Latest news with #advancedtechnology
Fast Company
6 days ago
- Fast Company
Like electric lights, water reuse is destined to become a necessity
Indoor toilets were once considered a health hazard. Electric lighting sparked fears of deadly fires. Air conditioning was dismissed as an unnatural threat to human health. It seems absurd now, but each of these technologies—now fundamental to modern buildings—was initially met with widespread skepticism and resistance. Today, we're seeing history repeat itself with water reuse. As the United States grapples with an escalating water crisis, a powerful solution is gaining momentum. Buildings can intelligently capture, treat, and reuse their own wastewater by leveraging advanced technology, data analytics, and automation to optimize every step of the water reuse process. These smart systems continuously monitor water quality and usage, automatically adjusting treatment processes to ensure safety and efficiency. While current regulations limit this recycled water to non-potable applications, the reality is that water from these systems is often treated to a level that is scientifically safe enough to drink. This isn't about compromise—it's about building smarter, managing water as a circular resource, and using it where it's needed most, all within the building itself. This innovation comes at a critical moment. Nearly 45% of the lower 48 states are currently experiencing drought conditions, with the Southwest and Plains regions particularly hard-hit. Major water systems like the Colorado River and Lake Mead face unprecedented strain, while aquifers supplying 90% of U.S. water systems are depleting at alarming rates. Climate change only compounds these challenges by intensifying evaporation and disrupting weather patterns, leading to both extreme droughts and devastating floods. At the same time, water and sewer rates are skyrocketing as municipalities invest billions to upgrade aging infrastructure and manage dwindling supplies. For buildings, this translates into rising operational costs and growing pressure to adopt more resilient, cost-effective solutions. Against this backdrop, onsite water reuse represents not just an innovative approach but an increasingly necessary one. And predictably, some people may feel uneasy with onsite water reuse, mostly because of perception, unfamiliarity, and the natural human tendency to be cautious about new technologies, especially those involving health and safety. But history shows us that discomfort is often just the first chapter in a story that ends with 'How did we ever live without this?' The path from rejection to necessity History keeps repeating itself when it comes to building innovation. Take indoor plumbing—people fought against it tooth and nail in the 1800s. Public health officials, guided by the now-debunked miasma theory —the belief that disease was spread by 'bad air' rather than germs—insisted that human waste had to be kept outside the home. Ironically, their reliance on cesspools and open sewers only fueled the spread of deadly diseases like cholera and typhoid, which ravaged entire cities Only as modern sewage systems developed and germ theory took hold did attitudes finally shift. Indoor toilets, once feared as harbingers of disease, gradually became celebrated as symbols of sanitation and progress. Today, their presence is so fundamental that we've collectively forgotten they were ever controversial at all. Electric lighting faced similar resistance. Before it lit up our lives, it sparked public panic. Newspapers churned out stories about people getting electrocuted or going blind. The infamous War of the Currents between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla only heightened public anxiety, with Edison going so far as to publicly electrocute animals to paint Tesla's alternating current (AC) as a deadly force. Yet within a generation, those same lights became the very symbol of human advancement. Resistance gave way to adoption, and eventually to total dependence. Then there's air conditioning. Doctors once warned it would make us soft and sickly. In the early 1950s, the National Association of Home Builders and the University of Texas partnered to create the Austin Air-Conditioned Village —a real neighborhood built to study how everyday families would adapt to living with air conditioning. Six homes were equipped with A/C, while others were left uncooled. Researchers tracked not just energy usage, but human behavior, comfort, and social response. Some participants worried about health effects, while others complained that the cooled air attracted scorpions and other desert pests. But over time, skepticism gave way to comfort, and the experiment helped lay the groundwork for widespread adoption. Now more than 90% of American homes have A/C, and places like Phoenix or Miami would lose millions of residents without it. What was once considered risky has become absolutely essential. Water reuse is gaining popularity Our centralized water