Originally published by Institution of Civil Engineers.
The International Federation of Municipal Engineers has provided a ‘VIP’ code to register for the congress taking place 18 April 2023.
Cities, and their infrastructure, face significant economic, social, and environmental challenges. Image credit: Unsplash
Members have been invited to learn how innovations in public infrastructure are put into practice globally by attending the International Federation of Municipal Engineering (IFME) World Congress.
The congress, which is only the third in the UK in the last 60 years, will give members a chance to understand governance in urban and rural areas in the UK and worldwide.
The event will take place on 18 April 2023 at the IFME Theatre during the Interchange Conference at The Vox, Birmingham, UK.
ICE members have been offered the VIP code, ‘IFME’ to register for the event.
Why attend the IFME World Congress?
Speakers from around the world will come together to share good practice and address common challenges from their own cities.
These presentations include how to manage a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan from the USA.
Australia will be present with a talk about how to address key maintenance, as the authors of the International Asset Management manual.
Another topic covered will be the increasing volume and problems with underground services and how that links with highway management. A presentation from New Zealand outlines how they’re managing this issue and what benefits can be gained.
The afternoon sessions will turn to climate change and consequently, what cities need to do to address the UN sustainability goals.
New Zealand will share its national approach in facing climate change. This session will cover the Maori’s considerations to protect the land, which drives innovation, resourcefulness, and determination in their approach.
Climate neutral smart cities will be discussed next, with sessions on how cities can adapt to internet-based technologies and changing forms of transport.
Finally, a suite of European presentations tackles urban issues like district heating, new ways of lighting, sustainable green spaces, and complex digital twins in practice.
What is a municipal engineer?
Municipal engineers are civil engineers operating in the public sector for elected members that with key urban and rural infrastructure. Highways, including their construction, maintenance and use, are the main example.
The IFME is an international organisation of professional municipal engineers that aims to foster continued improvement in the quality of public works and wider community service.
Its mission is to connect municipal engineers, public works professionals, public agencies, institutions, and businesses around the world to share a global pool of knowledge and experience.
Among the skills needed to be a municipal engineer are:
- understanding the needs of the public
- detailing public needs in formal reports to politicians
- enabling politicians to make decisions
- authorising work and budgets and receiving instructions to carry out works
- carrying out works either in-house or using external parties
- understanding all affected laws and policies and how they integrate
John Thomson, President at International Federation of Municipal Engineers
