Week 7
EZZALDEEN ALI ABDO SAEED AL-SARMAH TP076013
Urban sprawl and overcrowding are
the two most serious problems that face the modern cities, which have been
acknowledged through numerous surveys and interviews by the users. The main
problems are the fact that affordable housing is not available, commuting takes
a lot of time, infrastructure is not enough, and the negative effects of noise,
pollution, and lack of green spaces on the life quality are very strong (Behnisch.
2022).
Think of Maria Lopez, a
34-year-old nurse who is living in a suburban area. She bears high rent,
prolonged and stressful commutes, overcrowded public services, and lack of
recreational areas. Her daily struggles give a more detailed picture of the
bigger city problems which most people are experiencing.
Suggested solutions
are developing mixed-income housing at a lower cost in the areas which are not
being used to their maximum potential, investing in the public transport system
of high capacity, high efficiency, and more parks and recreational spaces, and
the smart city planning policies to control the urban sprawl. These techniques
are designed to minimize the pressure on the infrastructure and to enhance the
life of the residents in the cities making the cities more liveable and
sustainable for the people like Maria (Ali, 2023).
References:
Behnisch, M., Krüger, T., & Jaeger, J. a.
G. (2022). Rapid rise in urban sprawl: Global hotspots and trends since 1990. PLOS
Sustainability and Transformation, 1(11), e0000034. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000034
Ali, Y. (2023, September 10). 15 reasons
why is culture important | Curious desire. Curious Desire. https://curiousdesire.com/15-reasons-why-is-culture-important/
Definition of the Problem
Different living circumstances, unequal access to resources, and unequal possibilities for social mobility are all signs of economic inequality in contemporary cities. Key issues identified by surveys and interviews include a shortage of reasonably priced housing, restricted access to high-quality healthcare and education, and inadequate public transit.
User persona
Alex Johnson, 34 years old.
Employment: Retail Employee
Location: Apartment in an urban area
Background: Alex is a full-time worker who finds it difficult to pay city rent. Their children attend schools with poor funding and they depend on public transport, which is frequently unreliable. Because insurance premiums are so expensive access to healthcare is restricted to emergency services.
Storyboard
Daily Routine: Alex gets up early, gets the kids ready for school, and boards a packed bus to work.
Daily Challenges: Deals with stress at work because of low pay and job instability.
Afternoon Challenges: Concerns regarding the security and quality of the kids' education.
Evening Difficulties: Tired but still worried about debts and possibilities for the future, returns home.
Solution
A multifaceted approach is necessary to mitigate these issues. Policy initiatives should prioritise expanding access to affordable housing, enhancing public transportation, and investing in infrastructure related to education and healthcare. In addition, community-based programmes that offer social support and job training can increase economic opportunities and decrease inequality.
References:
- The Nature of Cities. (n.d.). Wicked Problems, Social-ecological Systems, and the Utility of Systems Thinking. Smart Cities Dive. https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/wicked-problems-social-ecological-systems-and-utility-systems-thinking/113741/
TP076893 CYIRIMA KEVIN
Upgrading and maintaining aging infrastructure in modern cities is a significant challenge. Urban areas face deteriorating roads, bridges, water systems, and public transportation networks, often decades old. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimates the U.S. needs over $4.5 trillion by 2025 to meet infrastructure standards (ASCE, 2021).
Addressing this issue requires substantial financial investment, advanced technologies, and strategic planning. Governments must balance immediate repairs with long-term upgrades, utilizing smart infrastructure and public-private partnerships (World Economic Forum, 2018).
Maintaining infrastructure also involves policy reforms and efficient management practices, such as sustainable materials, resilient designs to withstand climate change, and community engagement. Collaborative efforts among engineers, policymakers, and citizens are essential to ensure robust, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure for future generations (OECD, 2015).
References:
-American Society of Civil Engineers. (2021). 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://infrastructurereportcard.org/
- World Economic Forum. (2018). Strategic Infrastructure Steps to Operate and Maintain Infrastructure Efficiently. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/reports/strategic-infrastructure-steps-to-operate-and-maintain-infrastructure-efficiently
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2015).
RIAN ABDALWAHAB AYASH TP075789
Topic 7:
Addressing Wicked Problems in Modern Cities
Problem Definition
The wicked problem characteristics in city areas are
increasingly complicated and have many dimensions that make it difficult to
identify their solutions. Now according to those surveys and having the
interviews with the users frequent problems are the traffic congestion,
affordable housing deficit, pollution, and messy public transportation.
Neighborhood safety, the physical and mental health of residents, and the
digital divide, which inhibit them from accessing critical services are among
the issues of concern highlighted by the residents.
User Persona
Name: Alex Garcia
Age: 34
Occupation: Software Engineer
Location: Urban center
Background: Alex is an employee of a tech firm, but lives in tenant flat. He is
surrounded by the daily traffic congestion, the growing rental price tag, and
the shortage of recreational space. He is a typical person who treasures
efficiency and resourcefulness only to realize how frustrating it is.
Storyboard
Morning Routine: Alex is a morning person who tends to wake up a bit early but
the traffic is still sufficing and an hourly time for the commute to work is
already long spent. He warns podcasts to make his timefruiful but asamyet
cannot be back.
Workday: At workplace Alex employed hi-tech equipment, but the problem of
intermittent internet connection at home impaired him to perform remote work
times effectively.
