Geo Option G: Urban

Infrastructure Growth - Shanghai

SHANGHAI

pop 29 mil by coast, known for ports, finance, retail, tourism, business

CLEAN WATER

85% water deemed undrinkable in 1980

now, 80% water is treated

1987 - WB launched $153mil Shanghai Sewage Project

WASTE

2019 half waste burned, half sent to landfill

2020 compulsory waste/recycling policy

TRANSPORT

600mil tonnes of cargo/yr

2 intl airports

rail network with 20 lines, widely used

TELECOM

30% China’s phone lines in Shanghai

highest density 5g of sites

Green Space Depletion - Auckland

AUCKLAND, NZ

2011 - 55% is green space

2022 - 30% is green space

CAUSES:

infill development (clears our gardens)

rural to urban migration means increased need for building

IMPACTS:

temp increases (UHIE), every 10% depletion of green spaces increases temp by 0.3^oC

increased surface runoff (more floods), more impermeable surfaces (jan 2003 was NZ’s biggest flood, 10,000 homes were flooded)

Slum Clearance KWC

KWC, HK

over 30000 individuals, most densely populated place on earth

lively bustling slum, described as HK’s shadow economy with many informal businesses

no laws enforced

DEMOLISHMENT

demolished in 1993

IMPACTS

residents evicted, given $2.7bil compensation, but often not enough, leaving many homeless (KWC rent was $35HKD, rest of HK $12,000/month)

1000 local businesses shut down

people unemployed - lacked skillsets

replaced by memorial park/garden

govt. hired old residents to work as tour guides

Slum Clearance RIO

DEMOLISHMENT

favelas demolished to build sporting venues for Rio 2016 Olympics

eviction process began in 2009, flash evictions in 2015

IMPACTS

170,000 residents displaced

1000 general resident homes demolished to build a parking lot

land value rose x3

residents lacked education and services, as it is through a catchment system and linked to place of residence, so cannot qualify for any services

Deindustrialisation - London Docklands

:process of social and economic change caused by the removal of industrial activity

HISTORICAL:

• Around 1800s, many sugar refineries, flour mills and timber yards developed

• 1980 - containerships introduced, docks no longer needed, dock gradually closed along with many industries 

IMPACTS (BAD):

• 21% unemployment level, 30,000 jobs lost as there was a skill gap and people who worked at the docks were uneducated and unskilled to get new jobs

• 50% of the docks became derelict

• Gentrification overtime forced out lower class from the area

(GOOD):

• Better for environment → less factories → better air quality

REGENERATION (TO CANARY WHARF):

• 50,000 new homes built

• £20 mil spent on environmental and community projects (parks and greenspaces developed)

• Light rail opened in 1987 - easier access to wider urban areas

• Attracted new investors like HSBC

• Many new residential areas

• Land fully revitalised 

• 120,000 jobs created

Gentrification - Brixton, London

: the process of wealthy people moving into poorer areas and altering the demographic of the area - hence changing the land value and uses

• 1950s - home to many West Indies

• 1981 - riots between black youth and police

£7.5 million in damage, with 30 houses burned down

• 2000 - became one of London’s trendiest places to live in

This meant:

• Property prices boomed and risen by 76%

• Retail unit prices doubled

• Undergone ethnic/racial cleansing

Gentrification - Central Market HK

• Constructed in 1930s, used as community hub for local businesses

• Closed in 2003 for revitalisation and reopened in 2021

• Cultural and historical significance with many local economies

RENEWAL:

• Modernised for ‘cultural and retail use’ to up the land value

STAKEHOLDERS:

• Govt. urban renewal authority power: FOR, argues it can preserve heritage

• Private retail and commercial corporations possibilities: FOR, they can have a new upscale place to sell goods

• Public/local residents possibilities: AGAINST, depletes local culture and community gathering space

• Central market concern group possibilities: AGAINST, questions how much heritage is actually being preserved if function of buildings is completely different

• Construction groups possibilities: FOR, new job opportunities and economic gain

Air Pollution - Delhi

CAUSES

• Vehicle emissions - contribute to over 40% of Delhi’s pollution

• 11mil vehicles on road

• Power plants and industry

  • 11 coal power plants

• Crop burning

• Construction (lack of env regulations makes this worse)

MGMT

• National Clean Air programme (NCAP) launched in 2019

• Aims to reduce 20-30% PM concentrations by 2024

• Done through:

  • Stricter construction/industry regulations

  • Banned crop burning 

  • Promoting electric cars

BUT failed to meet this, only 12% reduction

Urban Social Deprivation - HK

:lacking access to be able to carry out a reasonable QOL

Location context: N. Hem, SE Asia, China, HK

• 23.6% of pop. in poverty (1 in 5 ppl)

• Gini coefficient of 0.533 (2nd highest level of wealth disparity after NYC)

CAUSES OF DEP.:

• High housing rates $12000-20000 HKD/month

• Lack of employment or low wage (many are uneducated and unskilled)

• Lack of access to education due to limited resources (also big class disparity)

HOUSING: 

• many live in caged homes/subdivided flats which are no bigger than a parking spot

• Public housing wait time of 3 years

SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS:

• Increasing minimum wage (went from $40/hr in 2000 to $42.1/hr in 2025)

