Insights for what's next

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

473 items
cyber abstract
Thought Leadership

Securing the flow: building cyber resilience into water’s digital future

Authored by Jacobs' SVP of Operational Technology Cybersecurity John Karabias and Director of Operational Technology Cybersecurity Ben Stirling In Virginia, where the James and York rivers spill into the Chesapeake Bay, a water utility is delivering a transformative modernization project. Since 1940, Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) has been cleaning up what gets flushed away and returning it safely to the environment. But that mandate is evolving. Like every water utility, HRSD serves a growing population, with nearly two million people across 20 cities and counties relying on its network of pipes, pumps and water treatment facilities. In response, HRSD is providing smart solutions like water reuse and energy recovery, underpinned by increasingly sophisticated digital operating systems. The utility is also investing in a less visible but no less critical area: strengthening cybersecurity protections that keep its network secure. The move wasn’t prompted by a data breach — rather it’s recognition that the digital infrastructure that improves resilience can also introduce vulnerabilities. In the Caribbean Sea, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) is also moving to tighten its cyber defenses. As the sole provider of potable water and wastewater services for nearly the entire population of the archipelago, and with more than 4,000 assets spread along its network, the utility is building a digital system that provides real-time view of the network’s status. This will give PRASA a clearer read on vulnerabilities and help the utility respond more quickly in the face of catastrophic events, including cyberattacks. Most

mining
Thought Leadership

Delivering complex mining programs at scale: Governance, integration and digital advantage

Mining portfolios are facing a level of complexity that few organizations were designed to manage. Sustaining capital workloads, brownfield optimization and modernization initiatives are colliding with volatile supply chains, labor shortages and rapid technology disruption. Traditional project-by-project delivery inflates design effort, dilutes procurement leverage and leaves leaders reconciling inconsistent data long after capital is deployed. A disciplined program delivery model offers a scalable solution. By unifying governance, pooling procurement, integrating digital platforms and mobilizing talent through resource hubs, mining leaders can compress risk, accelerate schedules and unlock operational resilience. Experience from tier-one mines (world-class, large scale mines) demonstrates measurable benefits — reduced cost variance, faster delivery and improved predictability across multi-site portfolios. Market dynamics driving program delivery Mining companies face a convergence of pressures that strain traditional delivery models: Capital allocation shifts: Sustaining capital and brownfield optimization dominate investment priorities as greenfield megaprojects decline. Supply chain volatility: Concentration of critical minerals in a few geographies amplifies geopolitical risk. Labor scarcity: Skilled resources for automation, analytics and advanced engineering are increasingly scarce. Technology disruption: Digital twins, Artificial Intelligence-driven predictive maintenance and remote operations are redefining productivity benchmarks. These dynamics demand a delivery model that can manage complexity at scale. Incremental fixes and fragmented projects fall short of the predictability and resilience required for today’s mining portfolios. Why fragmented delivery models fail Under portfolio-level complexity, project-by-project delivery exposes systemic weaknesses: Duplicated design and procurement: Each site reinvents specifications, forfeiting economies of scale. Inconsistent standards: Engineering and reporting vary widely, creating audit gaps

Business people working with a digital tablet in a meeting
Thought Leadership

From insight to impact: Transforming future program management through learning organizations

Driving performance is critical for major programs as it can drastically impact communities, local economies, ecosystems and the client’s budget. Central to positive program execution is how teams learn together across organizational and community boundaries. A culture of learning drives greater results as companies increase in scale and ambition. The more moving parts, third-party stakeholders and business functions involved (typically hallmarks of large infrastructure programs), the greater the need for a learning organization approach. Research by Deloitte shows that companies with learning cultures experience 37% higher productivity and are 92% more likely to innovate. It’s also critical for health and safety, repeatedly proven across sectors. These lessons are particularly vital for major programs as they rely on industry knowledge and track record, newly formed networks and an institutional body comprising multiple external sources. Success hinges on a learning culture that leans on existing intellectual capital and quickly adapts to lessons in future work. The question is: what is a true learning organization? The foundation relies on systematic learning from mistakes and successes and the seamless and accurate transfer of that knowledge across an organization. Peter Senge, senior lecturer at MIT and author of The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, explains that successful learning organizations are ones where people continually expand their capacity to create the desired results. This should include learning from experience (LfE) and learning from incidents (LfI). Three specialists from our programs and advisory team and two leading industry partners analyzed past projects

Urban Sediment Remediation
Thought Leadership

Urban sediment remediation: Six insights for superfund success

Urban sediment remediation projects are arguably the toughest environmental challenges to solve and deliver. This piece distils six proven principles from industry leaders Joe Corrado and Joshua Cummings to reduce risk, limit disruption and transform hazardous sites into lasting community assets.

vibrant cityscape of Brisbane at dusk, viewed from an elevated perspective
Thought Leadership

Beyond the games: Designing Australia's infrastructure legacy

Brisbane 2032 will test Australia’s ability to deliver disciplined, future-ready infrastructure on a global stage. With strong governance, collaboration, and innovation, the Games can redefine how the nation plans, builds, and leaves a lasting legacy of sustainable growth.

A nighttime aerial view of Gold Coast Australia with a brightly lit skyline
Thought Leadership

Shaping tomorrow: The case for a national settlement plan

As demand for housing, transport and services grows, Australia must move beyond reactive projects. A long-term settlement plan would align population growth with infrastructure investments, ensuring better outcomes nationwide.

people walking on crosswalk
Thought Leadership

Move fast, break nothing: Transforming transport without the chaos

As transportation systems shift toward sustainability, the challenge isn’t just about innovation—it’s about ensuring a smooth transition without disruption. Unlike tech startups that thrive on rapid iteration, transportation networks require precision, long-term planning, and careful risk management. This article explores how data-driven strategies, smart risk mitigation and workforce transformation are shaping a new era of transport—one that’s bold, efficient and built to last.

Patrick King
View through a woodland
Thought Leadership

Bridging the gap between decarbonization, Net Zero through nature-based solutions

Net zero requires action in two directions. On the one side, organizations must work to significantly reduce the release of emissions. On the other, they must support the removal of continued emissions from the atmosphere once decarbonization measures have been implemented. Nature-based solutions – also known as natural climate solutions - have a significant role to play in achieving net zero, spanning both emission reductions and removals.

Lifesciences Lab
Thought Leadership

Confronting the PFAS challenge in life sciences

PFAS are deeply embedded in life sciences operations, yet they pose rising health, environmental and regulatory risks. This article explores how industry can shift mindsets, align policies and adopt holistic solutions—from waste management and digital tools to safer alternatives—that reduce PFAS reliance, protect reputations and build long-term resilience.

Dora Chiang
Twilight landscape with wind turbines silhouetted against a colorful sky and reflected in calm water
Thought Leadership

Accelerating renewable energy projects in Australia

Australia is aiming for 82% renewable electricity by 2030. Success depends on navigating approvals, overcoming technical challenges and addressing community concerns while maintaining financial and environmental viability.

Q&A

Crossing borders in engineering: Sophie Gatman’s JacobsGo! journey

At Jacobs, we provide meaningful opportunities to support the growth and development of our people – both personally and professionally. One of these opportunities is JacobsGo!, our global secondment program that facilitates inter-regional and international six-month assignments for employees across the company. Civil engineer Sophie Gatman shares her experience in Dallas, Texas.

  • 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. 

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