UDM714: Urban Environment – Urban Environment Article

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 UDM714: Urban Environment – Urban Environment Article

Abstract
With an ever growing population, the world’s cities are increasingly affecting, and are
affected by, natural ecosystems. The sheer number of people gives rise to numerous
urban and environmental issues, such as biological pathogens, chemical pollutants,
physical hazards, depletion of resources, and heat island effects. They pose a real
and present threat to the inhabitants of any city, so their solution has to be high
priority and involve everybody, from the individual household to the local government.

Keywords: Urban Environment

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Preface

We would like to start with a word of thanks for the people who have made it possible to write
this report. Firstly we would like to thank Dr. Puziah Ahmad for getting me in touch with useful
contacts and giving me suggestions and advices during the writing-process. We would like to
say thanks to the persons I have interviewed for my case study research.

Anwar Bin Suran

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Table of Contents Page

Abstract 1
Preface 2

1.0 Introduction 4

2.0 Definition of Urban Environment 4

3.0 Cause of Urban Environmental Problems 5

3.1 Urbanization 6
3.2 Increasing Urban Global Economy 6

4.0 Effect from Urban Environmental Problems 6

4.1 Collapsing Infrastructure 7
4.2 Increasing Levels of Pollution 7
4.3 Increased Volume of Traffic on Poorly Maintained Roads 8
4.4 Inadequate Housing and Services 9
4.5 Urban Heat Island 10
4.6 Poor Waste Management 11

5.0 Solutions for Urban Environmental Problem 12

5.1 Provide More Soft Landscape 12
5.2 Demand Site Management 13
5.3 New Technology 14
5.4 Public Education and Awareness 15
5.5 Civic and Community Engagement 15
5.6 Direct Activities 16
5.7 NGO connecting with Other Sectors 16

6.0 Conclusion 17

List of References 18

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1.0 Introduction

“The city is a subject that is apparently above everything. It is about climate change and
racial tolerance, social justice and economic development, culture and personal memory,
national identity and civil liberty”
Deuan Sudjic
Director of the Design Museum of London

Urban area is a heart of all countries in the worlds. As four of every five citizens
live in urban areas, their quality of life and the quality of their environment depends upon
how cities look and how they function. Urban area is also places where business is
done, investments are made and jobs are created. People are usually travelling from one
building to another, using civil infrastructure facilities such as roads, bridges and
railways. For most people in the developed world, most of the time, the urban
environment is their environment. As cities continue to grow, increasing attention must
be given to the quality of their urban environment and to their liveability. Improving the
urban environment and city dweller's quality of life has become a major issue in the
global effort to achieve sustainable development. This article study focuses on the urban
environment issues and solutions in the context of sustainable development. The
purpose of this paper is to study the causes and processes of the emergence, formation
and development of the city and the urban environment.

2.0 Definition of Urban Environment

According to Max Weber (1962) stated that, the city is the centre of urban and
rural communities. City has offered to meet the needs of markets and products of
marketing daily. Dickinson (in Mayer 1971) consider that the city was a centre of
civilization either as community centres, cultural centres, activity centres, social,
administrative, political and economic. According to Hawley (1971) also stated, the city is
a relatively permanent settlement in specific population in the form of various non-
agricultural activities.

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Refer to the (King, 1978) an environment is what surrounds a thing or an item.

The environment is the surrounding. It could be a physical element - physical
environment that includes the built environment, natural environment - air conditions,
water, land, atmosphere etc or it could be human environment - people surrounding the
item or thing (Goldstein, 2009). This is also known as the social environment and
includes elements like the spiritual environment, emotional environment, home, family
etc. The environment is a fluid dynamic thing.

The environment is defined as the whole physical and biological systems in

which man and other organisms live (King, 1978). Environmental studies involve every
issue that affects living organisms. Various interacting components of environment are
biology, geology, chemistry, physics, engineering, sociology, health and economics.
Positive and realistic planning is needed to balance them. Therefore, environmental
science is essentially a multidisciplinary approach.

Therefore, an urban environment is the environment of a city; usually

characterized by many buildings in a limited amount of space, with a high per capita per
square mile. Most of the living spaces, working spaces, shopping areas, educational
facilities, services, etc. are grouped in close proximity to each other. It is usually
characterized by limited open areas (green spaces) in specifically planned areas or
places that have been abandoned because of the higher value of real estate in urban
areas. An urban area is often plagued by lack of space for parking vehicles (both
personal and commercial) and a higher cost for leasing space for regular parking of
vehicles because that also requires use of expensive real estate.

