GEO454 Final

"regenerative cities: moving beyond sustainability"

expresses that regenerative cities goes beyond just sustainability and not just by reducing negative impacts, but also through improving the health and well-being of its communities and natural systems. An outline for regenerative cities includes focusing on ecological, social, and economic regeneration, and how collaboration, innovation, and moving towards a more circular system is necessary for getting towards the goal of regenerative urban environments, to do this they suggest, "...monitoring progress will require an ongoing conversation about what data sets best illustrate trends and lead to the most informed decision-making process moving forward."

"GHG protocol: transportation"

focusing on transportation, different modes and calculating emissions they produce. "Cities shall report all BASIC sources and scope 3 GHG emissions associated with transboundary transportation." - 14% of global GHG emissions - US 29% of GHG emissions

"Tackling the legacy of persistent urban inequality and concentrated poverty"

gives insight into the current issue that is the long-term effects of being born and raised in a high-poverty neighborhood mainly most damaging for Black Americans, and giving steps to reduce this poverty problem such as strengthening communities, moving out, and creating access to opportunities for those people affected. "...Black Americans are also more likely to face severe housing cost burdens and housing insecurity..."

"The island in the wind"

how the island of Samso has become a demonstration of sustainable living through using renewable energy sources, reducing waste, sustainable agriculture, and the community/government playing a big role in reducing their carbon footprint. "Samso transformed its energy systems in a single decade. Its experience suggests how the carbon problem, as huge as it is, could be dealt with, if we were willing to try." - 2000 watt society

Transport Systems

infrastructures for mobility

"how decades of racist housing policy left neighborhoods sweltering"

it gives a history on redlining specifically in Richmond and how these areas are increasing in temperature due to tree coverage and disparities that have built up over many decades. "For decades, people in redline areas were denied access to federally backed mortgages and other credit, fueling a cycle of disinvestment."

Per household

persons, drivers, vehicles

Mode choice

relationship to distance

"Net Zero energy buildings"

talks about the importance of a complete and dynamic approach to building design, it says that "achieving net-zero energy requires a holistic approach to building design and operation, with every system and component working together towards a common goal." Following this guide and it's strategies and best practices, engineers and building management can design and also build energy efficient sustainable buildings that positively impact the environment and the community.

"The United States of Parking"

touches on the prevalence, scale, and inconsistency of parking requirements in the U.S. by comparing the code minimum for five common land uses in the largest cities in America. Coming up with a solution of "...repealing minimum parking requirements is a foundational step towards sustainable, affordable, and equitable cities." - parking is major land use and driver of transportation choice - redefining the parking problem free parking is not free costs of off-street parking requirements - solutions: remove off-street parking requirements, optimize land-use for other things

Transportation Networks

typology: patterns/geography of connectivity (mesh, hub-and-spoke, linear, tree)

obesityq

unhealthy weight ●BMI =(weight in kg divided by square of height in m) ●BMI > 30 ●39.8% of adults in U.S.

VMT

vehicle miles traveled

biochar

■low/zero O2 combustion yields energy and stable carbon

○regenerative agriculture/carbon farming

■removal of atmospheric CO2 and conversion to plant material and soil organic matter

Farr ch 7

"Collective Effervescence" to build community and increase sustainability efforts and the importance of shared values and visions among the community. "Community engagement used to evoke images of long public meetings with "experts" telling the community what they need. Recent innovations have transformed public participation into a dynamic process that shifts the focus toward the community sharing its stories and using them to propel change."

Farr ch 12

"Neighborhood Economy" emphasizes the importance of a diverse and walkable neighborhood economy for promoting sustainability and community. As he states, "Successful neighborhood economies offer a mix of housing, retail, services, and industry, all within walking and biking distance of each other."

Farr "Ch. 10 Vibrant Density"

"Vibrant Density" touches on how cities should start being built in anticipation of redevelopment to be "redevelopment-ready" and how buildings should be built at a reasonable height in "the sweet spot" at a good height for pedestrians when they're walking. Anticipating redevelopment should be important "Municipalities may want to consider incorporating these design innovations into ordinances that govern land subdivision and building form and construction."

