sustainable cities Flashcards
Breakdown of sustainable cities
Sustainable:
- main function: amenities (DC)
- high population density
- large population size
Cities:
- secondary/ tertiary industries/ consumers
- way of life
ways to describe the characteristics of cities
- large population size
- high population density
- built-up areas
- range of functions
characteristics of cities (large population size)
- Different countries use different guidelines to identify their city.
- It would usually be a minimum population size.
- Population size determines the size of the city
characteristics of cities ( high population density)
- Measurement of the number of people living in a unit area of land.
- Cities typically have higher population density.
characteristics of cities (built-up areas)
- Land surface is mostly covered by buildings.
- Cities have intensive infrastructure.
characteristics of cities (range of functions)
- Cities serve a range of functions or activities; such as administrative, commercial, education,
manufacturing
POPULATION DENSITY FORMULA (1 dp)
number of people living in an area / land area
What is the Relationship between Cities and Rural Areas?
(a) Rural-Urban Migration
(b) Provision of Goods and Services
Rural-Urban Migration
movements of people from rural areas to urban areas such as towns and cities
PUSH FACTORS
(Reasons why migrants leave their place of origin)
- landlessness
- war and civil disorder
- intolerance of alternative lifestyles
- desertification
- lack of medical facilities
- rapid population growth
- lack of educational opportunity
PULL FACTORS
(Reasons that attract migrants to a destination)
- emplyment opportunities
- promise of higher standars of living
- entertainment
- medical facilities
- educational opportunities
Provision of Goods and Services
- Cities rely on rural areas for food supply (since there is limited land space for agriculture in cities).
- Rural farmers rear animals or grow crops for their own needs or sell them at markets in the cities.
- Rural inhabitants travel to cities for their amenities.
- E.g. Hospital (where they can get expert medical help and advanced treatment).
- They can also buy certain goods which are only available in the malls in the city.
What opportunities are there for people in cities?
- education and employment
- technological innovation
education and employment opportunities
- Cities are centres of learning with a variety of
educational institutions, including vocational schools and universities that cater to different interest. - Businesses in the cities can benefit by hiring directly from a large pool of skilled employees.
- They can also offer work-study arrangements with educational institutions to train their employees.
- With education, people can gain useful knowledge and skills and can apply what they have learnt when they gain employment.
technological innovation opportunities
- Cities are known for technological innovation which is the use of scientific knowledge to create new products or services.
- This is possible because many skilled
people live in the cities, such as researchers, designers and entrepreneurs. - There is also funding from governments
and investors to experiment with new ideas.
How to make the outdoor environment cooler
- vegetation
- transport
- material and surfaces
- energy
- urban geometry
- water bodies and features
- shading
making it cooler (vegetation)
green roofs and vertical greenery are some ways of using plants to prevent sunlight from heating up buildings
making it cooler (transport)
Singapore’s transport sector is one of the biggest producers of heat on the island. boosting public transport use, or promoting active mobility like walking or cycling, could help.
making it cooler (material and surfaces)
using light-colored surfaces or reflective materials on roads, roofs and building facades could reduce the effect of sunlight heating up urban areas
making it cooler (energy)
energy consumption contributes to the urban heat island effect. Lowering this through the use of energy-efficient equipment, such as air-conditioners and refrigerators, could help
making it cooler (urban geometry)
this essentially refers to the way buildings and urban structures are arranged. Varying building heights and building forms can improve wind capture
making it cooler (water bodies and features)
ponds on roofs or on the ground floors help to prevent the overheating of urban surfaces
making it cooler (shading)
it is not just trees that can provide shade. researchers have suggested that shading devices, such as canopies, blinds or shutters, can be installed outside or inside , on or around the building development
What challenges do people in cities face?
A. Increased environmental pollution
* water pollution
* air pollution
B. Competition for natural resources
* land resource
* water resource
Increased Water Pollution
- Water supplies in cities are often affected by improper management of household and industrial waste due to inadequate or broken sewage systems.
- This causes water quality to be reduced.
- pollution can threaten human and aquatic life.
Increased Air Pollution
(causes from people)
Cities often face air pollution because of the use of coal to generate electricity, high volume of vehicular traffic and emissions from factories.
(impacts for community)
* Prolonged exposure to air pollution can lead to respiratory infection, lung cancer, heart diseases or even death.
