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Urban Infrastructure and Services Practices
Communication and Media
Community Information Resource Centre (CIRC), Alexandra, South Africa
CIRC provides access to information at the grassroots level through the establishment of a system for communicating and sharing information among and between communities. Alexandra is a low-income community with basic survival concerns and limited access to information about the community itself, other communities and information held in government. Within the framework of the Freedom for Information Act, the CIRC organised a database of community information based on household surveys, community surveys with community leaders and local government. Residents can also find information on entitlements, Government support programmes and employment opportunities without the time and expense of a trip into the city centre.
Telecenters: Changing the Way People Work, Chula Vista, USA
Chula Vista, with a population of 150,000 is the second largest city in San Diego County, USA. It is currently grappling with serious traffic, air quality and environmental concerns. Chula Vista has introduced the concept of "Tele-Commuting" to make use of the "information superhighway" to alleviate the negative effects of the "concrete superhighway." Instead of commuting to work, residents can drop in to their "Neighbourhood Telecenter" where they can use computers, modems, telephones and other office support services to complete normal work activities. Telecentres reduce automobile trips, traffic congestion, energy consumption and air pollution, promote a better quality of life by providing a workplace closer to home and can improve worker productivity.
A Nation-wide Geographic Information System to Improve Planning in Qatar
Qatar, a country of 522,000 people located on the west coast of the Arabian Gulf, is the first country to implement a comprehensive and integrated nation-wide geographic information system. With the discovery of oil three decades ago, government agencies were unable to keep up-to-date records of the rapid and large-scale development that followed. The lack of information together with inadequate inter-agency co-ordination led to inefficient management of resources. Today, Qatar's state of the art Digital Topographic Database provides a common base map for 16 Government agencies through a high speed, fiber optic network. The Government saves money in delivering services like sewerage, electricity and water through linked, up-to-date databases. Digital maps and locators allow fire trucks and ambulances to rapidly respond to emergencies. Using GIS tools, consistency and uniformity in policies, standards and regulations for the whole of Qatar has been achieved.
Infrastructure Provision
Core Area Upgrading in Kathmandu - Nepal
As is typical of so many metropolitan cities in the developing world, Kathmandu has numerous challenges and a constraint in resources. Kathmandu Metropolitan City's (core area) upgrading initiative aims to upgrade the core area by improving roads and pavements, street lighting, solid waste management, traffic management and surface drainage. Transportation has improved due to roads and access paths' improvement works; improvement in traffic management and streetlights. The Naya Bazar Land Pooling Scheme has enabled easier development planning of the core area with storm water drainage installation. Public education campaign and procurement of equipment for waste management has greatly improved the environmental aspects of the core area.
Contact person: Keshav
Sthapit
E-mail:
kmcadv@moscom.np
Fax: 977-1-272110
Baghdad Neighbourhood Rehabilitation programme, Iraq
Baghdad Neighbourhood Rehabilitation programme is a community based initiative with the support of international and national NGOs. The programme was established to counter problems such as poor communication networks, poor sewage disposal, inadequate water supply (for both potable water and for irrigation), poor or non-existent garbage collection, lack of green areas and lack of playgrounds for children. In addition schools and buildings were in a deplorable state stemming from the aftermath of the gulf war and effects of the sanctions imposed on the country. Through a participatory process involving the municipality water supply, sewage network, roads, public buildings and utilities have been repaired and restored. Household waste management has been improved and the Al-Shu'lla region of the town is now green through drilling an artesian well to irrigate green areas which were once dumping grounds for solid waste.
Contact person: Ms. Suhair
Al-Sinawi
Fax:
1-212-9633081/9633009
Luanda-Sul Self-financed Urban Infrastructure Program, Angola
Luanda Sul is a trend-setting model for innovative practice. It is based on a self-sustaining urban infrastructure program aimed to valorize public assets through careful land-use management and planning. In close partnership with Government agencies, the private sector and community-based organisations, the population living in temporary settlements and the people displaced by the war are being resettled. The program was initiated in 1995-1996 through a self-financing process and included the construction of 70km of pipes providing drinking water, 23km of drainage, 12 km of power lines, 2,210 houses and adequate shelter for 16,702 people.
The program operates from an Achievement and Management Fund. The resources are mobilised through; (i) the sale of concessions (or land tenure rights) derived from the allocation of public land for private development; (ii) taxes and tariffs perceived on the exchange of goods and services; and (iii) investments made by the private sector. The Government, by issuing guarantees for private investments, provided the basis for the self-financing of the programme. The process involved the identification of suitable land for urban development, the acquisition of the land from landowners by the state, the legislation of the status of the land according to a land-use plan and the mobilisation of capital investment of the private sector. The program involved an initial investment of US$30 million and a subsequent investment of US$14 million. The infrastructure development includes community facilities, schools, commercial establishments, an industrial estate and a hospital. Following the success of the project, there are plans to replicate the program in Benguela Province.
