Insights for what's next

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

519 items
pipes
Q&A

A view on the future of conveyance and storage: A Q&A with Dr. Adel Aboujaoude

From aging water infrastructure, regulatory requirements and climate change, our clients face unprecedented challenges. Jacobs Global Solutions Director for Conveyance and Storage Dr. Adel Aboujaoude and his team are shaping how we deliver safe and reliable water to communities worldwide. Through adopting available technology and creating new technologies, he ensures we’re providing tailored solutions to our clients. In this Q&A, Adel discusses the imortance of water conveyance, particularly in locations where access to clean and potable water is a challenge and highlights the importance of having the right people and technology to tackle the problem of water scarcity in a changing world.

Adel AbouJaoude
aviation
Q&A

A view on the future of airports: A Q&A with Cheryl McNall

Airports are the gateway to one of the fastest modes of commercial transport, helping to carry people and packages to almost anywhere in the world and fueling trillions of dollars in economic activity annually. With traffic growth forecast to outstrip airport capacity, the industry faces opportunities as well as challenges. Supporting our airport clients’ ambitions without letting a passenger or shipment miss a beat is where we excel. Our leading (according to  Engineering News-Record) aviation team has nearly seven decades of experience at brownfield and greenfield commercial service, general aviation and military, delivering airport planning, architecture, engineering, program and construction management, advisory consulting and specialty services such as  Operational Readiness and Airport Transition (ORAT) and asset management worldwide. Some of the most successful projects we work on are the ones which go unnoticed because our teams have integrated it so meticulously. We’ve held contracts on more than 500 airport projects, including most of the busiest airports in the U.S., U.K., India, and the Middle East, and many of the largest greenfield airports. Whether we’re upgrading aging facilities, expanding capacity or improving connectivity, we do it all through the lens of sustainable airport development and the help of our teammates like Cheryl McNall, our aviation global solutions director. In this Q&A, we connect with Cheryl to get her thoughts on the trends and technologies requiring airports to think differently for tomorrow. Tell us a bit about what a day in the life is like as Jacobs Global Solutions Director for Aviation, and what we offer

Cheryl McNall
Molecular Structure
Q&A

A view on the future of health systems governance: A Q&A with Nino Kharaishvili

Health systems today face complex challenges—from evolving science and technology trends to global pandemics and growing population. In this Q&A, Jacobs Global Solutions Director for Health Systems Governance Dr. Nino Kharaishvili talks about the link between climate change and health, how data is shaping policy, and highlights trends co-creating the world to come.

tunnel motion blur
Q&A

A view on the future of rail & transit: A Q&A with Gavin Fraser

Public transportation systems, valued as some of the most equitable and sustainable modes of transportation, connect communities and help stimulate economic development. In this Q&A, Jacobs Global Solutions Director for Rail & Transit Gavin Fraser talks about trends keeping rail & transit on track for the future, what clients are focusing on, and how we’re co-creating the world to come.

Gavin Fraser
city traffic
Q&A

A view on the future of Cities & Places: A Q&A with Monte Wilson

From vibrant urban districts and connected campuses to parks and open space that offer a breath of fresh air, cities are a testament to human ingenuity and adaptability. In this Q&A, Jacobs Global Solutions Director for Cities Monte Wilson talks about trends shaping the cities of tomorrow, what clients are focusing on, and how we’re co-creating the world to come.

Monte Wilson
Eco-friendly building in the modern city
Q&A

A view on the future of decarbonizing energy and power: A Q&A with Andy Solberg

The future of our world hinges on the evolution of energy systems, power networks and supporting infrastructure across all sectors and geographies. In this Q&A, Jacobs Global Solutions Director for Decarbonization, Andy Solberg, discusses energy transition and how we’re turning the energy challenge into a growth opportunity for both our clients and Jacobs - laying the foundation for a more prosperous, sustainable future.

Andy Solberg
water droplets on leaf
Q&A

A view on the future of environmental health and safety operational excellence: A Q&A with Kim Watkins

Compliance with the changing regulatory and sustainability landscape calls for greater adaptability, something Global Solutions Director of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Operational Excellence Kim Watkins and her team help our clients deliver. Whether helping clients adapt to reach their climate action goals or innovating to deliver data solutions, Kim is always looking at how we can support our clients reach their environmental compliance and sustainability goals. In this Q&A, she discusses her role and how she looks at compliance, sustainability and environmental stewardship to drive results.

