Urban Case Studies

Question 1

What are the escalating climatic challenges facing Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 1

1. Effects of coastal flooding due to heavy rainfall, strong winds and sea level rise
2. Heat islands developing over the country
3. Criminal activities such as vandalism and theft

Question 2

What are the resilient city strategies employed by Rio de Janeiro in combating its climatic risks?

Answer 2

1. Establishment of Rio de Janeiro’s climate change panel which investigates and publishes results of research on climate change’s impacts on Rio. The knowledge generated would support public policies for the mitigation and adaptation of climate change in Rio.
2. Multi-hazard assessment mapping, with use of computational models and real-time sensoring, which allows for a comprehensive visualisation of risks in the region and helps identify the priorities for intervention.

Question 3

What are the escalating economic and social challenges facing Cardiff?

Answer 3

1. Global competition in need of high-skilled workers and integration of low-skilled works. Former is caused by lower-than-UK-average wages resulting in a more difficult retention of workers whereas latter is caused by falling demand for unskilled workers due to negative deindustrialisation
2. Housing shortages caused by limited housing space for a growing population. 41% of Cardiff are protected green spaces and most brownfield sites have already been developed.
3. Social disparity in a growing city. With construction of new flats and office buildings, low-income housing areas are gentrifying, driving up property prices and low-income groups out of the city.

Question 4

What are the resilient city strategies employed by

Cardiff?

Answer 4

1. Creation of an “enterprise zone” in central Cardiff that offers relief on business taxes which helps to attract investment in the city
2. Corporate Development Plan (2014) which helps to meet the demand for affordable housing by planning for well-designed and connected communities.
3. Public Transport network, “Metro Project”, developed to increase access to jobs by improving cross-regional connectivity.

Question 5

What are the escalating demographic challenges facing Kyoto?

Answer 5

1. Increase in the older demographics of the place (65 years and older). In 2015, it accounted for 27% of the population. Places additional strain on municipal capacity and public services. Poverty rates and social isolation are also higher among the elderly.
2. Population decline due to migration of residents towards more dynamic urban centres, causing decline in area’s appeal for businesses and residents, negatively impacting commerce and municipal fiscal capacity.

Question 6

What are the resilient city strategies employed by

Kyoto?

Answer 6

1. Implemented several approaches to enhance innovation, especially through its national strategy zoning system to revitalise local economy
2. “Kyoto alliance” upgrades university education system to mobilise young people and strengthens social ties between themselves and the older demographics to combat social isolation issues.
3. Kyoto’s universities connect local resources with the public sector that helps to develop human capital to lead local economies and create industries

Question 7

What are the eco city strategies employed by Copenhagen?

Answer 7

1. The pocket parks and green roofs reduce the demand for energy consuming artificial cooling.
2. By 2015, 85% of the city’s vehicles were electric, hydrogen or hybrid powered and 50% of the city’s residents were commuting on bicycles.

Question 8

What were the faults of the Masdar City Eco Design?

Answer 8

• Achieving the carbon-zero goals required an enormous amount of funding (about $22 billion) which was especially difficult with current-day technology. Resulted in subsequent delays of its construction and establishment.
• Only 2000 people were commuting there instead of the planned 60 000

Question 9

What are the smart-city strategies employed by Singapore?

Answer 9

1. Making communities more mobile. The rate of over-crowded buses has been reduced by 92% where “open data” from fare cards to sensors in more than 5000 vehicles and the real-time tracking of buses has been analysed.
2. Encouraging healthier citizens. TeleRehab allows patients to undergo exercises in their own home and monitor patients’ progress and transmit the data to their therapist over a wireless network

Question 10

What are the eco-city strategies employed by Barcelona?

Answer 10

1. Energy-efficient LED lights, which light up when pedestrians are in close proximity and dim when there is no one nearby to reduce energy wastage, have reduced energy wastage by 30%.
2. Park irrigation systems, remotely sense and control irrigation and water levels in green spaces, helping the city a 25% increase in water conservation.

Question 11

What are the smart-city strategies employed by Songdo?

Answer 11

1. TelePresence allows video-conferencing from every building, promoting easier business meetings and transactions.
2. Smart meters measure energy consumption allowing for energy loss to reduce by 30%.
3. Array of sensors control heating in homes and monitor traffic flow.

Question 12

How has urban renewal taken place in Stratford Park?

Answer 12

• After the closure of many of London’s docks in the 1960s, thousands of people lost their jobs.
• Between 1981 and 1998, the London Docklands underwent urban regeneration. 2012 London Olympics bid caused Stratford to be used during the games and regenerated area for local people to use afterwards.
• by 2030, more than 10,000 new homes will have been built in the park and over 20,000 jobs could be created.
• Water-efficient design of homes and the protection of green spaces and natural habitats

Question 13

How do environmental factors affect urban population distribution in Komabangu, Niger?

Answer 13

Liptako region in Komabangu village is rich in minerals. Komabangu popl skyrocketed from 200 in 1999 to 25 000 in 2004 as mining present many employment opportunites.