Modal Split

% per mode, all daily trips

Measures of good transit

- Riders: cost benefit, accessibility, network completeness, short headway - Providers: diverse technologies, heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcar, bus rapid transit, surface bus

Planning for transportation choice and sustainability

- how to best meet transport demand: demand and supply - travel demand and mode choice are flexible

Locational Factors

- proximity (distance) - connectivty (to network) -accessibility (ability to reach destination)

steps to reduce persistnet neighborhood poverty

- strengthening communities (community-led) - moving out - integration/increasing access opportunities

uneven geographical development

- uneven in space and time - patterns reflect processes and structures (env, eco, pol, cul) - urban economic inequality

Justice

-fair distribution -resources, opportunities, capabilities -protect the vulnerable -related forms: social, racial, environmental, mobility

impacts of persistnet inequality and poverty

-relationship between racial segregation, concentrated poverty, and long-term socioeconomic inequalities -"detrimental - and multigenerational - consequences of being born and raised in an under-resourced neighborhood"

Conserving open space

1) site analysis 2)identify priority conservation areas 3) lay out lots, streets

cultivating system change

1.convene people 2.find opportunities (scanning/mapping) 3.align visions to living/ecological systems 4.experiment with the system (constant learning) 5.create space/platforms for innovation and learning 6.communicate coherent story

Transport-related issues

Congestion: - travel time index: ratio of travel time peak period to free flow conditions - cost of congestion: value of extra travel time/fuel -> annual congestion cost $179B

Mode

How to move (walking, biking, car, transit, etc.)

Part 1

Part I: Major Planning and Sustainability Challenges In my community or workplace, there are several major planning and sustainability challenges that need to be addressed. These challenges are: 1) Lack of Public Transportation: The community or workplace heavily relies on private vehicles for transportation, leading to traffic congestion, increased carbon emissions, and limited mobility options for individuals without access to cars. Urban Sprawl: The area has experienced rapid urban sprawl, with an outward expansion of development and the conversion of agricultural or natural lands into suburban or commercial areas. This leads to fragmented communities, increased commuting distances, and a strain on infrastructure and resources. 2)Inefficient Land Use: There is a lack of efficient land use planning, resulting in urban areas with low density and extensive suburban development. This contributes to longer commutes, higher energy consumption, and reduced walkability. 3)Limited Green Spaces: The community or workplace lacks adequate green spaces, such as parks, gardens, or urban forests. This limits opportunities for recreation, undermines the aesthetic value of the area, and reduces the potential for ecosystem services. 4)Waste Management: The current waste management practices are inadequate, leading to inefficient waste disposal, high landfill usage, and limited recycling or composting options. This exacerbates environmental pollution and contributes to the depletion of natural resources. It is essential for the community or company to tackle these problems to create a more sustainable and livable environment. By addressing these challenges, we can achieve several benefits: 1)Environmental Sustainability: By promoting sustainable transportation options, efficient land use, and waste management practices, we can reduce carbon emissions, conserve natural resources, and protect the local environment. 2)Social Equity: Implementing sustainable practices can enhance accessibility to transportation, green spaces, and amenities, ensuring equal opportunities and improving the quality of life for all community members or employees. 3)Economic Resilience: Sustainable planning and development can stimulate economic growth by attracting green businesses, promoting local entrepreneurship, and creating job opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy and green infrastructure. To encourage my neighbors or co-workers to think about innovation in planning or sustainability, I would emphasize the following arguments: 1)Cost Savings: Sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient buildings or waste reduction measures, can lead to long-term cost savings for individuals and organizations, reducing utility bills and operational expenses. 2)Health and Well-being: Creating a sustainable environment with improved air quality, access to nature, and active transportation options can enhance the physical and mental well-being of community members or employees. 3)Resilience and Future-Proofing: By adopting sustainable practices, we can prepare for future challenges such as climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity, ensuring the long-term viability and resilience of our community or organization

