abstract: Urban-induced heating is a challenge to the livability and health of city dwellers. It is a complex issue that many cities are facing, and a more urgent hazard in hot urban deserts (HUDs) than elsewhere due to already high temperatures and aridity. The challenge compounds in the absence of more localized heat mitigation understanding. In addition, over-reliance on evidence from temperate regions is disconnected from the actualities of extreme bioclimatic dynamics found in HUDs. This dissertation is an integration of a series of studies that inform urban climate relationships specific to HUDs. This three-paper dissertation demonstrates heat mitigation aspirational goals from actualities, depicts local urban thermal drivers in Kuwait, and then tests morphological sensitivity of selected thermal modulation strategies in one neighborhood in Kuwait City. The first paper is based on a systematic literature review where evidence from morphological mitigation strategies in HUDs were critically reviewed, synthesized and integrated. Metrics, measurements, and methods were extracted to examine the applicability of the different strategies, and a content synthesis identified the levels of strategy success. Collective challenges and uncertainties were interpreted to compare aspirational goals from actualities of morphological mitigation strategies. The second paper unpacks the relationship of urban morphological attributes in influencing thermal conditions to assess latent magnitudes of heat amelioration strategies. Mindful of the challenges presented in the first study, a 92-day summer field-measurement campaign captured system dynamics of urban thermal stimuli within sub-diurnal phenomena. A composite data set of sub-hourly air temperature measurements with sub-meter morphological attributes was built, statistically analyzed, and modeled. Morphological mediation effects were found to vary hourly with different patterns under varying weather conditions in non-linear associations. Results suggest mitigation interventions be investigated and later tested on a site- use and time-use basis. The third paper concludes with a simulation-based study to conform on the collective findings of the earlier studies. The microclimate model ENVI-met 4.4, combined with field measurements, was used to simulate the effect of rooftop shade-sails in cooling the near ground thermal environment. Results showed significant cooling effects and thus presented a novel shading approach that challenges orthodox mitigation strategies in HUDs. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Design, Environment and the Arts 2019

Thesis (S.M. in Technology and Policy)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; and, (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2010. / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-94). / Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a technology that can significantly reduce power sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from coal-fired power plants. CCS technology is currently in development and requires higher construction and operating costs than is currently competitive in the private market. A question that policymakers and investors have is whether a CCS plant will operate economically and be able to sell their power output once built. One way of measuring this utilization rate is to calculate capacity factors of possible CCS power plants. To investigate the economics of CCS generation, a marginal cost dispatch model was developed to simulate the power grid in the Western Interconnection. Hypothetical generic advanced coal power plants with CCS were inserted into the power grid and annual capacity factor values were calculated for a variety of scenarios, including a carbon emission pricing policy. I demonstrate that CCS power plants, despite higher marginal costs due to the operating costs of the additional capture equipment, are competitive on a marginal cost basis with other generation on the power grid at modest carbon emissions prices. CCS power plants were able to achieve baseload level capacity factors with $10 to $30 per ton-CO2 prices. However, for investment in CCS power plants to be economically competitive requires that the higher capital costs be recovered over the plant lifetime, which only occurs at much higher carbon prices. To cover the capital costs of first-of-the-kind CCS power plants in the Western Interconnection, carbon emissions prices have been calculated to be much higher, in the range of $130 to $145 per ton-CO2 for most sites in the initial scenario. Two sites require carbon prices of $65 per ton-CO2 or less to cover capital costs. Capacity factors and the impact of carbon prices vary considerably by plant location because of differences in spare transmission capacity and local generation mix. / by Gary Shu. / M.C.P. / S.M.in Technology and Policy

This thesis deals with the completion and density of urban development. The area is located at an exposed place on the crossroad of Milada Horáková street and Francouzská streets in Brno. The disposal is deep and corner in a slightly sloping topography, surrounded by a busy city boulevard and urban block structure. The proposal is based on a pre-diploma thesis dealing with the analysis of close surroundings, visions for the 21st century city and the completion strategy. The starting point was a multifunctional building, which includes functions of housing, work and services. The main theme of the propsal is the interconnection of the inner and outer space in a compact townhouse.

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Once covered by dense mangrove forest, Baba Island was inclusive of a group of Islands protecting the Kolachi settlement from storms and invasion.  Kolachi Jo Goth (fisherman’s village) transformed into the present-day megacity of Karachi when the British conquered and established it as a harbour for trade. Baba Island was no exception to the change as the British started moving the fishermen from the centre further out to the Islands while establishing their residential colonies.  This displacement of a chunk of the community led to the invasion of mangrove land and hence came about a dependent community - known as Baba Goth (Island). The infrastructure and main fishery including the fish markets were all still inland, apart from this as the city grew development happened inland and the community became forgotten over time. The once pristine waters are polluted, mangroves forests diminishing, fish depletion in the sea, lack of infrastructure and skills, rising sea levels and economic impoverishment have all led to the Baba community's vulnerability.  This thesis recognizes the degrading conditions of the Baba community, especially in the current context of climate change. Through the lens of sustainability, the project understands the practices and economic activities of the residents to derive solutions. It promotes regenerating coastal ecology to prevent land loss from seawater intrusion and storms. Ecofishing, waste and water management are the other main strategic solutions explored in the project. In all, the thesis aims to provide strategies for self-sufficiency and minimize their dependency on the city.

