GEOGRAPHY IN EVERYDAY LIFE (1.4 To 3.4) Flashcards
1
Q
What is development?
A
Development refers to the economic, social, political process resulting in the improvement of standard of living for population
2
Q
What is standard of living?
A
Standard of living refers to the measure of consumption of goods and services by an individual/group
3
Q
How can countries be classified according their level of development
A
Using Indicators; Social and Economical
Economical Indicator: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita
Social Indicator: Adult Literacy Rate and Life Expextancy
4
Q
What does a higher literacy rate mean for a country?
A
Generates more professionals who can use their learnt skills for countries development allowing a country to advance in economical growth and improve countries conditions
5
Q
What is GDP
A
GDP is the total value of all final goods and services produced by a country in a given year devised by population
6
Q
Where can a higher GDP be found and why
A
It can be found in more developed and advanced countries because a higher GDP per capita is dependent on a large number of productive industries and well developed service industry
7
Q
What is life expectancy and what is it affected by and what does it show?
A
Refers to the number of years a person on average is expected to live and a higher life expectancy rate means that the facilities affecting life expectancy like access to basic healthcare, clean water, sanitation’s, food electricity and good living conditions, are of good quality in the country and is accessible to all allowing a person to live more healthily and live longer
8
Q
What does sustainable development mean?
A
The aims of sustainable development is positvely impact environment economy and society. Refers to development that meets the needs of the present population by achieving high standards of living for everyone and ensures that future generations can also meet their own needs easily . Sustainable development also refers to economic and environmental growth being equally considered in government plans and decisions
9
Q
What happens when focus is only on one dimension?
A
Other dimensions can be overlooked and henceforth neglected which can negatively impact our society. To ensure high standards of living)g and sustainable development all three dimensions society environmental and economy should be taken into considerations including their affects on each other during plans and desicions
10
Q
Prioritise economic growth what happens?
A
Environmental can be neglected resulting in biodiversity loss and destruction. Detoriation in the quality of nature areas around us causes the future generations and even present generations to not be able to easily access the benefits of nature, like social and physical well being. Hence government has to consider economic and environmental dimensions
11
Q
Do we always have to equally treat each dimension?
A
No, the approach to sustainable development should vary from place to place and across time. All three dimensions of sustainability aren’t always balanced as sometimes more priority has to be given to one dimension that others at different places and under different circumstances however this doesn’t mean other dimensions are completely neglected.
12
Q
Example of priotizing some dimensions
A
UN sustainable development goals were introduced to achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development which is a shared goal that aims to achieve high living standards and peace for current and future generations
The Singapore Green Plan to plant 1 million trees by 2030 in an effort to curb deforestation that occurs during urbanisation processes in natural areas
13
Q
What are the three dimensions of sustainable development
A
Society Environmental Economy
14
Q
How is economic sustainability achieved?
A
Ensuring a neighbourhood has a high enough population density which helps to support local businesses and keep transport and infrastructure costs low
15
Q
How does high population density help?
A
Local businesses are able to sustain themselves because high population = high customer volume = increases demand for their goods and services + By taking employment in local businesses they can earn incomes and increase their standard of living
Since there are much more people using transport and infrastructure in the town or precinct areas, the cost for using these services will be lower as there are more people so they amount of money the need can be achieved with lower costs due to how many people there are so it can curb inflation and keep prices reasonable for everyone to be able to use services.
16
Q
Economic Sustainability - how are transport costs low?
A
- Buildings and services are usually located near each other minimising travel distance keeping transportation costs low because people may prefer to walk due to convenice / not use transport
- When transport infrastructure is located near each other the cost to develop the infrastructure is low because they are connecting infrastructures which need not be built far away example: when a bus station/interchange is near train station no need additional infrastructure like bridges or roads to connect them with one another = cost of development low
17
Q
Downside to lowering transportation costs?
A
A huge population is needed because more people using infrastructure allows costs to be lower because the volume of people has increased allowing same amount money to be made from more people at lesser cost = accesibilty + convenience. For Transport Hubs to work also big populations are required to ensure that the Hubs made at a low cost can be used by a great volume of ppl allowing profit generation
18
Q
What is social sustainability
A
Ensuring residents feel included and have a sense of belonging and shared identity in a country
19
Q
How can we foster social sustainability in an area amongst people?
A
- Shared community spaces when regular social interactions amongst people can be promoted and a good thing is that when urban neighbourhoods have a small population it allows regular social interaction between people and allows much more deeper social bonds to be formed as they will be familiar with each other as population is small
20
Q
Example of how we can foster social sustainability?
A
Residents may come together to discuss issues affecting the neighbourhood and find solution to various challenges allowing resilient and positive relationships to be cultivated. Further more each resident being able to express their thoughts and concerns openly and be transparent, communication between residents remains open with mutual respect and understanding = reducing misunderstandings and conflicts
21
Q
How to solve problems faced by residents daily? + eg.