infrastructure is showing its age. Pipes laid a century ago are failing. Treatment plants designed for consistent climate patterns are buckling under the pressure of intensifying droughts, floods, and wildfires. Meanwhile, commercial and residential buildings account for the majority of urban water use—yet a significant portion of that demand is for non-potable applications like toilet flushing, irrigation, and cooling, which don't require pristine drinking water quality. Onsite water reuse offers a compelling alternative. With today's technology, buildings and industry can recycle up to 95% of their wastewater. This approach strengthens sustainability, enhances resilience, and increasingly improves the bottom line. San Francisco has already made water reuse mandatory for larger developments. Other cities such as Los Angeles and Austin are creating incentives or updating building codes. Forward-thinking developers aren't waiting for mandates; they're embracing water reuse to meet sustainability commitments and future-proof their investments. Still, old habits and perceptions persist. Some people instinctively recoil at the idea of treated wastewater, even when it's used exclusively for non-potable purposes. But both the data and the historical pattern are clear about where we're headed. The lifecycle of transformative technology Every transformative building technology follows a predictable journey: First comes resistance: 'You want me to put what inside my building?' Then adoption: 'Actually, this solves a real problem quite elegantly.' Followed by mandates and markets: 'New code requires it, and buyers expect it.' Finally, normalization: 'Remember when buildings didn't have this?' Onsite water reuse is already transitioning from the second to the third phase—and picking up speed. Soon enough, we'll look back at the practice of flushing toilets with drinking water with the same bewilderment we now feel about houses without indoor plumbing. The real question isn't whether onsite water reuse will become standard practice. It's how quickly we can make the leap from outrageous to obvious.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
UAE: EDGE, CS Group sign tactical communications project deal
Abu Dhabi-based EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology and defence groups, and CS Group have signed a MoU to collaborate on an advanced tactical communications project. CS Group is a part of Sopra Steria, the European tech leader, and a specialist in the design, development and implementation of tactical communication solutions and information systems. The MoU lays the foundation for the integration of an operational command system with a tactical data network, enabling the development of a world-class sovereign solution, said the Emirati group in a statement. It was signed at the International Paris Airshow 2025 by Waleid Al Mesmari, President – Space & Cyber Technologies, EDGE, and Pierre Lopez, the Chief Executive Officer of CS Group. EDGE's Space & Cyber Technologies Cluster would lead the collaboration with CS Group to co-develop advanced technologies as part of a broader strategic initiative to strengthen multi-domain digital battlespace capabilities, said the statement. According to EDGE, the MoU is the latest development in its drive to develop and produce innovative and ultra-secure communication systems for armed forces, governments and businesses seeking reliable and highly secure communication solutions in the most challenging operational environments. Launched in November 2019, EDGE is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries. With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials, it added.
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EDGE, CS Group sign MoU to collaborate on tactical communications project
EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology and defence groups, and CS Group – part of Sopra Steria, the European tech leader – specialising in the design, development, and implementation of tactical communication solutions and information systems, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on an advanced tactical communications project. Signed at the International Paris Airshow 2025 by Waleid Al Mesmari, President – Space & Cyber Technologies, EDGE, and Pierre Lopez, Chief Executive Officer of CS Group, the MoU lays the foundation for the integration of an operational command system with a tactical data network, enabling the development of a world-class sovereign solution. EDGE's Space & Cyber Technologies Cluster would lead the collaboration with CS Group to co-develop advanced technologies as part of a broader strategic initiative to strengthen multi-domain digital battlespace capabilities. The MoU is the latest development in EDGE's drive to develop and produce innovative and ultra-secure communication systems for armed forces, governments, and businesses seeking reliable and highly secure communication solutions in the most challenging operational environments.
