Sustainable Urban Environments

The future of UK housebuilding

by Chris Goodier

Briefing: challenging lock-in through urban energy systems

by Chris Goodier

Transformations on the landscape in 20th century

by Xenia Mastoraki

Essays about landscape architecture ad urban design in 20th century

The rapid growth of human population, the ownership of the automobile, the rapid introduction of technologies and the... more The rapid growth of human population, the ownership of the automobile, the rapid introduction of technologies and the science and the global form of economic development have led to an outrageous rapid change of the earthy landscape and the way we behave against it. Thoughts about the reasons, the results and the challenges of the new era.

2 Exhibitions in Paris (Cité de l'Architecture Palais de Chaillot): Social Housing 2 and Urban Transport (in Italian)

by Denis Bocquet

Published in: Il Giornale dell'Architettura, n.105, May 2012, p.27

A critique of two exhibitions at the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine (Paris, Palais de Chaillot):
- Vers... more A critique of two exhibitions at the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine (Paris, Palais de Chaillot):
- Vers de nouveaux logements sociaux 2
- Circuler. Quand nos mouvements façonnent les villes (Jean-Marie Duthilleul

Key Words

Edilizia sociale social housing circolare trasporti urbani transport transportation Jean-Marie Duthilleul Arep Sncf Jean Nouvel Cantal-Dupart Marcel Bajard Louis Dandrel Bernard Lubat Harvey Wiley Robinson Leigh Grand Paris Eiffel Raymond Lopez Mérignac Bordeaux Saint-Nazaire Lyon Lione Anne Lacaton Jean-Philippe Vassal Bègles King Kong King-Kong architectes Tank Tania Concko Rudy Ricciotti Lens Frédéric Druot équerre d'argent Dominique Perrault Groningen Bois-le-Prêtre Edouard François Champigny-sur-Marne utopie urbain urban planning

MEDELLÍN - UN VALLE DE RUIDOS. UNA APROXIMACIÓN SOCIOLÓGICA AL ESTUDIO DEL RUIDO URBANO.

by Omar Uran

El ruido como fenómeno y hecho social ha sido una cuestión poco asumida y trabajada en las ciencias sociales,... more El ruido como fenómeno y hecho social ha sido una cuestión poco asumida y trabajada en las ciencias sociales, especialmente en sociología. La mayoría de veces, éste se asume de un modo dado, "natural" al medio-ambiente y a las relaciones sociales. Este artículo propone un acercamiento al tema del ruido en Medellín desde una postura sociológica, teórica y empírica, que intenta escuchar el ruido desde la pluralidad de las percepciones, conflictos y matices presentes en el espacio urbano. Procuramos dar un tratamiento sociológico relativo a las fuentes materiales del ruido, las subjetividades (cultura) y las relaciones sociales (tanto económicas como políticas) allí implicadas.Partimos de considerar los diferentes estudios físico-espaciales realizados y nos centramos en aquellos que han producido algún nivel de cartografía temática al respecto. Según el análisis de los mapas de ruido que realizó el Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, seleccionamos ocho sectores o zonas donde alcanzamos a observar un nivel mayor de ruido respecto a los demás sectores de la ciudad de Medellín. En total, se realizaron 15 recorridos en los ocho sectores y se realizaron 25 entrevistas a habitantes, trabajadores y transeúntes. Los resultados obtenidos en el proceso de análisis nos permiten mostrar cómo Medellín es en efecto un valle de ruidos que se ha venido incrementando a pasos agigantados gracias a la multiculturalidad que ella acoge, los niveles de competencia comercial que llevan a incurrir en prácticas publicitarias ruidosas, la intensificación de la vida nocturna, la poca regulación de algunas nuevas actividades que generan ruido, el tipo de comunicación que se desarrolla en el uso de pitos, bocinas y frenos, y el exceso de individualidad que afecta directamente la convivencia ciudadana.

The role of economic, social and ecological evaluation in promoting Green Infrastructure investments in urban environments.

by Ian Mell

Proceedings of the Congress on Urban Green Spaces 2012 (CUGS 2012), New Delhi, India, 5th-7th March 2012.