• Low Income Family Allowance (LIFA) - govt. providing assistance

• Improving education systems - allows cycle of dep. to be broken 

Traffic Congestion - Manila, Philippines

• 11.2mil vehicles on road daily

• 71% extra travel time required

• 32% respiratory deaths attributed to air pollution 

• 18.2μg pollution level (WHO guideline is 10μg)

CAUSES:

• Poor public transport (many jeepneys and old cars which frequently break down)

• Yearly festivals means many commute to visit family

• CBD - most of the economy is in the CBD and people commute daily during rush hours

• More disposable income means more people can afford cars (450,000 new vehicles sold in last 5 years)

SOLUTIONS:

• Constructing new airport link - $4.5 bil - helps reduce congestion

• Govt. doubled car taxes in 2018 to slow down people buying cars 

• 15% dip in car sales - successful

Eco city - Copenhagen, Denmark

:aims to have lowest possible impact on environment

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

• Encourage use of public transport

• New MetroCity Line to connect rural areas with city 

• 360,000 people travel on it daily

• $3.4bn investment to expand

PROMOTE CYCLING

• Bike sharing, bike rentals in hotels for tourists, increased safety guidelines

• Over 45% pop. cycle daily 

• Only 29% pop. have a car

5 MIN NEIGHBOURHOODS - NORDHAVN

• Everything needed is accessible within a 5 minute walk

• Draws people in through a sense of community

      CONS:

• $$$, rent prices 20% higher than average

• Creates exclusive enclaves

Reduce Waste Production - Circular Copenhagen Plan (2019-2024)

• Reduce landfill and incineration waste by recycling 70% waste by 2024

• Reduce 59,000 tonnes of CO2/yr

• All residents provided with recycling bins

• 5 district recycling stations

• Point system for recycling (incentives)

PROS:

• 75% new waste sorting systems

CONS:

• Some items (electronics, diapers) can’t be recycled

Smart City - Fukuoka, Japan"

:uses tech and data to solve existing problems

CareTech City (2017)

Location Context: N. Hem, Asia, South of Japan

• Addresses growing elderly population in Japan (Japan has the most centenarians, ⅓ of population over 65)

• Uses CareTech technology - innovative system that will do daily check ins/calls with elderly to prevent loneliness

• Uses ICT and GPS monitors so caregivers/family can track the elderly and make sure they do not get lost

PROS:

• Successful, running for 8 years and continues to work

• Very in demand, elderly will continue to increase, requiring full time care, so this allows them to live comfortably and safely

CONS:

• Over reliance on tech - if network fails, this will be a big issue

• Digital divide/disparity - not everyone has equal access to tech or can afford this

Smart City/Traffic Congestion/Ecocity - London

• Most congested roads in Europe

• Drivers spend around 101 hrs/yr in traffic 

SOLUTION - SMART MOTORWAYS:

• Installation of CCTV, electronic signs, lane control systems to manage traffic flow/reduce congestion

• Eg. overhead signs to tell people to slow down to prevent traffic congestion further along the highway

• ‘Hard shoulder’ emergency lanes opened up during busy periods to reduce congestion, overhead signs to let people know when these lanes are open for use

BUT 38 killed in 2020 due to removal of hard shoulder

HYDROGEN POWER BUSES

• Water vapour as exhaust

• Hydrogen produced in wind farm

• Cooperates with existing ULEZ road scheme to reduce emissions

• 54 new hydrogen buses introduced in 2023

• 1,700 tonnes of CO2 reduced 

• (GOOD) Low range and faster refuel time than EVs

• (BAD) Expensive
  

Resilient City (Env) - Rotterdam, Netherlands

: a city that is able to bounce back from challenges/setbacks

Rotterdam is home to the largest port in Europe (8th busiest globally)

WATER SQUARE (2013)

• Combined stormwater storage and public space to improve climate resilience

• Stores up to 2 mil liters of water

NASSHAUVEN (2015)

• Floating homes neighbourhood

• Homes constructed on boats that rise and fall with water levels

• Equipped with solar panels and green roofs to reduce env. impact

GREEN ROOFTOPS

• Connected rooftops by open air bridges

• Increased vegetation,

• Absorbs rainwater

• Can regulate temp, reduce effects of UHIE

• Provides greenspace and connects the community

• Covers 28,000m^2, retains up to 70% precipitation

Resilient City (env) - NYC

80×50 goal

• Aims to reduce GHGs by 80% in 2050 (as compared to 2005 level)

• Done by SOLAR PANELS ON ROOFTOPS 

  • Installed 0.7MW of solar power

  • Expanded to public buildings like schools

  • Serves as emergency backup power sources

  • 35,000 tonnes CO2 reduced

  • $8mil saved

  • 160 jobs created

• GHGs successfully dropped by 19%

• Majority of coal/oil sources switched to natural gas

• 30% from nuclear power

Resilient city (polit) - NYC

• 911 attack 2001, two planes hijacked and flew into Twin Towers (World Trade Center)

• killed 3000 people

• 38 mil people displaced

RESULTS

• Tightened airport security measures (no liquids under 100ml, more safety inspections)

• JTTF (joint terrorism task force) where FBI and NYPD shared information to increase resilience

• After 911 there are 170 more JTTFs with 4,400 staff

• 15 overseas posts

• A bigger focus on international events to understand what is happening around the world