ASIA PACIFIC WEEKS BERLINSmart Solutions for Urban Challenges

Smart Cities in IndiaIdeas and Reality

Prof. Kerstin Frick

Berlin 22.05.2015

Facts:India has a population of 1.2 billion people• It is expected that by 2050 half of India’s

population will be living in urban areas.• There is an estimated deficit of about 25.78

million housing units in rural as well as urbanareas.

• More than 95% of the same pertain toeconomically weaker sections and lowincome groups of the society.

The Government under PM Narendra Modiannounced:

• housing for all by 2022• development of 100 Smart and Safe Cities• The creation of twin and satellite sustainable

inclusive cities

• with quality infrastructure that covers publictransport, drainage sanitation, energy watermanagement, water recycling and extensionof metro services to important major urbancenters

Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India 2

In the discussion of Smart Cities, a number of factors are yet to be clarified:• The aspect of Sustainability• Affordability, smart cities for whom? (Slide 1), a typical slum situations in Urban

Centres, an aspect that unfortunately is not part of the main agenda, even though thenumbers and such a need for liveable solutions is raising

• Smart City reduced to handy/smart? operated buildings or transportation systems?• Another major factors with regard to urban development/ smart cities, is the fact that

the regional context and its expression in architecture looses more and moreimportance.Slides 4 left, shows Dholera, the Design Proposal/Vision of a Smart City forSouthern Gujarat, with a main focus on roads and futuristic architecture.Slide 4 right a Middle Class Apartment Complex in Chennai, South India.Both of them could be found anywhere in the Eastern or even Arabian/ EuropeanWorld. A connection to Region, Culture or Climate condition is not longerrecognizable.

• What is happening to the urban centres after Smart City are completed? Conversioninto mega slums?

The emphasis in this presentation is given on the reality and in the context ofsustainable development.

Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India 3

Vision of Smart City in Dholera, SouthernGujarat

Typical middle income group apartmentcomplex in Chennai, South India

Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India 4

Urban Growth Mapping current pattern of growth in Indian cities

Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India

Within the cityA high density, mixed use, with selfsufficient urban centers is predominantSocial and economic factors createcity expansion and fringe urbanization(slide 6)

Growth outside citiesConsists of largely disconnected gateddevelopments (slide 7), facilitated throughunclear development plans/rules insuburban areas and insufficient monitoringof building regulationsThe result is a disintegration of the urban/suburban fabric and absence of sense ofplace/belonging, up to partitioning ofvillages through concrete barriers (slide 7).

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Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India 6

partitioning of villages through concretebarriers and unregulated constructionactivities at the peripheries, destroyingexisting communities

disconnected gated developments

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Creation of Urban NodesThe development of nodes within growthcorridors could bring focus and identity tothese areas.They could act as sub-centers of the maincity

Urban Nodes as sub centers ofthe main cityThese urban nodes (mixed use neighborhoodswith high density) create a distinct urbancharacter. A cluster developments aroundthem could create a sense of place/belonging,enhanced through frequent/well connectingpublic transportation systems.

Growth Mapping desired growth for Indian Cities

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Sustainable Planning Principles are alsoapplicable for Smart City Developments

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Global & Sustainable Planning PrinciplesMixed-Use & Diversityo A mix of uses including commercial use,

shops, offices, apartments and homeso Diversity of people: people of all ages,

income levels, cultures, religionNeighbourhood Structureso Creating a focus for the developmento Need of Public spaces and infrastructure

facilities and importance to quality ofpublic recreation.

o The range of uses should be within 10-minute walk, creating a sense of place,aesthetics and human comfort

Connectivityo An interconnected street grid network

with hierarchy of street, should dispersestraffic & enables ease walking

o High quality pedestrian network andpublic realms makes walking pleasurableand decrease use of motorised vehicles

Food production:o Roof top and vertical farming for food

production in urban canters should beencouraged , upkeep of agricultural areasin the neighbourhood.

Increased Densityo Designing buildings, residences, shops, and

services closer together , enables a moreefficient use of services and resources.

Smart Transportationo A network of high-quality transport facilities

connecting cities, towns andneighbourhoods

o Pedestrian-friendly streetscapes thatencourage a greater use of bicycles, scootersand walking as daily transportation

Sustainabilityo Minimal environmental impact of

development and its operationso Use of eco-friendly technologies, respect for

ecology and value of natural systemso Energy efficiencyo Less use of finite fuelso More local food productiono More walking, less driving

Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India 10

Transportation

Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India 11

Transportation is a another major factor to be considered infurther urban development.The present prevailing tendency to plan and provideInfrastructure for an automobile centred development has tochange, as city spaces are not longer available to pedestriansor cyclists.The existing road network in most cases is to limited forwidening.Flyover and overhead solutions within the city are anotherfactor for disintegration.The left upper slide shows Chennai traffic on a good day.The left lower Bogota in its past days of high pollution levels.Below Bogota after the introduction of its Bus rapid TransportSystem.

Prevailing present conditions, deprive thepedestrian the right to use adequate walkingspaces. As a result a maximum of motorizationis preferred as leads walking to uninvitingexperiences.

A number of alternatives from :• MRTS systems,• vehicle on demand,• e or gas cars• provision of free cycles,• smart systems showing vacant parking

places, etc. have been developed.• It will have to be decided in a common

process with all stakeholders whichsystem will be the preferable for thecommunity involved.

Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India 12

Construction & EnergyThe carbon/ energy consumption of a materialis measured in embodied energy:The embodied energy (carbon) of a buildingmaterial can be taken as the total primaryenergy consumed (carbon released over its lifecycle).This would normally include (at least)extraction, manufacturing and transportation.Ideally the boundaries would be set from theextraction of raw materials (including fuels)until the end of the products lifetime(including energy from manufacturing,transport, energy to manufacture capitalequipment, heating and lighting of factory,maintenance, disposal etc.), known as ‘Cradle-to-Grave’.It has become common practice to specify theembodied energy as ‘Cradle-to-Gate’, whichincludes all energy (in primary form) until theproduct leaves the factory gate. The finalboundary condition is ‘Cradle –to-Site’, whichincludes all of the energy consumed until theproduct has reached the point of use (ie thebuilding site).

Public awareness of environmental issues suchas global warming and ozone depletion haveincreased the need for sustainability over thelast few years.For example: The energy used to servicebuildings constitutes approx. 50% of allprimary energy used in the U.K.It has been estimated that in the U.K. theenergy to manufacture and transport buildingmaterials accounts for an additional 8 % ofprimary energy per year,In addition the materials from which a buildingis constructed make a significant contributionto its overall impact on the environment.Environmental concern related to building as atopic is rising. At the same time the scope ofenvironmental issues is widening from a singleissue discussion into a full integration of allaspects during the whole lifetime of a buildingand its components.One main cause why the environment isthreatened is the huge mass involved.For instance in UK:Over 50% of material resources taken fromnature are building related.Over 50% of national waste production comesfrom the building sector. Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India 13

Embodied Energy/Carbon Footprint

The systems of cradle to gate adcradle to grave

Sustainable and sustainable, right below,apartment building with stabilized compressedmud blocks,Left below LEED certified HDSC bank building

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Energy consumption and Green Building codes

Comparison on energy needed formanufacturing and kg CO2 produced

1.2m x 1.2mdouble glazed,air or argon filledwindow

MJ perwindow kg CO2

Aluminum frame 5470 279PVC frame 2150 - 2470 110 - 126Aluminum cladtimber frame 950 - 1460 48 - 75

Timber frame 230 - 490 12 - 25Krypton filled add: 510 26Xeon filled add: 4500 229

http://www.greenspec.co.uk

Green building codes and standards, are setsof rules created by standard developmentorganizations that establish minimumrequirements for elements of green buildingsuch as materials or heating and coolingsystems.Some of the major building environmentalassessment tools currently in use include f.e.:• India: Indian Green Building Council

(IGBC)/ GBCI India (Green BuildingConstruction India)/ GRIHA(Green BuildingRating System India)

• United States/India: LEED (Leadership inEngineering &Environmental Design)/Living Building Challenge / Green Globes /Build it Green / NAHB NGBS /International Green Construction Code(IGCC) / ENERGY STAR

• United Kingdom: BREEAM

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Solid and Water Waste Management

Prevailing: manual waste collection,deposited as land filling in outskirts ofcities, or in former water catchmentareas

Untreated waste water even in citycentres is led into close open waterbodies

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How to proceed

Construction:o Application of sustainable design

principlesWater:o Decentralized water supply through

rainwater harvesting /collection (can beused for domestic purposes),

o re-vitalization of traditional watercatchment systems

o Decentralized waste water managementsystems such as DEWATS, Root Zonetreatment etc., grey water can be recycledfor flushing of toilet or gardening

o Use of low flow fittingsWaste:o Reduce , reuse, recycleo 0 waste approach by complete recycling

of waste generated, Segregation of wasteat source or factory

Energy:o Passive solar design, orientation, cross

ventilationo Re adopting to climate conditions, less use

of air conditioner, higher concentration onnatural light and ventilation

o Use of solar panelso Solar water heatero Wind chimneyso Wind power,o Hydro power (small scale)o Gas from biomasso LED light etc.o General reduction of energy through self

disciplineTransport:o Use of alternative systems, emphasis on

proximity of work, social and housinginfrastructure

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Learning from past experience Supporting measurements forthe government:

After a long time of assuming that what comesfrom the West is better or should be copied,the recent tendency is to emphasize on selfreflection.However, different societies faced similarchallenges in the past, f.e. pre and post worldwar Europe, industrial revolution.Successful approaches should be analyzedand adopted to Indian conditions, from prewar public Transport System in Berlin, theMRTS systems in Bogota the model oftransport as per need.From no waste management to Zero WasteManagement Systems, f. e. decentralizedwater and waste water management systemsetc.Special consideration should be given to mixedsocial housing solution, retaining localcharacteristics and giving identity to theneighborhoodThe key to success seems to be priorInstallation of infrastructure and alternativetransport solutions.

o Expert should advise or rather be part oflocal and central administration on apermanent base

o All stake holders (scientist of variousfields, planners government officialsand citizen have to be included in thedecision making process)

o Rules and regulations have to bechanged to accommodate newdevelopments resulting from researchactivities.

o Need of the hour is a change in policies,their implementation and monitoringsystem.

o The government should be playing anactive role, not shedding itsresponsibilities to the private sector.

o Master Plans have to play a higher roleby defining development.They should be a policy tool not fallprey to certain interests or uncontrolleddevelopment

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Practical approacho Certain measures as rainwater harvesting decentralized water & waste Management etc.

should be come mandatoryo Incentives to be given for implementation of sustainable measures on Individual levelo A change in the current prevailing habit of waiting for somebody to find a solution.o Professionals and citizen have to rediscover ethics

It is time to demand quality and stop excusing short comings

FinallyThe Goals can not be seen in isolation

A holistic, inclusive, interdisciplinary approach is required to find solutions

Thank You

Prof. Kerstin Frick , Hindustan University, Chennai, India, e mail: m.archden@hindustanuniv.ac.in 19