Data centers are some of the most critical, valuable and fast growing infrastructure that societies depend on. Demand for new data centers is expanding rapidly worldwide. Best practice is also evolving at speed, in terms of design, build, operation and renewal.
If meeting the demand for data services is hard, operators, local authorities, designers, engineers and technologists also face a complex set of questions as they invest and develop their data center estates.
Sourcing renewable energy, making responsible and sustainable use of water and other natural resources, remaining flexible for rapidly changing technical demands, navigating planning and consent – the list is long and growing.
Report series: Data Center Futures
In a series of new reports, Arup’s Foresight team and wider community of data center experts consider the changing ways that data centers shape urban life, not only through their environmental footprint or role in regeneration, but also in develop technologically, remain efficient over time, and deliver lasting value.
This work examines different aspects of data centers’ lifecycle in detail, revealing new insights into their future development. For anyone interested in the future of digital infrastructure, from data center operators to designers, engineers, policymakers, urbanists, technologists and sustainability advocates, Data Center Futures is essential reading.