Throughout the history of Architecture and Urbanism, many efforts were made and continue being done in order to learn how to successfully design good built environments for human beings. This goal has not only expanded to several other fields such as Geography, Sociology, and Environmental Psychology but also received new and invaluable contributions from several other unexpected fields. Such might be the case with the field of Viticulture and its interesting concept of terroir which has already been used to address topics connected with urbanism and against the increased globalization. The process of globalization in which people are instead considered as citizens of a new global world order reduces the place and rather creates a world of “placelessness”. As a concept, terroir sheds light on the importance of authenticity and how a sense of feeling can generate a cultural identity. However, in a time where neoliberal politics are increasing with a strengthened nationalism, it can also be a source of politics. Although its authenticity can be used as a means to work against globalization, it can also install a perception of unity to the local people, therefore excluding foreigners and maintaining an ideal that is unattainable for multicultural cities. The purpose of this paper is to primarily suggest a definition for a new concept entitled urban terroir and to reveal the elements of the interactive urban ecosystem of a place embodied in our cities’ characteristic and distinctive qualities. In addition, the paper also has an objective of understanding how architects, planners, politicians, and developers can deeply understand terroir when creating places and policies without excluding people from the developed cultural identity it is meant to create. This is possible by interviewing residents from three cities in France, Mulhouse, Dunkerque, and Toulouse, and different areas in the municipality of Stockholm about their respective perception of terroir in the form of authenticity and its linkage to placemaking that may act as an accelerator to further exclusion of cultural minorities in the urban environment. The obtained results conclude a definition of urban terroir as a compilation of elements and certain characteristics that collectively, with respect to the residents in an area, make up the essence of a city. These elements comprise the architecture and its historical significance, inherent traditions tied to the region, temporal legibility, the elements of scale including nodes, paths, landmarks, districts as well as edges, and ultimately, the inclusion of minorities. The author also raises the potential romanticization of nationalism with terroir and authenticity. Thus, policies according to Interculturalism are derived which firstly include acknowledging the impact that politicians have. This includes securing housing, providing strategies to work against the identified ethnic segregation, and developing an agenda that promotes interactions whilst simultaneously nurturing inclusive cultural identities. As for architects and urban planners, the study concludes the potential placemaking has in fostering micro-public places in the city where different cultures can meet. The authenticity behind these places should go beyond the physical attributes and instead include the people living in the city. It becomes crucial to view the city as not limited to the inner-city, but also validate the right to the city and placemaking of inhabitants residing in the periphery by organizing initiatives that foster growth in such areas of the city. By working against the identified current state, in the form of generating authentic interactions with a social attachment to minority cultures, urban planners are able to present an understanding of the inevitable political aspect of placemaking.

How we develop our cities not only reflects our priorities and values, but also affect the way we and future generations will experience and learn to communicate with spaces.    To face the fast-changing reality of Anthropocene and find inspiration and strength to face global issues cities have to become not only spaces where we live, work and play, but also places for nature reconnection, ecological education, grounding and inspiration.  Places that could show and tell why it is important to care about our local and global environments, how are they affecting everyday life and how we affect them with our lifestyle.    Igelbäcken kulturreservat gives a great opportunity to explore such topics, as nature and city already have a strong presence in the area. It is a part of the green wedge and has a rich agricultural history. Meanwhile it is also a place of big infrastructural and urban development with 2 big city cores situated closely.   Main aim is to explore how can urban design help in building symbiotic relationships between city and nature and enhance existing landscapes without depleting them, while operating in a very contextually saturated urban environment of Igelbäcken kulturreservat.

Stockholm is a unique city intertwined by water and green spaces,  which is also surrounded by rich open nature resources. However, from the lately researches, it shows that coronavirus highlights the need for open green spaces in cities. Also our access to important functions in society is reduced. Both of the roles of green areas and the city are challenged. The corona situation highlights our urban problem and people's demands that Stockholm is not accessible and resilient enough.   In my projects, I study the potentials and design the city about how to bring nature to the inner city and how to transit urban activities to the nature nearby in order to have a more adaptable, resilient, flexible city. Streets and the transferring area between city and nature are important intermediates to integrate green areas and urban activities, which are focused on research and design in this project.  The whole green-space system structure is also re-organised to make it better connected and more accessible.

Abstract  The use of alternative water resources such as rainwater where drinking water quality is dispensable is an important measure towards a more sustainable water management. Despite raised awareness of future water scarcity, and despite a growing field of theoretical and practical competence, the development of rainwater reuse is progressing slowly in Sweden compared to other European countries. The following essay aims to investigate drivers and barriers concerning increased implementation of rainwater reuse, or RWH (Rainwater harvesting), in Sweden. Data collection was made by interviews with respondents from municipality, construction and from REWAISE, a project aiming to decrease drinking water usage and by notes from meetings, webinars and workshops with participants from relevant fields. The theoretical framework consisted of the keywords knowledge, legislation, economy, political influence and environmental engagement and urban environmental transition theory and was used in order to understand why alternative water sources are chosen, or neglected, in construction plans. The results showed that entrepreneurs often found the legislation to be confusing and wanting, and that RWH was associated with economic risks. Initiatives were also hampered by unclear legislation, and by shortages in the exchange of knowledge within the field. Builders and city planners ask for more explicit general outlines and for shared burden of responsibilities. Personal environmental engagement showed to be an important driver, but best effect was reached when it was combined with political support.

The aim of this essay is to create an increased understanding within spatial behaviour of how people relate to their surroundings and to strengthen knowledge about the importance of design. This by investigating whether it is possible, through design of the physical environment, to contribute to creating and strengthening a place for people to meet on the countryside. In this report, we will go through some spatial theories about how people perceive space as well as take a closer look at previous research and studies in urban design and environmental psychology. This study will be based in a small community in Burträsk located in Skellefteå municipality and will thus function as a case study based in reality. The results of the study are based on a location analysis to get an idea of the place's physical design as well as a survey to get answers on how people experience the physical environment.