A
Can be resolved locally with adequate neighbourhood strcture allowing interactions between residents to occur. In Singapore the Residents Network was set up to promote neighbourliness and community cohesiveness amongst residents. This was carried out dividing neighbourhoods into smaller designated zones and residents encouraged to join = small population in there allowing deep bonds to form and a sense of familiarity to be heightened. Regular activities occured in those smaller zones allowing residents to express their concerns and opinions and participate in designs making processes regarding neighbourhood. ( residential participation in neighbourhood plans )
22
Q
How to achieve environmental sustainability in an urban neighbourhood?
A
AFE
1. Ample protection for environment
2. Facilities supporting waste minimization and recycling
3. Energy and water efficient designs for buildings and landscapes
23
Q
Why do we need ample protection for nature?
A
So that wildlife can thrive in our urban spaces and human wildlife coexisting can be fostered which allows both sides to maximise benefits from each other in harmony. Concerted efforts should be made to reestablish endangered or extinct species to ensure that natural environment quality doesn’t detoriate
24
Q
Maximising biodiversity? Example
A
Having a wide range of habitats like trees do different species and varieties, pocket parks, roof gardens spread out in a neighbourhoods instead of having 1 huge patch of grass improving accessibility and coverage. This allows adequate food shelter and habitable environment for a range of wildlife = maximise biodiversity = wildlife + nature <3 humans
The existing 44 ways of nature in Singapore connects areas of high biodiversity across Singapore
25
Why is it helpful to have these gardens and pocket parks?
Apart from maximising biodiversity to improve environmental sustainability in a neighbourhood, these parks allow humans to connect with nature and appreciate nature at a deep level increasing their chances of enjoying nature without causing irreversible damage and educating people about how to do so too, playing a part in conservation and eco friendly habits
26
How to encourage resigns to recycle?
Ensuring recycling facilities and infrastructures are found easily spread around in a neighbourhood improving accesibilty and coverage of these facilities to people around estates and neighbourhood.
Recycling activities organsized by towns or individuals; eg. Town councils can hold talks to hang up posters on the importance of recycle to educate people and encourage them to recycle properly
27
High population; how does it affect environmental sustainability
High population that is well educated on recycling + have huge access to recycling facilities increase the recyabilty of waste materials and improve environmental conservation efforts due to high volume of people recycling high volumes of waste
Negative is when they’re uninformed so they may end up polluting the are more and cause recyabilty efforts to be decreasing in impact
28
How are building and neighbourhoods designed in urban neighbourhoods? Examples
To be energy and water efficient to minimise use of natural resources required to fuel these processes
1. Vertical gardens allows surrounding temperature to be reduced and air is clean, free from pollutants
2. Cool paint allowing temp to decrease by 2 degrees and hence reducing electrical consumption from AC or fans to be environmentally sustainable
3. Rainwater used for cleaning of common areas
4. Solar panels promotes clean energy usage as fossil fuels aren’t used ( using renewable resources instead of non renewable natural resources ) + curbing air pollution from fossil fuels + sustain lay handing natural resources
29
How do conservation efforts link social sustainability
When neighbourhood residents take part in environmental conservation efforts like recycling efforts to also promotes social sustainability as they all can bond over the common action of helping the environment by contributing to recycling efforts to take care of the environment
30
What are spatial scales and how do they help us?
It’s a term to show at what level a phenomenon occured; global regional local level and lets us look at one phenomenon from different perspectives and details understanding how one phenon,non affects people or services at global regional or local level. Plus each scale gives us a different level of detail about the selected study. At global level study may be vague but in a local level it can be very detailed
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What are spatial scales (definition)?
Refer to the extent of an area in which a phenomenon or process takes place and scales can be at different hierarchies including global regional and local
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Example of spatial scales?
global areas consist of many regions such as countries which has even smaller spatial scales; local level, the country has provinces or districts in them
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Why do we need spatial scales?
Knowing spatial scales help us understand how events and processes at one spatial scale may affect people and nature/surrounding environment at other spatial scales
Helps us examine phenomenons at different scales to provide different perspective and different details based on spatial patterns and trends observed
34
What are nested areas
Smaller erases located with larger areas
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How are spatial scales evident in Singapore?
There are more than 20 towns in Singapore that are spread across the island and in each town there is a town centre with a concentration of activities which may serve as a residential or social hub for residents living in its neighbourhoods
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how are towns convenient?
Some town centres may have integrated transport hubs where bus interchanges and train stations are near shopping malls for accessibility
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Why is it important for towns to be convenient
The convenience of such town centres may attract visitors for other towns to visit making it viable for large shopping malls to be located there = economic growth + residents have a place of entertainment ( meeting needs ) + area is attractive to future residents a
It may also attract businesses to locate their offices in these town centres as they can take advantage of lower costs and reduce travelling time for their workers = economic growth
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Example of spatial scales in Singapore?
The bishan bus interchange and train stations make it very convenient for visitors from other towns to visit junction8 because it is easily accessible and the travel method is convenient
Large gathering squares like in OTH where community activities take place often
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What does town centres design in Singapore tell us? + example
understand Singapore’s larger and longer term goals. Example; The roads in the proposed Tengah’s town centre will run underground to encourage walking and cycling at the ground level. This contributes to our goal of reducing carbon emissions and enhancing air quality benefiting humans and nature .