- poor health will lead to an increase in healthcare services.
Competition for Natural Resources – Land Resources
- There is a high demand for land in cities to accommodate their large and growing populations for different purposes.
Population Density -> Large : Rural Urban Migration
Population Density -> Growing : Increase in rural urban migration, Birth rates increase
Land used for: (leads to competition for land)
- housing
- industries
- natural reserves
- roads/ transport
- water catchment areas
Competition for Natural Resources – Water Resource (water scarcity)
- Competition for land limits the construction or expansion of reservoirs.
- Water catchment areas and groundwater are also affected as more natural vegetation is converted to concrete surfaces.
- water rationing
- surface runoff
X infiltration X
How can Cities be Sustainably Built and Managed?
A. Environmental Management
* Management of physical environment
* Management of hazards
B. Improving quality of life
* Providing safe housing
* Providing a variety of transportation modes
* Considering the needs of different groups
Environmental Management – management of Physical Environments
- Cities have large environmental footprints.
- Large amount of waste and pollutants are released into the physical environment, giving rise to environmental pollution.
- We therefore need management strategies to regulate the use of natural resources and minimize the negative environmental impact
from human activities.
For e.g.:
i. Reducing pollution through water
treatment ponds.
ii. Reducing air pollution through laws.
Reducing Pollution through Water Treatment Ponds
- Kranji Reservoir is one of the 17 reservoirs in Singapore and is located in an agricultural area.
- When it rains, rainwater mixes with nutrients
from nearby farms and pollute the reservoir. - To prevent this water treatment ponds have been built to channel and collect rainwater and excess nutrients.
- Plants such as cattails and fragrant pandan
are grown in the water treatment ponds.
Reducing Air Pollution through Laws
- City governments enact laws to regulate people’s actions and industrial activities.
- For e.g. In China, the cities of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei have adopted the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan.
- Some strategies : license plate lottery policy (limits number of new vehicles that can be registered) & vehicle restriction rule (limits the use of private cars to selected days in a week according to the last number of their license plate.
- Outcome : lower air pollution and lessen traffic congestion.
Environmental Management – Management of Hazards
- Hazards are events that have a negative impact on people, the physical and built environments and the economy.
- human-induced hazards arise from human actions or inaction, such as ignoring safety regulations or warnings e.g. fires, oil spills and
industrial accidents. - natural hazards arise from processes in the physical environment. For example, earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruptions. (tectonic activities)
- Management strategies include:
i. Use of better quality building materials
ii. Land use planning (floods)
Use of Better Quality Building Materials
- Buildings need to be of good quality to withstand the threat of hazards such as earthquakes.
- Japan is recognised as a world leader in designing and building earthquake resistant buildings.
*to allow people to evacuate *minimise damage
Land Use Planning
- Land use planning involves making decisions on how land resources may be used for various purposes such as housing, recreation and transport.
- Planning agencies may disallow some of these uses and construction in unsafe locations to prevent hazards from occurring.
- This information is shared with land owners and property developers to ensure everyone’s safety.
Improve Quality of Life
- Quality of life refers to a person’s well being, which is affected by several factors such as physical and mental health, level of independence and relationship with others.
- Strategies to improve quality of life include:
i. Providing safe housing
ii. Providing a variety of transportation modes
iii. Considering the needs of different groups
Providing Safe Housing
- Housing refers to structures or buildings constructed to shelter people from weather elements such as extremely high or low temperatures or rain.
- Squatter settlements (slums) form when housing supply is insufficient or too expensive. People may resort to building their homes at locations without obtaining permission.
Providing a Variety of Transportation Modes
- Transportation modes refer to the ways in which people and goods move from one location to another.
- Benefits:
- More options to move around.
- Reduced traffic congestion.
- Reduced environmental pollution
Considering the Needs of Different Groups
- Cities need to be designed with the needs of various groups – such as elderly people and persons with disabilities.
- Singapore adopts a Universal Design Concept for buildings in public areas.
- Aims to create a built environment that is safe and accessible for everyone, including children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
How can Cities be Sustainably Built and Managed?
A. Environmental Management
* Management of physical environment
B. Improving quality of life
* Providing safe housing
* Providing a variety of transportation modes
* Considering the needs of different groups