Abstract

Urban environments are in a constant state of change. They are constrained by a number of... more Abstract

Urban environments are in a constant state of change. They are constrained by a number of competing constraints that can limit the development and management of green infrastructure resources. One of central issues in this process is the attribution of economic values to landscape resources that have historically been underfunded and undervalued.

Over the past decade a green infrastructure approach to planning has afforded planners and developers a range of evidence enabling them to assess the value of green and public open spaces to the ecological, economic and social viability of urban areas.

Green infrastructure provides a framework for planners enabling an integrated approach to investment to be undertaken. Bringing together social, ecological and economic evaluations within one development process has provided scope for more discreet investments in landscape resources to be made within the urban realm. In an era where urban expansion, reactions to climate change and meetings the social needs of cities is becoming increasingly pertinent, as our ability to facilitate multi-functional urban environments is crucial in promoting liveability and sustainability. 

By examining the role valuation plays in promoting liveable places it is possible to debate whether it is possible to balance economic viability with the maintenance of ecological integrity and promotion of social needs. Using evidence from a range of case studies key influences and decision-making tasks will be discussed highlighting how the nature of development, its focus and its role in facilitating economic valuations of the urban environment can be made.

Key words: Green infrastructure, public perceptions, economic value, planning practices, integrated

ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH IN CHENNAI, INDIA: AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO MANAGING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT FOR HUMAN HEALTH

by Martin Bunch

Bunch, Martin J., V. Madha Suresh, Dana Wilson, Beth Finnis, T. Vasantha Kumaran, Raj Murthy and Michael J. Jerrett “Environment And Health In Chennai, India: An Ecosystem Approach To Managing The Urban Environment For Human Health” in Martin J. Bunch, V. Madha Suresh and T. Vasantha Kumaran, eds., Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Environment and Health, Chennai, India, 15-17 December, 2003. Chennai: Department of Geography, University of Madras and Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. Pages 44 – 65.

This paper presents the results of a workshop held in August 2002 in support of an action-oriented program of research... more This paper presents the results of a workshop held in August 2002 in support of an action-oriented program of research that adopts an ecosystem approach to human health in Chennai, India. The workshop brought together stakeholders and potential participants in the research program in a collaborative environment to explore environment and health relationships, identify key actors and stakeholders in managing for human health, and develop a conceptual model of environment and health in Chennai. The workshop also introduced the ecosystem approach to workshop participants and explored the feasibility of applying the approach in Chennai. This paper is intended to highlight the use of a stakeholder workshop within an ecosystem approach, as well as techniques employed in the workshop’s working sessions. Influences on the workshop come from soft systems methodology, adaptive management and participatory action research. Working sessions were oriented to problem identification and framing, system conceptualization and visioning. Workshop participants developed a diagrammatic expression of environment and health in Chennai known as a ‘rich picture.’ Important themes in environment and health were drawn from this expression, such as: slums as locations of most -vulnerable populations and objectionable conditions; surface water quality and water bourne disease (e.g., typhoid, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery); public participation in management of environment and health problems; and malaria. Workshop participants also helped to identify a mixed-methods approach to addressing these issues in slum areas. The workshop results are now being used to direct the broader program of research.

Human Activity and the Ecosystem Approach: The Contgribution of Soft Systems Methodology to Managment and Rehabilitation of the Cooum River in Chennai, India

by Martin Bunch

Bunch, M. J. (2008). Human Activity and the Ecosystem Approach: The Contgribution of Soft Systems Methodology to Managment and Rehabilitation of the Cooum River in Chennai, India. Complexity in Ecological Systems. J. J. K. David Waltner-Toews, Nina-Marie Lister. New York, Columbia University Press: 157-174.

Soft systems methodology (SSM) was one of the major influences on our development of the ecosystem approach at the... more Soft systems methodology (SSM) was one of the major influences on our development of the ecosystem approach at the close of the twentieth century (Checkland 1979, 1981; Checkland and Scholes 1990). We introduced SSM in chapter 8. In this chapter, I describe the adaptation of SSM to the understanding and management of a problematic social-ecological situation in Chennai, India, and explore the methodology in more detail. The term “soft systems” is used here to denote use of systems thinking in an interpretive mode (using systems thinking to make sense of messy situations) as opposed to the functionalist “hard systems” approach that conceives of systems as real things that can, for example, be designed. This use should be differentiated from the more general use of soft systems to refer to social or other human systems (see, for instance, chapter 9).

