case studies Flashcards
what is an example of a river that has been restored (river restoration)
the river bronx’s in New York
what was the river Bronx’s like before the restoration project
- dirty = dangerous and ugly
- industrial area = polluted unstable
- filled with water
- became a brown field sit, were the local concrete factory became derelict
what was the river Bronx’s like before the industrialisation
In the 1830s, the Bronx River’s water was so pure that government officials considered tapping it for drinking water.
it was meandering, filled with trees, marine animals, chestnut trees, there were beavers
how was the river Bronx’s restored
- placed natural matting to build up banks and prevent erosion
- put shells into attack animals (oestrus and crabs)
- they released fish into the river (alewife fish)
- Removed waste ‘dredged the river’, for instance cars, rubbish etc
- planted trees and vegetation
- have put in place free river tours every Saturday ‘Rock the boat’
- costs $30 million
what was the impact of the restoration on the river Bronx’s
- increased biodiversity
- increased community spirit
- increased educational activities
- aesthetically pleasing appearance
- provided jobs (economically sustainable)
- better/more sustainable ecosystem
- Attraction to all animals
what is an example of drainage management, SuDS, in an urban area
lamb Drove in Cambourne
- is a relatively low lying county where flooding in river valleys and urban watercourses is a major concern
- the project was part of the European-funded programs
what was the original aim of lamb drove SuDS scheme
- showcase practical and innovative sustainable water management techniques within new residential developments
- Demonstrate that SuDS are viable & attractive alternative to more traditional forms of drainage and to deliver practical solutions for new housing areas.
what were the techniques used in lamb Drove
- swales
- permeable road and pavement surfaces
- infiltration trenches
- bioretention bains
- detention bains = holding ponds fo water storage during flooding
- rain gardens
- green roofs
what were the benefits found with the SuDS scheme in lamb drove
- slowed down surface runoff and reduced the risk of flooding
- reduced risk of sewer flooding during heavy rain fall
- preventing water pollution
- recharging groundwater to help prevent drought
- providing valuable habitats for wildlife in urban areas
- creating green spaces for people in urban areas
what is an example of a sustainable city
Freiburg a city in German
what is an example of a city of contrast, and a city that faces urban challenges
Rio de Janeiro
how is Freiburg a sustainable city
vauban a suburb of Freiburg
- quiet = reduced stress
- they travel mainly by bike
- use organic food
- they have carbon neutral homes
- built on a brown field site
- have passive energy houses (insulated)
- zero emmission industries
- have huge amounts of solar power
- they use 10% of energy in your average home
- have trams
- there is 164 cars per 1000
what are some actions vauban have put in place to maintain their sustainable city
- there are no car parking spaces outside homes online places where you can temporally park to unload your car, and so they built 2 main multi-store garages, making it unuseful and prevent people from driving
- one car parking space costs more than 20,000 euros
- roofs covered in solar panels
- garden roof tops
- multi-use buildings
what are the social challenges Rio de Janeiro face
- poor quality housing, 12% don’t have running water, 30% no electricity, 50% no sewage
- poor health
- crime, mobsters, gangs, drugs
- poverty
- unreliable jobs/employment, informal, no tax, no sick pay etc
- lack of education = only 1/2 children stay in education after 14 years old
- crowding in schools, housing etc
- traffic congestion’s
what are the economic challenges Rio de Janeiro face
- unemployment, about 20%
- average income is £75 a month
- No tax
- lack of education, lack of tertiary and quaternary industry in future so lack in development
- unreliable jobs
- poverty
what are the environmental challenges Rio de Janeiro face
- large amounts of waste, in rivers, filled with poison
- large amounts of water pollution (guanabaea bay)
- Traffic congestion, there has been a 40% increase cars in the last decade
- air pollution, 5000 deaths caused each year due to heavy traffic, mist from Atlantic mixes with vehicle emissions
- waste pollution, worst waste is in the favelas, as most waste is dumped and causes disease
- large amounts of disease
what actions have been done in Rio de Janeiro to improve and attempt to solve its urban challenges
to improving favelas
-site and service schemes
-self-help schemes
-Rural investment
-pacification = governmental services went in and drove out gangs and left permanent police presences
-complexa do Alemao favela had most significant help
-schools for tomorrow = 151 schools built, 62% increase in num. of teachers
To improve the whole city
- built a cable cart which cost £55m, gave people 1 free return tickets every day up and down the mountain, but closed in 2017 due to it being financially unsustainable
what was the purpose of the cable cart
- to reduce the use of cars and reduce traffic congestion
- reduce the time it took to get into the centre from the mountain slopes which only took 15 minutes
what is an example of urban regeneration
east end London for the olympics in 2012
what were the two main urban regeneration programs that were established in 1981
urban development corporations (UDC) enterprise zones (EZ)
why did east end London go through urban regeneration
-because it suffered significantly from deindustrialisation, particularly in 1960-70 when the docklands area was unable to compete with new container ports such as tilbury
-it was an undeveloped area
-
what were the negative impacts of the urban regeneration in London for the olympics in 2012
- many local businesses had to relocate and could not afford to
- many local residents were offered alternative accommodation and £8,500 compensation, a minority of the residents were reluctant to move, and some did not receive their money or new accommodation
- costs massively exceed the original budget reaching £9.3b
what is the fact file of Rio de Janeiro
- hosted Olympic Games in 2016
- hosted world cup in 2014
- south east Brazil
- megacity
- world city
- they have an annual rio carnival
- a coastal city
- steep forested mountains
- famous for its favelas
what is a place which suffers from urban air quality
beijing in china
- 2 in 5 days demand healthy ‘aipocalypse’
- 40X the recommended levels of safety
- toxic air is the 4th creates risk
- air pollution has caused 1.2m early deaths in 2010
- permanent health damage especially to the youths
- in 2010 PM2.5 data became available to the public on mobil abs and internet, which found arsenic, led and mercury in the pm2.5
what actions has Beijing done to improve the urban air quality
- banishing certain factories & industries
- reducing car use
- a ban on high polluting vehicles
- reduce air pollution by 25% in the next 4 years
- limit on the amount of emissions released by factories annually
