Module Code and Title: ENM305 Urban
Environmental Management
Programme(s): BSc Environmental
Management
Credit Value: 12
Module Tutor(s): Leishipem
Khamrang (Coordinator)
Radhika
Chhetri
Nima Wangmo
Jesse Montes
General objective(s) of the module:
Urban environments and ecosystems encompass all of
the elements of rural areas, but include large human populations and their
associated built environments. This module integrates classical ecology with
fundamental concepts from other fields, including engineering, architecture,
anthropology, economics, and law, to address the unique ecosystems that are
urban environments. Students will learn about the complexity of issues that
affect daily quality of life as well as the long-term health of the
environment. Students will gain an appreciation for professional careers in
environmental and sustainability planning, urban planning, public policy, and
community development.
Learning outcomes – Upon successful completion of the
module, students will be able to:
·
Define
urbanization and posit why cities grow.
·
Describe
and interpret the merits of urban development.
·
Investigate
the attitude differences of people (societal behaviour) living in towns and
rural areas, and postulate the underlying reasons for such differences.
·
Explain
the environmental impacts of urban sprawl in regions worldwide and in Bhutan.
·
Analyse
the importance of smart growth of cities/town for making cities liveable.
·
Discuss
how urbanization may pose greater risks from extreme climatic events such as
storms, floods or urban heat, as well as changes in species distribution
including pathogens.
·
Describe
the concept of green cities.
·
Examine
the benefits that can accrue for town/city dwellers from greening efforts.
·
Explain
how restoring urban ecological functions can promote city resilience while
having a positive effect on human health and well-being.
·
Evaluate
options for reducing adverse impacts of business operations and products on
air, water, land and living organisms to a level where the cost to society of
further reductions are no longer offset by the benefits.
·
Discuss
the successes, failures, and challenges of urban environmental approaches in
developing and developed countries.
Learning and teaching approaches used:
The module will be
conducted over 15 teaching weeks as follows:
·
3
hrs/wk lecture & discussions.
·
1
hr/wk case studies, projects, brainstorming, guest lectures, seminars, group
activities, demonstrations, and panel discussions.
·
4
hrs/wk outside of class, on average, for independent study.
·
One
block-day field trip around Thimphu to evaluate the status of urban planning in
Bhutan’s capital, or other urban area. Students will also collection
information on storms, floods, urban heat, changes in species and pathogens
(comparative study between towns and villages).
Assessment:
Semester-End
Examination (SE): 40%
Continuous
Assessment (CA): 60%
|
CA
Assessment
|
Weight
|
Assessment
Detail
|
|
Individual Assignment
|
15%
|
Essay on urban challenges in Bhutan, including personal
reflections and proposed strategies; 750 words.
|
|
Quizzes (2 x 5%)
|
10%
|
Two written quizzes of 30 min each.
|
|
Practical (field work)
|
20%
|
Group work (3-4 students) - comparative/evaluative study
between towns and villages nearby the college with respect to status and
health of urban planning, culminating in a 20-30 min presentation.
|
|
Midterm Exam
|
15%
|
|
Pre-requisite knowledge: ECL101 Principles of Ecology, ENV102 Population, Development, and
Environment, ENM202 Water Resources Management, ENM203 Agriculture and Land
Management
Subject matter:
I.
Brief
historical overview of urban development
a. Characteristic
processes of urbanization
II.
City/
town as a system
a. Urban
atmosphere and climate
b. Solar energy
in cities
c. Large
population
d. Expanding
cities
i.
Push
and pull factor
ii.
Government
policies
III.
Benefits
of urban development
a. Society
b. Ecosystems
c. Economics
d. Ethics
IV.
Environmental
impacts of urban sprawl
a. Urban blight
b. Cities and
the rivers
c. Economic
disparity
d. Transportation
in cities and traffic congestion
e. Water in
urban environment
f. Air quality
g. Housing
problems
h. Insufficient
sewage treatment
V.
Green
urban development and smart growth of cities
a. Green cities
i.
Concepts
ii.
Key/common features: Commitment to greening,
green purchasing, green construction, green energy, green landscapes and
infrastructure, multi-use compact communities, accessibility and green
transportation, eco-friendly waste management.
iii.
Benefits for urban dwellers
iv.
Green certifications, e.g. LEED
b. Smart
growth: urban planning and development towards green cities
i.
Planning
for infrastructure development
ii.
City
planning city for defence and resilience
iii.
Industries
and their management in urban areas
iv.
Compact
neighbourhoods
v.
Systematic
Transport arrangement and enhancement; mass transits for liveable cities
vi.
Recreation
facilities and aesthetics
vii.
Enhancement
of Sewage treatment
viii.
Supportive
zoning policies
c. Restoring urban ecological
functions
i.
Redevelopment
towards green cities
ii.
Reintroduction
of biodiversity, e.g. urban domestic gardens and parks
iii.
Water
and waste management restructuring
VI.
Organizations
and networks such as Society for Urban Ecology and the Urban Climate Change Research
Network (UCCRN) and others
VII.
Urban
challenges in the developing and developed world and some case studies.
Essential Readings:
1. Botkin, D.B.
(2011). Environmental Science, Earth as a Living Planet,8th Edition, John Wiley
and Sons Inc., USA.
2. Bharucha, E.
(2010). Textbook for Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses.
University Grants Commission, Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environmental
Education and Research, Pune, New Delhi.
3. Global
Development Research Center. (2014). Urban Environmental Management Virtual
Library. (http://www.gdrc.org/uem/index.html).
4. Miller,
G.T., and Spoolman, S.E. (2014). Environmental Science 14th Ed. New Delhi:
Cengage Learning.
5. Singh, A.L.
and Fazah, S., eds. (2008). Urban Environmental Management. New Delhi: B.R.
Publishing Corporation.
Additional Readings:
1.
Alexandria,
E. and Jones, P. (2008). Building and Environment, Temperature increase in an
urban canyon due to Green walls and green roofs in diverse climate, Building
and Environment, pp 480- 493.
2.
Asian
Development Bank. (2014). ADB GrEEEn Cities Initiative.
http://www.adb.org/green-cities/
3. Berg, L.R.,
Hager, M.C., Hassenzahl, D.M. (2012). Visualizing Environmental Science, 3rd
Edition, Wiley in Collaboration with NG Society, USA.
4. Cunningham,
W. P and Cunningham, M. A. (2012). Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry
and Application. 6th Edition, Tata McGraw-Hill, USA.
5. Gaston, K.J.
(2010). Urbanization. Urban Ecology (Ed. KJ Gaston) pp 1034, Cambridge
University Press.
6. Hanaki, K.
(Ed.). (2008). Urban Environmental Management and Technology (cSUR-UT Series:
Library for Sustainable Urban Regeneration). Springer.
7. Loram, A, Warren,
P.H., Gaston, K.J. (2008). Environmental Management, Urban Domestic Garden
(XIV), The Characteristics of Garden in Five Cities, 42. pp 361-379.
8. Newman, P
& Jennings, I. (2008). Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems, Principles and
Practices, Island Press, Washington DC, USA.
9. Singh, A.L.
and Fazah, S., eds. (2008). Urban Environmental Management. New Delhi: B.R.
Publishing Corporation.
Date last updated: May 30, 2015