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EDGE and CS Group sign MoU to collaborate on tactical communications project
Abu Dhabi, UAE – EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology and defence groups, and CS Group – part of Sopra Steria, the European tech leader – specialising in the design, development, and implementation of tactical communication solutions and information systems, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on an advanced tactical communications project. Signed at the International Paris Airshow 2025 by Mr. Waleid Al Mesmari, President – Space & Cyber Technologies, EDGE, and Pierre Lopez, Chief Executive Officer of CS Group, the MoU lays the foundation for the integration of an operational command system with a tactical data network, enabling the development of a world-class sovereign solution. EDGE's Space & Cyber Technologies Cluster would lead the collaboration with CS Group to co-develop advanced technologies as part of a broader strategic initiative to strengthen multi-domain digital battlespace capabilities. The MoU is the latest development in EDGE's drive to develop and produce innovative and ultra-secure communication systems for armed forces, governments, and businesses seeking reliable and highly secure communication solutions in the most challenging operational environments. About EDGE Launched in November 2019, the UAE's EDGE is one of the world's leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly-skilled talent to thrive. With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 35 entities into six core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Space & Cyber Technologies, Trading & Mission Support, Technology & Innovation, and Homeland Security. For more information, visit For media enquiries, please contact: EDGE Group Press Office media@ About CS GROUP As a designer, integrator, and operator of mission critical systems, CS GROUP, a subsidiary of the Sopra Steria Group, operates in defense and security, space, aeronautics, and cybersecurity markets. With 3,200 employees combining a high level of technical and business expertise, CS GROUP is its clients' trusted partner for the integration and deployment of operational systems that ensure Command, Control & Communication of their missions. CS Group is present in Europe, North America and the United Arab Emirates. For more information, visit
Zawya
02-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
KFAS concludes TechEdge program in collaboration with NBK and Zain
Al-Ablani: We have remarkable national capabilities in the digital field that need support to become pioneers in the fields of advanced technology. Bourisli: Zain empowers Kuwaiti youth with future-ready tech skills through our Innovation Nation initiative We are committed to collaborating with government institutions and strategic partners to leave a positive impact on society. The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) has concluded the 'TechEdge' program conducted in collaboration with the National University of Singapore, the National Bank of Kuwait, and Zain, which aims to enhance the skills of national youth who are kickstarting their careers in the fields of advanced technology such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Cybersecurity. The program, held in Singapore for two weeks, has successfully achieved its objectives, which focused on raising awareness about the importance of Cybersecurity and data protection in the backdrop of rising digital challenges. The participants were able to better understand the technology and tools used in these fields, enabling them to face cyber threats and protect the digital infrastructure. Moreover, this program is part of the fruitful collaboration between KFAS, NBK, and Zain aimed at supporting Kuwait Vision 2035 that strives to diversify the economy and enhance reliance on modern technology and digitalization. The program joined a distinctive group of ambitious Kuwaiti youth who showed great commitment and enthusiasm throughout. KFAS affirmed it will continue to develop society and establish an atmosphere of creativity and innovation by tapping into various initiatives and programs that aim to prepare competent and competitive youth in the technologically advanced job market, especially with the national youth's remarkable digital capabilities that need support to enable them become pioneers in advanced technology and ultimately accelerate digital transformation and sustainable development in Kuwait. On this occasion, Mr. Emad Al-Ablani, Group Chief Human Resources Officer said: 'At NBK, we strongly believe in the importance of promoting creativity and innovation by launching various programs and initiatives that aim to develop qualified national professionals and cooperating with government institutions and strategic partners to make a positive impact in society and create a motivating environment for the youth, which further put NBK at the forefront of institutions in social responsibility initiatives. Al-Ablani added: 'The collaboration with KFAS and Zain reflects our commitment to supporting knowledge and innovation. The 'TechEdge' program, for instance, stands as a great opportunity for trainees who are just kickstarting their careers to develop their skills, as it gives these young trainees the chance to receive high quality training and education in collaboration with the National University in Singapore, which is known as one of the pioneering institutions in the field of technology.' Nawal Bourisli, Chief Purpose & HR Officer at Zain Kuwait said: 'At Zain, we believe in the power of young minds to shape the future of our digital economy. Supporting the TechEdge program is part of our broader Innovation Nation initiative, through which we invest in national talents and provide them with cutting-edge knowledge in vital fields like artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity. These are the pillars of tomorrow's job market, and we are committed to ensuring that Kuwaiti youth are ready to lead in this space.' Bourisli continued: 'We are proud of the participants for their dedication and passion, and we're pleased that this global experience—delivered in collaboration with KFAS, NBK, and the National University of Singapore—was a fruitful one. It reflects our long-term vision of driving digital transformation by developing talent, sharing private sector expertise, and cultivating a culture of innovation.' Zain's support to TechEdge comes under the pillar of its 'Innovation Nation' initiative, through which the company collaborates with leading institutions to advance its strategic vision for enabling digital transformation upskilling and talent development.