3.0 Cause of Urban Environmental Problems

3.1 Urbanization

Urbanization can be defined as the rapid and massive growth of, and
migration to, large cities (Mantra, 2000). Moreover, if viewed from the perspective
of the science of population, urbanization is the percentage of population living in
urban areas. Today, urbanization has become a new trend in rural communities.

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The villagers are flocking to urbanization has increased each year. Flows
increase in urbanization raises a process of spatial urban destination in the city.

According to Weng (2007), as a result of the increasing process of

urbanization, it has caused impacts on the environment of the city, both in terms
of urban planning, community, or surrounding circumstances. Furthermore,
Impact of urbanization on the environment includes: decrease of capacity in
empty spaces on the city, add to pollution in urban areas, cause of natural
disasters, increase traffic congestion and will damage the city.

3.2 Increasing Global Urban Economy

Urban are known to be places where money, services and wealth are
centralized (Turner, 1998). Many rural inhabitants come to the city for reasons of
seeking fortunes and social mobility. Businesses, which provide jobs and
exchange capital, are more concentrated in urban areas. Whether the source is
trade or tourism, it is also through the ports or banking systems that foreign
money flows into a country, commonly located in cities.

Economic opportunities are just one reason people move into cities,
though they do not go to fully explain why urbanization rates have exploded only
recently in places like China and India. Rural flight is a contributing factor to
urbanization. In rural areas, often on small family farms or collective farms in
villages, it has traditionally been difficult to access manufactured goods, though
overall quality of life is very subjective, and may certainly surpass that of the city.
Farm living has always been susceptible to unpredictable environmental
conditions, and in times of drought, flood or pestilence, survival may become
extremely problematic.

4.0 Effect of Urban Environmental Problems

The developing world cities are suffering many very serious problems. These are
a consequence of the rapid population growth, a lack of capital to invest and a non-

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existent, very poor and outdated infrastructure. According to the (Krier, 1979), generally,
there are several types of environmental problems which are:

4.1 Collapsing Infrastructure

Many cities in the developing world do not have an infrastructure that is

capable of dealing with the massive increases in population (Kosanko, 2006).
Infrastructure includes the basic physical and organizational structures needed
for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities
necessary for an economy to function. In addition, the governments do not have
sufficient funds available to maintain the facilities, let alone improve them.
Particular problems arise because of the inadequacy of the road and sewerage
networks.

Figure: Collapsing Infrastructures

4.2 Increasing Levels of Pollution

Pollution of air, land and water is a major problem in most developing

world cities (Karl D, 1985). The drive to industrialisation brings with it inevitable
problems, especially as legislation to protect the environment is often non-
existent or rarely enforced. Furthermore, the hidden economy can add to the

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levels of pollution as small, unlicensed industries are set up in people’s homes or

on rooftops. These industries release their pollutants into the air, land and water.

On the other hand, the most common pollution in urban areas is noise
pollution that a form of pollution done by different audio sources that distract,
irritate or damage certain environment. The most common source of noise
pollution is transportation, in form of motor vehicles. Some other sources like car
alarms, emergency service sirens, office equipment, factory machinery, and
construction work, barking dogs, power tools, lighting hum, different audio
systems, loudspeakers and noisy people can also cause noise pollution but
motor vehicles are globally speaking dominant source of noise pollution.

Figure: Air and Noise Pollution from traffic problems

4.3 Increased Volume of Traffic on Poorly Maintained Roads

Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use

increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and
increased vehicular queuing. Traffic congestion occurs when a volume of traffic
or modal split generates demand for space greater than the available road
capacity; this point is commonly termed saturation.

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The effects from increasing the volume of traffic are, wasting time of
motorists and passengers. As a non-productive activity for most people,
congestion reduces regional economic health. Inability to forecast travel time
accurately, leading to drivers allocating more time to travel "just in case", and less
time on productive activities. Wasted fuel will increase the air pollution and
carbon dioxide emissions owing to increase idling, acceleration and braking.
Stressed and frustrated motorists, encouraging road rage and reduced health of
motorists. Emergencies: blocked traffic may interfere with the passage of
emergency vehicles travelling to their destinations where they are urgently
needed.