PMT

Person miles of travel

Part 2

To make my community or organization better, I would focus on the following priorities guided by planning concepts and theories: 1)Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): I would prioritize the development of a comprehensive public transportation system and promote compact, mixed-use developments around transit nodes. By integrating land use and transportation planning, we can reduce reliance on cars, increase walkability, and enhance access to essential services and employment opportunities. The concepts of TOD from planning theory and the successes of cities like Portland, Oregon, can serve as a valuable guide. 2)Smart Growth Principles: I would advocate for implementing smart growth principles that emphasize compact development, preservation of open spaces, and the revitalization of existing urban areas. By promoting infill development, encouraging higher-density zoning, and protecting green belts, we can curb urban sprawl and promote sustainable land use. Lessons from successful smart growth initiatives in cities like Arlington, Virginia, can inform our approach. 3)Sustainable Infrastructure: I would prioritize the development of sustainable infrastructure, including green stormwater management systems,

Sustainability and equity "green profitable and fair"

Triangle: justice, economic growth, environmental protection

land as resource

USDA: lower 48 states have 1.94 billion acres -21% federal, remainder private or state/local gov -●500-800 years to build out (of developable land)

Mobility

a fundamental to social life, has: purpose, origin, intermediate locations, and destination

"Urban land institute Growing Cooler"

talks about climate change in terms with co2 emissions, actions on different levels of government, and how transportation cannot be the only key factor in change. "...U.S. transportation sector cannot do its fair share to meet this target through vehicle and fuel technology alone." - "three legged stool" to reduce transport GHGs - link between land use, VMT and GHG -compact development on vehicular trips and length (reduces 33%)

National Complete Streets Coalition

covers all about complete streets making sure that streets are safe for all types of people in a sustainable ways and the website also tracks the progress this nonprofit has made across the nation. "In total, over 1,700 Complete Streets policies have been passed in the United States..."

"Mobility in Walkable Places"

expands on all the different ways that cities can reduce vehicle emissions through bike sharing, car sharing, temporary urban highways, and even highway removal. I was surprised to find out that "Each one-way car sharing vehicle removes 711 vehicles from the road (on average)."

"plastic has a big carbon footprint - but that isnt the whole story"

explores the environmental impact of plastic and talks about the need for systemic change in how we produce and consume plastic products. "Plastic isn't the problem, our culture of consumption is. Until we reckon with our addiction to throwaway culture, we will be unable to solve the plastic pollution crisis."

"landscape ecological urbanism: origins and trajectories"

explores the need for sustainable urban design solutions and the evolution of the landscape ecological urbanism movement. As he states, "Landscape ecological urbanism is an interdisciplinary approach to sustainable urban design that integrates ecological principles, urbanism, and landscape architecture to create more livable and resilient cities."

stormwater management

land-use - hydrology link - blue green infrastructure- handle water where it falls

"GHG protocol: waste"

lays out guidelines for measuring emissions from waste management practices throughout various cities. "Minimizing waste generation and diverting waste from landfills and incinerators are key strategies for reducing GHG emissions from waste."

LID

low impact development: permeable paving, bioswales,naturalized detention, green roofs, intensive, cisterns, water harvesting

Farr "Ch. 9 A Theater of Life"

neighborhoods and the importance they hold in a social and economic sense where people connect daily, also geographically neighborhoods play a big role in ownership and the types of houses/buildings being built. "...the everyday neighborhood substitutes place for homogeneity as the basis of neighborhood definition."

Public Transit

network of public passenger vehicles, designated routes, set times, established fares

Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

planning land use to support transit

Transport Geography

study of the spatial organization of transportation and mobility

"Compactness versus sprawl: A review of recent evidence from the United States"

summarizes the literature on urban sprawl characteristics and measurements, causes, impacts, and remedies since the older debate there previously was on sprawl. "We leave it to others to unpack the various elements if urban from and analyze their effects individually, calling each by its own particular label rather than gathering all of them under the umbrella of sprawl."

"optimizing urban material flows and waste streams in urban development

t is explained that sustainable consumption and zero waste principles are crucial for creating sustainable cities, he also provides examples of some successful projects and talks about the importance of collaboration across groups to get to the goal that is sustainable urban development. "In a world with finite resources, the notion of waste is unacceptable."