Contact: Mr. Cláudio Melo
Filho
Tel: 2442 398-001 and
399-392/394
Fax: 2442 503-561
Email: cmelof@ao.odebrecht.com
Transportation and Mobility
Evolving a World Class Land Transport System in Singapore
Singapore has a population of 4,017,733 persons and covers a total area 402 sq. km. In Singapore, as with many large Asian cities, transportation issues are a major concern among ordinary citizens and policy-makers alike. Road congestion is the most common problem. The Singapore initiative in urban land transport development and management seeks to solve worsening traffic congestion and its associated problems by building a world class land transport system. The vision, implemented by the central government, is a land transport system that meets the needs and demands of a dynamic and growing city.
First mooted in 1995, the proposal of a world class land transport system consolidates more than two decades' of ongoing work on managing traffic congestion and road space. The initiative is premised on four key principles of: (i) integrating transport and land use planning; (ii) expanding the road network and maximising its capacity; (iii) managing demand of road usage; and (iv) providing quality public transport choices. The Singapore initiative has resulted in relatively congestion-free roads (3281 km of roads taking up some 11% of the country's land) in the city-state. The average peak-hour travelling speed within its city centre is about 30 kilometres an hour which compares favourably with peak-hour speeds of 10 to 12 kilometres per hour in London, New York, Manila, Calcutta and Lagos. In addition, it was the first attempt to use road pricing to limit the growth of urban traffic. From April 1998, Singapore replaced its system of central area-access charges based on paper licenses (first introduced in 1975) by electronic tolls that vary according to time of day.
Singapore's integrated approach in tackling traffic congestion is premised not only on the traditional means of increasing transport capacity through road building programme but also on innovative measures to manage demand for road space by encouraging more efficient use of existing transport facilities especially within the usually congested city area. This it does by planning and developing an alternative urban structure where economic activities become dispersed and there is better physical integration between employment, amenities and housing, implementing car ownership and usage restraints and promoting a public transport system as a viable alternative to the private car. Many of Singapore's transport policies are universally applicable especially use of area licensing scheme, control of car population through various fiscal measures, promotion and establishment of a more efficient public transportation system, highly integrated land use and transportation planning.
The area-licensing scheme has been the subject of several World Bank studies. More recently, Malaysia has announced its intention to implement an area road-pricing scheme modelled after the Singapore area-licensing scheme to ease traffic congestion in its capital city, Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: Prof. Lim Lan Yuan
& Dr. Belinda Yuen
Tel: 65-874
3413
Fax: 65-775 5502
email: headbem@nus.edu.sg
Kunming Modern Demonstration Busline, China
Kunming, the capital and only large city in Yunnan Province, is approximately at the same location as northern Mexico, only on the other side of the world covering a total area of 6200 sq. km. The "Kunming Modern Demonstration Busline" is anchored in the city partnership between Kunming and Zurich and is an offspring of the Kunming Urban Development and Public Transportation Master Plan. The initiative originated in 1997 - a period when Kunming with a metropolitan population of 3.4 million was experiencing deteriorating traffic conditions. The streets were congested most of the time with average travel speed being about 10km/h.
In 1996, the Kunming Urban Development and Public Transportation Master Plan was developed by the cooperation of Kunming City and its sister city Zurich City, Switzerland. The urban transportation policies giving priorities to public transportation were defined, and the development plan of a modern public transportation system consisting of buses and suburban express trains was formulated. An arterial bus line was chosen as a demonstration project to incarnate modern transportation ideas and to study how big cities in China to carry out the modernisation improvement of public bus systems. In April 1999, through the common efforts of social and governmental organizations, the demonstration busline became operational.
The service level of public transportation has been remarkably improved. Travel speed of has increased by 68% while passenger flow volume and capacity of public transport system have increased by 13% and 46% respectively. Air quality has improved while the traffic volume in equivalent car units has decreased by 19%. The efficient public transport system has been benefiting a large number of citizens and attracting more passengers. Former urban transportation policies have changed with priorities being accorded to public transport system with future plans for a bus-only lane network to be constructed in the central area of Kunming City. Kunmings experience of has been widely disseminated through local seminars.
Contact: Lin Wei, Yang Xia
Tel: 86-871-3171174
Fax: 86-871-3177118
E-mail: kupdi@km.col.com.cn
Energy use, conservation and production
Utilisation of biogas from household waste - Czech Republic
Kromeríz lies at the southern edge of the Haná, Czech Republic and has a population of about 30,000 people. Utilisation of biogas from household waste, which began in 1993, is based on an exhausted and disused clay pit that was an environmental hazard. The Kromeriz Town Hall administrative officials had turned the pit into a dumpsite for household waste. The layer of the deposited material reached up to 12m. Total volume of the deposited waste amounted to 180,000 m3. The deposited subsoil consisted of clay, with substantial layers of eroded sandstone and sand-clay. As a consequence, the eco-system of a nearby pond was destroyed. Leach from the deposit polluted the subsoil water and the deposit's biogas escaped to the ambient environment.