Kim Watkins
reflection
Thought Leadership

Digital twins: Why the real challenge is change, not technology

As organizations look to digital transformation to unlock efficiencies, reduce costs, optimize asset operations and enhance business performance, many are discovering the biggest hurdle isn’t the technology — it’s the people. Nowhere is this more evident than in the implementation of digital twins, which are often misunderstood as purely technical upgrades rather than the far-reaching organizational change projects they truly are. A digital twin is a dynamic, virtual replica of a physical asset, system or process. It uses historic and real-time data to simulate, monitor and optimize performance. In the building and infrastructure sector, digital twins hold the key to unlocking greater value across the asset lifecycle. While the technology is impressive, its success hinges on how well an organization can adapt its culture, workflows and mindset to maximize the benefit. The global digital twin market is growing rapidly and is expected to reach $149.81 billion USD by 2030, with the transport, infrastructure, healthcare and energy and power sectors leading the way. According to McKinsey, 70% of technology leaders in major corporations are actively investing in digital twin initiatives. Yet, many struggle to realize their full potential because implementing a digital twin is not just a technology rollout. It represents a fundamental shift in how an asset is designed, operated and maintained, how teams collaborate, and how strategic decisions are made. For example, operational teams must learn to trust data and predictive analytics over gut instinct. Maintenance crews need to adapt to condition-based servicing rather than scheduled routines. Executives must

A nighttime cityscape featuring tall, illuminated buildings, overlaid with abstract digital circuit patterns to symbolizing technology and connectedness
Thought Leadership

Realizing digital ambitions for the built environment

By: Kurt Moroney Digital technology is transforming how we design, operate and experience buildings and infrastructure. Advanced technologies and vast data insights are unlocking new opportunities for greater efficiency, sustainability and resilience, as well as personalized, interconnected and immersive services and experiences. Digital enablement is no longer “nice to have” but rather a critical component that enhances community connectivity, increases asset value and delivers revenue returns on major infrastructure investments. As investors and developers set more ambitious digital goals, urban planners and designers must seamlessly integrate a growing range of technologies into building, precinct and city-wide plans and designs, alongside other critical systems. This requires an expansive skillset that bridges up-front strategy, urban planning, engineering design and technology procurement and deployment. Growing digital ambition creates new challenges Today’s buildings and infrastructure projects are far more than physical structures. Traditional operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems are converging with technologies such as sensors, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, digital twins and other “smart” enhancements to drive asset performance. Emerging technologies, such as interactive surfaces and holography, atmospheric technologies, gaming technologies, robotics and blockchain, are also changing how we interact with and experience built spaces. Buildings and infrastructure are now intricate ecosystems with digital layered into the overall building design to enhance, customize and personalize the end-user experience. This is especially true in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where giga projects are redefining the scale of ambition for digital enablement in the built environment. Most developers outsource this work to

Aerial view of Dubai skyline at sunset
Q&A

Building with purpose: How architecture shapes placemaking

In this Q&A, Morné shares how his team in Dubai is helping redefine the built environment through future-ready design, digital innovation and human-centered solutions. Tell us a bit about your background, career journey and what brought you to Jacobs. I’ve worked across the design spectrum for more than two decades, from small studios to large, multidisciplinary firms. Originally from South Africa, I moved to the United Arab Emirates to lead architecture on complex, high-profile developments. What drew me to Jacobs was the ambition to bring real purpose to design — not just in aesthetics or function, but in impact. At Jacobs, I saw an opportunity to help shape a culture that values innovation, integrity and deep human insight. I now lead a passionate team of architects and urban designers committed to future-focused, place-based design. What does Jacobs’ tagline “Challenging today. Reinventing tomorrow.” mean to you in the context of architecture and urban transformation in the Middle East? To me, it’s a call to action. In this region, where transformation happens at a scale and speed that’s unprecedented, we have a responsibility to question convention and reimagine the possible. “Challenging today” means confronting legacy systems, outdated processes or design-by-default. “Reinventing tomorrow” means creating environments that are inclusive, sustainable and culturally resonant — not just for now, but for generations to come. That mindset is central to our work across Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and the wider region. What makes Jacobs’ approach to architecture unique in this region? We’re not just designing

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Landscape at night
Thought Leadership

Shaping saudi arabia’s future cities through bold ambition

Saudi Arabia’s transformation is redefining how cities are planned, funded and delivered. Abdulelah Alsheikh reflects on lessons learned from giga projects, the role of governance and systems, and how ambition itself has become a national capability shaping Vision 2030. From projects to systems One of the biggest lessons I’ve carried into my role at Jacobs is that urban transformation isn’t only about delivering physical projects. True transformation happens when institutions are strengthened, governance models are refined and systems are built to last. Infrastructure can be constructed in years but institutions endure for generations. That’s why my focus with clients is not only on assets delivered but also on capabilities embedded — ensuring the systems behind those assets are resilient enough to support ambition well beyond Vision 2030. The defining shift Looking back over the past decade, the Kingdom’s defining achievement is not a single metro line, airport or giga project — though these are remarkable in scale and speed. The real shift has been philosophical. Urban development has moved from being reactive to growth to becoming a proactive tool for competitiveness, quality of life and global positioning. That mindset shift — treating urbanism as a strategic lever rather than a byproduct — is perhaps the most valuable infrastructure Saudi Arabia has built. Opportunities and challenges at scale As we accelerate toward Vision 2030, the opportunity before us is unique: to leapfrog legacy models. Most global cities retrofit sustainability, mobility and cultural identity into systems already in place. Saudi Arabia can

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    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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