Philip Turner

Achieving net-zero carbon in the UK by 2050 will necessitate the decarbonisation of the transportation systems. However, there are challenges to this, especially for vehicles in cities where the charging infrastructure is at its minimum. Overcoming these challenges will undoubtedly encourage electrical vehicle (EV) use, with commensurate reductions in emission coupled with better environmental conditions in cities, e.g., air quality. Drivers, on the whole, are reluctant to invest in an EV if they cannot access a convenient charging point within their living area. This research provides a methodology to support the planning for the optimum siting of charging infrastructure, so it is accessible to as many citizens as possible within a city. The work focuses on Winchester City and District in the UK. The multi-criteria decision approach is based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) linked to site spatial assessment using Geographical Information System (GIS). The assessment considered key criteria such as road type, road access, on-road parking availability, road slope, proximity to fuel stations, current/planned charging points, car parks and population distributions. The process contains two suitability filters, namely, restricted road and suitability mask. In the first, all restricted roads were excluded from further analysis, which resulted in reducing the road segments from over 9000 to around 2000. When applying the second filter an overall result of 44 suitable EV charging point locations was achieved. These locations were validated using the Google Earth^® imaging platform to check actual locations against those predicted by the analysis. The presented methodology is accurate and is generalisable to other cities or regions.

In a UK context, encouraging the uptake of energy efficiency measures at the household level is an ongoing challenge of ever-increasing importance. A combination of economic and psychological factors influence green investment decisions and so this study aims to determine whether online focus groups are a viable means of interacting and evaluating the effectiveness of personality tailored marketing strategies. Here, we present the learnings from over 70 synchronous online focus groups undertaken with a UK energy provider’s household customers (N = 143) to test the effectiveness of two energy product propositions (smart thermostat and hybrid heat pump) through two channels of communication: video and discussion. The researchers examined and analysed the online engagement and focus group method, focusing on the customer feedback, appropriateness of the approach and how it works in practice, providing key learnings for further research. The approach allowed for greater interaction with a geographically and demographically diverse pool of participants, many of whom are time poor and would ordinarily be unwilling or unable to participate. In this article, we report the differences between implementing online focus groups and face-to-face focus groups and examine the difficulties and uncertainties, in particular relating to entry to sessions and drop-out rates. Online focus groups were found to be a viable, flexible and convenient method for engaging with an energy company’s current customer base in the comfort of their own home.

Digital technology has been presented as part of the solution to revolutionise public services, such as social care with its rising costs and demand. Here we present the outcome of an ongoing trial of CareTeam, a digital platform used during the redesign of the commission of domiciliary care for Portsmouth City Council, UK. CareTeam comprises a mobile app and sensors developed to support independent living, enabling communication and coordination of the wider care network. Qualitative interviews with care workers and commissioners were conducted to understand the impact on the commissioning and administration of care for clients and care workers/management. Responses indicate that technology can enhance care provision through increased transparency and collaboration. CareTeam provided (a) assurances to formal and informal carers that the care was actually being delivered and (b) improved adherence and adaptability to the care schedule delivering a more cost effective and robust service. While previous research has shown digital technologies perceived as being in competition with traditional service provision, CareTeam was found to support human interactions. Results show that connected services can be deployed to support assisted living through providing person centric, efficient and cost-effective support in the budget-restrained social services reality.

There is a need for new thinking in care previsions and IOT is likely to play a major role in achieving transformation of care services at lower cost. Such an approach sits at the heart of this work. Here we present the outcome of an ongoing research programme based on sensor and App interventions (trial) at homes of participants who live independently but require care. The results indicate contrasting views of carers and the persons who receive care regarding (a) the uptake and utilisation of IoT, and (b) the potential impact on the quality of life and independence of both groups. In contrast to current telecare solutions that respond to “hard”acute alerts, our research proposes the introduction of “soft” warnings, based on the continuous evaluation of the occupancy behaviour, care conditions and the home environment. In this context the results suggest that the care needs of a person can be more important determinants of occupancy behaviour than socio-demographic attributes that are typically used in residential occupancy classification. This research under the CareTeam programme, is a non-intrusive IoT approach geared to generate proactive care-awareness to help people who receive care stay independent and active for longer.

City Centre retail spaces are integral to the sustainability of cities, and within this hierarchy secondary shopping streets, which act as hubs for local communities and businesses, have become isolated. There is now a recognised need for academic studies to reverse these trends in these areas, especially in a UK context. This work analysed and compared stakeholders’ perceptions of urban interventions in a declining secondary retail area in Southampton. The investigation was based on interviews and surveys of stakeholders, as well as observational studies enhanced through analysis of secondary data. This paper presents the outcomes of such investigations addressing the perceptions and behaviours of retailers and visitors, focusing on where these are aligned or divided. The overall results reveal that r etailers are more concerned with ‘static’ improvements, such as parking provisions or building façade improvements, while visitors are concerned with active and spatial improvements, with street level interventions being the most important. The results also show that (a) whilst retailers may believe that they understand what visitors require; they differ greatly and (b) many aspirations of retailers are costly or dependant on other businesses’ intentions. Visitor’s desires: include the reuse of vacant stores and creation of public space, which are far more viable, and can be enacted by governance. Such options should be trialled as a means to educate and improve understanding of less traditional interventions. The paper also provides input on ways to make these failing areas more sustainable through a shared vision and wide applicability.

Recently, much of the literature on sharing in cities has focused on the sharing economy, in which people use online platforms to share underutilized assets in the marketplace. This view of sharing is too narrow for cities, as it neglects the myriad of ways, reasons, and scales in which citizens share in urban environments. Research presented here by the Liveable Cities team in the form of participant workshops in Lancaster and Birmingham, UK, suggests that a broader approach to understanding sharing in cities is essential. The research also highlighted tools and methods that may be used to help to identify sharing in communities. The paper ends with advice to city stakeholders, such as policymakers, urban planners, and urban designers, who are considering how to enhance sustainability in cities through sharing.