Question 14

How do environmental factors affect urban population distribution in Brazil?

Answer 14

Atlantic coast is home to 50% of the population as coastal accessibility has allowed construction of seaports for trade, generating many employment opportunities. Access to resources can support megacities of Rio de Janeiro and Sau Paulo.

Question 15

How do economic factors affect urban population distribution in China?

Answer 15

1978 open door policy encouraged foreign business to enter chinese market. Most economic growth was seen in the coastal cities along the Pacific Coast. Due to large influx of economic opportunities in these areas, there were 281.7 million rural-urban migrants in 2016 alone moving in search of better employment opportunities.

Question 16

How did political factors affect population distribution in South Africa?

Answer 16

In 1950, apartheid system segregated black Africans to approximately 13% of total land area. Cities were predominantly white while LQR areas that surrounded these cities were overwhelmingly black. Despite the following regulated population redistribution, the legacy still remains.

Question 17

How do social factors affect pattern of residential areas in Sydney?

Answer 17

Sydney has several urban villages that can be defined on an ethnic criteria such as Chinatown, Cabramatta & Lakembia that are for the Chinese, Vietnamese and Lebanese respectively.

Question 18

How do economic factors affect location of low quality residential housing in Dump Hill, Phnom Penh?

Answer 18

In LICs, large communities of people live at or near garbage tips in makeshift houses and slums & make living through recycling dumped rubbish. Dump hill is Phnom Penh’s largest garbage tip and many people live there, though they suffer from unhealthy living conditions.

Question 19

What are the environmental and social consequences of Metro Manila’s expansion?

Answer 19

Due to RUM, Metro Manila experienced steady popl growth of 1% per annum in recent years and had experienced suburbanisation as where it expanded significantly in size to over 600 km^2.
- Only 70% of the 8400 tons of garbage is properly collected and uncollected ones are often dumped in the rivers of Metro Manila, clogging waterways and deteriorating water quality.

Question 20

How has inner-city gentrification in Sheung Wan led to its regeneration and revitalisation?

Answer 20

• Construction of MTR station increased accessibility to location and increased number of business and upwardly mobile young couples moving into the area. Socially revitalised as area has become known for its artisan cafes and street art & has become a popular choice for expats to live in.
• More than 40% of the households in Sheung Wan are considered high-income earners

Question 21

What are the negative consequences of counter-urbanisation in Detroit?

Answer 21

Due to negative deindustrialisation, urban decline has taken place in Detroit where a quarter of the city has been reclaimed by nature and the municipality has long unpaid debts which are over $18 million. Over 1/3 of Detroit’s popl and nearly half of its citizens live below poverty line. Murder-rate is at a 40-year high. 2013 bankruptcy removed any hope of solving urban decline through govt funding.

Question 22

How have political factors affected urban deindustrialisation post-Soviet Russia?

Answer 22

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the introduction of free-trade policies and removal of tariff barriers, urban centres established in Siberia became exposed to global pressures and competition. These expensive-to-operate factories were no longer needed following the adoption of market-based capitalism so they were closed
& causing many cities to be abandoned.

Question 23

What were the eco city strategies employed by Curitiba, Brazil?

Answer 23

Due to overpopulation, there were transport congestions and uncontrolled growth of squatter settlements. Established cheaper and more efficient transport system that only needs 1 ticket and could hold up to 270 people. Reduced 40 million car trips per year leading to 30% lower fuel consumption compared to other Brazilian cities.

Question 24

What are the resilient city strategies employed by Shanghai?

Answer 24

Vehicle and factory emissions account for 50% of the city’s air pollution. Launched Shanghai Clean Air Action Plan which set the goal of reducing annual average PM2.5 concentration by 20% by 2017. Introduced air pollution law which regulates bonfires. Consequently, density of PM2.5 fell by 27% by 2016.

Question 25

How is land being contested in Rio De Janeiro?

Answer 25

Prep for 2016 Olympics --> Removal of Vila Autodromo. Forced eviction of residents and demolition of buildings, intentionally worsened sanitation system to get people to move. Good: Richer demographic had moved in. Average house price increased. Bad: More than 17 000 displaced. Those who got homes either experienced worse housing infrastructure quality or found the cost of living in the new areas incompatible.

Question 26

What are the eco city strategies employed by London?

Answer 26

BedZED in Hackbridge. UK"s first major zero-carbon community. - 777 m2 of solar panels – electric power used 25% less than UK averages - Consists of water-saving appliances such as aerated flow taps, reducing average home water usage by 40%. - Close to tram, train, and bus routes – car mileage is 65% less HOWEVER, very costly- total cost £15 million, approx. 150,000 per home

Question 27

How is the population distribution in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (LIC)?

Answer 27

73% of urbanisation is due to RUM since 1960s. 61% of Port Moresby's population is not born in the area. Led to formation of coastal squatter settlements in Hanuabada. Do not have adequate housing protection and have homes that are not constructed through legal means. In 2017, the Hanuabada fires were able to spread and destroy many homes, leaving many homeless.