40
What are spatial hierarchies?
Organization of spaces/area based on their importance/sizes
41
What spatial hierarchies can we spot in Singapore?
In singapore there are nested areas of different sizes each beginning with a single residential unit
Each of these residential units are part of a precinct which is part of a neighbourrhood located in a town and few neighbourhoods make up a town.
Residential units -> precinct -> neighbourhood -> town
42
How does sphere of influence come into play in towns?
As area from precincts to neighbourhoods to town grows bigger so does the sphere of influence as there are more people to cater too.
43
Characteristics of a precinct?
400 to 800 residential units form a precinct
Facilities are found in close proximity to serve residents daily needs and ensure that residents are able to confidently access facilities and amenities
Sometimes facilities can be found at close proximity or at a spaced out length in precinct in order for more coverage and people to find it convenient to access facilities
Precint has a smaller amount of people = smaller sphere of influence = infrastructure not very advanced or extreme
44
Example of precincts facilities?
children’s playgrounds covered walkways community gardens are located near each other to enhance convenience and accessibility as residents can use the walkway as a shelter from harsh weather, and cater to various needs of residents
Bus stops are spread out in regular intervals at a further length, so that there is bus transport at every block ensuring most residents are able to easily access the bus stops and can easily enter the transport network
45
Tell me about singaporean towns facilities?
each town has a wide range of facilities and amenities to enhance the residents’ convenience and ensure their needs are met easily. Facilities usually complement each other in order to enhance convenience and accessibility for a resident of a town
46
Example of town facilities which benefit the residents in Singapore?
extensive roads cycling and pedestrian network ( basically improve accesibilty of town facilities to a resident and convenience also ) in each town to enable residents to travel easily from one precinct into to another or from one neighbourhood to the town centre easily ( basically can travel easily )
Grocery and goods shops found under HDB blocks and near transport nodes to ensure convenience and accessibility so that people can access basic needs easily ( easy access to basic services )
47
Why do we have town planning in Singapore?
Serves residents and provides for nature at distinct levels of the precinct, neighbourhood and town.
Creates connections and synergies across neighbourhoods, precincts and towns.
48
What is synergy?
synergies refer to the interaction and cooperation between 2 or more facilities which come together to produce a combined effect greater than their separate effects )
49
What is land used for in a town?
land in each town is mostly allocated for housing industrial and commercial development
Remaining land is set aside for roads schools parks and other essential facilities
50
Tell me about the facilities offered at precinct town neighbourhood levels?
Facilities at the precinct neighbourhood and town levels enable each town to be self-sufficient and provide employment opportunities
Often complement each other allowing more convenience and accessibility of facilities for residents and a greater impact is created by complementing each other than their individual impact.
51
Why are different housing types important?
different housing types are for different groups of people to allow social cohesion between different people of groups
52
What is urban planning motif?
it’s about balancing needs of humans and nature to ensure both parties get maximum benefits and planning for the future while meeting currents needs
53
Aim of Tengah forest town?
Forest town so it’s surrounded by nature and lots of greenery so that humans can learn to coexist with nature in harmony and maximise benefits of each other
54
Facilities at Tengah which are beneficial and why? ( town scale )
1. At town level residents can cycle/walk and enjoy greenery improving overall physical and mental health
2. they can also farm and sell local produce less food waste and carbon emission which are due to the packaging and transportation requirements of food. Promotes food sustainability
55
What is food sustainability
Food sustainability; producing food in a way that protects the environment, makes efficient use of natural resources, ensures that farmers can support themselves, and enhances the quality of life in communities that produce food, including the animals as well as the people
56
How to ensure land planning successful?
to ensure successful land planning the diverse needs of growing population and land use needs to be considered + cooperation of different stakeholders and organisations
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Aim of land planning?
Key infrastructure to be built at areas where connectivity of facility to everyone easily can be ensured = improve convenience and accessibility
Take care of humans and nature needs and well being simultaneously while ensuring both can maximise benefits brought by each other
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What is urban planning
planning of residential or commercial industrial areas for the future needs to be met sustainably and to meet current needs
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Characteristic 1 of Urban Planning
Meet competing needs like human vs nature or residential vs commercial while ensuring both can complement each other and work simultaneously
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Characteristic 2 of urban planning
Functional ( Practical ) to accommodate needs of everyone like different groups of people and nature and wildlife to ensure inclusivity and efficiency of the built infrastructure.
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Characteristic 3 or urban planning
Self sufficient for convenience and functionality so that people do not need to exit the area to get basic necessities or use any basic facilities
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Characteristic 4 of urban planning
Built in a way that current needs and long terms plans can be met without access maintenance or needs for renovation conserving resources
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Other users urban planning singapore?
as a city and sovereign state Singapore also need to accommodate other users like planning for military facilities waste treatment plants power stations airports
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How is urban planning confirmed/planned?
