Dr. Khosrow Farabakhsh, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, University of Guelph
If necessity is the mother of invention then uncertainty is the seed for innovation. We live in uncertain times. Our trusted climate models and long-cherished engineering tools and formulas are being severely tested and are often incapable of coping with inherent uncertainties of our natural and human environments. Challenged by the severe climate events, economic and population pressures and aging infrastructure, cities are forced to reconsider the concepts of planning and scale. In this presentation we will explore the idea of urban infrastructure design and planning derived from a new paradigm in water management. Focusing on what we already know and presenting tools we already posses, the presentation discusses how to transition from current deterministic approach in planning to a more adaptive approach that incorporates water management using a post-normal systems approach. Technical, regulatory and design examples will be provided to highlight the transition already underway. Examples include distributed water reuse and recovering energy and other resources from wastewater.