AR-309: ARCHITECTURE AND TOWN PLANNING (A&TP-B)
By:
RAVINDAR KUMAR
Assistant Professor
Department of Architecture and Planning
NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi
LECTURE NO: 12
TOPIC: URBAN ECOLOGY
INTRODUCTION:
The theme of current lecture is urban ecology. The phrase urban ecology is composed of two entirely different terms i.e. urban and ecology. The one way to understand this theme is to look at both the terms individually and then try to establish a relationship between them. Whereas; the other way to comprehend this phrase is to define it with an earlier established definition and identify its application in town planning. In the following a detailed description of this theme is given.
The theme of current lecture is urban ecology. The phrase urban ecology is composed of two entirely different terms i.e. urban and ecology. The one way to understand this theme is to look at both the terms individually and then try to establish a relationship between them. Whereas; the other way to comprehend this phrase is to define it with an earlier established definition and identify its application in town planning. In the following a detailed description of this theme is given.
WHAT IS URBAN?
The term urban means town or a city; whereas; “A city is an agglomerate social organism containing a population of at least 20,000 (UN definition), in a relative density that packages a critical population mass necessary for spawning a variety of value systems, lifestyles, and power constellations. Cities are particularly receptive to, and instrumental in, creating innovation and change. With this capacity for change is introduced various kinds of dysfunctional effects, including cultural, sociological, economic, psychological, and spiritual.”[1]
The term urban means town or a city; whereas; “A city is an agglomerate social organism containing a population of at least 20,000 (UN definition), in a relative density that packages a critical population mass necessary for spawning a variety of value systems, lifestyles, and power constellations. Cities are particularly receptive to, and instrumental in, creating innovation and change. With this capacity for change is introduced various kinds of dysfunctional effects, including cultural, sociological, economic, psychological, and spiritual.”[1]
WHAT IS ECOLOGY?
The term ecology means balance in nature; it is the study of ecosystems. Ecology is derived from the GREEK word "eko" used for household and understanding “logos” meaning an understanding of the "household of life."[2]
The term ecology means balance in nature; it is the study of ecosystems. Ecology is derived from the GREEK word "eko" used for household and understanding “logos” meaning an understanding of the "household of life."[2]
Ecology is a synthetic & systemic study of an organism or a species and its surroundings: the basic unit of study is an ecological system or the interdependent populations in any place as they impact the ecosystems which they occupy, use, or visit.[3]
In both history & natural history, ecology is the study of how organisms depend on one another and their surroundings.[4]
URBAN + ECOLOGY:
If the terms urban and ecology combined together it would mean a town or city where living organisms, species of flora and fauna, communities of human beings, and survive together with interdependency and individualism within their surroundings. In other words the urban context where all kinds of people, plants, birds, and beasts exist together must live in harmony because they are interdependent and their survival with one another in cohesiveness can be termed as urban ecology.
If the terms urban and ecology combined together it would mean a town or city where living organisms, species of flora and fauna, communities of human beings, and survive together with interdependency and individualism within their surroundings. In other words the urban context where all kinds of people, plants, birds, and beasts exist together must live in harmony because they are interdependent and their survival with one another in cohesiveness can be termed as urban ecology.
WHAT IS URBAN ECOLOGY?
‘Urban Ecology’ is the study of the relationships between organisms, including humans, and the particular opportunities for, and challenges to, their survival presented by cities.[5]
‘Urban Ecology’ is the study of the relationships between organisms, including humans, and the particular opportunities for, and challenges to, their survival presented by cities.[5]
‘Urban Ecology’ is the study of biodiversity in areas that are densely populated by humans.[6]
‘Urban Ecology’ is the subfield of ecology which deals with the interaction of plants, animals and humans with each other and with their environment in urban or urbanizing settings.[7]
SIGNIFICANCE OF URBAN ECOLOGY:[8]
Analysis of urban settings in the context of ecosystem ecology (looking at the cycling of matter and the flow of energy through the ecosystem) hopes to result in healthier, better managed communities. Studying the factors which allow wild plants and animals to survive (and sometimes thrive) in built environments can also create more livable spaces.
Analysis of urban settings in the context of ecosystem ecology (looking at the cycling of matter and the flow of energy through the ecosystem) hopes to result in healthier, better managed communities. Studying the factors which allow wild plants and animals to survive (and sometimes thrive) in built environments can also create more livable spaces.
Urban ecology also involves the study of the effects of urban development patterns on ecological conditions. Emphasis is also placed on planning communities with environmentally sustainable methods via design and building materials in order to promote a healthy and biodiverse urban ecosystem. Interactions between non-living factors, such as sunlight or water, and biological factors, such as plants and microbes, take place in all environments, including cities. By concentrating humans and the resources they consume, metropolitan areas alter soil drainage, water flow, and light availability.
Urban ecologists think of how architecture, such as sidewalks and rooftops, impacts the way rainwater is received and transported and the way garbage dumps and sewage plants centralize waste products. Some species of animals have been able to survive or thrive in a non-natural urban setting. These include rats, Feral Pigeons, and cockroaches.
INSTITUTIONS FOR URBAN ECOLOGY:
The afforementioned description clearly spell out what urban ecology means and how it is related to urban context? There are various institutions related to urban ecology that is working at their local context across the globe. These institutions had developed their own urban models and projects to deal with their urban ecology. Furthermore; they also developed different methodologies of work and instruments to deal with growing problems in their urban ecology. As in our local context of Karachi we (Third Year Civil Engineering Students) have started an attempt for making our city a sustainable one through research; similarly internationally there are various institutions who have initiated their own local attempts for an urban ecology.
The afforementioned description clearly spell out what urban ecology means and how it is related to urban context? There are various institutions related to urban ecology that is working at their local context across the globe. These institutions had developed their own urban models and projects to deal with their urban ecology. Furthermore; they also developed different methodologies of work and instruments to deal with growing problems in their urban ecology. As in our local context of Karachi we (Third Year Civil Engineering Students) have started an attempt for making our city a sustainable one through research; similarly internationally there are various institutions who have initiated their own local attempts for an urban ecology.
Few of them included here for the reference of students to surf these websites and learn:
- ARCUE Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology
REFERENCES:
[1]
http://www.missionstrategy.org/missionstrategy/Ministries/UrbanNazarene/UrbanCourse/Session1b/Definitions/tabid/264/Default.aspx
[2] http://web.rollins.edu/~jsiry/ADVANCED%20VOCABULARY.htm
[3] http://web.rollins.edu/~jsiry/Ecology.html
[4] http://web.rollins.edu/~jsiry/Ecology.html#ecology
[5] http://www.solutions-site.org/reference/glossary.htm
[6] http://quizlet.com/print/193792/
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_ecology
[8] Ibid
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Urban Ecology is often a term used for community gatherings or permaculture, but these definitions listed of Urban Ecology are more accurate. I like to think of urban ecosystems as those with constant disturbance regimes and make the norms we learn as ecologists harder to predict.
ReplyDeleteAnother place to check out for great work is Arizona State University's Urban Ecology department
http://sustainability.asu.edu/igert/
Thanks for the information and your valuable comments Jennifer.
ReplyDeletethank fo posting for any help click here
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