Facebook Rapid Deployment Data Centre

 Facebook Rapid Deployment Data Centre

This blog has mostly covered public projects, funded by the government. Sometimes, you do not need governmental participation to create infrastructure of a certain kind. Sometimes, even a private company can bring in economic investments into a region. One such project which was announced with great fanfare but little has been heard ever since then is the Facebook Rapid Deployment Data Center in Sweden. 

This data centre would have been considered to be the most efficient data processing centre in the world then. “The Facebook Rapid Deployment Data Center, in the town of Luleå in Sweden, takes a modular approach to design and construction to accelerate the speed of assembly. Paying homage to another great Swedish institution, IKEA, Facebook claims that the centres can be built and deployed twice as fast as comparable facilities. The northern location also takes advantage of the surrounding Arctic temperatures to achieve a 100 percent renewable energy-powered cooling system” (KPMG). The centre also been designed in such a way that the servers draw in more air and are more space-efficient as well.

Though the project was announced in 2014, there has been very little information on the status of it since then. It is said that construction has started on the project. 

A picture of the proposed center from the official Facebook presentation (Image Credits: TheNextWeb)

Indiana Convention Center expansion

Indiana Convention Center expansion

As said before, this blog covers infrastructure projects of every kind, Sometimes, they can even be private, commercial projects which can serve the public community. The Indiana Convention Center is a good example of a centre which has brought in tourists from other states while serving as a congregating point for the locals. But, now the time has come for its expansion.

“The Indianapolis City-County Council will seek support for up to $155 million in bonds for an expansion project related to the Indiana Convention Center…the expansion plan calls for construction of a 50,000-square-foot ballroom across the street from the current convention center. A walkway will be built to connect the new facility to the convention center. Construction will include 93,500 square feet of space for meeting rooms and other uses. City leaders plan for the project to be completed by 2024” (Americaninfrastructuremag).

While there might be questions asked on whether such a project is needed in these COVID-19 times, the leadership might be appreciated for taking such a bold move. This is seen as an investment for the future. 

A picture of the existing convention center (Image Credits: IBJ)

Kissimmee Accelerated Gravity Sewer Assessment and Rehabilitation Project

 Kissimmee Accelerated Gravity Sewer Assessment and Rehabilitation Project

Infrastructure projects are not just major construction and transportation projects. They can also be environmental rehabilitation projects as well. Last year, a 40 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan was granted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  to the Toho Water Authority in Kissimmee, Florida. This was done to reduce the possibility of emergency failures and find better ways to reduce environmental impacts associated with wastewater collection system as well as update the outdated infrastructure. So, as one can see, this is a project clearly initiated to develop water infrastructure. 

“Construction and operation phases of the project are expected to create 198 jobs. EPA said that the enhancements are expected to benefit 300,000 people by increasing the treatment capacity and allowing community growth without expanding the current wastewater treatment facility” (NSEnergyBusiness). 

A picture of the existing project (Image Credits: EPA)