"How New Yorkers want to change the streetscape for good"

talks about how COVID-19 changed the ways streets were used with open streets and how beneficial it was for different communities to come together and how permanent open streets and the implementation of public bathrooms could change the city in a positive way. There are other benefits to these open streets as well, "Breaking up the flow of traffic would force drivers to slow down, increasing safety."

Far ch 15

talks about how creating a more walkable city will improve the health of the community through fixing problems such as narrowness of sidewalks, safety of getting from park to park, and mixed-use lighting. "Encourage community stewardship within existing neighborhood structures."

Farr Ch 8

talks about how to move change it can't always come from the government, it needs the community to drive that change and almost be a self-governing neighborhood. "Other neighborhoods see these projects and demand similar changes—a demand that comes from the communities themselves and not from government."

"GHG protocol agriculture forestry and other uses"

talks about land-use and how these areas are calculated in relation to the emissions these lands produce. "...GHG emissions from AFOLU are amongst the most complex categories for GHG accounting."

"GHG protocol: stationary Energy"

talks about stationary energy sources and how they are one of the largest contributors to a city's GHG emissions, ex heat or electricity. Also talks about the different uses in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. "Real consumption data from utility providers disaggregated by building type or non-building facility for stationary energy."

"the Dutch have solutions to rising seas. the world is watching"

talks about the Netherlands as it has been fighting against rising sea levels for a long time and in that span has become a global leader in fighting climate change through adaption and innovation in turn inspiring other countries. Some solutions include, artificial sand dunes, building floating homes and parks, and building storm surge barriers they call these "resilience planning".

"Adaption: how can cities be 'climate-proofed"

talks about the challenges that cities face while adapting to the ever changing effects of the climate crisis and talks on the need for a more thorough approach including social services, community action, and a bigger investment in infrastructure. Further saying that climate-proofing cities requires both technology and social adaptability that focuses on the most affected communities "...the best techniques for safeguarding cities don't just mitigate disaster damage; they also strengthen the networks that promote health and prosperity during ordinary times."

"zero waste cities"

talks about the importance of a round economy approach to waste management, saying "by treating waste as a resource, zero waste cities are shifting the linear extract-produce-consume-dispose model to a circular one." It highlights the successful projects of zero waste cities and encourages cities around the world to utilize zero waste policies and actions to reach the goal of the the United Nation's sustainable development goals.

"US states, cities and businesses are cutting emissions and poised to do even more"

talks about the lack of federal involvement in climate action, however, US states, cities, and businesses are making significant strides to decarbonize the economy through setting goals. "Federal-level policies that harness the leadership and unique strengths of local actors can help drive greater emissions reductions than would otherwise be possible, and potentially even greater economic growth and other benefits." ●cities and businesses ○will achieve 17% reductions by 2025 (over 2005 baseline) ○potential for 24%+ percent by 2025

"The Devil is in the Details"

the components of sprawl are analyzed and are compared to the traditional elements that they replaced such as a convenience store vs corner store. "This would be an important first step toward creating public spaces worthy of habitation."

Uneven Mobilities

the experience and politics of mobility

"Why Johnny Can't Walk" + "Wrong Color Green"

the first chapter retells old concerns with sprawl and continues on to say the current statistics (in a somewhat comedic way) with problems such as obesity, air pollution, car crashes, and loneliness. The other chapter in the same way talks about carbon emissions, forests, big cities, and about urbanism, "...if we pollute so much because we are throwing away time, money, and lives on the highway, then both problems would share a single solution... make our cities more walkable."

"National Association of City Transportation Officials Urban Streets Design Guide"

they focus on the safety of streets whether that be walking, biking, driving, transit, or social and goes in depth about different types of streets/intersections the safety of these areas and how multi-faceted streets play in cities. "Well-designed intersections use street space to bring people together and invigorate a city, while making traffic more intuitive, seamless, and predictable for those passing through."

"Learning from Parking Reforms in Other Cities"

touches on some of the most promising parking reforms including on-street and off-street parking and how benchmarking successful cities in organization of parking can be useful in the future success of all cities. In the conclusion the author mentions "Increasing the quality and deregulating the quantity of parking will improve cities, transportation, the economy, and the environment."