Question 28

What are the issues of the Singapore smart city strategy?

Answer 28

1. Older generations may not be equipped enough to appropriately use the devices to their benefit, ultimately defeating the purpose of these smart city strategies 2. Paying for technological services may be expensive for lower income groups

Question 29

What are the resilient city strategies employed by Lagos?

Answer 29

1. Developers claim that the Great Wall will be 8 km long when complete to combat the coastal erosion. 2. However, two-thirds of Lagos’s population live in slums and critics believe that the Lagos State Government should do more to improve the lives of slum dwellers rather than encourage developments that will benefit the wealthy. 3. Moreover, many of the nearby slum population claim that the Great Wall and Eko Atlantic project will lead to an increase in coastal erosion.

Question 30

What are the eco city strategies employed by Tianjin?

Answer 30

1. At least 50% of the eco city's water supply will be from nontraditional sources such as desalination and recycled water by 2020. 2. At least 90% of trips within the ecocity should be in the form of "green trips" by 2020.

Question 31

What is the eco city strategy employed by Malmo, Sweden?

Answer 31

- The first development, Bo01, the first neighbourhood that was designed to use and produce 100 percent locally renewable energy over the course of a year - In the Malmö docklands, many of the abandoned buildings have been renovated to reduce energy waste and improve environmental sustainability. - Local businesses have also been using these buildings, contributing to growth of the local economy.

Question 32

What is the air pollution strategy employed by Mexico?

Answer 32

- PM10 exceeded international standards on 50% of every day - They improved fuel quality by reducing its lead and sulfur content. - Sulphur dioxide from 55 parts per billion to 5 parts per billion. - Mexico City’s size (20 million), the number of cars and industries, its topography and its altitude mean that photochemical smog is likely to remain a problem. - The national debt and widespread poverty mean that a number of more costly policies, for example to improve the environment, cannot be implemented.

Question 33

What is the air pollution strategy in Beijing?

Answer 33

- PM2.5 concentration in Beijing air is 7.3 times above the WHO annual air quality guideline value. - Limit factory emissions of tiny harmful particulate matter (PM2.5) that causes air pollution down to 25%. - Result: Emission of key pollutants has dropped by 12%. However, pollution levels are still high in Beijing.

Question 34

What is the traffic congestion strategy in New Delhi?

Answer 34

- In 2014, vehicle sales were up by 7.2 per cent, and the number of trucks increased by 16.2 per cent. - Since 2020, 2026 people have lost their lives in 7338 road mishaps - Number of traffic circles on patrol increased from 53 to 67, allowing for better communication of incidents of road mishaps, fatalities or traffic levels

Question 35

How has urban renewal resulted in contested land use in Rio?

Answer 35

- Developers have displaced more than 170,000 people, forced out of their homes for games-related purposes - 119 favela communities would be razed - Shootouts between gangs and the police, made area unsafe - Inequality was perpetuated between wealthy parts of the town and those remaining in favelas

Question 36

How is land being contested in Dharavi, Mumbai?

Answer 36

- Connected by all three of the city’s railways — property developers have ambitions to develop Dharavi into an international business destination - But Dharavi is home to thousands of micro-industries which account for $650 million annually. - These informal jobs act as a means for people to provide their children with education so they can escape poverty later in life - Developments may displace them far from sources of income

Question 37

How has urban deprivation taken place in Skid Row, Los Angeles?

Answer 37

- 40 000 homeless in LA, many tentages seen in Skid Row - Being infiltrated with serious drug addicts and alcoholics - Ongoing societal tensions between two communities (very rich & very poor) - Devoid of toilet facilities so people urine in buckets, low sanitation. $500000 of funding for solutions such as mobile toilets - Ppl not very highly educated, usually cant find employment. Organisations try to educate the poor children.

Question 38

How has urban deprivation taken place in Dharavi, Mumbai?

Answer 38

- One public toilet is shared by 1,400 residents - Sources of water are often unclean and stink - Social stigma against slum dwellers, difficult to get jobs despite working hard to be as qualified

Question 39

How has urban deprivation taken place in Kibera, Kenya?

Answer 39

- 2.5 million slum dwellers, no permanent tenure for 90% of slum population, little protection against forced eviction - Fail to receive the attention of government and many welfare organisations, corruption index of over 90 out of 100 - One latrine (hole in the ground) is shared by up to 400 people, 20% of Kibera has electricity, no hospitals, - Collect unclean water from Nairobi Dam, causes typhoid - 50% unemployment, people turn to alcoholism and drugs, leads to crimes like violence and rape - Some solutions that have been identified are skills-teaching programmes to equip the people of Kibera with basic skills

Question 40

How has urban deprivation taken place in the slums of Rio?

Answer 40

- Household rubbish is regularly collected at only 60% of favelas in Rio. - People turn to drugs and join gangs due to lack of employment due to lack of education