Figure: Very critical traffic congestion

4.4 Inadequate Housing and Services

Shanty towns or inadequate housing display most problems typical of

developing world cities. A squatter settlement therefore, can be defined as a
residential area which has developed without legal claims to the land and/or
permission from the concerned authorities to build; as a result of their illegal or
semi-legal status, infrastructure and services are usually inadequate (Grood,
2006). Squatter settlements as a result of dumping, it has spawned many serious
problems especially water pollution problems. This is so because; all were
directed to removal of water sources directly. For example, garbage disposal,
sewage channels and so on. This situation will certainly lead to serious water

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pollution problems. Severe garbage disposal would affect the water quality of the
river near the settlement areas. In fact, it also will have an impact on other rivers.

In addition, the spread of disease outbreaks also occurred in squatter

settlements for example, cholera and malaria. This is caused by irregular channel
system and systematic. This situation has caused the residents of squatter
settlements is easy with these diseases may be. The houses are close together
in the channel construction has made it difficult to run. Indirectly, this situation
has exposed them to the danger. When the disease existed by squatter
settlements, it will also spread the virus to other disease.

Figure: Shanty town that fulfilling with inadequate houses

4.5 Urban Heat Island

Urban heat islands can have worse air and water quality than their rural
neighbours. UHIs often have lower air quality because there are more pollutants
(waste products from vehicles, industry, and people) being pumped into the air.
These pollutants are blocked from scattering and becoming less toxic by the
urban landscape: buildings, roads, sidewalks, and parking lots.

Water quality also suffers. When warm water from the UHI ends up
flowing into local streams, it stresses the native species that have adapted to life
in a cooler aquatic environment.

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Scientists are studying how urban heat islands might contribute to global
warming, the most recent climate change pattern that includes the gradual
warming of the Earth's temperature.

4.6 Poor Waste Management

Waste management simply means the collection, transport, processing or

disposal, managing and monitoring of waste materials to minimize its'
consequences on humans and environment (Rosenhall, 1990).

Wastes that end up in water bodies negatively change the chemical

composition of the water. Technically, this is called water pollution. This will affect
all ecosystems existing in the water. It can also cause harm to animals that drink
from such polluted water. Hazardous chemicals that get into the soil
(contaminants) can harm plants when they take up the contamination through
their roots. If humans eat plants and animals that have been in contact with such
polluted soils, there can be negative impact on their health.

Everyone wants to live and visit places that are clean, fresh and healthy.
Cities with poor sanitation, smelly and with waste matter all over the place do not
attract good people, investors and tourists. Such cities tend to have poor living
standards. Cities that do not invest in recycling and proper waste control miss out
on revenue from recycling. They also miss out on job opportunities that come
from recycling, composting and businesses that work with them.

Figure: Waste depletion in

the river

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4.7 Destruction of Natural Habitat

Many urban areas lack green spaces, especially in lower-income

neighbourhoods. Urban forests across the country are under stress from
development activities and poor growing conditions within cities. Urban rivers and
lakes are experiencing shoreline erosion and high pollutant loads from
development activities, flooding and poor storm water management. Wetlands in
urban areas have in the past been viewed as “waste lands” and have frequently
been converted to urban (and other) uses - e.g., 70% of wetlands across the
Canadian prairies and in southern Ontario have disappeared. Pesticides are used
on lawns by homeowners, commercial interests, and city parks departments.

5.0 Solution for Urban Environmental Problems

5.1 Provide More Soft Landscape

Trees make their own nutrients from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,
water, sunlight and minerals in the soil. They also release oxygen in this process.
This process helps the environment by removing large quantities of the major
"greenhouse gas" involved in carbon dioxide. Trees also help us by absorbing
other pollutants and replenishing the oxygen. Trees absorb gaseous pollutants
through pores in their leaves. Trees help us by trapping particle pollutants like
dust, ash, pollen and smoke that may damage lungs. Tree leaves and stems filter
and trap particulates which are washed to the ground by rain. Planting bushes
and trees in and around sound generating sources is another effective solution
for noise pollution. Dense shrubs and trees block sound passage, thus avoiding
disturbance to the surrounding areas. You can also plant trees around your
residential area to live peacefully.

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Figure: Proposal of Landscape Master Plan in Urban area that

provided much of soft landscape

5.2 Demand Site Management

NGOs and governments should take approach in reducing the demand

for a service or resource such as water, transportation, waste removal or energy,
rather than automatically supplying more of the service or resource. This strategy
is typically pursued through economic incentives, technological changes and/or
behavioural modifications (conservation). NGOs can work both to increase
adoption of demand-side management policies by governments and directly with
consumers to help them reduce demand (e.g., through home-based energy
audits, consumer rebates on energy efficient products, etc.) A number of
municipalities and NGOs across worlds such as Perth and Sudbury have
developed community energy plan in order to reduce energy throughput.
Transportation management associations (TMAs) aim to reduce car travel.
Usually led by a community group, private industry, or a municipal government,
TMAs offer a range of services to their members, such as a guaranteed ride
home, flex-time support, rideshare matching and vanpool co-ordination.