The urban redevelop authority coordinates the long term planning for Singapore involving multiple stakeholders and agencies
The long term plan maps out land uses and infrastructure needs in Singapore over 50 years ( coast homes need to be pulled back due to sea level rising ) and they are reviewed every 10 years
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What is considered for urban planning
Diverse needs competing land uses and space for key infrastructure like train lines are considered
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Why do we need connections and synergies
connections and synergies are created across precinct neighbourhoods and towns which help achieve sustainability and also improve the impact of services on people by improving convenience and accessibility
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Long term plans and connections and synergies link?
Long term plants at the national level seek to achieve connections and synergies by optimising scarce land resources and use it to cater to diverse needs of current and future generations
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Example of project of connection and synergy
The Senoko waste to energy plant is a waste treatment plant near Woodlands and Sembawang. It manages pollution concerns via waste treatments and also maximises benefits like job creation and education opportunities for students in nearby towns. Synergy because both environment and nature taken care of
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What is an ecosystem
An ecosystem is a geographic area varying in size where living communities and non living environments interact with each other to form a bubble of life
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People’s part in an ecosystem?
People are integral parts of ecosystem and dynamic interactions exist between people and other parts of the ecosystem. Activities carried out by the people may directly or indirectly affect the ecosystem positively or negatively
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Characteristic of ecosystem
Every aspect in the ecosystem depends on one another directly or indirectly
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Example of an ecosystem in urban area
Man made concrete canal in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park was transformed into a naturalised river allowing more organisms to thrive in the aquatic ecosystem bringing back wildlife into the park and enhancing biodiversity of neighbourhood
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Example 2 of ecosystems in urban areas
NParks adopted wide range of bio Phillip designs to aim to bring nature closer to people in everyday life
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Biophillic designs meaning?
Pocket parks and flora fauna near us allowing humans to connect with the environment and benefit mentally physically and spiritually.
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What are ecosystem services
Refer to the benefits brought by nature to people and these services are produced by the living and non living communities of ecosystems.
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What do these services do and what are they?
These services are critical to our survival and their benefits are optimised when we have a healthy and thriving natural environment. The services are PRCS ( provisioning regulating cultural supporting services )
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( READ ) the oceans 4 of ecosystem services
THE DONATER : provisioning sevrices
THE JANITOR: regulating services ( cleans up all your dirty work )
THE THERAPIST: cultural services ( allowing spiritual emotional connections + mental well-being )
THE MOTHER: supporting services ( ensures all other processes needed by the ecosystems can occur
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What are provisioning ecosystem services?
Refer to the tangible resources the environment provides for human which can be used for benefit such as food water and wood.
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Most impritant thing provisioning ecosystem services provide?
Food is one of the most important provisioning ecosystem service nature provides for human beings and can be obtained by agricultural activities and fisheries
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Example of provisioning ecosystem service in urban neighbourhoods?
1. Government recycling water using NeWater technology allowing clean water to reach taps in singaporean households in a water conserving manner
2. Food is grown in urban community gardens on rooftops of Tampines’ HDB blocks
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What are regulating ecosystem services
Refer to the benefits obtained by controlling various ecosystem processes like climate regulation, disease outbreak regulation and flood regulation which work together to ensure that the environment remains clean functional and resilient to changes ( CFR2C )
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Regulating services in an urban neighbourhood?
Microclimate regulation, floor mitigation, air and water quality control
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Example of some regulating services found in Singapore?
Regulating temperature in Bishan-AngMoKio Park ( BAMKP ) is done by having more vegetation like trees to lower surface and air temperature by providing shade to residents and the ground + evapotranspiration
Regulating pollution from fossil fuels by saving electricity and using solar power = The super trees in garden by the Bay trap solar energy used to power many singaporean households allowing lesser fossil fuels to be burnt for electricity and usage of clean renewable energy
Regulating water flows: vegetation in BAMKP retain water in soil reducing surface run off providing natural land cover
Regulating air quality = increased presence of vegetation in the BAMKP allows pollutants to be removed from atmosphere and more oxygen production = cleaner air
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What are cultural ecosystem services?
Cultural ecosystems services refer to the intangible benefits people can obtain from ecosystems ,such as sense of belonging and better mental well being from stress relief, including aesthetic experiences, educational opportunities and recreational activities
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Why are green spaces necessary in a neighbourhood.
Due to the cultural ecosystem services it provides such as aesthetic appreciation and opportunities for people to take part in stress relieving activities improving their mental well being
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What do cultural ecosystem services provide for people?
Activities provided by the services improve people’s physically and mental health fostering social belonging and group identity and hence strengthening their sense of place and belonging to that neighbourhood or area
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3 main cultural ecosystem services?
1. Aesthetic experiences
2. Educational opportunities
3. Recreational activities
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Example of an urban area providing cultural ecosystem services?
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a site where residents can engage in recreational activities like hiking and students can engage in fieldwork hence providing humans with education opportunities too.
Botanical gardens is a place where people can engage in recreational activities to gain a deeper bond with nature like following trail walks to learn more about the natural environment and people can benefit from the educational opportunities about the surrounding environment
Aesthetic experiences can be gained from natural objects found in places like urban neighbourhoods like heritage trees, sky rise greenery or community gardens
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What are supporting ecosystem services?
