Rick Robinson

If we want to create places with better social, economic and environmental outcomes, but developers and investors need to make a profit, how do we achieve smarter outcomes? theurbantechnologist.com/2024/05/07/how… #SmartCities @JacobsConnects

Thanks to @bcs for publishing a clear challenge to the next government to address the digital divide and diversity within the technology industry. Too many people will be left behind in the ongoing digital transformation of the economy if we don't act. bcs.org/articles-opini…

I've been working in #SmartCities for over 15 years. The sector has made phenomenal progress in recent years. But we mustn't forget that the point is not to deploy technology - it's to create better outcomes for people. theurbantechnologist.com/2024/04/12/sma…

Great to see such a good turnout at @BuildingCentre for the launch of #Retrofit24, exploring one of the UK’s biggest sustainability challenges buildingcentre.co.uk/whats_on/exhib…

Transforming Birmingham into a digital powerhouse! Check out our latest video to see how we're driving innovation, inclusion, and growth across the city. Ready to join the movement? 💻🚀 #DigitalBirmingham #SmartCity youtube.com/watch?v=3lUTCm…

I’m looking forward to my first #SmartCities webinar of the year next week with @techUK - should be a great discussion techuk.org/what-we-delive… @JacobsConnects

@pavsmith And that’s the biggest lesson from the LTN’s for me - don’t lose the goodwill you need to achieve change by forcing something on people without consultation

@dr_rick Hi Rick, you caught me on a grumpy day (okay, grumpier) so no insult intended. more trying to be additive. if we could turn fossil fuels off, even just for power generation, we'd solve the problem. there's simply no practical will to do that.

A great, thoughtful read by my colleague Kurt Moroney on the role digital technologies will play enabling communities as we navigate the climate transition #SmartCity #Sustainability linkedin.com/pulse/hyperloc…

@pavsmith … and that’s before we even get to our willingness to deploy them in the largest sector - private homes

@pavsmith I always enjoy a debate with someone smart who sees things differently to me :-) … I think there’s a knowledge gap too - two recent stats from BPF stuck out for me: roughly 50% of carbon emissions relate to buildings; and we only have the technology to address 49% of them …

The combination of AI and augmented reality will make the places we live and work in seem like today's science fiction scientificamerican.com/article/spatia… #SmartCities

@pavsmith So lots to learn from, good and bad, and lots we haven’t figured out yet

@dr_rick the numbers have gone past alarming. winchester already up 1.8 degrees since 1979 and on a steady incline. global ag land NDVI is falling indicating failing crops. honestly, i am close to giving up and simply laughing uncontrollably.

@pavsmith Finally, I do think “community” is a meaningful concept, it’s just not a simple one. There’s a community on the road I live on, and there’s a community buying out a local garden centre, they’re just not the same as each other, and no-one has to belong to either.

@pavsmith I live in a suburb of Birmingham, which has a good deal within 20 minutes already; I’m also a victim of traffic displacement from a poorly implemented LTN. I do think there’s no way we reach genuine net zero without simply moving ourselves and our stuff much less than we do now

@pavsmith Hi Paul, so much there to reply to; I don’t think Kurt was claiming we understand how to do all this yet, just that there are a lot of changes to come, and digital will be a part of them.

An insightful evening with @digibrum discussing #Birmingham as a #digitalcity & how accelerating digital investment can improve the lives & economic #opportunities of #communities & businesses. This 💯 encompasses the values of @BOMlab #InclusiveInnovation #birminghamtech

Delighted that we’re launching the Birmingham Digital Partnership this evening with ⁦@digibrum⁩

I'm delighted to be part of the the new Birmingham Digital Partnership, a collaboration across the city to bring together all the great digital initiatives underway here. Join us at our launch event at the Grand Hotel on the 28th June eventbrite.com/e/leading-the-… @digibrum

A great piece by my colleague @_hannahgriff on how our world might continue to evolve as #ClimateChange and #Digitalisation continue #SmartCities linkedin.com/pulse/how-can-…

Great to see @scot5gcentre continue to drive the benefits of #5G into the economy with this webinar on connected manufacturing at the Forth Valley #S5GConnect hub #S5GC #Industry40 scotland5gcentre.org/allevents/lunc…