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5.3 New Technology

New technologies can be developed by government and private sector

companies in other to capture landfill gases for electricity generation, and to
accelerate the breakdown of materials in landfill sites. In the building sector,
innovative technology includes ground heat storage (storing warm water in
boreholes) and deep-water cooling (drawing cool water from large water bodies
to cool buildings). High-efficiency district heating systems are also being
improved and more widely disseminated. Zero-emission vehicle technologies
based on fuel cells are being tested and may play an important role in urban
transportation once they reach commercial development.

Examples of the small scale of the new technologies are smart car where
these cars just use battery and not produce carbon emission. Besides, the latest
technology for overcoming the effects of noise pollution is using white noise
machine. It is a device meant for converting unbearable noise into pleasant
sound. A white noise machine is placed between the source of noise and the
receptor. It produces soft sound like that of a waterfall, fan and soft music.

Figure: Smart Car Figure: White Noise Machine

In order to reduce the release of black smoke by public transport such as

buses and taxis that use diesel fuel, the use of smoke filters is most greet. With
this, the smoke released has been refined and the smoke does not pollute the
air. Bio-filter is a technique for pollution control which uses living matter to trap
and biologically degrade pollutants. In air pollution control, the pollutants in the

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air are subjected to micro biotic oxidation. In other words, when it is applied in the
filtration and purification of air, microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria that
are embedded in a bio-film, are used to degrade the air pollutant.

Figure: Bio-Filter technology in Building

5.4 Public Education and Awareness

Governments and NGOs should be conducting many local public

awareness campaigns. It must focus on water consumption, waste generation,
commuting, pesticide use, and home energy use. National campaigns such as a
federal public awareness initiative that asks Citizens to reduce their annual
greenhouse gas emissions by one tonne by using less energy. Example from 'Go
for Green' is a national non-profit organization that promotes active forms of
transportation as a way of improving personal health and the urban environment.
The Smart Growth movement aims to educate the public on issues related to
urban sprawl and the quality of our urban environment. Urban footprint
measurements are used as a tool to raise public awareness of the impact of their
community's (and of their own) use of resources on the earth's capacity.

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5.5 Civic and Community Engagement

As the world is now being threatened by pollution, appropriate measures

should be taken in effective way. To protect the urban environmental problem are
not the responsibility of the government alone. It is the responsibility of all parties.
Government must tighten the laws in protecting the urban environment. Patrols
by officers of the Department of Environment should be increased. Operators,
particularly operators of large-scale factory should be seeking advice from the
Department of Environment before any industrial operation carried out. The user
plays the most important role in addressing the problem of pollution. As a
responsible consumer, we have to choose items that are less polluting once.
Without demand for goods that cause pollution, industrial operators will start
using materials more suited to the environment. For example, we should choose
pesticides in aerosol cans that do not contain CFCs. If all parties are working
together to address the pollution problem, of course, the earth will be in the
extended age.

5.7 NGO Connecting with Other Sectors

Linking with other sectors on issues of shared or multiple benefits are a

growing and powerful strategy being adopted by the environment sector on urban
environment issues. Environmental groups have forged effective working
partnerships with health and medical associations on such local issues as
pesticides and air quality. The example is, the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Canada
is a coalition of 88 organizations including environment, health and consumer
groups, faith communities, utilities, unions, and municipalities. Linking the
concepts of green and affordable housing addresses urban poverty alleviation
and environmental goals. As noted, community garden projects have been
successful in linking environmental/food issues with both low income and
culturally diverse communities.

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6.0 Conclusion

As cities continue to grow, increasing attention must be given to the quality of

their urban environment and to their liveability. There have two factors that contribute the
urban environmental problems which are urbanization and increasing global urban
economy. On the other hand, there are the major effects from urban environmental
problems which are, collapsing infrastructure, increasing levels of pollution, increased
volume of traffic on poorly maintained roads, inadequate housing and services, urban
heat island and poor waste management.

In other to improve and overcome the urban environmental problems, the action
will be taken by provide more soft landscape, demand site management, use new
technology, public education and awareness, civic and community engagement, make
direct activities, and NGO should connecting with other sectors. Improving the urban
environment and city dweller's quality of life has become a major issue in the global
effort to achieve sustainable development.

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