Willows and reeds for bioremediation of landfill leachate: redox potential in the root zone

by Antonio Albuquerque

P. Randerson, L. Davies, A. Albuquerque, A. Bialowiec
Proc. International Conference ECO-TECH’10, 22-24 November 2010, Kalmar, Sweden, 877-886. (2) p. 877-886

Constructed wetlands can be used for bioremediation of landfill leachate (LL) making it safe to discharge into the... more Constructed wetlands can be used for bioremediation of landfill leachate (LL) making it safe to discharge into the environment. Wetland plants (reed and willow), contribute to pollutant removal, particularly of organic and nitrogen loads. Root exudates stimulate microbial activity and elevate oxygen levels in the rhizosphere which promotes nitrification. This study investigated the effects of reed and willow on bioremediation of LL in comparison with an unplanted control by measuring redox potential levels in the rhizosphere of microcosm systems in a greenhouse. Redox potential in the reed rhizosphere was consistently the highest, with the willow rhizosphere consistently the lowest. Redox potential fluctuated in the willow rhizosphere during daylight hours, with large decreases in the morning. Levels of NH4+ decreased dramatically in the first day of the experiment and remained at similar low levels in all tanks. Removal of ammonia took place in the control tank with peaks in NO2- and NO3-, but levels of NO3- remained high. Removal of ammonia was also observed in the reed tank with a peak in NO2-, but there was no peak in NO3-, as well as in the willow tank, but there were no peaks in NO2- or NO3-. Final levels of total-nitrogen, nitrate and chemical oxygen demand where considerably lower in the reed and willow tank than the unplanted control.

Evaluating Sustainability in Construction

by Panagiotis Panagiotakopoulos

The potential demand for a urban freight consolidation centre

by marcucci edoardo

Urban freight policies and distribution channels

by marcucci edoardo

"Urban scatteration and traffic congestion: A case study on Tokyo

by Tawhid Monzur

published in university webpage

The Demand Potential of an Urban Freight Consolidation Centre

by marcucci edoardo

If Small is Beautiful.....Exclusive beats it.

by Alvaro HIDALGO

Luxury as a factor to set carrying capacity .TALC Luxury as a factor to set carrying capacity .TALC

Spring-fed Stream Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities as Early Biological Indicators of Groundwater Tipping Point

by Rosemary Burk

Paper presented at the 2010 Annual World Water Week Conference in Stockholm. Co-authored with Jan Kallberg, Ph.D. and James H. Kennedy, Ph.D.. Page 349 in Abstract Volume.

Introduction/Problem Identification
In 2007, a 20-county area encompassing the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex was... more Introduction/Problem Identification
In 2007, a 20-county area encompassing the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex was designated by the State as a Priority Groundwater Management Area (PGMA) in need of implementing strategies for
groundwater conservation. The newly created PGMA’s population is expected to increase from 5.5 million in 2000 to 9.5 million by 2030 with projected water needs rising from 1,677 million m3
in 2000 to 3,034 million m3 by 2030 according to a study by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The Trinity Aquifer supplied 73% of the area’s groundwater in 2000, with the aquifer outcrop zone being highly susceptible to anthropogenic sources of contamination. Parker County is within the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (UTGCD) and is largely a rural area with many residents dependent upon private shallow, groundwater wells. Groundwater resources are under escalating pressure from urbanization, natural gas drilling, and predicted intensifying of droughts due to global climate change.

Urban effects, distance, and protected areas in an urbanizing world

by Rachel Neugarten

Mcdonald, R. I., R. T. T. Forman, P. Kareiva, R. Neugarten, D. Salzer, and J. Fisher. 2009. Urban effects, distance, and protected areas in an urbanizing world. Landscape and Urban Planning 93:63–75.