Evening: Once mind wounded, Alex starts to search for a new apartment within
his budget and fails to find any option that is either cheaper or close to his
workplace. As a result, he faces an aggravated situation with his travel to and
from work.
Weekend: However, what Alex actually would want is to rest in the park on
weekends and also the most convenient green space is not kept in order and it
results in the spoilage of his hobby.
Solution
A comprehensive solution involves a multi-pronged approach:A comprehensive
solution involves a multi-pronged approach:
Smart Traffic Management: Integrate AI-powered traffic systems that use signals
to better manage the flow and cut down on the traffic. Introduce bikes and ride
sharing through employees' benefits.
Affordable Housing Initiatives: Leverage regional developers’ know-how and
promote green housing schemes targeted close to business centers.
Enhanced Public Transport: Extend and update former public transport systems,
so as to be environmentally friendly, efficient, and reliable to the users.
Digital Infrastructure: Commit investments in strong digital infrastructure, so
that everyone in the community can receive internet connection and stay in
touch with their jobs, online shopping, etc.
Green Spaces: Expand such park facilities within the city and make sure they
are secure, clean and offers a ticket for everyone to access.
If directly going at this interdependent situation with innovative solutions
and making collaboration, cities have a chance for improving the quality of
life for the residents and thus make urban life a more sustainable and
interesting experience.
smartcity.
(2023, March 15). How to Reduce Traffic
Congestion in Cities | Smart City. Smart City.
https://www.smartcity.co.nz/blog/how-to-reduce-traffic-congestion-in-cities/
(smartcity, 2023)
SSUK. (2023,
January 8). 5 Ways Cities Can Improve
Traffic Flow and Reduce Congestion. Street Solutions UK; Street Solutions
UK.
https://streetsolutionsuk.co.uk/blogs/news/5-ways-cities-can-improve-traffic-flow-and-reduce-congestion
Hamza Khaled Mohammed Almakhathi TP077218
The digital divide is a significant
challenge faced by modern cities, referring to the gap between those who have
access to digital technologies and the internet, and those who do not. This gap
exacerbates social inequalities, hindering access to education, employment,
healthcare, and civic engagement. Low-income households, marginalized
communities, and areas with limited infrastructure are disproportionately
affected. Factors such as high costs, lack of affordable devices, and
inadequate digital literacy contribute to this divide. Bridging the digital gap
is essential for promoting equity and inclusion, ensuring all residents can
participate fully in the digital age and access its benefits. (Vassilakopoulou, P. and Hustad, E. (2021))
Solution :
Digital Inclusion Programs: Offer subsidized internet services and
devices to low-income households through partnerships with providers.
Community Technology Centers: Establish hubs with computers,
internet access, and digital literacy training.
Mobile Technology Outreach: Use Wi-Fi-equipped vehicles to bring
internet access and training to underserved areas.
References:
Vassilakopoulou, P. and Hustad, E. (2021) Bridging Digital Divides:
A literature review and research agenda for information systems research -
information systems frontiers, SpringerLink. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10796-020-10096-3
Mohammed ali Aqel TP077943
Metropolises that are the incubators for creativity and advancement have become the breeding grounds for so called ‘wicked problems’–difficult and loaded concepts. These problems are like Hydra: each try to solve them results in several new side issues. Urbanization brings a myriad of challenges: population density overruns housing and other services; air is reduced to filthy miasma; roads, trains, and subways become clogged with commuters; class stratifications become more pronounced; and global warming becomes a distinct real threat(Head, 2022).
Take Aisha, an urban tour, for example; this woman embodies these struggles. Each day is a struggle to reach her destination in time and without traffic. It worries her about health threats her kids are exposed to due to the smog in the air.
A few words about people and their qualities in terms of the novel discussion. It is substantially an unequal rhythm of the city that feels the beat of excess and indifference to the environment(Goldsmith, Stephen, and Kate Markin Coleman. Collaborative Cities: Mapping Solutions to Wicked Problems. Esri Press, 2022).
Innovations need to have the same level of complexity as the problems they try to resolve. If the urbanization is done in the right way it will solve all these issues related to traffic congestions and pollution. Sustainability can altogether rejuvenate a concrete forest as it benefits the well-being of the community. Equality-promoting legislation can overcome all the gaps and holes of inequality, and the new technologies can drive us to sustainability by shifting to communications that are not based on the use of fuel. Adapting a nation to climate change can therefore be seen as a no brainer or unavoidable process of survival45(Wicked Problems of Smart Cities, 2019).
This may indicate that there is no one single way to solve wicked problems through creating a symphony of efforts—government, businesses, citizens acting in unison. This then leads to a city that is sustainable in nature where the citizens would be benefited with a life that would be equal to the level of production in the city. It is a dreary journey towards progress but the driving end is an equitable urban future with sustainable and equitable development.
References :
Head, B. W. (2022). The Rise of “Wicked Problems”—Uncertainty, Complexity and Divergence. Springer EBooks, 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94580-0_2
Collaborative Cities: Mapping Solutions to Wicked Problems. (2022). Harvard.edu. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/publications/collaborative-cities-mapping-solutions-wicked-problems
Wicked problems of smart cities. (2019, November 21). Stockholmresilience.org. https://www.stockholmresilience.org/publications/publications/2019-11-21-wicked-problems-of-smart-cities.htm
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