Bangkok Flashcards
(13 cards)
Bangkok - associations
urbanization problems of Bangkok related to high migration pressure, air pollution and too much car traffic.
General information
- Surface: 513 thousand square kilometres
- Population: 69 million (75% Thai, 14% Chinese), 2% - mountain tribes (about 20 groups, tourist attraction)
- Capital: Bangkok
- Official language: Thai
- Thailand is also called Siam as it was its official name until 1949.
Good to know
- never colonised (skilful diplomacy)
- Indochina Peninsula
- Biggest Islands: Phuket, Ko Samui, Koh Chang
Thailand’s economy
- 30% works in agriculture (rice, sugar cane), it provides about 10% Thai GPD
- Thailand exports mainly to Europe: rice, tin and electrical equipment
- GPD per capita 8 128 usd (Bangkok generates 50%)
Bangkok
- population - 8,3 milion
- founded by King Rama I in 1782
- one of the most developing cities in South Asia
- very dense: 5300 people per square
- at the end of the 19-th century, the population of Bangkok was growing at a rate of 1-1.5% per year, it used to be 50 000 one day and by the 19th century it was already 5 milion (biggest growth - 1950-1980 (8%), now its about 1,6%)
Metropolitan region (proper Bangkok) and The Extend Bangkok Metropolitan Region
Metropolitan region (proper Bangkok)
- Samut Prakan,
- Pathum Thani,
- Nakhom Pathom,
- Samut Sakhon
- Notnthaburi
The Extend Bangkok Metropolitan Region
- Ayutthaya,
- Chachoengsao,
- Sara Buri,
- Chonburi
- Rayong.
Bangkok’s strengths
- low taxes
- low rental prices,
- higher salaries,
- lower maintenance costs,
- greater production capacity
Main problems
- environment pollution,
- heavy traffic congestion,
- large numbers of migrants.
Traffic problems and solutions
Problem:
- 16,5 milion daily commutes (45% by public transport)
- all bus lines carry about 4,3 mln daily passengers, metro 0,3 mln
- average speed in the morning-17 km/h, peak hours-24 km/h
- 5,5 milion registered vehicles in Bangkok (2,8 mln four-wheel)
- 40% fuel consumption of Thailand was caused by Bangkok’s transportation
- Consequence: the city authorities prefer the development of private passenger transport over the years.
Solution:
- improving public transport system
- ”The Blue Sky Line’ above ground extension (very effective and popular).
- improving the traffic control system. - improving road capacity.
Skytrain
- 3/4 floors above ground
- beginning: 1992, next stage: 1998 (two lines 17km and 6,5km)
- too expensive for common people in Bangkok
- around 35km/hour
Water and air pollution
Air pollution
* exhaust emissions from passenger cars (traffic jams),
* construction dust
* industry,
* combined heat and power plants,
* high energy consumption.
Water pollution:
* Many of Bangkok’s waterways and canals are heavily polluted.
* a lot of farm households discharge their pollutants directly into drains that are connected to sewers.
* The main river - Chao Phraya is polluted (no proper sewage system of the city).
- cause: leakages from large, open garbage dumps in Bangkok; only about 30% of garbage is disposed daily; about 3000 tones ends up in landfills
Land use issues
lack of spatial order.
the land is more suitable for agricultural use.
residential buildings are located in the same parts of the city as industrial and commercial buildings.
Slums
- nearly 20% of Bangkok’s population lives in slums (shantytowns)
- largest one consist of 80 000 people
- Number of households households living in extreme poverty has increased by 225%, the largest increase of any urban area in Thailand.
Preventive actions (urbanisation problem)
The government’s plan sets as a priority the creation of seven urban railway lines with a total length of 291 km.
Preventive actions:
* control of the number of cars entering Bangkok.
* control and assurance of Bangkok’s spatial development
plans.
* investments which will result in connecting selected districts
to the sewage system and waste segregation.