Refer to services necessary for the functioning of all other ecosystem services like soil formation, pollination and photosynthesis. ( SPP )
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Example of supporting ecosystem services?
1. In soil formation, only when microorganisms and physical processes decompose organic matter and break it down into smaller particles can soil be formed. So supporting services are the actions of microorganisms and physical processes required to form soil
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Why do we need soil?
Essential for the health of all terrestrial ecosystems as it provides a habitat for billions of organisms, contributes to biodiversity and acts as a natural water filter for pollutants saving plants and microorganisms dependant on soil
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Is soil formation a supporting ecosystem service?
Yes soil formation as a supporting ecosystem service ensures that human activities such as agriculture for food source for humans can occur
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More example of supporting ecosystem services in urban neighbourhood?
In urban neighbourhoods wild animals like bees allow pollination to occur allowing crops to grow and reproduce ensuring the humans are able to access food as agriculture is vital and a food source for humans and animals
During photosynthesis plants absorb other pollutants including carbon dioxide ensuring that surrounding air is clean to breathe for animals and humans. By relaxing oxygen, plants also ensure that oxygen content in earth’s atmosphere is maintained at a healthy level. THIS ensures all other ecosystems services can function as oxygen is vital for any and every life
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What does it mean that every interaction in the ecosystem has the ability to affect it?
Every aspect in ecosystems depend on each other directly or indirectly affecting it so any minor changes like increased water temperature can cause major effects to the ecosystem as plants may start dying causing animals dependent on plants to die or change their behaviour releasing a chain of reactions which affects the ecosystem’s biodiversity and cohesion
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What are hazards?
A hazard refers to a process phenomenon or human activity man made or natural that may cause loss of life, health impacts, property damage as well as social and economic consequences
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Examples of natural and man made hazards?
Natural hazards can be tornadoes, tsunamis while man made hazards can be traffic accidents, oil spills, gas leaks
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Tell me about fire hazards
Fire hazards can be found in residential and non residential parts of a neighbourhood with its common causes being unattended cooking and faulty electrical appliances and wiring which can ignite nearby flammable materials = fire. Impacts can be health impacts as property damage
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Example of fire hazards
In 2021 there were a total of 358 cases of fire due to unattended cooking reported in Singapore and there has been an increase in fire cases involving Personal Mobility Devices ( PMDs ) which typically occur in residential areas
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Health impacts of fire hazard?
People may suffer from burn injuries and if they are unable to escape or evacuate in time, they may face severe burn injuries which may lead to disabilities or even death. Furthermore smoke from the fire can cause people trapped in spaces to suffer from choking and asphyxiation
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Example for a health impact from fire hazards
3 fire fatalities with close to 200 injuries in Singapore 2021
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Tell me about the second hand impacts from fire hazards?
High levels of carbon monoxide and dioxide can be released into surrounding air which may cause carbon monoxide poisoning. This poisoning can cause dizziness weakness confusion and headache leading to loss of consciousness and death making it more difficult for people to evacuate from the fire hazard are
Acids gases which are irritants from fire can permanently damage a person’s respiratory system and smoke inhalation can cause suffocation and breathing difficulties leading to death.
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Environmental damage from fire hazards?
Smoke especially dangerous gases like carbon dioxide and monoxide when released from the fire can pollute the surrounding environment lowering air quality causing humans and wildlife to be affected as oxygen levels would be low.
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4 main health impacts from fire hazards?
1. Burn injuries
2. Carbon monoxide and dioxide increase = can’t breathe
3. Asphyxiation
4. Dangerous acid gases = permanent respiratory damage
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How is property damage connected to fire hazards?
Fires can destroy commercial/residential properties which leads us to economic losses as goods, furnitures, and important documents may be destroyed which causes economic damages to residents and if it affects a greater number of people costs to repair and rebuild houses can cost government quite a lot of money including monetary aid to those who lost homes in the fire and their money.
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How is economic damage connected to fire hazards?
1. When the fire affects many people, more monetary aid has to be given by the government causing economy to be low as money would also be dishes put for repair works and rescue efforts
2. In order to control the fire money would need to be given by the government and to curb the after effects and second hand impacts like poor air quality causing more respiratory systems, more money given by government as an aid causing more cash to be spent over fire
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Why does air pollution occur?
Due to presence of contaminants and pollutants in the air that don’t disperse properly hence interfering with human health, welfare, or produce other harmful environmental effects
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Common causes of air pollution
1. Increased traffic - ( more traffic = more vehicular emissions as cars are relatively stagnant with on engines causing emissions to be of significant amount )
2. Increased ownership and usage in vehicles - ( more vehicles = more exhaust emissions containing dangerous pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide )
3. Burning vegetation - ( carbon dioxide and other harmful gases are released into air when vegetation burns )
4. Deforestation - ( cutting down trees = oxygen content not maintained in atmosphere causing carbon dioxide and pollutants substances to have higher content than oxygen = pollution )
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Example of vegetation burning?
