Geog WA2

• Regions


  The sphere of influence of services, events and objects in the area
• Regions classified according to


  • Human characteristics
  • Environmental characteristics
  • Geographical location
• Human Characteristics


  Residential → housing located and Commercial areas → industrial buildings
• Environmental Characteristics


  Nature or built-up area
• Geographical Location


  Western and Eastern
• Spatial Patterns


  The non-random arrangements that are recognisable: shapes, geometry, clusters, repeated occurrences at regular intervals
• Shapes and Geometry


  • Train station on Singapore's Circle Line resembles an oval. It is meant to connect MRT lines together, which increases convenience for commuters.
• Clusters or Concentration on a map

  • Companies in heavy industries clustered in the west of Singapore (Tuas and Pioneer) so as to be away from residential areas as these industries are highly pollutive and harmful for residents.
• Repeated occurrences at regular intervals

  • Public bus stops are located at regular intervals at about 400 m. This is to ensure that it is within short walking distance from home, increasing convenience for residents.
• Spatial Associations


  The tendency of a pair of services, events and objects to be located near each other
• Lift and staircase


  • Complementary to each other. When there is a fire, people will use the staircase, not the lift. When one breaks down, the other can still be used.
• Playgrounds and fitness corners


  • At the precinct level, it helps meet the daily needs of residents. When children play, adults and elderly can also be at the side, to keep fit at the same time.
• Integrated transport hub and MRT stations


  • Allow commuters to conveniently switch from one transport mode to another. This helps residents to plan their trips and decrease travelling time. Help in economic sustainability as infrastructure cost is lowered since there is no need to build additional infrastructure to link it up. Transportation costs are lowered as the other services may be even cheaper.
• Hawker centres and markets


  • The close proximity increases convenience for stall owners to purchase supplies from the market and at the same time, allow workers in the market to enjoy affordable meals from hawker centres. It also provides more convenience for residents to purchase either cooked or raw food from hawker centres or markets respectively.
• Spatial Scales


  It refers to the extent of an area in which a phenomenon or process takes place
• Spatial Scales


  • Local
  • District
  • Country
  • Region
  • Global
• Spatial Scales in Singapore


  There are more than 20 towns spread across the island. Each town has a town centre with a concentration of activities (commercial, social hub). Some have integrated transport hubs such as bus interchanges and MRT near shopping malls. The convenience of such towns attract residents from other towns to visit. It also attracts businesses to locate their office in these town centres, as to take advantage of low costs and reduce travelling time for workers. It provides a place for residents to gather and social interact with each other, also to allow community events or celebrations to take place regularly.
• Spatial Hierarchies in Singapore


  • Residential Unit
  • Precinct
  • Neighbourhood
  • Towns
  • HDB unit
• Residential Unit


  Between 400 to 600 residents
• Precinct


  Facilities often within close proximity, serve residents everyday needs. Some facilities spread throughout the precinct. Bus stops are at the precinct level.
• Neighbourhood


  Between 4000 to 6000 residents. Comprises of a few precinct. Can be found surrounding the town centre, allowing residents to travel to and from the town centre conveniently. Wide range of facilities to enhance residents convenience and everyday's need. Facilities in the neighbourhood complement one another. Integrated transport hub at the town level.
• Town Planning in Singapore


  Serves residents and provide for nature at different levels. Create synergies and connections across different levels. Land is mostly allocated for housing, industrial and commercial development. Any other land is set aside for roads, schools, parks and … It helps to enable each town to be self-sufficient and provide employment opportunities, complement each other. Help to achieve sustainable development by optimising resources to cater the diverse needs of current and future generations.
• Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)


  The government sector that coordinates the long-term planning for Singapore by laying out a map and stating the infrastructure needed, train lines need to be built and others, over the next 50 years. It is reviewed every 10 years.
• Singapore being both a city and sovereign state, it needs to accommodate other facilities that are usually not found in a city (e.g. military facilities, waste treatment plant, airports, power station and others.)
• Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant


  • A waste treatment plant that is located between two towns (Woodlands and Sembawang). This waste treatment plant not only helps to manage pollution concerns through waste treatment, it provides students education opportunities like Learning Journey, and employment opportunities for residents nearby. Hence, synergy is produced as consideration for both people and nature are taken into account.
• Development


  The economic, social and political process to improve standard of living for a population
• Countries classified according to level of development

  • Economic indicator: Gross Domestic Product per capita
  • Social indicator: Adult Literacy Rate and Life Expectancy
• Sustainable Development


  Meet the needs of the present population and future generations by achieving high standards of living. Ensure that future generations can meet their own needs too.
• Three key aims of sustainable development

  • Economy
  • Social
  • Environmental
• Government should not overlook any dimensions of sustainable development
• If the government focuses too much on economic growth, there is a chance that they will neglect the environment which results in the quality of the environment to deteriorate and the loss of biodiversity. Hence, the government should ensure that all three dimensions are considered.
• The approach to sustainable development may vary depending on the time and place. Some places require greater emphasis on a specific dimension.
• UN Sustainable Development Goals were introduced to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is a shared goal by many different countries to achieve high standards of living and peace for current and future generations.
• Economic Sustainability in Urban Neighbourhoods


  Achieved by having a high population density, help to support local business, lower transportation and infrastructure costs. Local businesses can sustain themselves as there will be a sufficient demand for goods and services. It also helps provide job opportunities for residents nearby, allowing them to earn income and high standards of living. When buildings and objects are close to each other, it lowers transportation cost. When the bus interchange and MRT station are near each other, infrastructure cost is lowered as there is no need to incur further cost to build any additional infrastructure.
• Social Sustainability in Urban Neighbourhoods

  Achieved by ensuring residents feel included and have a sense of shared identity. It can be fostered through shared community spaces resulting in more social interactions. When population size in urban neighbourhood is kept small, residents will come together to interact: Voice out opinions or issues that they think need to be addressed, think of suitable solutions → maintain a culture that has mutual understanding and open communication. The Residents Network was set up to promote neighbourliness and cohesiveness amongst residents. Regular activity is organised and residents are encouraged to participate.
• Environmentally Sustainable Neighbourhoods


  1. Ample Protection for Nature: With ample protection for nature, wildlife can thrive in our urban spaces and so human-wildlife interactions can be fostered. Efforts should be made to conserve existing nature species, habitats and ecosystems as well as to re-establish species that once existed. NParks have many strategies aimed to safeguard Singapore's habitats as well as ecosystem for long term sustainability - species conservation and recovery prog. Street trees, pocket plants, roof-top gardens can be introduced instead of having a large plot of grass. The type of trees planted should also vary so as to provide adequate shelter and food for a wider variety of wildlife to thrive.
• Facilities to support waste minimisation and recycling

  Conveniently locating recycling facilities and infrastructure like the blue recycling bin help to encourage residents to recycle and play a part. When there is a high enough population density, adequate waste can be collected and recycled. Waste recycling can be promoted and encouraged through activities planned like the Town Council putting up posters or banners to promote the importance of recycling and how to recycle correctly.
• Energy and water efficient design


  Building and infrastructure can be designed to be energy and water efficient to minimise the use of resources (auto-lighting lights, solar panels). Smart technology can also be installed. Under HDB large scale Green Town Programme, cool paint is used when painting HDB buildings so as to lower the neighbourhood's temperature by 1 to 2 degrees celsius. Water harvest from rain can also be used for block washing of void decks and corridors so the amount of water used can be minimised.
• Ecosystem Services in Urban Neighbourhood


  An ecosystem is an area where living communities and non living communities interact with each other.
• Provisioning Ecosystem Services


  It refers to the tangible resources that people can get from ecosystems such as food, water and wood. For e.g. Supply of fresh water and food. Food may be grown from urban agriculture and urban farming initiatives. It can be obtained through means such as agriculture activities and fisheries.