The new administrative officials at the Kromeriz Town Hall focused on bringing to an end the uncontrolled waste dump and pollution of both subsoil and surface water. The decision making process involved Council officials and Local Council members, of the town of Kromeriz. Through the initiative, the pond was cleaned and the eco-system balance restored. Biogas was tapped and re-vegetation of the entire area to provide a green park for the inhabitants of the nearby housing estate was done together with providing a cheap source of household heating energy. The pumping operation under the biogas utilisation conditions facilitates heating of hot water for 200 households during winter. Since the beginning of the project, 337,177 m3 of biogas has been tapped and pumped from the deposit. The lesson learnt from this project is that there is potential to generate biogas from household waste when proper technology is employed. The biogas utilisation project is being replicated in other towns of the Czech Republic.
Contact person: Olga
Sehnalova
Telephone: 00420 0634
321154
Fax: 00420 0634 331481
Email: MeU.KM@brn.pvtnet.cz
Traditional Energy and Environment Conservation, Tanzania
Tanzania Traditional Energy and Environmental Organization (TaTEDO) is a coalition of volunteer individuals, artisans, small holder farmers, community-based organizations (CBOs) and micro enterprises involved in the development and promotion of renewable energy systems for enhancing sustainable environment and socio-economic development of communities. Approximately 30 artisan groups use scrap metal to manufacture improved stoves for woodfuel conservation. The income generated contributes to poverty eradication. Agro-forestry initiatives encourage people to plant tree species with multiple end-use and shorter rotations. The development of tree nurseries completes the production-consumption cycle.
Contact person: Mr. Estomih
N. Sawe
Fax: 255 51 74400
E-mail: tatedo@raha.com
Vienna Energy "WIEN ENERGIE", Austria
The "WIEN ENERGIE" (Vienna Energy) centre is a joint initiative launched by "WIENSTROM" (Vienna Electric Company), "WIENGAS" (Vienna Gas Company) and "FERNWAERME WIEN" (Viennas Alternative Source of Energy mainly from Incinerators) for the purpose of providing competent assistance in energy matters addressing customer needs and the services required, e.g. hot water, light or heat. Energy counselling is free of charge and constitutes an essential element in the overall trend towards source minded, cost efficient and environmental friendly energy supply. Assistance is particularly youth oriented, its aim is to make young people aware of how to use valuable energy sensibly.
The information centre is designed as a youth centre and has been equipped with state-of-the-art technology, offering free Internet access, an adventure slide, as well as interactive play stations for a real "energy experience". An "energy bike" has been installed to demonstrate how much it takes to generate one's own energy. All exhibits are fully operational to attract visitors' attention, e.g. to conservatory layouts and how they incorporate seasonal fluctuations, to show the effects of different types of insulation material and windows, of glass flues in heating systems, solar systems, windmills, etc. The entire concept concentrates on introducing important issues through playful interaction. Customers can go online to access information on alternative forms of energy production and thus have first hand experience of these types of energy and their performance under varying weather conditions.
What makes this concept so successful is the fact that customers receive competent, independent and comprehensive counselling (on all sources of energy) and are not pressurised into buying any appliances or tools. Regular training and information classes on all aspects of life are held to increase the circle of customers, courses on feng shui, kinesiology, solar energy systems, etc. These are complemented by exhibitions on child protection, Tibet, hot water, and many more, which usually run for several weeks at a time. The WIEN ENERGIE centre has become an essential element in Vienna's holiday programme for children and young adults. 60,000 visitors per year speak of the quality of our services and the choice of location in one of the city's busiest shopping streets.
Eng. Andreas Paul
Mariannengasse
Tel:
+43/1/4004/34100
Fax:
+43/1/4004/34199
Email:
andreas.paul@wienstrom.co.at
Water Conservation in Fukuoka, Japan
In 1979, the Fukuoka City established an overall plan for comprehensive and systematic water conservation and usage. While making continuous effort to achieve a stable level of supply, the plan also emphasised the need to raise water conservation consciousness among the city residents. Minimizing leakage is one way of using water effectively, and at under 5%, Fukuoka has the lowest water leakage rate in Japan. Also, water saving apparatus are widely used. About 94% of users have water flow reducing devices installed in their faucets. Reclaimed wastewater, a stable supply source, is used for flushing toilets. The Wide-Area Circulation System using treated water has established itself as a "Reclaimed Water Use Project". The amount of water conserved by the Water System for Miscellaneous Use, including contributions from the Individual Circulation Systems, totals 7,000m3 a day. Currently, per-capita water consumption per day in Fukuoka City is about 20% less water than other comparably sized cities.