In the first half of 2019, Singapore saw almost 555 vegetation fires, 56% increase in vegetation fires from 2018 due to drier and hotter weather = slight deterioration in air quality
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Types of pollutants?
1. Nitrous oxide emitted in areas of high vehicular traffic
2. PM2.5 also known as particulate matter such as soot, smoke, dust and liquid droplets measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter may be produced in neighbourhoods
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Health impacts of air pollution
1. respiratory infections, heart diseases and lung cancer
Pollutants nitrous oxide and PM2.5
2. High levels of exposure to nitrous dioxide may lead to higher risk of asthma in children
3. Lung function decline in older humans as pm 2.5 enter the bloodstream and lodge deep in human lungs
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Common causes of traffic hazards
1. Speeding
2. Red light running
3. Drink - driving
Caused by irresponsible drivers who are drunk or distracted causing these accidents who put themselves and other motorists at risks
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Example of traffic hazards?
In 2021 there was a total of 969 speeding related traffic accidents and 153 accidents that were caused by drunk driving
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Health impacts of traffic hazards?
People can suffer serious injuries both mental and physical when involved in traffic accidents which can lead to disabilities or loss of life creating emotional trauma for people related to victims
Elderly pedestrians and motorcyclists typically account for a high percentage of traffic accidents resulting in injuries or deaths ( motorcyclist have zero protection asides helmet )
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Example of health impacts of traffic hazards?
In 2021 there were a total of 100 traffic accidents in Singapore that resulted in fatalities. 8 were by drink driving
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What is environmental stewardship?
Refers to the actions taken by individuals or groups to protect, care for or responsibly use the environment to pursue environmental and or social outcomes which can be practised by individuals, organisations and or governments. It helps build sustainable neighbourhoods
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Environmental stewardship refers to what kind of actions being taken?
Actions should: seek to conserve natural resources, preserve existing natural environment, repair damages and reverse the negative impacts caused by humans to ensure its sustainability.
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How can environmental stewardship be achieved + example ? ( 1 way first tell second later )
1. Promoting volunteerism among neighbourhood residents to share knowledge with other about the importance of a healthy ecosystem allowing residents to be more aware of what they can do to responsible use and protect the natural environment
The NParks promotes volunteerism in communities through ground led initiatives such as friends of the parks. Participations can gain greater community ownership and stewardship of parks in their neighbourhood
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How can environmental stewardship be achieved part 2
Partnership of public and private sectors contributes to the environmental stewardship efforts. Because different stakeholders have different perspectives resources and expertise to enhance the environmental stewardship efforts, hence it is crucial for them to come together to steward the environment
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Example of how stakeholders coming together can steward the environment?
The urban neighbourhoods produce large amounts of waste so it is important that waste materials are recycled and residents and public private stakeholders have to play their part to ensure an efficient and sustainable waste recycling process.
A portion of waste cannot be recycled Hence to ensure that recycling is optimised NEA should continue to engage residents on the importance of waste recycling as well as how and what they should recycle
Basically residents = proper recycling of waste public agencies = enhance awareness and education private agencies = providing* recycling facilities so through these partnerships running together environmental stewardship efforts can be sustained and enhanced.
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What is disaster risk?
Disaster risk refers to the likelihood of damage to properties injuries and loss of lives from a disaster in a given time period and they are the product or the interaction between 3 main factors.
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What are the 3 main factors which produce Disaster risks?
1. Nature hazard - the characteristics of the hazard
2. Vulnerability - the conditions determined by the social physical, economic and environmental factors which increase the susceptibility of people and their belonging to the impacts of hazards
3. Exposure - the situation of people and their belongings located in hazard prone areas.
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How to determine disaster risks?
We’ll definitely we take in all the main points of a disaster risk, the disaster’s nature its vulnerability and its exposure but we cannot consider the facts in isolation, the interaction of all the factors together determines disaster risks.
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What is a disaster risk management?
Refers to plans and actions that are implemented to prevent new risks from happening, reducing existing risks and manage disaster risks which strengthens community resilience.
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What do disaster risk management strategies aim to do?
A neighbourhoods exposure to hazards and the vulnerability to people and properties to hazards
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What is Singapore’s disaster risk management strategy?
Primarily focuses on improving residents preparedness to respond to natural and technological hazards. Cultivated in todays’s youth also to ensure that upcoming generation can be more aware of their surroundings and will be well informed during a hazard which impact can be minimised as more people more aware. Also implementing monitoring and warning systems
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Example of how Singapore implements its disaster risk management program?
The SCDF conduct a community emergency preparedness programme which focuses on key lifesaving skills and important emergency procedures residents can use in order to save their own lives and help people during disaster strikes.
The SCDF has a public warning system which is a network of sirens paces at strategic locations all around Singapore to ensure everyone is Abel to easily hear the alarm. It warns people about the imminent threats that may endanger life’s and property like natural or man made disasters.
The Sg report app was created so that people can report disasters or imminent risks to either help people evacuate an area or warn them as to stay away from the place ensuring citizens play a part in preventing disasters and exercising responsibility towards social security.
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What is community resilience?
