Article: Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities by Heidi Cho
In the article, “Developing Sustainable Infrastructure in New Cities”, Cho (2014) states that sustainability needs to be ranked first to adapt to the extreme urban context in the 21st century. The author mentions that the “Envision Sustainability Rating System” is designed to monitor the performance of an infrastructure through the ability, flexibility and the usefulness to last in the long run. The writer states that both Mexico and Peru has used the KAEC fellowship guidelines to construct their highways, which has served the community well by overcoming these challenges resulting from “rising energy prices, water shortages, traffic congestions” and other factors etc.”, in rapid urbanization. The author hopes to provide a holistic vision from the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and that new cities around the world will use these guidelines to strategize their new infrastructures. I agree with the author that the importance of achieving sustainable infrastructure and prioritizing infrastructures such as transport accessibility is the key in helping cities to be globally competitive. While I agree, I find that other alternatives in other rating system available is missing to explain how “Envision Rating System” has supported or benefited projects greatly.
I feel that the article shows great detail in telling readers about the needs of sustainable infrastructures to ensure continuity of use. As rapid urbanization is taking place, sustainability carries an important role in ensuring that the wellbeing of the citizens and improving environmental challenges and economic growth for the country is met. Looking at the framework from the “King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) fellowship”, this framework serves as an option for world leaders or city planners in the region to look at the results at a wider view. With the “Envision” rating system put in place, city planners or building performance assessors will be able to monitor the “resilience and the performance” of their infrastructures and also competitiveness at a global level. Also, in rapid urbanization, sustainable infrastructures are often misunderstood for being expensive to construct and developers or architect involved feel that they should adhere to conventional methods in construction, overlooking the long-term goals. Similarly, I feel that city planners need to understand the purpose of constructing in any infrastructure in a sustainable way, before all stakeholders commit to it fully.
While I agree with the author’s stand that the “new accreditation system that prioritizes the sustainability of infrastructure…”, it also encourages cities to improve on their transportation infrastructure. In addition, I believe that any municipal government working towards constructing a sustainable new city should also concentrate on other infrastructures such as energy efficient buildings and eco-friendly systems, although an effective transport system is the backbone to every modern economy. With many modern countries working towards developing new smart cities, sustainable infrastructure is also seen as one of the “economic motivators” and part of a “new economic model adopted around the world”. Countries are seen to be more competitive, attracting more investors to their cities and recognized as a role model for their efforts of having greener infrastructures.
The writer also fails to mention that sustainable efforts should not be constrained in a city’s limitations and knowledge on areas such as designing systems in a flexible and reversible manner in urban planning and transport. According to World Bank Group (2013), sustainability efforts by the leaders must “also figure out how they will provide affordable homes, transportation, jobs, and basic infrastructure and services necessary to support the ballooning urban populations”. City leaders need to understand the needs of sustainability and be aware of how they can improve their cities through guidelines from different frameworks or the “organizing principles for sustainability development”. In order to fully benefit from constructing sustainable infrastructures without compromising with environmental factors and the community adversely, checking against other available rating systems such as “Leadership in Energy And Environmental Design (LEED)” or “Green Mark Rating (by Building Construction Authority Singapore)” may be the other alternatives. World leaders or city planners expressing interest in this may also consider the ways to finance their infrastructures of their projects, to monitor the performance and the needs to maintain the systems.
In conclusion, developing sustainable infrastructures in new cities is important to foster a connection between the people and the economy and it is also paramount for the government leaders to assess the viability and financial benefits that can be achieved from the projects. Developing sustainable infrastructures also allows more revenue to the country and to experience lesser maintenance issues with more continuity of use. Although sustainability performance through different forms of rating systems gives countries a platform to recognize their efforts in restoring capital and ecosystems, city planners need to scrutinize the different guidelines that are widely provided carefully, before constructing their infrastructures.
References
Meghna Tare (2 April 2014). Envisioning Smart Cities through Sustainable Infrastructure, by Weekly News Roundup.
Retrieved from:
http://cityminded.org/envisioning-smart-cities-sustainable-infrastructure-10385
GIZ. Sustainable Infrastructure.
Retrieved from:
https://www.giz.de/en/ourservices/sustainable_infrastructure.html
The World Bank Group (22 January 2013). Sustainable Development – What City Leaders Need to Know as Countries Rapidly Urbanize.
Retrieved from:
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSDNET/0,,contentMDK:23342828~menuPK:64885113~pagePK:7278667~piPK:64911824~theSitePK:5929282,00.html
Wikipedia, Wikipedia.com (2015). Sustainability
Retrieved from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
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