With rapid global urban growth, the proximity between urban and protected areas will increase. We identify four... more With rapid global urban growth, the proximity between urban and protected areas will increase. We identify four categories of nations, based on the proportion of people in urban areas, the amount of protected area, and the 1995 and estimated 2030 distance between cities and protected areas: urbanized nations (>60% urban) with a high population density (>40 people/km2) and close proximity between urban and protected areas (e.g., Europe); urbanized nations with a relatively low population density and moderate proximity between urban and protected areas (e.g., United States); rural nations with a lots of parks (>5% of land area), where proximity will dramatically increase (e.g., China); and rural nations with limited protected area systems (e.g., West Africa). A literature review of 163 studies identified 22 important urban effects on protected areas. Effects range from global to local, with two-thirds of the effects essentially limited to within 50 km of an urban area. We also examined conservation projects of The Nature Conservancy to determine if threats reported by conservation practitioners varied with proximity to urban area. Although many types of threats occurred at all proximities, threat types overall correlated significantly with proximity to an urban area, including more frequent problems with habitat loss due to residential development and wastewater/sewage. Thus, with the median distance from a park to an urban area already less than 50 km in many regions, we conclude that thousands of protected areas are already impacted by urban areas and many more will be impacted in the future.

Innovation for sustainability: toward a sustainable urban future in industrialized cities

by Claudio Cecchi

Ji Han • Psyche Fontanos • Kensuke Fukushi • Srikantha Herath • Niko Heeren • Vincenzo Naso • Claudio Cecchi • Peter Edwards • Kazuhiko Takeuchi

Achieving a sustainable urban future has become an important focus globally. In this paper, three major themes of a... more Achieving a sustainable urban future has become an important focus globally. In this paper, three major themes of a sustainable urban future are presented: a low carbon society, cities in the context of an ageing population and revitalization of the urban–rural fringe. Visions of these themes, in the context of highly industrialized regions, are discussed. To achieve a low carbon society, the importance of technological innovations such as new technologies and systems applied in buildings (homes and businesses), industries, and transportation are emphasized. To adapt to an ageing society, a compact city is seen with responsive transport, infrastructure and ser- vices that cater to the needs of the elderly. To enhance the urban–rural fringe, the introduction of eco-industries, which can create opportunities for both sides, is proposed.

Equity in Access to Local Services: Exploring the Impact of Urban Form and the Role of Preferences

by Carol McKenzie

EPSRC Doctoral Thesis. Heriot-Watt University, School of the Built Environment, EDINBURGH, (2011)

Debates within the sustainable development agenda increasingly highlight the principle of intra-generational equity in... more Debates within the sustainable development agenda increasingly highlight the principle of intra-generational equity in promoting social sustainability. This research draws upon this principle to explore the role of urban forms in promoting social equity in access to local services. In the context of urban form and social sustainability, there has been relatively little research on the social dimension whilst precise meanings and agreement of what social equity is, in terms of how this may relate to urban forms, is unclear. However, whilst some claims support the view that mixed-use, high density compact urban forms provide better access to services and facilities, empirical evidence is lacking. A key objective of this research aims to test these claims by examining the relationship between different types of urban forms and service access issues. Through exploring the frequency of use of local services, the research uses this as an empirical method to confirm whether urban form factors or other factors, such as the role of individual choice and values, which can act to modify this relationship, influence equity in access. Geographical accessibility as well as local neighbourhood perceptions are also examined. The research adopts a multi-methods approach, including secondary analysis of survey data and primary fieldwork involving case studies at the neighbourhood level. Findings reveal that aspects of urban form influence frequency of use, although other explanatory factors such as local social conditions, urban design factors, and individual choice can also have a large influence. Thus the role of urban forms in promoting social equity in access is not as simple as is sometimes portrayed, and depends a good deal on the social context.

Technological solutions in residential building to improve quality of life and the environment

by carola clemente

In Italian planning practice the culture of technical briefing for building projects is not widespread; this fact is... more In Italian planning practice the culture of technical briefing for building projects is not widespread; this fact is connected to the lack of technical capacities among our purchasers. Some administrations try to deal with this problem, which has a major impact on the quality and effectiveness of the works carried out as regards the needs of the users, by means of “system programming”, in other words by the definition of systems of general rules of behaviour to solve problems which are of such a repetitive and widespread nature as to have an impact on building activities in entire sections.