Resilent City Design (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Resilient City Design
What is urban resilience?
Resilience is defined as:
The ability to recover and rebound from challenges and setbacks
Urban resilience is how well the communities, businesses, population and systems in a city are able to function and be economically productive, no matter the issues faced
Although similar to sustainability, it focuses on:
Chronic stresses such as water and transport infrastructure
Shock events such as flooding or terrorism
Why are cities vulnerable?
The larger cities become and the higher the population densities, the more vulnerable they are
The UN estimates that 3 out of every 5 cities with a population over 500 000 are vulnerable to natural hazards
Some cities, such as Manila and Tokyo, are vulnerable to up to five natural hazards
There are only three of the world's megacities which are at low risk or no risk of natural hazards
Urban areas are centres of population and economic activity
When natural hazards affect urban areas, the effects are frequently more severe and expensive
Climate change is increasing the vulnerability of cities due to the increase in frequency and severity of flooding, drought and tropical cyclones
To be able to withstand these hazards, cities need to be resilient
Measuring resilience
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states there are four components of resilience:
Economic
Social
Environmental
Governance
These can be assessed using the following criteria:
Criteria to Assess Resilience
Economic | Social | Environmental | Governance |
---|---|---|---|
Diversity within its industries A dynamic economy Innovation Access to education and skills training | An inclusive society Active communities Safe neighbourhoods Healthy citizens | A diverse ecosystem An infrastructure to meet basic needs Sufficient natural resources Policies regarding land use | Clear leadership and management Integrated approaches Skilled public sector Open governance |
Resilient city design
There are many ways in which resilience can be incorporated into urban planning, city and building design including:
Infrastructure improvements and resilience
Urban heat reduction
Energy efficiency
Creation of green spaces
Emergency preparedness
Flood mitigation
In cities which are vulnerable to tectonic hazards, there are several mitigations which may be put in place, including:
Improved planning and building regulations
Earthquake-resistant building design
Land use zoning to ensure vital infrastructure and buildings are not in the most vulnerable areas
Education to make the population aware of the actions to take before, during and after an event
Hazard mapping to identify the most vulnerable areas
Strategies to Manage Climatic Risks in Urban Areas
Climate change brings additional risks to urban areas
Many cities are located on coastlines and floodplains which are high-risk locations
Climatic risks include:
Flooding
Storms
Water-borne diseases
Heatwaves
Wildfires
Drought
Managing climatic risks
Many cities are now integrating planning and building design to mitigate these risks
In Mexico City, water supply issues caused by drought mean that 40% of the population lacks access to regular water supplies
The city now has a goal of installing 10 000 rainwater harvesting systems each year in households across the city
In Melbourne, Australia, there have been increases in:
Stormwater harvesting to irrigate parks
Investment in green space to provide shade and enhance biodiversity
Permeable surfaces to reduce flooding risk
Many parts of The Netherlands are at risk of flooding. Rotterdam's strategies include:
Building design to cope with flooding and sea level rise
Plans for a floating neighbourhood, which will have homes, offices, a school and a park
Water squares, which are areas set lower than the surroundings, can fill with and store water
Increased green spaces and permeable surfaces to allow water to infiltrate
Working with residents to adapt housing by:
Moving wiring to upper floors
Replacing wooden floors with more water-resistant coverings
Subsidising green roofs
Collection of rainwater
Strategies to Manage Geopolitical Risks in Urban Areas
Geopolitics are politics which are influenced by geographical factors, including:
Level of development
Resource availability
Land ownership
The main geopolitical threats to urban areas include:
War
Terrorism
Protests
Segregation of communities
Loss of economic power
Managing geopolitical risks
Increased threat of terrorism and protests have led many cities to implement strategies to reduce these risks
In London, UK, some of the strategies which have been implemented include:
External barriers to prevent vehicles from ramming buildings or infrastructure
Improved building materials which are blast-resistant
Better communications system
CCTV
Increased security measures for people entering public buildings
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