Geography real-life examples Flashcards
How cities can mitigate environmental problems
Mexico City and Athens have a policy called ‘alternate day travel’. Cars with licence plates ending with odd numbers can only drive on certain days, and vice versa. This helps reduce air pollution as less cars are used per day, hence less gas is emitted and released into the surroundings.
Cities with a range of functions
Jakarta plays an administrative function as the office of the President is located there. Jakarta also has many manufacturing industries which produce e.g. paper and cars. Businesses benefit from good telecommunication systems and well-connected transport systems.
Technological innovation
The Future Cities Laboratory which worked on a project called Cooler Calmer Singapore. The goal of the project is to develop new designs for buildings for people to live comfortably due to the rising average temperatures in Singapore.
Competition for water resource
In July 2018, Cape Town in South Africa turned off water taps for homes as their water level in reservoirs dangerously dropped.
Reducing water pollution through water treatment ponds
Kranji Reservoir in Singapore where rainwater may mix with nutrients from nearby farms and flow into the reservoir, reducing its water quality. Therefore farms have set up drains around farm plots and water treatment ponds to collect rainwater and nutrients.
Land use planning to manage impact of hazards
The Coastal Erosion Hazard Area Map in New York City highlights where authorities restrict development of infrastructure due to risk of coastal erosion. There are also laws to protect the area along the coast.
Providing safe housing
Singapore faced the problem of inadequate and low quality housing and began the Housing Development Board to build affordable public housing. Now, more than 80% of the population lives in good quality public housing.
Considering the needs of different groups
Singapore adopts Universal Design to build an environment that is safe for everyone and accessible to different age groups and disabilities. E.g. wide pedestrian paths, traffic crossings, tactile warnings.
Slum upgrading programme
Favela Bairro in Brazil seeks to improve access to basic services and building quality of homes. It is a slum upgrading programme set in 1994 to integrate (?) into the rest of the city. It aims to provide infrastructure such as sewage and lightning, social services such as childcare.
Undesirable slums
Favelas in Rio de Janeiro are located on steep slopes as formal housing will avoid these areas, because they are difficult to build on and dangerous due to the risk of landslides. However, it is the only land that is accessible and cheap enough for the residents to stay in.
Dharavi is a slum in Mumbai, where houses are near a canal which is unwanted as it is polluted and can be a flood risk. People still live there as it is centrally located downtown Mumbai, so it is near their workplaces.
Transport upgrading in SG
Once fully operational, about eight in 10 households are expected to be within a 10-minute walk of a train station. By 2030, the rail network would be 360km long.
Improving transport for less environmental impact
The Eco-Link@BKE divides Bukit Timah Nature Reserve from the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. This was built to restore connection between the two reserves and for wildlife to cross. This reduces risk of roadkill. Pangolins and palm civets have been spotted using the link.
