stemming from these activities. As such, it has become a global imperative for governments, transport authorities and organizations to set the transport sector on track to meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets and avert the worst climate impacts. Insights: Defining the Pathway for Decarbonization in the Transport Sector Download the paper There are many ways the transport sector is stepping up to make this shift - transitioning to renewable energy supply, acquiring green fleets of Electric Vehicles (EV) or hydrogen-powered vehicles, implementing carbon taxes and promoting active mobility modes like walking and cycling. These measures not only help to reduce emissions but also help improve air quality and ultimately, the health and wellbeing of local communities. While there is still much work to be done, the transport sector is taking essential steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. The rapid uptake of net zero targets signifies a hopeful inflection point for the industry ; however, achieving these is a complex undertaking that requires a comprehensive suite of solutions addressing multifaceted

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    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. 

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