Iperbole/Internet Metropolitan Civic Network - Italy
Bologna has a population of 900,000 and is the Italy's administrative capital and the most important node of communication in Italy. "Realising digital democracy, telematic participation and citizenship" and building an on line interactive community is the key idea of Iperbole, an Internet-based citizens free-of-charge metropolitan civic network that was set up in 1995 by the city of Bologna. The Municipality of Bologna has traditionally devoted strong efforts to improve relationships and communications in order to increase the quality of citizens' participation in Local Authority's activities. The Municipality offers e-mail service, news, direct access to the municipal web-site (http://www.comune.bologna.it/ connected to other local, national and European servers), free full-Internet connections and to its free resources to all citizens requesting it free of charge. The Internet is a useful tool for job seekers who receive advice from professionals through an interactive session. The project, due to the large number of persons connected (about 10 % of the whole population with a growing rate of 20 new users every day) is becoming a very efficient way for the families, enterprises, public and private bodies, to retrieve information and services, at home or the workplace.
The Iperbole/Internet service is based on the principles of the employment of telematics and new technologies for administrative innovation and partnership with the "organised civil society"; the right to information; and involving the virtual community as a partner of the urban administration in enabling decision-making processes between urban actors. Citizens can take part in the public life of the city via the web-site of the city administration and by participating in on-line discussions with 35 local newsgroups. The new technology helps to establish reciprocal communications between the administration and the society. In April 1998 Iperbole counted 13500 citizens using the free Internet access, 600 organisations, 70 schools and hundreds of administrative offices were on line.
Contact Person: Leda Guidi
Tel: 39-51-203210
Fax: 39-51-223142
Email: com@comune.bologna.it
Sanitation
SAPMA Housing and Environmental Project - Grenada
SAPMA Housing and Environmental Project is located to the North East of St. Andrew's in the rural communities of Pearls, Moyah, Conference, Tivoli and La Potrie. It began in 1991 after a poverty survey was carried out by Caribbean Conference of Churches. The communities identified were very poor and under developed, the housing units were very small and prone to natural disasters. There were very few families who could afford safe drinking water and the sanitation condition was deplorable because most people used nearby streams, rivers and bushes to dispose of their waste which was a health hazard to the many young children and the elder persons in the communities. The objectives of the practice were to improve the housing conditions through access to affordable houses and to improve existing poor and small structures by rehabilitating them.
The initiative has managed to upgrade the poor sanitation condition and this has reduced the risk of outbreak of diseases among young children and elderly in the communities. The housing and environmental conditions have improved by approximately 40 and 45% respectively. Since the initiation of the practice 40% of the target group received housing materials for construction purposes and 50% received assistance with pit latrines and house construction. Also many families now enjoy piped water. Generally housing provision has improved in the area and there has been an improvement in the sanitation while the local business earned money from the purchase of materials. Most of those involved in the rehabilitation and construction of the houses gained relevant skills in addition to the employment opportunities presented by the initiative.
Rehabilitation of Urban Areas - Guarapiranga Project - Brazil
The Guarapiranga Water basin is located in the northern part of Sao Paulo region of Brazil and extends into Embu-Guaco and Itapecerica Da Serra municipalities. The Environmental Sanitation Program of the Guarapiranga Water basin started in 1993, aiming to guarantee the water quality of the Guarapiranga Reservoir, through corrective actions including basic sanitation infrastructure and capacity building for fresh water management. The implementation was based on the concerted efforts of state and local authorities with financial support from the World Bank.
The Guarapiranga Reservoir presently supplies near to 25 percent of the drinking water to the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA). The urban informal settlements (more then 190 different slums) had progressively expanded into the lower part of the basin, near the reservoir. The rehabilitation and expansion of the Guarapiranga area entailed relocation and resettling of the slum dwellers. The works included new streets, paving, drainage, channelling of streams and waste collection. The population participated in the process of architectural design and civil works by offering suggestions on the most suitable design solutions.
The implementing authorities also developed a proposal for the Guarapiranga Water-basin Management agency which involved an environmental master plan for the water basin integrating sectoral plans for land use, sewerage, solid waste and water quality.
As a result of the programme the following has been achieved:
- Construction of basic infrastructure for 190 slums, home to 20,000 families (or 100,000 inhabitants);
- 264 kms of sewer network to serve 80% of the 580,000 inhabitants of the Guarapiranga Water-basin;
- Drainage construction and restoration of 13 sq. km. of urban areas which had deteriorated due to insufficient drainage
- Land-use planning and the resettlement of 4,000 families living in high-risk sites with construction of houses averaging 42 m2.
Contact person: Sao Paulo
Fax: 606-6311