Refers to the ability of a community to resist adapt and recover from a disaster’s impacts in a timely and efficient manner
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Why do we need community resilience?
To ensure that people are able to cooperatively work together and solve disasters striking their neighbourhoods efficiently exercising responsibility towards social security so that impacts of the disaster is reduced such as health economic social impacts ensuring more people’s lives are saved and the disaster doesn’t affect the country greatly economically.
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How can we develop community resilience?
It can be developed by 2 ways
1. Strengthen relationships between residents and raise their awareness of potential hazards
2. Develop residents ability to organise themselves and equip the,selves and others with suitable resources to resist adapt and recover from the disaster.
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Why do residents need to be bonded for disaster risk management plans to work?
When residents are familiar with each other and form an emotional connection with each other, the community gains a stronger resilience as during disasters, everybody will be able to work cooperatively and efficiently in order to soften the impacts of the disaster to the best of their abilities and save lives by quickly resisting adapting and recovering from the disaster in a timely and efficient manner as disaster risk management plans are only efficient when there is a widespread support and active participation from residents. Residents will be able to depend on one another and work together to ensure that the community can efficiently RAR from disaster.
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Example of how strong community relationships developed.
The PA organises many activities to foster positive relationships amongst residents in a neighbourhood with some programmes including active ageing emergency preparedness and community sports allowing people to bond regardless of race age or backgrounds.
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Example of when strong community relationships proved to be fruitful?
The community’s resilience was evident throughout the Covid19 pandemic with frequent mask and food distribution and provision of meals to low income families to provide assistance to those in need showing how people in the community has each others back during an emergency.
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One downside to neighbourhood relations?
They are incredibly diverse varying from one group to another and may occasionally be problematic as everyone has different views and opinions and they may clash hence there cant allows be 100% happiness and boldness in a community.
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Is residents involvement in planning for disaster risk management helpful?
Residents in the neighbourhood can be involved in an inclusive planning process that involves community leaders, civil society organisations and government. When residents actively participate to minimise potential neighbourhood hazards, they can better understand the risks and adaptations options to communicate to the planners and government
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Example of residents involved in disaster risk planning processes/ actions?
There are CRF ( community first responders ) who are volunteers supporting the government in search and rescue operations, relief work and educating the public on simple first aid and basic firefighting. The CRF for fire hazards are alerted for minor rubbish or bin fires so that the SCDF can focus on disasters requiring much more attention in terms of priority and high level rescue skills, potentially life threatening.
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What is total dense framework?
All round response to threats and challenges involving everyone in singaporean emphasising that everyone has a part of play individually collectively to build a strong secure and cohesive nation.
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What is fieldwork
Fieldwork is a systematic approach to investigate geographical phenomena and their related issues
There are 5 stages: craft research question or hypothesis, collecting data, analysing data, presenting findings, conclusion and evaluation
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How do we begin a fieldwork?
Crafting a research question or hypothesis. Identify a topic or thesis from credible sources like textbooks news articles and credible websites from where a research question or hypothesis can be crafted.
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What is a research question and when do we use it?
An inquisitive in nature question that outlines a specific scope for investigation related to the topic and begins your research from which many possible conclusions can be formed at the end. Used when little research exists or the relationships between variables are uncertain.
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What is an hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a measurable *statement* predictive in nature consisting of one or two variables and is often used when a large body of research is available on the topic and relationship between variables are quite certain. Definitive conclusion formed at end of investigation.
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What is quantitative data + how to collect ?
Data that can be quantified and measured
Collect by responses from close ended questionnaire surveys
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What is qualitative data + how to collect ?
Data that can’t be measured easily and is subjective to each person in nature mainly comprising or a persons feelings, emotions, views
Collect by responses to semi structured or open ended questionnaire questions.
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2 ways data collection can be sequenced
Quantitative data first then qualitative data
- quantitative data to identify patterns and trends ( close ended questions ) then the qualitative data collected ( open ended questions ) helps examine the trends and patterns observed and why they are so. Main aim is to examine data and understand behaviour / nature
Qualitative data then quantitative data
- qualitative data ( semi structure questions ) first makes observations which is then verified by quantitative data ( close ended questions ) collected with the main aim of having evidence to prove qualitative data and check its truthfulness
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What are limitations that need to be considered when designing fieldwork?
Amount of data, time available, access to places and resources, manpower
1. How much data can one collect?
2. How much time does one have to complete the data collection and when should one conduct the fieldwork to ensure accurate optimum results?
3. Which locations does one have to access
4. How easy would it be for one to get required equipment
5. How many people involved in investigation
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Example of taking into consideration limitations during fieldwork?
Instead of taking opinions form every Singaporean of whether Singapore has enough green spaces as it is impractical, researches should restrict study area to a few blocks in a precinct to ensure that research doesn’t take a very long time and excess manpower
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What are possible risks in fieldwork + how to solve ?