"How communities have defined zero waste"

touches on the definitions of zero waste and the integration of zero waste policies throughout communities across the United States, "zero waste is a journey and an ideal to work toward, rather than a hard and fast goal." It highlights the importance of community collaboration in reaching zero waste goals and gives resources for communities.

C40 cities " climate positive development: good practice guide"

touches on the design aspect as well as the implementation of climate-positive developments, which overall produces more renewable energy over carbon emissions. Throughout C40 shows case studies and best practices for achieving climate-positive urban development by reducing energy consumption, using renewable energy sources, and nature-based solutions. "In order to achieve a Climate Positive outcome, a development's Climate Positive credits must exceed its annual emissions."

plastics as embedded carbon

■wellhead leaks ■energy intensive production ■projected production 4X by 2050

regenrative cities

○"build a restorative relationship with nature and create inclusive well-being; health and happiness for everyone now and in the future" - livability - equity - ecology - nutrition - access - waste - resilincey - energy - heritage

sequestering carbon

○actions converting atmospheric carbon to forms that enhance soil nutrition or to durable forms ■organic, flowing in biological cycles ■durable carbon: locked in stable solids

zero waste planning

○establish goals and principles ○engage stakeholders ○assess needs ○establish evaluation criteria and process ○evaluate options and develop scenarios ○implement, outreach, and monitoring p

landscape nuetralization

○restoring natives for CO2 sequestration, biodiversity, aesthetics, reduced mowing

mixed-use projects

○walk- and bike-ability ○highly efficient buildings ○low-carbon energy ○zero waste ○proximity to high quality mass-transit ○compact, mixed-use development ○expansion of the positive impact

vulnerable coastlines

●10% of world's population at low elevations (< 30 ft.) ●2/3 of world's largest cities (> 5 million)

fact

●60-80% of reserves must be 'stranded' to limit warming to 2C ●buildings account for 47% of emissions ●direct emissions (e.g. HVAC) ●in-direct emissions (grid-supplied electricity)

LEED ND criteria

●Imperiled Species and Ecological Communities ●Site Design for Habitat or Wetland and Water Body Conservation ●Agricultural Land Conservation ●Tree Lined and Shaded Streetscapes

●holistic approach to ●transport demand: the trips people want to take ●supply: options/infrastructure available ●pricing: elastic and manageable

●TDM techniques ●shifting priority from driving alone ●collaboration with employers ●improving public transit ●education about options

continued warming

●atmospheric CO2 could reach 750 ppm by 2100 ●1.5 degree C warming before 2050 ●on a course for 3-5 degree C warming by 2100 compared to pre‐industrial levels (to (5.4 to 9 degrees F)

Net-zero design

●buildings producing (at least) as much energy as they consume ●site energy ●source energy ●energy costs ●emissions ●starting with "net-zero ready" ●minimize Energy Use Intensity (EUI) ●passive and active strategies ●window-to-wall ratio and building orientation ●passive house construction (PHIUS) ●continuous insulation ●airtight construction ●high-performance windows ●balanced heat/moisture recovery ●minimized HVAC

conventional wastewater management

●collection ●conveyance ●treatment ●discharge

optimal scale

●efficiency (living building challenge) ●transport ●resilience ●sense of place ●cultural legacy ●Biophilia ●not "too high to see faces"

carbon sequestration

●forests absorb 10% of U.S. fossil fuel/GHG emissions ●soils contain 2,500 B tonnes CO2 globally (800 B in atmosphere)

gentrification

●inflow of new investment and people into historically undervalued neighborhoods, leading to displacement ●urban change inevitable, but displacement need not alway be

change

●millennial challenge that must be solved w/in decades ●all new buildings net zero by 2030 ●80-100% GHG reduction by 2050

Staitionary energy

●on-site fuel combustion ●building heating (i.e. your furnace) ●grid-supplied electricity

Risks: human health

●respiratory (ozone, CO) ●cancer (pm2.5) ●neurological (mercury)