28 JUN 2024 · Hop on for a ride through Amsterdam's urban landscape on this episode of Better Cities by Design. Join host Davion Ford as he chats with Sietze Faber, one of the masterminds behind Amsterdam's road safety and cycling ambitions. Explore the city's vision for zero carbon movement and zero traffic accidents by 2050. Unravel the challenges of creating cyclist-friendly spaces and discover how Amsterdam is paving the way for sustainable urban mobility. Don't miss this smart discussion that will give you new perspectives on streets as the arteries of urban life.

7 JUN 2024 · In this episode of Better Cities by Design, explore the story of Vancouver's climate disaster that, for many, flew under the radar. Join host Davion Ford as he engages in a captivating conversation with Bryan Crosby, Director of Infrastructure Resilience at the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Learn about the impact of the 2021 atmospheric river event on British Columbia's transportation network and explore the imperative for a multi-dimensional approach to resilience, guided by data insights and systems-thinking.  Bryan sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in fortifying infrastructure and building climate resilience across Vancouver and beyond. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the innovative strategies shaping the future of urban infrastructure in British Columbia.

17 MAY 2024 · Embark on a journey through Dublin's smart city landscape as this episode of Better Cities by Design brings you a conversation with Jamie Cudden, Smart City Program Manager, and Payal Pandya, Project Manager and Business Analyst, both at Dublin City Council. Davion talks to them about innovative solutions to urban challenges, with an emphasis on connectivity, data insights, and collaboration. We learn about transformative projects like the CurbIQ pilot, which is revolutionizing curbside management in Ireland’s capital and hear about the impact of COVID-19 on mobility patterns. Join us as we explore the Smart Dublin program, at the intersection of technology, innovation, and community impact.

26 APR 2024 · In this episode of Better Cities by Design, we’re in Victoria, Canada, for a chat with Harsh Rathod, co-founder and CEO of Niricson, a company that is revolutionizing how bridges, dams, and other critical infrastructure are inspected for safety. Niricson uses digital technology in the form of software and drones as well as leveraging artificial intelligence to make infrastructure safety inspections much more reliable and efficient, significantly reducing the risk of human error. In this episode, we learn about how, back in 1896, people living in Victoria witnessed first-hand the tragic consequences of insufficient safety inspections, when the Point Ellice Bridge collapsed. And we hear how a much more recent bridge collapse in his home country of India, spurred Harsh on to found Niricson and lead a digital revolution for condition assessment and risk management, all with the aim of making infrastructure safer.

12 APR 2024 · In this episode of Better Cities by Design, we head to the City of Bath in the UK, for a conversation with James Hooton, Managing Director of the Green Finance Institute (GFI). Bath is an ancient city with many very old buildings. But just like any other city, Bath is also striving to become more sustainable and that means these buildings need to be retrofitted, so they use less energy and therefore contribute less to climate change. GFI is working to help with this by channeling capital at pace and scale towards real-economy outcomes that will create jobs and increase prosperity for all. Join our host Davion and James for a conversation about the role of finance in the transition to a clean, resilient, and environmentally sustainable economy.

22 MAR 2024 · Join us in Amsterdam, for a conversation about an important aspect of the city’s phenomenal transportation system: train stations. Davion sits down with Daan Klaase, Manager of Research and Station Development, and John Riepen, Manager of Amsterdam Central Station, both from NS Stations. Daan and John reveal some of the secrets behind Amsterdam's iconic transportation hubs. We explore the role of NS Stations in ensuring well-maintained and passenger-friendly train stations and discover the delicate balance the organization must strike between historical preservation and modernization. And reflecting Amsterdam's status as a bastion for cycling, we learn about how NS Stations seamlessly integrates bicycles into the city's fabric. Listen in to find out more.

8 MAR 2024 · In this episode of the podcast we travel to Manchester in the UK, a city steeped in history and a rich cultural heritage. We speak with Natasha Rouse, Director of Asset Management at Equitix, a global investor, developer, and fund manager. Equitix has invested in myriad assets in Manchester and is playing a significant role in ensuring essential urban infrastructure is well maintained and delivering value for city residents. In this episode we explore Manchester's journey from being the world's first industrial city to its current position as a vital hub for advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and healthcare. We delve into Manchester's infrastructure challenges, and we discover the pivotal role private finance initiatives and public-private partnerships play in advancing infrastructure investment in the city. Join our host Davion and Natasha as they uncover the past, present, and future of Manchester’s infrastructure and the collaborative efforts shaping its current and future development.

9 FEB 2024 · We're back in New York. This week we speak with Maggie Hopkins, Vice President Civil Engineering & Environmental Planning at AKRF, a leading company specializing in environmental planning, and engineering services for climate resilience and coastal adaptation. AKRF has been working in conjunction with Arcadis on New York’s East Side Coastal Resiliency project, which is a leading climate adaptation effort started after Superstorm Sandy ravaged the city back in 2012. Maggie shares some of the unique challenges related to integrating a modern protection system into an urban landscape that is centuries old. Join host Davion and Maggie to hear how our two companies are working to keep New Yorkers safe in the face of the climate crisis, while also helping to ensure the Big Apple stays livable for future generations.

26 JAN 2024 · This week, we’re headed to Rotterdam and chatting with Harry Verhaar, Head of Global Public & Government Affairs at the global lighting company Signify. We talk with Harry about the outsized impact lighting has on urban electricity use and subsequent emissions. And we learn how proper lighting not only makes cities safer from crime and traffic accidents, but how also how modern light points can be used to collect air quality information as well as transfer data like a WiFi signal. Join host Davion and Harry for this enlightening discussion.

12 JAN 2024 · In our first episode of 2024, our guest is Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager – Water System, at the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP). We speak with Anselmo about LADWP’s efforts to ensure safe and reliable water service to more than 4 million residents, in the face of climate change, a burgeoning population, and the ever-present threat of earthquakes. Join host Davion and Anselmo for this insightful discussion about water resilience in the City of Angels.