1. Minor accidents like falls cuts
- pack first aid kits and pay close attention to surrounding so they can take note of uneven surfaces or rocky pathways reducing possibilities of falls
2. Dealing with difficult people
- travel in groups to ensure they are safe from confrontations and are able to call for help easily
3. Harsh Weather conditions
- check the weather forecast before hand and keep umbrellas or ponchos on hand and conduct investigation in sheltered areas for convenience of researchers and interviewees to be safe from harsh weather
4. Traffic accidents
- pay close attention when crossing roads and stay alert and not talk to one another and adhere to local hazards and road crossing procedures. Avoid collecting data on cyclist paths or roads
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What is sampling
Sampling is the process of selecting a portion of a population being studied usually to make generalisations about the population. Hence the sample is always a subgroup of the population
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Why is sampling necessary?
Because it is often not possible or practical to obtain information from the entire population as it would take too much time and manpower to execute
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What is minimum sample size
Statistically 30 is a good sample size to conduct a reasonable analysis of data
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What are the different sampling categories?
Sampling - probability and non probability sampling
| |
Simple random sampling Convenice sampling
Stratified Random sampling Quota sampling
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What is probability sampling?
Samples selected randomly without the researchers conscious desicion ruling out chances of biases and it is usually done by using a random number generator or dice.
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Advantages of probability sampling?
1. Removes bias that may come form researcher’s choices making the results to be more reliable and accurate
2. Greater chance of creating representative sample
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When do we use probability sampling?
Used to select a more representative sample
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Methods of probability sampling?
Simple random sampling
Stratified random sampling
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Example of probability sampling?
To find out whether kids in your neighbourhood like to go to school u give all the kids a number and randomly generate using a die to see which kid is picked, and include his response in your final evaluation ruling out biases from choosing
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What is non probability sampling
Samples are non randomly selected often using the researchers conscious rescission causing biases to be present as researcher subjectively chooses samples like family or close friends
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What is representative sample?
Refers to the subset group of a large population looking to accurately reflect characteristics of the large group
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Issue with non probability sampling?
Biased as researcher may choose close friends and families causing accuracy to be compromised
Samples most likely won’t be representative of their larger population as they are selected subjectively making it hard to make generalisations about the population
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When do we use non probability sampling?
When it is unnecessary or impractical to select a representative sample such as when conducting interviews testing out the design of questionnaire or when conducting exploratory research
When sampling needs to be done very quickly due to time limitation
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Non probability sampling methods?
Convenience sampling, quota sampling
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How to conduct simple random sampling?
Every member of the population is given a number and using a random number generator people are selected hence taking only the randomly chosen people’s answer into consideration.
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How to conduct stratified random sampling?
First conduct simple random sampling and find out all the people who were chosen, and further classify them accordingly to categories like age range, gender or ethnicities and sample must follow proportion of population ( if 65% male and 35% female stratified sample must have that proportion so only 65% male from random sampling and 35% women taken into consideration )
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How to conduct convenice sampling?
Basically approach those who are convenient to approach like close friends family or a friend walking down the street
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How to conduct quota sampling?
After convenience sampling select same place with similar makeup to population based on categories like age sex or ethnicities just like stratified random sampling but the people chosen because of researchers conscious desicion
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Difference in quota and stratified random sampling?
Quota sampling classifies people who have been chosen with biases by researcher into categories like age range sex and ethnicities but stratified random sampling classifies people who were randomly chosen and not subject to bias choosing by researcher.
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What are questionnaire surveys?
Investigate the opinions of people or organisations using a series of questions which can mainly used to collect quantitative data using predefined responses in the survey or rating scales
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What can predefined questions be like in surveys?
The could be short phrases, or a single word arranged in series, or numbers. Residents can be given predefined responses like yes no maybe somewhat / once a week twice a week.
Alternatively the actual value can also be noted down as residents could be asked to write down how many times they visit a place or indulge in an activity.
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What can mental maps be used for?
Collect data on how people experience and think visually and spatially about their environment. Allows researchers’ to figure out how strong a person’s sense of place and sense of belonging to the area is. The dynamic interrelationships people have with their environment
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How to mental map mate?
1. Give blank paper to participant and ask them to draw features of an area in map form such as what they know, believe and or feel about a place or places.
2. Base map could be given and they may be asked to add details by labelling or annotating their perceptions of places on the map
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Does the mental map given vary?
Depending on the research questions or hypothesis, participants may be give different base maps, instructions and tools to create their mental maps.
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Are free from mental maps better?
Free form mental maps are more representative of a participants perceptions of places compared to mental maps draw using base map given but they can’t be easily Geo referenced and mapped onto Geographical Information Systems
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How do mental maps help?
Using each mappers drawn out mental map as discussion points semi structures interviews with open needed questions can be conducted after mapping to find out more about the mappers’ perception of places
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What does repetitions or clusters in labelling, geometric shapes, drawn features in mental maps show?
They show popularity and prominence of the place and their absence indicates unfamiliarity and a lack of interaction within that space = no sense of belonging in that area
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Neighbourhood definition?
A sub-division of an urban area that is distinguished by some character or quality, where residents share commonalities.
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What is pollutant
Substance that is present in concentrations that may harm humans. plants and animals.
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Volunteerism definition?
The practice of providing time and skills for the benefit of other people and causes rather than for financial benefit.
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